• Thank you for visiting HeavyEquipmentForums.com! Our objective is to provide industry professionals a place to gather to exchange questions, answers and ideas. We welcome you to register using the "Register" icon at the top of the page. We'd appreciate any help you can offer in spreading the word of our new site. The more members that join, the bigger resource for all to enjoy. Thank you!

I'd like a truck!

thepumpguysc

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2010
Messages
7,445
Location
Sunny South Carolina
Occupation
Master Inj.Pump rebuilder
If your going to pull a trailer but need ample storage room..
How about a Ford Bronco.??
They can b had for crazy cheap money & as long as the back window rolls down (GREAT FEATURE) & the tailgate opens.. the power plant is great.. mine is a 5.8L punched 10 over.. I’ve got over 383k on my daily driver..
All the features of a car but built like a tank.. Mines an Eddie B. addition.. & I love it.!!
 

aighead

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2019
Messages
2,541
Location
Dayton, OH
Broncos are pretty sweet and the rolling down back window is one of my favorite features! On a similar note, I had inherited a 1977 Dodge Ramcharger, like this but in way worse shape, back when I was young, that I loved but it was another thing that didn't run well and I didn't have the money or knowledge to fix it up, really makes me sad because it was incredible.

Dang it, now you've got me looking at Ramchargers... Nostalgia is a bitch. I'd love to have a convertible truck though.
 

4x4ford

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2007
Messages
237
Location
Las Vegas Nevada
Occupation
aunts on the strip Currently drive a 1951 chevy pa
There is a 2002 f250 4x4 regular cab on face book in southeast Missouri with the 7.3 for 3500 I saw this morning
 

Duromax04

Active Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2009
Messages
40
Location
Holt, MO
Occupation
Sales Rep
If you really are not going to haul a backhoe much at all, you might get away with a single rear wheel 3/4 or 1 ton. I have an 06 GMC 3500 single rear wheel with an allison 6speed and an 8.1, and it pulls very good. Not quite as good as a turbo diesel, but more than adequate. I don't drive it much, so I don't worry about mileage. It pulls this load easily 65 to 70 all day. Stopping it is always fun, but getting to speed is not an issue. I know your backhoe will be a good bit heavier than that. I pulled this same load with a 3/4 and it was fine as well. When I had my bucket and a 7 ft cutter on this tractor the entire load weighed 21,800lbs.
If you were going to haul it a lot, I would not go below a 1 ton dually for sure.

To keep cost down, I would go with a gasser. Diesels will command a higher price tag for sure. The Ford v-10's are not easy on gas by any means, but pull pretty good. I believe they are 6.7ltr. Those can sometimes be found at a reasonable price. The 8.1' GM big blocks were in 3/4 and 1 tons from 2001 to first half 2007 before GM quit putting them in light duty trucks, 3/4 Suburbans, and 3/4 Avalanches.
Also, I really like gooseneck trailers. They distribute the load better and tow better in my opinion than bumper style trailers do.

Good Luck on your choice.


IMG_0289[1].JPG
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,424
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Hauled a 580E Case on my truck. 99Ford SD F250 7.3 Diesel. Would NOT want to go far with a single wheel trailer with a TLB on it. Only hauled this one seven miles, was enough for me. Also NO WAY would I tie down with Straps, Asking for problems as those lay.

IMG_0199 (480x640).jpg
 

suladas

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2016
Messages
1,731
Location
Canada
I guess it depends on the person, but I was pulling my 6 ton mini with a Ram 3500 SRW for years on a tandem dually gooseneck, pulled and stopped easy and wasn't a load i'd consider needing a dually for at all. Even pulled a 8 ton mini and a 18k genie a few times no issues, total trailer weight about 26,000lbs, still stable, the only thing lacking was rear end ratio to get going. A dually is more stable especially on the highway if it's windy, but nothing wrong with a SRW at all.

I'm really partial to Dodge, it's all i've ever owned and they've treated me really well. If you're looking for a older diesel it's the only way to go. The ford 7.3 is fine, but the rest of them for years were awful. If you want a diesel that will actually tow and not be broken down all the time, it's going to cost at least $10-15k.
 

suladas

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2016
Messages
1,731
Location
Canada
If you really are not going to haul a backhoe much at all, you might get away with a single rear wheel 3/4 or 1 ton. I have an 06 GMC 3500 single rear wheel with an allison 6speed and an 8.1, and it pulls very good. Not quite as good as a turbo diesel, but more than adequate. I don't drive it much, so I don't worry about mileage. It pulls this load easily 65 to 70 all day. Stopping it is always fun, but getting to speed is not an issue. I know your backhoe will be a good bit heavier than that. I pulled this same load with a 3/4 and it was fine as well. When I had my bucket and a 7 ft cutter on this tractor the entire load weighed 21,800lbs.
If you were going to haul it a lot, I would not go below a 1 ton dually for sure.

