All this Truck Talk got me on a Kick.....

[tipsntails7]

Personally the MPG issue on trucks is somewhat of an Oxymoron for me.... I don't really notice/pay attention. I have a vehicle for fuel economy for my wife, but when I need a truck MPG is something I don't consider. If you need something to drive you across country that new dodge eco diesel is something. A friend is getting low 40's and so far he's been issue free (I don't think that's a cummins, maybe a foreign diesel?)... However it sits about as high as a imported street racer and I know for a fact that bumper/molding won't withstand BLM/NFS roads . If fuel economy is a concern than a Subaru outback is a good vehicle.

I completely get what your saying but people have to be honest with themselves. I doubt I will ever tow over 6000 pounds in my life. So for me would I rather be able to tow 10k and get bad MPG or would I want a truck that can tow 6k 1% of the time and for the other 99% get good MPG. It's based on your need, if you don't need 10k with of towing capacity, no reason to pay for all that power at the pump.


You are absolutely right about the ride height though. Dodge and chevy are the WORST offenders in that regard. Even on chevy's z71 packages. I don't get it.


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[backcountry_hunter]

I completely get what your saying but people have to be honest with themselves. I doubt I will ever tow over 6000 pounds in my life. So for me would I rather be able to tow 10k and get bad MPG or would I want a truck that can tow 6k 1% of the time and for the other 99% get good MPG. It's based on your need, if you don't need 10k with of towing capacity, no reason to pay for all that power at the pump.


You are absolutely right about the ride height though. Dodge and chevy are the WORST offenders in that regard. Even on chevy's z71 packages. I don't get it.

Yea you're right there.... I guess completely hypothetically speaking if I was trying to save on gas and didn't need a 1/2'er I'd buy a tacoma and never look back unless those little diesels in the new colorado's are good but anytime a new motor is introduced I've learned the hard way, and through probably thousand's of dollars, to let it establish itself before jumping into one.

The ford ecoboosts have a ton of molding and crap helping them get the really good fuel economy creating a low ride too.... One of the pros to both the titans (not sure about the new one's but up until 2015) and the tundras.

 

[PA 5-0]

Tundra !!

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

You are absolutely right about the ride height though. Dodge and chevy are the WORST offenders in that regard. Even on chevy's z71 packages. I don't get it.

I don't know about the newest dodges off hand but the gasser ones prior weren't low ride height, even with the IFS in the 1500 I had prior to my 2500 I didn't find much issue with, the rest of the truck clears fine. The middle of the body rail on the chevy's always seemed like a big hangup/high center potential to me.

 

[mathews8pt]

Yea you're right there.... I guess completely hypothetically speaking if I was trying to save on gas and didn't need a 1/2'er I'd buy a tacoma and never look back unless those little diesels in the new colorado's are good but anytime a new motor is introduced I've learned the hard way, and through probably thousand's of dollars, to let it establish itself before jumping into one.

The ford ecoboosts have a ton of molding and crap helping them get the really good fuel economy creating a low ride too.... One of the pros to both the titans (not sure about the new one's but up until 2015) and the tundras.

You would think the Tacoma would get better mileage but i only get 17-18 with a majority of my driving city/country roads. Not much difference then my wifes Crew cab ram that has a ton more room and hauling ability. If you put a decent amount of miles on your vehicles i dont know why you wouldnt at least put MPG on the list when comparing them.

The eco diesels are an option, but more $$ up front.

 

[cuerro viejo]

Eco diesel is a sink weight in a 1/2 ton body. If it's a hyw queen no worries.

 

[backcountry_hunter]

You would think the Tacoma would get better mileage but i only get 17-18 with a majority of my driving city/country roads. Not much difference then my wifes Crew cab ram that has a ton more room and hauling ability. If you put a decent amount of miles on your vehicles i dont know why you wouldnt at least put MPG on the list when comparing them.

All Iwas saying was that 19 mpg or 16 mpg is really no big deal for me.... most days I'll take the reliability, added room, extra HP over fuel economy. It's a matter of personal preference but anything 1/2 ton or less and I'm bound to go imported. Up until 2009, every year I had at least 2- 1/2 tons of every flavor for my business and had enough issues with all of them I converted everything over to a 3/4 and up..... with the exception now of my titan and that acquisition was simply a deal from an acquaintance I couldn't pass up. My honest opinion is domestic 1/2 tons arent designed to work anymore, at least not like they were used to. Most large truck manufacturers at some point started marketing their 1/2's to urbanites and weekend workers so their truck could pull double duty (getting great mileage on the commute to work and still hit the gravel on weekends) and left the real work to the 3/4's and up. I'm not trying to be condescending or arrogant.... just my observations having bought and sold lots of vehicles for work. Both toyos and nissans seem to be the last of a dying breed for 1/2ton workhorses. I would reccomend either long before a domestic 1/2.

