Posted 2011-04-23 8:12 PM (#133385) Subject: 3/4 ton trucks
Member
Posts: 6
Location: California
I'm getting closer to buying my trailer, which is likely to be a bumper pull, straight load Hawk. My horse is a big boy, a Clyde/TB cross. My question is what would be the best tow vehicle? I know I want a 3/4 ton truck but am less sure about engine size, 2wd vs 4wd, manual vs automatic. I'm mostly going to be doing short trips and live in California so no snow to deal with. Thanks,
Posted 2011-04-23 10:21 PM (#133389 - in reply to #133385) Subject: RE: 3/4 ton trucks
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Originally written by leniH on 2011-04-23 8:12 PM
I'm getting closer to buying my trailer, which is likely to be a bumper pull, straight load Hawk. My horse is a big boy, a Clyde/TB cross. My question is what would be the best tow vehicle? I know I want a 3/4 ton truck but am less sure about engine size, 2wd vs 4wd, manual vs automatic. I'm mostly going to be doing short trips and live in California so no snow to deal with. Thanks,
My opinion if you are looking for a GM go with the 6.0 engine with the Auto tranny (I'm too lazy to shift gears) as far as 2wd vs 4wd, I have never had the need for a 4x4 truck so if you go with a 2wd truck you can buy a truck with more options on it for the same money as buying a 4x4. Ford I am not sure about the new ones, but a year or two old truck the 5.4 are not bad for towing small trailer. The Dodge the only thing I would buy would be the diesel, would run away from the gasers..............
Posted 2011-04-23 10:51 PM (#133394 - in reply to #133385) Subject: RE: 3/4 ton trucks
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
I'm lazy too, and would rather change ATF fluid than clutch assemblies. Starting on hills, creeping up to the hitch ball, reducing the jerking to the trailer, is worth the extra 1/2 MPG it costs to use an automatic transmission. Driving a rig takes a good bit of concentration. Not having to worry about a six speed tranny lets you worry about your driving, instead of your engine's torque curve. If you are an open road driver, and do a lot of long distance travels, the manual will save you a bit of fuel.
Many people are unaccustomed to driving with a stick shift, and will not consider the purchase of any vehicle without an auto transmission.
2WD vs 4WD depends on a few variables. First and foremost is the area in which you will be driving. I've pulled more 2WD truck/rigs off of wet summer fields than I have in the snow. I know a dually 2WD owner who had to unload her horses onto the black top road, when she couldn't restart her rig on a hill during a rain storm. I have pulled loaded hay wagons from the field to the road, with my 4WD Kubota RTV (21HP), because the 2WD trucks just sat and spun in the dirt.
A 4WD truck costs more, is more versatile, and is much more valuable at resale. In my area, a 4WD truck is almost universally, the accepted tow vehicle.
Posted 2011-04-23 11:40 PM (#133396 - in reply to #133385) Subject: RE: 3/4 ton trucks
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
You can hardly find a 4x2 truck around here. If you do they are the stripped down work trucks. Anything with any options will be a 4x4. It's just what people own around here. I'm always amazed when I'm in Dallas how many 4x2 Suburbans I see. They just don't exist in Utah.
So your choices will be determined somewhat by the region of the country you live in. Sunny Southern California, I'm sure has lots of 2 wheel drive trucks. And if you never leave the pavement, They will probably do everything you want.
Posted 2011-04-24 5:45 AM (#133397 - in reply to #133385) Subject: RE: 3/4 ton trucks
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
We live in the mud and snow in Nebraska so a 4 wheel drive is a must around here but like Gard said I am sometime suprised by the times I have needed to switch it over to 4wd with and without a trailer on, sometimes slick grass or a light skim of mud is enough to make things difficult. Back when I was younger it was a lot more fun to shift gears but now I wouldn't do without the auto tranny.
Posted 2011-04-24 6:27 AM (#133398 - in reply to #133385) Subject: RE: 3/4 ton trucks
Regular
Posts: 87 Location: Williamsburg VA
I debated that issue and a friend talked me into the 4 wheel drive. I can't count the number of times I have had to put the truck into 4 wheel drive to get a trailer up a small incline covered with grass. It doesn't take a lot of weight to cause tire spin when the tires settle into the grass covered ground.
Posted 2011-04-24 8:13 AM (#133401 - in reply to #133385) Subject: RE: 3/4 ton trucks
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 322 Location: Fort Madison, Iowa
I've had 2wds and 4wd and I couldn't go back to a 2wd. When I had a 2wd I had a few times I had to be pulled out of my camping spot because it rained while camping and then I just spun out on grass.
Since having the 4wd I've had different times I would start to spin out and then I just turn the 4x4 on and just smile thinking I'm sure glad I have a 4x4. Even had one time it rained so much while camping over a week that I needed the 4x4 without pulling just to get around the campground and all trailers were pulled out with a tractor so we wouldn't tear up the campground. Was really glad too to have one this last winter when we had 17" of snow.
Posted 2011-04-24 8:36 AM (#133402 - in reply to #133385) Subject: RE: 3/4 ton trucks
Member
Posts: 6
Location: California
Hi All,
Thanks for all the input you've convinced me to go with 4WD. I've been looking for a used truck in the central valley and there are alot of 2 Wds out there. My old truck was an F150 with 2WD and I would sometimes find the wheels spinning on dry grass. I thought maybe a heavier truck would have more traction but I don't want to get stuck with a loaded trailer.
Posted 2011-04-25 1:33 AM (#133441 - in reply to #133385) Subject: RE: 3/4 ton trucks
Elite Veteran
Posts: 610 Location: Northern CA
Go with 4X4. I too live in Ca. and have had to use my 4x4 countless times on wet grass due to the spin-out factor. And this was pulling a loaded GN trailer.
3/4 ton trucks
