Thinking about getting a farm pickup

[quicksandfarmer]

I've never owned a pickup, but I'm thinking about getting one. It wouldn't be a daily driver, just for around the farm* and getting things to and from the farm. Going to the lumberyard or Home Depot for building supplies, going to the dump once a week, occasionally transporting goats or sheep. Moving mulch or sand. The ability to pull maybe 3500 pounds in a trailer, for moving hay equipment and boats, and sometimes rented equipment. I'd definitely want to be able to carry a full sheet of plywood in the bed.

So I'm thinking a small pickup with cap and roof racks. Probably 4wd would be good because we do get snow, although I use the tractor to plow. Since I can't imagine putting more than a few thousand miles a year on it I could see getting something older.

So what should I be looking for?



Don't laugh, but I currently have a 2012 Honda Odyssey minivan that I use for all those things.

*(I'm just a pretend farmer but I call my place "the farm.")

 

[deserteagle71]

An old Dodge with the Cummins engine and 8' bed. With the miles you say you will be putting on it, it will outlive you and be the most dependable vehicle you can buy.

 

[dodge man]

I personally am a fan of a full sized half ton trucks. Most of the time I’m hauling air like a lot truck owners but there are times a full size truck bed can seem small. I think if smaller trucks got 30 mpg I’d like them more but they seem to get just a little better than full sized.

 

[scootr]

I was looking for something like that and found a few older diesel pickups for reasonable $.

 

[deserteagle71]

I think if smaller trucks got 30 mpg I’d like them more but they seem to get just a little better than full sized.

Most of the older half ton gas trucks are lucky to break 15 mpg. Older heavy duty gas powered pickups average closer to 10 mpg...I've owned a few! Why I recommended an older Dodge Cummins - guys I know tell me they routinely get over 20 mpg. Yet they can haul or pull most anything you'd hook behind them.

 

[LHF2019]

I just bought this truck for the farm. $3500. Once it can’t pass inspection I can farm exempt it and keep using it. Replaces a Tahoe we use that eventually will die. 3 years out of inspection but our state won’t exempt station wagons. I wouldn’t recommend diesel if you’re not going to run it much.

 

[rScotty]

A standard older 1970-1972 Chevy PU is my favorite. Small V-8 or 6 cylinder. Part time 4wd is a nice addition if you can find one with it.
Or get an older Ford F150. Again, small engine and gasser.
You can buy a good one for about 20% of the cost of a new truck. It will last just fine in part time service and can be fixed as needed by any most anyone.
Fuel economy on all the old gas PU is roughly ave. 15mpg, but for what you say you its use will be....well, the fuel economy is a non-issue compared to purchase price/tax/insurance.

rScotty

 

[Tomtint]

First thing to do is figure out your budget.
If you are looking for something sub 20K.. Id be looking for a 6.0 GM Vortec .. Fairly bullet proof and tons of them out there. Up here rust is what ends trucks lives ..not mileage.
After that Id be looking for a V8 F150 of some sort. They are out there but will usually bring more money than a GM truck for truck.
If you aren't driving or towing everyday.. Id skip the diesel option all together.
A pre 2022 Toyota Tundra with the V8 is also a super reliable power plant. ..The new ones not so much

 

[ericm979]

V8 Tundras hold their value well, because they have a reputation for reliability. Gas mileage is not great though.

Many newer 1/2 ton trucks have short 5.5 foot beds. I prefer a 6.5 (or better, 6.75) foot bed so I can get 8' lumber in diagonally with the tailgate up. Sheet goods can be carried with the tailgate down. Regular cab trucks are rare. Double and crew cabs are the majority. A double or crew plus an 8' bed makes for a very long truck which can be difficult to park, especially in more urban areas with smaller spaces.

At this point '70s trucks are collector items and will be priced as such.

Most modern 1/2 tons are rated to tow 7500 lbs or so. More with the towing option. Newer 5.7l Tundras are 10000 lbs or so.

A 18-20' flat bed trailer is 2000-2500lbs. Tilt versions are around 2800-3400 lbs.

