Help Deciding
5 Year Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,510
Likes: 509
From: West Central Wisconsin
General contractors generally around here pull tandem axle work trailers loaded until the trailer wheels are ready to explode.
Would do a Super Cab with a 8' box or a Single cab 8' box. Scab has room for things that need to stay safe & dry.
Find a 2.7EB,5/0 or 3.5 EB with the best payload / towing ability, then and minimal options. AC, cruise AM/FM radio rubber floor mats & 3.73 rear gearing.
1rst it's a work truck and have driven work vehicles for many many miles with the bare minimum of options WHY ???
Because the vehicle needs to be dependable and on the job each and every day. Your lost if it is down for a single day. (45years in the trade)
Keep it clean and orderly, this goes a long way with the customers, rather than spending time digging and pawing for something under a watchful eye.
Look for fleet vehicle that dealers order for municipalities, some times one can get a Super Duty for close to the same price as a F150
Good Luck\
______________________
19 F150 max tow ( retired )
Would do a Super Cab with a 8' box or a Single cab 8' box. Scab has room for things that need to stay safe & dry.
Find a 2.7EB,5/0 or 3.5 EB with the best payload / towing ability, then and minimal options. AC, cruise AM/FM radio rubber floor mats & 3.73 rear gearing.
1rst it's a work truck and have driven work vehicles for many many miles with the bare minimum of options WHY ???
Because the vehicle needs to be dependable and on the job each and every day. Your lost if it is down for a single day. (45years in the trade)
Keep it clean and orderly, this goes a long way with the customers, rather than spending time digging and pawing for something under a watchful eye.
Look for fleet vehicle that dealers order for municipalities, some times one can get a Super Duty for close to the same price as a F150
Good Luck\
______________________
19 F150 max tow ( retired )
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 860
Likes: 471
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Some thoughts:
Toyota and Ford are the only manufacturers to offer a 6-seat cab plus 8 foot bed combination in a half-ton truck. This alone brought me down to those two choices. The rest of the manufacturers only offer a full size bed with a regular cab, or a shortbed with an extended cab. The full size (8’) bed is a requirement of mine, and the 6 seats is a strong preference.
The SCAB 8’ bed used to be exceptionally rare but has been becoming much more common recently. That is the configuration I personably ordered, and the one I would order if I were to use it commercially.
Ford is the only one to offer the HDPP or an equivalent. If you plan on hauling, strongly consider this package over the base payload or 2.7 payload package. It is very easy to exceed the payload capacity of a half-ton truck, and the HDPP will allow you a bit more margin.
For example, a typical non-HDPP payload is about 1800 lbs. Subtract a typical 150 lb driver and adult passenger, and you have 1500 lbs remaining. That’s only 18 sacks of concrete, 8 6x6x12 landscape timbers, or 48 standard cinder blocks. An HDPP package will net you an extra 800 or so lbs on top of that, and will allow you to use a lot more of the bed space you have available.
Also be sure to evaluate what bed length you need. For most utilitarian uses, the 8’ bed will have much more utility than the 6.5’ or especially the 5.5’ beds. The 8’ bed can haul flat sheets with the tailgate closed, and can easily haul 16’ material with the tailgate open and proper strapping. It also means you don’t have to stack material as high or worry as much about rearranging it.
As to the luxuries, those are optional. I currently drive the 2007 equivalent of a 100A with crank windows and manual locks. It works fine for my needs, but I decided to pony up for a few extra luxuries like power windows, cruise control, and power locks this time.
Also be sure to price out a basic F250 build. It may not be much more than you think over a basic F150, especially once you start optioning mechanical features like the HDPP on the F150.
Toyota and Ford are the only manufacturers to offer a 6-seat cab plus 8 foot bed combination in a half-ton truck. This alone brought me down to those two choices. The rest of the manufacturers only offer a full size bed with a regular cab, or a shortbed with an extended cab. The full size (8’) bed is a requirement of mine, and the 6 seats is a strong preference.
The SCAB 8’ bed used to be exceptionally rare but has been becoming much more common recently. That is the configuration I personably ordered, and the one I would order if I were to use it commercially.
