Looking for advice on purchasing a 3/4 or 1 ton pickup

[mobeewan]

I currently have a 2003 Silverado K1500 extended cab with about 155,000 miles on it and a 2007 28 ft TT that need some repairs. I will will be replacing the truck in the next year or two.

I've got water damage in the left rear corner of the TT from a leaking skylight. I am either going to sell the trailer as is or repair the roof and upper wall if necessary for higher resale value. If I do fix the roof I might as well replace the rubber roof while at it, but I will not be keeping the trailer.

I am single. My plan is to retire in the next 2 years, sell the house, sell my existing trailer and move out west to live as a nomad. I plan on purchasing a 7 foot x 16 foot enclosed utility trailer with rear doors and turning it into a rolling man cave built the way I want it.

I plan on living in a rectangle with the corners being Texas, Arizona, Idaho and Minnesota, moving around as the inclination hits me and the seasons change, with a few trips outside the box to go other places I haven't been.

I plan on having plenty of solar with eight lithium batteries to be able to run a 12 volt refrigerator/freezer with a compressor and a 6000 BTU air conditioner. I will also carry a 2000 to 3000 watt generator for backup and to help recharge the batteries when necessary. Heating will be a combination of propane and electric. I might even throw in a Chinese diesel heater if the propane and electric turn out not to be enough.

The rooftop solar panels will be tiltable to take advantage of the maximum amount of sun exposure. If there's not enough room for enough solar panels on the trailer roof, I will also have one or two large panels on top of the truck cap. The truck bed will contain two of the lithium batteries along with its own charge controller and a small inverter to power tools and battery chargers that will be in the truck cap. If I need to, I will be able to connect the truck solar system to the main solar system in the trailer when I am stationary. The gross weight of the trailer will probably be between 4000 and 5000 lbs

I want to get a commercial type truck cap that sits on the bed rails and has compartments down the sides with lockable tool storage. In the forward end of the bed of the truck there will be a 50 gallon water tank. There will also be a water transfer system that I can use to refill the water tank in the trailer from the truck's water tank. Most of the rest of the truck bed will contain storage bins for extra items that will not be kept in the trailer, along with a small portable table saw, a pull out workbench, pull out drawers that will be located under the pullout workbench and other various tools that I might need on the road for repairs or to help other people that might need to make repairs or even build their own portable man cave or rolling she shed.

Based on this information I was hoping to make do with a three quarter ton pickup with an 8 foot bed. Does anyone think it will really be necessary for me to buy a 1 ton truck?

[romore]

The local dealers don't stock 250O/F-250's. They are classed as luxury vehicles and are subject to a surtax if over $55,000 which most if not all are. The 3500/F-350 is cheaper and more desireable.

[Grit_dog]

Subjectively, a 7x16 box is a SMALL starting point for everything you're planning to do.
Kudos to you for being creative and not buying a RV pre made. Everyone has their own ideas of what is "right" for them.

While a TT would be easier and more practical, it's your money. But Id consider enough trailer to house ALL the living amenities you'll be adding and not over complicate it by having to link the truck and trailer together.
Also collapsible water storage is preferable IMO especially in your anticipated off the grid scenario. For your 50 gal transfer tank and pump setup you're planning, you could get 100gal or more of bladders or fat sacks for wake boats and a ballast pump and when you don't need the water, the "tanks" each fold up like a sweatshirt for storage.

[Grit_dog]

Me Again wrote:
I am thinking a small tow hauler bumper pull or 5th wheel would be a much better starting point, and much more livable.

If you are buying something bigger than a 150/1500 then skip over to a 350/3500 SRW, then you do not play the rating game that people let myself did for 14 years and others do with 250/2500 lower factory ratings.

And to my point, it's literally that... A game, not a real world significant difference.

I don't disagree with a 1 ton, but if I had to pick between a green 1 ton (hate green) and a red 3/4 ton, my next truck would be red. 100%.
Only caveat is if I was getting waaay into the upper axle rating limits. The real axle ratings not the vehicle mfgs "limits." In which case a dually would make twice as much sense and 3/4 vs 1 ton still wouldn't matter.

[Grit_dog]

ACZL wrote:
If you remain single and based off what you said, I feel a short box 3/4 would be sufficient. Even a long box 3/4. But as 4x4ord said, you might just as well go w/ the 1 ton for price diff.

Pretty good chance of remaining single, living in a cargo trailer, IMO...

