New Truck Questions

Jasonsupafly · May 22, 2011

I am a sales distributor for a bread company in south Georgia. I currently haul my product around in a bread delivery truck which is under a lease program. Some of the other distributors drive their own trucks and pull enclosed trailers to haul their product to stores. Im thinking of going this route because after 5 years a pick up will be mine and I wouldnt have to worry with the lease of a bread truck anymore.

I own a 2001 Z71 but am told that with pulling a 20 ft trailer daily will just tear my truck up, especially the transmission. The guys that dont have bread trucks either have Chevy 2500's or Ford f250's. Its recommended by the company I work under to at least use a 3/4 ton truck.

I am clueless about 3/4 ton trucks. Can you all please give me any input on the real differences between the Fords and Chevys? I know that I want it to be a diesel engine. I know that I am probably going to get that Chevy is better than Ford but im just looking for some really good information on the build of the vehicles and the drivetrain of each. I understand that the Allison transmission is suppose to be better than the Ford F250's. Also what rearend ratio do I need for towing a 20 ft trailer loaded full with bread 5 days a week? BREAD IS VERY HEAVY!!

Any information I can gather to help me make a sound decision is appreciated. It will be a big investment and a truck that I will keep for a long time.

Thank you in advance for any help..

Mike G · May 23, 2011

Will you be buying new or used? Will you be doing any additional towing of toys you may buy? Do you want 4x4 or 4x2? Answer these few questions, find out how much your daily bread cargo weighs and we can go from there. The answer of course will go to go GM, but we can give you better recommendations based on what you want/need.

--Mike

Shaners · May 23, 2011

I see alot of ppl servicing grocery stores with trucks and trailers around here. Very rarely do I see them with 3/4 ton trucks though. Most are pulling a tandem axle trailer.

Z45 · May 23, 2011

I would get a C2500 2 wheel drive crew cab GMC or Chevy.

Order the Duramax and it comes with the Allision trans and is outfitted for towing.

Here some options you should get

2011 sierra 2500HD Crew Cab, Standard Box WT 2WD$39,310*

MSRP* starting at $32,445

Destination Freight Charge $995

Options Total $8,875

Pure Silver Metallic $0

Dark Titanium, Vinyl seat trim $0

17" Chrome-Clad Steel Wheels $0

Duramax 6.6L Turbo Diesel V8 Engine $7,195

Audio System $0

Work Truck Preferred Package $900

Heavy-Duty Trailering Equipment $780

Engine Block Heater $0

Deep-Tinted Glass $0

Cruise control $0

Total MSRP $42,315

Total Cash Offers -$3,005*

Price $39,310*

* MSRP less cash offers. Tax, title, license and dealer fees extra. Residency restrictions apply. Not available with some other offers. See dealer for details.

** MSRP excluding installation and taxes. Dealer prices may vary. Some accessories may require purchase of additional equipment and/or services. See your dealer for details.

Jasonsupafly · May 23, 2011

Thanks for the replies. Im not really sure but im leaning more towards a new one. I have a big bass boat that I haul also. I will be getting another 4x4. I have hunting land and can't be without it. I will try and find out an average weight of a loaded trailer. Now that I think about it. I believe they are 24 ft trailers with tandem axels of course. One of the guys where I work was pulling a trailer for a few years and they say he put 4 transmissions in it over that period of time. He was using a 2000 model 2x4 1500. He now pulls with a 2500. Everyone tells me to go with a 3/4 ton truck.

jandersinc · May 24, 2011

Get the 3/4 ton so you never have to worry about it. Heck if you're ordering get a 1 ton since it's only a few hundred more. That's what I would do especially since you can get a single rear wheel 1 ton.

doverarjim · May 24, 2011

A boy that is friends with my son did this for some time, he used a bumper pull trailer and tore it up in less than a year. He used an old Dodge 1500 and he broke the rear end one week and so they asked to use my truck, I let them and he ran it for a couple of days and I went with him one day and told him if it was me doing that type of work I would only have a goose neck trailer not a bumper pull. I pull a 24 ft enclosed goose neck and it is a dream compared to the 20 ft bumper pull.

palukie · May 24, 2011

If you are looking used - I would get a 2006 LBZ Crew Cab with the D-max. I had one until a lightening strike. It was possibly the best truck made - in my opinon.

