I'm pretty sure it had the 5 liter and not the 6.2 so 360.
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I bought a 2012 Chevy Silverado 1500 crew cab 4x4 last summer. z71 with the 5.3L vortec. I absolutely love it so far. Haven't pulled anything with it, but it's been in the mud and snow plenty, handles great, and no issues whatsoever. It's the 3rd Chevy I've owned - they all ran great, easily pulled anything I hooked up to them, and never had any problems beyond regular maintenance items.
I've owned 4 different Fords (3 pickups and 1 suv) in my life, and each of them had major and minor mechanical difficulties right up to the point I got rid of them. A lot of people love them, but I've had nothing but problems with Fords; I'll never own another one.
I'm a Ford girl myself, but don't have much experience in the years you are looking at. I've got a 06 F150, that I love and an 1969 F250 that I love even more. I say go Ford!
I'm a ford guy for sure and love my f350 but the new dodge 1500 with the 3 liter diesel looks pretty interesting. I've been trying to talk my wife in to getting one with the mega cab, I think it's listed getting around 28 mpg but I don't know about buying something the first year of production.
No sense getting into a pissing match about Ford vs Chevy vs Dodge but I do own a Chevy in the year range you're asking about.
I currently have a 2012 2500HD with the 6L gas engine. Mine is in low-end WT (work truck) trim. I've always owned Chevy or Ford...but never a Ford in the year range you're looking at. Based on my experience with this truck I don't see how anyone can claim there are better trucks out there. Maybe equal quality, but not better. My last 3/4 ton truck was an 02 Ford 7.3L turbo diesel. Great truck but certainly not better than the Chevy. It's also been my experience that Chevy trucks do better in snow...but tires can make or break your truck in the weather. I've never had a Ford truck that was worth a damn in the snow. I still own a 94 F350 7.3L dually that runs like a scalded ape while hauling a 4000 pound camper through the mountains.
Regardless of which way you go, you'll find upgrading to a 3/4 ton pickup makes a world of difference towing in the mountains (or anywhere else for that matter). I frequently haul very heavy loads of firewood in mine while pulling a heavy trailer loaded with firewood up here in Bailey.
I recently looked at some of the 2014 Chevy 3/4 Ton trucks while having the oil changed in mine. Lots of nice engine and other upgrades over the 2012. If you're looking for new I'd definitely give them a look.
ETA: I also push a 7.5' plow with my Chevy and it handles it really easily. Which brings up another point in favor of the 3/4 ton Chevy over Ford. From my experience the Chevy has a much tighter turning radius than the Ford, if that makes a difference.
But look at the 100's of thousands that didn't have problems. Its like anything else. My 330hp tritan is OK at +/-20 mpg highway but I have to save up to do the timing chains soon. I worked at GM dealers for 10 years doing transmissions then driveability and I will never own another GM product. Dodge, well I won't even go there.
NEVER ask advice on trucks. it's like asking advice on women.
Most guys have no fuk'n idea and the rest go with what the commercial says.
How can you go with anything else when only Ford is "Built Ford Tough"?
Quick get a current F150 EcoBoost before they release that god awful redesign.
I love my truck. I don't know why I waited 38 years to finally buy a pickup but I can't see not having one now.
Its great on the snow and does 75 on the highway quieter than my Audi. Highway mileage is great buts it's crap in town. 13/14 but my drive is only 6.5 miles so it never really warms up.
With the exception of push button start it has every car gadget I could want, including cooled seats.
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/m...psee25e961.jpg
By the the way, best accessory I bought was the Bedrug. Spray in liners are great if it's a work truck but this, combined with a folding cover makes the end like a giant trunk.
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps6c426129.jpg