Field Truck

I've had Chevy trucks that have gone 300,000. And been rock solid. Just plain ones with no frills. V-8's and not any of the smaller engines.

Fuel injection cured most of the worries about dirt and dust that we had with our old International Harvester trucks that could not make 60,000 without some sort of rebuild.

Regular oil changes and I think now days that most brands are pretty solid. The choice depends on if you pull a trailer or your loads.

dp

Depends where you are going to use them and need the best performance. Off road, light, full size with small engines but heavy duty suspension and brakes, highway, something else. I prefer a 4 speed stick shift and clutch with slow differentials, more important to be able to go at a constant speed and very slow than to make jackrabbit jumps and stops. There are many different rigs available, but more important is how they are set up and you need to look at that closely. Find someone locally who knows and is not a salesman, they will sell you the wrong thing almost every time.
jud
One advantage of smaller engines is that some clown can not tear the drive train out as easily and it lasts much longer without repairs.

Yes

I have a 2008 half-ton Chevy. The MOST comfortable truck I've ever ridden in. The worst truck for working in the mud and field I've ever had. Mine's a 4wd. The cool thing about mine is this "traction control" thingy that keeps you from spinning out, it just shuts the wheels down. Great on pavement, sucks in the mud. There's a button to turn it off, but it resets after the truck is killed.

So there I am, in the Trinity River bottom with LESS than 3000 miles on my new hoopy. I stuck the truck THREE times in one day (previously I prided myself on being able to drive very well in the mud and had only stuck a truck three times in the previous ten years). You would think, that when you kick it in 4 high, it would DISENGAGE THE FREAKING TRACTION CONTROL, it doesn't. It does in 4 low, but hell, I may need 327 ponies with rooster tails 40' tall at 70 mph in the mud.

Good truck, Dodge is better.

We happen to like the smaller PU's - Ford Ranger, V6, 4WD, 5 speed manual, extended cab. They have served us very well. The only thing special I do is as soon as it arrives I order extra leaf spring AND coil spring to beef up the rear end to carry the weight. Can't remember the last time we got one stuck and Lord knows we go every where.

Tundra

I'm very happy with my 2008 Tundra. 2WD, V8, regular cab, long bed. I only have about 15,000 miles on it (mostly highway), but it's very comfortable, plenty powerful, and holds all my gear.

Thank you all for the info. We travel 200 miles highway to our jobs, work on remote offroad sites all week and then return. So its that mix of long highway and fairly rough offroading. Ive been eyeing f-150 4x4 crew cab and Tundra 4x4 crew cab. we need the interior room for all equip and luggage, as well as decent bed space for our moumentation gear, generator and typical survey box outfit.

ya goes down ter the auction and getcherself a crown vic with a 3.55 limited slip an put dem snow tires on it.

Ford F Series

-----

The Old Stand By -

F-150

-----

but

if

you

need

'more truck'

you

might

look

at

say

the

Ford

F-650

------------------------
------------------------

-

Tundra

I have had great service from my 2005 4WD Tundra. Love it. Very sure footed and capable. I only work with myself and an assistant in the field, though, so I don't need the larger truck that the new Tundras have grown into. The smaller size is perfect.

Ford F Series

6th....what about a real truck. Something not so wimpy.

Requirements:

Need a 10 foot ladder to reach equipment (not the 6' as shown)
Must get less than 4 gallons to the mile (not that 6 mpg as shown)
Tires are must so replacement needs to run about 5k.

now as far as clearance....well, as shown may be ok:)

I just sold my 08' Ford F-150. I liked it as a work vehicle. No so kind as a everyday mode of transport. I had 44500 miles after 1.5 years and no problems. MPG varied from 12-13.5. The 4WD helped on several jobs. The problem I had with it were the tires. Had to replace twice and at a cost of (total) $3,100. Toyotas have come along way. I have found that the Ford's and Chevy's stand the test of time but the toyota's seem to be like the duracell battery.

Now, to switch to the TDD mode..TRUCKS...WHO NEEDS TRUCKS!!!! YOU BUNCH OF WIMPS. I WALKED 120 MILES TODAYS AFTER BREAKING MY ANKLE AND I DIDN'T NEED NO STINKIN TRUCK. I CARRIED ALL MY EQUIPMENT ON MY BACK....TURNED 4 SETS OF ANGLES ON EACH POINT AND STILL ONLY MANAGED A 1:1,500,000 CLOSURE. IMAGINE HOW BAD THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IF I HAD WATER.

sorry caps off:)

No matter what you get someone will complain about it unless its for yourself.

