97208ct said:
The 1/2 tons today are only a shadow of what they were just a few years ago. Smaller springs & brakes, lighter front ends that can't even support full 8' snowplows. Trannys & rear pumpkins got the same treatment. But then how many really use a truck for what it was originally designed for ....work!
Our 208 w/trailer weighs in at 6100 road ready. The 228 will be around 7000+ maybe?
Wouldn't want anything LESS than a 3/4 ton.
We use an 08 Super Duty 'gasser' with the auto & 4:10 LS that also tows our New Holland tractor on a 10K tandem EQ trailer. Take your pick of any of the Big 3 HD rigs and will be happy.
Remember it's not how much power you have, but how you use what you have.
I just can't agree here. I believe the 1/2 tons are much stronger than they used to be (not jus the Toyotas like use, but nearly all of them).
Assuming your Super Duty is a F250 with the 5.4L (you might have the V10, but didn't say), even my lowly SUV has a few specs (not all, of course) that are better. HP is 381 to your 300, Torque is 401 to your 365, Front and Rear brakes are about 1/2" larger than yours, rear axle ration is 4.30 to your 4.10. I also have a factory tranny cooler, limited-slip diff, fully-boxed steel frame, etc. The power this engine makes is better even than the diesels from not too long ago.
This is my new Sequoia of course. My old one, which was used to pull the 228G had much different specs. However, when I bought that one in 2001 everyone claimed the same thing...no way a "Toy" will hold up to towing a signifcant boat. I had the boat and truck 10 years, with never a squeak out of any component of the truck. The rear brakes made it over 90,000 miles! I sold it to a friend and it's still doing great with no problems.
I'm certainly not saying the Super Duties don't have a place; I've used a F350 dually and loved it. I'm just saying the 1/2 ton trucks on average have gone the other way from you suggest, and some are more capable than what we used to call heavy duty trucks years ago.
