Do you have a pickup you couldn't live without on your homestead? What make/model do you prefer? We're going to be looking for a work truck at some point and would be interested in others' experiences and opinions. My own experience is that American make trucks tend to rust out way too quickly, but they are perhaps less expensive to repair as foreign make trucks seem to have very expensive parts.
Best "work truck"?
Hi ~ being from the south, we would not consider "not" having a truck. Also, in the south rust is generally not a factor that we consider.
From earlier days, we have driven GM pickups due to the fact that they were easier for an individual to work on. The newer vehicles these days take specialists so that is not a consideration any longer.
I guess the question would be how would you plan to use the truck when you get it?
Will it be a daily driver?
Are you looking for fuel economy? That should be more important than the cost of necessary repairs.
Are you buying new or used?
Will you need a four wheel drive?
Need to carry more than 3 people?
Carrying goods in a camper/topper to keep it out of the weather?
We use ours as a daily driver as well as for cargo. As we sometimes carry small livestock, we use a camper shell. We buy used vehicles so aren't as fussy about options. Ours currently has a short 6' bed. As a result when we haul cattle panels or large quantities of lumber, etc., we use a trailer which the truck is capable of pulling, another consideration necessary. We are also able to load the tractor on the trailer and the truck will pull it easily too. I think there are lots of factors to consider on buying the right vehicle for your application.
OTOH, DH says it's not like you are getting married. If you don't like it, you can sell it and get another. LOL
Years ago I used to have an S-15 with a Minute Mount plow. I liked it, but eventually the rust got to it. Sold the plow first, and then traded the truck in when it was completely worn out. Rust is just a fact of life when you live where there's snow and therefore salt on the roads in the winter.
It wouldn't be a daily driver, just for hauling mostly (hay, lumber, cattle panels, etc.). Needs to be able to pull a utility trailer which we've modified to haul sheep. We'd probably get a cap for it too as then you could haul sheep in the bed. 4WD would be a nice-to-have but probably not essential.
We're definitely going with used, not new.
Used I can appreciate! The problem in the south is the 4WDs are usually used and abused.
You know, I grew up in MN and have been told that area has quit using the road salts. Years ago, DH bought a beater Toyota car from his MN BIL. We were driving it around a curve one day and heard a horrible clunk. Limped home to find a strut had rusted thru and broke. The last MN car we owned!
How is the used truck market in your area?
BTW, DG has a car & truck forum. Might be worth soliciting opinions over there too?
I think that when you buy used there is more difference between individual vehicles in a model and brand than between brands. Care and use will have more of an impact on a vehicle than will brand unless you happen to have a vehicle from a model where they are all lemons. At the price of dating myself, think Chevy Vegas.
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Are you looking for fuel economy? That should be more important than the cost of necessary repairs.
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Not necessarily, it depends on the number of miles you drive it and the cost of repairs. If you only drive it 2000 miles a year the difference between a 10 mpg truck and a 20 mpg truck is only 100 gallon, about 400 dollars. 2000 miles is about 1 trip per week to a town 20 miles distant.
I have two trucks
Both Fords
One is a 04 , 250 ,short bed 4 door cab .
The other is a 06 350, long bed , 4 door cab . love it
can do everything with them.
I can get up to 10 cattle panels in my long bed truck
i can fit 6 people in our long bed truck
to buy a truck right now , you can get a good deal. Dealers are begging to get rid of them. I should know, we are trying to sell our 04 truck and no one wants it lol .
When you do buy , play the game of " you need me more than i need your deal " walk out and they will come running !!! believe me . My DH does that trick and it works everytime LOL
I like Fords. I have had Chevy and Dodge. I just like my Fords. :)
Don't get a dually they look great but honestly you don't need it. More tires to take care of. Get a 350 if you plan on trailering with it.
hope it helps
sue
We drive a Ford and always have. We've had good luck with them as work trucks. The one we have right now is a '96 model. It's an F250 ( 3/4 ton ) with a long wheel base. It has a 7.3 Power Stroke diesel engine. It has 349,000 miles on it and runs like the day it bought. We get 20 MPG pulling a loaded 3 horse trailer and a bed full of gear up and down mountain roads. We have the overload springs so we haven't put a load on it that it hasn't carried with ease. 2 tons of sand squatted it 1 inch. We've hauled gravel, sand, lumber, sawdust, manure. You name it! I only wish it was a 4WD.
This message was edited Apr 8, 2016 10:08 PM
I'd say the best truck is the one you can afford.
LOL