It has been long, weird month. One of my biggest challenges has been being without a vehicle for an extended period of time - sigh.
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| Temporarily 2WD truck couldn't make it into the garage in the snow so it got parked at a dramatic angle on the parking pad overnight. 2WD is useless in the land of snow and clay. |
Back in August, my truck's front differential got taken apart and fixed under warranty at the dealer because it was making loud sounds and they found metal shavings in it, as well as evidence that the shafts weren't mating properly inside the diff. I got it back, and then the first time it snowed and I put it in 4WD again, the sound was back.
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| So. Much. Snow. |
The way my (extremely trusted) local independent shop explained it to me, this is going to keep happening unless GM completely replaces the front differential which they won't (they say they can't...???) do. They're going to do the same repair they did in August, replacing the internals, that failed. At least they're doing it for free, since the truck is out of warranty at this point.
So I'm strongly considering selling this truck and getting a new one, which isn't as bad as it sounds, because I got such a good deal on this truck a year ago, and truck demand has shot up since the pandemic (campers, anyone?) so I should be able to get all of my money back out of it. And I'm thinking 3/4 ton this time.
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| Borrowed my former trainer's 2500 to see if I could maneuver it around the random trees and telephone poles I have to navigate around to get to my garage off the alley. It fits, but holy hell I refuse to buy a Dodge until they completely redo their awful infotainment system. If you think a cell phone is distracting, try changing the climate control settings in a Dodge. |
But in the meantime, the dealer has had my half ton for 8 days, and as of 3 days ago, "still hadn't identified the point of failure", let alone ordered parts or started to repair it, which left my husband and I with only a rear wheel drive sports car that couldn't even make it out of the garage in the deep snow, let alone up the barn's steep and winding driveway.
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| Barn driveway on Monday morning, quite literally solid ice |
I was homebound for a week, except when my barnmates came to give me a ride, so that has led to precious little pony time. But it finally melted and I'm finally getting back out to the barn.
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| Took these two idiots with me, and I was reminded of why Hank is not a barn dog. He ran under Connor to sniff his sheath and got batted in the face by the barn cat 5 times. |
Anyway, this may be a blessing in disguise. I bought that truck on March 6th, 5 days before the world went to hell, and at the time I couldn't imagine a time when I wouldn't have an unlimited gravy train of hotel points and status from all my work travel, or a time when I would feel uncomfortable staying in a hotel.
Obviously that has all changed. I can confidently say I will never again travel as much as I did pre-pandemic. My industry has changed. My needs have changed. I'd like the flexibility to get a small LQ in the future or (far more likely) a truck bed camper to pair with the World's Tiniest Horse Trailer, something my half ton isn't capable of doing safely.
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| Can't imagine selling this trailer, I love it so much |
Anyone made the half ton to 3/4 ton jump? This would be a DD, but even in normal times I don't have a work commute and basically only drive 3 miles to the barn and 3 miles back every day, so it's not a huge problem to have a bigger truck.
I made the jump when I bought my current truck almost 7yrs ago. I love how much easier it feels to haul with it. Even with my new warmblood sized trailer (which granted I've only hauled with 1 horse not two yet) it feels easy. I love my Dodges, but mine has an after market radio/nav system that's easy to use. My mom's newer Dodge suv's infotainment system is a pain in the ass sometimes, I give you that.
ReplyDeleteYeah for my 2300lb empty trailer and 1 horse a 3/4 ton is overkill, but it would have been great for my 2H steel BP with tack room. I live 5 blocks from Cummins world HQ, trust me when I say I wish I didn't have to trash talk Dodge, but that infotainment is hot garbage!
DeleteI made the jump, sort of! My first vehicle ever (through high school and college) was a 1/2 ton truck, a GMC. I drove that for ~8 years, then when I bought a tow vehicle I bought a 3/4 ton Chevy (king cab, 8' bed). I love, love, LOVED having the 3/4 ton. I still miss it almost daily. I am a firm believer that no one should be hauling a horse trailer with anything less than a 3/4 ton. (I realize I am in the distinct minority). The extra weight, the extra power - it absolutely makes a difference.
ReplyDeleteSize-wise, they're not that much bigger than a modern 1/2 ton. It starts to get tough when you go up to full-ton duallies which would be overkill for you, probably! They do get really terrible gas mileage, but so do 1/2 tons, and sometimes (depending on a lot of things) they are sprung a bit higher. But if you've been driving a modern 1/2 ton you won't find the 3/4 ton too much different. (Modern 1/2 tons are bulkier than my 1991 3/4 ton was, excepting the long bed.)
No kill like overkill. I say go for it.
Good to know! I agree with you on 3/4 tons and horse trailers in general, except when you're in the infinitesimally small trailer segment line I am. My trailer with a horse in it actually hauls worse behind a 3/4 ton, which is one of the things I'm considering - their suspensions are designed to perform best with more load than my tiny little trailer is. But if I want a camper, I absolutely don't have a choice.
DeleteYou're very right about modern 1/2 tons being very similar, I expected the 3/4 to feel a lot bigger but it really didn't.
