truck advice

[TMGT]

I think the real question is what was wrong with the delivery guy's truck? That has me wondering.

Yup, definitely something wrong with that truck, maybe it was a 6.4L ............

 

[KYBOTA2320]

I have never felt unsafe in my 1/2 ton. Sure it takes a little more pedal to get going with a large load, but for occasional hauling it does just fine. I think it is a bit overkill to fork out the money for a diesel to pull a tractor twice a year. And I wouldn't go down the 3/4 ton gasser road either. I had an '03 3/4 ton Hemi Ram and it got at best 10 mpg's. Get a trailer with some brakes and a good sized 1/2 ton and you'll be fine. IMHO, trucks don't do work, people do!

 

[Sysop]

Agreed. My 2015 F150 handles 10k fine. 3.5L Ecoboost moves it great, big discs all around stop it great. Upgrading from the factory tires is a must. Factory tires are too soft in the sides.

 

[wagne223]

I have never felt unsafe in my 1/2 ton. Sure it takes a little more pedal to get going with a large load, but for occasional hauling it does just fine. I think it is a bit overkill to fork out the money for a diesel to pull a tractor twice a year. And I wouldn't go down the 3/4 ton gasser road either. I had an '03 3/4 ton Hemi Ram and it got at best 10 mpg's. Get a trailer with some brakes and a good sized 1/2 ton and you'll be fine. IMHO, trucks don't do work, people do!

I used to feel the same way until I was pulling a 30 ft travel trailer with a mild cross wind in a 1/2 ton.
A little pressure on the trailer and that truck could not stay in the lane. The trailer was driving the truck.

I upgraded to the same truck in 3/4 and make the same trip every year in the same or little worse conditions. I can feel the trailer moving around with wind gusts but the truck is solid and has no trouble staying in the lane.

That experience is why I would never recommend anyone pull large or heavy loads with a 1/2 ton.

Sure they will do it but I don't feel it is safe.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Y'all think that a 1/2ton will maintain traction pulling 10k up a 14% grade on (I assume) gravel?
If it maintains traction, think it will have the torque and cooling to pull it?

 

[ericm979]

It's paved. One of the reasons we bought the place.

With as little time as I'd be towing the tractor (none if things go well!) I don't see a point in getting a 3/4 ton. None of the regular uses will stress a reasonable 1/2 ton. If a high capacity 1/2 ton can't handle it I'll rent a 3/4 ton if I need to haul the tractor.

Not having done any test driving the Tundra and F150 Ecoboost are the current candidates.

 

[timswi]

I've been pulling a 9+k 32' TT with GMC 1/2 tons for years. They pull the load and handle it just fine with no issues whatsoever. The 6.2 has somewhat more nuts on steep hills than the 5.3 but not really enough to justify the cost difference in my opinion...Unless you are towing every week.

 

[Cataclysm]

We haven't had a truck for a while but increasingly need one. We'll most likely get a late model used truck, no larger than a "half ton". My wife wants to drive it, we live on a narrow road and parking spaces in town are small. I had a GMC C3 (first year of the Denali) for a while and I was comfortable with it's size but don't want much larger than that. Most use will be hauling stuff from the lumber yard and feed store, some commuting.

My Branson with loader and loaded tires weighs about 5800 lbs. Add about 3500 lbs for trailer and you get 9000 to 10,000 lbs. Some "half ton" trucks have a towing capacity that high. I don't expect to tow the tractor anywhere except to the dealer, and that'd only happen for warranty work or repairs that I can't do myself. But renting a truck for the four hour trip each way to drop it off and retrieve it would cost around $1k. So I'm considering getting a "half ton" that'll tow that much.

The question I have is this: we live on a steep road. There's a mile of 9% grade, then a couple miles of lower average grade with some short steep pitches, and the last half mile to the house averages about 14%. The guy who delivered my Branson, box blade and rotary cutter had a brand new diesel Ford and it was rattling and smoking out the hood when he got here, and left a puddle of diesel. Maybe there was something wrong with it or he didn't use a low enough gear but I'm wondering if a 10,000 lb capacity "half ton" could handle doing it a few times.

You will be fine with the Tundra or F150 if you drive it like your pulling a load. Put some Timbren's on the rear and Rancho 9000 xl's shocks all the way around. We put Timren's on my dad's Tundra and it completely changed the way it tows his tractor. He only tow's occasionally and takes it easy.

 

[dieselcrawler]

I realize you seem to want to steer clear of 3/4 ton trucks, but a 2004-2010 GM 3/4 ton 4x4 with the 6.0 gas motor would be reasonably priced, smoothest ride of the big 3. Doubt you would notice much ride quality or economy difference between 1/2 & 3/4 ton of the same model/year, but the brake and cooling system improvement on the 3/4 ton is there when you need it...

But I drive a 3/4 ton diesel daily, as does my wife, I may be biased. But I can hook her Excursion to our trailers and pull them just as confidently as with my trucks, and often do, sounds like your trailering needs may be far less than ours.

 

[4570Man]

Y'all think that a 1/2ton will maintain traction pulling 10k up a 14% grade on (I assume) gravel?
If it maintains traction, think it will have the torque and cooling to pull it?

That would be the least of my worries. I would way rather pull the load with my 1990s 1 ton dump 6.5 diesel. My power output is probably less than a modern 1/2 ton but I've got them beat way bad on brakes and suspension.