Truck Advice

[spongejosh]

Hold out for a few months and get a Ram 1500 with the diesel. I'd like a Tundra but a 1/2 ton with a factory diesel would trump my Toyota loyalty.

[sniper7]

Only buy Chevy. All there is to know.

My 1500 crew 5.3 pulls my camper up the mountains no problem. Ford will have turbo issues with the exoboost if you are pulling a lot and mpg goes to crap, worse than my v8. If you are going for looks and better mpg get the eco boost. I get 18-20 combined not pulling and 9-11 pulling my camper loaded which is about 6k.

Chevy motor is proven since 2000. Ford changes it up too often and runs into big problems like the 6.0 diesel. Junk...who the hell puts variable vanes on a vehicles turbo...

New for 2014 is direct injection. Same as the Vette. Option for a 6.5 foot bed on a crew half ton so you Dont lose bed space with a crew cab.

[Husker95]

Thanks again everyone. Lots of data to consider. I have really been pleased with my 2001 F-150 but drove a the Ram 1500 last weekend and damn that was a nice ride. Am anxious to drive the new F-150s, Tundra and Chevy over the next couple weekends. I figure if I only shop trucks about once ever 13 years or so I am going to take my time.

[00tec]

Let me start by saying I have 3 1/2 fords. (one is a totaled go-cart project- stupid no driving hippies)

I would go with the f150. Depending on how much you tow would determine the engine you want. If you use it mostly for the daily, get the ecoboost. If towing heavy stuff is more than say 1/3 of your driving, get the v8. My brothers ecoboost got got VERY good mileage without weight, but towing dad's bobcat on a heavy trailer, it dropped below your average v8 (current years).

Buddy has a '12 GMC, and while it is a decent truck, he wants a Ford.

[streetglideok]

All the trucks have their issues, their pros and cons. All of them break at some point or another. Some of it has to do with the engineering, some of it has to do with the care it gets from its owner. If you don't service the fluid in the transmission when required(see severe service guidelines for this), don't blame the car maker because it puked its guts out at 90k. Ecoboost, I've heard a few say good things, and I've read a lot of bad things. Personally, I think its too small an engine, being pushed a tad too hard. With direct injection, and turbos, oil selection is VERY critical. I suspect owners with problems may rely on quick lube places, or their own "know how" and are not using oil that meets Fords WSS-M2C946-A spec. With fancy technology comes higher costs in repairs. If or when you have turbo problems, or direct injection issues, be ready. It won't be cheap, and the DI is beyond the scope of a lot of shops that insist on hiring C rated techs for A level work.

[ColoWyo]

Thanks again everyone. Lots of data to consider. I have really been pleased with my 2001 F-150 but drove a the Ram 1500 last weekend and damn that was a nice ride. Am anxious to drive the new F-150s, Tundra and Chevy over the next couple weekends. I figure if I only shop trucks about once ever 13 years or so I am going to take my time.

I think its wise to test them all these days. When I was looking for a new truck, the Ram, Ford, and Tundra were all pretty close in scoring.

If you drive the Chevy/GM, make sure you drive the 6.2. I had the 5.3 and friggin hated it. It was gutless. I was coming from a diesel and just thought gassers were like that. I regretted buying that truck with the 5.3 the minute I drove it off the lot. I should have gone with the 6.2. Make sure you at least test out both engines if you try out the GMs.

[hobowh]

In a half ton if you want to be able to tow anything over 6500 pounds stay away from dodge(top end on the manufacturer rating due to the coil rear end) want a sturdy bed stay away for Chevy(it flexes when i tie things down in the bed) and want a motor that lasts stay away from echo boost. (The one at work has had 2 motors in 65k) have not tried the toys or ins sans, but know lots of folks that like them. Owned both the Chevy 2011 and the dodge 2011 and when I got a new one steared clear of the 1/2 ton all together but plan on towing bigger and better things...

[Teufelhund]

I think its wise to test them all these days. When I was looking for a new truck, the Ram, Ford, and Tundra were all pretty close in scoring.

If you drive the Chevy/GM, make sure you drive the 6.2. I had the 5.3 and friggin hated it. It was gutless. I was coming from a diesel and just thought gassers were like that. I regretted buying that truck with the 5.3 the minute I drove it off the lot. I should have gone with the 6.2. Make sure you at least test out both engines if you try out the GMs.

^This is good advice. I was initially disappointed with the 5.3. It did feel gutless compared to the 5.7 vortec I had back in '97 - that truck was a beast and a blast to drive. I finally sprung for a Diablo tuner for my new 5.3 and it feels like a different truck now, lots of power and even gained a little mpg. I guess they're just tuned too conservative from the factory. I also turned off the AFM (turns off 4 cylinders when cruising, supposedly to save mpg's). That particular feature has been found to burn oil and crap up the inside of the engine after about 90k. Plus it seems to hesitate when you step on it and it has to turn those other cylinders back on.


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[stevelkinevil]

Do yourself a HUGE favor and skip the Gobernment Motors products all together and get yourself a real truck FORD!