Ford is the only one to offer the HDPP or an equivalent. If you plan on hauling, strongly consider this package over the base payload or 2.7 payload package. It is very easy to exceed the payload capacity of a half-ton truck, and the HDPP will allow you a bit more margin.
For example, a typical non-HDPP payload is about 1800 lbs. Subtract a typical 150 lb driver and adult passenger, and you have 1500 lbs remaining. That’s only 18 sacks of concrete, 8 6x6x12 landscape timbers, or 48 standard cinder blocks. An HDPP package will net you an extra 800 or so lbs on top of that, and will allow you to use a lot more of the bed space you have available.
Also be sure to evaluate what bed length you need. For most utilitarian uses, the 8’ bed will have much more utility than the 6.5’ or especially the 5.5’ beds. The 8’ bed can haul flat sheets with the tailgate closed, and can easily haul 16’ material with the tailgate open and proper strapping. It also means you don’t have to stack material as high or worry as much about rearranging it.
As to the luxuries, those are optional. I currently drive the 2007 equivalent of a 100A with crank windows and manual locks. It works fine for my needs, but I decided to pony up for a few extra luxuries like power windows, cruise control, and power locks this time.
Also be sure to price out a basic F250 build. It may not be much more than you think over a basic F150, especially once you start optioning mechanical features like the HDPP on the F150.
Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 58
Likes: 56
Love Tacoma trucks but they have 12 year old powertrains and the seats lack comfort and adjustability.
How old are your kids? If the wife is getting a Mustang then you want a F150 super crew for the family as the back seat is lager. Or consider a Tundra if you don’t mind 12MPG as they are bullet proof trucks otherwise.
Go to Carmax and pick up a 2015+ platinum or limited eco boost. Will likely have the 5.5 ft bed but what will you be hauling most of the time that won’t fit in that bed with the tailgate down?
You will spend about what that new Tacoma cost and have newer technology on the used F150, more power, more room and a no regrets.
heck go to car max and drive a Tacoma and an F150 back to back and you’ll see what I’m saying.
How old are your kids? If the wife is getting a Mustang then you want a F150 super crew for the family as the back seat is lager. Or consider a Tundra if you don’t mind 12MPG as they are bullet proof trucks otherwise.
Go to Carmax and pick up a 2015+ platinum or limited eco boost. Will likely have the 5.5 ft bed but what will you be hauling most of the time that won’t fit in that bed with the tailgate down?
You will spend about what that new Tacoma cost and have newer technology on the used F150, more power, more room and a no regrets.
heck go to car max and drive a Tacoma and an F150 back to back and you’ll see what I’m saying.
Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 58
Likes: 56
Love Tacoma trucks but they have 12 year old powertrains and the seats lack comfort and adjustability.
How old are your kids? If the wife is getting a Mustang then you want a F150 super crew for the family as the back seat is lager. Or consider a Tundra if you don’t mind 12MPG as they are bullet proof trucks otherwise.
Go to Carmax and pick up a 2015+ platinum or limited eco boost. Will likely have the 5.5 ft bed but what will you be hauling most of the time that won’t fit in that bed with the tailgate down?
You will spend about what that new Tacoma cost and have newer technology on the used F150, more power, more room and a no regrets.
heck go to car max and drive a Tacoma and an F150 back to back and you’ll see what I’m saying.
How old are your kids? If the wife is getting a Mustang then you want a F150 super crew for the family as the back seat is lager. Or consider a Tundra if you don’t mind 12MPG as they are bullet proof trucks otherwise.
Go to Carmax and pick up a 2015+ platinum or limited eco boost. Will likely have the 5.5 ft bed but what will you be hauling most of the time that won’t fit in that bed with the tailgate down?
You will spend about what that new Tacoma cost and have newer technology on the used F150, more power, more room and a no regrets.
heck go to car max and drive a Tacoma and an F150 back to back and you’ll see what I’m saying.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 552
Likes: 481
The reality is you’re looking at apples and oranges. A Tacoma compares to a Ranger not an F150. If you want to compare brands then look at the F150 vs Tundra. Like mentioned above the Tundra is a nice truck but 13 city 17 hwy is crazy.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 4,146
Likes: 679
From: midwest
So you’re a new, home builder? I k ow many in construction and they all have full sized trucks to carry tools, pull trailers, etc. you say no off-roading but when you pull up to a muddy job site, you may wish you had 4x4. TaKe a look at construction sites and you’ll see people besides the basic labor almost always have full sized trucks.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
General contractors generally around here pull tandem axle work trailers loaded until the trailer wheels are ready to explode.
