deciding on a truck

So with me trying to expand a little and since I like pick ups I am looking for a truck that will haul what I need it to and get at least ok mileage. I know I have hundreds of options so I wanted to see what you guys are using and maybe get some tips on what to look for. First and most important I want something that will last a while and won't need a ton of work as in stuff going bad. I also want a 4x4 because of where I live and what i would be doing with it but here comes my indecision, should I get a 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton? I don't think I would need a 1 ton but what do you guys think? will 1/2 get the job done? I plan on an 8ft bed so I can get bigger loads and I want something that will pull good which is why I'm leaning toward a 3/4, I just use my brother 1/2 to haul about 1200lbs and it was sagging more then I would have liked it too.

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/tools...our-truck.html

Might give you an idea of what others are using already.

I did look through that and it didn't really help, I guess I should say what is a good truck to start with that I will be able to throw anything at

Also I didn't mention,I have an 84 bronco. Has anyone used one of these? If so how well did it do, I'm still fixing mined up right now

BigDog, what kind of scrapping will you be focusing on at first?

When you get to bigger trucks that can haul more, you get into bigger engines and bad gas mileage. I don't know how you are going to get around that. It just takes more power to move a heavier truck.

I also think most of the newer trucks are being built better and better. If you do some basic maintenance I would expect any truck to last 200k. Change the oil, transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid, like you are suppose to and you would be surprised how long vehicles last.

russell, I am just getting into the driving around looking for stuff and putting my name out phase, my hopes are to get some regulars and maybe start picking up cars and bigger items like that

Phantoms001: right now I am looking at trucks around 1997 and up the trouble is finding one I can afford that I dont have to dump money into, I am handy around cars as that is the career I would like to go into my main problem is funds

If you're just curb shopping, Id recommend a 4 cylinder pick up. I cant see making money with worse gas mileage while curb siding. Id parlay whatever you can make through your trash finds into a small cheap trailer something small and light that a small truck can pull, when you have dedicated stops/ regular customers. maybe a 4x8-5x10 flatbed with a 2k gvwr.

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Originally Posted by bigdog72

russell, I am just getting into the driving around looking for stuff and putting my name out phase, my hopes are to get some regulars and maybe start picking up cars and bigger items like that

Phantoms001: right now I am looking at trucks around 1997 and up the trouble is finding one I can afford that I dont have to dump money into, I am handy around cars as that is the career I would like to go into my main problem is funds

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GovDeals.. always an option. If you know your way around a truck you can do okay on CL if you are patient. Trucks do hold their value. I totally understand about the money thing. I am driving a 1995 dakota I picked up for 500.00 off of CL and it has been running for over a year. The only problem I've had was it needed a new starter this winter, 220k.

I've been on CL for quite some time haha, I am kind of partial to like a ranger or dakota or something like that and I have my bronco for the heavier stuff but idk I dont think something that small would suit me well. I'm driving my brothers ram 1500 now and really like it I get about 11 mpg, not too crazy about that but it could be worse

Unless you get a 4 cycl 5 speed pickup, not very many of the mini pickups have very good fuel mileage. To me it's a wash, if you go for mileage you got a pita manual and aren't able to tow much, or go with a v6, or larger, with an auto and fuel mileage isn't great and your not able to tow as much as a full sized pickup.

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Originally Posted by bigdog72

I've been on CL for quite some time haha, I am kind of partial to like a ranger or dakota or something like that and I have my bronco for the heavier stuff but idk I dont think something that small would suit me well. I'm driving my brothers ram 1500 now and really like it I get about 11 mpg, not too crazy about that but it could be worse

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That must have a 5.9 in it to get 11mpg, what a gas hog. At 3.50 a gallon that is a big expense. I think they may have put a 3.6 in some full size Dodges. I personally wouldn't want a truck with an engine larger than 5.0 unless it's a diesel because of the gas costs.

It is a 5.9 but I like the power it has.

taterjuice: I was just doing some research and thinking the same thing, I guess my next question is, is there a big difference in mileage between 1/2 tons and 3/4 tons?

nope not much if any at all

that being said i can never go back to half ton once you move up it"s hard to roll backward

big dog if your are looking into moving cars a 2500 series should be a minimum requirement the forces on a half ton will a wear it out alot quicker and b it"s not how you get the load going but when you need to STOP you

'll appreciate the stiffer frame and upgraded braking

I don't want to hijack this thread, but this is related to the topic very closely. What is the deal with payload ratings, or more specifically the naming of 1/2, 3/4, 1 ton trucks? I have a relatively small pickup - 2004 tacoma. It's rated for a 1500lb payload. Does that make it a 3/4 ton truck? Very confusing.

