3/4 ton thoughts

[vandeman17]

I currently have an 06 f-150 with about 120k miles that doesn't get driven besides weekends, hunting trips etc since I have a company rig. I am considering upgrading to something a bit newer but also to a 3/4 ton. The reason for the 3/4 ton would be to have the ability to pull a horse trailer but also a flat bed trailer for when we get hay. I am not very well versed in 3/4 tons since all my pickups have been 1/2. Any recommendations for something reliable and that won't break the bank? I would prefer gas but open to diesel if that is the consensus better choice.

[JimmyHoffa]

What percentage of the use time would you expect it to be towing the horse/hay vs other weekend use?  If just casual tow, maybe gas; if majority tow, I'd look more towards the diesel.

[vandeman17]

What percentage of the use time would you expect it to be towing the horse/hay vs other weekend use?  If just casual tow, maybe gas; if majority tow, I'd look more towards the diesel.

The horse/hay haul would be 5-6 times per year I would guess. Maybe travel trailer a couple times but its light so no issues there. Majority of trips would be scouting, hunting, leisure etc.

[92xj]

Marry her before buying a truck to pull her horse trailer

[Blacktail Sniper]

What percentage of the use time would you expect it to be towing the horse/hay vs other weekend use?  If just casual tow, maybe gas; if majority tow, I'd look more towards the diesel.

 


When I was looking, I considered a diesel, but just couldn't justify the added costs of properly maintaining vs the actual need/amount of use.

Went with a 2003 Super Duty with the V-10.  Came with air bags already installed by previous owner.

So far has done everything asked of it, including hauling an older (heavy, all steel) horse trailer to Montana, then back loaded.  Averaged just under 11 mpg on that trip.

Extended cab, 4wd, long bed, gets right at 13 mpg when using locally, empty or loaded, not great by newer trucks standards, but it is consistent!

160,000ish miles on it, about 15,000 of which I have put on it and the only issue (knock on wood) has been a bad coil pack...

For the costs of new or even newer, used trucks these days, I plan on keeping this one going for as long as I possibly can.

[vandeman17]

Marry her before buying a truck to pull her horse trailer

Travel trailer upgrade is in near future for old man and I so that is major reason as well.

[rtspring]

Never owned a 3/4 ton before I got mine 4 years ago.  The bad, ride quality is way worse than any 1/2 ton.  3/4 ton diesels are crap in snow unless you load the bed with weight. Then you can go anywhere dang near. 

Goods, you feel like your driving a TRUCK, power for days,  can pretty much pull anything anywhere. 

[2MANY]

Get a 1 ton.
or plan on air bags.

[Henrydog]

I have a 2012 Dodge 3/4 with a gas hemi....did not want to deal with the diesel crap.  I tow a 2 axel horse trailer 3-4 times a year, a 16 foot camp trailer 20 days a year, and a 16 foot boat 50 time a year.  Zero issues.  Gas econ sucks when pulling other than that no complaints.  I get about 14mph mixed city and freeway.

[Buzz2401]

Own a 3/4 GMC HD gasser and have never been disappointed in my decision.  Have had zero problems in last 10 years and tow loads varying between 2k to 8k.  I could put my 8.5' camper in bed and tow my 23' glass boat with no issues.  What has been said about putting weight in back and ride quality are very true, I will often through my quad in back of truck just to help it ride better lol.

[Crunchy]

I love my 3/4 ton and ride is an improvement over my old 1/2 ton.  I went diesel with no regrets.  It tows like a beast.  I tow a lot more between my boat and utility trailer for hunting, but gets around town just fine and better gas mileage than my 1/2 ton got.

[Stein]

Own a 3/4 GMC HD gasser and have never been disappointed in my decision.  Have had zero problems in last 10 years and tow loads varying between 2k to 8k.  I could put my 8.5' camper in bed and tow my 23' glass boat with no issues.  What has been said about putting weight in back and ride quality are very true, I will often through my quad in back of truck just to help it ride better lol.

That's what I am looking at buying.  I don't need a diesel and the extra purchase cost and maintenance aren't worth it.

[Pnwrider]

Ride quality issues are easily solved with properly tuned suspension. I helped a buddy instal a Carli lift kit on his diesel and it rides amazing. I have a ram 2500 with a Cummins and could never go back to a gasser. The newer diesels are much quieter and stink way less. Better fuel economy towing (which equates to less fill ups with the trailer attached), better resale, and gobs of torque. Best of all, no sound transit line item on my tabs because my truck weighs so much!

[yorketransport]

I've had 1/2, 3/4 and 1 ton trucks and I ended up going back to the 3/4 ton and couldn't be happier. I went with a 2005 Duramax just because that's what I found for the right price when I was shopping around. I'm happy with it but I doubt I'd notice a big difference if I'd gone with a gas instead. My truck has a 4.10:1 rear end and I still get 15 mpg when pulling a 10,000 # trailer. That's better than I got in my 3/4 gas F250 with the 5.4L and the 3.73:1 rear end but probably not enough to be a deal breaker.

I may get flamed for this, but my 3/4 Chevy rides as smooth as all the F150s I've been in from the same model years. I haven't spent enough time comparing other years so maybe it's better now.

I don't think you'd be unhappy with any of the 3/4 ton trucks. I know that when I had a 1/2 I would constantly find myself wishing for a little more capacity when I loaded it up. I've never felt under equipped with the 3/4 though.

[Special T]

The new diesels are garbage. For the small amount of towing your gonna do buy a gas rig. The only circa 08 diesels worth a Damn have had all the emissions crap deleted. I have a couple of companies I deal with whom have  ditched their diesel service trucks for gas because the diesels spent too much time in the shop.

I'm a big diesel fan but unless you buy an older one and live in an area where you can do a delete, buy a gaser.

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