Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives 3/4 ton vs 1/2 ton?

It's 30 to 40 here.

Same here.

Been driving pickups of my own, since 1970. No question that today's half tons are closer to the 3/4 ton trucks from back in that era and that today's 3/4 ton trucks are built for the purposes of hauling and pulling.

I drive half ton 4x4s because they can do what I want 'em to do: Pull a double axle trailer a few times per year, with either a tractor or two cords of wood on it - and haul me around the rest of the year. I have no real need for a 3/4 ton and resulting poorer fuel mileage.

What I mostly see in these parts, are guys riding around in diesel 3/4 ton pickups and never hauling anything other than their own kiesters. Which to me, is a waste of good money?

If someone actually needs a diesel 3/4 ton, then go for it. So far I haven't needed one.

That pretty well sums it up, and takes all the fun out of arguing about different trucks.

I used to need a heavy-duty diesel and now I don't --- I owned four of them over 23 years --- so I drive a Tundra.

Comparison of one, I know, but the half ton I borrowed for a couple of weeks while my Cummins was out of service used a lot more fuel, whether towing (9 mpg compared with 16) or running light (14.5 compared with 18-19 in town). Even with the increased cost of diesel, the 3/4 ton still makes sense to me, especially since it doesn't struggle to get out of its own way.

Arguing about trucks (rifles, bullets, etc) will never go out of fashion.

Every clan reunion I've been to in the past 40 years, involves a minimum of an hour's haggle over trucks. More, if the wimmin didn't break it up prematurely and make us socialize with others and eat?

Two years ago, the highlight was one former owner of a fleet of Power Strokes, who'd gone back to gassers in his F250s. He'd run at least three diesel pickups (plow trucks/general use) and one stake body dump for many years, then came to hate diesels.

That was the year he showed up pulling his fifth wheel RV with a new 4x4 F250 w/V12 gasser and caused a commotion amongst the Power Strokers in our clan. Some still haven't forgiven him.



Still recall when Ford redesigned their pickups. One relative showed up with a new Ford and someone commented on the bed being too high to gather at comfortably.

So another cousin told him to throw some damn RR ties in the bed next year. The Ford owner wanted to know WTH for. So we told him "To stand on, so's we could place our arms on the bed rails while arguing, like you're supposed to". ;O)

A gas station across the street from my office has unleaded at 3.39 and diesel at 4.09. That's about average for the area right now.

I will now reveal the correct answers to the upcoming exam. Take notes.

1. Yes, you really do need a 3/4 ton, you really do need 10 ply off-road tires, and you really do need 4 wheel drive.
2. If you can't do it with a .44 magnum, you can't do it period.
3. A 10-22 will cover 90% of what you REALLY need to do.
4. The ultimate 3 caliber battery is a .22, 5.56x45, and .30-06.
5. Order the ribeye.

Finally!!!

Fries or baked 'tater with that ribeye, be it medium rare or well done? Sour cream or butter on the baked 'tater?

If you can get non ethanol gas in your area, that's what you should be running if you want your engine and components to last, and there isn't near as much difference in diesel and non ethanol gas...

Medium rare + 'tater + sour cream and butter of course!

I've had a couple truck rolled in flower, over easy, but that is rare...

Is the Ford F-150 really a 1/2 ton?



Jayco

Best in class but the wrong class.
I prefer a one ton. Best for hauling things like a camper.
Up to 24 mpg. A long bed. An extra cab. And enough torque to pull anything legal.

Ford 1Ton longbed, extra cab......up to 24mpg? In your dreams, or going downhill.

I towed a camper to Nevada with my Toyota and got 16 MPG ( Nine on the way down and seven on the way back
I have changed my mind about pulling a trailer with anything but a diesel if one is going to tow much. Coming back from the above mentioned Nevada trip, we were pulling into a strong wind, and trying to stay with traffic where the speed limit was 80 MPH. The Tundra is, in my estimation a hell of a puller, but that seemed to me to be asking too much of it. Since it looks like high winds are going to be a constant in the future and I am looking to do a lot of towing, I think I am going to a diesel, Ford probably or maybe Chevy.

Fred

I thinks thats an average MPG of 8, not 16?

That's okay...I can confirm a 454 and a 460 gets 8 no matter what you do....

So I like the 19 when I am not pulling.

Jayco

with a tail wind!

LOL!