Thoughts on truck selection...

[Builder]

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

Nothing like a true locking rear......got one an 11.5" one in my GMC

 

[Builder]

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.

I have a 3.73 in my truck and with the factory height tires and 6 speed ally, I'll run out of suspension long before power.

I can just toggle the shifter button down to first (or whatever gear I want) and lock it there.

Nice thing about the ally is it locks in 2-6. So you get direct TC lockup. Really makes a difference when pulling.

 

[Patches]

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.

I don't understand the 275-65-18's on the Tundra???, then put P rated tires on. I bought LT's when I put the 4 studded snows on, but kind of expensive. No question they hurt the gear ratio, but with 4.30's I think I have a little to spare

 

[Patches]

Nothing like a true locking rear......got one an 11.5" one in my GMC

Wanna swap third members

 

[bigsky355]

The most important thing when looking for a heavy duty truck, is the engine/transmission. To me the Duramax/ Allison was the best choice out there when I was looking. I am very happy with my 06 Chevy 2500 HD- tows very well and no issues. Interior, fit and finish average, but again, I still think the best powertrain. The new Superduty seems very nice and will certainly be considered down the road if I need a new truck.

I do not get into the whole brand loyalty thing- just buy what you think is the best offering out there. All car companies make good models and POS models- it is up to you to do the research.

I was in the same situation as you- I was driving the truck as a daily driver. That got old quickly. As previously suggested, I would recommend buying a designated daily driver (I picked up a 08 Honda Civic- wonderful car!). It will make the time you spend in the truck more enjoyable and I would argue in the long run it is the more economical alternative.

 

[Patches]

I have a 3.73 in my truck and with the factory height tires and 6 speed ally, I'll run out of suspension long before power.

I can just toggle the shifter button down to first (or whatever gear I want) and lock it there.

Nice thing about the ally is it locks in 2-6. So you get direct TC lockup. Really makes a difference when pulling.

The Toyota is very similar in the "S"(manual select)mode. You can lock in any gear you desire and the tranny will not go above the selected gear.The problem is you can't select 3rd or 4th on a long grade and use the throttle to maintain speed because the da** computer will downshift the tranny to whatever gear it "thinks" is appropriate as soon as you use any throttle. The engine produces more than sufficient torque to maintain hill speed, but you can't get to it If Toyota would make that adaptation, or produce a standard transmissioned truck, they would have themselves one nice tower

 

[Diamondpilot]

One thing I really thought was odd but a good thing on the Titan I got it has Load Range D tires and like I said the factory ones are very aggressive but still quiet on the highway. The tires are 33" 285-70-17 and heavy. I put in a level kit to bring the front end up and man these things are meats. The tires are rated at 3,195# each, way more than the truck can handle. It seems that way with alot of the components, like they wanted big so they had to take what was on the market and just oversize everything.

The rear suspension is very stiff and that is one down side to this truck. On a secondary road its rough, more like my F-250 and F-350 when compared to the F-150 I just sold. The F-150 rode like it was on feathers. It does show its good side when hitched up to a trailer. I had a 7,000# trailer with about 1,200# of tongue weight on it last weekend and used a tape measure to check things, only 1 3/8" drop. I am guessing the F-150 it replaced would drop about 4" with that load. Once loaded it rode very nice.

Chris

 

[jcmseven]

Well, folks, I do not mean to speak prematurely, but it looks as though I am going with the GMC. I brought the truck home today, specifically to let the wife and kids take a ride in it to make sure it is family friendly. The kids like it a lot, and my wife seems happy with it. My neighbor has already taken my 250 and paid me for it, so I might be walking if I don't get something soon. My dad's truck does pretty good still and I might keep it so we will have something Ford in our possession. Having driven the truck more miles today, I have been pretty pleased with what I have seen so far. There are some things my 250 might do better, but this seems to fit the niche between that truck and something too small that will not do the job. I like the diesel power, too. One thing, though, I have yet to find a truck that can climb out of my driveway without four wheel drive and my friend's Toyota had a time doing it in four wheel drive. The GMC......can't do it either. The locking diff made it dig two holes after going about two feet, but I shifted into four wheel drive and off it went. I thank all those who have given advice and I will post some pictures (if anyone wants to see). Hey, do I have 'cojoines' now???

John M

 

[Turbys_1700]

Congratulations John...
I am sure that you will be happy with your decision...
Get those pictures up ASAP...

 

[Builder]

Most likely, the dealer has the tires aired-up to full capacity. Take the tires down ~10-15lbs below full capacity and try it again. Then you might not have to use 4x4.

Just make sure to air back up to full capacity if you tow or load-up heavy.

Tell us what you like/dislike.
It took me a few months to transition from Ford to GM.

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

I thank all those who have given advice and I will post some pictures (if anyone wants to see). Hey, do I have 'cojoines' now???

