How much do you USE your truck?

TomTom · December 4, 2002

How often do you actually use your truck? I am sure this question may have been raised in the past, but I am curious. I am talking about how often do you load down the back or tow. And I mean the stuff that you couldn't really throw in a trunk or backseat of a car. And if you don't carry anything why get a truck? I used my old truck all the time to carry stuff for work. It could be anything from lumber and tools to filling the entire bed with soft drinks or food. But, I have moved up the food chain just a little, so the new truck doesn't get worked like the old one. Occasionally I help someone move or carry something at work. I bought a new truck, because at 6'3" I find them more comfortable than cars. I grew up with trucks and I will die with a truck. I realize most of the HD guys don't even need to bother with this question. Even though around here a lot of people are buying the HD's for the look.

Dkalvin · December 4, 2002

To be quite honest I very rarely use my truck to the fullest. Being the happy homeowner it comes in handy when you need to get supplies for the next project. ( and there is always a next progect ) It does come in handy if I have to get my bike somewhere and I can't ride it there.

Why did I get a truck? When I bought it I was racing go-karts with some friends and his Suburban was slowly rotting away. I was in the market for a new vehicle and thought I would get a truck to tow the race trailer. Figures that the gods conspired against us, as soon as I got the truck we all got a little to busy to do any racing. The only time I pulled a trailer is when I bought my house.

97Z71 · December 4, 2002

1/2 Ton here.....

Summer, weekends to tow the boat, and do odd jobs, once in a while to pick up parts for work. 4X4'n quite a bit.

Winters, everyweekend to tow the snowmobiles, and usually one in the bed. And of course 4WD comes in handy with the snow....

Bottom line, could I do with out, and buy like an SUV, probably, but there is no replacement for the handiness of the bed.

hogger999 · December 4, 2002

I'm probably the best example of guys who under use a truck. As a matter of when I had my HD with the 8100 I only pulled with it once. Just a load of bricks for a sidewalk.

So why did I buy it? I just like 3/4 tons and I wanted the big block because it rocks.

I like 3/4 tons because I feel like if I'm going to have a truck it might as well be up to any task. Like when we were remodeling our old house. I went and picked up 36 sheets of 3/4 inch drywall with the '96 I had at the time and the truck didn't even hardly squat. When we were building our new house they got a ready-mix truck stuck in my yard trying to back up to the basement. They said if we could get it out they could take the concrete somewhere else, if not my contractor would have to "eat it".

Everyone shook their head when I backed my HD up to it, and then laughed when I buried the back tires. I left them scratching their heads when I put it 4 lo and yanked that mixer out.

Other than that, I really only need it when the roads get bad in the winter. I have a 50 mile trip to work one way and I have to get there. When the roads do get bad, I usually end up pulling someone out of a ditch. I use the bed here and there but not for anything more serious than my riding mower.

I love my car, but I feel most comfortable in my truck.

:thumb:

TxDoc · December 4, 2002

I would not have a weekend without it. I do most all of my own mowing, landscaping, clearing, sprinkler work, etc. From bricks to Sakrete, to grass, feed, lumber, ATVs. I could not use a Surburban. Most of my friends with them have them for family reasons and now are switching to 4-door 1500HDs or 4-door 2500HDs for the family room and the truck advantages.

General Lee 01 · December 4, 2002

I'll let you know when I get my truck.

Why do I want a truck?

I want to be able to play in the mud, and haul the Toys I plan on getting.

TheScaryGuy · December 4, 2002

My bed's a great excuse to get my friends ATV out and about, along with just hauling whatever, like crappy tires perfect for burning off.

Nothing like a bench seat for the ladies too

Jpshostr · December 4, 2002

I'm not going to answer with words, my comments tend to piss off most of the members when a question such as this arises.

BDBWTE · December 5, 2002

My truck hooks to a trailer everyday almost except for holidays, and some Sundays.... I load my truck everyday too and not just with quads and light stuff I load it up with tracks for equipment, motors, Transmission all for heavy equipment...so it' not very forgiving on the truck and not to eays on it... I notice that after less than a year of use the springs no longer raise off the load spring..I know this isn't normal but on the same token I should load it like a F-450 either.

HillHound · December 5, 2002

Jp, is that a front grill off of a 2002 Dodge Ram you're hauling there?

I use my truck alot more in the spring/summer/fall than I do this time of year unless you call using the 4wd alot to combat the ice and snow. I tow and haul ATVs and a small tractor & mowing equipment but nothing anywhere near the limits of the truck. Wife and I want to get a mid-sized travel trailer next spring so looks like hopefully I'll be towing that a few times a year.

BDBWTE · December 5, 2002

Jp, is that a front grill off of a 2002 Dodge Ram you're hauling there?

I use my truck alot more in the spring/summer/fall than I do this time of year unless you call using the 4wd alot to combat the ice and snow. I tow and haul ATVs and a small tractor & mowing equipment but nothing anywhere near the limits of the truck. Wife and I want to get a mid-sized travel trailer next spring so looks like hopefully I'll be towing that a few times a year.

That's the opinional grille on the new Rams... extra ugly..

Shadowfax · December 5, 2002

Every weekend I haul everything from firewood, camping gear, bbq pit to da honeys in the truck hehhee. During the week at work I haul computer equipment, dollys, printers etc, etc etc.

CMNTMXR81 · December 5, 2002

I USE it sufficiently. Maybe not up to maximum load weights, but enough to justify it.

Plus like Hogger, I wanted a Big Block V8 so my only options were 2500HD/3500, Suburban or Avalanche.

I had 7 SUV's up to that point so I wanted something different on top of which the pricetag on the 'Burban in my configuration was topping $40k. So that effectively put it out of the running.

Dihappy · December 5, 2002

Too much!

bowtiebob · January 7, 2003

Hey all,

I use my truck quite a bit. During the summer I pull our Polaris jetskis and the Boston Whaler jetboat quite a bit. I also pull a Logan 3 horse trailer, which with 3 horses loads it down pretty good. I also use my Dad's car trailer to haul orchard tractors, and the occasional car. Sometimes, the bed gets loaded with hay bales or dirt bikes. In the winter, I pull snowmobiles. While it is nowhere everyday, it does get used. In the winter, I also like the fact that I have 4 wheel drive available. Thinking back over what I just put, a half-ton could probably do the job, but it wouldn't be as neat. Something about a 2500 diesel....

On the other hand, I know many people whose trucks have never had more than a suitcase in the bed. If thats all they need, that's their business.