Would do a Super Cab with a 8' box or a Single cab 8' box. Scab has room for things that need to stay safe & dry.
Find a 2.7EB,5/0 or 3.5 EB with the best payload / towing ability, then and minimal options. AC, cruise AM/FM radio rubber floor mats & 3.73 rear gearing.
1rst it's a work truck and have driven work vehicles for many many miles with the bare minimum of options WHY ???
Because the vehicle needs to be dependable and on the job each and every day. Your lost if it is down for a single day. (45years in the trade)
Keep it clean and orderly, this goes a long way with the customers, rather than spending time digging and pawing for something under a watchful eye.
Look for fleet vehicle that dealers order for municipalities, some times one can get a Super Duty for close to the same price as a F150
Good Luck\
______________________
19 F150 max tow ( retired )
Would do a Super Cab with a 8' box or a Single cab 8' box. Scab has room for things that need to stay safe & dry.
Find a 2.7EB,5/0 or 3.5 EB with the best payload / towing ability, then and minimal options. AC, cruise AM/FM radio rubber floor mats & 3.73 rear gearing.
1rst it's a work truck and have driven work vehicles for many many miles with the bare minimum of options WHY ???
Because the vehicle needs to be dependable and on the job each and every day. Your lost if it is down for a single day. (45years in the trade)
Keep it clean and orderly, this goes a long way with the customers, rather than spending time digging and pawing for something under a watchful eye.
Look for fleet vehicle that dealers order for municipalities, some times one can get a Super Duty for close to the same price as a F150
Good Luck\
______________________
19 F150 max tow ( retired )
Some thoughts:
Toyota and Ford are the only manufacturers to offer a 6-seat cab plus 8 foot bed combination in a half-ton truck. This alone brought me down to those two choices. The rest of the manufacturers only offer a full size bed with a regular cab, or a shortbed with an extended cab. The full size (8’) bed is a requirement of mine, and the 6 seats is a strong preference.
The SCAB 8’ bed used to be exceptionally rare but has been becoming much more common recently. That is the configuration I personably ordered, and the one I would order if I were to use it commercially.
Ford is the only one to offer the HDPP or an equivalent. If you plan on hauling, strongly consider this package over the base payload or 2.7 payload package. It is very easy to exceed the payload capacity of a half-ton truck, and the HDPP will allow you a bit more margin.
For example, a typical non-HDPP payload is about 1800 lbs. Subtract a typical 150 lb driver and adult passenger, and you have 1500 lbs remaining. That’s only 18 sacks of concrete, 8 6x6x12 landscape timbers, or 48 standard cinder blocks. An HDPP package will net you an extra 800 or so lbs on top of that, and will allow you to use a lot more of the bed space you have available.
Also be sure to evaluate what bed length you need. For most utilitarian uses, the 8’ bed will have much more utility than the 6.5’ or especially the 5.5’ beds. The 8’ bed can haul flat sheets with the tailgate closed, and can easily haul 16’ material with the tailgate open and proper strapping. It also means you don’t have to stack material as high or worry as much about rearranging it.
As to the luxuries, those are optional. I currently drive the 2007 equivalent of a 100A with crank windows and manual locks. It works fine for my needs, but I decided to pony up for a few extra luxuries like power windows, cruise control, and power locks this time.
Also be sure to price out a basic F250 build. It may not be much more than you think over a basic F150, especially once you start optioning mechanical features like the HDPP on the F150.
Toyota and Ford are the only manufacturers to offer a 6-seat cab plus 8 foot bed combination in a half-ton truck. This alone brought me down to those two choices. The rest of the manufacturers only offer a full size bed with a regular cab, or a shortbed with an extended cab. The full size (8’) bed is a requirement of mine, and the 6 seats is a strong preference.
The SCAB 8’ bed used to be exceptionally rare but has been becoming much more common recently. That is the configuration I personably ordered, and the one I would order if I were to use it commercially.
