What's the Best Farm Truck to Haul my Tractor and Cattle with?

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

Just test drove a 2017 F2 50 with the big gas motor V-8 I think it's like a 6.2 or three or something. Very impressive truck. Seemed well-built and not over engineered. I thought it was a great value at under 40,000 brand-new. It also has the aluminum body so body rust shouldn't be an issue going forward.

The cost of new trucks is absolutely ridiculous, sure there well equipped and have all the latest health and safety jazz but I don't think a new truck should be anything near 40k.

It's hard to even find one with manual doors and windows anymore, standard even rarer.

If they put as much effort into making a truck mechanically sound as they did trying to make them more comfortable, we could have a truck that could last 40+ years and put 400-700k miles on them pretty easy, but no they shoot for 200k seems with lots of break downs along the way.

Idk just rambling I guess on that subject

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

If you don't put on too many miles, I've had great luck with old Ford 460's. Only weak spot was E4OD automatic transmission and of course fuel mileage isn't good by today's standards. Lots of used parts are cheap and easy to find and old duallies don't cost much unless they are in immaculate condition cosmetically.

How many miles are they good for? My F350 dually is pushing 300k miles.

And also, the master cylinder that goes in those trucks, is that a single reservoir or a double like what's on my 81, the ones that have the front and rear breaks separate, my F350 has a single and I want to change it to a double since it has no emergency break.

The truck is a 85 but the cab is off a 93, so it might be a 93 F150 break booster and master cylinder, same question applies to a 93 F150.

It's a Ford master cylinder, but I took the truck on the road, popped a hole in the breaks and had no breaks at all what so ever, if it wasn't for the manual trans I would have been up **** creek.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

So I decided to put the buying a new truck on hold for right now, I will work on selling the cattle I have, hauling a new driveway in the spring after I get the dump truck road worthy and only after I sell it, I will buy another truck.

Still haven't fully decided on what truck I'm gonna go after, I'm kinda leaning towards the V10 super duty now

I also thought about finding an old F250 with a EFI 4.9 strait 6 in it, I love my F150 with the 4.9, not the most powerful thing in the world but **** it sure is reliable and super easy to maintain.

 

[motownbrowne]

So I decided to put the buying a new truck on hold for right now, I will work on selling the cattle I have, hauling a new driveway in the spring after I get the dump truck road worthy and only after I sell it, I will buy another truck.

Still haven't fully decided on what truck I'm gonna go after, I'm kinda leaning towards the V10 super duty now

I also thought about finding an old F250 with a EFI 4.9 strait 6 in it, I love my F150 with the 4.9, not the most powerful thing in the world but **** it sure is reliable and super easy to maintain.

I've got one for sale...

I have a 1990 F250 Single cab 2WD 300 I6 with the ZF 5 speed. That's about the only way to find a straight six in a 3/4 ton. I have seen one in a F350 with an automatic, but it was a custom order. As far as I know, my truck was available as a regular build. You cant be in a hurry, but I've hauled my 6000# tractor on a 4000# deckover and it did fine. With the 4.10 gears and the granny low, you're doing about 3000 RPM at 5 MPH, which is nice for getting up an moving. It's been a great truck for the 5 years I've owned it.

The reason I'm looking to sell it in the next couple of years is to buy a 1997+ with the V10, 4wd and an extra cab. I'm ready for something with 4wd, and the extra space and power will be great. The 6 cylinder is a great motor, though, and that truck's never let me down. I even got 20.5 MPG one time. Usually closer to 15.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

I've got one for sale...

I have a 1990 F250 Single cab 2WD 300 I6 with the ZF 5 speed. That's about the only way to find a straight six in a 3/4 ton. I have seen one in a F350 with an automatic, but it was a custom order. As far as I know, my truck was available as a regular build. You cant be in a hurry, but I've hauled my 6000# tractor on a 4000# deckover and it did fine. With the 4.10 gears and the granny low, you're doing about 3000 RPM at 5 MPH, which is nice for getting up an moving. It's been a great truck for the 5 years I've owned it.

