The Right Truck!

[sheppard]

Morning everyone, I'm buying an existing lawn business. Not too confident of the used truck coming w/ the business. Are there engine minimums that I should consider if I get a new truck- i.e. will the smaller Nissan & Toyotas do the trick? I'm pulling a 16ft trailer w/ 2 John Deere 655's, plus trimmers, edgers etc.

Cordially, Sheppard

[lawnfire]

Sheppard, I currently pull a 5x10 with a Walker, trimmers, and a push mower, I have a 2000 Nissan Crew, with a V6. It seems to strain pulling this small load. I am currently looking to buy a F250, just because of this reason. Lf

[cat320]

If I had to upgrade my truck and i was doing commercial work I would go into a F450 diesel with a Dominator body or something similar that could pull my trailer or bobcat and haul mulch ,loam etc. spend it once and forget about it until you get bigger or the truck dies.

[Lawnshark]

I pull a 16' trailer with a Woods ZTR and a Yazoo 3-wheel along with a push mower trimmers and blowers, etc. and I was using an S-10 Blazer with a V-6 Vortec. Even though it was a great engine I had to get rid of it. I am buying an F-250 Powerstroke Diesel. This engine along with the Cummins are the best I think. I am sure the Duramax's are good to but I don't have the cash flow for those trucks. I would say anything V-8 should pull it but I would get a diesel. Everyone I have talked to loves the diesel. Hope this helps.

[rixtag]

Sheppard, I too have a crew cab Nissan and I pull a 6x12 trailer with exmark 36 and a small trim mower and all of the other stuff. It actually does pretty good for the weight but I would definitely get the supercharged truck if you want a nissan. I personally have had nissans for the last 8 years. But I sometimes find myself drooling over the super duty fords or the new hd GMC. My father-in-law has a crew cab ford v-10 and it will pull some incredible weight and it costs him $600+ per month too. I can't justify it yet but you might.
Just one man's opinion.

PS. Lawnfire, How have you liked your truck so far? How long have you owned it? Just curious.

Rick

[jeffyr]

Lawrence Stone has rated the GMC cabover as a best buy and others who own them have backed him up.

I personally have a chevy C-30 with a 350 and has no problem with a 3500 lb 12 ft. trailer.

I have also pulled it with my dodge 1500 with a 360 without a problem, although I feel that pulling that trailer and having a load in the bed would be too much for the 1500 over time.

good luck.

[AB Lawn Care]

1 word.....ok 3 words....."ford big six".

I personally would go with a f-150 with the 300ci straight six.Those engines are torque monsters!Also the reliability of the big six is well know.A landscaper in my city has one with 700,000 kms on it and it still runs great!!!Plus they are better on gas then the V8's.

How much torque you ask????From what I hear they will out pull a 302!

Just my opinion....I can't say 1 bad thing about my f-150,its been a great truck!

[Keith]

Originally posted by AB Lawn Care
1 word.....ok 3 words....."ford big six".

I personally would go with a f-150 with the 300ci straight six.Those engines are torque monsters!Also the reliability of the big six is well know.A landscaper in my city has one with 700,000 kms on it and it still runs great!!!Plus they are better on gas then the V8's.

How much torque you ask????From what I hear they will out pull a 302!

Just my opinion....I can't say 1 bad thing about my f-150,its been a great truck!


Generally speaking a 302 will make more torque and horsepower than a 300 six. I held out for a 302 when I bought my 95. The six cylinders were on average about $3000 less though.

The first truck I used was a 85 Toyota, went through 3 engines (used) in about a year and a half.

[lawnboy82]

you say that you are buying an existing business. what kind of work do they do now? and what do you want to add on or remove from their list of services? i personally do tree work, landscaping, and lawn care. right now i work with a ford f150 with the big 6. i pull a 16 foot landscape trailer. the truck will do it. but it takes a beating. i am trying right now to get enough money together for a down payment on a new 550 with the turbo diesel. that will do whatever i need it to do for right now and then some. i would really say that if you are gonna get a truck to pull that kind of trailer get at least an f250, or a 2500 from gmc, chevy, or dodge. diesel or gas. that is what you have to chose when you see what kind of an area you are covering, and what kind of work you will be doing. i know people who only use pickup trucks and do landscaping, tree work, and lawn care and no trailer. they say it is good but i would rather not have to shovel stuff out of the back of the truck. its all about what you need it to do besides cutting grass. but definatley get at least a 250. because of suspension.