John M

Great choice. For me anyway, pics of the truck will be sufficient. Pics of the cojoine's would be too much information ..............

 

[dodge man]

I'm sure you will be happy with your choice. It's not a Dodge........but..........................

What kind of driveway do you have? It must be really steep if you need 4 wheel drive to get up and down it. I'm sure others will agree, we need pictures.

You went throught the problem we all do when buying a truck. Some days I wish I had a 18 wheeler, some days a tandem axle dump truck, sometimes a 1 ton dualy, some times a small car that doesn't eat gas like a hog. It sounds like you got a great comprimise.

 

[nmu98]

Congrats on the new truck. I agree with Duanne, take the tires down to 64psi. I think the computer will not throw a warning there. mich less and a handy yellow light will come on.

Pics????

 

[jcmseven]

Yes, my driveway is steep, and gravel. I have had to rescue many a garbage man and UPS man from the bottom with my tractor or Gator. As for the tire pressure, they were at 80 lbs. at the dealer, so I had already had them lower the pressure to 55 in the front and 65 in the rears before bringing the truck home, so I was already "aired down". The truck has a great deal of torque and that is not your friend when trying to feather it up the drive. The left front suspension has a little rattle they are going to look at today when I go to do my paperwork. I will say, this dealer has thus far been the best from sales to service of any I have EVER dealt with. I am going to wait to do PIX until my factory navi is installed and the headrest DVDs for the chillins, to get the full effect. The truck is also filthy with the pollen. A good wash is in order before the pictures. If someone will look at them I will post them. Builder has already given me a guarantee that he would buy my truck if I was not happy with it, so who could ask for more???

John M

 

[jeffster]

First, I absolutely love my Dmax/Ally (2006 Chevy LBZ LT3). However, in regard to spinning tires, I go through tires like crazy as I am unloaded most of the time. There is so much torque and the rear is so light that it is a lot of stress on the rears (not to mention it rides pretty rough unloaded when offroad or in the curves). My last set of BFG AT KOs lasted all of 22k miles and they were gone. Running Duratracs right now and we'll see how well they hold up. At 58k miles on the odo (owned it since new), this is my 4th set of tires and no, I am not a rough driver or a speed freak by any stretch. That said though, that is my only complaint about the truck. I love it and it is paid for.

 

[JESSE1]

You'll like it. GM has always built a good driving truck.

 

[Builder]

When I first got my GMC3500 it only had a pickup bed and stock skins on it. I could smoke the tires to the point of darkening the sky with the torque and the two rear wheels locked together.

Now with the extra 1,000 lbs of utility body & tools, it's a little harder to smoke the tires, plus I'm trying to make my General Grabbers last at least 25K miles.

Ahhh, the pains of owning a work truck.....

 

[Builder]

Builder has already given me a guarantee that he would buy my truck if I was not happy with it, so who could ask for more???

John M

Yep no problem. Now that GM trucks are worth almost nothing, I won't have to pay much for it, either.

Best part for me is someone else to talk to that owns a GM.
All the Ford guys hatin' on me was getting old.

 

[nmu98]

First, I absolutely love my Dmax/Ally (2006 Chevy LBZ LT3). However, in regard to spinning tires, I go through tires like crazy as I am unloaded most of the time. There is so much torque and the rear is so light that it is a lot of stress on the rears (not to mention it rides pretty rough unloaded when offroad or in the curves). My last set of BFG AT KOs lasted all of 22k miles and they were gone. Running Duratracs right now and we'll see how well they hold up. At 58k miles on the odo (owned it since new), this is my 4th set of tires and no, I am not a rough driver or a speed freak by any stretch. That said though, that is my only complaint about the truck. I love it and it is paid for.

Odd... I have 28K on my stockers and they are still in great shape. I expect another 25-30K out of them, seriously! I have a 50 gallon transfer flow tank in the back that is full most of the time, and I drive nice. I cannot understand why you would go through tires so fast unelss you have a leveling kit or that your alignment is way off....

 

[Diamondpilot]

My F-350 only gets about 30,000 miles out of a set, the same with my neighbors 2007 3500 SRW Dura Max. We rotate every other oil change which we do in my shop, or 10,000 miles. He is like me and has a trailer on the back ranging from 5,000# to 13,000# in his case and in my case from 7,000# to 15,600# about 2/3 of the time the trucks are on the road so that may have a lot to do with it. One thing I did notice on his last time I rotated them was he was getting cracking on the sidewalls. His factory tires were Bridgestone Duravis M773II. He just got some new to the market Goodyears put on last week for $600 out the door in 285/75/16.

Here is a link and a picture of the Goodyears he chose. I will probably get the same ones on the F-350 next time around.
Goodyear Tires | SUV and Truck Tires | Wrangler DuraTrac
Chris