NEW TRUCK....Recommendations?

[steeplechaser2]

My Ford F150 4X2 is getting on in years and miles....thinking about a new rig or newer rig....any make and model recommendations...4X4 problems to stay away from, etc??? I've been really happy with my Ford, but I have heard some bad stuff about some of the new 150 4X4 transmitions, etc....

[cliffy]

oh no, now you started it. People are about as passionate about their trucks as they are about their political views...this is going to start a healthy debate. So, here are my two cents.

I bought a new Ford f-150 S-crew about a year ago and have been, for the most part, pretty happy with it. However, I cant lie, I have had a couple of problems....all of which was covered under the warranty. Just small detailed stuff..such as my window motor thingy went out..and window was stuck half way up. I had a couple of problems with window trim coming loose..etc.

I also studied and test drove the Nissan Titan. I loved it! The only thing that bothered me was the engine noise...but that is no big deal. I passed on it due to the cost and at the time, there was a limited color selection left at the local dealer. It’s a good truck and well worth your time to check it out.

I am also very interested in the new Chevys. I see their info-commercial on late and night and it looks like an awesome truck. I might have to test drive one for giggles.

And finally, the Toyotas. My wife has a Tundra and I am truly amazed by that truck. It has been rock solid! I would probably drive it more..if she would allow me to do so. They are worth checking out.

Good Luck in your search...

[Jeremy airjer W]

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oh no, now you started it.

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Yup, you just opened a can of worms!!

My last two trucks have been Toyotas, Tacoma and Tundra. The new tundra is or will be shortly introduced to the market. There are a few things I am impressed with and a few I am not, however I am still a believer in leaving the first year models alone. Let somebody else figure out what may have been missed.

I have also been impressed with the new fords. I have seen a few higher mile ones come in for service and it looks as though a majority of the problems have or appear to be worked out.

I also like the Nissan titan but mostly for the looks. I was not impressed by the ergonomics of the interior!!

The later model chevs are still living up to there standard of the same old thing. I have replaced a bunch of catalytic converters and fuel pumps on these. Pressure regulators, water pumps, 4x4 switches, and abs sensor/wheel bearings have been picking up lately as well. Mechanically I feel they have improved greatly its just all the nickel and dime stuff that GM hasn't been able to resolve that makes a guy think twice.

Whatever you decide on, at some point you'll have to fix something! Some sooner and more often but all inevitably break down!!

[Valv]

Cliffy, thank you for "smoothing" things out a little mentioning several brand names.

Yes this will become a "hot thread" and will have a lot of replies, 1 thing to keep in mind people:

** Take it easy and don't get carried away .....

[anyfishwilldo]

Chev duramax crew cab long box.

[HaywardBound]

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I've got an '05 F150 4x4 Lariet SCREW. As of today I've got 65,000 miles on it and have been nothing short of impressed with it. Still have original tires, brakes, everything. I've towed a boat 3 times to Canada, and a loaded down snowmobile trailer 3 times (1,000 miles each way) to Montana through the mountains. It gets worked pretty hard. I run Mobil 1 synthetic since day 1, and had a tranny flush done at 55,000 miles (made a huge difference). Thats ALL! I will probably run this truck for another year or so until I hit 120,000 and then get the new F150 diesel thats rumored.

[FlyingV]

Steeplechaser,

What have you heard about the transmissions? I know dozens of people with the new F150 and have not heard anything bad from them. Now that they have the crew cab with a longer box, I myself was thinking about getting one.

[loosegoose]

I've got an 05 F150 Super Crew Lariat and I just love it. There has been a couple of safety recalls but nothing out of the norm. The interiors are much roomier than the same year chevy's and I haven't taken the time to compare to foreign stuff. I would rather stay away from those rice burners and support US companies. The Fords much higher clearace than the Chevys which can be either good or bad depending on your situation. You asked about the 4WD. The GM vechicles use vacuum to engage and disengage the 4WD and the Ford used mechanical. The Ford 4WD is pretty much engaged instantly and the GM has quite a delay before it's engaged. My two .$$

[Buck12]

I have just got a call from a Ford dealer in Pine River and he said they are currently warranting all drive trains for as long as you own the vehicle.

[loosegoose]

Buck, this must be for new Ford trucks only and part of their factory warranty. What year did this start?

[iffwalleyes]

I I haven't experience what loose goose is talking about with Chevy slow 4 wheel drive engagement but mine is pretty much instant maybe about a 1 second delay but that is about it. Yes their old ones pre 98 were slow you usually got stuck before the 4X4 kicked in but the new ones are much faster.

