I'd look over everything real good, plowing trucks aren't known for their long life. It might be ok if you're using it just for firewood duty, but I'd be on the lookout for rust and make sure the tranny is in good shape.
I'm gonna bring a friend who's a mechanic after I call my insurance company. It's only gonna be used for firewood only no plowing but u never know...
How do plan on loading a dump truck with wood? Seems like that could be a problem. Unloading not so much.
Can't speak to NYCountry's preference but I prefer to split onsite throw into the bed and stack as I unload. If you wanted to load rounds wouldn't be hard to have a lever log lift added to the side of the bed
If you split before you load, you could throw them up into the dump truck. I personally would rather have a pickup.
Dear Husband talked me into a truck many years ago, I will never go back. Be it true or not I feel safer being up higher than in a car. I did 150 miles daily for over 20 years, I am obviously a cautious defensive driver, but being higher than the site of impact made it better in my mind incase I crossed paths with a wayward car.
Man, this thread is on fire, no? If you haul wood with your pickup, don't be surprised at how quick it wears out. If you have to commute with your pickup, don't be surprised at the high fuel cost.
No, just don't overload the p/u with wood no matter how easy or accessible or cheap or free or convenient or how much you want to "make each trip count" or make one trip instead of two, etc. I always say that to myself when I get a new (different) truck (in good shape) and then as soon as I start hauling wood with it, well.... If you can find a good junker, use it for the wood hauling-just be ready to accept the higher maintenance costs for it. Go with a rice burner for the commute and start saving at the pumps.
Do you have firewood around your residence that is available for scrounging? Is that why you are looking for a truck?
DH does not use sideboards. He cuts whole tree poles to fit the truck then tags them and straps them. He brings them home and goes back for more when he can. I think he said they are easier to cut and split after they dry a year. PS, he usually does it with a fellow wood burner, they help eachother load logs up to the pickup beds, and I appreciate that he has the safety of another person there if an accident were to happen.
I do a lot of scrounging every where not only where I live. thanks for your feedback. I do have a 4 cylinder which get about 34mpg and the truck will be for wood only.
Pickup trucks that people buy to commute in get good gas mileage and when overloaded wear out quicker -nature of the beast A dedicated wood hauler takes it's abuse gets little attention and works like a rented mule until it needs work/won't run or stop. Example being my Ole Blue $1200, dozens of overloaded trips from Lowes, landscape yard, firewood lot not to mention it's 40yrs old and multiple previous abusive owners. It got a tranny rebuild a few years ago and a new set of shoes from dry rotting, I guarantee I could get $1500 if I put it on the roadside tomorrow. 7 years of abuse and non-use for $3k = solid wood hauler
They're expensive to run high mileage but I've never had any wear problems within reason. The 2010 150 I traded had over 80k with a lot of heavy towing and never had any issues. I do stay on top of maintenance though.
I have an econobox for the daily driver (Chevy Cruze Eco with a 6 speed manual). I average 41 MPG without trying and can get in the high 40s on the highway if I drive like there is an egg between my foot and the gas pedal. I picked up an 05 Silverado earlier this year. It does everything I ask it to do and is a lot more comfortable to drive than the S-10 it replaced. 4WD was an added bonus. I can get 20 MPG on the highway with the truck, 15 in the city. I had the S-10 for over 20 years and I'm hoping to have the Silverado that long as well.