Hmmm, I'm not sure my case counts but our original farm truck was a 1/2 ton Silverado (2WD though because old people who didn't actually do farm work bought it) and we upgraded to my in laws' well-loved 3/4 ton Silverado this year (they upgraded to the full ton because.... reasons?). Major life improvement and the ability to haul more weight more confidently is huge. Our upgrade also came with a full cab and an extra long bed, plus a GN hitch. I used that truck plus my MIL's 2H gooseneck to move us to Oregon, and the Siskiyou pass is no joke -- having the power to tackle those hills was awesome. I hope to get my own 2H gooseneck in the future so I can camp in the goose for shows! So the 3/4 is a must for us (but having the farm as an excuse is certainly helpful).
ReplyDeleteYeah living in a flat area and having no real plans to cross mountains is factoring into my decision too. Well-loved is perfect for a farm truck. I, however, have developed a taste for luxury trims. ughhhhhhh lol.
DeleteSorry about your truck woes :(
ReplyDeleteUnreliable vehicle club, unite!
DeleteSorry about your truck, that's so frustrating! I have a big truck, and only ever had a big one (I used a work truck for awhile before getting my own). In the winter time it is my daily driver which can be annoying in certain settings, but I work it out. Now that most of them have cameras all over, it's a lot easier to squeeze them in tight spaces. I have a four full doors on mine and a short bed. I've driven the 8 foot bed with the same cab and it was a lot of truck to deal with. Definitely would recommend the shorter bed. (I DO still pull a gooseneck with it, just have to pay attention when backing up.)
ReplyDeleteYeah the cameras are really a game changer! I can't see over the nose of anything, but those trucks are really getting tall.
DeleteI've only ever had 4WD 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. Highly recommend! Having too much brake and too much towing capacity is ALWAYS better! My very first vehicle was a 2500 Chevrolet Diesel and have since had another Chevrolet and a Ford. We will ever own a Ram. Ever. Hubs is an ASE Master Mechanic and just doesn't see quality and service support for Rams. The service aspect from Ram corporate is particularly terrible. Ppl will argue all day how great they are, I'll take the word of a professional in the industry before someone who has had 5 Rams. ;)
ReplyDeleteYeah, I live 5 blocks from Cummins HQ so would love to get one of course, but Dodge is not getting my money and I don't trust the new Nissans yet.
DeleteOur Ford F150 just had the same issue! The mechanic said it was a problem across all models for a few years (not sure if that's true - just what he said/has seen). We're less than impressed and had a number of 'weird issues' - not the first time there were issues with the 4x4 and transmission. We're also just out of warranty now...and also contemplating selling and buying something different. I'm with you - just didn't like the interior of the Dodge, I like my gmc better and was contemplating getting a 2500.
ReplyDeleteThat's REALLY interesting. Yeah, the reviewers all rate Dodge best by a longshot, and that's in large part because of GM's "older style" interior and I'm over here like PHYSICAL BUTTONS ARE SAFER AND BETTER!!! Give me that "old style!"
DeleteI have a Chevy 2500 diesel 4WD and I love it. Granted, I've never owned or driven any other trucks, or pulled a trailer with anything else but it hauls so smoothly and easily and I appreciate that!
ReplyDeleteThat's good to know!
DeleteI can't remember what your truck is, but a friend of mine has towed a 2 horse aluminum gooseneck with a small dressing room for years with a series of Toyota Tundras. I've ridden with her on some serious hills and it never seemed to struggle. I was on a budget so I went with an older model 3/4 ton silverado. I've thus far been quite happy with it, I can definitely feel that it's a 3/4 ton (drives like a bus) but it is very stable towing my steel 2 horse gooseneck. As far as a diesel, they aren't a fan of the cold or sitting still and repairs can be expensive so I went with gas.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I will say the difference between older trucks and newer trucks is night and day when it comes to handling the trailer, but I totally get budgets being what they are. My current truck is the same truck as my old truck only 13 years newer, and I may as well have gone up a class size, it handled the trailer so much better.
DeleteSo in less than I year I went from a 150 to a 250. And 2H BP to 2H GN to 2+1 GN in less than 3 years. I now have a 3500 DRW and a 26' (on the deck LQ). The LQ is LYFE. Seriously. Life. It allows me so much freedom. 8' wide on the LQ is a game changer but not for everyone of course. I didn't find that it changed my hauling experience all that much and think I could fairly happily pull anything under 30' on the floor/ not including the GN.
ReplyDeleteIf Connor is in a slant now they make some really handy 2H slant LQ's.
Truck wise assuming you want to stay with a SRW truck my biggest regret when I had mine is that I didn't get the 350. They aren't that much more expensive and are literally the same size physically. I spent so much time agonizing over this when I got my LQ so if you ever want to chat you can msg me!
Yeah you're reading my most recent thoughts since I read this post. I always assumed full tons were way bigger but actually on the GM it's 1" shorter than the 3/4 ton and $1,000 cheaper! So that is probably happening.
DeleteThe LQ would be awesome, I just can't see getting as much use out of it as I would a truck bed camper. I only ever show by myself, my husband does not come with, and half of my show season takes place 20 minutes from my house. There are things we'd do with a truck bed camper we wouldn't do with a LQ. Sure if I won the lottery...lol
Now my next thing I'm onto is gas or diesel, and I KNOW everyone is going to tell me diesel, but I live in the flat Midwest and that math doesn't 100% check out when you factor in maintenance costs and how little I drive. I'll probably end up with a diesel, but not 100% yet.