[Macgyver55]

He must have meant the Fords that didnt used to have the crumby vacuum hubs too.

[sparkyaber]

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Chev duramax crew cab long box.

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Count me in! That is exactly what I am looking for.

Anyone got a line on one real cheap .

Seriously, I am looking for an 4 door Long box pickup, and have researched some what. I decieded diesel, because it will run longer and get better fuel economy. That put me into the 3/4 ton to one ton range. I test drove and older ford with the 7.3 powerstroke, and man was it loud!. I have heard from even the most die-hard ford guys stay away from the 6.0 diesel offerd up in 2003 and anything since. (They are coming out with a 6.4 liter next year, that is susppose to be an amazing motor) The duramax was very quiet, and the chevy also road much better than the heavy duty fords. I don't know enough about the cummins diesel to comment on it. I guess that is enough from the diesel segment.

I have owned multiple vehicles from all of the big three auto makers, and at least one from each manufacture has left me stranded. The only other brand I have ownend is a Toyota, four of them. Never once has one left me stranded, and never once has one had even a minor problem while still under warranty. (My 2001 f-150 was in a few times a year (still under warrenty) before I got rid of it. Same problems as above, nothing big, but an inconvience none the less.

My current '98 chevy 1/2 ton has had a few problems, but again mostly minor, with some reoccuring (tailgate handle breaking). I really hate the idea of on-star, they know everything about your vehicle as it is happening. I have never owned a Dodge pickup, but a friend had one, nice looking nice interior, but even up to the day he got rid of it, it had a check enging light that even the dealer could not figure out .

I think all of the manufactures make good trucks these days, Just find the one that fits YOU best and then go find the best deal on it.

Good Luck

[hondavxr]

Like Airjer, I love the new 07 Tundra for it's engine at least. I test drove one and fell in love with the power 381 hp and over 400 lbs of toque, but I also usually stay away from first years. Most fully loaded trucks today almost reach 50,000. I think my next truck is also going to be a diesel. I will probably go with Chevy Duramax. Hey did you guys know that the DuraMax motor is not GM's motor, it's a Isuzu motor. GM finally started making good diesels when they gave up on it and just slapped in a Isuzu. Those Isuzu diesels are time tested diesels in all their dock trucks. Just go and test drive all the trucks for sale, and in the end you will pick one out of all the crowd. No matter which one you pick you will be happy.

[caseymcq]

Drive them all, do some research and buy the one you like best. IMO they are all good trucks.

I don't know what loosegoose is talking about. I have a '04 GMC and when I push the button it is in 4WD.

I had two Fords, '01 and '03, and I really don't have much good to say about them. Maybe I had the bad luck of getting two lemons in a row.

I bought my '04 GMC Sierra last year, first time I bought a used truck. I love it. Quiet, comfortable, plenty of power. I really think it is a great truck.

No matter what you end up buying I would recomend getting a truck with limited slip or locking rear differential (some manufactures have limited slip others have locking). I have noticed a big difference in the one truck I had without it and the two I have had with it. The two with it have both gone through more both in 2WD and 4WD than the one without.

Good luck shopping!

[eyepatrol]

I had an '03 1/2ton Silverado extended cab and now have an '05 1/2ton Silverado crew cab and like them both. The two differences I noticed between the extended cab and crew cab is that the crew cab seems to have a much larger turning radius. On both trucks, the steering column or steering shaft (not sure what it's called) came a little loose, but this was under warranty on both and was a quick easy fix for the dealer.

Other than that, I have had no problems with the 2 that I've owned. Being a shorter guy (5'9") and having 2 kids that I take to daycare almost every day, I like that the Chevy sits a little lower to the ground than the Ford. When test driving the two brands (Ford & Chevy), one thing I noticed was the Ford was a smoother ride and a quieter ride. However, I don't know if Chevy made improvements in that department in the '07s or not (although I'd think so).

I don't think you could go wrong with either or. Not sure about Dodge or any other brand as I haven't driven them.

Vehicle buying is hit or miss. Sometimes you get a good one, sometimes you don't.

One other thing.....we saved quite a few bucks by buying slightly used vehicles. In each case, the vehicles we got had 10k - 15k miles on them. A few miles, yes, but still lots of warranty (for as much as we drive) and the cost from new was MUCH less.

[Valv]

I just found the best truck ever, 1998 Dodge 2500 Quad Cab, 12valves, 4x4 Cummins TDiesel 5 speed manual long box.

I sold my newer Cummins for this one and the difference is amazing.

