Farm Truck

[bulldog04]

I'm looking at getting a 3/4 or ton truck. I haven't been in cattle very long but I'm expanding my operation and will need to move more hay and haul more calves to the sale barn. Probably only haul 350 bales a year and 90 calves. The hay will only be 5 mile trips and to the sale barn will be 15. I won't be pulling anything other than that. There is a big price difference in gas and diesel. Would I be better off sticking with a big gas V8 like the 6.2 or 6.0?

 

[bird dog]

Gas, and I have a cummins. For those short distances, no need for the extra expense of a diesel.

 

[A.J.]

Gas would get my vote. 6.2 is supposed to be very reliable, and I’ve heard good things about the new 7.3 gas engine as well.

 

[bulldog04]

Gas would get my vote. 6.2 is supposed to be very reliable, and I’ve heard good things about the new 7.3 gas engine as well.

I will be going used for sure. I've been finding some 6.2s with 200K mile for less than 10k on craigslist and autotrader. Looking at early 2000s on up

 

[kenny thomas]

We used a 300 6 cylinder for years. Fir short distance the gearing is more important than the power

 

[JW IN VA]

The price spread is pretty narrow here between gas and diesel but that will change again.At times,diesel will be about .20 higher per gallon.Factor in the extra initial cost and possible expensive repairs to a truck you won't use that much and gas is the way to go.Even if the truck is a "gas hog",it can't hurt you but so much no farther than you are going.
In my situation,although I have an old 7.3 non turbo,I don't get that much better mileage and,if I couldn't find another cheap one,I'd look at a gas model.My backup is a 1 ton LWB 2WD with a 350.Both have 4.10 gears.Some difference in mileage but the offset in price buys a good bit of gas.

Like Kenny said,for short trips gearing is very important.Lower the better.

 

[SBMF 2015]

I've got two farm trucks a '99 Silverado 2500 with a 454 that hauls cattle from the pasture and does all the dirty work. And my good truck is a '06 Silverado HD with a 8.1 and an Allison trans. Both have 4:10 rear ends. They'll pull anything you can hook them to. The 8.1 will pass anything but a gas station.

 

[Atimm693]

Gas. Most operators around here have gone to gas trucks. Either GMs with the 6.0, or Fords with the V10 or 6.2.

Gas is cheap now. New diesels are stupidly expensive to repair. Even some of the older ones are.

 

[Brute 23]

You can find some great deals on the GM 8.1. They are gas guzzlers but can pull. Most people will stay away because of the fuel mileage but it would be perfect for what you are wanting to do. Plan on air bags if you find a 3/4 ton.

 

[callmefence]

Priced new diesel ram a few months ago. For a occasional work truck at this time I would probably go gas.
I pull a gooseneck trailer of some sort pretty much every day. And still think I would look at the gas engines right now, the diesel engine is being priced out of existence.
The main reason I still feel the need for the diesel is in the heat of the summer my truck might sit at idle with AC on for 8 hours a day.
But idk maybe they have the gas rigs to stand up to that now. IDK ,. I'm all ears as well.

 

[Brute 23]

When I was gauging I never turned my trucks off. I never saw any ill effects idling or driving my gas trucks all day. All the fans and stuff are electric now. Only thing I did see is I could smoke a battery in a year no problem. Most were covered under warranty.

 

[bird dog]

When I was gauging I never turned my trucks off. I never saw any ill effects idling or driving my gas trucks all day. All the fans and stuff are electric now. Only thing I did see is I could smoke a battery in a year no problem. Most were covered under warranty.

So what caused the battery issues? It wasn't the idling was it?

 

[Atimm693]

Priced new diesel ram a few months ago. For a occasional work truck at this time I would probably go gas.
I pull a gooseneck trailer of some sort pretty much every day. And still think I would look at the gas engines right now, the diesel engine is being priced out of existence.
The main reason I still feel the need for the diesel is in the heat of the summer my truck might sit at idle with AC on for 8 hours a day.
But idk maybe they have the gas rigs to stand up to that now. IDK ,. I'm all ears as well.

Idling cokes up a diesel worse than a gasser. The VGT turbos and emissions equipment on them do not hold up well at all to extended idle.

 

[callmefence]

Priced new diesel ram a few months ago. For a occasional work truck at this time I would probably go gas.
I pull a gooseneck trailer of some sort pretty much every day. And still think I would look at the gas engines right now, the diesel engine is being priced out of existence.
The main reason I still feel the need for the diesel is in the heat of the summer my truck might sit at idle with AC on for 8 hours a day.
But idk maybe they have the gas rigs to stand up to that now. IDK ,. I'm all ears as well.

