the right size truck

[danlawnser]

I am getting ready to buy a truck and I cannot figure out if full size is the way to go or if I should go with a Dodge Dakota. I will be pulling a 16 ft. trailer. The reason I am stuck on this is because I have been told that a full size will do a number on a yard when your mulching. please help me. I have read all the other threads and was hoping to hear your opinions. thanks

[hobbes]

Dakota's a good size but I had alot of problems with mine, eventually traded up to a F 150, more for reliability than size.

[Guido]

I can probobly take a 20 ton dump up onto a lawn and do less damage then I've seen people do with S-10's or F-150's.

If your careful with a full size pickup you won't even know you were there when you leave.

Don't let that stop you from going full size, please!

You won't regret the choice later on down the road.

[mdb landscaping]

if your going to be towing a 16 ft trailer loaded up everyday, i dont recommend a dodge dakota. i think you should at least jump up to a full size chevrolet 1500 or a ford f 150. chevy has a real nice feature on their trucks. they have tow haul buttons that shift at 20 and 40 mph instead of 10 and i think 25 mph. i dont know if ford offers that, but if youre going to be towing that large of a trailer, go full size. you shouldnt worry about wrecking lawns either. if your careful. i worked with one guy who would back a f350 and a dual axle dump trailer full of mulch onto lawns and not damage them. bring two plywood sheets with you if youre worried about it.

[stslawncare]

when u go to a big complex and see the nice mulch jobs all over the place, u think they use dakotas? no i think they use big stake beds, dont see anything wrong with those lawns now do u, bigger the better

[roscioli]

Dont buy a dakota. THe trannies in those trucks are junk. I have never heard a happy dakota owner. Go full size, at least an f-150, but if you want to plow roads, go 3/4 ton, like an f-250. I almost bought a dakota, becuase i thought it would be good for plowing (small and manueverable (sp?)), but dodge wont warentee them if you plow with them! (I think its because they know the tranny is junk, but they wont admit that). If you are worried about sinking into a lawn, bring boards, or use some nice wide tires... just my .02, -michael

[dmk395]

For your primary truck a full size is a necessity.

[Fantasy Lawns]

my little ram has driven into yards for tree debri or bulk mulch....no issues ...just go slow .....

get the full size in the long wrong you'll be happier :->

http://home.cfl.rr.com/theleven/Ram.jpg

[Esby]

I pull my 16 ft trailer, loaded down every day with my 94 dodge dakota. It works alright but I am thinking of upgrading to a full size this next spring. I mow the grass of the Chevorlete dealership and the two owners here in town and they always tell me how I should come in and they'll pitch me a deal on a new truck.....just waiting for this one to give up. I have put in two new trannys....yes they are ****...but everything else on its been great. I would not recommend buying an older dakota(bad trannys).......however I believe that the new ones have better trannys....test drive and see what you like.

[KirbysLawn]

I would say do a search but I already did it: http://www.lawnsite.com/search.php?action=showresults&searchid=7105&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending

GO DIESEL IF POSSIBLE!!!

If you buy a gas truck for $20,000 @ 8.5% for 60 months your payments will be $410.33 a month. If you buy a diesel for say $26,000 (more than the $4400 difference) with the same terms your monthly payment would be $533.43, a difference of $123.10.

Now, say the gas truck gets 9MPG pulling that trailer (if you are lucky) and you go 1000 miles per month and gas is $1.48 a gallon, your fuel cost is 164.44.

With diesel at 13MPG with 1000 miles per month and cost at $1.39 a gallon fuel cost will be $106.91. ($57.53 per month savings v/s gas)

The diesel cost you overall $65.47 more per month, if you drive more miles than that, your difference will be less and more towards break even. I drive about 2500 miles per month and my diesel cost me about $10 per month. Resale value will be much better, power is much better, and if you plan on keeping your "work" truck long diesel is the way to go!

Good luck with whatever you choose.

Ray

[LAWNGODFATHER]

if you going to go in to debt do it right

get at least a 3/4 ton anything smaller just don't have the bakes

if you can get trailer brake to they will help in emergancy's stops

if you want to plow or cary heavy loads you will be able to safly it a safty thing you don't see those big LCO's using small trucks to do big jobs like hauling mulch

I've made the mistake of half ton and my bank account showed it to with a new tranny and rear bearing this winter

you also can't register a dakoda over 6000 GVW and it might be illagle
to use it to pull a 16' tandum tailer with mowers on it commercially
you truck weights aprox 3200lbs trailer 1000lbs thats a lot of weight to start with before mowers people and other equipment

I have Dodge and my half ton they say I can only tow 1750lbs to hit max GVW that is recomended but I tow more and it hurts the truck yes you can tell the differance between it and the 3/4 ton but it is reg. for BL12-12000GVW

Hope my advise helped

BE SAFE BUY THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT THE FIRST TIME! the LAWNGODFATHER

[Columbia Turf]

I would stongly suggest min. of 1500hd or a 3/4 ton truck. Check with your dealers on base work trucks, no frills it will pay off in the long run. My belief is also that 100,000 mile warrenties are handy if the truck will be driven alot also. saved me a couple transfer cases and airconditioner units.

