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Elite Veteran
Posts: 617
 
| Here's my situation. I have a 2000 chevy 3500 that is on its LAST leg. I have a friend who is doing some work on it and he said its in such sad shape it would cost more than its worth to make it even safe to pull with...so it needs to go.
I have a car right now that is newer that i bought because I commute 45 minutes to work. I wanted something dependable with good gas mileage and I had thought I would have a couple more years left on my truck.
So now I'm looking for a truck. I do not want payments on two vehicles so I am thinking about trading in my car and getting a newer truck. Here's where my question is. What kind of truck should I get if I need it as a daily driver and need it to be able to pull a 3 horse bumper pull? I don't want to eat my paycheck up in gas, but I thinking I would need a 3/4 ton to pull the trailer. Or could i get away with a 1/2 ton? I want something that doesn't have hideously awful gas mileage, but i also don't want to blow my transmission over working it.
I would use it to pull 3-4 times a month and pretty short distances. I tend to do more local barrel races. Although at some point I would like to haul a few states away for some camping with my horses.
Opinions would be wonderful. I know that I will not find something with incredible gas mileage like my car, but over 16 mpg would be nice. The more mpg the better though  Thanks! |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
  
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | My husband's half ton gas truck (gmc) averages about 18 mpg, but you're right, you need a 3/4 ton. I've never seen a 3/4 ton gas truck, much less driven one, so I have zero idea of their mpg. A diesel 3/4 can get you those mpg naked, but it's going to cost more to purchase, so...6 of one, half a dozen of the other. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| I have a GMC 3/4 ton gas and it is a gas hog. I think I get 10-12 mpg hauling a steel 16 foot gooseneck with 1 or 2 horses and their saddles, feed, etc. Empty is not much better - 15-16 mpg. We have a 2005 3/4 ton Dodge diesel with over 250,000 miles on it and it gets better mileage and pulls so much better. It gets better mpg. Not much better - about 15 - 16 mpg- but it pulls so much easier. Empty I have gotten 18-20 mpg going 80 mph on the toll road. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1392
Location: Central Texas | I have a Ford 3/4 ton gas and it's horrible on mpg. The best I get is around 10-12mpg with no trailer. If I'm pulling (three horse steel) the best I'm getting is about 9mpg. My next truck will be diesel. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 629
| Definitely recommend a 3/4 ton.
What it really boils down to is, is it WORTH it, to trade in your car. Make sure it truly financially benefits you. Make sure your payment after trade in isn't more than what it would be to have two payments for a while until the car was paid off, if you can afford to do so. Most often, unless you pay cash for a car, or pay it off very quickly or put a huge down payment, or it's almost paid off, the buyer gets screwed on trade ins. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
| I have 2 friends that use F150s to pull their 3H aluminum stock trailers. Granted they don't haul that far (<100 miles) but they've never had any issues with them. I think they get around 19-23 mpg without the trailer, which isn't too bad. When I bought my diesel pickup the guy was trying to sell me a Toyota Tundra ( I think?) and said that they're becoming more popular with barrel racers and light trailers. My dad has a Tundra and I drove it on a trip and got about 25mpg, not pulling anything. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1182
Location: Do I hear Banjos? | You really do need the 3/4 ton to haul safely. It's not just "can it pull it"...but also "can it stop it".
Lighter trailer? Well then add in 3 horses, and all their accessories and the weight adds up quickly. It will sure put a lot more stress and wear on a 1/2 ton...aside from the safety factor. |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| I have a 2011 Chev Silverado 2500HD and it gets pretty decent mpg. I would say on average with 1 horse its gets 15-16mpg (3 horse aluminum gn). Although I hate driving with without anything, it definetely is made to pull and is much bouncier empty. I would add weight in the back but then its clogging up the bed and I hate moving it back and forth.
We had a 2011 GMC 1500 prior to this and it got good mpg high teens... but it struggled to haul 2 horses in my then steel bp. It drove nice though. |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| I'll probably get slammed for this, but you could buy a Toyota. They have heavier suspension and brakes on their full sized trucks than any other 1/2 ton. We pulled an all steel racecar trailer with racecar with ours and it never missed a lick and was very capable in the stopping department.
It got 17mpg usually as a daily driver. Not the best, but not the worst either. |
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| I just helped find a friend a one owner 3500 cummins diesel with less than 100k miles for under $16k ... on ebay motors ..
These trucks with the cummins will get 20-22mpg running empty and above 16mpg pulling anything you want to pull ...
Here are a couple on ebay right now ... under $15k ...
stay in the 2001-2003 year models and avoid the EPA crap all diesels were forced to put on them in later years ... there are some very nice one owner low mileage trucks that show up on ebay ..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dodge-Ram-2500-ST-/151931486919?forcerrptr=...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dodge-Ram-3500-slt-/272095214775?forcerrptr...
