Need help on picking a 3/4 ton

[Deleted member 9101]

Often you don't have time to be careful, and just need to get the job done.

You would not last a day on any jobsite I ever ran...lol.

You always have time to be careful. If you say otherwise it means you either have poor time management or don't focus on quality. You gain nothing by throwing crap around and/or abusing your truck/tools/equipment.

 

[Clutch]

You would not last a day on any jobsite I ever ran...lol.

You always have time to be careful. If you say otherwise it means you either have poor time management or don't focus on quality. You gain nothing by throwing crap around and/or abusing your truck/tools/equipment.

Prolly not, they used to say, if I couldn't break it, it couldn't be broken. Was running my own crew by age 19, so must of been doing something right.

Maybe in your line of work that is poor time management... just knew I had to get it done. We had a few crews and were probably short handed that day and super busy, why I got stuck with my worthless cousin. Every time I turned around from running the hammer, he was standing there with his thumb up his ass. Finally got fed up with him, and made him go sit in the truck. Even had him give my the keys so he couldn't listen to the radio (this was before the internet and smart phones)

IIRC, had one day to demo the bottom of the pool, and we had a concrete truck with 9 yards of mix coming the next day at 8:00 am...was no time to be super careful with disposing of the debris. Especially when I had to do all the work by myself. Sorry, you can't ********** foot around sometimes. As they say Git-R-Done! Worrying about quality when jackhammering out concrete? That is just weird. If it makes you feel better had the F350 dump that day, could toss whatever in there without a worry.

These trucks are costing how much these days? $40-50K++ For that price they need to be able to take a little abuse. Those beds should be made extra tough, shouldn't have to baby it.

I dunno man, it is kinda lame if you can't even go to the grocery store without worrying about having shopping carts pinging off of them. Be kinda nice if these trucks a little tougher skin. Especially for off-pavement travel. Look at the old Landys they were made to walk on the fenders and hood....try that with the new trucks.

 

[Todd780]

How well does the bed hold up to hauling firewood, load of gravel, pallets of tile, etc?

Can you toss logs in there like the trucks of the 50's, 60's, and 70's...and not worry. Or do you have place objects in there like handling a delicate soufflé?

I've tossed tons of firewood and other crap in mine and it's been fine. That being said, there was a spray liner in it when I got it....

I bought my truck used with 20,000 miles on it. It already had some war wounds on it but, I think it was reflected in the purchase price.

Although... I think the dealer tried to hide a punched hole in the hood with a bug deflector. Within a couple days of buying the truck I was puling off the bug deflector and found the damage. They ended up replacing the hood. They said they didn't know it was there... I don't know about that.....

 

[Buliwyf]

Dump trucks are made for tossing stuff around. And their plate steel beds get dented up plenty as well.

An F550 dump truck would come out of the Ohio plant.

 

[Clutch]

I've tossed tons of firewood and other crap in mine and it's been fine. That being said, there was a spray liner in it when I got it....

I bought my truck used with 20,000 miles on it. It already had some war wounds on it but, I think it was reflected in the purchase price.

Although... I think the dealer tried to hide a punched hole in the hood with a bug deflector. Within a couple days of buying the truck I was puling off the bug deflector and found the damage. They ended up replacing the hood. They said they didn't know it was there... I don't know about that.....

Good to hear. After reading Buliwyf saying he is afraid of taking it grocery shopping had me worried.

Thought I might have to do this, when I have to go grab some milk and bread.

 

[Clutch]

Dump trucks are made for tossing stuff around. And their plate steel beds get dented up plenty as well.

An F550 dump truck would come out of the Ohio plant.

Most people around here using their trucks for work duty, the stock bed gets tossed and replaced with a flat bed. We live in a heavy AG area, think we have 4-5 flatbed bed dealers 5 minutes from the house. Can definitely tell who uses their trucks as they were intended for, and who is just for show.

That said, I could probably get by with a Subaru! Don't do much heavy hauling these days.

 

[Todd780]

Good to hear. After reading Buliwyf saying he is afraid of taking it grocery shopping had me worried.

Thought I might have to do this, when I have to go grab some milk and bread.

What I like about the aluminum is it is more corrosion resistant and lightens up the truck so that it the payload / tow ratings can be increased.

Did I buy this truck because of the aluminum body? Nope. Bought it because I couldn't find a Tundra with similar miles / options for the same deal I got on this one.

