Getting a new truck, help me decide

[boom]

having said that..the new big ford is a damn Cadillac.

 

[Trial153]

Toyota needs to put diesel engines in their takoma and tundra and then we could end all truck debates.

 

[boom]

Toyota needs to put diesel engines in their takoma and tundra and then we could end all truck debates.

it's why i still go to church. something to pray for (after losing my..nevermind).

 

[Doc Holliday]

One other thing to consider. Think about where u were 6-8 years ago. What were your goals, priorities.... what were the most exciting things on your radar at that time. What did you daydream about, what kind of toys did u have or want to get?

Now think about today....when did those things change.

Point being, I don't think getting a tool that will do more than you need in this moment is in any way "not practical". The reality is vehicles are relatively long term possessions that span multiple seasons of our lives. Would stink to limit yourself to what kind of things you can do or have due to your vehicle. And down the road if and when u do "need" one enough to satisfy other folks criteria, they may cost $100k by then.....wouldn't surprise me one bit!

 

[dotman]

For what you do I would seriously look at the Nissan Titan XD, but out of your two choices I would go with the GM and 6.0. Mine was bullet proof but it drank gas like it was a college kid at a frat party.

 

[boom]

For what you do I would seriously look at the Nissan Titan XD, but out of your two choices I would go with the GM and 6.0. Mine was bullet proof but it drank gas like it was a college kid at a frat party.

pure subjective aesthetics..but i cant look directly at the TitanXD. it is the ugliest of the big rigs..again..just one person's opinion ONLY. subjective.

 

[rbljack]

I'm no help in your decision. I don't pull regularly. For me its going to be a Dodge or chevy. I don't tow often, but want the ability to have it when I need it. What keeps leaning me towards the dodge is the Mega Cabs, and the diesel. That being said, my current truck is an 04 avalanche half ton. Its been a very comfortable ride, but the 5.3 was just never quite enough when towing, and fuel mileage isn't that great. My avalanche doesn't have the body armor. Reason I mention that is they DID have a 3/4 ton version of the avy, but it has an 8.1 liter engine. Great gasser towing motor vs the diesel, but definilty a BIG drinker! .They never put that motor into a 3/4 ton avy without body armor.....GRRRRR!!!

So when the time comes for a new truck, I keep leaning towards the plushest dodge interior; mega cab 3/4 with a diesel AND the longhorn package. Heated and cooled seats, front AND rear! Lots of interior storage room too.

That being said, my buddy has an older Duramax that just broke over 500k! And he tows a large horse trailer often, sometimes in the mountains on dirt roads, and less desireable conditions (elk country). So chevy is still on my list. What I don't like about the chevy, and this is a small complaint, is the way they fold the rear seats now. instead of laying flat and folding down, they now fold up towards the rear of the cab. Not my preference.

 

[MallardSX2]

I like my 2500 ram diesel. But its heavy and it doesnt go well in the mud. And the DEF system has failed me once already (Truck in the shop for a week with DEF sensor error)

Gets 20MPG though...

 

[dotman]

pure subjective aesthetics..but i cant look directly at the TitanXD. it is the ugliest of the big rigs..again..just one person's opinion ONLY. subjective.

Yeah I feel the same about Ford f150’s and the Ram 1500’s.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

The best vehicles I have owned have been Ram 1500s. Sold my '99 last year and got a diesel 4X4. Handles offroad beautifully, gets 18-22mpg and has towed a 12' trailer like it wasn't there. No aluminum beds for me. I have tried Ford and Chevy...Fords were constantly in the shop and the Chevys were gutless. Bought my last Ram used with 34K miles on it and $3400. under KBB online. It is a Ltd with every option Ram offered. Say what you will, i won't buy anything but a Ram, longest lasting trucks on the road.

 

[colersu22]

I really like your truck Bruce but hopefully with kids in the near future I want to get a mega cab for my next truck. I don't know if that is an option for the 1500 with the diesel like yours but that would be my ideal truck since I don't need to tow anything heavy that requires a 1 ton.

