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

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

You need to keep your cost down. A used diesel truck worth anything is $20,000. A gas or even can be had for $7500

That F250 7.3 IDI 4x4 with 118k miles I showed in the first post was for sale for $2800

No issues to speak of on that truck, tires are bald but the SCAs were checked 4 years ago he said, I read those are supposed to be checked every other oil change in a 7.3 IDI

 

[ovrszd]

That F250 7.3 IDI 4x4 with 118k miles I showed in the first post was for sale for $2800

Buyer's expectations vary widely. Some people will sell a vehicle because it has rust. Some can't tolerate a worn seat. Some will even sell because it needs tires and aligned. Without knowing each person's "requirements" it's hard to place value on a vehicle.

People ask me when I'm gonna get a new truck. Mine is 17 years old with 220K miles rusting and has a left rear bed corner crumpled. None of that bothers me. It's a farm truck. The dog rides in the front passenger seat, muddy feet and all. It very rarely requires minor repairs. It's perfect to me. Some people wouldn't sit in it let alone drive it every day.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

Buyer's expectations vary widely. Some people will sell a vehicle because it has rust. Some can't tolerate a worn seat. Some will even sell because it needs tires and aligned. Without knowing each person's "requirements" it's hard to place value on a vehicle.

People ask me when I'm gonna get a new truck. Mine is 17 years old with 220K miles rusting and has a left rear bed corner crumpled. None of that bothers me. It's a farm truck. The dog rides in the front passenger seat, muddy feet and all. It very rarely requires minor repairs. It's perfect to me. Some people wouldn't sit in it let alone drive it every day.

I wanted something that wasn't too beat up, but reliability is most important, I don't wana have to work on it every time I need to use it or every weekend.

My current F150 has been that for me so far, I have to work on it about 2-3 times a year on average (little simple stuff) but I use it every other day hauling water and I am towing/hauling almost every weekend, I have even drove it to work for the last two summers while I was trying to save up to buy a new car or fix the one I have.

It's by far been the most dependable vehicle I have owned so far.

It was a city truck that was sold to a junk yard for scrap, my cousin knows a owner of the junkyard and they got it running and I bought it off him, had under 100k miles when I got it. Minimal rust, would have been a shame to let it sit in a junk yard with so many years of life yet.

I have had the truck 3 years now. Everything is rebuildable and grease able, very easy to work on, sure it has no factory radio and has a huge amount of wind noise driving down the road but has never broke down.

 

[Citydude]

That F250 7.3 IDI 4x4 with 118k miles I showed in the first post was for sale for $2800

No issues to speak of on that truck, tires are bald but the SCAs were checked 4 years ago he said, I read those are supposed to be checked every other oil change in a 7.3 IDI

I would take a serious look at that. I bought one new in 03 and it's lugged a 10000# 5th wheel up and over mountains for 50K miles of its life. It's got 90K miles on it now. I service it myself every 5K miles for about $100.00. I'll never get rid of it.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

I would take a serious look at that. I bought one new in 03 and it's lugged a 10000# 5th wheel up and over mountains for 50K miles of its life. It's got 90K miles on it now. I service it myself every 5K miles for about $100.00. I'll never get rid of it.

Ford Powerstroke or international IDI?

 

[Citydude]

Ford Powerstroke or international IDI?

7.3 L made by International.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Couple months ago my youngest Son bought an '05 F350 crew long bed 4x4 6.0L AT truck with 180K miles. Very straight Lariat truck. No engine repairs had been done. Paid $3200. Brought it home and discovered it was drinking water. Tore it down and did all the mods and deletes. Spent $1800. All the diesel guys say he now has a very dependable diesel engine. He's in for $5000. Pretty good investment. Time will tell.

That 6.0 with a few mods will run with anything built up to about 2014. The new stuff is just stout.

Do some research on the 6.0. I have had 2 trouble free ones. As you ment6they can be bought right and a few grand will build you a truck that can't be beat.

 

[tman1020]

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.

 

[jenkinsph]

A good used 3/4 ton truck should be about right for pulling your 4320 around. A 1 ton single rear wheel would work too and may have a higher numerical rear end. That might make pulling easier but increases fuel consumption too.

I pull my equipment similar size with an F550 most of the time and occasionally with my F250. Both will do the job but I feel the heavier F550 is a little safer on steep terrain.

 

[not2old]

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.

 

[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.