Which Half ton Pick ups are yall driving?

Joined
Mar 16, 2021
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Western Iowa
2019 RAM Limited with Rambox and 4 corner air bags. Had a 2015 RAM Laramie with air bags and ecodiesel prior. No major issues with either and the ride quality and versatility provided by the air bags are key differentiators for me. I can raise and lower the truck from inside the cab depending on the situation, and the self-leveling feature when hooked up to a trailer is a nice feature.
 
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Mar 16, 2021
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2,896
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Western Iowa
Guess not many Ram eco diesel . I love my 22 Rebel eco- tows like a hog and sips fuel. Before the lift it was getting 26-27 mpg. Not a real peppy truck but loads of torque.
Had a '15 ED and got caught up in the FIAT class action suit. Long story short, took settlement money and bought non-EPA compliant engine and tranny tune from Green Diesel Engineering (unfortunately no longer available). It was a simple bolt on of new ECM to the firewall, and it dramatically improved performance by turning off the EGR in the software, improving shift points, and providing engine braking. RWHP increased to almost 300 and torque to 480 if I recall. The tune also dramatically increased longevity as the intake manifold was no longer being filled with soot and coke.

That truck pulled my 17' deep V lund like a dream, and on the interstate made 27-30mpg. On a couple trips to CO, it performed flawlessly in the mountains, including a climb up to Pikes Peak. That little turbo diesel handled everything I threw at it, and the driving experience was actually better than my '19 hemi. The only reason I traded it for the '19 was that a vast majority of the 4th gen EDs had tone ring failures in the tranny that were unpredictable and very often left guys stranded on the side of the road. Cost of repiars was upwards of $3-5k, and I just wasn't willing to risk it once the truck hit 120k miles.
 

deltadukman

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Sep 16, 2021
Messages
255
Ford is the #1 selling truck because they tear up and are easy to steal. Have to replace them with something. How ford is able to continue to make the most broken into and stolen vehicle is beyond me. Around here a simple screwdriver under the passenger door handle and you're in quicker than using the key.

I've owned them all and my current 2015 Toyota Tundra has more power and dependability than any of my 150's or Chevy 1500's. Gas mileage sucks, but I don't drive a 4wd truck for gas mileage.
 
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Joined
Mar 16, 2021
Messages
2,896
Location
Western Iowa
Ford is the #1 selling truck because they tear up and are easy to steal. Have to replace them with something. How ford is able to continue to make the most broken into and stolen vehicle is beyond me. Around here a simple screwdriver under the passenger door handle and you're in quicker than using the key.

I've owned them all and my current 2015 Toyota Tacoma has more power and dependability than any of my 150's or Chevy 1500's. Gas mileage sucks, but I don't drive a 4wd truck for gas mileage.
The HP and torque numbers of the V6 Tacoma vs. the full size trucks you mentioned don't bear out. However, what's on paper is different than what you experience on the road. My wife had 2- 4Runners, a 2010 Limited with the full time 4wd and a 2015 SR5. The former had the same 280ish HP V6 as the Tacoma, but with the differentials locked in drove circles around any domestic truck in snow and mud. We never got stuck in that truck, and believe me we tried. That tranny and 4WD system puts traction down to the ground where its needed, period.

The mpg is terrible for a vehicle that size compared to modern full size trucks, and although the difference between 16mpg in the Toyota and 18-20 in my RAM isn't much, my RAM is also far larger and more comfortable to drive and is loaded with features.

With my kids graduating high school soon, if Toyota ever gets smart and puts the turbo charged 6 cylinder from the new Tundra in the 4Runner, I may downsize from my RAM if they produce a more fuel efficient 4Runer.
 
Joined
Dec 27, 2015
Messages
857
When is somebody going to mention the absolute horrific styling Toyota has been using for the last...20 years?
It's like the design team gave a bunch of nine-year olds a case of Red Bull and a dozen Traxxas RC trucks and said 'Here....Tell us what you think adults will buy'.
Every time Lexus releases a new statusmobile, the automotive press tries to find polite ways of saying what a disaster it is.
The new Tundra and recent 'updates' to the 20 year old Tacoma design are just juvenile and embarassing.

Do you get a flat-brim and MONSTER ENERGY sticker when you buy one?
 

Wheels

WKR
Joined
Sep 22, 2016
Messages
1,050
Location
Missouri
2021 F-150. Got a new truck about every 18 months for the last 20 years when I was working(now retired), and found the F-150 to be the most dependable in my experiences. Would turn them in at 100K, and cannot remember having a truck in the shop for anything besides recalls or routine maintenance.
 

