One-ton vs 3/4 ton -- difference in gas mileage?

[greysandbays]

Just doing some "dreaming". I've got a little money stashed away and an empty credit card with most of a year remaining on a very low intro interest rate.

One of the "Things On My List" is a truck (used, of course, for my budget!).

I was thinking to keep my eyes open for a good deal on a 3/4 ton -- but if I came across a one-ton maybe I should jump on it.

How much difference is there in the mpg?

[Guilherme]

It's likely that the one ton will do a bit less in the mpg department because it will have a slightly higher empty weight than the 3/4 ton (heavier springs, maybe some frame strengthening, etc.). But the weight difference will be relatively small (a couple of hundred pounds most likely) and both are really "heavy weights" to start with. I'd not think it a "deal breaker." :)

The one ton will generally have a "stiffer" ride when empty because of the heavier springs and that's a "turnoff" for many who'll use it as a "daily driver." They perform best when working.

If the deal on the one ton is good (you can check Edmonds, Kelly Blue Book, etc. web sites to get some idea of value) then I'd not hesitate over a small mpg difference.

Good luck in your choice. :)

G.

[StefffiC]

My family has a 3/4 ton Suburban 7.4L/454 Gas 4x4 that gets about 12 miles around town and 15 on the highway. My old barn owner had the same engine in a dually 4x4 crew cab and got the same as we did. Her truck was a little longer, but rode about the same.

My dad is selling his Suburban, but I really want a small block or diesel to tow with, prefer a 3/4 ton manual tranny for gas mileage reasons...

[Tangerine Farmer]

I have a dually diesel.. and I can make it get 19 mpg.. if I drive behind a slow car or if there are enough lanes to allow me to drive about 55-60.

I noticed the difference when my husband drives. He likes to put the foot down a little too much.

I don't know the difference with a gas engine, but it should do something also.

SLOOOOWLY....

[hosspuller]

Just doing some "dreaming". I've got a little money stashed away and an empty credit card with most of a year remaining on a very low intro interest rate.

One of the "Things On My List" is a truck (used, of course, for my budget!).

I was thinking to keep my eyes open for a good deal on a 3/4 ton -- but if I came across a one-ton maybe I should jump on it.

How much difference is there in the mpg?
There isn't much difference between a 3/4 and one ton trucks... that is a 2500 and 3500 series trucks EXCEPT the number of rear wheels. Look at the specs of equal trucks. (Same engine, transmission and rear axle ratio.) The 3500 with dual wheels will carry a heavy GN trailer. The single rear wheel won't. A single wheel will pull it, but will squat its tail. I consider a single rear wheel truck badged as a 3500 just a tarted up 3/4 ton truck.:yes:

[greysandbays]

What would be considered a "heavy" GN trailer?

I'm wanting a GN stock trailer that would give me room for four horses slant loaded and a tack compartment up front.

[StefffiC]

What would be considered a "heavy" GN trailer?

I'm wanting a GN stock trailer that would give me room for four horses slant loaded and a tack compartment up front.

Look at some trailers then look at the GVWR of the trucks. You need enough GVWR to cover the weight of the trailer and all your load

[Guilherme]

What would be considered a "heavy" GN trailer?

I'm wanting a GN stock trailer that would give me room for four horses slant loaded and a tack compartment up front.

Our Featherlight is very similar to that. Empty weight was 6000 lb. We have since added a "weekender" package" (cabinets, water tank and system, Incinolet, microwave, reefer, "Cowboy" shower, etc.). Our empty weight is now 7300 lbs. When fully loaded we run about 14,000 lbs. Most of the time we carry two horses so we're in the 11,000 lb. range. We can go up to 15,200 lbs. and be legal with our truck (2008 Duramax, CC, LB, DRW, 4WD).

You're going to need the 3500/350 series or better, DRW. You might get away with a SRW configuration but you'll be unhappy. You'll have more sway on the road and if you get a flat on the truck you're on the side of the road 'till it gets fixed. With the DRW config. you can "limp" to an exit or rest area and get if fixed. Of course with flat steer tire you're SOL. ;)

The only way to know what a trailer weighs is to take it to a truck stop and use the CAT scale to weigh it. If you're lucky your feed store or hay supplier might have one that you can use. Ask them. Do not trust commercial trailer sellers on weight issues!!!! I've yet to find one that was even in the "ballpark" on actual weight! :no:

Take your time and look around. There are still lots of good deals to be had.

Good luck in your search.

G.

