Need a 3/4 or 1 Ton 4x4 truck....

[cbeers]

Hey Guys and Gals,

My friend is looking for something year 2000 or newer, must be 4x4 with a big bed. He's looking to spend around $20k. He owns a winery and needs to haul some weight, how much he can't say for sure, but more than 1/2 ton material. Also, his property gets muddy and has slopes so the 4x4 is needed.


I gave him my opinion, now what are yours?



GMC, Ford, Chevy, Dodge? Diesel or gas?

Any guidance is very much appreciated.


-Chris

[kaisen]

All of the late-model domestic 8600+ GVWR pickups are just as good as the other. They have differences, of course, but pretty much buy what you like. The diesels might be overkill unless he tows heavy loads lots of miles on a regular basis. He should be able to buy a nice (gas) one for $20,000. People are dumping them in record numbers due to gas prices.

Tell us more about how he intends to use it:

Regular Cab, Extended Cab, Crew Cab?

If he tows a trailer: what is it like and how heavy at what speeds?

Is it just a work truck, period, or will it be a daily driver / family vehicle?

How long will he own it? How many miles per year?

E

[Dantilla]

I need an 8' bed, so I have a regular cab. An extended cab with an eight foot bed makes for a truck that is too long to manuever in parking lots.

I have a 2001 Chevy HD 3/4 4x4, with the 6.0 litre gas engine. Diesels have come a long ways, but I still can't stand the poor throttle response or noise.

With a pretty heavy foot and 4:10 gears, it gets about 13-14 mpg.

[Jim Bremner]

I've owned a 2wd Chevy 1500 since 2/2/0--- 5.3 gas motor


I've towed a 22'x8'x7 trailer to vegas and pack a couple of times.

I've ran it up the grapevine to button willow and back around 5 times.

Once on the way back a Friend was pulling less with a ford diesel,
things got out of hand and we raced up the hill, I beat him!

we topped out over 80mph towing up the hill. That melted the paint off of the differential cover.

the only problem has been the tranny blew @55k miles {it was a couple of days after the hill climb}

oh and the emergency brake release cable failed.

the truck has 140,000 miles and it's first real service other than oil was at 100,000

yes in 2-3 years I'll replace it with another chevy

[TWork]

I've had good luck with Dodge 3/4 and 1-ton trucks. I currently have a '06 3500 Megacab (needed some extra space for the kid). I've towed countless pallets of bricks, mini-excavators, etc as well as my wife's (draft) horses without issue. I live in the foothills near Sacramento and it pulls like a champ. Never any major mechanical issues.

[Anton]

As Kaisen said, there all about the same. I've had very good luck with Fords. If he doesn't put on a lot of miles, say 30-40,000 per year, don't bother with the diesel.

[Tobra]

The new general motors turbo diesel V-8(Isuzu motor) is the best vehicle out there for hauling. 3/4 or 1 ton, there are not loud, smelly or slow. My Father-in-law did extensive research before he bought his last truck. The gasoline V-8 is merely okay, despite what is posted above.

If you are going to haul, you need a tranny and differential cooler, then you don't blow up trannys and burn the paint off your differential, unless you like spending money needlessly.

The Ford Power stroke is a headache waiting to happen, out dated motor that never was that great. The Dodges have had front end brake and ball joint issues, Cummins turbo diesel is a heckuva motor though.

[Jim Bremner]

my next one will be an oil burner.

[svandamme]

you need an Oshkosh M977
that bugger has a can-do attitude to just about everything.

i want one , badly...

[VINMAN]

I'm partial to Dodges and Ford. Ive always owned Ford trucks,Ive had 5 of them. Gas and diesel. My Dodge diesel , I wouldnt trade it for anything. Best truck ive owned.

[craigster59]

The International CXT. 5 1/2 ton payload and 10 ton towing capacity.

[dagness]

Originally posted by kaisen
All of the late-model domestic 8600+ GVWR pickups are just as good as the other. They have differences, of course, but pretty much buy what you like. The diesels might be overkill unless he tows heavy loads lots of miles on a regular basis. He should be able to buy a nice (gas) one for $20,000. People are dumping them in record numbers due to gas prices.

Tell us more about how he intends to use it:

Regular Cab, Extended Cab, Crew Cab?

**Regular or Extended

If he tows a trailer: what is it like and how heavy at what speeds?

**May tow a trailer, but no more than 5000 lbs

Is it just a work truck, period, or will it be a daily driver / family vehicle?

**Work truck

How long will he own it? How many miles per year?

**Until it dies.

E

Primary use will be seasonal hualing of grapes by the ton. Typical run could be 400 miles round trip, several times a year.

thanks

[kaisen]

Originally posted by dagness
Primary use will be seasonal hualing of grapes by the ton. Typical run could be 400 miles round trip, several times a year.

I would just buy a nice '03-04 Ford F350 Super Duty 5.4L V8 gas regular-cab long-box 4x4. Most here know I normally lean GM, but in this case the Ford has: bigger box, better fuel economy, solid front axle, and less expensive.

[svandamme]

solid front axle???

you'll have to explain that one to me, we are talking vehicles with steering, are we? not Matchbox or Hotwheels toy cars ???

[craigster59]

Solid front axle is more conducive to 4x4 than IFS (independent front suspension). Better for rock crawling.

[svandamme]

i get it , like a Land Rover has ?
no Diff

[kaisen]

Originally posted by svandamme
i get it , like a Land Rover has ?
no Diff

Yes, like a Land Rover. Just a solid tube from side to side with no articulation in the axle. Simple and strong. The Fords even had fairly crude (but strong and simple) leaf springs in front.

[cashflyer]

I saw a 1999 Ram 2500 (3/4 ton) 4x4 Quad-cab with 5spd and 5.9L Cummins that rolled across the used car auction for $6900 last week. If I had not already purchased a tow vehicle, that one would have been mine!!