Price of a farm truck

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I've been in the market for a farm truck for a couple of weeks. I needed something that could tow seven tons (a two ton trailer with five tons of stuff on it). Four wheel drive would be good. I figured something in the early 70's that I would probably use twice a month or so. I was thinking I would end up paying $2000 or so.

My brother wants to sell me a truck he used to use in his construction company. 1961 1 ton flatbed truck with a hydraulic dump and a hydraulic derrick (a kind of mast and boom used to lift heavy things into the truck). Two wheel drive and the back wheels are "dualies". New motor has 200 miles on it.

I know my brother keeps all of his equipment in top condition. He just likes the newer rigs and has several other one ton trucks, so this one hasn't been used for the last year.

What's a fair price for something like that?

-- Paul Wheaton (paul@javaranch.com), June 07, 2001

Answers

A truck that old is probably worth somewhere between what he wants for it and what you want to pay for it... I'd say approx $3000 in top condition. The hydraulic dump and boom are usually fairly universal... so they would most likely make up the majority of the value of the truck. One of the advantages of older vehicles is that they are carburated and non computerized... much easier and cheaper to fix. Disadvantage is that vehicle specific parts are sometimes difficult to find. I have an older Ford 350 dually... great truck.

-- Max (Maxel@inwindsor.com), June 07, 2001.

Only thing I dont like about 60's and older vehicles is that they had front drum brakes and most had a single chamber brake master cylinder. I even had a goofy 1960 Chevy pickup with one master cylinder that served both brakes and clutch. Yuck. You can update to two chamber master cylinder for safety (one chamber for front and one chamber for rear axle--this allows you to still stop if brakes/brake lines leak out on one axle or the other), but you'll still have drum brakes unless you replace front axle with one from later model. I dont like them when towing a heavy load as they have long stopping distance and require frequent adjusting to keep front braking even. If truck is in real good mechanical condition, $2000 is probably fair price.

-- HermitJohn (hermit@hilltop_homestead.zzn.com), June 07, 2001.

Paul,

If you know the truck and the maintenance then paying over the average price isn't paying too much. With what you intend to be towing I question if a truck of that age is rated for that heavy of a load.

I'm a truck dealer by trade and am not at all trying to sell you anything here. I only want to tell you a couple things I think might help. The GVW ratings on what are commonly called 'one ton' trucks have increased dramatically over the years. So much so, in fact, that I have seen the same manufacturer's early seventies 'one ton' have a lower GVW rating than their middle eighties 'three quarter ton' model. I know most everyone overloads their truck with no major ill effects. I also know that what you're talking about doing would require something with a GVW rating of over 18,000 pounds to be within rated capacity.

What I might suggest for anyone who's looking to tow that heavy would be something that's even cheaper than a typical 'one ton.' Believe it or not, a medium duty truck might well be the way for you to go. It'll meet the towing capacity you need with no problem and can usually be purchased for less money than the same year and condition 'one ton' truck.

Think how handy a truck with a flatbed or dump body with a hoist might be for you especially if you can get it for the same money or less, even. As to the "why" of this pricing disparity, I have no clue. I can only tell you it's been this way for the quarter century I've been doing this and it still amazes me.

I hope this helps. Good luck with whatever you decide.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), July 09, 2001.


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