I am buying a new truck

[zap]

Ok, so I am buying a new truck for the company, not really new, I am having a guy put it together for me, cab and chassis with a few miles on it and then a utility bed or?

My dilemma is should I get a 3/4 ton with a standard utility bed, or a 1/2 ton with a aluminum bed and boxes. So whats his name says either way is fine with him, we have 2 other trucks that are heavy duty diesels and he drives about 160 miles a day so gas mileage is a concern, we don't haul a lot of weight maybe 1000 pounds.

We do haul a trailer with a machine on it might weigh 1500 pounds not all the time though maybe once a month.
I am looking a a gas not diesel

any help is appreciated. thanks

[Dogman]

Your wanting to go with a gas rig and good mileage and not a diesel makes me sorta say go with the 1/2 ton. A flat bed with boxes is good for tools and hauling as long as you can chain boom/strap down what you are hauling. In general lighter means more gas mileage. But a diesel compared to gas as I understand it have better mpg.

As long as the trailer has brakes and the truck is setup for them ether electric or tongue brakes the lighter truck should handle it given the weight you said.

[zap]

Quote ;;; But a diesel compared to gas as I understand it have better mpg.

Yes and I have 2 diesels, they are more expensive to work on, more expensive to buy, and diesel is higher then gas here in Ca diesel 4.03 and gas at 3.59 .

[Dogman]

Quote ;;; But a diesel compared to gas as I understand it have better mpg.

Yes and I have 2 diesels, they are more expensive to work on, more expensive to buy, and diesel is higher then gas here in Ca diesel 4.03 and gas at 3.59 .




I did not conceder the difference in price with a diesel. Very good point!

If the truck is mainly for eating miles and light duty, the 1/2 ton seems good for you. Can you use the tool boxes on the flat bed? Or will things be put in them that will rarely see the light of day?

Also which is lighter the flat bed or the other?

The lighter the truck the better the mpg as long as the foot is kept off the gas pedal.

[horseshoe3]

I'm of the opinion that there is really no place for a 1/2 ton. If you need a little pickup to run around in and throw something in the back occasionally that gets good mpg, then a LUV/S10 or modern equivalent should be fine. If you need a truck for hauling or pulling, then you need at least a 3/4 ton. JMHO, YMMV.

[zap]

We can't put the standard utility bed on the 1/2 ton we would have to have aluminum bed, weight.

[zap]

I'm of the opinion that there is really no place for a 1/2 ton. If you need a little pickup to run around in and throw something in the back occasionally that gets good mpg, then a LUV/S10 or modern equivalent should be fine. If you need a truck for hauling or pulling, then you need at least a 3/4 ton. JMHO, YMMV.

I have a little nissian frontier for running around, I need a truck for him to work out of,but he is running around in the city once he gets there ( after a 70 mile commute) He can't continue to drive a F- 350 for that.

[Dogman]

Seems like your mind is leaning to the 1/2 ton. So the choices are the flat bed with boxes and the other. If the boxes can be used and can be locked that is a plus. All you need are strap downs or chains and boomer's.

If not the other bed would be good to go.

Depending on the engine, still hold that the lighter the vehicle the better mpg as long as the gas pedal is not buried to the floorboard.

[zap]

Ya my mind is leaning toward the 1/2 ton( for the mileage) but I think he thinks we need the 3/4 ton, the fuel cost is ridiculous even with the diesel, he was commuting to a job last year and I was spending 2500.00 a month in diesel , although that truck prolly weighs 6500 pounds.

[Dogman]

If the truck is for light duty 1/2 ton is good and should not eat gas as bad as a 3/4. But 3/4's are built tougher but also prices go up for everything to match.

Gas prices are a bit lower now, but for sure will not stay low long I bet. And the mileage you do daily counts. Seems you have to drive 60-80 miles one way just to get anywhere.

[vacuum]

he was commuting to a job last year and I was spending 2500.00 a month in diesel

With costs like that, it would be cheaper to rent a place to keep the truck locally and either get him a hotel room or have a small car he drives to the site. That's tough.

[Neuro]

Zap, do you really need 3 trucks?

[mick silver]

go with a diesel , if i was looking for a almost new truck i would look at the ford 250 or 350 the power to pull an haul what you need , a bigger truck will last longer . plus with the diesel the mileage stay about the same when loaded . plus it a write of for your company

[palani]

With those figures (1,000 lb payload and sometimes 1,500 lbs on a trailer) you don't need a truck. Get a Subaru outback and a small utility trailer. Towing they are good for 2,000 lbs and get 30 mpg.

[woodman]

Better go with the deisel. You are pulling a lot of weight.