Buying a pick up truck

[swede]

I know it would happen one day, not just so soon

Currently living in Duluth, MN, I find I need a pick-up truck

Towing snowmobiles, posibly a boat, and after today a horse, so with the little money I have left after that I will buy a pick up truck but know nothing about them.

Need to be 4 wheel drive thats about it. I dont want to spend a lot because I will only drive it once in a blue moon, maybe around $10K

What can I get for $10K? What should I NOT get?

[BUELL XB12R]

I say get the newest Ford F150 you can, those things are bullet proof. My dad's last two have went 200K miles with out having to work on them at all. I'm talking he has not had to change a water pump, starter, alternator, or even any belts.

[megatron]

Swede, since you will be towing (boat / horse), a minimum of 1/2 ton full size with a 5L+ V8 is a must. I have had both Dodge and Chevy in the past. I would recommend either a Gen 3 Dodge Ram (02-08) with a 5.7L hemi (the 4.7L is too weak to pull) or a 99-06 Chevy with a 5.3L. Either one, you should be able to get one for under 10k. The Dodge Hemi is a great motor while the Chevy has a nicer interior. There are tons of Chevy trucks out there so it should be a easy find, while used Dodge has the worst full size truck resale (translate to better deal). Also, 2WD can pull more given the same motor vs a 4WD, but the fact that you live it MN now.... You should get the 4WD.

[fishguy]

I own 2 trucks, both chevys.
get 3/4, or 1 ton for hauling.
I have a 97 chevy 1 ton duallly crewcab with ~ 115K miles 454 gas motor.
if i were to sell it i could likely only get around $5K for it.
I would get something that will allow you to pull anything.
the crew cab is really nice because not only can you bring other people comfortably, you can throw tons of $hit back there.
I get about 8 mpg towing or not, it doesnt matter what, if anything i am pulling.
dont get 4x4 unless you think you will need it.
hope that helps.

[swede]

Thanks for your input guys, looking at a Chevy, Ford F150, and a used H2 at the moment.

Did not really want a Hummer but they are really cheap used at the moment.

I realize that I need a crew cab to carry passesengers and currently living in Northern MN I think I will need 4X4 to tow my sleds.

Thanks again Gent's.

M

[wantanelise]

a crew cab 1/2 ton towing more than 5k is going to be slow as death, from accelerating to stopping. How heavy is a horse and trailer? How many sleds? Full trailer or open or clamshell?

[NMRJock]

I've towed with gas and diesel and when you're towing more than 8k# or so there is no contest, I would without a doubt buy a diesel.

[...m...]

...trucks in general are fantastic deals right now in urban/suburban areas; they only seem to be holding value out in the country where folks actually use them...good luck!..

[adamjayp]

My vote is with the Chevy and a 5.3L v8. I'd go with the 2500 if you can find one in your price range, but the 1500 will do everything you've described... Just keep in mind the quad-cab and a long bed make for a bus-length truck. Walk around the front not the back if you need to go to the other side. No offense to anyone either, but recommending him to get a 2wd just doesn't really make sense for what he said he needs it for. Towing in snow in a 2wd truck is an accident looking for a place to happen. Assuming you can get it to move at all that is.

[lotus69f2]

Spend alittle extra and get a diesel. If you are buying a truck to have the cargo capacity of a pick up bed than a 150 level truck with a gas engine, even the small one is usually adequate. If you are planning on towing and there is any heft to the load, the diesel do a much better job.

[Green Ghost]

some Q’s
what size boat?
what size horse trailer?
Are you needing the bed of the truck (plywood, dirty stuff) or just the towing ability.

All the low number pickups are light weight (F150, Chevy 1500, Dodge 1500) and so are all Toyota and Nissan trucks. I don’t care how much it says Heavy Duty on it, their light weight. If the boat is small then any of these will do. The horse trailer…. well I would need to see it.

Also how cold is it where you live (Diesel doesn’t like cold so much) and how hilly is it?

To me the truck to get is a Ford F250 with the diesel motor. Second chose is the Dodge 2500. But depending on what you are pulling if these are needed.

As for me I had a F550. When the need is back I will not F around and I will get a F450 or 550.

[NMRJock]

I've done 8-10k miles in a ~'00 F550 with a dump bed. Most of it towing big loads.