I get 22mpg driving 65mph, 19mpg at 75mph, and 17 city driving, this without being careful, I just step on it and that's it. It can tow a house behind without problem, I can leave behind a Camaro on a stoplight.

In the past I had ALL the diesel truck brands, but the 12valves Cummins is the best motor hands down regardless.

It's all up to you, Duramax has cooling+injector problems, Powerstoke injector problems, the only standing up is Cummins, which, by the way is a motor developed with a life expectancy of 350,000 miles, Duramax (Isuzu) has 200,000 miles and Powerjok...I meant Powerstroke (International) 200,000 miles also

Finally, I can guarantee you 1 thing, once you go diesel you don't go back.

[huntnfish]

I don't own a diesel but if I did it would be a Dodge. A friend of mine is on his third in about 10 years. He pulls a 25 foot gooseneck loaded with beer most of the time and regularly gets 300,000 with no problems. His last one was an automatic and he had to put a tranny in it at 200,000. Other than that he had no problems. No front end work like a GM and no injector problems. The only thing I have ever owned is GM and I have rebuilt the front ends numerous times on all of them. It isn't that big of a deal, but a headache none the less.

[Valv]

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He pulls a 25 foot gooseneck loaded with beer most of the time

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You've GOT to introduce us to this friend of yours...I really want to know this guy

[Ufatz]

Yeah. Valv is right. He pulls it where????

[FlyingV]

Steeplechaser2,

I own a 2003 F350 Crewcab with the 6.0 diesel built in April of 2003 which I bought new. No injector problems at all and going on 70,000 miles. Oops! I probably just jinxed myself!

The new ones have coil spring suspensions with a tighter turn radius making them more parking lot friendly.

What ticks me off is about 3 months after I bought it, diesel fuel went up more than gas and has never came back down! Sometimes I wonder if I made the right decision but when I talk to my friends with their gas trucks and compare mpg, especially when they are pulling loads, I'm glad I bought it. If you can swing it, go diesel! They are made to work.

[Blaze]

Hey Val - if you check the owner's manual for that 98 Dodge, you'll find a section teaching you sign language - it's the only way you can communicate with someone inside those noisy old beasts!

Just kidding - they are loud, but what an awesome truck those things were. Amazing how that inline 6 diesel meets or beats the v8 diesels from the other labels. My brother-in-law put over 300K on his 2000 Cummins - hand a handful of tranny and electrical problems, but every one of his vehicles have. I think it's more a function of the DRIVER and not the vehicle.

[Valv]

Sure, sure take shots on the 'ole Cummins, but it's still the best motor out there after almost 20 years, check this poor DMax here:

http://videos.streetfire.net/search/money+maker/0/wm/b108e8c2-25df-4054-8090-98af013f4333.htm

Beware it's a long video....

[hanson]

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The later model chevs are still living up to there standard of the same old thing. I have replaced a bunch of catalytic converters and fuel pumps on these. Pressure regulators, water pumps, 4x4 switches, and abs sensor/wheel bearings have been picking up lately as well.

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Airjer- You've just rattled off the list of repairs my 99 GMC Sierra has seen since I've bought it. But then again, I'm running over 165,000 miles on it right now too. When you look at the big picture, I have not had too much work done on a truck with 165K on it.

-Fuel Pump & Fuel Pressure Regulator were fixed at the same time.

-Front/Left wheel bearing last summer

-Water Pump just last week

Is the ABS sensor the front wheel speed senser? There is a current factory recall on the wheel speed senser.

Other than that, typical stuff like tires, brakes & rotors, shocks have needed attention.

I really like those new GMC/Chevs! I can't wait to pick one up used in a few years.

[Powerstroke]

The Duramax may be a quiet motor but thats all its got going for it. It also has the lowest mpg of the 3 diesels.

If I had to pick a diesel engine I would choose a cummins, but since you can't drive without a transmission I choose the Ford with the 7.3L. It is louder than the Chebbie, but is about the same as the Dodge and just as reliable. I've never heard of the 7.3 having injector problems and I've owned one. I plan on buying another 7.3 sometime in the next year. Definately avoid the 6.0L Ford. The trucks with major engine problems is somewhere in the 70% range. I don't blame Ford since their mechanicals are solid, but the engine (International) was the bad part.

As far as 1/2 tons, I really like the GMC's, but not the Chevy. You may think they are the same but they have lots of differences. I do like the Ford's, but they are a bit under powered because of the trucks weight. Strong drivetrain though.

The imports are very nice and I might consider the new Toyota in the future.