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help deciding between trucks guys...

Posted: 03 Jun 2017 13:26
by alphalimafoxtrot
Hey all.

School is almost out for summer here in VA, and I'm knee-deep in the usual nonsense. Explains why I don't come around much lately!

Anyhow, my wife and I decided to do some juggling with our cars and want to get a crewcab 4x4 pickup in order to mount a pop-top camper. We are looking at the Hawk model from Four Wheel Campers: http://www.fourwh.com/product/hawk-shor ... ular-size/

I want a gasser v8, not a diesel for this truck.

Here's what I've looked at/test drove so far that I like:
2009-2011 Dodge Ram 2500, crewcab, 5.7 Hemi
2006-2012 Toyota Tundra crewcab, v8
2006-2012 Nissan Titan crewcab, v8

not interested in the Fords. might consider a Silverado or whatever 2500/3-quarter-ton 4x4 GM sells in the same date range.

Also - don't care if stick or automatic - we are fine with either.

Thanks in advance!
Adam

Re: help deciding between trucks guys...

Posted: 03 Jun 2017 15:57
by Ranch Dog
I have a 2004 Ram 2500 4x4 Quad-Cab Long Bed with the 5.7 Hemi that I truly enjoy. Just turned 65K! My intent is to own the oldest truck in my County and that truck be in better shape than most three-year-old trucks.

I've used the truck just to pick up feed & seed and haul implements plus use it for my hunting trips away from the ranch. I was given an 18' dovetail trailer that did not have a title and was well on the way to worn out. I rebuilt it completely and was able to qualify for a shop built title so it is painted up to match my truck.

I no longer even think about the 13 miles per gallon, it gets it empty or with 10,800 pounds on the trailer. Doesn't matter to it. At one time I had thought about a slide in camper but my wife is not the traveling kind of gal. Rather, she is more the Holiday Inn Express type.

Image
The trailer has removable side and front rails. The rail on the right side is split ahead of the wheels so it can be pulled and the ramps used to load small equipment ahead of the wheel wheels.

Re: help deciding between trucks guys...

Posted: 03 Jun 2017 15:59
by Ranch Dog
I never considered the Nissan or Tundra as in Texas at least; there are no rural dealers. I view them as city trucks. Out here in the sticks or on the road, service would be a hassle.

Re: help deciding between trucks guys...

Posted: 03 Jun 2017 18:54
by GasGuzzler
I'm not as remote as RD but a foreign make truck here is never seen less than 20 years old.

I'm a World Class certified GM ASE Master Technician so I'm biased.

Re: help deciding between trucks guys...

Posted: 03 Jun 2017 22:19
by Archer
I'm looking but so far haven't been bit to buy.
Ford is currently in the lead but that's drive feel.
They sure have gotten proud of their product however.

I could go with a small size but whatever I get is probably going to spend more time on the highway than not so 4 wheel drive is less important and maybe even counter indicated.

I'm not certain Toyota can figure out how to keep a vehicle from rusting.
I've got a couple buds who are Dodge fanatics, one just had to give his up since the repairs to the front end that wore out were worth half as much as the truck. Couple others just bought brand new ones.

I hear Chevy is about to release a new 'style' update. I've tried the 1500 and the Colorado. Less impressed with the Colorado than I wanted to be. The V8 would be the way to go with the 1500. Not impressed with the V6.

Got another buddy who's all over the new Titan.

Re: help deciding between trucks guys...

Posted: 04 Jun 2017 06:44
by alphalimafoxtrot
I appreciate your input, guys! Thank you.

Hey Michael - funny, I just test drove a 2008 Ram 2500 identical to yours in every way (besides the year) except it was the Cummins motor. I had been dead set on a diesel Cummins, or maybe a Powerstroke Ford, but the wife - God bless her - just couldn't take the exhaust smell if we were to use this camping, on the long distance treks we take on every summer and most winters.

Please make no disparaging comments on my wife's diesel sensibilities - we both drive diesel VW's! She's in a Touareg, and I'm in a Golf that are both on their way to another life with Volkswagen.
Yep, we got caught up in Dieselgate - and it's a good outcome, for us at least.

She's taken the BMW i3 EV out for tests, loves it, appeals to her as a plug-in electric only car. (PS - these little things are freakin' FAST!)

I'm getting the 4-door 4x4 truck that's been out of my life since year 2000, when I sold off my landscape business and switched careers.

We love hiking, especially with our dogs for 5-10 mile loops in just about any state or national park. Started out 3-man tent camping for a few years, until we admitted our desire for cabins or trailers. Now, we're planning on a nice new camper for a pickup. Excited about it - plus, glad to be a "truck guy" once more!

