Hey, what year would be a good year for a used

[Robert_in_NY]

I agree with you as well. The leather in the trucks is an option and is more of a frill for the boss who buys the trucks or the big time rancher/vets like cowboydoc /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

As for Dodge, they use to be that way. But they switched to pushing the look of their truck to the mass market. They don't push their truck like Ford and Chevy. You hardly ever see an ad in any trade magazine or farm magazine for a Dodge truck. However, you see them push their trucks on TV during prime hours going for the mass audience.

GM is still the only competitor to Ford in the truck market.

I have not had much time to play in the new F-150's but I still own a 98 and while it is a smooth ride I dislike that truck if anything goes wrong. Even something simple like changing the spark plugs is an all day job on that stupid thing. Its been a good truck but when it needs maintenance, take it to the garage and let someone else beat their heads over it. I am not sorry to see Ford replace that truck. Hopefully the new F-150 is more user friendly but I doubt it as they kept the same motors but it looks like they are higher up now so I fear it will be just as big a nightmare to work on them.

I miss the old pre97 trucks. They were simple to work on and I thought they rode fine. Trucks should still ride like a truck. If people want them to ride like a car they can buy the Explorer Sport trak.

 

[RobertN]

Depends on where you are. There are tons of the newer Dodges on the road out here. I see lots with lumber racks and utility boxes in the trades and construction. I think I see more Fords, lots of Dodges, and some GM's on the construction sites.

The biggest advantage Ford has out here in my area, is the local dealers order more cab/chassis trucks and have utility beds or flatbeds installed on them. Don't see that nearly as much at the Dodge or GM dealers.

 

[RobertN]

The newer ones have a stronger auto, but my '01 has held up fine. I am only at 75k miles, but it has hauled some heavy loads fine. I have heard of issues with earlier trannies, but mostly after engine mods...

Ford trannies were'nt great either for a long time. They took Dodge 727's and Ford C6's and tried to make them work. Both worked, but still were not up to the potential of these diesels. The last few years they have finally put beefier trannies in all of them.