New 1/2 ton truck

[Whitefox82]

In the market for a new truck or a pre-owned under 20k miles. I’ve been driving a 2012 Tundra since 2014 and it’s been very reliable. I will keep it and continue to beat on it as a work vehicle.
With all the new engines being used today, are there any stand outs? I feel like they just keep coming out with new stuff and none of it has any real track record. I’d stick to a new Tundra but I heard they had a lot of recalls a few years ago. That after running one of the most reliable V8s ever for so many years!
Any recommendations on Make/model/engine???

 

[Tmac]

I’d look for a low mileage 2019-2021 Tundra, add a tranny cooler and call it good. Anything under 60-75k miles with good maintenance records and I’d be happy.

 

[PuceLemming62]

Id definately stay away from the new Tundras with their issues. Ram 1500 (try for the V8 hemi for reliability) does well if you want a comfortable ride on the roads that can also do offroad. Chevy 1500 will drive like a more classic truck with the bumps and movement and will do well offroad. Ford is a good in between those two. GMC is fancy and expensive. Drive a few around and see what you like, but now most are pretty reliable (not tundra)

 

[Seth]

100k trouble free miles on my ‘23 Tundra and running strong. I had a ‘20 RAM 1500 before this that was in the shop 5 times for warranty by 100k. Will it have the same reliability as the previous Tundra? I don’t know and time will tell. I know there were some issues with these early Tundras, but I haven’t seen this personally. Dad had a ‘22 that he put 75k on without issue. Two other guys at work have ‘23 and ‘24 with zero issues. Small sample size, but that’s my experience.

 

[SDHNTR]

In the last two years I’ve been through a new Tundra, giant pile of crap, and my dad has a new Ram and I now own an F150 Tremor. The F150 is the best of the bunch with the Ram not far behind. Good buddy has a new Chevy Trail Boss and has had infotainment problems since day one.

Roll the dice on anything from the big 3. Stay far far away from the Tundra.

 

[rob86jeep]

I’d look for a low mileage 2019-2021 Tundra, add a tranny cooler and call it good. Anything under 60-75k miles with good maintenance records and I’d be happy.

Have you looked at 2019-2021 used Tundra pricing? Most of them under 75k miles you'll be paying MSPR from the trucks new date. I'm not saying it's worth it or not, but have a really hard time paying original MSRP for a 5+ year old truck with over 50k miles...

 

[Tmac]

Have you looked at 2019-2021 used Tundra pricing? Most of them under 75k miles you'll be paying MSPR from the trucks new date. I'm not saying it's worth it or not, but have a really hard time paying original MSRP for a 5+ year old truck with over 50k miles...

I get that, but you can run them to 300k easily. New Tundras and the big 3 1/2 tons are crap shoots. Maybe look at F 250’s?

 

[270quest]

My 2025 F150 Tremor with 3.5 eco post has been absolutely awesome….only 5k miles on it but so far so good. My understanding is the cam lifter issues on the 3.5 have essentially been resolved on the later 23+ 3.5s…Tons of power!!!

 

[Timplant]

I was in your spot two years ago and I got a insane deal on a 23 Tundra, well, just rolled 33k miles and I got the warranty replacement motor last week! It's done 6-7k road trips four times and the rest have been just around town. I LOVE IT.

I need to re trust it with the new engine (were driving 9hrs one way to pa in two weeks so thats a good test)

but it's been really good! Rides really nice, enough features but not too much, comfy, quiet, air bags for hauling my bigger boat. Everything I want!!!!!

 

[swavescatter]

We have a 2018 F150 with the 2.7L Ecoboost (wife's daily). 32 gallon fuel tank and 24+ mpg give it huge range. Great power and fast. Only issue over 85k miles was a leak in the condenser at 75k miles and we lost AC for a few days.

If I didn't need to tow so heavy my choice would be a Tremor for a do-it-all daily/hunting rig.

 

[BigMiss]

115k miles on my 22 Ram 1500 Bighorn with the 5.7 Hemi. I had a lot of issues with the Uconnect infotainment system when I got it, but that was eventually sorted out with their over-the-air updates (they're done automatically when the truck can connect to wifi.) Everything else has been flawless. Brakes will be due in the spring, along with getting my third set of tires. The only other maintenance outside of oil changes and tire rotations has been getting the differential fluid changed.

My dad has a 2016 Ram 1500 with 5.7 and 150k miles, and my BIL has a 2021 1500 with 5.7 and 75k miles. Neither of them has had any issues, and they've done nothing but oil changes and tire rotations.

