putting a rotary cutter on top of pickup bed

[Dargo]

Look I'm not sure if you are purposely doing this as egging people on or what. A ranger DOES NOT and HAS NOT been constructed using 3/4 ton truck components. There is not a 3/4 ton compact truck class. Doesn't exist in north america.

The 4x4's or 2x4's do not use 3/4 ton truck components, the use compact truck components.

The 4x4 ranger used Ford 7.5 or 8.8 semi-float rear axles. A 3/4 ton of that vintage uses a 10.25" full floater Sterling axle.

A ranger uses a lightweight transmission produced by Mazda. A 3/4 ton used the huge ZF-5 manual transmission.

The smallest engine available in the 3/4 ton was a 302 V-8. At the time, there were no V-8's in the 1/4 ton chassis. Later, the explorer which partly shared the chassis became available with a V-8. The ranger never did get a v-8.

The ranger is not a 3/4 ton truck. The 3/4 ton or 250/2500 class is all full size trucks and nowadays has nothing to do with the payload capacity of the truck.

The same is true of 1/2 tons. You can't call it a 1 ton just because it has a 1 ton payload capacity.

Although they've all probably rusted out and are all gone now, in the late 70's or early 80's Toyota had a compact pickup that clearly said "One Ton" on the side of it. It only had a 4 cyl engine and I doubt it could tow much, but it apparently had one heck of a set of springs under it. However, GM and Ford never made any similar beast.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Although they've all probably rusted out and are all gone now, in the late 70's or early 80's Toyota had a compact pickup that clearly said "One Ton" on the side of it. It only had a 4 cyl engine and I doubt it could tow much, but it apparently had one heck of a set of springs under it. However, GM and Ford never made any similar beast.

Did that "One Ton" have dual wheels? I remember looking at a stake body like that. The 3/4 ton I had had single wheels and did have "3/4 ton" labeled on it. Like I said previously thought, 3/4 and one ton meant just that, not the 2+ tons capable one tons from the big three.

If I recall correctly, the Toyota dual wheel cab/chassis for RV's went away due to overweight issues.

By the way, there is a 1/4 ton vehicle. Lovingly also known as the "Jeep". Do a search on 1/4 ton military vehicles.

 

[slowzuki]

Couldn't get the inline 6 in the 3/4 ton in the 90's. 1/2 ton only. Great engine though.

Beg to differ on that one as Ford for many years had a 300 inline 6 cylinder engine in the F series trucks.

 

[slowzuki]

Why would I do that? Its not a lambo, its a pickup, a tall 4wd one at that. Loaded like that I couldn't even get up to 50 mph in a walmart lot. I drove it home at between 65 and 50 mph, via a highway, then a frost heaved pot holed road. I slowed down for the monster heaves (1-2 ft high humps) because the tires were threatening to fold my headache rack into the cab.

When I have around 3000-4000 lbs of hay piled high (2nd tier reaches top of cab) it does start to handle like a big camper is on it. You have to take it easy on turns, increase your following distance from vehicles etc as you are supposed to do when hauling or trailering.

Why would he encounter a fast lane change if he drives defensively? I've trailered norht of 15,000 miles now in the last 3 years from winding country roads to 16 lane highways in rush hour in Toronto, always with the tow vehicle at or above its tow rating. It can be annoying defending your stopping distance in bumper to bumper traffic that its going 60 mph but you have to do it. You take longer to stop than they do. If I'm really tired I latch on behind a heavily loaded semi since I know I can stop faster than he can and people don't like stealing that space.

Tell you what:

Put your 2 800 lb tires in the back of your truck, drive 50 mph and make a 90 degree steer left immediately followed by a 90 degree steer right. Do it in the Walmart parking lot and have the OL take the video. Take a broom along and a plastic bag to sweep up the road and clean off the drivers's seat. Send us the video. This guy is going 300 miles. Chances are he's going to encounter at least one necessary fast lane change. That's all it takes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_af5...arch_query=truck+rollover&aq=f&has_verified=1

I've had 3 ton of 21AA gravel in a truck, but never steered it hard or more than a dozen miles. Anyone can drive a loaded truck straight. Heck my dog can steer it for a mile or so.

Do us a favor and set at least one rear tires a bit low on pressure to represent typical customer usage.

 

[71bronco]

Couldn't get the inline 6 in the 3/4 ton in the 90's. 1/2 ton only. Great engine though.

I had a '92 F250 2 wheel drive with a straight 6 and 4 speed tranny. Bought it brand new.

Jeff

 

[slowzuki]

I should have known better than make that statement, Ford and GM manage to squeek out some exceptions all the time. Not a common truck, and wasn't available later in the 90's or in the F-350. Love that engine though, so much torque. Friends had the same combo in an F-150 and the granny low in that transmission could tow and tow. We would have 2500 lb on the truck and 9000 lbs of trailer behind it, clack - clack - clack you could hear each lifter creeping up some of the big hills.

I had a '92 F250 2 wheel drive with a straight 6 and 4 speed tranny. Bought it brand new.

Jeff

 

[71bronco]

I'm a bricklayer so I'm pretty hard on a truck and they don't last to long so I traded the '92 in on a '98 F250 with the new body style. I'm pretty sure it was the first year you could not get the straight 6, it came with a V6 standard. The next year Ford came out with the new superduty.

Jeff

 

[MESSMAKER]

Back to the original question.
I don't see what would be wrong with carrying the mower on top of the bed. put 2-3 2x6 timbers for it to set on and it should be pretty solid. The trouble will be finding tie down points. You may have to secure the timbers first and then fit the mower on in a second step. I suspect you will have to load it with the 3 point next to the rear window of the truck, with the trailing wheel jutting out the back. I would criss cross HD ratchet straps from the front bed anchor points to the back and take them down to the hitch receiver.

 

[RoyJackson]

lol you are sorely mistaken. Unless you are talking about a 70's fullsize ford ranger, the ranger is a compact truck commonly called a 1/4 ton and is built on its own chassis. Nothing of any significance was shared with the fullsizes. Even the full size 1/2 ton didn't share a frame with the 3/4 and 1 tons.

Well, I was mistaken about the 3/4 ton part. My apologies for the error.
I don't know about the 1/4 ton part as the old PA registration does call out 1/2 ton.
I would have posted this a few days ago, but I was in Erie with no internet access.
Again, my apologies!

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Well, I was mistaken about the 3/4 ton part. My apologies for the error.
I don't know about the 1/4 ton part as the old PA registration does call out 1/2 ton.
I would have posted this a few days ago, but I was in Erie with no internet access.
Again, my apologies!

We forgive you.