To keep cost down, I would go with a gasser. Diesels will command a higher price tag for sure. The Ford v-10's are not easy on gas by any means, but pull pretty good. I believe they are 6.7ltr. Those can sometimes be found at a reasonable price. The 8.1' GM big blocks were in 3/4 and 1 tons from 2001 to first half 2007 before GM quit putting them in light duty trucks, 3/4 Suburbans, and 3/4 Avalanches.
Also, I really like gooseneck trailers. They distribute the load better and tow better in my opinion than bumper style trailers do.

Good Luck on your choice.


View attachment 226118

The only part that scares me about that load is the way it's tied down, it's plenty of truck for that.
 

Steve Frazier

Founder
Staff member
Joined
Oct 30, 2003
Messages
6,599
Location
LaGrangeville, N.Y.
I'd recommend you stay away from the Ford 4R100 transmission in the Super Duty trucks starting in 1999, I'm not sure when they went to the 5R100 or if that transmission is any better. The 6R140 auto introduced in 2011 is a very stout transmission, as is the 6.2 gas engine. I can't justify the diesels anymore and I'm happy with this combination. I don't know if these are within your budget but I'd stay away from earlier Fords.

At work I have a 2003 Silverado 2500HD that currently has about 120,000 miles on it with the 6.0 and 4L80E. It's spent its life towing and plowing snow.I had to replace the transmission last year but that's the first trouble we've had with it except the exhaust manifolds rotting away. It still runs and pulls well but rust is taking its toll. My point is this has been a good combination as well if you can find a rust free specimen, I'd look for a 3500 THOUGH.

I can't offer much information about Dodge.
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,424
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Mine is the first year 4R100, lasted 265000 miles doing what I showed or pulling a 180 allis with a 3008 Bush Hog mower or other implements attached some 75 miles one way to Brother In Law's farm Gladden MO. monthly from 2003. The Motor Company changed the spline design twice since 99 for the 4R100, currently still using a reman with latest design shaft and hubs in 2012.

DSC02396.JPG
SSJB2365[1].jpg
 

Don.S

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2016
Messages
397
Location
Montreal Canada
The problem with the older fords was the transmission cooler is tinnyl so the transmissions over heat way too easy. To make them last you need a tempurature gauge and a larger cooler. The 6.0 cooler is three times the size and bolts right in place of the stock one. I have a 7.3 with 350k in the stock transmission and it lives a tough life. At work we use 7.3 trucks to plow snow because the reverse gear is tall and they use leaf springs on the front. We have one with 550k on it that plows snow every winter.
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,424
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Actually HALF correct, 4R100 had a 'Heatup' bypass to reduce cold fluid damage, that was eliminated in 2001 as found would go bypass and stay there never fed the cooler. Mine was bypassed in 2000 as noted the trans seemed to get Awfully Hot and was told to bypass. Quite a few missed the Memo.
 

Don.S

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2016
Messages
397
Location
Montreal Canada
From everything i have read is thats not actually a cold bypass its for blockages it just so happens that it can bypass with cold fluid. If you remove the bypass and have a cooler blockage say bye bye to that transmission. I use to have to use 4x4 low to back up anything steep with a load or the temperature would go through the roof and start barfing out fluid in a matter of less then a minute. With the new cooler i dont even think about it. Also with the new cooler my transmission often dosen't even get up to temperature in the winter unless i am stalling the converter a lot.
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,424
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Not from Ford, is a Warm Up bypass to keep trans oil in recirc until warm. Can bypass if cooler stops up but aids nothing as still does build heat.
 

Steve Frazier

Founder
Staff member
Joined
Oct 30, 2003
Messages
6,599
Location
LaGrangeville, N.Y.
I had an '01 7.3, 4 transmissions in 80,000 miles. Drove to Arkansas to Brian's Truck Shop and got one of his transmissions once warranty was up, it lasted a couple seasons and I lost reverse. He sent an exchange without question and I didn't have any further problems. I understand mechanics and didn't abuse the truck, but I plowed and towed with it. I bought the truck new and lost the first transmission at 22,000 miles, the dealer rebuilt it and it went again at 38,000 miles, just outside of warranty. There was enough left in it to drive to Arkansas and Brian rebuilt it while I waited. Got two seasons out of it and lost reverse in that one. Brian sent a replacement that I installed and I didn't have any further trouble.

I wouldn't wish my troubles on anyone.
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,424
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Now that is downright funny
Not once have I except to force a downshift used ‘Tow’ on the end of the shift lever, always towed the AC with implements down to that other farm in high side
Even with the Jasper in it now operate same
 
Top