It's a very serious truck. It was also a bear to drive in an 'urban' environment. Just a trip to Walmart meant parking way at the back of the lot because it would take up four spaces. If I didn't have to pull ~20k# of trailer I'd want something a bit more 'conventional.'

[Green Ghost]

Just read your second post. The Ford Excursion goes relatively cheap right now and comes with the Diesel motor, 4 wheel drive, and is a heavy duty frame.

[lotus69f2]

Originally Posted by Green Ghost

Just read your second post. The Ford Excursion goes relatively cheap right now and comes with the Diesel motor, 4 wheel drive, and is a heavy duty frame.

While I think most people who bought giant SUV's over the past decade are idots for doing so and have no need for the size and utility they provide, this may actually be a good choice. t is a heavy duty chassis, with the same towing capacity as a truck, but with better interior appointments and seating capacity.

THe only reason to choose the pick up over it is because of the utility of a pick up bed - for orversized and messy loads, which for you may be relevant since you have a horse. Tossing a bunch of hay bales in the back of an Excusion probably wouldn't work very well.

[wantanelise]

Originally Posted by NMRJock

I've towed with gas and diesel and when you're towing more than 8k# or so there is no contest, I would without a doubt buy a diesel.

Was the gas a 3/4 ton then? A diesel will be easier but my 2500 has no problem with 10k.

Gas vs diesel is the truck equivalent to Elise vs Exige. It will never end. My vote goes for gas everytime until Im towing 8-10k; more than 3 days a week, until then I like gas for a few reasons.

[wantanelise]

Originally Posted by lotus69f2

While I think most people who bought giant SUV's over the past decade are idots for doing so and have no need for the size and utility they provide, this may actually be a good choice. t is a heavy duty chassis, with the same towing capacity as a truck, but with better interior appointments and seating capacity.

THe only reason to choose the pick up over it is because of the utility of a pick up bed - for orversized and messy loads, which for you may be relevant since you have a horse. Tossing a bunch of hay bales in the back of an Excusion probably wouldn't work very well.

Right, that damn pursuit of happyness and freedom of choice, who need's it!

[NMRJock]

Originally Posted by wantanelise

Was the gas a 3/4 ton then? A diesel will be easier but my 2500 has no problem with 10k.

Gas vs diesel is the truck equivalent to Elise vs Exige. It will never end. My vote goes for gas everytime until Im towing 8-10k; more than 3 days a week, until then I like gas for a few reasons.

I've had a couple of 3/4 ton trucks (Chevy K2500's) with 5.7L V8's. I've also had an '02 Explorer XLT with the 4.6L V8 and the towing package.

The Explorer actually towed amazingly well for what it was (Up to its capacity anyway, which was about 7000#).

The Chevy's towed alright I guess, but never instilled confidence and they felt like they were working really hard. Even just towing 5-6000# I always felt like I was killing them.

The F550 though... I towed ~12000# from Tampa to Michigan and it was like it wasn't even there. I never worried about getting up the next long grade (or stopping coming down the other side). I also towed what was probably a bit more than that from OH to Prescott, AZ. It was really a pleasure. I also used it to pull a larger Case skid steer on a heavy equipment trailer (Probably 15k# or so) with 6 tons of gravel in the bed around the hills of OH and it was no problem at all pulling it. The braking suffered a bit though.

[wantanelise]

Yeah those 550's are beast's. That's a pretty big stretch from your older k25's to a 550 though. I tow a dump trailer often at about 8k gross and it's cake. My truck is a 6.0. The new GM 2500's from 07 on are really 3500's with one less leaf and narrower wheels and tires. That probably helps compared to traditional 3/4 tons.

[LotusDuude]

Originally Posted by wantanelise

My vote goes for gas everytime until Im towing 8-10k; more than 3 days a week, until then I like gas for a few reasons.

Is this only for fuel consumption reasons or is there a power difference in towing certain amounts with diesel?

[wantanelise]

Originally Posted by LotusDuude

Is this only for fuel consumption reasons or is there a power difference in towing certain amounts with diesel?

Fuel is part of it but it's mainly because diesels have double the torque at half the RPM's. Makes towing heavy much easier. Buying a diesel come's down to the weight that your towing and the frequency at which your towing it. New gasser's make 300+ torque, new diesels make 600+.

If you tow 4000 pounds of snowmobiles on the weekend a diesel is a waste of money.

Note-They are both rated for the same towing capacity.