QRTRHRS
Elite Member
If the one ton was the only family vehicle, I agree. My dually with a flat bed has been my main means of getting around since I purchased it. Of course we use my wife's vehicle, now a car but for many years an SUV for more "family" oriented affairs.I think what's getting lost in this comparison/discussion is that a 1-ton dumptruck cannot do what a pickup can do in terms of everyday life and versatility. You can't take the wife & kids out in one day after day, drive it to work as a commuter vehicle and they're more difficult to garage
For 95% of the TBN members, a dumptrailer and a pickup is much more practical, cheaper & efficient to own than both a pickup and a 1-ton dumptruck, or even just a 1-ton dumptruck alone.
Sure, it has been a pain to find parking at times, etc. and when I used to get 17+ mpg it was better than the 15 average that I see at 218k. As an all purpose vehicle, I would say that the biggest expense is keeping tires on.