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NFT: What pickup truck would you get?

pjcas18 : 4/20/2021 2:47 pm
and it has to be a pick up truck - so other responses will be disregarded and possibly ridiculed.

so, I'm at the point in my life based on my kids ages and our family travel needs a pick up truck makes sense to me (one I've always wanted one but they were not convenient for our lifestyle and two I sometimes have to haul stuff - debris, leaves, materials, etc.).

I have many questions.

I used to avoid Ford aggressively based on a bad experience (Ford Explorer), but I have read their trucks are among the best and should not be avoided.

I liked the Toyota Tundra the best, but someone said they're not better than the F-150.

and someone else said Dodge and Chevy are fine too.

So now I'm confused.

Here are my questions:

1. I'm thinking extended cab and regular bed - I don't need an 8 foot bed and with both an 8 foot bed and an extended cab it won't fit in my garage, solid plan?

2. What brand do you recommend - I know personal preference has a lot to do with this so I'll take some of this with a grain of salt?

3. Any benefit of a lease to get to make sure its the right brand? I've always been a buy vs lease person because I own my vehicles for 10+ years, but is there merit to a lease here?

4. What else am I not asking?

thank you in advance.

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You might as well ask what the best rock band is  
give66 : 4/20/2021 3:36 pm : link
Everyone has their own opinion on pickups. My $.02. By the nicest certified preowned you can find. Save 1/3 or more on the price and many dealers will extend the warranty. I've bought 3 cars this way and it has worked out well.
I don't care what people say/think  
BigBlue2112 : 4/20/2021 3:37 pm : link
I love my Honda Ridgeline. Comfortable for 4 adults, plenty of power, great features, great bed, great storage, 2 way gate, reliable as hell. 26mpg combined. Call it what you want, but I love it.
Dodge ram  
OBJRoyal : 4/20/2021 3:37 pm : link
2021 Dodge Ram 1500 Big Horn w the Hemi V8. Best truck around
RE: I have only had 2 Rams  
OBJRoyal : 4/20/2021 3:38 pm : link
In comment 15227146 robbieballs2003 said:
Quote:
Love them.


Best truck on the road
Ford  
Vanzetti : 4/20/2021 3:42 pm : link
You realize there is a signification system regarding trucks? Just like there is with motorcycles.

Ford= America. Real Work

I'm on my second Toyota Tundra.  
JimInKgnNY : 4/20/2021 3:52 pm : link
This one is a 2019 Crew Max. The previous was a 2011 extended cab. The 2019 was a total impulse buy. I made the mistake of sitting in one and test driving it and decided I couldn't live without it. There was nothing wrong with the 2011. It looked great and ran great. I had no problems with it at all for the time I owned it (I commuted to work with it a lot) and I had no problems selling it on AutoTrader for a good price after I bought the 2019. The worst thing about Tundras is the gas mileage. You're feeding all 8 cylinders all the time, but I knew wasn't buying a Prius, so I made the choice eyes wide open.
I drive a 2017 Frontier Pro-4X  
Greg from LI : 4/20/2021 3:58 pm : link
Got a great deal on it a year ago. Personally I think Frontiers are a hell of a value. Nissan's brand reputation has been in the toilet for years because of the CVT, but Frontiers don't have a CVT. Because if that, though, you can buy a Frontier for less than comparable models. It's not fancy, so if you want a pseudo-luxury vehicle with a bed, it won't be what you're looking for. The technology is famously old, but the flip side of that is that it's tried and true and long-lasting. I don't have a boat or anything so I don't need monster towing capacity. I wouldn't mind a longer bed, but I have a bed extender, so only rarely do I really miss it. It shines offroad and in the snow. It's durable and reliable, and I got it for several thousand less than a similarly equipped Tacoma or Colorado.
I Agree With The Certified Pre-Owned  
Trainmaster : 4/20/2021 3:59 pm : link
I bought my F-150 new in 2001, but since then I've gotten Certified Pre-Owned 2004 RAV4 for my daughter, 2006 Tacoma Double Cab for my son and 2011 Ford Escape for me.

