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Ranch Truck

B

bverellen

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 9, 2007
Messages
325
Location
South Central Iowa
It is time to replace my old '83 pickup with a newer model. I noticed in Shortgrass' recent post he was pulling his livestock trailer with a single wheel rear axled truck, so my question is as follows:

What are the pro's and cons of a single tire vs. dual tired truck in your every day to day ranching chores? Snow, mud, pasture driving, trailer hauling.

I don't see us hauling over 14K of livestock but a few times a year, and we most likely will not be down here in the Sunshine State but for a couple of more years.

Thanks all, I apreciate your opinions!!

bart.

<><
 
I've went from 1 ton dually diesels to now I have a 3/4 ton 4x4 5.4 litre gas truck it's a bit under powered for my 8x28 stock trailer which holds 17 1400# cows but other than that its just fine. I'm looking at getting a 20' gooseneck stock trailer traded in right now that I will most likely try and keep as something smaller for normal hauling. I sure don't miss the stinky diesel smells from my old diesel's. The newer diesels are'nt as bad but the 95 power stroke I had was a bit ripe.As the truck gets broke in a bit I bet the start smokeing more also. I have an 84 ford 6.9 diesel that will get close to 20 mpg but its tough starting in the winter and it stinks terrible. Single wheeled trucks are just fine in my book. Dually's look cooler though.
 
My pulling vehicle of choice is our 1997 Ford F350 crew cab 7.3 diesel, without duals. It has plenty of stability and pulling ability.

Personally, I think dual hind wheels are over-rated. It is just two more tires to have to buy. A couple of our feed pickups have them, and another one doesn't. They are really not needed. Save your money. :wink:
 
personally, i go with a single rear wheel. unless you are hauling big loads on a regular basis, i don't think a dually is needed. plus the duallys aren't great in snow, mud. also it will cost you less when its time for new tires with singles. our biggest trailer is a 24ft wilson, and single rear wheel 1 ton does just fine when its loaded to the max
 
After borrowing my brothers 1 ton dually duramax i wish i could afford one. The difference in stability when the critters get to moving is amazing and the power it has is tremendous. He lives up on the mountain with alot of snow and gets around as well as I do with my singles.
 
We have had dually pickups since 1998...all Dodges, which he really
has been happy with...but Mr. FH
pulls his Featherlite trailer a lot delivering mineral--7 ton at
a time. He hauls a lot of calves to town in the fall for friends and neighbors and he wouldn't be
without duals. The stabiltiy is amazing. That being said, he doesn't use
it off-raod on the ranch, either. He uses his trusty SCOUT...which he
says can "climb a tree." And he has an old Ford pickup that was given
to him.

A rancher made the remark that Mr. FH had more reason to have a
dually pickup than most...and I think he's right...for all-around use,
I think a single wheel pickup is best. And buying tires--6 of 'em--that's
not fun. And has anyone priced tires lately? :shock:

Thank you Mr. President. :cry:
 
Faster horses said:
We have had dually pickups since 1998...all Dodges, which he really
has been happy with...but Mr. FH
pulls his Featherlite trailer a lot delivering mineral--7 ton at
a time. He hauls a lot of calves to town in the fall for friends and neighbors and he wouldn't be
without duals. The stabiltiy is amazing. That being said, he doesn't use
it off-raod on the ranch, either. He uses his trusty SCOUT...which he
says can "climb a tree." And he has an old Ford pickup that was given
to him.

A rancher made the remark that Mr. FH had more reason to have a
dually pickup than most...and I think he's right...for all-around use,
I think a single wheel pickup is best. And buying tires--6 of 'em--that's
not fun. And has anyone priced tires lately? :shock:

Thank you Mr. President. :cry:
Click to expand...

priced them and then bought them :o :shock: ....i don't really want to talk about it :cry:
 
Yea. We just had to buy 4 for the horse trailer. The ones we had for
years were 14 ply retreads that worked awesome. But they didn't work FOREVER...because he blew one out hauling calves and it took out the
drop down thing on the back of the fender and tore up the brake
lining when it went. :shock:
 
that has been our experience with recaps, they are a little cheaper but blow things apart. We finally went and changed rims and went to a low profile tire and seem to be getting along a lot better.

We went to a dually, we get along a little better for pulling heavy loads but I don't think it will be a mud and snow outfit, but every diesel we ever had was worthless in mud and snow so I don't think this one will be any different.

have a good one


lazy ace
 
If you ever blow a tire on a single versus a dual on the rear while pulling about 20 thousand pounds at 70 mph. You will never have to contemplate the answer. :cry:

I cant put a price on the people I might meet while having a blow out with a load of cows or hogs while pulling a 20 foot plus trailer. I also cant put a price on the wife or grandkids in the vehicle with me.

Then don't overlook how a few cows or hogs shifting around during one of these escapades. Its all about safety and stability hands down.
 
Soapweed said:
the_jersey_lilly_2000 said:
Single tired unit.........so you have a big honkin unicycle??? :wink:
Click to expand...

So where would the horn be located on a unicycle? :wink:
Click to expand...

Right here . . . .

unicorn-unicycle.jpg
 
Pig Farmer said:
If you ever blow a tire on a single versus a dual on the rear while pulling about 20 thousand pounds at 70 mph. You will never have to contemplate the answer. :cry:

I cant put a price on the people I might meet while having a blow out with a load of cows or hogs while pulling a 20 foot plus trailer. I also cant put a price on the wife or grandkids in the vehicle with me.

Then don't overlook how a few cows or hogs shifting around during one of these escapades. Its all about safety and stability hands down.
Click to expand...
70 mph with the family on board wouldn't happen here. If you want to drive seventy with the whole family get a dually.
 
I'm like Soapweed, I think duals are overrated. I've got both, the dually is used mostly just to pull trailers on the road. If I had to have just one it would have singles.I got the dually because I was running the rubber off the single back tires in less than 10,000 miles pulling my flatbed. I didn't notice that much more stability between a one ton with single vs. one with duals.
 
Got one of each but I wouldn't buy another dually-our feed truck has duals and were aslways prying frozen cow turds from between them. They are a piece of crap when going down a rutted up bush trail. They have their place I'm sure.
 
In the old days a properly equipped 3/4 ton could handle a 20 foot stock trailer or a 24 foot flatbed with no trouble. These days it would take a one ton (at least) to do the job.

My 550 handles loads of 4 tons on the bed (and more) with ease. The truck is ALWAYS under a load though. I would NOT attempt doing what I do with singles.

My old 81 Chevy K30 on duals was a regular snow mobile but not the best in mud. Tire aggressiveness is a huge factor. My 550 takes 19.5 shoes. I found some aggressive Kumhos for $210 a pop and have been very happy with them. Michelens were over 3 bills apiece! Timely tire rotation is key to extend tire life.

If you are not under continuous loads for plenty of miles you can manage with singles. This is a good topic!
 
Northern Rancher said:
Got one of each but I wouldn't buy another dually-our feed truck has duals and were aslways prying frozen cow turds from between them. They are a piece of crap when going down a rutted up bush trail. They have their place I'm sure.
Click to expand...

Yeap...we don't have a problem with frozen cow turds down here :wink:
 
the_jersey_lilly_2000 said:
Northern Rancher said:
Got one of each but I wouldn't buy another dually-our feed truck has duals and were aslways prying frozen cow turds from between them. They are a piece of crap when going down a rutted up bush trail. They have their place I'm sure.
Click to expand...

Yeap...we don't have a problem with frozen cow turds down here :wink:
Click to expand...

True
 

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