Hope this helps.

jro909 · May 24, 2011

difference between makes...it seems ford's powerstrokes are problematic compared to the duramax...both are stout trucks its just the powerstroke has to be reinvented every other year because of reoccuring unresolved problems..only issue i've ever heard of is injectors on the duramax and that was the earlier models..one pro over the GM 3/4 and 1 tons is the solid front axle which is really small unless your going rock climbing or severe offroading i live in an area dominated by GM trucks mostly 3/4 and 1500s and all work all day without any hassle...

Mike G · May 24, 2011

We recently bought a 5th wheel and let me tell you... When I pull our 20ft boat behind the wifes 5.3 Avy, it seems like it is screaming, the 6.6 pulling twice as much feels like it is ready for more and happy to provide.

Jasonsupafly · May 24, 2011

Again thanks for all the input from everyone. I talked with 3 distributors from a different company today. All 3 of them have really nice F250's. Each works with one another. They all had Powerstrokes and claim they had nothing but problems with them and did nothing but sink money into them everytime they turned around. They said something was always going wrong with them. They each traded them in for F250's wih gas engines and claim to be as happy as can be and say they will never purchase another diesel. I really like the look of the F250's and they offer alot of room on the inside. Although after reading here and hearing them talk I dont think I want a Powerstroke. I love my 01 Z71 but like I stated before its just not built to handle what I need it to do. I have never been impressed with the 5.3 in it. I will keep the truck since its in excellent condition and just use it for a hunting truck. So have you all had any trouble out of the Allison transmissions or have they held up well?

05GMCZ71 · May 25, 2011

Allison makes the best. As long as you don't heavily modify (performance wise) your engine, that Allison will be bulletproof

jro909 · May 25, 2011

Again thanks for all the input from everyone. I talked with 3 distributors from a different company today. All 3 of them have really nice F250's. Each works with one another. They all had Powerstrokes and claim they had nothing but problems with them and did nothing but sink money into them everytime they turned around. They said something was always going wrong with them. They each traded them in for F250's wih gas engines and claim to be as happy as can be and say they will never purchase another diesel. I really like the look of the F250's and they offer alot of room on the inside. Although after reading here and hearing them talk I dont think I want a Powerstroke. I love my 01 Z71 but like I stated before its just not built to handle what I need it to do. I have never been impressed with the 5.3 in it. I will keep the truck since its in excellent condition and just use it for a hunting truck. So have you all had any trouble out of the Allison transmissions or have they held up well?

he ally is like herpes it will keep coming back for more as long as you don't modify the engine(tune or somethen like that) if i was hunting for a diesel i would go for a duramax or cummins, theres a reason cummins is dominating in the semi-tractor department but the fact that its wrapped in a dodge makes it iffy...

KMGZ400 · May 25, 2011

Again thanks for all the input from everyone. I talked with 3 distributors from a different company today. All 3 of them have really nice F250's. Each works with one another. They all had Powerstrokes and claim they had nothing but problems with them and did nothing but sink money into them everytime they turned around. They said something was always going wrong with them. They each traded them in for F250's wih gas engines and claim to be as happy as can be and say they will never purchase another diesel. I really like the look of the F250's and they offer alot of room on the inside. Although after reading here and hearing them talk I dont think I want a Powerstroke. I love my 01 Z71 but like I stated before its just not built to handle what I need it to do. I have never been impressed with the 5.3 in it. I will keep the truck since its in excellent condition and just use it for a hunting truck. So have you all had any trouble out of the Allison transmissions or have they held up well?

he ally is like herpes it will keep coming back for more as long as you don't modify the engine(tune or somethen like that) if i was hunting for a diesel i would go for a duramax or cummins, theres a reason cummins is dominating in the semi-tractor department but the fact that its wrapped in a dodge makes it iffy...

what he said, except the truck that the cummins is in is a piece of shit