Ford Vs Dodge Half Tons

Guess it's a crapshoot today whether you get a winner or loser on a new vehicle purchase. I buy a new truck every 2-3 years. Consider myself fortunate that I have not had any real issues with any of them. Had 2 chevys. a GMC and a Ram in the last 10 years. All have been problem free. A buddy of mine traded 2020 chevy on a ford F150 because he had transmission problems. He has only had the ford a couple months and he's thinking about trading it on a Ram. He don't like the way the ford rides or drives, personal preference I guess. I am driving a 2024 chevy 1500 silverado now but have been checking out the new Rams with the Hurricane 3.0. Of all the trucks in the past I think the 2018 Ram Laramie 1500 rode and drove the best. Wife says I change trucks about as much as underwear. Everyone has different tastes and preferences. Drive several and buy what turns you on.
 
My 2023 Silverado 3.0 has been to most comfortable riding truck I have owned and I have owned them all. 36k trouble free miles so far. Also tows my 7k Travel Trailer far better than any other half ton truck I have towed with.

My hope is that before trump leaves office, the EPA changes regulations on deletes and there is a LZ0 delete out by then.
 
I’ve personally never owned a ford truck but I’ve owned several Chevy, GMC’s & Ram’s. Can’t compare apples to apples but my dads 23 LTZ Z71 & my brother n laws 22 AT4 both had a much smoother ride than my 21 rebel. If you were to go GM stay away from the 6.2s. I tried telling my one brother n law but he said the salesman said they’re all good now. He’s got a gmc Denali ultimate that he bought 3.5 weeks ago & it’s been in the shop the last 2 weeks. I traded a 2011 GMC SLT for my first rebel & it had a much smoother ride even being 8 yrs older. However the rebel with the 5.7 & 3.92 rear gear combo was way more fun.
 
The truck market is flooded with crap, and I'm not aware of any of them bigger than a Tacoma that are worth a s**t (even the Tacoma ain't what it used to be since about 2015)...

I'ma cling to my old 5.9 Cummins mega cab till they pry it from my cold dead hands - it's got it's problems (front end rebuild every 75k miles, uggg), but they are problems I can live with.
 
I'm a mechanic and when people ask what new truck to buy i can't give them a good answer. They all have major issues. One person may not ever have problems and someone else with the same truck will go bankrupt with repairs. Be careful with Ford. Some of their engines are using a belt submerged in oil to run the oil pump and over time starts to come apart and clog up the pickup screen.
 
Do the 3/4 tons have just as many problems?
Some do. We don't do alot of work on the heavier trucks, if it was up to me I would not work on diesels at all. You have to realize that a diesel truck is very expensive to repair and maintain properly. It's sad to think about the quality of vehicles today and the prices they go for. Even trying to keep an older vehicle going is tough because we constantly run into parts that are discontinued.
 
I manage a farm fleet that’s a mix of chevys and fords, we are just shy of 200 pickups. I drive a 5.0 f150, I’d rather get gut shot then own a newer half ton Chevy, I absolutely hate them. Fuel pumps and transmissions are frequently replaced.
 
Stick with Ford man. Better yet find a 10 yo one with low mileage and buy that. The newer they are the more stupid tech/modules/AI they will have to fail on you and disable the truck. Buy old and keep em running.
I have a '21 F250 Tremor, i like it, it does what I need to but the warranty work and recalls have been ridiculous, I do have extended warranty and it paid for itself when the tranny shit the bed at 60k.
My next truck will have wing glass and ashtrays factory or I don't want it...just spend the money on dent side resto mod, built what you want..Probaly end up saving money versa a new truck. I am thinking on 1 tons with lockers, at least 35s with 2 tone paint.
 
I wouldn't buy any half ton new right now. For a side gig I pick up and deliver vehicles for a dealership. Have driven lots of different models and ride in friends pick ups when hunting etc. I personally own chevys. From driving all the major half tons I don't feel anything compares in ride to a chevy/gmc. Fords I've been in and driven aren't even close. Even my ford friends agree. But the new 5.3 chevy which is usually bulletproof is garbage now. Major issues with lifters and tranny. 6.2 is a bomb waiting to happen in most. All recalled. I'm told to stay away from anything 'turbo." The ford turbos and dodge turbos are repair bills waiting to happen. Dodge is going to be putting hemis back in their lineup soon. That will be good except their fit and finish is like a little boy's hot wheels car. I was told if you had to buy a half ton right now your best chance is with the 3.0 duramax chevy or the 5.0 ford.
 
I don't understand how people think that turbos are some nightmare waiting to happen yet every diesel since the mid 90s has come equipped with turbochargers and have absolutely proven reliable. I would much rather have two turbos and a V6 over a V8 that shuts down cylinders using the lifters.
 
If someone gave me a new GM product free and clear...I'd sell it to the first sucker that came along willing to buy it...thats what I think of GM anymore after 20+ years working on them all. Wouldn't buy one with someone else's money.

The real questions are :
Are you buying brand new or used ?
How long do you plan on keeping it?
No Hemi/v8 option on 2025 Ram...3.0TT or 3.6L etorque...supposed to bring hemi back next year cause they realized taking it away was a Cracker Barrel level marketing screw up...or so I hear...Ive not read too far in to it.
If your buying new and unloading when warranty is up...drive them all and pick your poison.
Used?....Good luck....once again avoud GM and buy a really good extended warranty and have it thoroughly checked over by good independent if possible prior to purchase.
Buying used...factor in that GM and Ram parts support are the worst of the bunch and havent been getting better last few years.
 
On my second Ram. Both have been reliable with routine maintenance. I wouldn't hesitate to get another, but granted I am not buying brand new trucks.
 
Fords, GMs and Rams breaking down is planned. They call it planned obsolescence.

Before 2003 I only bought Ford trucks. For cars I had some of all of those. I bought my first Toyota Truck because the short bed F-150 cost more than with the mid-size bed due to demand. I will never go back.

Since then, I've had 2 Tacoma's, I still have one 2005 Honda and One 2015 Mazda car. I only replaced the 2005 Tacoma when it was totaled. (I got over 50% of the original price from the insurance after 12 years and 150,000 miles)

I remember all the maintenance of all those American cars. I have only had scheduled maintenance on these Japanese cars and trucks.

P.S. My Toyotas and the Honda are just as American as your Ford, GM and Ram. More so than some of those trucks assembled in Canada.
 
Do the 3/4 tons have just as many problems?
If it were me I'd roll the dice on a new gm 3/4 ton with the 6.6 gasser. They have a long reputable history with their last gas engine and (i think in 25') started coming standard with allison's in their gassers, not just in their diesels like before. The 6.0 was a slug but you can't argue with it's reliability. If the 6.6 is half as good it still beats out any 1/2 ton motor or diesel pickup from the big three.
 
yet every diesel since the mid 90s has come equipped with turbochargers and have absolutely proven reliable
There's a myriad of Pwr Stroke 6.0, 6.4 and early-mid2000's dmax owners that would argue they are "absolutely proven reliable"

me being one

I'd have to look back at records but I'm pretty sure I replaced a turbo in an 11' cummins even
 
I had a few different chevy 1500s 2017-2021. With that being said my 23 f150 is by far my favorite. The chevys were great until 100k then transmissions/engines would go out
 
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