[MATTHEW]

If you are going to get stuck with a payment, get something that can handle any work you may progress to in the future. Get a 3/4 ton full size.

[PrimeGreen Lawn]

Originally posted by KirbysLawn
I would say do a search but I already did it: http://www.lawnsite.com/search.php?action=showresults&searchid=7105&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending

GO DIESEL IF POSSIBLE!!!

If you buy a gas truck for $20,000 @ 8.5% for 60 months your payments will be $410.33 a month. If you buy a diesel for say $26,000 (more than the $4400 difference) with the same terms your monthly payment would be $533.43, a difference of $123.10.

Now, say the gas truck gets 9MPG pulling that trailer (if you are lucky) and you go 1000 miles per month and gas is $1.48 a gallon, your fuel cost is 164.44.

With diesel at 13MPG with 1000 miles per month and cost at $1.39 a gallon fuel cost will be $106.91. ($57.53 per month savings v/s gas)

The diesel cost you overall $65.47 more per month, if you drive more miles than that, your difference will be less and more towards break even. I drive about 2500 miles per month and my diesel cost me about $10 per month. Resale value will be much better, power is much better, and if you plan on keeping your "work" truck long diesel is the way to go!

Good luck with whatever you choose.

Ray

Great example....this may be stupid, but I never thought of it this way...sooo true! Stick with the 3/4 ton rigs with your 16' trailer. The heavier duty springs/transmission/and brakes will keep you happier

[scottb]

For me stopping power and stability under load were major issues so I went with a 3/4 ton Ford Super Duty F250 but I have the V10 I average around 13mpg. Not great I know but I never know that the trailer is back there whether Im hauling livestock,farm equipment,or my lawncare equipment.
Bottom line go with the full size yuo will not regret it.

[danlawnser]

Thanks guys for all the help. I will be deciding in the next little bit. After hearing your input I think I will go full size.

[dhicks]

Buy a full-size truck. If your business is like ours, each year you get bigger and bigger, thus, more equipment, larger trailer, and more distance b/w jobs. If I could start all over again, I'd start with my current Chevy 2500HD. Else, get a nice F-250 w/ a diesel. You'll not be sorry.

[Keith]

I am looking for at 3/4 tons right now. I don't want to buy someone elses junk, so I am looking at new. I started pricing them, and damnit Ford is brilliant. They make options cost just enough to where you consider them. I went from buying a stripped PSD 4x2 to looking at a Crew Cab 4X4 XLT PSD :D I can get X plan, so this cuts the price to slightly below invoice. I can get a $39k MSRP truck for a little less than $34k.

I have been looking into V10's though. They run about $3500 less than the PSD, and to tell ya the truth, I don't know much about diesels. I know a replacement V10 will cost about $3000 if you needed and the Power Stroke's injectors cost more than that. Add that with the 15 quart PSD diesel oil changes and the fact that diesel cost about 15 cents more per gallon here, I am not sure the V10 isn't the way to go for me.

[bubble boy]

lawngodfather-don't you love it when a tranny goes down during a storm? our 2001 ram 1/2 ton did that and i'm still fighting dodge over the money. had cooling system installed, hoping that helps in the future.

can't count the number of jeep yj's and dakotas that i saw bogged down in snow this past winter. Flew past them in my 3/4 ton silverado.

ill NEVER by less than a 3/4 ton again.

danlawnser- you will wish you had more room in the bed of the truck if you buy a dakota, even with your trailer

[roscioli]

There ya go,, how many people out there have blown dodge trannies? That should be a POLL.

[BLakin01]

Personally, I would go with the full size. I myself will be getting ready to buy a new truck in about 8 months (I'm a college student that will be graduating in December. If anyone knows of any full-time turf jobs anywhere in the country, let me know.) My buddy has a '99 Ford F-250 with a Stroker, and it is probably the best truck I've ever seen, whether it be pulling a trailer, the interior, etc. Don't worry about the oil changes-the money saved in the cost of diesel will probably be more than appreciated by you. Also remember, more power.

[summitgroundskeeping]

I use a 2000 Ranger, tricked to pull and preform like a F-150. I did this because I do many newer residential homes on very NARROW streets, I drive through downtown Hobart alot, and I drive down many NARROW country roads. That is why I have a 5X13 trailer and compact truck. But, I do bag some lawns often and can't haul things in my bed because of a lack of bed space. I'm going to buy a 3/4 (or maybe 1 ton ton) truck hopefully soon, because I have found my tiny truck to be a pain to use on anything other than small lots with tiny streets. Get the biggest truck you can budget and will fit your application. I'm SURE a 1 ton or 3/4 ton truck won't tear up a lawn if it isn't soaked. Oh ya, I also got my little truck for gas mileage savings. Hey, guess what my average milage towing less than I drive w/o trailer (I tow way less than normal driving)? 9-11 MPG. Today gas was a RECORD low at 1 gas station only $1.289 per gallon. Buy big. Just my short thought, lol.