My turn- recommend me a truck

In reply to SVreX :

Yikes!!! I hope you're still feeling ok tomorrow and the next day/week/month. 

Glad you're alright.

In your price range, you can get a great example of a Tundra or any other truck from the 2000s. The timing belt has to be done on the Tundras, but they're known to last.

 

SVreX said:

In reply to mr2s2000elise :

How old is your Tundra?

27month old

it replaced our 05 tundra that went 461k miles

spacecadet said:

2011+ F150 3.5 Ecoboost would seem to fit your needs. We'll within your price range and rated to tow 10K lbs.

Why do you recommend the Ecoboost?  (Never driven one...)

Ford, GM, Ram, and Toyota all offer versions of their half tons that can tow over 8k starting around 2014. Some go over 10k. IF you tow 8-10k frequently they might be a bit stressed and less comfortable doing that level of work than a 3/4 ton. But if you're unloaded most of the time, and only tow occasionally, modern half tons with towing packages might be enough to get the job done and still be decent to drive/park/etc.

In reply to STM317 :

Good info. 

I don’t row regularly any more. I just want the capacity. 

I tow under 5K once or twice a month, and potentially heavier once every few months. 

How horrible are the Sprinter style vans to drive every day??

The truck I've always driven had a tool body.  I've always carried a lot of tools with me- my truck was a rolling toolbox.

Theorectically, I don't need to do that anymore.  My job is supervisory.  But old habits are hard to break, and in the real world good Superintendents are prepared to pick up the tools when needed.

Just never felt comfortable without them.

I’m unsure about ecoboost reliability.  I don’t own one. But I will say they make power and are fun to drive. Very fun. 

In reply to SVreX :

First, How ya feeling on day two?  

Second, how much seating do you need/want?  A cargo capable van won't have more seating that two.  Some have a wide passenger seat that is intended for a third.  

It always amazes me that you can not buy a cargo van with a second row of seats.  Its either 3 rows in an all seat config or 1 row with a cargo config.  I never understood why there could not be 2 rows of seats and then an open rear area for cargo.  

The other thing is van windows (or the lack of.)  I'll use this Astro as an example.  Why couldn't this be the popular van config.  Two rows of seats and windows in the front half with cargo for the rear half, yet, no one (other than this ole, rare Astro) makes a van in this config. 

In reply to John Welsh :

What I want and what I need are not the same. 

I say I want seating for 5 or 6, but I’ve never used it. 

The truth is I drive 1000 miles per week alone. I will pickup a Co-worker at the airport once a month. I would only haul a crew if I was on a self-perform job, and I haven’t done one in 2 years (and it’s unlikely I will do another). 

I could drive my Miata and effectively do my job. 

I have to problem solve. That means I have to be ready to respond. If we come short in materials, or need to rent a piece of equipment that needs to be towed, I use my truck. But it’s so infrequent, I could rent or borrow when I need it. 

So theoretically, I could do without.  But I like driving a truck.  And after yesterday, I won’t agree with anyone arguing they are not safer. If I was in my Miata, I’d be dead.

In reply to John Welsh :

Oh... I missed answering your first question. 

I’m ok. Stiff, and still a little foggy. But I’m doing better, thank you. 

SVreX said:

How horrible are the Sprinter style vans to drive every day??

The truck I've always driven had a tool body.  I've always carried a lot of tools with me- my truck was a rolling toolbox.

Theorectically, I don't need to do that anymore.  My job is supervisory.  But old habits are hard to break, and in the real world good Superintendents are prepared to pick up the tools when needed.

Just never felt comfortable without them.

Once I got used to the seating and the view, I really liked it, but I only drove one for about a month/ 2500 miles. I'm surprised more people in the construction industry don't use them. The only people I know in construction that use them are in Toymans line of work.

In reply to RevRico :

No, they are starting to show up on job sites. Electricians and plumbers are driving them now. 

My friend had a Transit Ecoboost as his work truck.  It drives and rides great and it's fast.  He always likened it to drive a focus super wagon.  Plus the stuff you put in the back won't get wet or stolen.

They definitely won't tow 10k lbs though.

Are you in a big enough city that there's an Enterprise rental a truck place?  Then you could rent when you need to tow heavy and get whatever you want as your daily.

In reply to stumpmj350 :

Keeping stuff dry and safe has been one of the biggest values of driving a truck with an enclosed utility body. 

I can load things up that I won’t need for a week or two and they stay protected. 

That’s the main reason I am hesitant to switch to a standard pickup truck. 

In reply to stumpmj350 :

Renting a tow vehicle is not a bad idea, but my work takes me all over. It’s hard to predict where I will be when I need to tow, or when it will happen. 

Sorry to hear about the T-bone.  Glad you're OK.

I have towed with my buddy's Ecoboost F150, but not 10k.  I think its rated for 8500.  That truck has some serious balls.  Very nice tow rig.  He just sent me a picture of his new TT and he says it handles it beautifully.

