Ram 1500 Tradesman 4x4 Crew Cab = $41,800 (out the door)
Ram 2500 Tradesman 4x4 Crew Cab (Gasser) = $49,931 (out the door)

Machine shop here in Marshall, TX. Daily trips to Lowes, etc and taking vendors and customers to eat (need four full doors). Our 2014 F-150 is pretty worn out (offered $12,500 on trade but will probably take that from an employee). We do have a 2005 Ram dually with 300,000 miles that hauls really heavy stuff but I wouldn't rely on it for any trip over 2 hours (that's even pushing it).

We do carry heavy metal parts from time to time which has me leaning for a bigger truck. is it worth $8000 to step up to heavy duty? I know the gas milage will suffer.

Is the 2005 the only truck that can haul the really heavy stuff? I guess the fear is that the 2005 breaks to the point it doesn't make sense to repair - you'll still have a need to haul really heavy stuff and I assume the 2500 you are eying could do that.

What the percentage of time doing work hauling/carrying vs customer/vendor hosting?

Agree with poster above, it sounds like you may need to bite the bullet and get something that could potentially be a replacement for the 2005

Replace the F150 with a 1500. Replace the 350 with a 3500 when its time.

I have not personally bought from these guys but my business partner has a few times. They came and dropped off his new truck and picked up the trade in Houston. 100% online.

https://www.markdodge.net/new-Lake+Charles-2024-RAM-2500-Tradesman-3C6UR5CJ2RG329694

Wow...that's a heck of deal...here's the truck I'm looking at here in Marshall for comparison sake....

https://www.pattersonchryslerdodgejeeptexas.com/fleet-new/Ram/2024-Ram-2500-marshall+tx-35732084ac1820fe2a1697e02a8c809e.htm

It has a lot of chrome and other things I don't need.

Sounds like you need two vehicles tbh.

1) Customer lunches, Lowes trips
2) Box truck for moving parts/WIP to processor/raw material

easttexasaggie04 said:

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Wow...that's a heck of deal...here's the truck I'm looking at here in Marshall for comparison sake....

https://www.pattersonchryslerdodgejeeptexas.com/fleet-new/Ram/2024-Ram-2500-marshall+tx-35732084ac1820fe2a1697e02a8c809e.htm

It has a lot of chrome and other things I don't need.

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Yeah they move serious units.

This could let you double dip given the concerns others raised.

https://www.markdodge.net/new-Lake+Charles-2024-RAM-3500-Tradesman-3C63RRGLXRG316139

TSW2012 said:

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I have not personally bought from these guys but my business partner has a few times. They came and dropped off his new truck and picked up the trade in Houston. 100% online.

https://www.markdodge.net/new-Lake+Charles-2024-RAM-2500-Tradesman-3C6UR5CJ2RG329694

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I looked at buying a Ram from them for my last truck but ultimately bought a Silverado instead. They not only have great prices but will order you whatever you want from the factory with a hefty dealer discount.

I ended up buying a 1500 from our local dealer. Thats my personal truck on the left, the 2005 dually in the middle, and the new truck on the right. We've had really good luck with our Rams. Now that we've traded in our 2014 F-150 and my 2019 F-250 we are finally #FordFree.

Why don't you just take clients in your truck….?

Haha I was waiting for that comment! We've just had really bad luck with Fords. Transmissions, cam phasers, death wobble, engine failure… all without much help from the dealer. It was time to move on!