The 4 Three-Quarter-Ton Trucks Compared

The heavy-duty truck segment doesn’t always get as much love as some of the more popular portions of the market, like the highly competitive light-duty truck segment. But that doesn’t mean that three-quarter-ton pickups shouldn’t get a lot of love, because they certainly deserve it, especially some of the older models that many truck shoppers might be looking to purchase for one reason or another in Tennessee’s Tullahoma area. In fact, there are some great deals you can find in our very own inventory right now.

But which truck do you go with? And why? What are the benefits of opting for one truck over another? Well, some might find it necessary to dig into the nitty gritty of each truck and examine all of their features, but there are some top-level benefits available for each of the four three-quarter-ton heavy-duty trucks on the market. The next time you think about shopping for a heavy-duty pickup from a Tullahoma used truck dealer, pay our Shelbyville location a visit and keep in mind these top benefits you can get from a used three-quarter-ton truck.

#1 – Chevy Silverado 2500 HD: Cargo Capacity

Sometimes, a big truck isn’t just about how much it can trailer or the weight of its payload. Sometimes, it’s about the physical dimensions of its cargo bed, which can easily go overlooked by someone simply gauging a three-quarter-ton pickup based on how many pounds you can pile into the bed. But never forget that a good truck for work or recreation isn’t always about weight limits, but sometimes it’s about storage dimensions.

In the case of the Silverado 2500 HD, you can find plenty of used models––especially those from the third and fourth generations––that provide you with some great cargo volume for your truck. That means being able to store plenty of items in the back of your used truck, not just heavy items. For the Silverado 2500 HD, many used models offer best-in-class cargo volume with their Durabeds. The 6.9-foot standard bed provides up to 69.5 cu.ft. of space. The 8.2-foot long bed has even more room with its 83.5 cu.ft. of space.

For those of you curious how this would benefit you as a used truck shopper, if you’re doing a lot of hauling throughout the Tullahoma area, such as for landscaping or construction work, you might need a truck more for its space than for its weight ratings. Sometimes, you want a pickup that’s great for hauling cargo thanks to its capacity, and that’s precisely where a used Silverado 2500 HD excels over some of its competitors. It’s a great truck if you are looking for an affordable used pickup specifically because you regularly haul large equipment, gear, or tools.

#2 – Ford F-250: Towing and Payload

If you’re looking for some of the best towing and payload specs in the segment, one of the best options for a used three-quarter-ton pickup is definitely Ford’s F-250 Super Duty. This truck has long been a go-to option for many people looking for something cost-effective and utilitarian. But how much towing and payload does the F-250 provide you with? Well, if you’re looking at anything from the fourth-generation Super Duty series, you are in for a real treat.

When it comes to the trailering capacity of the fourth-generation F-250, you can expect a maximum trailering capacity with a fifth wheel or gooseneck hitch of 22,800 lbs. You will need to ensure that you have the 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbo-diesel equipped to make the most use of the F-250’s trailering capabilities. But given that used models are abundant, you should have no trouble finding a truck with the features and trim that best suit your towing needs. While the other used three-quarter-ton trucks still offer some excellent trailering capabilities, the F-250’s best-in-class towing capacity gives it a nice leg up on the competition, especially for those who really value that aspect of a heavy-duty pickup.

But the F-250 isn’t just good at trailering; it’s also well-designed to handle a lot of payloads. You can haul up to 4,260 lbs with a used fourth-generation F-250. That’s just over two tons worth of cargo. You can find used models in either the standard or long-bed format. The standard bed measures 6.8 feet in length and offers 65.4 cu.ft. of cargo volume. Alternatively, if you really want to make use of the longer bed option, it measures 8.2 feet and provides 78.5 cu.ft. of cargo volume, which is perfect for drivers who need a truck for a lot of lengthy cargo like logs, planks, or other heavy equipment. The best part about it is that because you can find these older F-250 models used, you can get them for a much lower price than if you opted to buy a new fifth-generation Super Duty.

#3 – Ram 2500: Air Ride Suspension

It’s easy to overlook some features of a pickup because they might not sound all that enticing on paper. Still, they can take on a much more important role in your trucking life around Tullahoma when you discover how useful they are. The Ram 2500’s air ride suspension is one such feature. It may not sound like a big deal on paper, but this is one of those segment-defining features thanks to its ability to completely change how the vehicle handles on the road. The best part about it is that Ram’s air ride suspension has been offered on the Ram 2500 since the 2014 model year, making it a feature that’s been available throughout the fourth and fifth generations. It’s not hard to find a used Ram 2500 with this particular feature.

You might be wondering what the air ride suspension is and why drivers shopping for a used three-quarter-ton truck care about it. The air ride suspension replaces the typical steel springs on the rear axle with adjustable air springs. It’s not only used to help give you a more stable and comfortable ride on the road, but it can also auto-level the truck based on what’s loaded in the truck’s bed or the tongue weight of your trailer. The towing and payload ratings are also quite impressive for the fifth-generation Ram 2500, allowing it to trailer up to 20,000 lbs and haul up to 4,010 lbs. The air ride suspension can help prevent the truck from encountering situations where it squats under load, or the trailer tongue is misaligned with the hitch.

If you’re using the Ram 2500 for work, vacation, or recreation, the air ride suspension gives you some extra utility out of the truck, especially if you’re venturing through some of Tullahoma’s off-road trails and need to adjust the ride height to accommodate for uneven terrain, or need to keep the truck centered and leveled on the road when hauling heavy loads. An added benefit of buying a used Ram 2500 with the air ride suspension is that you can find a model that already comes equipped with everything you need at a price that works for you. If the truck is already prepared to handle what you want out of a three-quarter-ton pickup, then it eliminates the need to tweak or upgrade the vehicle to get what you want out of it.

#4 – GMC Sierra 2500 HD: Luxury

Every used three-quarter-ton pickup is great at performing some specific task, whether it’s trailering, hauling, plowing, traveling off-road, or even mudding. But the GMC Sierra 2500 HD stands out for providing you with unparalleled luxury accommodations you just won’t find on other trucks. GMC has been offering the Denali trim on the Sierra for more than 20 years, and with each successive generation, the truck has become more and more luxurious. The most recent generation of the Sierra 2500 HD has continued the trend of offering the Denali to truck shoppers, and the main benefit here is that as time passes, used versions of the Sierra 2500 HD Denali become cheaper and cheaper with each successive year.

This highlights a huge win for Tullahoma used truck shoppers looking for a three-quarter-ton heavy-duty pickup that not only has solid trailering and payload ratings but can also transport them in style. The Denali, in particular, comes with leather upholstery, comfortable seats, high-quality interior accents, and the latest infotainment and technology. It makes for an extremely relaxing and comforting ride that you won’t find on just any three-quarter-ton pickup.

Being able to get your hands on a used Denali is like getting access to a luxury vehicle’s interior but with all of the capabilities and functionality of a typical heavy-duty pickup. If you need the truck for towing, hauling, plowing, or other activities, but you also need a vehicle to run daily errands throughout Tullahoma, then the Sierra 2500 HD Denali can fulfill all those roles. Buying used also means you don’t have to worry about paying the high entry price that comes with a brand-new Denali. It’s basically a win-win situation for used truck shoppers.