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  Independent Cuss
Posts: 3978
    
Location: Dearing, GA | Come January I'm going to be looking for a truck. I'll be hauling a two horse bumper pull, so I don't need anything crazy big, but I don't know where to start looking. I used to haul with a 1999 F150 but I need something now with more power. I'm open to Chevy, Ford, Dodge, etc. What do y'all recommend? |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 871
Location: Bama | I'm looking as well. My dad stresses 3/4 ton. They are much safer than 1/2 ton trucks. I'm looking at older 6.0 chevys and 7.3 f250s.
I just want to add that you should be careful with the 6.0 Ford diesels. They are known to have issues BUT Ford is now offering a "fix". If you find one that has already been bulletproofed, you should be ok. They do work great when they are actually running. I think the next engine they made had the same issues. I'd just do tons of research.
Good luck!
Edited by palominopaintlover 2015-12-06 4:33 PM
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Your going to get so many different opinions on what truck to get, I have a Dodge dully and a Ford Super Duty V-10 3/4 ton truck bigger motor more gas but I never know that my trailer is back there, I use either for hauling, never had a problem with either one and the ford is a 06 and Dodge is a 05. I think you would do with a 3/4 ton truck for a two horse bumper pull. I really like my Ford. Are you going for a disel or gas? I know that you have mountains to drive threw. |
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Independent Cuss
Posts: 3978
Location: Dearing, GA | Southtxponygirl - 2015-12-06 3:23 PM
Your going to get so many different opinions on what truck to get, I have a Dodge dully and a Ford Super Duty V-10 3/4 ton truck bigger motor more gas but I never know that my trailer is back there, I use either for hauling, never had a problem with either one and the ford is a 06 and Dodge is a 05. I think you would do with a 3/4 ton truck for a two horse bumper pull. I really like my Ford. Are you going for a disel or gas? I know that you have mountains to drive threw.
I don't have too bad mountains anymore cause I'm in west TN now. But I want a gas if I can. |
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | I prefer Dodge 3/4 tons with a Cummins engine. :) |
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Expert
Posts: 1314
Location: North Central Iowa Land of white frozen grass | You will want a 3/4 or a 1 ton. Horsepower is horsepower to get you going whether its in a light pickup or a dually. Its stopping power that you need and the stiff suspention that you need for sway control with a bumper pull. You will never recoup the up front cost and fuel cost and repair cost of a diesel. LOL though as I have 2 diesels but really its just a personnel things to drive a diesel. You need to get something that will keep you safe. All the newer trucks are a lot better than trucks made just years ago. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | palominopaintlover - 2015-12-06 1:14 PM I'm looking as well. My dad stresses 3/4 ton. They are much safer than 1/2 ton trucks. I'm looking at older 6.0 chevys and 7.3 f250s. I just want to add that you should be careful with the 6.0 Ford diesels. They are known to have issues BUT Ford is now offering a "fix". If you find one that has already been bulletproofed, you should be ok. They do work great when they are actually running. I think the next engine they made had the same issues. I'd just do tons of research. Good luck!
You're right, the Ford 6.0 and 6.4 both had issues. The 6.7 is great and the older 7.3s were awesome. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 100
Location: Oklahoma | Chevy/GMC Duramax 2500 HD or 3500 will pull Anything You need... Make sure its Bone Stock!!! The Programers / Controllers like Bully Dog etc are pretty hard on pistons & known to crack em!!! That comes from a Reliable source!!! IF You get a 6.0 Chevy Gasser take it to a Reputable shop that Tunes LSx motors & have them Enable Lean Mode its good for 4 or 5mpg :) Found that out After We traded ours in :( 14.6mph stock for a 4x4 crew cab 18.6 or 19.6 woulda kept it in the driveway!!! The 2wd reg cab 6.0 Chevy we had got 19.0 stock...
Furds the 7.3 is the best one per My buddy thats a Master Ford Tech. The newer 6.7 is Ok I guess & the 6.0 & 6.4 are supposed to have a kit to "fix" em...
Dodge get a Cummins!!! The Hemi sucks doin tune ups on & MPGs arent all that unless is the newest ones!!! I was a Dodge tech for awhile & hated the 16 spark plugs & wires that had to be changed Every Tune Up at 30k Unless the Owner upgraded to Platinums like I Always recommended then it was 60k LoL Still 4.5hrs is what the Dealer charged for labor...
I have a buddy thats a pretty good wrench & He told Me a little tidbit that rings True!!! All Diesels have their Quirks but He has a Duramax & Cummins & his Dad has a few Cummins... My Dad had a Cummins & Now has a Duramax... I have a Chevy 6.5 Turbo Diesel & it aint bad till I hit the mountains... Itll either get a turbo & injector upgrade or Duramax swap :) But then again I dont haul anywhere but the Vet so it depends on how froggy I feel LoL Hope My 2cents Helps... |
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | Gas vs diesel is a pay now or pay later issue.
Diesels are more expensive pretty much all the way around. But, you get much more for your money. More expensive to buy, more expensive fuel, repairs are more expensive. But, you get a longer life out of the engine and, better fuel mileage. Plus, they don't need to be worked on as often.
Gas 3/4 tons are much cheaper to buy. Gas is cheaper. Repairs are cheaper. But, even a well maintained gas truck will have a shorter life (mileage-wise).
You will fix more on a gas truck, more often. And will have to replace it sooner.
I have done limited hauling and here is my two cents. I have a 6.0 GMC gas truck. It pulls nice and functions a a VERY comfortable daily driver. My biggest gripe is that the fuel tank is way too small for a truck that gets 11mpg. That truck is snappy, fast, fun to drive and I don't have to wait for it to warm up before I can run to town. The repairs have been reasonable. The problems are well known for this year range (2005, and it sucks when you don't know what the problem is and have to do trial and error parts replacement).
I recently replaced that truck with a 2000 7.3 diesel. I bought it from family and knew its history. It's the cleanest one I've seen in a while, and I have been looking for one. It was more expensive than the gas truck, and older than the other one. So, the cost up front was more. Diesel is more at the pump. But, this truck will have a longer life after it's paid for.
If you're pinching pennies right now, get a gas truck. Do your research on common problem for that year truck. And be sure you're getting something that won't need a lot of work.
I have heard that the 6.4 ford diesels are great, strong engines if what you want is a modified truck. If you live in an area that requires emissions testing, stay away from 7.3's and 6.4's. The newer 6.7 fords and 2500 Chevy/gmc's are about even from what I've heard.
Dodge has a great cummins engine. You can find them cheap. But, there is a reason for that. The interior and everything surrounding the engine & transmission is cheaply made and is going to fall apart long before the engine & transmission do. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 540
Location: My own little world :) | I traded in my 2009 Dodge 3500 for a 2012 Ford F350 and am so glad I made the switch! They are both diesels and they are also both the 6.7L but the Dodge had nothing but problems. I recently hauled a 28ft steel trailer full of calves on a 5 hour drive with hills and winding roads and you didn't even know anything was behind you. The ford has a ton of power and rides and handles really nice! |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| How about whatever you can afford ........ |
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Independent Cuss
Posts: 3978
Location: Dearing, GA | lindseylou2290 - 2015-12-07 8:41 AM How about whatever you can afford ........
Thankfully I can afford quite a bit, so I was looking for options. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Just Let Me Run - 2015-12-07 6:08 PM lindseylou2290 - 2015-12-07 8:41 AM How about whatever you can afford ........ Thankfully I can afford quite a bit, so I was looking for options.
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