Pick Up Trucks

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treetx

treetx

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I am curious about opinions on pickups and beds.

I've not had a pick up since I did treework on my own. That was 2003 when I sold my long bed F350 powerstroke. Then it was off to being a climber, operating out of a bag. Since then, I have happily NOT had a truck. That is over, I have the itch. I'm tired of small cars.

I'm getting a 3/4 ton 4x4 diesel and flirting with getting a skirted flatbed. I like the look but also love the utility. I like the open space to work on a flatbed and hate that a normal bed collects trash. Any reason to NOT get a skirted flatbed??

This is a hobby vehicle for part time tree work, camping adventures, projects at the family ranch, etc.
 
If that is what you want then buy it. I like either a flatbed or regular box but I think a regular bed is better for family trucking.
 
I'm skeptical of any diesel built after 2008 due to tier 4 emissions. They no longer get awesome mileage and they are no longer good for 2-300K miles. Typical major failures at 150K or less. I like the 6.7 Ford but my buddy had one and the fuel pump ate itself on his at about 160k and he paid $16K for a new engine.

That said, there are some very good gas options available. Ford had the 6.2 Boss v8 engine from 2010-2022. 400hp, 2 spark plugs per cylinder and very reliable. Diesels simply are not worth the premium unless you are pulling a load every single day.

I have been looking at either a diesel or larger gas truck for some time. My 2005 F350 has the 5.4 v8 and it only gets about 7mpg pulling my trailer. It gets the job done though.

IMG_0486.JPG
 
Why not get a srw 1 ton?

Skirted flatbed… why not. It’s functional, add some boxes to make up for the lack of bedsides.
 
Isuzu diesel DMax 2011 model - 8lt per 100km, 4cyl 3 litre turbocharged 4x4
Odo is currently on 260,000km, new clutch and slave cylinder due to knobhead thief couldn't drive a stick shift.
Gonna keep it.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #7
I simply like diesels. I've driven nothing but since 2006.

I hear you on justifying the premium for a diesel. It used to be that pre-emissions BS, a 7.0L turbo diesel would get 22mpg. I'm looking at a dodge mainly because my old man has a 2017 srw 1 ton that he has driven the absolute piss out of. Much of that with a 32ft stock trailer with living quarters. The truck will be a toy for me so justification boils down to want.

I like the flatbeds. I am being a poser by getting one. In N TX, W TX, and NM, flatbeds are pretty much a cowboy thing. I have interfaced with the help on some of the big ranches and the flatbed is super cool. Most of the time, it is empty, save for a cooler. When you do have stuff, you throw it on, strap it, down, then you have a work surface. My old man still works some on the larger ranches. He says the flatbeds are cool but opted against it as inevitably someone is driving off with their leggings still on the bed, tools, etc.

My want is that I will be doing a lot of my flying hobbies with it and want the work surface or easy access to whatever I have in boxes on the flatbed. Other than the flying hobbies, either tree stuff or ranch oriented stuff. My other diesel is a BMW wagon. I'm tired of worrying about scratching stuff. I am going to keep that road missile but want a truck....

Thanks for the council!!
 
My flatbed is 6' x 8'6", drop sides. Lined with form ply so logs and chip just slide right out.
Considering a tip kit for it.
Diesel for the win.
 
Never had one, but I like the idea of a flatbed. It can be anything you want. It's blank slate to make into something useful for the current job, then reverted when the job's over.
 
I have a 2020 RAM 3500 6.7 Cummins TD long bed, and it is a quite the monster. 1,000 ftlbs of TQ in stock form. The emissions shit is a pain in the butt sometimes. But for a new generation rig it flat out tows and hauls ANYTHING I have put behind or in it. The truck doesn't even know the load is back there. Gets around 17 to 20mpg empty and around 12ish when hauling heavy shit.

Gary
 
My 2006 F250 had the 6.0. No issues while I had it. Totaled it when a log truck pulled out in front of me. My 2015 F250 had the 6.7. No issues. Sold it to a friend last year and got a 2023 F250, also with 6.7. Each one has had more power than the one before it, but I think my 2017 Ram 3500 with its 6.7 has the most power of the four. May have more to do with its drivetrain than the engine itself.
 
Burnham said:
Have you had any issues with the 6.7, Gary @GASoline71? I have heard some less than confidence-inspiring things about both it and the 6.0.
Click to expand...
The 2019 and 2020 6.7 trucks had fuel pump issues and were recalled. Mine was one of them, and the dealer performed the recall. Shortly after that I had fuel injector issues that were caused by the old fuel pump going out (basically eating itself internally putting metal particles into the diesel and into the injectors) prior to the recall being performed. So, I had to have all 6 injectors replaced under warranty and have had no issues since.

Gary
 
CurSedVoyce said:
Does that year have that intake heater that drops a bolt or nut if you dont keep an eye on it?
Click to expand...
That it does. There is a fix for it made by an aftermarket company that is reasonably priced, but pretty extensive work to do it. I'll end up doing it one of these days. I can do it myself, but have to remove the intake horn, fuel rail, and injector lines to do it.
 
Are there not some similar (or maybe different) issues with the Ford 6.0? Seems I have heard of trouble there too.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #20
This thread was a goodie! I ended up getting a Duramax 2500. Pretty much came down to price. location, and knowing previous owner. Glad I did not be a long bed. It really is just a grocery truck for me. Hauling dirtbikes at the most.

As far as flatbed v normal, the height of the flat was quite a detractor. Again, price, price, price. Glad I got a 2020 and spent about 15-20k less than I thought I was going to..
 
I’m kinda looking for a pick up now. If I stick to single rear wheel it’ll be a 2500 with a couple extra leaves or air bags or a 3500 short bed. Duals I stick to the long bed. Diesel for the towing mileage.
 
@treetx

I bought a 2017 f350 about 18 months ago that came with a skirted Bradford flatbed. I’ve had both Bradford and Hillsboro beds and had good luck with them.

I am not sure if I would pay the price to buy a new skirted bed or not. No matter what you do, those underbody boxes will catch moisture and try to rust out. They are also very small, to the point they’re fairly impractical. I have 2 boxes full with hydraulic plugs/caps/o-ring kits. One with grease guns, and the last with ratchet straps and shackles. All of my real storage is on the top rail boxes.

The Ford alumiduty trucks are easily my favorite pickup chassis that I have been around.
As far as light duty trucks, we have had Ford, GM, Ram, and Toyota (Tacoma) trucks in the fleet.
 
I's stupid how big USA trucks are. I don't like it, though they do have their place. It would be great to get something smaller and simpler than the current offerings here, without looking like a gay European model. :lol:
 
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