 

[tipsntails7]

Eco diesel is a sink weight in a 1/2 ton body. If it's a hyw queen no worries.

Can you elaborate, as that's what I'm looking at as my next rig.


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[backcountry_hunter]

Can you elaborate, as that's what I'm looking at as my next rig.

I'm almost positive that was the point of these, to get great gas mileage going down the freeway and that's it.... I know on a BLM road with 6" ruts that molding underneath comes off in about 30 seconds. If they stay on paved road I bet they're great but wouldn't be what I'd consider a working or hunting rig. If you drive alot I think this will suit you well (pending the motor doesn't have alot of issues). A buddy of mine has one and has to go to winnepeg from iowa about once a month. He's avg low 40'smpg

 

[SHTF]

Update: spent all day at the dealer today I test drove a Toyota Tundra 08. Way to rough of a ride for me. I didn't like it. Got back in Big Red. Man she was screaming my name for me to drop the 27k on her. After that I switched over to a 2011 Ram 1500 Sport Crew Cab. Completely fell in love with it. Its a super nice ride. Handles the bumps of a dirt road perfect suspension was amazing on it. The Sport model comes with the Leather interior and the Ram UConnect System for hands free. I love the console in the middle. I didn't think Id like it but its comfortable for long drives which is another one of the priorities for us. it also came with Brand new Toyo Tires on Chrome Rims. Im not big into the chrome but it actually looks great. The Ram has 78k miles on it we did the inspection all the way around and it checked out to be perfect. Thanks to you guys I skipped out on the lifted Ram. Im very happy with this and the Hemi Purrs like a kitten.

 

[SHTF]

Now I need a Leer topper and some of the fender well flares to finish it off. The flares on the Red Ram really look nice. I dig the protecting the wheel well edge aspect of them too. Will update once I sink some upgrades into it. I may replace the chrome rims too haven't decided.

 

[tipsntails7]

Update: spent all day at the dealer today I test drove a Toyota Tundra 08. Way to rough of a ride for me. I didn't like it. Got back in Big Red. Man she was screaming my name for me to drop the 27k on her. After that I switched over to a 2011 Ram 1500 Sport Crew Cab. Completely fell in love with it. Its a super nice ride. Handles the bumps of a dirt road perfect suspension was amazing on it. The Sport model comes with the Leather interior and the Ram UConnect System for hands free. I love the console in the middle. I didn't think Id like it but its comfortable for long drives which is another one of the priorities for us. it also came with Brand new Toyo Tires on Chrome Rims. Im not big into the chrome but it actually looks great. The Ram has 78k miles on it we did the inspection all the way around and it checked out to be perfect. Thanks to you guys I skipped out on the lifted Ram. Im very happy with this and the Hemi Purrs like a kitten.

Nice rig congrats on the find, figure out an after market solution for that front bumper air damn. All 3 of our work trucks are destroyed...


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[SHTF]

From running them into curbs when parking? Im curious. Did you guys replace yours? If so what did you use?

 

[colersu22]

Don't know if it is your style but I have been looking at a Move bumper WIY kit.
MOVE Bumpers: DIY Kits and Custom Bumpers for Trucks

 

[backcountry_hunter]

Nice congrats.... Yea that bumper wouldn't last long with me driving it. Toyo make a great tire, That's like 1500$ right there

 

[SHTF]

Don't know if it is your style but I have been looking at a Move bumper WIY kit.
MOVE Bumpers: DIY Kits and Custom Bumpers for Trucks

Thats cool but I have 0 Welding fabrication experience. So Id have to get a Bumper that is already built. i like the look and the move word on a bumper is pretty nice. I've been looking at the Road Armor Bumpers. They are expensive. But I plan to have a Winch added. So makes sense.

 

[tipsntails7]

From running them into curbs when parking? Im curious. Did you guys replace yours? If so what did you use?

No from back roads, we use them for hazardous waste response, most of them are in the middle of some weed grow way out in the sticks. I'm not exactly sure what we replaced them with but they look exactly like this, without the lights. Being a government entity I'm sure we paid way to much...

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[smcguirt]

I'm late to the party but currently have a 2015 3500 Ram 2wd crew cab dually with the cummins and aisin tranny. It's a beast for sure! I have a 5th wheel and it gets the job done with ease. I had a 2012 same color same everything except for the aisin and had the truck in for a recall and left with a 2015! I have had Chevy crew cab 2500 6.0 gas 4x4, a ford f250 4x4 with the older 7.3 powerstroke and the rams have been the best IMHO, hopefully many good miles for you! Congrats on the new truck! Can't go wrong with black either!

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[SHTF]

Thanks Smc, We went for a ride yesterday and hit some dirt she handles like a dream over the rough roads. I was amazed at how well the ride was. Nothing like my 4runner. This was smooth.