Ford is the only one to offer the HDPP or an equivalent. If you plan on hauling, strongly consider this package over the base payload or 2.7 payload package. It is very easy to exceed the payload capacity of a half-ton truck, and the HDPP will allow you a bit more margin.
For example, a typical non-HDPP payload is about 1800 lbs. Subtract a typical 150 lb driver and adult passenger, and you have 1500 lbs remaining. That’s only 18 sacks of concrete, 8 6x6x12 landscape timbers, or 48 standard cinder blocks. An HDPP package will net you an extra 800 or so lbs on top of that, and will allow you to use a lot more of the bed space you have available.
Also be sure to evaluate what bed length you need. For most utilitarian uses, the 8’ bed will have much more utility than the 6.5’ or especially the 5.5’ beds. The 8’ bed can haul flat sheets with the tailgate closed, and can easily haul 16’ material with the tailgate open and proper strapping. It also means you don’t have to stack material as high or worry as much about rearranging it.
As to the luxuries, those are optional. I currently drive the 2007 equivalent of a 100A with crank windows and manual locks. It works fine for my needs, but I decided to pony up for a few extra luxuries like power windows, cruise control, and power locks this time.
Also be sure to price out a basic F250 build. It may not be much more than you think over a basic F150, especially once you start optioning mechanical features like the HDPP on the F150.
Love Tacoma trucks but they have 12 year old powertrains and the seats lack comfort and adjustability.
How old are your kids? If the wife is getting a Mustang then you want a F150 super crew for the family as the back seat is lager. Or consider a Tundra if you don’t mind 12MPG as they are bullet proof trucks otherwise.
Go to Carmax and pick up a 2015+ platinum or limited eco boost. Will likely have the 5.5 ft bed but what will you be hauling most of the time that won’t fit in that bed with the tailgate down?
You will spend about what that new Tacoma cost and have newer technology on the used F150, more power, more room and a no regrets.
heck go to car max and drive a Tacoma and an F150 back to back and you’ll see what I’m saying.
How old are your kids? If the wife is getting a Mustang then you want a F150 super crew for the family as the back seat is lager. Or consider a Tundra if you don’t mind 12MPG as they are bullet proof trucks otherwise.
Go to Carmax and pick up a 2015+ platinum or limited eco boost. Will likely have the 5.5 ft bed but what will you be hauling most of the time that won’t fit in that bed with the tailgate down?
You will spend about what that new Tacoma cost and have newer technology on the used F150, more power, more room and a no regrets.
heck go to car max and drive a Tacoma and an F150 back to back and you’ll see what I’m saying.
Love Tacoma trucks but they have 12 year old powertrains and the seats lack comfort and adjustability.
How old are your kids? If the wife is getting a Mustang then you want a F150 super crew for the family as the back seat is lager. Or consider a Tundra if you don’t mind 12MPG as they are bullet proof trucks otherwise.
Go to Carmax and pick up a 2015+ platinum or limited eco boost. Will likely have the 5.5 ft bed but what will you be hauling most of the time that won’t fit in that bed with the tailgate down?
You will spend about what that new Tacoma cost and have newer technology on the used F150, more power, more room and a no regrets.
heck go to car max and drive a Tacoma and an F150 back to back and you’ll see what I’m saying.
How old are your kids? If the wife is getting a Mustang then you want a F150 super crew for the family as the back seat is lager. Or consider a Tundra if you don’t mind 12MPG as they are bullet proof trucks otherwise.
Go to Carmax and pick up a 2015+ platinum or limited eco boost. Will likely have the 5.5 ft bed but what will you be hauling most of the time that won’t fit in that bed with the tailgate down?
You will spend about what that new Tacoma cost and have newer technology on the used F150, more power, more room and a no regrets.
heck go to car max and drive a Tacoma and an F150 back to back and you’ll see what I’m saying.
So you’re a new, home builder? I k ow many in construction and they all have full sized trucks to carry tools, pull trailers, etc. you say no off-roading but when you pull up to a muddy job site, you may wish you had 4x4. TaKe a look at construction sites and you’ll see people besides the basic labor almost always have full sized trucks.
Last edited by degenwill; Apr 2, 2021 at 09:23 PM.