It can take a decent amount of time to find the mileage, options, condition etc. you want, but buying a 1 to 3 year old vehicle saves a ton of money.
RE: I will say this  
Greg from LI : 4/20/2021 4:02 pm : link
In comment 15227154 robbieballs2003 said:
Quote:
Plus, the bed can get dirty and/or wet and that isn't ideal for certain things.


That's what tonneau covers are for
Does ride comfort matter to you?  
mattnyg05 : 4/20/2021 4:04 pm : link
My dad bought a 2019 F150 (single cab, used to have dodge rams but they went away from single cabs). Rode like absolute dog shit-you could feel every bump in the road. Could have been because it’s a single cab but the Rams rode a lot smoother.

He traded F150 in for Honda Ridgeline and loves it. It Got made fun of earlier in this thread but it’s a super smooth durable pickup truck if you’re not beating the hell out of it. Will also last forever. It’s not Murica though.
Lots of input from me, my family and friends.  
Red Dog : 4/20/2021 4:05 pm : link
I did some towing with a virtually new GMC half-ton from a manufacturer fleet a few years back, and it was just fine with a relatively heavy load on a single axle open trailer. I found the truck comfortable and capable, if not particularly fun to drive. But I wasn't impressed by the sound system.

My brother-in-law, a military guy who doesn't tow but puts on a lot of miles, is a big Ford pickup guy. He's had several including some F-250s. I have to admit, I'd probably look at them first if I was in the market for a pick-em-up truck. But I'd also consider Ram, too, especially since they have pushed Chevy out of 2nd place in overall sales.

A lot of guys in my snowmobile club have pickups for serious towing duty. Ford seems to be the most popular and seems to have the highest brand loyalty, but there are Chevy and Ram fans, too. Note that some of these guys actually work for dealers, so they tend to drive what their dealership sells, or what they were selling if they have changed employers.

Our President LOVES his Raptor 4-door short bed which gets extensive use on and off road including multiple annual road trips out of state. Another guy, who has now gone to the endless trails in the sky, had an F-150 with the EcoBoost blown V-6 engine and observed that the gas mileage was better than a V-8 when running empty, but once he was loaded with a big ATV or similar load, or pulling his sled trailer, the gas mileage dropped to big V-8 territory so there wasn't any real saving there when the truck was working. And another guy won't have anything but an F-350 for towing his BIG multi-axle heavy duty enclosed trailer. Another of the Ford guys noted that he bought his last F-150 for very little more than a mid-sized Ford Ranger pickup would have cost him, although this was a while back.

Another one of my good buddies has had multiple Chevy Avalanches so they must be treating him right. And another guy has a Ram, but he worked for a dealer who sold them. However, he still has it after several years and changing dealerships to another brand that doesn't sell trucks, so he must be satisfied with it. He's not the only Dodge or Ram pickup owner in the club, either. The guys who have them seem to stick with them.

One of my closest buddies had a Suzuki Equator, which is a small Nissan pickup in drag, but it got wrecked. So he promptly got a very similar Nissan to replace it. He's got a single place trailer, does some long road trips, and is more gas mileage conscious than most of these guys, so he likes the 4-cylinder engine.

Toyota makes a good pickup, but the guys who I know that had full-sized Toyotas liked them a lot, but tended to gravitate away from them over time. One said he just didn't need a truck that big and went down to a Tacoma, their mid-sized truck. One issue with Toyota is that you have to take it their way. They just aren't anywhere near as flexible with ordering options as the domestic manufacturers.

Nobody that I know very well has a full sized Nissan. The reviews on them, other than from the reviewers who think everything is great all the time, aren't that good either. And Honda does not make a truck. Sorry. It's a sort of an El Camino-type poseur vehicle.

Hope this gives you some insights from real users who actually spent their hard-earned money on these vehicles.
Counts what you doing with it  
uconngiant : 4/20/2021 4:24 pm : link
I like the Dodge Ram's a lot and the GMC are good as well.

