Buying first truck - any recomendations/ things to avoid?
Hi,
I am actually currently driving a classic 1983 Dodge ram that served me well last year but is a hog on gas and can only hold a yard of mulch, 1/2 yard of screening and maybe a half skid of bricks or stone. So I am looking to buy another truck this year and am wondering what suggestions you fine folks might have. Now, I know people take their trucks very personally and the Ford guys like Fords and the Chevy guys like Chevy's but I wonder if anyone can suggest what I need to carry at least a yard of screening and a skid of bricks (not at the same time) for example I believe the F150 is too light for this so a 250? Has anyone switched manufacturers and been surprised/disappointed? Any advice would be great. Oh, I'm planning on buying used - probably down around the 2002 - 2004's
I think the most important consideration is what you think you'll use the truck for in the coming 3-5 years. Will you need to haul 5 yards of screenings? 7 yards of mulch? Or will a skid of brick be about the biggest, heaviest thing you'll need to move for the next few years? If so, yeah, a 250 or 2500 (or 350 or 3500 HD) will probably do you just fine.
If you think you'll need a little more, consider something like a F600 or F700, or a 4500 or 5500. And think hard about how you want to be loading and unloading materials. Stake sides? Stake sides w/ dumping ability? Dump body?
I've had great luck with the Isuzus. Dependability has been great and because of their design (much lower unlaiden weight).. an Isuzu with a 17,500 GVW (or 12,500) has a much greater payload capacity than a standard Chevy, Ford, Dodge similarly rated. ...Plus the added manueverability if that matters.
I mainly work in the city so I am dealing mostly with smaller, local loads (meaning if I need 2 yards of screening I can get that in two trips if need be). So for ford I'd be looking at the 250, the Chevy would be the 2500, does anybody like Dodge?
Isuzu's are a bit bigger I believe, they are the ones with no hood - I definitely like how compact they are but a bit big for my needs right now.
Isuzu's are a bit bigger I believe, they are the ones with no hood
Actually they are shorter than a similarly rated standard pickup. And you can get whatever length bed you want. My one is Isuzu with a 12 foot bed is actually shorter (and much more maneuverable) than my four door F350 with an 8 foot bed.
So if you shorten the bed to 10 feet and only have a 2 door pickup, it will still be shorter.So you've gained cargo area and payload capacity.
Also remember to buy the truck with the future in mind. Unless you plan on never growing at all, don't just buy equipment for exactly how you used it yesterday...That will save you from having to buy another or resell when you you expand even the smallest amount.
I would go with a HD 1 ton dump body with tarp system. Its probably the most versatile size for most landscapers. The manufacturer is mostly a personal preference. The 1 tons have a decent cost of ownership and typically hold their value well for resale.
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Rick Hayden
Hayden Landscaping Inc.
www.haydenlandscaping.com
I've got an '01 f-350 and an '02 F-550 that I have not at all been satisfied as far as reliability and the dealer's capabilities to make warranty repairs. I've been plagued by different problems since the trucks reached 6 months old. I've always been a Ford guy but I'll be hard pressed to buy another.
My buddy owns an excavation company and ran Ford service trucks, he's switched to Chevys and had much better luck with reliability.
As far as size, you'll need a 2500HD minimum, but look to the future. If there's any possibility at all that you might need a bigger truck, then look at a 4500 or 5500, they really don't cost all that much more. I wouldn't consider a truck without a dump body.
[quote=Pelican;60757]I've got an '01 f-350 and an '02 F-550 that I have not at all been satisfied as far as reliability and the dealer's capabilities to make warranty repairs. I've been plagued by different problems since the trucks reached 6 months old. I've always been a Ford guy but I'll be hard pressed to buy another.
QUOTE]
Do they both have the 7.3 ps in there, or are they gas. I can't see you having any re-occurring problems with the diesel motor, that was one of their best motors.
Yes, they are both PowerStrokes. Believe me, I'm not making this up. Oil leaks, CPSs, IDM, the list goes on. I don't want to get myself worked up over it, they haven't had catastrophic failures like the 6.0s but they've been on the hook far too many times and laid up for far too long. I service them faithfully and don't abuse them. From what I hear the new ones are even worse.
Ford has always had issues with their trainy I don't know a single ford that hasn't had issues with it from 97 my biggest grief is with their designs who the hell build a truck that a simple oil pan that cost $100 has to be a $2,000 job to replace since you have to take the engine out and there's no way around it and ford has so many rusted pans out there just do a search on google but they will deny it and claim is an unusual problem.
When I started my business I bought a 250 97 ford that only used for lawn maintenance as I tarted to do more hardscaping and landscaping a started looking for a bigger truck and bough a new f-350 diesel I tough it was big enough for my needs had the stake body but also a hoist all it was good until I found out that legally I could only carry about a ton or so such a big truck for so little payload, now I now the f-350 are build to be able to handle more but I don't think a f-250 or similar would hold more than that legally and I would be real concern since around here the fine for overweight is about a dollar per pound which I found out the hard way.
My resolution from now on is to switch trucks every five years.
and pay close attention to how much you can haul and pull with the truck your about to buy.
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"Any husband making shape and color decisions has to show written consent from wife" no exceptions
..pay close attention to how much you can haul and pull with the truck your about to buy
Agreed. Find out the weight of the truck when empty and subtract that from the GVW and you'll find what you're payload capacity is. Alot of people will be shocked to see how little their "One ton dumps" can haul...legally.
I've had all the fords from 1989 and up to 2008, never had a problem with any tranny's blowing or motors failing. I work them hard. I hear all the crap ones go south and the good ones come up to Canada. lol
Thanks for all the great posts. I have been looking into dump and Stake (steak?) trucks but they seem to be a bit over my budget for this year (5-7K) so I think I will look at a 250 or 350 or a GM or Dodge equivalent. Does anyone manage with a small beefy 4x4 like a Ranger or a Tacoma?
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