Thoughts on truck selection...

[Diamondpilot]

Buy whatever and from whomever gives you that warm/fuzzy feeling, BUT, Do Not Buy a 5.4 Ford with any intention of towing anything significant with it. I owned, for a short period of time, an '05 SuperCrew Lariat, 5.4 3 valve, 3.73 gear, towing package(HA). That had to have been the lamest tow vehicle I've ever owned.Do yourself a favor and cross that off your list of "maybes"!!!

It has nothing to do with the 5.4L engine, its the package its in. Why would anyone get a Superduty with that engine? I made the same mistake of buying a Dodge 2500 with a Hemi. What a joke. That thing could not pull its way out of traffic with anything behind it. The only engines that should be available in that class of truck are diesels or large displacement gas engines like the Ford V-10 and the now gone legendary 8.1L GM or even the V-10 Dodge.


Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

A little perspective here:

GM has more dealers than Ford & Chyrsler combined. They have too many dealers. There's too much competition & overlap between them. With this huge downturn in business, it's no surprise to see some of them close.

If you live in an area with only 1 dealer, and they look shaky, then I could see not buying that brand. I live in an area with 10 GM dealers within 10 miles, so I have no concerns.

I bought my GMC from a dealer 100 miles north of me, but I get it serviced at the local Chevy dealer. They're happy for the business. I buy where I get the best price and get service right up the road.

I bought 2 Ford trucks at the same time from a Ford dealer in Shillington, PA (about 45 miles west of me) and they went under 2 years later. I didn't care because my local Ford dealer serviced them everytime they broke.

I agree 100% on the number of dealer issue. Every truck can break, even my beloved F-350 did once. What I was getting at is I would not buy from a dealer who is not going to be around in a year. Yes, you can get service anywhere but in my neck of the woods you will not get a loaner. Loaners are only given out to customers who buy from that dealer.

Chris

 

[Patches]

It has nothing to do with the 5.4L engine, its the package its in. Why would anyone get a Superduty with that engine? I made the same mistake of buying a Dodge 2500 with a Hemi. What a joke. That thing could not pull its way out of traffic with anything behind it. The only engines that should be available in that class of truck are diesels or large displacement gas engines like the Ford V-10 and the now gone legendary 8.1L GM or even the V-10 Dodge.


Chris

It has everything to do with the 5.4;I owned a half ton SuperCrew, not a SuperDuty. Prior to that I owned an '02 Chevy Avalanche with the 5.3, 4.10 gear, towing package and it did an admirable job of towing my trailer, and for all practical purposes was about the same size as the Ford. Don't ask why I didn't get a 4.10 gear in the Ford; it wasn't available in a half ton

 

[Diamondpilot]

It has everything to do with the 5.4;I owned a half ton SuperCrew, not a SuperDuty. Prior to that I owned an '02 Chevy Avalanche with the 5.3, 4.10 gear, towing package and it did an admirable job of towing my trailer, and for all practical purposes was about the same size as the Ford. Don't ask why I didn't get a 4.10 gear in the Ford; it wasn't available in a half ton

I am sorry, I read more into than was there. I miss took Super Crew for Super Duty. I have owned 2 F-150's with 4:10 gears. They have been available from 1997 through 2008 and probably longer but I am sure of the 97-08. I do not believe they are available anymore since the new tranny came out but I have owned 5 with 3:73 gears and all have done a good job of towing in the 7,000# area. I only had a struggle one time with a 9,500# load on a hot 110 deg day in August in the Smokey Mountains. Really too much weight for that truck. Got home on Sunday and bought a new 2004 PowerStroke on Monday. The last F-150 I had, a 2007 4x4 SuperCrew, with a 5.4 and 3:73 gears averaged 16.4 mixed and did around 10.5 towing every weekend a 7,000# load from April to October. Just sold that truck earlier this month.

Sorry for getting off topic.

Chris

 

[soarkrebel1]

Buy whatever and from whomever gives you that warm/fuzzy feeling, BUT, Do Not Buy a 5.4 Ford with any intention of towing anything significant with it. I owned, for a short period of time, an '05 SuperCrew Lariat, 5.4 3 valve, 3.73 gear, towing package(HA). That had to have been the lamest tow vehicle I've ever owned.Do yourself a favor and cross that off your list of "maybes"!!!