If you are just offroading then you can take what you like. If you are hauling things, I would go with Ram or GMC
Toyota  
liteamorn : 4/20/2021 4:33 pm : link
TUNDRA, on my second one now. They made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Good looking, does EVERYTHING I need it to do.
I bought a 2017 Ford Raptor  
montanagiant : 4/20/2021 4:34 pm : link
And after 2 years I could not wait to get rid of it. Doors not latching during winter (A problem Ford has had since 2016) which their own recall fix doesn't fix it. Imagine having to tie your passenger door shut with an iPhone charging cord, Transmission issues, the whole computer board went when I went through a deep puddle due to the idiotic engineering of putting it along the driver's side of the truck bed and me having a crack in the taillight, plus an assortment of minor pain in the ass issues.

Great looking truck and an absolute blast to drive when it runs well but should not have the litany of issues for what it cost.
Was always a Ford guy, bought a Toyota Tundra  
winoguy : 4/20/2021 4:46 pm : link
4 years ago and have no regrets. If you plan on keeping it for awhile the Tundra is a good choice. Low maintenance, high re-sale. Love mine.
First I don’t know  
Giant John : 4/20/2021 4:49 pm : link
How anyone can be considered a real man if they don’t own a pickup. I’ve had 8 or nine myself. Toyota is older technology and due for a redo in my opinion. You won’t go wrong with either a Chevy, Ford or Ram. Average run of the mill is a half ton. There is also a three quarter ton and up. For general use the half ton is fine. For heavier duty the 3/4 ton does a nice job. I honestly don’t know how you can live without one.either of the three will last and should provide years of good use.
Welcome to the club.
Thank you for all the replies  
pjcas18 : 4/20/2021 4:49 pm : link
I honestly appreciate the time everyone took to provide their advice and opinions.

Thank you in advance for any future comments or replies.
Pjcas  
Trainmaster : 4/20/2021 5:00 pm : link
You need to let us know what you decided / purchased (so we can second guess, complain etc. just like we do for the draft picks and free agents signings)

:-)
RE: Pjcas  
pjcas18 : 4/20/2021 5:03 pm : link
In comment 15227318 Trainmaster said:
Quote:
You need to let us know what you decided / purchased (so we can second guess, complain etc. just like we do for the draft picks and free agents signings)

:-)


that's funny, the Tundra lease sounds nice. I've never leased a vehicle, but with a pick up truck having never owned one before I feel like lease might be a good option then in 2/3 years replace it with a different one.

or i could just test drive it - I guess
all I'm gonna say ---  
gidiefor : Mod : 4/20/2021 5:06 pm : link
and I've owned several pickup trucks now 0-- and I'm friends with a lot of pu truck owners -- the Toyota Tundra has become my absolute favorite -- I was a confirmed Chevy/GMC er until I owned the Tundra -- and pound for pound it's tougher and a better ride imho.

I driven Fords and I don't like the ride -- it rides a little too hard; Dodge rides good -- but they fall apart a lot faster than the Chevy or Toyota. We all ride them till they either fall apart - or rust starts making the frame unstable around here -- pus are a necessity of life on a farm.

Rust protection is also part of a long pu truck life --
Lease Or Certified Pre-Owned  
Trainmaster : 4/20/2021 5:06 pm : link
might be good options to an outright purchase if you're still not 100% sure you want to go with a new truck purchase.

You can lease a Ford F-150  
Bricktop : 4/20/2021 5:19 pm : link
for like $300/mo with some cash due at signing. Might be able to get an even better deal on a 2020 if they're still in stock.
For actual loading bed and working everyday  
Hazlet Giant's Fan : 4/20/2021 5:25 pm : link
Ford. For ride and comfort Ram.
For actual loading bed and working everyday  
Hazlet Giant's Fan : 4/20/2021 5:26 pm : link
Ford. For ride and comfort Ram.
RAM 2500 Tradesman  
x meadowlander : 4/20/2021 5:40 pm : link
Started off looking for a 1-2 year old pickup to handle my 30 foot 6800 GVWR camper - wanted an F150, research illuminated issues with newer 5.0 engines - oil loss issues, friend of mine bought an 18' that has it and I wasn't spending $30K+ on engine issues. Really wanted something that could handle ober 10,000lbs towing with ease.

