@350rocketmike my half ton shortbed is too light to put everything I want in it. With all survey gear in, I have to be easy on the rebar, wood and big tools and she still grunts a lot. Still like how it is set up and still humming with 325k. If I DO make a change its up to F250
Is that the V6? They more commonly had the manual transmission. I've driven them in automatic and they were pretty doggy.?ÿ
My 4.8 is a dog off the line with AC on but when it hits 3000rpm it accelerates really good. More of a car engine than a truck engine IMO.?ÿ
@350rocketmike it's a Troton gas V8. Engine is fine. The weight is too much for the stock suspension and tires. I upgraded both and it's still a little heavy for F150
Yeah mine feels overloaded as well. The rear leaf springs were sagging so I had an extra leaf installed on each side and torsion keys in the front, lifted 1.5-2", it helped but it's still working it hard, but it's been hauling this load from about 110k miles to 209k so far. It doesn't seem to have affected long term durability but this is why I don't understand guys thinking a minivan or small Ford transit is enough vehicle for this job.?ÿ
@350rocketmike you guys are making me feel better every minute about choosing to go 2500.
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I??ve weighed a couple of trucks fully loaded over the years, the last was a Ram, about a 2014 model year. ?ÿIt was 4x4 and a V6 quad cab, had a payload of 1700 pounds. ?ÿWith me and another guy on it we were about 20 pounds overweight and we didn??t have the GPS with us.
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Its not out of line to need a 3/4 ton.
Did similar to my 04 chev 1500.?ÿ Broke a rear leaf, so I had a shop fix, and add 1 left to each side.?ÿ Didn't do anything in the front, but that leveled it out quite a bit.?ÿ Retiring the 04 because of body cancer, and nickel and diming me to death.
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I feel if you are going to charge a premium rate, you can't roll into the jobside in a POS.
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3/4 tons are just too high for me.
Lol, tough call, take the helper, or the GPS. ?????ÿ
I've done a ton of suspension mods to make a half ton truck drive better near the weight limit. At the end of the day it doesn't pencil out. Sure, I can make it work and can even make it last. That doesn't make it safe or efficient.?ÿ
My 2500 has the powertrain, brakes, cooling, steering and suspension needed to carry my gear and a trailer anywhere a 4WD can go. I'm comfortable and safe, and the guy in front of me doesn't have to worry that I'll roll through him when he stops for an animal in the road. My client won't be tapping his toes while I'm trying to limp my rig over the pass with a transmission past the highest temp reading.?ÿ
Every job needs a different rig. I quit compromising a long time ago and I charge enough to buy what I need.?ÿ
It's a long box 3/4 ton for me. I quit doing the diesel engines but I understand the reason to get them. I only trailer when I absolutely have too, almost all work in the country is preformed on 4-wheelers which has gone a long way towards saving the trucks from abuse.
Sorry it's not very organized right now as I just moved to our new house and very busy but this is roughly what it usually looks like. I'm usually solo, occasionally have a helper but once in a blue moon I have 2 helpers and have to move more stuff into the back. So I can't really imagine going to anything smaller than a half ton extended cab. If the truck goes into the shop and I use my car I take the bare necessities and always forget something.?ÿ
I quit doing the diesel engines but I understand the reason to get them.