The 5.7 Hemi V8 is the main reason I'm persuaded to stick with the Dodge.

The points about Toyota rust are important, that's one reason I asked for some input - I knew frame rust was responsible for some recalls with those trucks.

I am not a Ford gas V8 fan, actually take that back I don't like any Ford body past the 1989-90 end of the squared-off body (can't recall which year) - the '88 one ton stakebodies I had were the nicest looking Fords I owned/operated in my business.

Never had a Dodge newer than 1977, so I'm again biased there, had a nice '76 W200 Power Wagon 360 I used as my personal "boss man's truck" when I ran the landscaping company.

Used Chevy diesel trucks, 6.2, and even ran an IHC 300 flatbed 4x2 with 392. Another light truck I used then was a '73 IHC 1100 4x2, with 345 and AT with posi rear. All drum power brakes - could stop in a 1/4 mile!! :roll:
You guys are the best. Thanks for getting my new/old truck juices flowing!

Adam

Re: help deciding between trucks guys...

Posted: 04 Jun 2017 11:02
by GasGuzzler
GM has big half ton gas power. My parents pull a 12600 pound 5th wheel with his 2014 Sierra 1500 because of the 2500 size axle and transmission behind the 6.2L 420HP 440 TQ gas engine. The 2014+ having three bed length choices plus the 6.2 and 6-speed (now 8-speed) is the only reason I got my dad's 2007 Sierra. A 5th wheel hitch won't fit in my 5'8" bed (his 2014 has the "regular" length 6'6" bed <uncommon>) without a slider. His 2014 can get 22+ MPG on the highway unloaded.

I know a 2014 is probably not in the range you're looking.

Re: help deciding between trucks guys...

Posted: 04 Jun 2017 18:44
by alphalimafoxtrot
GasGuzzler wrote:GM has big half ton gas power. My parents pull a 12600 pound 5th wheel with his 2014 Sierra 1500 because of the 2500 size axle and transmission behind the 6.2L 420HP 440 TQ gas engine. The 2014+ having three bed length choices plus the 6.2 and 6-speed (now 8-speed) is the only reason I got my dad's 2007 Sierra. A 5th wheel hitch won't fit in my 5'8" bed (his 2014 has the "regular" length 6'6" bed <uncommon>) without a slider. His 2014 can get 22+ MPG on the highway unloaded.

I know a 2014 is probably not in the range you're looking.
Thanks for the Chevy input, Gas - my dad just gave my son his 2005 Tahoe as a high school graduation gift, so he'd have a reliable rig going to college (U Tenn at Martin) and it is a nice truck!

Gas, by all means enlighten me on the GM motors and years that might be comparable to a used 2008-2010 Ram 250 4-door longbed 4x4 Hemi. They are in the 18k-20k range around here.

Thanks!
Adam

Re: help deciding between trucks guys...

Posted: 05 Jun 2017 06:12
by GasGuzzler
In a 2500 you get either the torque version of the (old) 6.0 gas that dates back to 1999 or the diesel.

In a 1500 of that range there are many more options but the best is the (old) 6.2 400 HP engine that was installed in Sierra Denalis, Silverado High Countries, and anything with the Vortec Max package.....although they're not common.

You may not need a 2500. Half the people that use their trucks to pull travel trailers have way more truck than they need. When my 2007 Sierra 1500 was my dad's he pulled a 8000 (loaded weight) bumper pull all over with it. It has the 5.3 325HP engine, 3.73 gears, locking diff, oil and transmission coolers.

HTH

Re: help deciding between trucks guys...

Posted: 05 Jun 2017 14:25
by GSB4243
I have a Toyota Tundra (with the crew cab), although of much newer vintage (2017). Crew cab forces the short bed, the double cab will allow either a 6.5 or 8 ft bed. Towing capacity with the 5.7 liter engine is essentially 10K pounds (SR5 package). Only issue I see is that the short bed really cramps the floor space with a truck camper. Outside of that, there is plenty of truck for what you need. I think picking a truck becomes a matter of personal preference. Ford guys hate Chevys, they both hate Dodge and any of those three say they wouldn't drive a Toyota or Nissan if someone gave them one. All I know is that when I went looking, I started with trying to find a used Tundra in the 2013-15 range. They were very few and far between. There were plenty of used "big three" to choose from. My take was the Tundra's go out, but don't come back, and I don't think it necessarily because they rust out. I don't have a bad thing to say about mine. It does like gas at a real world 16/19, but I don't have it to be fuel efficient, but rather to pull trailers. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one.