For my requirements, 3/4 tons started coming into play. Found a RAM 2500 Tradesman with all the features I wanted - running boards, spray in liner, slip diff, on fly 4WD - it's a beast, can tow 14,500+, Motor Trend Truck of year and all of that. Gas is fine with me, diesel too much trouble. Love it. Dynamite rig. Basically this:



I own a 05 Tundra Limited...  
x meadowlander : 4/20/2021 5:48 pm : link
...awesome truck, 'Terrorist Tested', I love it but at 205,000 miles it's age started to show. Had 2 ball joints fail 1 month after it passed inspection, thank God not while towing - tire basically fell off!

Truck is a keeper but is retired from towing. If Toyota made a 3/4 ton, I've been interested, wound up with the RAM instead..
RE: Lease Or Certified Pre-Owned  
x meadowlander : 4/20/2021 5:50 pm : link
In comment 15227327 Trainmaster said:
Quote:
might be good options to an outright purchase if you're still not 100% sure you want to go with a new truck purchase.
pre-owned prices are so high you're better off new, unless you're looking for Cadillac options...
I don't own  
pjcas18 : 4/20/2021 5:51 pm : link
anything to tow other than a tiny harbor freight utility trailer that I can hail with my SUV, so I don't need that capability (today at least).

thanks again for the replies.
RE: get a Honda Ridgeline!  
JesseS : 4/20/2021 5:56 pm : link
In comment 15227151 UConn4523 said:
Quote:
just kidding. My $0.02 is that I wouldn't let 1 bad experience keep you from seriously considering the F-150. Its an excellent truck and they hold their value.


Ridgelines are freakin great. Unless you need a heavy duty truck or tie your identity to your car. I haul around bricks, stacks of sheets of plywood (which lay flat in a ridgeline), garbage, supplies for renovating rooms, a cord of wood etc. AND it has a trunk. I previously had a “real” truck. There’s no question the ridgeline can’t do “real truck stuff” but 95% of truck owners are lugging stuff around that wouldn’t be too heavy for a sedan and are convinced they need some heavy duty truck because “it’s not a real truck”....just like most handymen are using vans. Granted, I have kids, and I take trips sometime, so I wanted something that handled like a car, not my dodge truck. I just think it’s silly to write off a ridgeline because it’s not a truck (again, it definitely isn’t a real truck - I get that!), when most people don’t even come remotely close to needing a “real truck”. My brother owned a big ram and worked in construction and never saw him come even remotely close to utilizing it to capacity.

Best car I ever owned. Is it funny looking? Sure. Is it a unibody? Yeah. But they get the job done for me.
RE: pre-owned prices are so high  
Trainmaster : 4/20/2021 6:29 pm : link
My last experience was in 2015, so maybe things have changed in 5+ years regarding certified pre-owned versus new.

In 2007, 2010 and 2015, when I was purchased 3+ year old vehicles with 15,000 to 55,000 miles on them, new was way more expensive.

I agree if the price is close, go with new and remove the need to worry about how the last owner treated the vehicle etc.



My experience...  
x meadowlander : 4/20/2021 6:31 pm : link
GM - age poorly, they last but get ricketty.
Ford - currently, major issues with 5.0 liter, long term durability of ecoboost engines unproven.
RAM - Durable rust buckets in the past, Hemi's bulletproof guzzlers
Toyota - dynamite trucks, probably durable as he'll. Good luck finding one at a reasonable price.
Nissan - dark horse, none of the quality or tyranny issues that plague their cars, trucks may be outclassed, but are reliable and loved by owners.

ALL these vehicles use a ton more fuel than cars. If you don't need it for towing or hauling, and you don't suffer from micropenis, just get an SUV or a car.
RE: RE: pre-owned prices are so high  
x meadowlander : 4/20/2021 6:32 pm : link
In comment 15227385 Trainmaster said:
Quote:
My last experience was in 2015, so maybe things have changed in 5+ years regarding certified pre-owned versus new.

