Is anyone using an American pickup for residential tree work?

[LeeGray]

I’m on about early 2000 L322 type. Don’t know much about the earlier ones but I think they rot like all Land Rover stuff and the power is well down in the 3.5 compared to the more modern 4.4

 

Didn’t look at lpg, could never understand getting a big v8 then worrying about fuel costs. If it’s working for a living, it is what it is, if your doing hundreds of thousands of miles get a cheap little van.

[LeeGray]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-F550-2005-6-0-V8-Powerstroke-Diesel-4-DOOR-PICK-UP-TRUCK/183377227762?hash=item2ab2226ff2:g:9DQAAOSwRiNbcZm~

[RC0]

2 hours ago, LeeGray said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-F550-2005-6-0-V8-Powerstroke-Diesel-4-DOOR-PICK-UP-TRUCK/183377227762?hash=item2ab2226ff2:g:9DQAAOSwRiNbcZm~

The 6.0 Diesel, the most troublesome truck engine ford have produced. Dont ever be tempted. Its predecessor, 7.3 is the one to buy.

[IVECOKID]

I still have my Ford f350 suderduty long bed 8x5 .

Ten years on and bullet proof but has the turning circle of the Titanic !!!

Down rated for uk and has stated the Dodge ram with a Cummins 5.9 short bed weighs 3.4 tons without a driver .

Parts cheap has chips 

I have used mine for work when the van has been off the road ( very rarely) pushed for  trailers full etc but I would not advise anyone here in the UK, a Iveco daily tippers have the best train weight of any van . 

[Dbikeguy]

i was thinking the smaller F150 dodge 1500 as being a good compromise. bigger than a navara/hilux but not huge and weighty so cant carry as much.
the dually’s are wicked but would need taco converting to allow the weight to be properly used?

[josharb87]

I’ve toyed with the idea for a few years now, was close to getting a 6,4 f250, 3,6ton empty, only a meter longer than my Hilux but the turning circle was an extra 8meters! 

A lot of them have really low legal towing capacity too, normally 1500kg -2000kg for some daft reason.

theres a few older 7,3 250 king cabs about that can tow 3500kg but Ive been put off by there high mileage/chipped engines/23 year old owners who rev the nuts off them from cold