Thinking about getting a farm pickup

[LHF2019]

I've never seen over 10 mpg out of either of my farm trucks and would never look at mpg when buying a truck for around the farm. Lots of idling no driving and never really getting up to speed. They are for working. My first fill up in the V10 was 7.x mpg because I was curious. Been years since I've seen anything close to 10 mpg in my 454.

 

[keljan11]

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.........

I've got a 2003 Chev 2500, with about 220,000 miles on it. So far, I've changed a wheel bearing, the starter, and 2 fuel pumps. It just keeps running

 

[mikester]

More than 315,000 Ram trucks recalled for brake system issue

Its about time they stood up and fixed these trucks. I took ours to the stealer and they wanted 800.00 just to diagnose it. https://www.news-press.com/story/money/cars/recalls/2024/12/06/chrysler-recalls-pickups-dodge-ram-models/76818903007/

www.tractorbynet.com

Buy a Ram pickup

Personally speaking I find it cheaper to hire a truck to make deliveries than to maintain and insure another gas guzzler vehicle I'm driving empty more than 50% of the time.

Someone needs to invent an Uber for people to drive their pickup trucks and make deliveries while getting negative hourly pay.

 

[scootr]

In 2005 I was looking to buy a pickup for work and hauling hoses weekly. I found an 04 F250 with 5.4L gas engine new and $24k. Ran it for 5 yrs 150k miles with gas and oil only. Synthetic Oil every 10-15k miles only. Sold to a friend when I retired and he has hauled classic cars with it for another 5 yrs. Dam tough truck.

 

[Hay Dude]

More than 315,000 Ram trucks recalled for brake system issue

Its about time they stood up and fixed these trucks. I took ours to the stealer and they wanted 800.00 just to diagnose it. https://www.news-press.com/story/money/cars/recalls/2024/12/06/chrysler-recalls-pickups-dodge-ram-models/76818903007/

www.tractorbynet.com

Buy a Ram pickup

Personally speaking I find it cheaper to hire a truck to make deliveries than to maintain and insure another gas guzzler vehicle I'm driving empty more than 50% of the time.

Someone needs to invent an Uber for people to drive their pickup trucks and make deliveries while getting negative hourly pay.

How do you hire a truck to deliver hay into a customers farm, 7 days a week and then unload it? Sometimes off road? Or hire a truck to do other immediate farm type jobs like feeding cattle?
The OP is looking for a "farm type truck" to do chores on his property. No "uber" truck is available for that.

In regards to the recall that is for 2017-2018 trucks.
I don't think the OP or any other potential buyer is going to be swayed by a recall. Every brand has recalls.

 

[Oaktree]

Ouch! I have a 2018 Colorado and it gets 22-24 unless I'm just running short errands with a lot of starting and stopping.
It also drops when I get on the interstate doing 70-80.

Everybody has their opinions but I would not buy a 1/2 ton GM pickup. It's almost a given that it will need a transmission at around 130k, that's a $6000 repair bill.

Mine's a '19 and my mileage is similar to yours. Dunno what 4570man's friend does with his truck to get mileage that low. A lot of towing maybe?
Mine has the 8 speed transmission, which was the one that had issues. Apparently they started using a different transmission fluid for the '19 and later models that seems to have fixed them. Mine's pushing 130k, and other than a slightly rough 1-2 shift when cold (which from what I've read they all do) it's fine. They do recommend fluid changes at 50k intervals.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

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.

I owned a bunch of 70's model Fords with the 351M and 1 with a 390 and several 80's model Chevrolet square body's with the 350 motors and not 1 of them would get 15 MPG , so my experience has been like the other poster as far as MPG on those models, now in 1992 I bought a brand new Chevrolet Z-71 4x4 1/2 ton SWB with a 350 and it will get 15+ MPG and around 20 on the road, I gave it to one of my sons and he still has it.

 

[Oaktree]

My Dodge/Cummins will be 21 years old next month. I defy you to find a spot of rust on it!

Not surprising, you live in the desert.
I will say that Dodge/Ram trucks are much better in that regard today than they were even when yours was new.

At least in my area, the longevity award goes to GM trucks...you see a lot more old ones than any other make. Ford a somewhat distant 2nd, then everyone else is far behind.

 

[deserteagle71]

Personally speaking I find it cheaper to hire a truck to make deliveries than to maintain and insure another gas guzzler vehicle I'm driving empty more than 50% of the time.

Depends on where you live, I guess. Good luck in renting or hiring a truck in rural Nevada. Or getting something you bought delivered.

Out here, if you want something hauled or delivered you best have your own truck and trailer. Or have a friend/relative/neighbor do it for you.

 

[Jstpssng]

Apparently they started using a different transmission fluid for the '19 and later models that seems to have fixed them

Yep. I paid to have that changed when it started chattering at speed... It was >10,000 miles off warrantee when I had the fluid changed.
3 months later it tripped a code... there was another TSB for bad wiring harness in the transmission. The two repairs were well over $1000.

In regards to the recall that is for 2017-2018 trucks.

I've seen the headlines but never bothered to read the article. I'm going to show my age and say that it wasn't so long ago, if you had a 7 or 8 YO vehicle you were on your own no matter what the problem was.