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Time to get a new truck

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trailtraveler
Reg. Oct 2014
Posted 2017-01-05 8:54 PM (#169075)
Subject: Time to get a new truck


Member


Posts: 14

Location: Central VA
Current situation: 2008 F150 XLT with heavy duty tow package, I haul a 2H GN - when loaded 5000-5500lbs (one horse only).  We are looking to get a "new" truck this spring (new or used TBD).
*I have not had any problems with this set up hauling over mountains areas a few times in the last 2 years...I use a Prodigy brake controller.

The 2017 F150 (picking the right tow package model) appears more than capable for my trialer - which I would say loaded with a second horse and gear to be safe estimating 7000lbs. This is my husband's preference...
We need to get a crew cab/4door and he doesn't really want to be driving a F250 - he thinks it is too big.  From my research It seems like the lower end F250 (gas) would suffice and probably cost less than the heavy duty F150, and be better option for long term for me.

What else should we consider? (we love Ford, but I might be able to convince otherwise for the right priced truck)
Any model years to stay away from?
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kooner
Reg. Jun 2011
Posted 2017-01-06 9:18 AM (#169076 - in reply to #169075)
Subject: RE: Time to get a new truck


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Posts: 350
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Location: Penrose, Colorado
even for a smaller trailer you need more springs and brakes, halt ton trucks are not made to pull and stop heavy loads on a regular basis, take him to a dealership and park the 2 trucks side by side and then have him explain which is bigger and by how much.
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HOUSE
Reg. Oct 2008
Posted 2017-01-06 1:44 PM (#169078 - in reply to #169075)
Subject: RE: Time to get a new truck


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Posts: 183
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Location: riverside ca
If you do get a gas f250 truck make sure it is the 6.2 liter gas, not the 5.4. My personal experince is that the 5.4 sucks down more fuel than the 6.2 while towing.  If you really are only towing 2 times a year i would probably go with an F150, but it also depends on how much you drive the truck otherwise.  When i purchased my semi several years back i decided to sell my Diesel Dually and get an F150, i was very disappointed because i expected a large increase in fuel economy, and i went from 12.5 to 15.  Which when you figure the cost of the new truck was almost nothing.  The F150 was better for daily driving but I ended up selling the pickup and buying a chevy volt and just driving the semi every time i need to haul anything.  
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trailtraveler
Reg. Oct 2014
Posted 2017-01-07 9:12 PM (#169083 - in reply to #169076)
Subject: RE: Time to get a new truck


Member


Posts: 14

Location: Central VA
kooner - 2017-01-06 10:18 AM even for a smaller trailer you need more springs and brakes, halt ton trucks are not made to pull and stop heavy loads on a regular basis, take him to a dealership and park the 2 trucks side by side and then have him explain which is bigger and by how much.

Not to worry there, my F150 does have all the extra springs with a brake controller. 
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trailtraveler
Reg. Oct 2014
Posted 2017-01-07 9:23 PM (#169084 - in reply to #169078)
Subject: RE: Time to get a new truck


Member


Posts: 14

Location: Central VA
HOUSE - 2017-01-06 2:44 PM If you do get a gas f250 truck make sure it is the 6.2 liter gas, not the 5.4. My personal experince is that the 5.4 sucks down more fuel than the 6.2 while towing.  If you really are only towing 2 times a year i would probably go with an F150, but it also depends on how much you drive the truck otherwise.  When i purchased my semi several years back i decided to sell my Diesel Dually and get an F150, i was very disappointed because i expected a large increase in fuel economy, and i went from 12.5 to 15.  Which when you figure the cost of the new truck was almost nothing.  The F150 was better for daily driving but I ended up selling the pickup and buying a chevy volt and just driving the semi every time i need to haul anything.  