Not sure yet on the pros / cons of the aluminum body. I guess time will tell.... Dent / ding easier vs better rust resistance. What is better? Who knows..

 

[Buliwyf]

I did. We've been begging for an all Aluminum truck for decades up here in Mid Ohio. Our little military M1101 trailers are aluminum and have been rust free forever.

Something worth mentioning if you beat on the alumaduties bed. Theres a little plastic rectangle behind the rear bumper. I think on the yuppie models it might be for cameras or the electric tail gate tooth brush or something. But on the XL it's just a cover for a couple bed holes behind the bumper. If you let gravel or wood pile upon it, when it falls between the gate and bumper, it'll scratch up the tail gate bottom when you open and close it. So check that spot and clean it.

I removed that panel thing, I'm going to make a simple 1/8" thin cover for it.

Even if it still corrodes, it's not the sure thing that rust was. My 2008 was eating $2000 per year in body repairs in 2015-16. I had to get rid of it while it still had trade in value. It is thicker and more durable in some areas. Areas that don't matter, like the hood seem thin. My Mustangs hood is 3 times heavier than the F250's.

Looks like GM and Dodge are adding AL panels. But that might suck. The Expeditions had mixed matched panels, an look how those turned out.

 

[Clutch]

What I like about the aluminum is it is more corrosion resistant and lightens up the truck so that it the payload / tow ratings can be increased.

Did I buy this truck because of the aluminum body? Nope. Bought it because I couldn't find a Tundra with similar miles / options for the same deal I got on this one.

Not sure yet on the pros / cons of the aluminum body. I guess time will tell.... Dent / ding easier vs better rust resistance. What is better? Who knows..

Not rusting would be a huge plus.

Aluminum can be tough, they make dumps and flat beds out of the stuff. But don't think the new Ford bodies are any where near that. IIRC it was the 80's when the sheet metal started to get thin, why they rust quicker and quicker.

I like the old Landys...meant to be walked on. Don't think you can do that with any of the new trucks.

 

[Todd780]

Not rusting would be a huge plus.

Aluminum can be tough, they make dumps and flat beds out of the stuff. But don't think the new Ford bodies are any where near that. IIRC it was the 80's when the sheet metal started to get thin, why they rust quicker and quicker.

But....but...Ford said the aluminum was Military Grade??

I recall a friend of mine in the Restoration business commented he could see it in 70's vehicles. He mentioned to me something changed about the metal or rust proofing used. But, that conversation was 20 year ago so I've long forgotten what he told me.

 

[Clutch]

But....but...Ford said the aluminum was Military Grade??

I recall a friend of mine in the Restoration business commented he could see it in 70's vehicles. He mentioned to me something changed about the metal or rust proofing used. But, that conversation was 20 year ago so I've long forgotten what he told me.

Yeah....Military Grade, of what a mess hall tray!?

Guess it was the 70's...the 50's and 60's stuff was pretty thick.

Remember Jay Leno was buying some Model T parts, and the old guy he was buying them from had everything store outside. Jay asked aren't you worried about rust!? Old man said....nah, this is some of the best steel they ever used, take a wire brush to it and you're good to go.

 

[Buliwyf]

But....but...Ford said the aluminum was Military Grade??
.

Are you saying my 'lil military trailer won't get dented if I drop wood on it?

 

[Todd780]

Are you saying my 'lil military trailer won't get dented if I drop wood on it?

It's possible if it's made from the same the Military Grade Aluminum as our trucks...

Something tell's me actual aluminum used by the military might be a tad different then what Ford uses on our trucks...

 

[Buliwyf]

Seems about the same as the trailers, Hummers, and semi-truck cabs/doors. Plain old AL sheet.

If it's as good a Kenworth cab, I'll be a happy camper.
https://www.todaysmotorvehicles.com/article/aluminum-truck-peterbilt-lessons-123014/

 

[2025 deleted member]

Not rusting would be a huge plus.

Aluminum can be tough, they make dumps and flat beds out of the stuff. But don't think the new Ford bodies are any where near that. IIRC it was the 80's when the sheet metal started to get thin, why they rust quicker and quicker.

I like the old Landys...meant to be walked on. Don't think you can do that with any of the new trucks.

Thats so you can stand up there and flag down help when you stranded.....