Gray Deere
New Member
First post - old farmer here looking for advice. I need a dump truck to use to haul dirt and gravel to develop a barn site. I have found 2 trucks in my price range, both 1983 with Big Cam Cummins, one with an Allison automatic and one with a ll8 transmission. The manual is a Ford L8000 and the auto is a GMC Brigadeir. Both and in the 350K mileage range and both with similar issues with needing tires and brake work and some electrical work. Both run good and start and stop. Other than differences in Ford vs GM and parts availability, which transmission (and clutch vs torque converter) is more costly to rebuild and if you were making the choice, which would you choose and why? I am in the rolling foothills of NE Georgia and will be on county gravel roads and state 2 lane highways when hauling loads. Off road will not be rough ground but level sites that can get a bit sticky if any rain. What advice would you offer me? Thank you for your time.