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Need Advice on Best Choice of Truck (Vanity)
Vanity | 3-11-2013 | chuckster

Posted on 03/12/2013 6:34:05 PM PDT by Chuckster

I am going to be needing a prime mover to tow my boat from Washington to New Hampshire in a few months. I will also have to have a trailer built or adapted for my approximately 6000 lb, 27 foot long sailboat. I have trailered this boat before with a borrowed rig but now I need to buy one for the cross country move.

Can't buy new. New trucks just cost too much and I am not certain I would want a brand new vehicle anyway. My budget is probably around $10K to $15K for the truck.

I am thinking of something like a F250 extra cab 4X4 or similar GM or Dodge. After we get to the far side, the vehicle will be used as a farm truck and for towing horse trailers and such.

I have plenty of time so I am open to just about anything including buying a sixties vintage vehicle and having it customized for the purpose. Obviously, it does not have to be pretty but it would be nice to have something with a little style.

OK FRiends. What do you think?


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Outdoors
KEYWORDS: crosscountry; highway; towing; truck
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1 posted on 03/12/2013 6:34:06 PM PDT by Chuckster
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To: Chuckster

Barack Hussein Obama would prefer that you buy a Government Motors product rather than a Ford.


2 posted on 03/12/2013 6:38:36 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (Progressive, Marxist liberals do not evolve, they morph into fascists.)
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To: Chuckster

One vote for Ford or Toyota.


3 posted on 03/12/2013 6:39:24 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: FlingWingFlyer

toyota


4 posted on 03/12/2013 6:39:35 PM PDT by DooDahhhh
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To: Chuckster

I’ve never recommended this before, but buy foreign. Toyota Tundra.

The U.S. companies are all Obama sycophants, now.


5 posted on 03/12/2013 6:40:02 PM PDT by fwdude ( You cannot compromise with that which you must defeat.)
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To: Chuckster

Get a used F250 Diesel.

They are work trucks. The deisels will pull 250K miles and 6,000 lbs is easy work. Make sure you make it 5th wheel (gooseneck in Bed). No dualies needed.

We towed a backhoe everyday along with attachments, 2x12 and iron stakes (sometimes 12,000 lbs.) for about 200K miles on that truck before the crankshaft snapped.

You’ll also get decent gas mileage for towing.

(Hint - Keep oil in the crankcase)


6 posted on 03/12/2013 6:40:43 PM PDT by Tenacious 1 ("The British are Coming (to confiscate weapons)" - Paul Revere (We know how that ended))
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To: Chuckster

We bought a 2000 Toyota Tundra a few years ago for $10K, the best auto we have ever bought. I love him.
That’s all I can tell you.
He can pull 3,500 pounds.
Good luck.


7 posted on 03/12/2013 6:40:45 PM PDT by svcw (Why is one cell on another planet considered life, and in the womb it is not.)
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To: Chuckster

Sail it through the canal to Portsmouth!
Or have your wife do it if you don’t feel like it.
Heck, sail it around the Horn- you know you always wanted to.

Good luck.


8 posted on 03/12/2013 6:41:36 PM PDT by mrsmith (Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat Party!)
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To: svcw

Buy American.

Ford.


9 posted on 03/12/2013 6:42:17 PM PDT by Cringing Negativism Network
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To: DooDahhhh

Toyota is not quite there yet for the rugged full sized work truck. It’s still a bit flimsy and the suspension parts wear sooner.

Give them 4 or 5 more years though and I look to see them unseat the F-150.

The construction crowd doesn’t screw around when it comes to their livelihoods. The margins are slim and they use the hell of their trucks. By and large construciton folks and farmers still bet on Ford TRUCKS.

I’m not speaking for anything but work trucks here. The Tundra looks cool and has gobs of power. If you are going to street drive it and throw baseball equipment in the back occassionally, by all means, buy a Toyota.


10 posted on 03/12/2013 6:44:23 PM PDT by Tenacious 1 ("The British are Coming (to confiscate weapons)" - Paul Revere (We know how that ended))
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To: Chuckster

Seriously? Ford. I've had mine for 44 years.


11 posted on 03/12/2013 6:45:22 PM PDT by South40 (I Love The "New & Improved" Free Republic!)
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To: Chuckster

Get a used Ford 250 with a 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel (if you can find one).


12 posted on 03/12/2013 6:45:42 PM PDT by laker_dad
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To: Chuckster

Another vote for a used F250 diesel. Make sure it’s the 7.2 motor. It’s a stump pulling, marathon running motor.


13 posted on 03/12/2013 6:46:51 PM PDT by Vigilantcitizen (Dave Mustaine for president.)
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To: Chuckster

We have rough country and hard winters here in Vermont. Just about all the pickups around here are either Fords or Toyotas. My choice would be a Toyota Tundra.

I think you want the option of four-wheel drive if you’re going to be in New Hampshire.


14 posted on 03/12/2013 6:46:55 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Chuckster

I think you would be better off with a 3/4 ton rig. 6000 lbs with trailer will be at least 7000 and you will probably want to load the pickup too.


15 posted on 03/12/2013 6:47:50 PM PDT by Lurkina.n.Learnin (Obama is the Chicken Little of politics)
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To: Chuckster

Don’t know about the truck but for heavy duty, get a diesel engine.

You can use your choice of diesel or kerosene fuels. Caterpillar makes a good one, but you just about can’t get a bad diesel. Problem is, heavy duty lasts long, and you get to find out about the great resale value.


16 posted on 03/12/2013 6:48:25 PM PDT by donmeaker (Blunderbuss: A short weapon, ... now superceded in civilized countries by more advanced weaponry.)
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To: Chuckster

I own a 2001 Tundra with 425,000 miles. Gave to my son who still drives it. Bought a 2010 Tundra used. Love this truck. Would not buy anything other than Tundra.


17 posted on 03/12/2013 6:48:45 PM PDT by marygam (I have extra ducktape for anyone who needs to wrap their head.)
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To: Chuckster

I think the Tundra can pull it. I own one for 3yrs now, haven’t pulled anything that big, but I like it.


18 posted on 03/12/2013 6:48:50 PM PDT by stevio (God, guns, guts.)
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To: Chuckster

Sell the boat. Buy another when you get there.


19 posted on 03/12/2013 6:50:37 PM PDT by Kirkwood (Zombie Hunter)
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To: Chuckster

Back in 86 I bought a new Ford F-250 with a 460 V-8. I already had an 85 Toyota 4X4 extra cab Toyota.

The Toyota never gave any trouble except the windshield wiper washer went bad. Toyota wanted some high price for the part so I bought a universal one at an Alco for $3. It worked fine.

I liked the Ford but it gave all kinds of trouble. Ball joints were totally worn out at 100,000 miles. Two of the wheels were warped as they came on the vehicle. Carburetor went bad and I replaced it with an Edelbrock for far less than a new Ford one I think it was made by Holley. Slave cylinder went bad, ad did the water pump. The firewall behind where I punch the clutch separated from the vehicle. It had been welded and I probably should have had it re-welded but instead I drilled a bunch of holes and put in nuts and bolts to keep it attached to the vehicle.

That old 460 engine itself never gave any trouble.

I talked to a guy who ran an irrigation business in Western Kansas. He used around 20 pickups in his business. He said the Ford’s front ends just would not take the abuse so he traded for Toyotas as the Fords wore out.

He said the Toyotas were far tougher, never had a bad front end with them.


20 posted on 03/12/2013 6:51:36 PM PDT by yarddog (Per Ardua Ad Alta.)
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