Idling cokes up a diesel worse than a gasser. The VGT turbos and emissions equipment on them do not hold up well at all to extended idle.

No disrespect and
I won't argue the science. But that has definitely not been my experience. And I don't post on things I don't have experience with.

 

[Brute 23]

When I was gauging I never turned my trucks off. I never saw any ill effects idling or driving my gas trucks all day. All the fans and stuff are electric now. Only thing I did see is I could smoke a battery in a year no problem. Most were covered under warranty.

So what caused the battery issues? It wasn't the idling was it?

I'm not sure if it was the idleing directly or just the continuous run time. I would crank up and 6 am and not turn off until maybe 10pm some times. Maybe later depending on if I was watching wells or had contractors on location. So you have run time, plus 110 deg heat, plus all the added electronics load of the new trucks, cell phones, laptops, cell boosters, etc. I'm sure there was a lot of of work going going between power being used and recharged in that battery.

 

[callmefence]

When I was gauging I never turned my trucks off. I never saw any ill effects idling or driving my gas trucks all day. All the fans and stuff are electric now. Only thing I did see is I could smoke a battery in a year no problem. Most were covered under warranty.

So what caused the battery issues? It wasn't the idling was it?

I'm not sure if it was the idleing directly or just the continuous run time. I would crank up and 6 am and not turn off until maybe 10pm some times. Maybe later depending on if I was watching wells or had contractors on location. So you have run time, plus 110 deg heat, plus all the added electronics load of the new trucks, cell phones, laptops, cell boosters, etc. I'm sure there was a lot of of work going going between power being used and recharged in that battery.

I've noticed decreased battery life as well. Always comes with the smell of a overcharged battery. I think it's the fans and high output alt.
As well

 

[Silver]

Priced new diesel ram a few months ago. For a occasional work truck at this time I would probably go gas.
I pull a gooseneck trailer of some sort pretty much every day. And still think I would look at the gas engines right now, the diesel engine is being priced out of existence.
The main reason I still feel the need for the diesel is in the heat of the summer my truck might sit at idle with AC on for 8 hours a day.
But idk maybe they have the gas rigs to stand up to that now. IDK ,. I'm all ears as well.

Idling cokes up a diesel worse than a gasser. The VGT turbos and emissions equipment on them do not hold up well at all to extended idle.

No disrespect and
I won't argue the science. But that has definitely not been my experience. And I don't post on things I don't have experience with.

I had a 2010 Dodge 3500 diesel. It had the particulate filter and did not like idling on site all day. It wouldn't be too bad if I could put some miles on that involved good hills it would clean up pretty good. But if it didn't get up to working temp for a good while then it was a problem.
Never had a problem idling any truck I had with DEF all day though. You can also run them in the shop without stinking up the place.

 

[Stocker Steve]

Just bought a clean 2005 6.0 HD for $8,250. It needs shocks, rockers, and knock sensors.

Plan to use it for local hauling. Our farms are 9 miles apart.

 

[bird dog]

From what I have read, talked to mechanics, witnessed myself and probably what is happening with Fence is that you may build up some carbon on them from extended idle but pulling a heavy load afterwords or just running them hard will blow most if it out. Since Fence is always hooked up to a heavy trailer, I doubt he will witness the same a a soccer mom waiting for Junior to get out of school.
If you are worried about it, on Ram Cummins you can push the idle into a higher mode by using your cruise control buttons.
It will idle up the same as it does when warming up on a cold day. It goes from 700 RPM's to about 1100. It also makes the AC work better.

 

[Brute 23]

From what I have read, talked to mechanics, witnessed myself and probably what is happening with Fence is that you may build up some carbon on them from extended idle but pulling a heavy load afterwords or just running them hard will blow most if it out. Since Fence is always hooked up to a heavy trailer, I doubt he will witness the same a a soccer mom waiting for Junior to get out of school.
If you are worried about it, on Ram Cummins you can push the idle into a higher mode by using your cruise control buttons.
It will idle up the same as it does when warming up on a cold day. It goes from 700 RPM's to about 1100. It also makes the AC work better.

GM has the high idle also. Ive heard mixed thoughts on if the high idle actually helps or not with the dpf filter. I've been wanting a banks idash so I could monitor it myself. Why they don't include it from the factory is beyond me but I suspect they don't want you to see it. I don't idle or drive my 2017 near as much as I use to. Now the few miles it does get on it is primarily with a trailer.