Which single wheel year/era 1 Ton PickUp Truck is the Toughest? (already searched)

[2badgn]

I restored my Dad's 1 ton 2wd 1984 GMC Sierra 3500 Pickup Truck 2 years ago because he bought it brand new and he always said "They dont make trucks like that anymore."

Before restoring the truck, I looked at used 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton trucks that were all in the $15,000 + range and had lots of miles and needed work.

At least my dad was the original owner and he always changed the oil every 3,000 miles and did some maintenance.

Anyways, I was driving on the highway today with my car and I always see these new 4x4 Pickups that look tough but I really want to know which is the Strongest?
Thanks

Sorry but I dont even know what year the 1 Ton Pickup came out.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

its bean proven on top gear, the chevy always wins the truck compatition.

[thepenguin99]

Hard to pick from that poll. Part of me thinks an early 90s dodge with a cummins nv4500 combo would be hard to beat from a "toughness" perspective. For an unleaded truck I would think a 87-up square body with a tbi 350 th400 combo would be pretty tough and trouble free as well.

[andrewmp6]

To me 79 back fords are good the square body gm are good and the super duty fords are good.I like the cummins just don't like the dodges they put them in.

[thirdstreettito]

2000-2011 Chevy/GMC's with a duramax. They have strong as hell frames, huge 11.5 ring gear rear axles. Duramax/Allison(or ZF6) combo. I love the old squares, but for strength its the Dmax trucks.

[MadManAndrew]

Originally Posted by thirdstreettito

2000-2011 Chevy/GMC's with a duramax. They have strong as hell frames, huge 11.5 ring gear rear axles. Duramax/Allison(or ZF6) combo. I love the old squares, but for strength its the Dmax trucks.

+1, I drive an '02 Silverado 2500HD Duramax, and IMO it's unbeatable. Go to Chevy.com/hdtohd and watch the frame strength test. It reinforces tst's statement that the frames are strong as hell; especially when compared to square body frames. My '80 gets a flat and it looks like the damn thing was turned into a twist tie by a couple of elephants. Prone to cracking too. Air the tire back up and goes back straight. Just no rigidity. I'm not really sure if all the old trucks were like that, but I know Super Duty frames are about the same as my '80, but '99+ Chevy HD's are an entirely different story. The Allison tranny's are tough as steel balls as well, I threw mine in park while I was going about 15mph the other day and it suffered no damage as far as I can tell. Probably wasn't the best idea, but I was about to beat somebodys ass so I wasn't really thinking about the truck. Truck's got about 260k miles on it and has no drivetrain wear.
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[C-10 simplex]

One thing about the newer trucks is that they are better, much better with rust.

i lean towards the 73-91 series, but would be afraid to drive one in the snow. i would have no problems driving a 2000 silverado in the snow provided it gets hosed off asap.

[andrewmp6]

I wouldn't trust a ifs 4x4 off road seen too many break ford and gm.

[Your41Plague12]

I have to say, where I work, we run strictly Ford trucks, all 1 tons or larger. The Super Duty trucks take abuse that (I hate to say) would crumble an old square. When people say "They don't make them like they used to," they're right; they make them bigger, stronger, and more reliable. I still like my square though.

[Pyrotechnic]

Depends what you mean by tough. I just don't think the miles of wiring and computers and the difficulty of repairs is as "tough" as the old trucks. Being able to quickly diagnose and repair issues for little money...now that is tough in my opinion.

Of course, newer trucks can haul more and take more abuse. 94-03 Ford with the T444E comes to mind. 03+ Duramax trucks...and say what you want about IFS but I bet most of you wouldn't want to abuse your pretty Chevy in a way that would destroy the front suspension. Besides, solid axle swaps have been done many times over if you want one.

[john_p]

i like all the old stuff, i own two new dodges, the challenger. being lighter with the 6.2 hemi is killer to drive.. that said restoring my 73 stepper is my passion.. next will be a 46 chevy.. the best looking truck anyone ever made.. art deco waterfall grill and all..

[Hubscrub]

i don't like new stuff tough or not but i work with an old farmer that has used a older dodge 4x4 gas burner and he bought a new ford diesel 4x4 and he swears by the the dodge anytime he gets off the asphalt he said that ford is a piece of junk for what he does

[jimbonice]

NONE - 'cause you need duals! hahahahahahahahahaha
I am biased, though.

