Adam the OP here again - dogs getting woke up, so better hurry!
(I swear all they need is to hear my coffee maker and "big boy" Wolfgang is up - "little girl" Honeybee likes to sleep in with her mom, LOL!)
So I forgot to mention, I tested out a coworker's Ford King Ranch F-150 with the crew cab, 4x4, and Ecoboost V6 setup. He joked that I shouldn't take it over 100 mph in the school parking lot, and he wasn't kidding - on the open road (not the school parking lot!!) that V6 twin turbo kicks some serious acceleration!
Other thing, I believe the Ford KR is about the nicest interior of the big 3. I'm still not interested in the twin turbo V6 because I want to KISS my truck, not fix it when too many things fail, but Ford offers traditional V8's so they're still in the game.
I've test driven several GMC/Chevy 1500 crew cabs from 2009-2016 and they all are just fine for me. All I have to endure is the GM name-bashing from my KR-owning coworker at school, if I buy what he calls a "brand X" truck instead of a Ford!
My Dodge tests have not yet included a gas/Hemi V8 only since I had initially been shopping for a Cummins, before my wife and I both agreed on a gasser for whatever truck we get. I'm fine with that, so no "diesel-bashing" my sweetie pie OK!! The Dodge trucks I've been sitting in aren't quite as nice of interior as the GM's or the Fords, IMHO.
Again, it's all going to come down to best value overall - especially since they all have great V8's and options. 'Merica! Nuff said.
PS...when am I gonna remember to write about my recent Rossi 92 shoot fest? Isn't that why I'm logged in?
All right - enough silliness - today I'm taking my dog to work, he's gonna help me close out my classroom for next year! My wife's taking our "girl dog" to her school today, as well - hey they're our "fur kids" since both of my kids are in college!
Take care, have fun, don't forget to laugh when you make mistakes and fall down. Especially when you are in the middle of teaching a room full of immature 4th graders.
Adam