Find you a truck and then sell your car privately vs trading it in ... and run if anyone suggests a Nissan or Toyota truck ... they are city trucks and can't stand up to any work ....
Edited by BARRELHORSE USA 2016-01-06 2:41 PM
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Member
Posts: 48
| I too will recommend a Toyota. My parents pulled a 3 horse gooseneck loaded for bear into the mountains and out with one. They get better mileage than the regular gas trucks. But you would be better off keeping your car and finding an older but well maintained Cummins diesel to pull your trailer with. |
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Veteran
Posts: 169
| Husband drives a Ford 250 diesel, around town he gets about 17 mpg, in the country up to 20 mpg. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 629
Location: Roping pen | Had a 2014 F150 Eco Boost with max tow package and 8' bed. Was a extended cab.
Handled an 18' GN trailer with 5 horses better than some 3/4 tons. Plenty of go and whoa and very little wondering. A bumper pull will add to the possible wondering effect, but I would doubt it. I did pull a 18' bumper pull flat bed a few times, with it hauling a 8k pound skid steer and it handled fine also.
MPG empty was 19-21, with towing above was 12-13. The max tow package adds another leaf spring and heavy tires--very comparable to a 3/4 ton. The 8' box added length and stability.
I would go back to that set up immediately if I had that need. Only reason we sold it, was I won a Dodge 3500 diesel roping.
That would be my recommendation unless you haul in the mountains, than I would go 3/4 ton gas with tow packages. Diesel would be hard to justify with your usage IMO.
Good luck.
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Expert
Posts: 2122
Location: The Great Northwest | Spin Doctor - 2016-01-07 1:52 PM Had a 2014 F150 Eco Boost with max tow package and 8' bed. Was a extended cab. Handled an 18' GN trailer with 5 horses better than some 3/4 tons. Plenty of go and whoa and very little wondering. A bumper pull will add to the possible wondering effect, but I would doubt it. I did pull a 18' bumper pull flat bed a few times, with it hauling a 8k pound skid steer and it handled fine also. MPG empty was 19-21, with towing above was 12-13. The max tow package adds another leaf spring and heavy tires--very comparable to a 3/4 ton. The 8' box added length and stability. I would go back to that set up immediately if I had that need. Only reason we sold it, was I won a Dodge 3500 diesel roping. That would be my recommendation unless you haul in the mountains, than I would go 3/4 ton gas with tow packages. Diesel would be hard to justify with your usage IMO. Good luck.
I have a 2011 and it is the best if your pulling for short trips around the area. |
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | 3/4 ton and gas engine do not go well together for good gas mileage. Expect between 11 and 13 MPG. We love our Cummins trucks! They get awesome gas mileage, and have extroardinary pulling power. Our newest one is a 2013, and our oldest a 1994, and they run strong, and nothing we have tried pulls like one. So, that's my thoughts on it...Dodge with a Cummins all the way! |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | For the limited hauling you do I would not want to have a lot of money tied up in a truck. I would downgrade your car to something more used. I don't know what 45 minutes of driving equates to mileage-wise, but putting a lot of miles on a new car isn't wise. A gently used car isn't going to depreciate as fast as your new car and it's just about as reliable. Ideally if you traded it in and bought your next (older) car with cash you could buy an older pickup and just have 1 payment. |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | Nateracer - 2016-01-06 12:03 PM
I'll probably get slammed for this, but you could buy a Toyota. They have heavier suspension and brakes on their full sized trucks than any other 1/2 ton. We pulled an all steel racecar trailer with racecar with ours and it never missed a lick and was very capable in the stopping department.
It got 17mpg usually as a daily driver. Not the best, but not the worst either.
We have a Tundra 4 wheel drive with mud tires (obviously less mpg than a "normal" truck), but we get around 16 mpg in daily driving. We had a 3 horse steel LQ gooseneck (30 foot) that we hauled loaded to the gills on trail rides, with some of them in the Ozarks, and had no trouble pulling or stopping. It isn't our hauling truck anymore because we bought a bigger trailer. I never doubted the Tundra or was worried when we hauled in it.
Edited by Chandler's Mom 2016-01-06 10:03 PM
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 Miss Positive
Posts: 3554
Location: Crowder, OK | This is just my personal opinion. unless you have an extremely small trailer, i would def go w/at least a 3/4. for saftey more over anything. also, depends on what kind of terrain, if you have alot of hills, its going to be harder on a gas engine going up and down hills verses flat ground. there are honestly good and bad w/every kind of truck, its just being a smart shopper. ask alot of question, there are alot of good forums out there with good info. if you go diesel, do NOT buy a 6.0 or a 6.4 motor diesel. the 7.3s and the new 6.7s are excellent engines. the duramaxes and cummins are good trucks, but again, they all have thier quirks, just be knowledgable about them. the life of a diesel is keeping air/fuel/oil filters changed. once dodges get so many miles on them, be watchful of the fuel pumps, its best to bypass the original with a FAST or Airdog system, you will save yourself alot of issues and cost later on. the biggest issues we see on the newer diesels are all the emissions systems. honestly if they are close or out of warranty, i would only purchase something that has already had the emissions stuff fully deleted, will again save yourself alot of money in the furture.
