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1/2T vs 3/4T

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Old Apr 12, 2006 | 09:51 AM
  #1  
fast_farmboy's Avatar
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1/2T vs 3/4T

My question here is would it be better to convert a 1/2 ton to diesel or just buy a 3/4 or 1 ton factory diesel? The '85 1/2 ton I have now works ok for almost everything I throw at it, but it makes more sense to me to get a bigger truck and do the same jobs easier with the same fuel mileage. A diesel 1/2 ton would get even better mileage, but is it worth the 5000 or so cost of conversion (that's a hell of a lot of fuel). I'm empty about 65% of the time, and 15% of the time I'm loaded higher than a 1/2 ton's GVWR (thank God for manual trannies). About 70% highway miles and 30% city miles.
 
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Old Apr 12, 2006 | 11:27 AM
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The 1/2 ton won't do that much better on mileage, and for durability, you would be better served to gert the "heavier" chassis... they aren't that much heavier when you have the same motor and all, just heavier duty.
 
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Old Apr 12, 2006 | 01:51 PM
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You'd probably have to upgrade your front springs to handle the extra mass of the engine.
imho, I think you should go for a 3/4 that already has a diesel in it. $5k is a heck of a lot to spend on a truck that "might" be good enough.
 
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Old Apr 12, 2006 | 05:05 PM
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Best to buy a heavier truck with a diesel already in it VS upgrading yours to maybe it will work condition.
 
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