Based on my history with this set of trucks, I'll look at Ram first when it's time for a new one.

My local dealerships have Bighorns listed for 47-50k right now - heavily discounted, and good financing deals too. If I were in the market for one, I'd jump on one of those deals as I paid 62k for mine

 

[jjordan355]

Id definately stay away from the new Tundras with their issues. Ram 1500 (try for the V8 hemi for reliability) does well if you want a comfortable ride on the roads that can also do offroad. Chevy 1500 will drive like a more classic truck with the bumps and movement and will do well offroad. Ford is a good in between those two. GMC is fancy and expensive. Drive a few around and see what you like, but now most are pretty reliable (not tundra)

I can confidently tell you, you are speaking with no knowledge of the current state of any manufacturer right now. Go look at the failure rate of GMs new v8 engines and they are not recalling them. They are only changing the oil to a different viscosity and they’re still blowing up. Chevrolets trans issues are also a huge problem with some parts being back ordered for 8 months. When it comes to the 10 speed trans from GM, Ford is using that same transmission with the same issues and no repairs that fix them correctly so far.

The new tundras do have engine issues, but they are also recalled regardless of if they fail or not. The amount of engines that have/will fail on all the new tundras sold is less than 2%. Toyota will also always take care of the customer. Doesn’t matter if it has recalls or not. When have you ever paid for a recall if you’re within the time and year interval? Never. And you never will with Toyota. Some recalls also never expire. Recalls also fix problems, not create problems, that’s how they should be looked at too. A repair that you don’t pay for.

 

[Whitefox82]

Hopefully the Toyota engine problems have been resolved but time will tell - not sure I want to gamble. I will look into the F150 Tremor. Anybody liking the 3.0 Duramax? I am leaning that way for the mpg. However, this truck will be driven less than the other work truck (at least for another couple years) and may sit in the garage more often than not. To avoid diesel deposits I’ve heard you need to get these things out on the freeway and run them. There may be a better option. Ford seems to have the most engine options although I’ve never really been a Ford guy!

 

[jjordan355]

Hopefully the Toyota engine problems have been resolved but time will tell - not sure I want to gamble. I will look into the F150 Tremor. Anybody liking the 3.0 Duramax? I am leaning that way for the mpg. However, this truck will be driven less than the other work truck (at least for another couple years) and may sit in the garage more often than not. To avoid diesel deposits I’ve heard you need to get these things out on the freeway and run them. There may be a better option. Ford seems to have the most engine options although I’ve never really been a Ford guy!

The baby duramax has more engine problems than the GM v8s right now.

 

[VomSteinbruch]

Nissan Titan XD.
It is a HD 1/2 ton truck. Some even say it is a 5/8 ton.
It has better payload than anything in the 1/2 segment and is simple and reliable., Plus 5 years or 100k factory warranty.
They are totally underrated.

See my old posts below:

Post in thread 'Another vehicle suggestion thread'

Yesterday at 10:39 AM

Not sure what is your budget, but I would look into Nissan Titan XDs.
The payload (usually 1950-2400lb) is way better that anything you can find the 1/2 tons. It is roomy, comfortable and yet quite simple. The bed is 6.5 feet long and usually has outlets in it.
The 5.6 V8 engine and transmission are old school and proven. The higher trims come with a factory locker.

The only thing you must do is to avoid is the diesel engine. Other than that, it is underrated yet very reliable and practical truck.

There are quite a few of them in central VA.

Titan XD in VA


You can find a lot...

• VomSteinbruch

• 

Post in thread 'Another vehicle suggestion thread'

Yesterday at 1:04 PM

They are required by the federal law to keep making the parts, or at least outsource it to licensed manufactures, for 10 years. The last XD was made in 2024 so you would still be able to buy genuine parts as late as 2034.

The problem was that it was not marketed well and the unfortunate diesel engine did give it bad reps.
In reality it is an overengineered (in a good way) 1/2-ton truck with a frame, steering and semi-floating axels from the 3/4 segment. It is basically a 5/8 truck.
If increased payload, without sacrificing the comfort, is your concern, you won't find anything like that...

• VomSteinbruch

• 

Also, see the video below:

---
2027 I will be on the market looking for a new vehicle. For my lifestyle AWD vans such as Sprinter or Transit are better, but If I were to buy a truck it would be a pre-owned Nissan Titan XD Pro-X.

 

[Daniel webb]

20/21 tundra with a low mileage won't be bad