The reason I'm looking to sell it in the next couple of years is to buy a 1997+ with the V10, 4wd and an extra cab. I'm ready for something with 4wd, and the extra space and power will be great. The 6 cylinder is a great motor, though, and that truck's never let me down. I even got 20.5 MPG one time. Usually closer to 15.

If you were in Ohio I would be very interested in buying that truck, 4wd is nice but I can usually get along without it. I would be perfectly happy if my truck was a 3/4 ton.

When it's crappy out, I go out of my way to stay away from mud, and keep the rear wheels on gravel or pavement. I don't drive my truck in the snow either.

 

[motownbrowne]

If you were in Ohio I would be very interested in buying that truck, 4wd is nice but I can usually get along without it. I would be perfectly happy if my truck was a 3/4 ton.

When it's crappy out, I go out of my way to stay away from mud, and keep the rear wheels on gravel or pavement. I don't drive my truck in the snow either.

It's just a road trip away. What better way to get to know your new truck?...

All kidding aside, I should probably keep it for now. I'm on the tail end of a small year-end spending spree (used deckover, remotes and TNT kit, one or two chainsaws, etc), so selling it now might be a bad idea, since I'd have to go and buy a new truck. It's a good road trip vehicle, though.

One other thing: I don't know about Ohio, but in WI everything rusts out real bad. I bought my truck in WA state because it was 100% rust free. Yes, it cost me the extra fuel to get it home, but every time i turn a wrench on the thing I appreciate not having to fight the rust. I'll probably never buy a truck from the rust belt if I can avoid it. It's worth going to where they're clean.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

It's just a road trip away. What better way to get to know your new truck?...

All kidding aside, I should probably keep it for now. I'm on the tail end of a small year-end spending spree (used deckover, remotes and TNT kit, one or two chainsaws, etc), so selling it now might be a bad idea, since I'd have to go and buy a new truck. It's a good road trip vehicle, though.

One other thing: I don't know about Ohio, but in WI everything rusts out real bad. I bought my truck in WA state because it was 100% rust free. Yes, it cost me the extra fuel to get it home, but every time i turn a wrench on the thing I appreciate not having to fight the rust. I'll probably never buy a truck from the rust belt if I can avoid it. It's worth going to where they're clean.

Yes finding a rust free truck in Ohio is like trying to find the cure for cancer, which is kinda like what rust is to a truck, once it starts it spreads all over.

Yeah that might be something to look into. The V10 would be another choice if I had the money, I think I'm gonna stay away from diesel for now.

 

[Copperhead]

Many of the 3/4 and 1T pickups with gassers are great performers. For the OP's situation, I would go gas. They can be had at a very reasonable price, and even if the engine grenades, a reman can be had for very good prices. Replace the engine and continue on. I side with the 454 GM and the 460 Ford. Even the 6.0L gasser in my 2015 2500 does about as good of a job as the 454 (7.4L) in my '98 2500 did. And generally, the transmissions they OEM's put in these behind even the gassers in their 3/4 and 1 tons are pretty rock solid. I have no issues with yanking around up to 13,000 lb of trailer/cargo with a 6.0L gasser. Of course it has the strong 6L90 trans and 4.10 diffs. That is a great combination. But I would have no problem with a good shape 3/4 or 1T with a big block gasser doing it also.

If I were doing extensive pulling every day and doing it over longer distances, I would opt for diesel. There are advantages to that in those situations. For local stuff, not really found the need for it.

 

[Farmer495]

7.3 L made by International.

THere are several 7.3 diesel engines made by International that were in Ford trucks.

Big difference in power between a naturally aspirated IDI and an 03 turbo intercooled Powerstroke

 

[roadhunter]

to make the best recommendation as far as truck we need a better idea of the actual use for these tasks are for a hobby farmer or a real farmer/rancher. If you have say 5 cows and move them to a summer pasture and back each year that is one thing and completely another if you move large numbers of cattle on a regular basis. Same with the tractor. Is this something you do a few times a year on "homeowner" type of tasks or is this doing regular work hauling your machine for jobs such as bailing hay or brush hog work. If this is just a hobby and you have a few animals as pets on a small acreage you can certainly get away with less truck. If you do this for a living and need somethign that is more dependable you probably need to spend more up front.