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Originally Posted by ryanw

I don't want to hijack this thread, but this is related to the topic very closely. What is the deal with payload ratings, or more specifically the naming of 1/2, 3/4, 1 ton trucks? I have a relatively small pickup - 2004 tacoma. It's rated for a 1500lb payload. Does that make it a 3/4 ton truck? Very confusing.

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The main difference between the different ratings is the suspension, axle, gears, frame, and breaks.

It's all about the weight that they can haul.

150/1500 = 1/2 ton
250/2500 = 3/4 ton
350/3500 = 1 ton

The towing abilities are covered by the GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Restricted) that is the maximum the truck, trailer, payload, fuel and passengers can weigh together. This number is greatly influenced by individual configuration. Maximum tow ratings are decided by the individual configuration of the truck and subtracting the weight of the vehicle from the GCWR.

In general:

150/1500 has a GCWR of 13,000-15,000 pounds and a tow rating of 6,000-10,000 pounds.

250/2500 has a GCWR of 19,000-20,900 pounds and a tow rating of 12,500-14,000 pounds.

350/3500 has a GCWR of 21,000-29,000 pounds and a tow rating of 14,000-17,500 pounds.

While your truck can MAX OUT at 1500 pounds, a true 1500 can haul much more, it can also tow more. I've had 2000 pounds in my little Dakota and made it around just fine but it felt like I was on a boat swaying side to side around turns.

Thanks everyone this has helped a lot, now I get to search more on CL till I find something decent I can afford haha

Bigdog for what its worth. I used an s10 for mainly curb shopping, it gets around 18 mpg. Most times I can make money with that kind of mileage. I also have a 250 to tow a 16 ft trailer for larger loads. I loose my butt if I try to curbshop with the 250. Its only getting around 10 mpg. Use the right tool for the right job. whatever direction you choose to go.

1979 - 1996 ford f150 or f250 straight six motor ..... indestructible ... engine ... and good fuel mileage with a 4 speed or 5 speed stick ... i just sold my 1985 f150 like a month ago ... thing could pull a house and still get like 12 mpg ... empty with no trailer i averaged like 20 per gallon free way driving was a lil less cause i had a carb leak at high speeds but city driving that truck did everything i asked ....

been there b4 .... 1 ton in the bed and 1 and half tons on the trailer in an 89 dakota ... brakes were on fire .. .could barely stop that load

I will definitely be getting city mpg no matter what I drive, but I don't want to just use the truck for scrapping which is why something like an s10 would do me so well. and I don't see myself driving through neighborhoods just yet searching for stuff and I could get both trucks which eventually I probably will but I have to many vehicles for my age haha and don't need more stuff sitting around just yet, I might end up selling the bronco I have for a truck but not sure yet

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Originally Posted by scrapGAME

been there b4 .... 1 ton in the bed and 1 and half tons on the trailer in an 89 dakota ... brakes were on fire .. .could barely stop that load

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you put that much weight on a dakota! thats a dedicated scrapper right there

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I might end up selling the bronco I have for a truck but not sure yet

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Maybe do a horsetrade, C.L has a category for that.

I'm not sure how well an 84 bronco will do, picked it up for free and still need to finish up on it. It's kind of going to be a toy haha

i've had a few nissan hardbodies (87-94) and was getting 24mpg with the automatic. with the rack and trailer the most i ever had in one load was 7000. on the farm we ran early 80's datsun desiels and they would get 30-35mpg but they were a real slug if you tried to put a trailer behind them.

currently i am driving a 06 jeep liberty w or w/o a two axle box trailer and i have a 77 chev 3/4 set up with a 5th wheel/gooseneck which i normally avoid driving unless i need to pull a larger trailer. it has the stock 350 so gets the 10-12 mpg and dosn't have the gobs of hp that everybody thinks you need to tow. it just takes alot longer to accelerate. but it is old enough when i was scrapping boats i could burn the old gas in there for free.

i'd look for a late 90's nissan if i was going to buy another scrap hauller. or go drop the 50k on a new dodge megacab diesel.