We outfit our crews with 1/2 ton white crew cab 4x4 chevys with v8's and have very good luck with them.

We realized awhile ago to make the crew vehicle standard and the same for all of them. Lately though, I have though about stepping it up to 3/4 ton. But need to research out the difference between mileage versus better durability.

I have a 2007 Tundra for my personal vehicle and a 4WD Ford for work. I find the bed on the Toyota a little taller than I like to reach over and since it's a long bed, the stuff near the cab is harder to get to without climbing into the bed. I prefer crew cab or extended cab so expensive equipment is locked inside and there is space for a 3 man crew if needed.

Ford F Series

>
> Now, to switch to the TDD mode..TRUCKS...WHO NEEDS TRUCKS!!!! YOU BUNCH OF WIMPS. I WALKED 120 MILES TODAYS AFTER BREAKING MY ANKLE AND I DIDN'T NEED NO STINKIN TRUCK. I CARRIED ALL MY EQUIPMENT ON MY BACK....TURNED 4 SETS OF ANGLES ON EACH POINT AND STILL ONLY MANAGED A 1:1,500,000 CLOSURE. IMAGINE HOW BAD THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IF I HAD WATER.
>

I LIKEEY - YOU DA MAN

I have 2 2006 Chevy 1500 Extended Cabs. 1 4x4 and 1 4x2. The 4x4 has been flawless and no sits at 70k miles. The 4x2 gets more day to day abuse and had to have the tranny replaced at 70k and it sits at 85k now. Only other repairs have been general maintenance type things (brakes, oil, filters, fuses, etc)

If I were buying a new truck I would probably go with a Ford F150 just because Ford has shown better leadership from the top for the last few years and I would assume that trickles down to product line. I also own a 2006 Ford Expedition with 70k that has been trouble free.

Do not discount the Toyota. I had a 4 Runner that gave me many years of trouble free service, but they are not as solid feeling of vehicles as the Ford and Chevy.

I keep my faithful 1989 F150 4WD in shape and have replaced or rebuilt everything, including motor, on it once. It will burn a gallon of gas every 13min whether sitting or traveling.

I have been happy with my 2001 Tacoma 2WD with off road and towing package. The 20+mpg is alright too.

Ford F Series

thought I would add one more comment. The F-150 I had was delivered with a rubber mat, the seats were vinyl and it took only an hour to clean. I used Scrubbing Bubbles to clean the floor/insides after the week was done. The amount of debris carried inside proved no challenge.

My history is 20 years with a firm that started (1982) with Datsun/Nissan King Cabs. ehhhh. switched to Dodge Rams and the to Ford. In the big pic I think the use and, where the vehicles are used needs to be realized in a part in a purchase (I think u already know that). Our purchase worked fine given the terrain/use/somepissantsdriving yielded.

Matthew

I don't think you'll find an ounce of difference for 3/4 ton vs. 1/2 ton for a survey truck. Typically, we don't haul enough to warrant the 3/4 ton. That being said, the main difference NOT to go 3/4 ton is that you'd have to buy gas cause the diesel is just too heavy and you will spend much time getting it unstuck as opposed to the gas. That and the mileage is about 2 mpg less for 3/4.

Now, if you were in the cattle hauling bidness, my answer would be different.

We actually have a dodge dakota. Smaller truck with a v8, 4wd, and with the exception of clearance, will go ANYWHERE the other trucks will, and a whole lot of other places. It's a bit cramped and we made the entire bed the tool box, but, I'm not here to provide 50k trucks to tear up. The guy driving it loves it, except for a few minor things, but it's mileage is definitely better than the 1/2 tons at around 20 mpg.

Have a 1 ton chev 4 wheel drive on the ranch that has been a very good truck. What made it a good truck for hauling large loads or getting over rough ground was a 2 speed device that went between the clutch and main transmission. There was a bell housing extender and had to move the transmission and transfer case back, lengthen the front drive line and shorten the rear. Works just like a 2 speed axle on a truck but you can use it in or out of 4 wheel drive, it does not matter which because of where it is located in the drive train. Only problem with the truck is rocks in the duels, again just like any other truck with duels on rocky unimproved roads. Not sure if those units are still available, never had any problems with this one and it allows you to split every gear, something you miss in other rigs.
jud

Matthew

I know what you mean about the diesel. I have a 06 chevy duramax 4x4 and it is the best truck i have ever had, however it is not one to be in the mud with. The weight will bury it.

The 3/4 is just a consideration. Most of our jobs are 3-4 hours away, so fuel is always a consideration.