[greysandbays]

Ooooohhhhh, this one's purty: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2002-GMC-SIERRA-2500HD-EXT-CAB-SLE-8-1L-V8-LONG-BED-TOW_W0QQitemZ110445144182QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Car s_Trucks?hash=item19b70b2876

But spending that kind of money on Ebay for something half way across the country that I can't bounce my own eyeballs off of first ain't part of my plan...

Anyway, my search efforts on autotrader.com and autobase.com aren't turning up much of anything at all for 3/4-ton or one-ton trucks. Maybe I need to up my maximium price field...

[StefffiC]

There is a nice crew, dually, 4x4, 8100 engine in Charlotte for 12k. Beautiful blue truck...

Too much for my commuter vehicle, but she's a nice one!

[wlrottge]

There isn't much difference between a 3/4 and one ton trucks... that is a 2500 and 3500 series trucks EXCEPT the number of rear wheels. Look at the specs of equal trucks. (Same engine, transmission and rear axle ratio.) The 3500 with dual wheels will carry a heavy GN trailer. The single rear wheel won't. A single wheel will pull it, but will squat its tail. I consider a single rear wheel truck badged as a 3500 just a tarted up 3/4 ton truck.:yes:

Hey, don't talk a/b my truck like that!! ;)

The difference as I've seen (looked at a lot of trucks) and read between the 3/4's and the 1 ton SRW (single rear wheel) is just a stiffer set of springs and in Ford's case, a 2" axel block on the 3/4's and a 1" on the 1's. It's the same axel, the same frame.

When you step up to the dualies, the only difference between that and the SRW is the tires. You do get more stability b/c it's wider, but you don't get any heavier springs (no change in "squat"). I would expect the milage to be at least a little less b/c you have a wider truck (wind resistance) and two more tires (rolling resistance). HOWEVER... if you're like me and run all terrain tires on a SRW, the tires might be a negligable change b/c duallies usually run a more mild tire and therefore less rolling resistance.

I like my F350 b/c it is stiffer than the 250 but doesn't have the same width as the duallie. To me what really matters is what's under the hood.... if it's got spark plugs, no thanks!

[Guilherme]

I agree that a dually will suffer compared to an SRW in the milage department probably for the reasons stated. 4WD also extracts a small milage penalty. IMO the benefits of both outweigh the costs. As with all things, YMMV. ;)

I know some folks who recently picked up a creampuff '99 F350 well equipped (7.3l, LB, 4WD, CC, Dually) for $7500. They spent a LOT of time wandering around used car lots. Deals are out there; you've got to be both enterprising and lucky, I guess.

One place you might try is Truckpaper.com. It's mostly for larger trucks (like Freightliners) but they also have a number of smaller, one tons listed.

Also, try Dieselplace (Google it). It's mostly a discussion group but they also have a classified section.

Good luck in your search.

G.

[Sithly]

Try carsoup.com. I found my truck on that site by typing in what I wanted, then sorting all the results by price. I went to look at the cheapest ones.

[hosspuller]

What would be considered a "heavy" GN trailer?

I'm wanting a GN stock trailer that would give me room for four horses slant loaded and a tack compartment up front.

It was late when I posted about a heavy trailer... Pls excuse my quick post.

Let's compare two trucks. A: a single rear wheel, B: a dual rear wheel. Both have the same engine, transmission, and rear axle ratio. Both are the same trim level, bed size and cab size. You'll notice the Combined Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (CGVWR) of the two trucks is identical. Look at the maximum trailer weight, The dually will be a few pounds LESS. The answer is because of the weight of the extra rear wheels. WHY then purchase a dually? For the increased "PAYLOAD" The tires limit the actual load on truck. Like a chain, the weakest link determines the rating. The axle can be the same, the springs can look the same (but likely have a higher spring rate) , but the weakest link is the tires. A GN trailer will put about 25% of the trailer weight on the hitch. That hitch weight is translated to weight on the truck. From GM's specification 2001 model year (the sheet I have in hand) a dually payload is 5471 pounds. The single rear wheel is only 3622. A difference of 1822 pounds. Doesn't sound like a lot but multiply it by 4 (25%) and you can haul a 7288 pound heavier trailer than a single rear wheel. These figures are for example only. In real life, one has to consider passengers, option weight, as well as the axle weights, trailer loading configuration. As another poster said.: only a scale will be accurate. Any other weight numbers are only a guess.

So to answer your question "what is a heavy trailer?" ... A trailer that overloads your truck. Either too much hitch weight or too much gross weight. Anything else is within the capabilities of your truck.