get the best you can afford, a dakota will be fine, that was my first truck in 92 and i pulled a kubota tractor all over the the hills in northern ar, just be sensible driving and leave plenty of room. we have a dakota now to do a motor swap on and we are going to use it to run errands and trips to the parts store, plenty of bed space and can tow a car on occasion if need be.
i will go a step farther and add a little to what liberty said about going backwards, these are my personal preferences and by no means fact just my opinion
1. if you ever drive a 3/4 ton you won't want to go back to a 1/2 ton
2. if you ever drive a 1 ton you wont want to go back to a 3/4 ton
3. and if you ever drive a 4x4 you won't want to go back to a 2wd
4. personal preferences on the above and for sure on this one, but after driving a diesel i would hate to go back to gas for hauling bigger loads
5. after having a flat bed i also wouldn't want a regular bed

bottom line, get what you want, we all have our favorites, but you won't be totally happy unless you get what you want. im done with major purchases for A WHILE as i have bought 3 trucks for keepers in the last few months, but that doesnt mean i don't eyeball those dodge 5500s

Or keep your eye open for one of these Intl.'s

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...CXT_pickup.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...tional_CXT.jpg

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The International CXT or Commercial Extreme Truck is a very large pickup truck. Introduced in September 2004, the CXT is 21.5 ft long with a 9 ft tall cab. It is the largest production pickup truck on the market, its curb weight of 14,500 lb is around twice the weight of a Hummer H1. Its GVWR is 25,999 lb.

The CXT is built on an International 7300 chassis and is equipped with the DT 466 diesel engine and is capable of towing up to 20 tons while its air-ride cab and individual bucket seats offer a smooth ride for the driver and four adult passengers.

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theres a yellow one here i see every now and then, i think it belongs to one of the landscape services here, i remember an article i read about them a few years back, i think the title was something like MAKE THOSE LITTLE 3/4 TONS TREMBLE IN FEAR or something to that effect. lol

If I had a good business going I would have one of these, It would be great advertising. Put it in parades with your advertising on the sides.
You couldn't buy that much publicity. Use it for hauling cars and people would always be looking at ya. And a 100% tax write-off. Built on a pickup frame.

http://blogs.cars.com/.a/6a00d83451b...07fc970b-800wi

http://blogs.cars.com/.a/6a00d83451b...0a63970b-800wi

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2010/11...8-wheeler.html

This baby right here is the way to go! And, ondareal...when things get slow, you can just saw a few of the accessories off, for curb-shoppin-gas-cash

Talk about "stealth"! nobody would ever know if you were out shoppin at curbco, or just out for a sunday gotameetin drive :D


http://cdn.trendhunterstatic.com/php...280_2_600.jpeg

the way I am looking at it now is I only have so much to spend so all the trucks I am looking at are around the same price so I might as well get the bigger truck, after talking with some friends I'm keeping my eye out for a decent F-250.

and as for everyone saying it's hard to go backwards I frequently switch from a 1/2 ton gas to a 3/4 diesel depending on what I am doing but I guess I can't say that much because the 1/2 doesn't have a hitch so I've never pulled with it haha

If you dont intend to do any towing I think a compact pickup with a 4 cylinder would be good. (Ford Ranger, Chevy S10. Mazda B Series, Toyota and Nissan Pickups). Another option to consider is a full size pickup with a 6 cylinder engine, such as the F-150. Sadly you really do have to choose performance or mpg you can't really have both unless you are willing to shell out big bucks for a new hybrid pickup.

I drive a 5sp, v6 rwd Dakota right now that my boss is loaningto me and it's a big gas hog for a small truck. I figure if i'm going to be spending that much on gas anyway I might as well get a full size with a v6 and enjoy the extra room in the bed and towing power.

I'm leaning towards an F-150 with a straight six right now.

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Originally Posted by scrapGAME

1979 - 1996 ford f150 or f250 straight six motor ..... indestructible ... engine ... and good fuel mileage with a 4 speed or 5 speed stick ... i just sold my 1985 f150 like a month ago ... thing could pull a house and still get like 12 mpg ... empty with no trailer i averaged like 20 per gallon free way driving was a lil less cause i had a carb leak at high speeds but city driving that truck did everything i asked ....

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I absolutely love my Ol' 96 F-150. Straight six 5 speed with an 8 foot bed. I don't pull a trailer, but i have no problems taking 800 pound loads in. About 20 mpg on a bulletproof motor that's pretty cheap to repair. I do wish it was 4x, but so far I have'nt gotten it stuck... I did however just discover a broken leaf spring shackle, so my bed is resting on the springs. No more heavy loads for me until that gets fixed!

in response to your response, I mainly specialize in steel and non ferrous... Most of my load consists of metal or electronic parts or internals..

big dog you really need a f250 with a 6 cyl best of both world s milage and power for towing

liberty I ended up getting a chevy 2500 hd ex. cab 8 ft bed, only had it for about two weeks and it has been amazing

good luck with it hopefully not a duracrap

nope gas 6.0L so far so good