 

[Retterath]

I for sure wont be getting a diesel. I like diesels for the power but just don't need it and don't want to pay the extra cost and maint. The reason I was looking at the 3/4 ton also is because it sits higher and has more clearance. my half ton has a 4" lift in it and always have ball joint, tie rod end problems. I don't need fancy at all lower miles and something that will last.

 

[dotman]

I for sure wont be getting a diesel. I like diesels for the power but just don't need it and don't want to pay the extra cost and maint. The reason I was looking at the 3/4 ton also is because it sits higher and has more clearance. my half ton has a 4" lift in it and always have ball joint, tie rod end problems. I don't need fancy at all lower miles and something that will last.

Take a look at the Nissan Titan XD Pro4x, you will not find a better optioned truck for the price and Nissan uses quality components. Mine is the diesel but it’s just as big as the 3/4 tons in feel and height as the big 3 but with a smoother ride. What I hated about both my GMC and Ram 3/4 tons I had previously was how stiff they ride, they do not give you a great smooth ride.

Pulling my 24ft 5k trailer with the Titan across windy KS was enjoyable, no white knuckle driving. It is considered a 5/8’s ton. So far it’s my favorite truck I’ve owned.

Not sure if you have driven across windy KS but 15mph head and side winds are the norm, I just Set the cruise at 70mph and went, no issue maintain speed or downshifting. The 5.6 gas Nissan has has a very long history of being bullet proof, just ask Randy Newberg, it’s all he’ll drive.

 

[PNWGATOR]

We had a '14 Ram 3500 with the Aisin transmission. Bought it new in Kellogg. Quad cab, short box 4x4, loaded. Couldn't buy a nicer Ram, period.

It was the biggest POS vehicle we've ever owned. In the eighteen months we owned it, it spent more than 75 days in the shop with transmission problems i.e. overheating pulling a three horse aluminum trailer with a single horse in it. Everything in the dash was electronic and computer controlled and we had trouble with literally every single system in the dash: nav, hands free comms, entertainment system, etc. Climate controlled seats failed (I know...oh, the horror!). Issues were never resolved and Chrysler knows how to play the lemon law game. The service we received from the dealer in Kellogg was worse than the truck itself. THE worst customer service I have ever experienced, EVER!

Buyer beware.

That said, I bought another Dodge. A 5.9l, 6spd manual, long box, dually, extra cab, 4x4 for pulling stock and it's a beast. Built like a truck.

 

[uzikaduzi]

i think the problem with the Titan XD's is they are basically a 1/2 ton kind of being marketed as something bigger... it would be at the upper end of the 1/2 ton category with 2420 pds of payload and 12640 of towing (f150 being 3300 and 12200, chevy 1500 being 2018 and 12500, and ram 1500 being a distant 1880 and 10620 (maybe because of the rear coil springs?)) but 3/4 tons are f250 being 3817 and 18500, chevy 2500 being 3559 and 18100, and ram 2500 being a distant 3990 and 18980

maybe OP doesn't necessarily "need" the extra capacity of a 3/4 ton with what they tow, but with the current full sized pickup truck manufacturers only the domestic ones have choose to make trucks with that much towing/payload capacity.

 

[backcountry_hunter]

I could careless about brand loyalty. I believe anyone that pays $40K+ for a truck and then is loyal to that company like they did the consumer a favor has their head a good bit up their rear. IMO for what car companies are asking for trucks these days it's in the consumer's best interest to buy the absolute best, regardless of brand. That said, of the two you outlined I'd go with the 6.0 GM, I've had 3/4's and 1ton gassers in all of the big three. I still own a fleet of 6.0's and 1-6.2 gasser now from ford and no longer a dodge gasser. I had some issues, albeit not real big ones with dodges although they weren't with the hemi motor itself they were still annoying and cost me enough money (mostly by having the truck down and not working) that I went a different direction. The 6.0's are pretty bullet proof, and the fact that they've been around a while with pretty much no changes should be a pro, not a con. I have had very, very few issues with my 6.0 gassers and for that matter the 6.2 ford has been an excellent truck also.

