Opinions on trucks

[canoetrpr]

WH401 - that is a heck of an informative post. I've always found that with any type of vehicle, its darn near impossible to say X is better than Y.

You need to get informed about exactly what model years changes were brought in and what teething issues were fixed when. Best bet is often when you get the vehicle in the last model year or so of a particular variant.

The 06 to early 07 Cummins with the 5.9 and the Duramax with the 6 speed Alison sound like they will last a long time.

I have no real reason for a diesel but after my tractor, I have for no explainable reason developed a real like to diesel vehicles. Totally irrational I know. I'm going to start looking at what is available locally.

 

[WilliamBos]

Not directly tractor related but I trust you guys and value your opinion.

I've pondered getting a truck off and on. I don't specifically have a need for a truck on a day to day basis but the odd thing does come up when you have a hobby farm and it would be nice to have one when you need it.

Most of the time it will be driven unloaded by me about 50 km each way to work so about 60 miles or so per day. The drive is highway - more like country road 50mph.

Fuel economy is important. I don't need more than a 1/2 ton but have pondered a 3/4 ton as they are available in diesel. After my tractor I've decided that I really like diesel vehicles!

I'm considering new and used so give me your thoughts on both and any particular model years that are good or to avoid.

Reliability is a must. I've had excellent reliability from my Hondas and not owned a car from the big 3 for a while but I am open minded and willing to consider that they are more reliable these days. Plus there are not that many import trucks anyway.

Would appreciate your thoughts.

We have a 04 GMC 1500CC 5.3L 4spd (4L60) 3:73 and LOVE it. Love the drive by wire, you nail it, it goes. Awesome for trailering too. Bought it used, and would buy another in a heartbeat.

 

[LarryRB]

I have an 07 with the 6.7 and DPF system on a 3500 Dodge club cab, or cab and a half if that's what you want to call it,, I have lost at least 1 to 1.5 mpg over the 06, 5.9 this replaces,. No problems with truck, and I do tow heavy on ocassion. I've read here over and over again how the Dodge truck is junk. I just gave up responding after awhile,, it gets sickening to read constantly.. My point is, I've had dodge's since coming out of the service in 74. This one is number 14 in fact. This one has had two computer flashes, and last week a recall on the heat shield/insulating blanket that is on the firewall, Dodge added a few more screws and washers claiming the blanket might slip down. Not a big deal for a recall. I would do it over again and get another Dodge even though Dodge seems to be the bas----rd child on some nets. Right now with winter blend,, 14 to 15 mpg. 17.5 in the summer season. Depending where I am towing, anywhere from 11 to 15. I use soem pretty serious, steep hills, and other times can get on I 84 or the MAss pike, and thus the reason for such a disparity in towing mileage..

 

[NuBota]

Nubota, the lingering around 2800 you refer to is just the nature of the stock torque converter. Which transmission do you have in the truck? the 03's had both the older 47re and the newer 48re. I wouldn't worry to much about the condition of the transmission. As long as you use common sense with the truck and don't plan to hop the engine up with gobs of power, then the transmission should give you years of good service.

WH401 - I have the 47re - I am not overly worried. Just get a bad feeling about it, even though I can accept that it is normal. Your post makes me feel better though - thanks!

Styling what styling todays pickups don't have none?

I say styling, but I have no style - I like the boxy look - says "truck" to me. Dodge has pretty curves - all women like Dodge truck looks - just says "pretty" to me. As canoe said - all preference....

And the interior - don't get me started - when I got the F350, I actually passed over an F250 that was cheaper and more fitting to my needs - but cloth and carpet on the inside. I wanted vinyl and rubber - just hose the inside out when it gets dirty. My Dodge is like a luxury sedan - sadly I have come to really like it - BUT I still don't wash it.....

 

[wolc123]

I have a 2000 chevy, 3/4 ton, 6.0l gas, 3:73 gears, 4wd, long bed, A/C, std cab. Has not needed anything but a new battery, brakes one time and tires since new. Gets 17 mpg around town since I switched to synthetic motor oil (15 mpg prior), changeing every 6000 miles. Really does good towing and hauling heavy loads. I have had good luck with all (6) GM trucks I have owned over the years. This one is the best of them, and I expect another (10) years or so out of it. These days, I only use it for towing and hauling (around 3000 mi/yr). This truck also has a rubber mat floor and hand-crank windows, which I much prefer in a pickup to girly stuff like rugs and power windows.

 

[jimmyj]

Hey Canoetrpr!

I am in the same boat as you for driving to work as you know. I have 3 vehicles at present, smart car, dodge 1/2 ton and a honda CRV. I drive the honda to work as it was KILLING me on gas to drive the truck every day.

