The Life of a Custom Mowing contractor

[sixdogs]

What's your Ram rated total weight capacity? How many miles on it and how does the transmission hold up? Is most of the work that truck doesn't hauling big bales? How many bales do you haul in a typical season?

 

[Hay Dude]

What's your Ram rated total weight capacity?

Factory: 43,000
With MV-41: 48,000

How many miles on it

~68,000

and how does the transmission hold up?

So far so good. I’ve done 2 transmission fluid changes and getting ready to do my 3rd. It’s not the most “refined” transmission in the world, but it’s got great gear holding, very simple/reliable and with 6 gears, doesn’t “gear hunt” at all.

Is most of the work that truck doesn't hauling big bales?

(I assume you mean “does” and not “doesn’t”).

If yes, then yes, the primary jobs are:
1. Hauling large square bales on a 38,500lb trailer weekly from August-February.
2. Hauling (2) zero turns on a 10K trailer about once a week Spring/Summer/Fall
3. Hauling 9 ton excavator on 38,500lb trailer randomly
4. Hauling my ass around to refuel tractors, carry tools/fuel/grease/etc.

How many bales do you haul in a typical season?

1,000 +

Was this a survey for Truck Trend magazine?

 

[civilian]

Was this a survey for Truck Trend magazine?

"Like" that statement. Jo

 

[sixdogs]

Factory: 43,000
With MV-41: 48,000

~68,000


So far so good. I’ve done 2 transmission fluid changes and getting ready to do my 3rd. It’s not the most “refined” transmission in the world, but it’s got great gear holding, very simple/reliable and with 6 gears, doesn’t “gear hunt” at all.


(I assume you mean “does” and not “doesn’t”).

If yes, then yes, the primary jobs are:
1. Hauling large square bales on a 38,500lb trailer weekly from August-February.
2. Hauling (2) zero turns on a 10K trailer about once a week Spring/Summer/Fall
3. Hauling 9 ton excavator on 38,500lb trailer randomly
4. Hauling my ass around to refuel tractors, carry tools/fuel/grease/etc.




1,000 +

Was this a survey for Truck Trend magazine?

Very impressive. No survey and I'm fully retired but tempted to buy a Ram 2500. I just like that truck and admire your work ethic and maintenance standards.

 

[Hay Dude]

Very impressive. No survey and I'm fully retired but tempted to buy a Ram 2500. I just like that truck and admire your work ethic and maintenance standards.

Based on 5.5 years of ownership, I wholeheartedly recommend the Ram Cummins turbo diesel trucks. However, just remember, this is my first Ram. I don’t have a long track record of ownership.
Ignore sales numbers and 0-60 speeds and related “paper trucker” specs. Thats for kids and who has the biggest d*ck contests. If you are a truck racer, HP junkie, etc., I recommend GM or Ford.
I also recommend GM for superior ride comfort and speed. I can’t recommend Ford based on the insane # of recalls and the way they handled their CP-4 pump recall.

I’d grab a 3500 with an Aisin transmission if it’s used truck. The newer (post ‘25) trucks will come with Super ZF-8 transmissions which are probably an upgrade and improvement in fuel economy, but the Aisin is still hard to beat. I’m on my 6th year of heavy hauling. I’m hoping to get another year, then switch to a tandem axle truck.

For grunt torque and towing and engine/transmission/drivetrain life, I recommend Ram/Cummins/Aisin or ZF-8.

Just remember, a 2500/3500 will not have the load or hauling capacity of a 5500, but you will have more HP/TQ and get better fuel economy and a probably a better ride.