[buckshot_86]

The only 1 ton single rear wheel I have had experience with has been a 1952 Chevy with a 235 six and flat bed. The rest have all had duals, 1969 thru 2000+.

The '52 has served it's whole life on a farm/ranch and still looking good and running stong. It now serves as a fuel truck for the farm. It has been a great truck, and tough!

[donut]

IMO, they all have their good points and bad, just a matter of what your using it for and if it works for you.

I haven't personally had just the SRW 1 tons, also had 1/2, 3/4, dual, and a few as just company trucks that I drove. Talking with others, you also get an idea of what they like and dislike. Worked with a guy that had a Dodge and the Cummins/nv4500, and it irritated him, his was traction limited. He loved the power and mileage, but couldn't keep the rear tires hooked up. (this truck was high on my short list)

Drove a dually Ford, truck was as tough as a bag of hammers, but wouldn't make it past a gas station.

Some people like all the gadgets and a cab that is more comfortable than their living room, some folks want to be able to hose it out with a garden hose to clean it. That being said, I've also worked 1/2 tons hard enough to make a 1 ton cry.

[BigBlocksRule]

Define "tough". As in strong drivetrains and body, "tough" looking, durability, etc.
Newer engines are lasting a lot longer thanks to ring technology and fuel injection.
But an old 454 can really take a beating - I had one freeze solid one morning and peg the gauge on hot that afternoon. Let 'er cool down, filled her back up with antifreeze and was absolutely fine. Can't say that with a smallblock, I'd have cracked it up.
I'll agree with your Dad, though - they certainly don't build 'em like they used to. Plastic everything including bedside panels, thin sheetmetal and engines covered with wires and sensors. Used to be a fella could do almost everything to his own truck himself...sure isn't that way any more.
My vote still goes to the '88 - '98. I'll agree, the IFS won't take with a solid will, but most folks don't offroad their work trucks, they just want traction. The IFS is fine for that, just don't get too much angle in that CV joint when it gets traction, it'll pop....just like a SFA will if overstressed. Fuel injection, big blocks, 4L80E trannies...

[Goldfinger]

I've hauled just about everything with my square It's been strapped to large trees, run into many ditches, sunk to the body, used to tow, help a friend out of a rut, Overloaded, and suffers from high mileage but she keeps kicking; i would trust it with my life to do any thing i ask of it.

[kris's66lwb]

Gotta love a square not a 1 ton but has hauled 1 ton of crap never let me down

[nekkidhillbilly]

honestly i have a new chevy dmax the engine is tough as nails so is the trans and the rear however the front end isnt much plus the price of replacement parts are stupid. cummins dodge engine is great rest of the truck is so so. imo the best ford is the 7.3 psd fords. the rest of them are junk to me. the strongest gasser i would think would be the 60-70s international harvester. i think if the new chevy had the dodge front axle put in it it would be unstoppble.

[Redcap]

International.

[324matt]

I have gone to a 1987 Silverado V30 SRW 4x4 with a 454 & th400, np205. I owned a 05' z71 1500 (junk). Ive owned 2, 1500 2wd chevy from 1999-2003. Ive tried a ford once and actually sold it on vacation. In my opinion, a guy/gal cant beat not having a payment. And 300hp and 500tq is plenty for the average person to go to Depot or Lowes. Or haul a combine on a gooseneck. But like i said, I will live with 8-10mpg.. My payment is $0.00!
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[big10ratrod77]

im right there with donut

"I've also worked 1/2 tons hard enough to make a 1 ton cry."

I wouldn’t trade my 77 big 10 for nothing that is one of the toughest trucks I have ever seen 215,000 miles on the original clutch, same for the 350 never been rebuilt and it fires up every time, both me and dad have both put truck buckling loads on ol' blue and it hunkers down a little and goes on with no trouble. This truck has broken down like 3 times since dad bought it new. I think the 73-79 Chevy’s were some of the toughest trucks ever. Look at how many of these trucks are still in the road to I probly see like at least 15 of the square body trucks every day here in Hillsborough alone, but ya dont see many old dodges or fords on the road.