Braaap

WKR
Joined
Jul 10, 2018
Messages
406
Location
NV
2022 Tundra.

15k on the new motor and it's been flawless so far. I drive a 2017 F150 at work and it's fine, but the Tundra is better.
What do you like better about the Tundra? And what engine does the Ford have?
 

Hondo64d

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Dec 6, 2016
Messages
190
Location
The Big Country
Hi all,

Interested in what half ton pick ups yall are driving, what issues your having and what youd buy today if you were getting a new truck.

My 7.3 was stolen and now I have to figure out what to replace it with. I am reading issues about all the new trucks and dont know what to get.

Reliable, 4x4 and a 6.5’ bed are my only requirements as of now
Currently have a 2019 F150 FX4 with the 3.5 Ecoboost. 80,000 miles on it and no problems so far. Love the truck 99% of the time, which is when I’m not towing. Fuel milage is great as is performance. The other 1%, when I’m hauling a load of cows, I wish I had bought the F250. Not because of the engine, the 3.5 is a torque monster, but rather because of the way the truck handles the trailer.

John
 
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AlleghenyMountain

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jul 14, 2019
Messages
106
I learned to drive in a '67 F100,3 on the tree. I've owned a '65 F100 2WD, 86, 93 and 98 F150 4x4s, the last one an extended cab. All the 4x4s did very well in snow along as I had extra weight in the back. I liked the extended cab for carrying "gear" (others would say junk). But I missed the 8 foot bed. When I went to replace the '98, I found that regular cabs were rare as hens teeth, so I bought an '05 F250 4x4 in December 2013. Still got it. 120k on it. I drove it less than 800 miles last year, I drive a 2014 Corolla to and from work, etc. I obviously like Fords and they've been good trucks,but when this one rusts into oblivion I may have to consider a GMC or something to get a regular cab. I'd like to have one brand new truck before I die,but those of us who want just a basic truck with an 8 foot bed are really priced out. My 90 year old father has an 03 Tacoma 4x4, when he can't drive anymore I'm going to turn that one into my hunting and fishing truck.
 

Bailer

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Feb 21, 2017
Messages
188
I’m not generally a GM fan, but I’m liking the 2023 Silverado 1500 my company sent me. I’ll get back to you on reliability, but the 4 cylinder is nicer to drive than I expected. It feels a lot like my Dads ecodiesel, decent bottom end power in any gear. I’m at a little over 20mpg over the first 2000 miles. The LT interior is probably the level I’d spend my money on, no leather but heated seats and steering wheel. I like the big screen and CarPlay. The 4 wheel auto is a nice feature I’ve never had before for mixed conditions.

Negatives: It has a dumbed down 4 wheel drive system with no low range. We will see how the 4 cylinder holds up over the 150,000 miles I’m supposed to keep it. Auto start stop is annoying and there’s no way to permanently turn it off. It’s a GM, but this time it’s not my money when it ends up on a flatbed.
 
Joined
Dec 20, 2019
Messages
1,102
22k on a 22 dodge rebel. Coming from an 04 dodge Cummins. I was stunned at how zippy it is. Pulls a canam defender and all the gear just fine. Was told it would get 21 highway, haven’t seen that yet. Gets 16 around town.
What kind of speed are you making on the highway. I have had a Ram 1500 with the V6 and a 5.7. 70MPH of relative wind was the magic number. Anything above that and MPG drops off appreciably. I have driven 60 MPH highways with a little tailwind for long distances and seen 29 MPG with both.
 
Joined
Dec 20, 2019
Messages
1,102
If you don't need all the bells and whistles, Ram Classics stand out as very good values. Inventories are also comparatively high, so there are good deals to be had on them. I am on my second Ram. No issues whatsoever. Surprisingly good fuel economy. Plenty of power. They have a quiet, almost luxury car like ride, thanks to the coil over suspension. I'd encourage you to test drive one.
 

gbflyer

WKR
Joined
Feb 20, 2017
Messages
1,594
If you don't need all the bells and whistles, Ram Classics stand out as very good values. Inventories are also comparatively high, so there are good deals to be had on them. I am on my second Ram. No issues whatsoever. Surprisingly good fuel economy. Plenty of power. They have a quiet, almost luxury car like ride, thanks to the coil over suspension. I'd encourage you to test drive one.

We got a new one this summer. Agree with your comments. Ours has the little penstar V6, we ordered it with the correct gear ratio. I came from the days of the 70’s - 90’s doggy GM gas guzzling V8’s. This thing is a rocket in comparison.
 
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