Best pickup for hauling pellets?

[hoverwheel]

Dodge 3/4 with factory HD. Payload is just over one ton. Barely drops when they load a pallet on it. Rides much more smoothly too. HD and Lowe's have never looked at the data plate, although I'm legal even if they did.

 

[simple.serf]

Get a mil surplus trailer. I have hauled a ton of coal in a m116A2 trailer behind a Ranger. Barely noticed it with the 4.10 rear and 4L motor. Trailer can be had pretty cheap, and has surge brakes.

 

[ironpony]

I think all you guys that think your 1/2 ton truck is hauling a ton no problem should go to a scale and weigh the truck empty with you in it to see what it actually weighs. Then you can look at the GVW sticker and see what your actual cargo hauling capacity is. I think most of you will be shocked. All my 1/2 tons could carry a ton in them but every one of them would be overloaded and I've had all the big three at one time or another. My Chevy 3/4 ton scales in at 7100 lbs with me, gas and my across the bed toolbox with about 100 lbs of tools in it. It's GVW is 9200 so I can get 2100 lbs of pellets in it without being overload. Can I carry more with no problem? Yes but I don't. The GVW of a stripped down 1/2 ton in a certain can size is EXACTLY the same as one with all the options it can have. Those options take away a lot of the cargo carrying capacity.
Ron

this is the only correct answer, if something was to happen this will be the first thing checked

 

[MtDew]

Just be aware that places like Home Depot and Lowes (at least the ones I go to) won't even load a ton of pellets into a half ton truck. I own an F150 and they made me take half a ton at a time. Not a huge deal for me, as I live a mile away from the place. Just wanted you to be aware that you could run into this issue.

Must just be your store. Last weekend I bought 4 ton of pellets at my local Lowes and loaded and hauled a ton at a time into my 2000 Ford Ranger 4x4. Did this 4 times in row. Not the safest thing to do but got the job done.

 

[tjnamtiw]

I find it more weird that all of these other places load a ton on half ton trucks. I'm no Attorney, but I would imagine they would have some serious liability if something were to happen. Not to mention, as others have pointed out, if you get into an accident while hauling a ton of anything on a half ton truck, you're SCREWED! Whomever you hit, will own all of your worldly possessions.

I've tried to make that point every time this topic comes up and 'macho man' brags about overloading his truck but it falls on deaf ears. I think one year we DID have a guy who WAS on the short end of the stick with fines.

 

[Boil&Toil]

I've owned, in succession, a 1-ton crew cab 4wd chevy (6600 wet, tools, etc - 9500 GVW), a half-ton Ford and a Toyota Tacoma (little bitty truck). The taco can haul* a full ton, because I finally broke down and got a trailer, rather than "needing" to have a full sized bed pickup. The trailer, at 6.5x14, is also the biggest "bed" I've ever had - yet the truck also gets the best milage of the 3. Took a while for me to get there, but it works. When I need capacity, I have it, and when I don't it doesn't cost me a bunch of fuel money. Get over the fear of backing up with a trailer (well, that was a lot of what held me back, anyway), and boogie.

*in the trailer. A few hundred lbs more in the truck, if desired, without overloading either.

 

[stillersnut]

Have 1997 F-350 super duty crew cab work beast w/helper springs. Can haul 2 tons in bed with know problem. Tuff on gas, but great truck to haul

 

[johnny1720]

2006 Double Cab Tundra with a V8, it is rated for #1600. It hauled ok but the truck rode on the helpers. I had two 1996 f150's and they handled a ton much easier than the Tundra. However the Tundra had more power.

I had a 2004 F250 and that hauled what ever fit in the bed.

Long story short invest in a trailer it is safer, easier to unload and cheap.

 

[Harvey Schneider]

This year I payed $65 to Home Depot and got 3 tons delivered to the front of my garage. Took me 3 hours to stack them in the basement .