You're wise to steer clear of the diesel. I've got plenty of those also and could complain about them all. I'd also 2nd dotmans response on the titan. I have one for a shop, errand truck (not the new diesel though) and it works along side my 3/4's. It's been used and abused and keeps going. If I ever buy a new 1/2 ton it will be a nissan with a toyota as a close 2nd. But if you need or want a 3/4 and don't need or want the inevitable headaches of a diesel.... the gm 6.0's have been the best for me. Mine pull 75% of their life and spend alot of time in adverse conditions and in 4wd. They get used hard but keep on chugging.

If I had 1 complaint it owuld be that GM's cab components seem to loosen up quicker and cause rattling/squeeking. Some of that might be the fact that a large percentage of mine are fleet trucks with rubber floors and very limited options, maybe this isn't an issue with the better packages? Also I've had 3 different gm's since 2014 get stuck in four wheel drive in winter and wouldn't come out. Warranty and what have you fixed it but it still happened.

 

[dotman]

i think the problem with the Titan XD's is they are basically a 1/2 ton kind of being marketed as something bigger... it would be at the upper end of the 1/2 ton category with 2420 pds of payload and 12640 of towing (f150 being 3300 and 12200, chevy 1500 being 2018 and 12500, and ram 1500 being a distant 1880 and 10620 (maybe because of the rear coil springs?)) but 3/4 tons are f250 being 3817 and 18500, chevy 2500 being 3559 and 18100, and ram 2500 being a distant 3990 and 18980

maybe OP doesn't necessarily "need" the extra capacity of a 3/4 ton with what they tow, but with the current full sized pickup truck manufacturers only the domestic ones have choose to make trucks with that much towing/payload capacity.

The diff is unlike half tons that are way overrated for their capabilities Nissan underrated the Titan XD. Guys are easily pull 15k and going way over the stated rating. But I’ll take an underrated pickup over an overrated one like an F150 HD that will be dragging its bumper on the ground while the Titan XD only squats a few inches.

Everything they put into the Titan XD is beefy, has the same size brakes as a one ton, same trans as the 3/4 Ram diesel etc etc. unlike the big 3 they are keeping their payload and tow capacity low as most will exceed it, I wouldn’t be worried to exceed the Titan XD ratings plus it weight 8700lbs compared to 1/2 tons weighing 6k lbs which means it’s a much more stable platform that will not be moved around nearly as easily as a 1/2 ton.

But yes if you go off paper it doesn’t look that impressive.

 

[HuntHarder]

I have a ram 2500 with a 6.4l hemi. Anyone who talks bad about Dodge Gassers, probably has never owned one. The 6.4l has plenty of power and is a nice compromise between getting a 2500 but without having the extra 10k cost of the Diesel. Go test drive some and see what YOU like. Truth is, all of the newer pickups are pretty nice and it really comes down to preference.

 

[elkguide]

From a fleet perspective, the 6.0 motor is as bullet proof as you can get but with a mpg average of 12.5 and a just no frills (no fun) motor it's perfect for your use but from a one vehicle perspective, I want the DuraMax. If GM will ever get over the 6.0 in 2500's and use the 6.2 then a gas job would be an option to me. The biggest thing for me in the discussion of 1500 vs: 2500 is when it comes to stopping a trailer. The 1500's of today do pull like crazy but their braking leaves something to be desired if you have a good load behind and you need to stop now.

 

[SWOHTR]

GM gas has never let me down, or my family.

I would steer clear of any dodge/Chrysler vehicle. “It feels like a truck” well then buy a semi if you want a big truck so bad.


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