Personally, I would not want to live without the truck, it is incredibly handy and it opens up options you would not normally even consider if you did not have one (example, I just got about 600 free bags of wood shavings just cuz I had a means to haul them away).

As long as I can afford it, I'll always keep at least one car and a work truck. Now we have the 3 "newish but slightly used" vehicles as we got the smart car when the truck and honda were paid off. If you shop around, used trucks are dirt cheap right now and having a worker truck for use 1x a week or so would be my recommendation. I would not recommend a truck for a daily commute. I have had a Chev 1/2 ton, Mazda truck, Ford Ranger, Dodge Dakota and Dodge 1/2 ton. The Chev is the most comfy but I really like the Dodge (though my Dodge has had more mechanical problems than the Chev did). The Ranger, Mazda and Dakota were all too small to do "heavier work" at the farm and I had to get rid of them (due to towing, hauling building supplies, firewood, hay, shavings, dirt, other toys like atv's snowmobiles etc). (OK, I've got my helmet on, don't everybody hate me for saying that, but they're just not full sized). The 2002 Dakota was horrible on gas mileage for the record. Also, no short box, what's the point in having a work truck without an 8' box if you really want it for working?

I know you have been leaning away from 3 vehicles, but you're just like me. You need a decent economical commuter, a work tool and a family vehicle. (You could blend the commuter and family vehicle into one I guess but they your spouse would have to drive the truck daily). My truck is an '03 and it cost 28k, used with 7000km on it. If I sold it today with 200,000 km on it I would be LUCKY to get $4000 max. There are great deals out there on used. I say get a truck man, you will never regret it.

Oh, if you can get a cummins diesel as you mentioned, you will be really really happy for a long time. My dream truck would be the cummins 3/4 ton 4x4, extended cab plus long box.

Happy hunting! Let us know what you get.

 

[neucam]

I don't think you mentioned having to tow heavy things behind a pickup. Just haul things. Why not just get a utility trailer to tow behind your Honda within it's towing capability. I have a small trailer I tow behind my Mercury Sable rarely and it hauls almost as much as a compact pickup and does not cost me anything when parked.

 

[neucam]

The Honda Odesey is rated at 3500lb towing so it is a decent towing machine for 2 axle trailers.

 

[RalphVa]

My wife and I finally bought a pickup in 1983 (a 1982 Dodge Rampage), as we were forever trying to haul things on the luggage carrier of our sports cars, back seat of 4 door sedan, etc. As a gardener, I wanted something to occasionally haul dirt and also wanted something to haul wood scrounged from various sites for our wood burning stove. The Rampage was great. Got 28 mpg (with carbureted engine) and would haul about a yard of dirt and a fair bit of wood. It had a good ride and drove like a sports car unloaded. Alas, the truckee people didn't like its FWD, etc. and it didn't sell too well.

Bought a Ford Ranger when we came back from Singapore to haul dirt and stuff for my 2.2 acres in Baton Rouge. Bought it because it was the top rated one in 1994. Not a good one. Only got 25 mpg average and dropped to 23 mpg on the highway, as the 4 cylinder on it was plain underpowered or not geared right for highway travel. Wife wrecked it by also totalling a Ford Explorer. Yeah! Two strikes with the same accident. She came through with some bruised ribs because the Ranger's seat belt didn't check her.

Went looking around and found a 1996 (this was 1999) Toyota Tacoma extracab with 4 cyl, stick and 2wd. Bought it. It was a GREAT pickup. Would haul 1 1/2 yards of soil or mulch. Average mileage over 90k miles was 27.4 mpg. It got 30 mpg doing about 80-85 mph on the 900 miles up from Baton Rouge to Virginia.

Alas, at 153k miles with original cluch, pads and shoes I decided it was time to upgrade. Found a nice one owner Tacoma access cab, 4 cyl, stick, 2wd at a dealer in Winchester. Drove up, traded and drove the 2005 Tacoma back. It's an even better pickup except for their making it too big. It's 300# heavier and is taller and wider. So far, mileage is only about 23.5 mpg vs. 25 mpg the 1996 would get in the winter. This one has a pretty hefty hitch on it. Towed a really heavy trailer once with the 1996 with my Gravely and all its implements on it.

Ralph

 

[Builder]

Bought 08 Tundra 1/2 ton but i use more like 3/4.Excellent power 15 mpg.
average.Drove Chevy's for most of 35 yrs.If you look at domestics try Fords

Don't forget the GMs, either. They just won back to back truck of the year awards and get the best fuel economy of the V-8 1/2 tons. Remember, the OP is looking for fuel economy.

My '07 as been nothing short of extraordinary.