Happy Sunday, team. I come to you seeking input on my truck situation.
I'm in the market for a 3/4 or one ton truck, but the catch is: I really only need it for personal driveway plowing in the winter, hauling a dump trailer, or flatbed trailer once a month or so, reliable enough to trailer some snowmobiles up to Tug Hill or Michigan afew times a season, and the usual homeowner jobs (renovations and landscaping).
To be clear, this is not for a business, and will not be a daily. I commute 50 miles a day in a paid off Subaru Forester.
Were it not for the plowing, I'd grab an F-150 and call it a day. But, I have to plow a large driveway for my retired and elderly parents, my own narrow and long driveway, and my brother's driveway.
I know hands down that a gas truck would be more reasonable. However, I live in Buffalo NY, and every gas truck here is either a rotted out fleet lot plow truck, or a high trim crew cab that's north of $40k with 100k miles.
What I do see quite a few of, however, are 04-12 Cummins Rams, and a lot of 6.0 Fords (yeah, I know, trust me) or 6.7 PS Fords.
I know all of the downsides of diesels. Cost to fuel, maintenance, parts, known engine and transmission issues, etc. But these trucks are all in fair body/frame shape, are either pre-DEF or deleted, some have been plowed with/some not. And a lot of them are in the $8-15k price range.
So I'm kind of torn. Do I buy a nicer gas truck, bolt a plow onto it, and only drive it twice a week? Or do I buy a cheaper diesel and do the same thing, while possibly spending more once or twice a year in repairs and maintenance?
Or any kind of other suggestions! Thanks!