In 2007, 2010 and 2015, when I was purchased 3+ year old vehicles with 15,000 to 55,000 miles on them, new was way more expensive.

I was looking under 30k miles, prices were well into the 30's. Screw it, I threw in another 5k and got the better tower.
I agree if the price is close, go with new and remove the need to worry about how the last owner treated the vehicle etc.


I hate autocorrect on new phones.  
x meadowlander : 4/20/2021 6:34 pm : link
And I hate not being able to edit mutilated posts.
Can't tell you which one to buy..  
Chris in San Diego : 4/20/2021 7:24 pm : link
But I do have a pretty good toyota story. Bought a T100 4 by xtra cab in 1996 for I think about 20k. Sold it last week...I put it on craigslist and it was gone in 2 hours for 6k. I put 340k miles on it!!
RE: Can't tell you which one to buy..  
JimInKgnNY : 4/20/2021 7:39 pm : link
In comment 15227425 Chris in San Diego said:
Quote:
But I do have a pretty good toyota story. Bought a T100 4 by xtra cab in 1996 for I think about 20k. Sold it last week...I put it on craigslist and it was gone in 2 hours for 6k. I put 340k miles on it!!


I had the exact same experience when I sold my 1997 T100. Guys were calling me the day of the sale and offering me $2000 more than the guy who bought it was paying. That was my first truck and I had it for 14 years. I never knew there were so many T100 bigots put there until I sold it.
I have a Toyota Tundra and couldn’t be happier with it  
steve in ky : 4/20/2021 9:32 pm : link
.
being in the automotive industry I will say the following  
outeiroj : 4/20/2021 10:29 pm : link
-Toyota by far is going to be the most reliable however the tundra is not without its fair share of issues.
-Chevy/GMC make an overall solid vehicle but have always had weak transmissions and the 10 speed isn't old enough to know how it will work out long term. The new 5.3 seems to be good so far however the last version had oil pressure and other internal engine issues.
-Ford is the best selling truck because they give the best deals to commercial/government accounts. In most cases losing money on trucks to be able to sell them to regular joe's off the gimmick that they are the most purchased truck
-Ram is typically the cheapest of the 3 "American" trucks however also the worst built of the 3. They have gorgeous interiors, but after 3 years there are massive interior gaps, noises, tire wear issues, suspension issues. There are also a good deal of transmission failures and they are having some of the worst back orders of replacement parts to the extent that one of my customers had Ram offer to buy him a Chevy truck as a replacement because his transmission was on back order for over 6 months (He took that deal).
I had an F150 for several years  
Svengali : 4/20/2021 11:02 pm : link
for work and loved it... great truck. On a side note I just bought a 1975 F150 to fix up and drive in retirement. Needless to say I like F150’s.
Got a 2012 F250 last year  
PA Aggie : 4/21/2021 7:22 am : link
Long bed, extended cab, great condition, 64k miles, 6.7l diesel for $26k out the door. Was a bit concerned having never owned a diesel (noise, smell, ride, cost), but 20 mpg and it rides like an SUV. Thought about a 150, but already have hauled enough (3500 lbs in bed recently) to warrant the 250. Back seat is good for kids, or dogs, tools, etc, but adults would be a bit cramped. I need the 8' bed for what I use it for, but a full cab and 6' bed could work for you.
I agree with going certified pre owned  
djm : 4/21/2021 9:17 am : link
if you can. I got my subaru for 20 K. It had 70 miles on it. It's also a stick which I love, and that made it even cheaper.

Resale value on pickups is insane  
Jim in Forest Hills : 4/21/2021 9:36 am : link
they hold their value for sure.

I know leasing is not for everyone but this is a site with good leasing info and some deals. I have no affiliation with them but I secured a great lease for myself through the site.
Link - ( New Window )
I never imagined myself owning a pickup  
Bramton1 : 4/21/2021 9:40 am : link
If you had asked me in my youth if I would ever own a pickup, I would have laughed at you. But I love my 2018 F-150. Regular bed, SuperCrew cab. My kids love the room they have in the backseat.