That's three tons. It would mean three trips. Now, my HD is about ten miles away, which means that it would cost me about $4 in gas for each trip. So for the approximately $ 20 per ton delivery fee, I stand at the bottom of my driveway and wave when they arrive with my three tons of pellets. They bring it up my driveway and put it down in front of my pallet jack. No lifting, stacking, re-stacking or carrying.

 

[rwthomas1]

Ah yes, this topic comes up from time to time. I won't get into the legality issues, grown ups can make their own decisions. That said, I have owned many trucks of varying gvw and have thousands of miles towing trailers. I tow almost daily. Currently I'm driving a Chevy 1/2 ton and there are pros and come to towing and/or overloading.

Consider that a ton on a trailer without brakes on it is a huge liability in itself. I have had supposedly light duty trailers push my trucks right through intersections in adverse conditions. The load is behind the vehicle pushing and none of that weight is on the wheels with brakes. When you have a truck beefy enough to stop that brake-less trailer you might as well have put the load in the bed.

Buying a heavy duty truck to haul 2-3 tons a year makes no sense. These trucks get half the mpgs of their 1/2 ton brothers. Ask me how I know....

As mentioned previously, check the actual weight of the truck and subtract it from the manufacturers gvw and you might be surprised. My particular truck is a stripped work truck, 2wd with the largest engine available, towing package, uprated aftermarket brakes and an air suspension in the rear. Makes for the lightest possible 1/2 ton leaving the greatest capacity. The air suspension and better brakes were installed specifically because the truck tows so frequently. Legal to the letter of the law? No. But it will take a ton with ease and still be quite safe. Tires are E load rated. If you are planning on hauling anything with standard load tires please make sure that at least the pressures are maxed. Please consider at a minimum helper springs or an airbag setup. Uprated tires are nice too for not much more money when it comes time for new skins. If you are going to push the limit at least do it as safely as possible.

RT

 

[Courtney]

A ton of pellets will push the payload rating of any 1/2 ton pickup but I'm sure any make will be fine for a short trip if you take it easy. Personally, I have a new GMC but use a 5 X 8 utility trailer with a 3000lb GVWR. I'd rather put the load on my $1000 trailer than my $40000 truck. The trailer is also easier to unload due to the height and the ramp/gate.

I agree, using a horse trailer or utility trailer is the way to go

 

[jdinny]

'08 Ram with Cummins.
Ton in back, 18 mpg, stops good, goes good no issues at all.

 

[Spud Monkey]

Own 96 F Super Duty 7.3 diesel and no not the Super Duty you know of all fords this was the F450/550 version before 97, 1 ton would help my truck ride smoother 2 tons is starting to see a squat little, 4 tons is max according to GVWR of 15,000 lb and truck weighs 7,600 lbs. Put 2 cords of wood on it other day flew down mountains at 50 mph offroad no problem.

 

[Bridgeman]

I ship construction material for a living and use everything from an F150 up to a tractor trailer. I agree with the post that say it not the going it is stopping. Panic stops are issue here, normal operation is not a problem. In a panic stop all the macho men have no control in the overloaded trucks. How many of you tie down your load? Not many I would bet. So in addition to being overloaded, in a panic stop or steering maneuver, a unrestrained overload is deciding were your truck is going. It's all good until somebody gets killed. Somebody like your grandchild riding shotgun. Maybe that pregnant mom of three. That's how people go to jail for negligent homicide. That $65 shipping charge would probably look like a bargain from jail. The best way to tie down a pallet of bagged material is a pallet on top and two 3" ratchet straps. The 1" Walmart straps are worse than useless. They fool you into thinking the load is secure.

 

[woodsman23]

oh my

 

[Madcodger]

This year I payed $65 to Home Depot and got 3 tons delivered to the front of my garage. Took me 3 hours to stack them in the basement .

So here's a radical idea to the OP - Do you really need a truck?