To the original question, a 3/4 ton will do everything you are planning, with ease. Basically because they're the SAME as a 1 ton minus a little spring capacity.
Figure out the weight of all the "stuff" on the truck and the tongue weight of the casa and decide if you are ok with potentially adding spring capacity to a 3/4 ton if necessary. (Might be necessary on a 1 ton too depending how much stuff you cram in the truck bed and trailer).
Next is what are you buying, new or used?
New = get whatever you want, cost difference is mostly negligible.
Used = 3/4 tons dominate the market, so your selection will be much greater if you consider both, with the cost, features, color, etc all being important, knowing that the underpinnings are basically the same or at least heavy enough to do whatever you want within your stated plans.
Except ram coils vs leafs.

[4x4ord]

IdaD wrote:

4x4ord wrote:
About the only difference between a HD 3/4 ton and a SRW 1 ton is $200 and the 1 ton can haul twice as much. It never makes sense to buy a 3/4 ton. Your choice should be between a 1/2 ton and 1 ton SRW. Have you got an exit plan?

What a load of c$ap. The difference is mostly (or entirely) the decal on the fender. That allows the 1 ton to haul twice as much?

That said, given what has transpired the past few weeks being a senile old man doesn't sound half bad.

I think we are saying the same thing. The two trucks are identical other than badging, payload sticker and rear suspension. So I'm saying why buy a 3/4 ton?

[Me_Again]

I am thinking a small tow hauler bumper pull or 5th wheel would be a much better starting point, and much more livable.

If you are buying something bigger than a 150/1500 then skip over to a 350/3500 SRW, then you do not play the rating game that people let myself did for 14 years and others do with 250/2500 lower factory ratings.

[Cummins12V98]

What does your future hold for you???

First thing you have right is the 8' bed!!!

Me, I would get a 3500 SRW LB CC. My preference would be RAM with Factory Rear Air Ride that does ride nice! CUMMINS/AISIN and 4wd with factory puck and gooseneck prep.

[ppine]

A one ton is a great idea.
so is a long bed
so is a diesel
My ford 350 has a Dana 60 front differential and a 10 1/2 inch rear.
Very strong.

[IdaD]

4x4ord wrote:
About the only difference between a HD 3/4 ton and a SRW 1 ton is $200 and the 1 ton can haul twice as much. It never makes sense to buy a 3/4 ton. Your choice should be between a 1/2 ton and 1 ton SRW. Have you got an exit plan?

What a load of c$ap. The difference is mostly (or entirely) the decal on the fender. That allows the 1 ton to haul twice as much?

That said, given what has transpired the past few weeks being a senile old man doesn't sound half bad.

[ShinerBock]

4x4ord wrote:
About the only difference between a HD 3/4 ton and a SRW 1 ton is $200 and the 1 ton can haul twice as much. It never makes sense to buy a 3/4 ton. Your choice should be between a 1/2 ton and 1 ton SRW. Have you got an exit plan?

This may be true with the Fords, but not with the Rams due to the engine/suspensions differences or GM's now that they have higher GVWR's than 10k. The F250 rear leafs sag quit a but unless you get the camper package which is essentially the same rear suspension as the F350.

[Lwiddis]

Running A/C on batteries isn’t practical IMO. Same with heating. Use the generator and propane and save a bundle of bucks.

You may like the West. I do. But the transition from green Virginia to the brown SW might prove unsettling.

Don’t underestimate your build time. Take longer than you think.

[Ductape]

4x4ord wrote:
About the only difference between a HD 3/4 ton and a SRW 1 ton is $200 and the 1 ton can haul twice as much. It never makes sense to buy a 3/4 ton. Your choice should be between a 1/2 ton and 1 ton SRW. Have you got an exit plan?

This. I would never buy a 250 if a 350 SRW was available.

[ACZL]

If you remain single and based off what you said, I feel a short box 3/4 would be sufficient. Even a long box 3/4. But as 4x4ord said, you might just as well go w/ the 1 ton for price diff.

[4x4ord]

About the only difference between a HD 3/4 ton and a SRW 1 ton is $200 and the 1 ton can haul twice as much. It never makes sense to buy a 3/4 ton. Your choice should be between a 1/2 ton and 1 ton SRW. Have you got an exit plan?

[valhalla360]

If your gross weight estimate is remotely accurate, you don't even need a 3/4 ton truck.