From: johnc@yuma.ACNS.ColoState.EDU (John Cooley)
Subject: Re: Advice needed on farm/general use truck
Summary: Get Educated!
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 16:17:24 GMT
Organization: Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO  80523
Followup-To: misc.rural

In article <1993Jan22.193514.12376@mcc.com> srogers@teenwolf.mcc.com.mcc writes:

>In article 727726997@cunews, psmith@alfred.carleton.ca (Peter Smith) writes:
>> In <C180q6.2FI@mentor.cc.purdue.edu> lovejoy@cantor.math.purdue.edu 
(Victor W. Lovejoy) writes:
 
>>> I've heard that in order to haul the 1/2
>>>ton the truck is rated for, special coolers and suspension will be needed. 
>>>That seems crazy. If the truck will only haul 300 pounds in it's stock 
>>>condition
>>>why don't they call it a Chevy 300 pound truck?
 
>>>Logic tells me that a Chevy 1/2 ton will haul 1/2 ton of stuff in it's bed
>>>just the way it comes off the showroom floor - no optional coolers or shocks
>>>needed. Am I right? We have a few months to decide on the vehicle we want
>>>and the place we want to buy it. Any information would be greatly 
>>>appreciated.

"Logic" is more-or-less correct, in this case.  Specifying a new full-size
American pickup is not without its hazards, however.  All of the American
manufacturers can very nearly custom-build a pickup for you, but, as the
postings which appear here make clear, many people don't understand what
they're buying well enough to specify intelligently.  Unfortunately, the
sales people rarely know enough to be of any real help.

The Chevrolet model 1500 is nominally a "1/2-ton" pickup, but it is available
in any number of configurations.  My 1992 sales literature lists payloads for
the 1500 model ranging from 878 lbs (the lightest long-bed 4x4) to 2169 lbs
(extended-cab shortbox 2WD).  There are, of course, different gross vehicle
weight ratings (GVWR) associated with these vehicles.  Actual payload depends
on suspension options ordered and how much the truck weighs empty.  Thus,
for a given set of springs, etc., a long bed 4x4 will have less payload than
a short bed 2WD, since the 4x4 is heavier before you start putting stuff in it.
Similarly, an extended-cab long bed has slightly less payload than the same
extended-cab short bed, even though the bigger truck has more room in the bed.

So, if you order your truck correctly from the factory, a Chevy 1500 will
handle _much_ more than 1/2 ton of stuff in the bed, just the way it comes
from the dealer.  On the other hand, if you make some mistakes, you and two
large passengers might reduce the amount of payload left over to 300 lbs.

>There should be a metal plate on the vehicle (sometimes a decal in the glove 
>box)
>that tells the max payload and total vehicle weight.  Thats as equipped from 
>the
>factory.  For a Chevy 1500, I would imagine that its about 1200 pounds, but 
>thats
>just a guess.  Extra shocks, coolers, etc. might be desirable if you were 
>planning
>to carry that kind of load every day, all day long, or pull a trailer.  It is 
>not
>necessary for occasional hauling.  A transmission oil cooler will probably 
>extend
>the life of the transmission somewhat, in any case.

See my comments above.  The need for extra suspension components and cooling
is indeed dictated by what you'll actually do with the truck.  Be aware that
firewood and hay can be pretty heavy (I can get well over two tons of firewood
in a trailer that measures 8'x6'x3') and dirt, if you ever need to haul it, is
REALLY heavy.  The sales person may tell you (correctly) that all automatic
transmissions have coolers.  They do - the transmission fluid is run through
a tank-type cooler built into the radiator.  This doesn't work well enough
for heavy loads and pulling, however.  A second radiator type cooler, external
to the engine's water radiator, should be added.  It can extend the life of
the transmission more than somewhat!
 
>I'm looking for a pickup now too, and I have had to face the same choice.
>I had a Blazer once; it was really fun to drive, and the interior was
>really nice.  Unfortunately, when I have some 1000 lb. thing I want to haul,
>its usually dirty, e.g. firewood, dirt, manure, etc.  So I've ruled out
>the Bronco/Blazer/Suburban category for this purchase.  
    (Stuff deleted)
>back there.  This leaves the last option of the crew cab (the thing with
>4 doors  =:O ).  I've been looking at them also.  It combines the best
>of available interior space with a functional bed.  Its like having
>a family car and pickup in one.  However it is at least as long as
>a Suburban, maybe longer with a long bed . . . choices, choices.

I drive a "1/2 ton" Suburban.  It has a GVWR of 7,300 lbs, an empty weight
of about 5,600 lbs, for a net payload of about 1,700 lbs.  To properly equip
it for the nasty stuff I do with (to) it, I have rebuilt the original
transmission with fancy clutches and a shift kit, together with an external
cooler.  The cooler is mounted in front of the engine radiator, but it is not
attached directly to the radiator with the usual plastic mounting pins.  A
couple of fabricated steel struts hold the transmission cooler several inches
in front of the engine radiator.

I use a trailer (an inconvenience) for the large, dirty stuff.  I usually
carry more than I could put in even a long bed 3/4 ton pickup anyway.  The
trailer will easily handle two tons.  The trailer is lower and much easier to
load than a pickup.  And, of course, the rig bends in the middle.

A crew cab (4-door) pickup is _much_ longer than a Suburban.  The Suburban is
built on the same wheelbase as a standard-cab long bed pickup.  The wheelbase
of the crew cab is about 3 feet longer than the wheelbase of the Suburban.  
The turning circle is huge, and, unlike the Suburban with the trailer, you
don't get to remove part of it when you don't need it.  The extended cab can
be had with either a long or a short bed; the crew cab comes only with a long
bed (GM).  Crew cabs are great, but a Suburban is plenty big enough to drive
daily, and I try to avoid insuring and paying operating expenses on more than
one vehicle at a time.  I prefer the Suburban because it is more "configurable"
but, of course, everyone's needs are different.

            John Cooley
Newsgroups: misc.rural