 

[scootr]

For all around ranch work single cab 8 ft bed 3/4 ton. Never mind the fuel mileage, you won't be putting a lot of miles on it.

 

[4570Man]

I personally am a fan of a full sized half ton trucks. Most of the time I’m hauling air like a lot truck owners but there are times a full size truck bed can seem small. I think if smaller trucks got 30 mpg I’d like them more but they seem to get just a little better than full sized.

One of my family members has a fairly new maybe like 2015 GMC canyon. It only gets 14mpg local mileage. He never takes it on long trips so idk what it gets on the highway.

 

[JasperFrank]

Is this a Farm vehicle, or is it a licensed road worthy vehicle? When I sell my '93 Festiva, it will be to a farm as a farm only vehicle. It has 52 cubic feet of space. With the provision that it is not to be made into anything like a regular Car, may be a race car... I've done too much to it on the cheap. And it has worn all the road safety aspects out. Fixed and still proper, but in a marginal way. But it can live on for another ten years as a utility vehicle.

 

[TractorTYMe]

I can highly recommend any GMC/Chevy truck within the years of 2000 - 2006 in gasoline V8 1500/2500. I have two 2004 trucks, one 1500 and one Duramax 2500. VERY reliable trucks.........

 

[not2old]

For all around ranch work single cab 8 ft bed 3/4 ton. Never mind the fuel mileage, you won't be putting a lot of miles on it.

I agree with this. I have a 1990 F250 supercab with 8' box 460 4x4 and a matching 91 with regular cab. Combined they have only gone 35,000 KM in the last 14 years since I retired, so fuel mileage is not important. The only reason I bought a new 2024 is because the boss isn't comfortable going camping with it four or five hours from home.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Is this a Farm vehicle, or is it a licensed road worthy vehicle?

It will be licensed. Rhode Island requires farm vehicles to be licensed to be used on the road. There is a special farm license plate that gives certain breaks but I probably don't qualify.

 

[Farmer495]

Rust belt stuff limits you to old stuff that is now in "collector condition" and priced as such.

Best bang for buck are ex fleet trucks, might have a ton of miles usually new enough not to be rotten.

White 8 foot bed regular cab gas 1/2 and 3/4 tons. Most are 4x4 too.

 

[Bearsixty7]

Most of the older half ton gas trucks are lucky to break 15 mpg. Older heavy duty gas powered pickups average closer to 10 mpg...I've owned a few! Why I recommended an older Dodge Cummins - guys I know tell me they routinely get over 20 mpg. Yet they can haul or pull most anything you'd hook behind them.

My Dad and several uncles had either 1/2 ton GM's with 350's or Fords with 351's in the 70, and 80's and they all got about 17-18 MPG on gravel roads and into town, on a highway run they got 19-20 so not sure why your experience was so much worse.
Heck I remember driving our 1984 K10 long bed with a 305 and it got 18 mpg regularly just on the hilly gravel roads and 2 lane black top roads. Never really took it on much of a highway run.

 

[zoedog2012]

An old Dodge with the Cummins engine and 8' bed. With the miles you say you will be putting on it, it will outlive you and be the most dependable vehicle you can buy.

An old Dodge will be a rust pile and wouldn't hold anything!

 

[Hay Dude]

An old Dodge will be a rust pile and wouldn't hold anything!

Why such a ridiculous comment?
Dodges are no worse about rust than any other brand. What if he gets a southern truck?
“Wouldn’t hold anything”? An 8’ bed on a 3/4 or 1 ton Dodge will hold plenty and with a 5.9L it could run 500K + miles and get about 20MPG.

I’d love to have an older manual Cummins 4WD

 

[shooterdon]

A year ago I got a 2007 F250 regular cab, 8’ bed, with Western MVP plow and dump bed for $15.8k. I have put about $2000 into it, more than half of that being new tires. I use it to deliver firewood, haul stuff and short trips when tge other pickup is in use. Have put 5000 miles on it. Averages 12.5 MPG. I don’t sweat the crappy gas mileage for what it does

It carries 2/3 of a cord easily. When/if I get an equipment trailer it will pull it without any problems.

It has 74k mikes on it.