I know that's a radical idea to some, but I sold my pickup late summer / early fall when we sold a business in which I used it and surprisingly I haven't missed it all that much (and it was a great little Ram as well). If all you're doing is hauling pellets and a once or twice a year pickup of something, a pickup can be an expensive way to take care of those tasks. As this person noted, you can have several tons delivered for relatively little money. In fact, our dealer delivered and stacked in the storage shed (not an easy task) 3 tons for $75 total. I figured out how much extra I was paying in insurance, added fuel, etc., and now most of my "hauling" is done in the back of a Subaru Outback (an additional two tons). Maybe not an option for the OP, but for a lot of us those pellet pickups aren't saving us much and might be costing us plenty.

 

[tjnamtiw]

I ship construction material for a living and use everything from an F150 up to a tractor trailer. I agree with the post that say it not the going it is stopping. Panic stops are issue here, normal operation is not a problem. In a panic stop all the macho men have no control in the overloaded trucks. How many of you tie down your load? Not many I would bet. So in addition to being overloaded, in a panic stop or steering maneuver, a unrestrained overload is deciding were your truck is going. It's all good until somebody gets killed. Somebody like your grandchild riding shotgun. Maybe that pregnant mom of three. That's how people go to jail for negligent homicide. That $65 shipping charge would probably look like a bargain from jail. The best way to tie down a pallet of bagged material is a pallet on top and two 3" ratchet straps. The 1" Walmart straps are worse than useless. They fool you into thinking the load is secure.

THANK YOU for throwing some SANITY onto this recurring, stupid thread that keeps regenerating itself! Nuff said. Anymore would be a waste of energy.

 

[rwthomas1]

So I guess I'm a "macho man" and I gonna continue to waste energy? While I would agree that paying for delivery is the cheapest way to go, if you already own the truck, or need it for other purposes, and happen to be driving by HD, etc. Then tossing some pellets in the bed is all of a sudden more appealing. Now I would never recommend just dropping the pallet in the bed. I always break the pallet down to bed rail height. In an 8ft bed a ton will fit to the top of the rails. Load won't shift, is better dispersed with some of the weight forward, etc. Then a tarp and decent straps over the top. If we are going to start taking about panic stops, go ahead and try one with a cheap no-brake utility trailer with a ton on it. Sorry, but I'll take my pickup with the uprated brakes, tires and suspensi on, thanks. RT

 

[Tonyray]

HD saw my 92 half ton Toyota Pickup and told me that I could only take half the skid of Stove Chows...
I live mile away so no problem. Unloaded into my basement then 20 minutes later came back and they put the half full skid in the
back of the truck.....

 

[Enigma869]

HD saw my 92 half ton Toyota Pickup and told me that I could only take half the skid of Stove Chows...
I live mile away so no problem. Unloaded into my basement then 20 minutes later came back and they put the half full skid in the
back of the truck.....

Same deal here. Honestly, the only reason I was even forced to grab another ton is that it's my first season with a P68, and an insanely cold Winter. I never guessed that 5 ton wouldn't be enough, so just wanted the 6th ton for peace of mind. I happily paid Home Depot the $65 delivery fee, and they put all five pallets in my garage, so I didn't even have to do any unstacking and re-stacking. Next season, I'll happily pay them $65 to deliver 6 ton. The best $65 I've ever spent!

 

[johneh]

I have a 1/2 ton and a 3/4 ton don't use either to haul pellets
The place I buy from delivers for free and puts them where i want them .
Why break my back or truck

 

[Indiana]

I have found the best vehicle to be my friends f-350 with an 8 foot bed. 2 tons no problem and only the cost of diesel.

 

[tjnamtiw]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?....10150177146553132.349618.143354983131&type=1

This should do the job!

 

[gfreek]

I have a Honda Ridgeline and either haul 1/2 ton at a time in the bed or borrow a dual axle trailer for a ton of pellets..

 

[midfielder]

"Best pickup for hauling pellets?" - One that runs . . . My little old Toyota 4x2 will happily carry 25 bags if I'm too lazy to hook up the trailer for a ton.