help buying truck

[rcrcomputing]

I will possibly NEVER haul my tractor-trailer combo. However, I'd like to be able to say I could.
I hear a f-150 or chevy 1500 will ride MUCH better for daily driving.

Sooo, you think I could do the lighter truck?
besides a towing package, what should I speck? Like 3.73 ratio?
Limited slip? Or non-limited slip?

I'm confused by it all...

 

[DieselPower]

What kind of trailer? 5th wheel or ball hitch? What's the weight of the trailer loaded and would a 1/2 ton truck be heavy enough to tow it?

Need a little info on exactly what it will be doing to be able to suggest a truck.

 

[RobertN]

Ya, we need more info; there are to many variables to guess.

another thing to think about, you may not haul the tractor very often, but might use the trailer. I use mine to haul the Kubota, my old Farmall, lumber, pipe, firewood, swingset, Bobcat, hay, Cub Scouts in parades, a car now and then, etc...

When hauling, the tractor is maybe 10% of the trailer time; the other 90% is the various "stuff".

 

[rcrcomputing]

What kind of trailer? 5th wheel or ball hitch? What's the weight of the trailer loaded and would a 1/2 ton truck be heavy enough to tow it?

Need a little info on exactly what it will be doing to be able to suggest a truck.

It's a ball-hitch 18' dovetail carhauler. 7000lb
Will my backhoe on the kioti 30hp, and the trailer, I'll probably hit 6000lb. easily

Looks like all the 5.3 or maybe better yet 6.0 liter engines will do that acording to this. Specifications: Silverado Classic: Trucks: Chevrolet

The salesman says the ride is a noticeable differance in a 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton truck.

Trying to buy a new truck is very intimidating...

 

[Bird]

If I were going to be pulling a 6,000 pound load a lot; i.e., 2 or more days a week or maybe even once a week, I'd sure go for the 3/4 ton truck, but for occasional towing but driving the truck every day, I'd probably buy the 1/2 ton.

 

[George2615]

The truck may not be a problem but the trailer will be.
If its a 7K trailer and your tractor with BH is easily 6K then you are overloading the trailer. Most 7K trailers alone will weigh in about 2000#. That only leaves you legally able to haul 5K. You may get away with it for a while but eventually it will cause excessive wear on the trailer suspension and brakes.

A 1/2 ton truck will haul it. Most are rated for about 7500- 9000# trailer. The link to GM shows it will. I had an 02 1/2 ton EC 4x4 and now have an 05 3/4 ton EC 4x4 w/ Duramax and I didn't see a noticeable difference in ride quality. Compared to a mid 70's or 80's 3/4 ton the new ones ride like a Caddy. I had an 85 3/4 ton years ago that would jar your teeth out when you hit a bump.

 

[rcrcomputing]

Great, sounds like a 1/2 ton might work. BTW, I mis-spoke. The tractor with BH as I recall when I added it up was about 4300 lbs. I'll go double check. That'd give me a total w/trailer around 6500lbs.

I have been hearing the 5.4 gas engines were weak. I will go with a chevy or ford. And don't really want a guzzlin v10.

I do like to have power when I need it. (Which is not often)
I see you can get a ck2500HD with has a 6.0l engine. I wish they still called them 350 or 389 engines, so I'd know what it meant!

 

[the_sandman_454]

Test drive a 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton. Make sure you try out some rougher roads if you can. I ended up with a 1 ton, since to me the ride was similar to the 3/4 ton, and only cost about $1100 more for a little extra weight rating. I guess it all depends on what you consider good for daily driving. Personally I'd have difficulty trading my 1 ton Ram (05) for anything. If you're comparing it to a BMW or Mercedes luxury car, they're all going to suck, but if you're comparing it to something a little less refined, you may like it.

The sad fact is most gas engines are under powered. My problem with the gas engines is how high up in the RPM range the power and torque is made. That hurts fuel economy when towing due to having to spin it pretty high to get the power you need, and can't be too good for longevity I would think, if you make towing a frequent habit. Of course if you'll trade it off in a few years for something else, that's much less of a concern. By the way 6.0L is approximately 366in^3, depending on how the manufacturer rounds their numbers. This conversion site should help a bit. liters to cubic inches conversion calculator - volume @ metric conversions . org

 

[rcrcomputing]

I'm thinking if I "could" haul it with the 5.4 1/2 ton, it'd make the most sense for me to get that. Heck, I don't think I'll ever pull much anyway.

It's cheaper, it prolly gets better gas miliage.

Possibly I could even haul it with my ole "beater". Though, I'm looking for thoughts on putting a hitch on it. See this thread:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/construction-equipment/74705-dump-truck.html

You guys have been most helpfull! I welcome any futher thoughts. I imagine I'll have the beast for 10 years, so it'd be nice to get it right.

 

[browns40]

hI RCR,

Initial cost & ride are certainly factors, although ride today on a 3/4 would be better than a 1/2 ten years ago...

Fuel economy also would surprise you--often is negligible difference with OD nowadays.

I would get the most truck I could swing--nothing lingers like regret.