Other recommendations:  My other favorite tow rig at my disposal is Dad's 04 K2500 Duramax.  Crew cab short bed.  If I were buying a Dmax I would hold out for an 06-07.  LB7 had the injector troubles (which are fine once fixed, but costly) and the 08-up have DPFs which kill MPG.  The Allison is nearly indestructable.  The Dmax has serious torque, easy to chip/modify, and seems to last forever.  Part of the fun of his is all the mods he's done.  His is putting 938 lbft to the wheels.  It is interesting to be able to light up the tires with 1000 lbs of tongue weight.

SVreX said:

In reply to RevRico :

No, they are starting to show up on job sites. Electricians and plumbers are driving them now. 

 

My understanding is the Nissan van has a more "truck-like" driving position and with the right options can tow 9400 lbs.  While I've dismissed them for a camper due to the cargo size compared to the Sprinter or Transit options, one sounds about perfect for your needs.

Good to hear you aren't too banged up from the wreck.

Sprinters drive great for being a huge van.  However, it seems everyone I know who has bought one secondhand has repair cost and frequency horror stories.  I’d probably lean more towards a Transit.  May not be any more reliable, but I suspect it’ll cost less to repair when it breaks.

My towing needs are pretty close to yours. I tow a tractor,  bobcat, cars. My supercrew shortbed F150 is rated at 10000. I went middle of the road as it hit a price point I was happy with for a truck. XLT got all the towing upgrades, heated cloth seats and on a long trip it's nice to have the heaters. Decently loaded for mid 30's on a sticker of low 40's. regular 5.0 V8 for simplicity. I've added a tri-fold hard cover for the bed that makes storage nice. If you keep a bunch of tools the pull out drawer systems would probably hold everything you need. 

Having owned a 3/4 ton diesel I do like the easier service on the gas truck. If I was full time towing the diesel would make much more sense. But half tons of any make are pretty good nowadays.

IMO the only modern trucks that have too many electronic doodads would be hybrids or EVs - and at least the EV would come with far fewer mechanical whirligigs to break

Pickups are all very much low-tech by modern car standards, and there isn't much variation between manufacturers in that area either. They have DI and sometimes turbos and are about as basic as they come these days otherwise.

Are you sore yet? I was sore the next day when my Samurai got wrecked from someone pulling out in front of me, although the speed of impact was a bit lower. And a Samurai has the structural strength of a Chinese take-out box compared to your old F250...

Also maybe get something with a more interesting color combination, that all-white truck looked so drab it kind of bothered me

Who has opinions on Rams?

Dealer has a nicely loaded 2017 4x4 Big Horn with the 5.7L Hemi. Short bed crew cab. Has 15K on the clock. He’s asking $30K- I could probably get it for $25. 

I confess... I’ve always been a Dodge hater. But I drove this truck side by side with 3 other trucks- an F150, and 2 Silverados. No doubt it won in virtually every category. 

I feel like Dodge was always the red-headed step child had had some historical issues (transmissions and rust), but that they have had something to prove and have stepped up recently. 

Thoughts?

SVreX said:

Strike_Zero said:

I have nothing to add regarding a recommendation on a  truck. Sorry to hear about the accident.  Please ensure that you get checked out!

Thank you. 

I’m battered and bruised. I did get checked out, and the Doc says I’ll be OK, but it will hurt worse tomorrow. 

I didn’t like it when the EMT told me my blood pressure was 220/ 190. 

That blood pressure is stroke territory.   You really need to consult with a doctor to see if your resting bp is above average as well.  And at least get a carotid artery scan so see if you have a propensity collecting plaque.

Mrs Jharry3 is an MD so I hear all sorts of stories at the supper table.

Three of my close friends own Rams. Mostly because they can get so much more money off of MSRP than they can on Ford, and a little more off than they can on Chevy. These guys however buy new gas 1500 quad cab short bed 'manlyvan' trucks and main purpose is commute with occasional hunting trip or hauling lumber home for a project use. Very little towing use.

All newish trucks are going to be a really nice place to be inside relative to a 20 year old truck.   

My main point to remember is that fuel mileage will be the main driver of your costs to drive whichever truck. So do not discount fuel mileage and cost (gas vs premium vs diesel). I know you are already considering this of course, but that's my .00002 bitcoin. 

SVreX said:

Who has opinions on Rams?

Dealer has a nicely loaded 2017 4x4 Big Horn with the 5.7L Hemi. Short bed crew cab. Has 15K on the clock. He’s asking $30K- I could probably get it for $25. 

I confess... I’ve always been a Dodge hater. But I drove this truck side by side with 3 other trucks- an F150, and 2 Silverados. No doubt it won in virtually every category. 

I feel like Dodge was always the red-headed step child had had some historical issues (transmissions and rust), but that they have had something to prove and have stepped up recently. 

Thoughts?

I cant speak for that year, but virtually everyone ive known with a Dodge truck has complained about long term reliability and youve said thats a big issue for you. 

For years ive used vans for concrete, i am a big fan of locking my stuff up like you are and they can tow pretty well too, although ive had to tow with it like....3 times in 10 years so that wasnt a big concern for me. 

Really though it kinda sounds like you arent sure of your priorities on it, id probably sit down and write down the things in order of want/need and go from there first.