Gas engines will have to work harder to pull than a diesel but it really depends on what a person wants or needs. good luck with finding the right one. dont forget to check your forums, you can again get alot of good info there. I personnally pull with a 6.7 ford F450. it honestly gets better milage than any 3500 ton Ive used pulling a big trailer, because its made to pull the load so it doesnt have to work as hard......again, all this is just m own personal opinions.
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 Member
Posts: 8
| Totally agree - you need a 3/4 ton if nothing else for safety reasons - to stop!!
For that usage they are all good trucks. I have driven a dodge diesel for many years and get 20 empty and 12-14 pulling a gooseneck stock trailer with four horses. There are plenty of older diesel trucks that you can get that will last a lot longer than a gas truck. Our old one has 400,000 miles on it and it's still going strong.
Good Luck! |
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Duct Tape Bikini Girl
Posts: 2554
| The old 12 valve Cummins are hard to beat, but you have to find one that has been taken care of and that the owner is willing to sell. I have a 95, 5 speed, an an '03, 6 speed. Both get an average of 18 to 20 mpg with Hyw/in town driving. They get 16 pulling 3 horses. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| Went from a half ton gas, towed same trailer a little with a 3/4 ton gas, and now have a 3/4 ton diesel. Night and day love my diesel.
I'm a spreadsheet freak. I was really in the same boat as you and bought a car to keep miles off the 1/2 ton as it was starting to show wear. Then it took a crap. I worked out a sheet with miles traveled daily, the price of gas, etc etc to show if it was worth keepin the car.
For me once I move in the spring the car will make its own payment each month in gas savings as my commute will be longer. And it keeps miles off the truck which is super low miles for the year as it is, I shouldn't have to buy a new truck for a long time if I treat her right.
I'd look at it like that, buying an older solid 3/4ton to haul with (it might take some looking to get good financing terms though on an older one) and keeping the car. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 929
| Three 4 Luck - 2016-01-06 8:08 AM
My husband's half ton gas truck (gmc) averages about 18 mpg, but you're right, you need a 3/4 ton. I've never seen a 3/4 ton gas truck, much less driven one, so I have zero idea of their mpg. A diesel 3/4 can get you those mpg naked, but it's going to cost more to purchase, so...6 of one, half a dozen of the other.
I agree. My husband has the f350 Super Duty with the 7.3 engine...it gets about 19mpg naked or hauling our 3h into the mountains, along the highway, etc. I also had a GMC Suburban 2500 with the 454 engine. It could haul just as much as hubby's dually...but it got about 8mpg naked and 6mpg hauling. Uggh. Right now in California diesel is $2.39 per gallon and gas is back up to $3.09. Its a wash as to whether or not it's cheaper to drive the truck or my little passenger car as we also commute 30 minutes one way. I feel your pain with this.
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | luckyjo - 2016-01-07 11:55 AM The old 12 valve Cummins are hard to beat, but you have to find one that has been taken care of and that the owner is willing to sell. I have a 95, 5 speed, an an '03, 6 speed. Both get an average of 18 to 20 mpg with Hyw/in town driving. They get 16 pulling 3 horses.
Yes! The 12 valve Cummins engines are great (however, 2003's are not 12 valves, they are 24 valves, they changed them in the middle of 1998 from 12 valve to 24 valve). The one 12 valve we have has 228k miles on it and still going strong without issues and we just bought it this past year for me to use. Then the other 12 valve we bought a few years ago has about 148k on it now (low miles for that!) and is clean as new with no problems...I happened to be in Craigslist one night, and the old man who had it passed away and his kids were selling it. We feel lucky to have found that one especially, but both of them. But the good thing with them, if something breaks, you can practically fix them yourselves. My brother works as a mechanic for a company who has contracts for FedEx trucks. They have one 12 valve Cummins that had over 500,000 miles before they rebuilt it, and the only reason they rebuilt it is it had such low oil pressure. Those motors are amazing! |
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 Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | Following...
I'm in the same boat, except it's my SUV that's on its last limb.
I would love to trade my 2003 Chevy 2500 and my 4-Runner for a nice truck. But, I'm scared of diesels and I would miss the extra space in the 4-Runner.
But, not sure either excuse is worth a payment... I'll probably replace them one at a time, eventually.
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