It has nothing to do with the 5.4L engine, its the package its in. Why would anyone get a Superduty with that engine? I made the same mistake of buying a Dodge 2500 with a Hemi. What a joke. That thing could not pull its way out of traffic with anything behind it. The only engines that should be available in that class of truck are diesels or large displacement gas engines like the Ford V-10 and the now gone legendary 8.1L GM or even the V-10 Dodge.


Chris

It's the gears.......3.73. I have a 2004 GMC 2500HD with a 6.0,4.10 gears,crew cab,SLT.
It pull a trailer with my Kubota L3000DT,bushhog,disc and a ATV in the bed like it isn't loaded!
Just last week I had to go over to our family farm pulling just that load. I had a slow poke in a suburban ahead of me. The thing passed on a hill with the load and before I knew it I was doing 75 in a two lane passing zone.
I was surprised how fast it got there!
I have only had the truck two months and so far been impressed.
It has been tuned so I am sure that makes a difference.

I talked myself out of a Diesel because of the cost issues.
I can put a new 6.0 engine in this truck for the cost of a full injector job on a powerstroke.
Oil changes are $20 bucks instead of over $90.
Fuel filters are cheaper.
The maintenance is cheaper overall.

Fuel economy isn't I have gotten 16 to 17 unloaded and have been getting 12 to 13 with my normal tow load. I don't think I can get much better but anyone that buys a truck with it's purpose and looks for mileage isn't really being realistic!

Power ........yes the Diesels have more Torque and overall are more suited for towing. But don't discount all gassers. Maybe it's the fact that mine has been tuned...I don't know ....but so far it's given me the impression that it can pull anything I might want.

But it's in the gears........my 1995 GMC with 3.73 gears is a great highway truck but can't pull like this one.
I like my gasser so far and for the price I paid for a truck that was as clean as this one I am happy.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Yep, gears make all the difference in the world. My new gas truck has the low gears, something like 4:10's, and it pulls strong for a gasser. Squeals the tires easier than anything I have ever owned including the 3 diesels.

Chris

 

[soarkrebel1]

Yep, gears make all the difference in the world. My new gas truck has the low gears, something like 4:10's, and it pulls strong for a gasser. Squeals the tires easier than anything I have ever owned including the 3 diesels.

Chris

This 04 GMC with a 6.0 will flat burn the rubber. Now I don't go around doing it but I found out real quick it will when trying to get out in traffic..lol.

Now if I was going to pull a 12,000 pound Fifth Wheel across the nation I would get a Diesel ....in a 1 ton config for the heavier suspension and brakes.
My Father in Law just bought a new 2009 Dodge 2500 with a Cummins and He loves it. He lives in the Mountains of Colorado and tows a 20' enclosed car hauler. The Suburban He has with a 454 will do it but the Diesel just holds the torque at those altitudes. The car He hauls is worth twice what the truck and trailer and He has a bigger bank account then mine!!

 

[Patches]

You guys' are absolutely right about gears; thats one reason I traded the Ford for an '07 Tundra. 401lb-ft of torque,4.30 gears and a 6 speed trans with the towing package, rated to tow 10,300 as it's configured. Tows like a mule, gets great mileage, but does have it's warts; no mechanically locking diff. and a rather weak pay load, which doesn't affect me so much, as I seldom load the box heavy. I seldom tow anything over 8500/9000 so really can't justify the EXTRA cost(purchasing and maintainance) of the diesel

 

[Diamondpilot]

Yea Patches

I really considered a Tundra a month ago but ended up with a Titan. So far I love it. Liked the extras like the Detroit Locker Rear End, Dana Axles, sprayed in factory bed liner, locker on the bed corner, cargo track system in the bed, 33" 285-70-17 factory wheels, and what really go me was the interior. I actually looked at a few others like GM and Ford along with the Toyota but felt Titan was the fit for me and most bang for my buck.

Chris

 

[dodge man]

One reason the have gone to higher numbered gears is because the tires keep getting taller. Most trucks come with what I consider really big tires. Maybe a 4.10 today would be like a 3.90 yesterday.