[jeffyr]

and brakes. more stopping power never hurts

[scottb]

jeffyr is right more stopping power never hurts. Go for the biggest truck you can afford.

[TJLC]

I used to pull my 6x12 trailer with 2 w/bs, 21incher, trimmer, edger, backpack blower, gas cans etc... with an s-10 2.8v6. It didn't do too bad actually. Now I use a c1500, full size 4.3v6. It seems to do a little better. I guess I thought it would make a night and day difference but it really didn't, I guess because, even though it has a bigger engine, it weighes considerablely more. I know it burns more gas and has a bigger tank, but I do like the fullsize better. Hope this makes sense and helps a little. Like the saying goes "whoops, I could have had a v8". LOL

[jdseven]

I have a 1987 fwd f150 with 160k on it with a 302 v8 with the overdrive I get about 16mpg. I think you are better off with a v8 than a 6. I know one thing dont try to plow with a f150 as the frame may bend

[Fantasy Lawns]

I'll agree ....get the biggest truck you can afford .....I don't know about "new" ....
this is a messy business on a nice sweet new interior & shinny paint ...

guy across from my shop has one of those Nissan supercharged it sure is 'purty' ...but ...well .....kinda small bed ...but it sure is 'purty'

my little ranger V6 pulls our 12 ft with a walker n 36" ....but on the 16 ft ...loaded up ... we use either the Ford F150 or my little Ram 2500 V10

[summitgroundskeeping]

I have a 2000 Ford Ranger with the trailhead package. I pull a 5'X13' trailer with a 48" Great Dane Scamper, 2 Ariens 21", 2 trimmers, gas, ect. My truck has a 3.0, a 5-speed, and a 4:10 rear end. My truck has a higher towing capacity than the F-150 right now. It isn't quick, but it still can get up and go (from a start). It cruzzes at 60MPH just fine. It is the best rig for driving downtown. But, if I could afford it, get the 250.

[jason2]

Regarding Ford's 300 ci six. I've owned both 302 and 300 powered trucks, And in my experience the 300 will outpull the 302. The 302 isn't a bad motor, I just liked the 300's better.

Personally I wouldn't get either motor, but I'd hold out for a 460 or a diesel for pulling.

[cp]

My '87 Silverado 1500 4WD has the 350 and 4 sp auto trans.

I pull a 6x16 tandem with 36 Metro and 60 Lazer w/ all the trimmers, etc.

I've had 8 cu/yd of mulch in the trailer and 3 yds in the bed and it did squat a little but no problems here..

Gotta love that new 2500 HD though.....

Chris.

[PrimeGreen Lawn]

I have a 97 Dodge Ram 2500 pulling a 18' trailor with 2 lazer ztr's and a walkbehind. Trimmer racks, all that stuff. Only wish I went for the diesel, but hte 360 pulls just fine with over 150k on the odo. Bought new with 6 miles, and this truk has seen the snow plows, and heavy pulling most it's life. Just my $.02

H&H

[Grateful11]

I think you'd have a hard time getting a new Ford with the 300/6cyl., because I don't think you can get it anymore. The F-150 comes with a base 4.2L V-6. I think the str. 6 disappeared with the old body style in 96 or 97. The old str. 6 engine would pull like crazy.

[jason2]

Yes 97 was the last year for the 300. It was also the last year for the 351 and the 460. Now it's the 4.2 V6, 4.6 V8, 5.4 V8, 6.0 V10 and the powerstroke.

[Grassman]

Both the 302 and 300 are great engines. The difference is the 300 six produces the same amount of torque as the 302 but at a lower rpm. Thus, it doesn't labor as hard. Most 302's tend to be overworked. Russ

[sheppard]

Thanks very much for everyone's helpful advice on the right truck. Read every entry- I'm now armed with good info. Looks I'm leaning toward a F-250 or a deisel truck. Seems like deisal mowers are the way to go as well.

Cordially,
Sheppard

[eskals]

If you are going to buy a truck, try to get a one ton. The cost difference for new 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks is only a few hundred dollars and you will have more GVWR and to work with.

Eric