Sorry you called?!

My limited knowledge is this -

A half ton is all well and good if you don't need to tow anything (of any note anyway). You can say you won't be towing but mark my words - live on an acreage you WILL be hauling something.

A one ton (ie 3500) is too big, a half ton (1500) imho too small. Go for the 2500 (3/4 ton) - the benefit of this is that (certainly in the Chevs) the 3/4 ton standard box is longer than a standard short box - so you'll get more stuff (read shed parts) in it.

As for cab size, it depends on who and what you want to take with you for your jolly rides. If you intend to use it every day then get an extended cab. If just for your yard truck then a standard cab will be fine.

Lastly having been in 2007, 3/4 ton diesel models of each of the big 3 - Ford F250 pulls like a snail and has no pick up, the Dodge is good but the ride is crap, the Chev is by far and away the best all round - even if you went 1/2 ton gas as opposed to 3/4 ton diesel you'll be as happy as you can be in a truck.

All that aside I haven't had the benefits of any of the Jap trucks so cannot give an opinion on these.

the only contribution i can make is that hubby bought a chevy single cab with long truck bed so that his atv could fit on the back with no need to buy a trailer.

only problem is that the radio will only play 80's soft rock.

I have had the Tundra for the last 4 years - excellent driving truck but I have never tried hauling anything apart from a skidoo and atv so cant really comment on its pulling capabilities

Company look like they are about to force a Silverado diesel on me soon

So do you still have an ATV?

That advice is OK up to a point. All manufacturers have increased towing capacity over successive models, to the point that the 2011 F150 hauls more than many older F350's. My F150 can tow 11,00lbs which is the same as a 2000 model F350 dualie. I haul a 6,500lb boat/trailer with no sweat at all, which unless you're in the building trade is probably as much as you'll ever need.

Note that axel ratios, tow kits (trailer brakes) etc all add to the confusion about what tows the most. The only way to know is to have the specs of the specific truck you're interested in buying.

Also, 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks attract a luxury sale tax whereas 1 ton trucks don't (they're classed as work vehicles). You'll find that 3/4 ton trucks are comparatively rare as they don't offer enough advantage over a 1/2 ton to merit paying the tax, so if you need the additional ability of a 1 ton, you get a tax break.

Maybe in BC but certainly not here, if anything the half tons are the rarities in these parts.

All that said it's down to personal preference, most trucks will do what you want them to Alan. Unless of course you're hauling stock everyday I suspect a half ton will do you just fine.

You can get the long box on it as somone above said. So you just need to see which camp you belong to, Chev, Dodge, Ford or Other.

Im a Chev girl (through force as the hubby is a typical "Ford and Dodge suck, redneck Albertan" lol - so biased anyway.

Which begs the question: Was the Levee dry?

Make sure you don't forget ...

http://www.thatsnutz.com/index.php?m...index&cPath=65

Heh.

I guess the only thing I'd be likely to tow is a boat. But that's a very remote possibility - I've owned boats before and have come to the conclusion that if I need a boat, it's easier just to rent it.

I'm kind of leaning towards 1/2 ton, because I might be driving it down town and I don't want to accidentally park it on top of somebodies smart car. Also other than shed duty, mostly it will be used to take the rubbish down to the tip. Maple Ridge doesn't have bin men and I don't want to get old teabags, egg shells, mouldy yoghurt and the like over the main car. If that's a bit gay, then I'll have to get an even bigger hat (but not truck nuts, that's a pykey line I'm not prepared to cross, even ironically)

Point of ecological principle: You should be composting your old teabags and egg shells (but not mouldy old yogurt), along with all vegetable and fruit waste. As you live in BC, the resulting compost can be used to support your grow op.

Get one of these

I think the saying goes, 'if it flys, floats or f***s, rent it.'

That looks jolly safe and practical. Much better than a massive truck IMHO.

Funnily enough someone parked a Smart car next to us yesterday and I spent a long time looking at the dimensions of the car, and the bed of the truck, and promptly told husb that if I bought one of them we could fit it in the bed of the truck should I get it stuck somewhere.

I thought that was a great idea - he thought I was an idiot.

we have a '96 GMC sierra, single cab with long box and it runs great. Nothing fancy inside since it has a bench seat and tape deck but we love. It also gets much better mileage than we thought it would (better not good)