Thanks - I hadn't noticed the 5.4 for 6.2 difference before....I'll keep that in mind!
I haul more often, just only head over some heavy duty mountain stuff a few times a year. 
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rockyrider
Reg. Jun 2004
Posted 2017-01-11 5:16 AM (#169101 - in reply to #169075)
Subject: RE: Time to get a new truck


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Anybody have any expierience with Fords V10, (not sure what litre)? Been considering replacing my 97 F350 with 7.3l Power Stroke, but am not hearing anything good about Diesel Engines in Fords since the 7.3l. Thought I might be better off with the V10 since I only haul my 3 horse aluminium CM about  6 times a year on short trips. I know fuel ecomnomy will be suffer, but my question is about power, reliabilty, maintainence issues?
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Dbarnes72
Reg. Dec 2015
Posted 2017-01-11 9:11 AM (#169103 - in reply to #169101)
Subject: RE: Time to get a new truck


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rockyrider - 2017-01-11 5:16 AM Anybody have any expierience with Fords V10, (not sure what litre)? Been considering replacing my 97 F350 with 7.3l Power Stroke, but am not hearing anything good about Diesel Engines in Fords since the 7.3l. Thought I might be better off with the V10 since I only haul my 3 horse aluminium CM about  6 times a year on short trips. I know fuel ecomnomy will be suffer, but my question is about power, reliabilty, maintainence issues?

Might consider your own thread but ......depends on which Ford diesel you're talking about. The V-10 is a good engine. Not for everybody. Depends on your needs. 
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huntseat
Reg. Oct 2003
Posted 2017-01-14 9:46 AM (#169117 - in reply to #169075)
Subject: RE: Time to get a new truck


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Posts: 1989
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Location: South Central OK
You might find the new F150 won't fit under your trailer gooseneck...you MUST try it first before you buy.  I would be looking into the new Nisssan Titan diesel truck, it's not quite a 3/4 ton but more than a 1/2 ton.  It sounds like it might be your perfect fit.  I'm a huge, HUGE Ford fan but I will tell you this story.  A gentleman that buys hay from me has a maybe 2 year old F150.  He routinely loads it to capacity (his words not mine) and he hates the truck.  I think he over-loads it and doesn't know why he burns up trucks left and right.  He will say it's lasted twice as long as any truck he's had but he's ready to go back to his "golden bowtie." My math would put those Chevy trucks only lasting him a year before he blows them up...yes, blows them up.  He will not step up to a 3/4 ton truck and save himself the money because he says the truck is rated for the work.

I love this man for holding on to his convictions but I want to tell him he's crazy.  He needs a 3/4 ton diesel truck so badly it kills me to watch him ruin these trucks because he won't listen to anyone.  I tell you this story so that you can hopefully realize that you might need more truck than your F150 for towing.  Just because you can move it does not mean you can stop it, if the trailer brakes fail/become disconnected could you safely stop your rig?  If you can't answer yes then you must return to the drawing board.  Brakes fail, I've had it happen twice.  Once they became unplugged while driving and another the connector faulted.  This second event found me with over 14,000 pounds of hay behind me entering a blind turn where a car accident had just happened.  You must take into account the safety of others on the road.  A quick chat with your insurance agent might give you some more gems of wisdom in this area.   


Edited by huntseat 2017-01-14 9:48 AM
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AZgrulla
Reg. Jan 2009
Posted 2017-01-15 7:53 AM (#169124 - in reply to #169075)
Subject: RE: Time to get a new truck



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Posts: 197
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Location: AZ
 Upping your new truck to a 3/4 ton will open up so many options...diesell...
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aceliberty
Reg. Sep 2011
Posted 2017-01-15 5:53 PM (#169125 - in reply to #169075)
Subject: RE: Time to get a new truck



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Posts: 326
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Location: central IL
We used to drive an F-150 hauling one horse in a very small 2H GN with 4' weekender. We drove up over Wolf Creek Pass, to AZ, WY and all over. Several years ago, we switched out to an F-250 diesel. No comparison. We'd have been "forced" to up the power after ordering a new trailer with a full LQ. Note: We have friends who've always been Dodge truck folks. They found the newer ones have such high beds that they wouldn't fit under their trailer. It's something to look at before making a purchase sight unseen.  
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huntseat
Reg. Oct 2003
Posted 2017-01-16 5:26 AM (#169128 - in reply to #169075)
Subject: RE: Time to get a new truck


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Posts: 1989
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Location: South Central OK
Are there any years to stay away from...what a loaded question but I'll bite.

The Ford 6.0L engine was horrible, don't fall for the "it's my daily driver" or "it's been bullet proofed."  Stay away from all of them period.

The Ford 7.3L engine was a dream, no...a legend.  If you can find one of these and the body is still good it's worth your time.

The newer (than 6.0L) engines are solid work horses and my 2015 F350 is as great as my 7.3L F250 was any day.

Rumor has it with a V10 under the hood you can pass everything but a gas station.  I haven't heard many good or bad things but every dealership has a story about a buyer getting the gas engine and quickly trading it back in for the diesel engine.

Other brands I'm not well versed on but they've all had their problems ranging from Chevys that had leaky windshields back in the early 90's to Dodges that were great engines but the body fell apart.  A little coaching from your insurance agent in this area would be helpful as they will know more about claims made by engine and year.  My agent tells me that everything being equal a Dodge will cost more than a Ford to insure...when asked why it's because they seem to pay more claims on Dodge's.  You can save yourself some considerable money just taking their advice even on something that seems like it wouldn't matter, for instance trim packages.  If you have a friend that's a gear head they might offer some sound advice as well as guide you to a reputable seller or repair shop.  If you just want to shop and see what's out there this site has a truck section also just click around on the tool bar under the logo at the top of the page.

Last word about years/brands/engines:
Do NOT buy anything you can't have repaired locally.  (This right here would eliminate two brands for me as the local dealers are so crooked they can't even walk straight.)
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trailtraveler
Reg. Oct 2014
Posted 2017-01-19 2:42 PM (#169146 - in reply to #169075)
Subject: RE: Time to get a new truck


Member


Posts: 14

Location: Central VA
All good info thanks.
I'm already concerned about not being able to get clearnace with newer bed heights, I will defintely have to to try that out first. 
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trailtraveler
Reg. Oct 2014
Posted 2017-01-20 8:38 AM (#169147 - in reply to #169075)
Subject: RE: Time to get a new truck


Member


Posts: 14

Location: Central VA
OK, let me ask it a different way... what trucks should I consider than can haul a 7000lbs loaded GN trailer? on hilly roads and some mountains on occasion (all brands)  looking at used ideally, not these crazy tall bed 2017s. 
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kooner
Reg. Jun 2011
Posted 2017-01-20 12:29 PM (#169148 - in reply to #169075)
Subject: RE: Time to get a new truck


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Posts: 350
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Location: Penrose, Colorado
any 3/4 ton and since you have a bed height problem, look for one with a flat bed and that will cure your problems. 
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PaulChristenson
Reg. Jan 2007
Posted 2017-01-20 7:41 PM (#169149 - in reply to #169075)
Subject: RE: Time to get a new truck


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Edited by PaulChristenson 2017-01-20 7:42 PM
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huntseat
Reg. Oct 2003
Posted 2017-01-27 9:02 AM (#169194 - in reply to #169075)
Subject: RE: Time to get a new truck


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Posts: 1989
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Location: South Central OK
Any 3/4 ton should suffice.  Getting a flatbed would be ideal, although finding one with a flatbed already on it could indicate a truck that's been worked harder than it should.  Advice from my dealer (owned one of the leargest dealerships in Texas) neighbor growing up was to never buy a truck with a gooseneck ball in the bed as it was an indicator that the people had most likely over-loaded it.  Having driven more highways han I care to mention over the years I can say that's likely true.  I see crazy people doing dangerous things everytime I drive more than 100 miles.  We had a patient not too long ago that told us he flipped his four wheeler hauling a stock trailer down the highway (wait for it)...while his wife followed him in the truck.   I'd say if it looks like a creampuff and they know the little old man or horsey housewife  that owned it you should be fine.  If it came from an auction be super leary.   

Edited by huntseat 2017-01-27 9:04 AM
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