My wife and I bought a popup camper in 2015. Back then, we pulled with a GMC Envoy. But as we realized we would eventually want to upgrade to a travel trailer, we knew a truck would be a necessity.
F150 XLT  
jlukes : 4/21/2021 9:42 am : link
and buy certified preowned if you can
RE: RE: get a Honda Ridgeline!  
LS : 4/21/2021 10:27 am : link
In comment 15227375 JesseS said:
Quote:
In comment 15227151 UConn4523 said:


Quote:


just kidding. My $0.02 is that I wouldn't let 1 bad experience keep you from seriously considering the F-150. Its an excellent truck and they hold their value.



Ridgelines are freakin great. Unless you need a heavy duty truck or tie your identity to your car. I haul around bricks, stacks of sheets of plywood (which lay flat in a ridgeline), garbage, supplies for renovating rooms, a cord of wood etc. AND it has a trunk. I previously had a “real” truck. There’s no question the ridgeline can’t do “real truck stuff” but 95% of truck owners are lugging stuff around that wouldn’t be too heavy for a sedan and are convinced they need some heavy duty truck because “it’s not a real truck”....just like most handymen are using vans. Granted, I have kids, and I take trips sometime, so I wanted something that handled like a car, not my dodge truck. I just think it’s silly to write off a ridgeline because it’s not a truck (again, it definitely isn’t a real truck - I get that!), when most people don’t even come remotely close to needing a “real truck”. My brother owned a big ram and worked in construction and never saw him come even remotely close to utilizing it to capacity.

Best car I ever owned. Is it funny looking? Sure. Is it a unibody? Yeah. But they get the job done for me.


Yup. Had a Dodge and then Tacomas for 20 years, and then drove a 2019 Honda Ridgeline. No comparison. Independent suspension, quiet, comfortable, all the bells and whistles. Just got 25.5 mpg on a 2600 mile trip. Heated power leather seats, sunroof, heated steering wheel, etc., etc., etc. 282 hp. One of the quickest pickups. Same payload as the Tacoma. Bigger bed than a Tacoma. 2 way tailgate and trunk feature is great. If you are just hauling "stuff" give the new Ridgeline a test drive. I haul a 4000 pound ski boat no problem. Watch some online reviews. My bet is you'll really like it.
I traded a  
LS : 4/21/2021 10:29 am : link
2018 Tacoma for the Honda. Had a 1998 and 2009 also. Bought all new. Traded the new Tacoma after 2 months.
RE: I traded a  
Jim in Forest Hills : 4/21/2021 10:36 am : link
In comment 15227997 LS said:
Quote:
2018 Tacoma for the Honda. Had a 1998 and 2009 also. Bought all new. Traded the new Tacoma after 2 months.


The new design on the Honda looks much better than the original.
When you get it  
Pete in MD : 4/21/2021 11:06 am : link
can you be a pal and help me move? :-)
I never understood the draw  
x meadowlander : 4/21/2021 11:10 am : link
Bought the used Tundra to tow a camper and fell in love with it. Built a deck, trucked all of it myself, appliances, landscaping materials - I don't know that I won't own a truck going forward. Love em.
RE: Thank you for all the replies  
x meadowlander : 4/22/2021 9:29 am : link
In comment 15227312 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
I honestly appreciate the time everyone took to provide their advice and opinions.

Thank you in advance for any future comments or replies.
Looking back at your initial needs... you want something to fit the family (Crew Cab - make sure it's an actual Crew, RAM has a Quad Cab that is not as big.) You probably want under a 6 foot bed and that's the standard for 1/2 tons.

If you're not overly concerned about hauling or towing, I'd recommend an F150 with the 2.7 liter Ecoboost engine, lightly used gets you more bang for the buck, 2.7 liter keeps the price down but still has plenty of power with reasonable MPG for the class.

Good luck!

Used prices JUMPING.  
x meadowlander : 4/22/2021 10:16 am : link
Though I bought about a month ago, I still get CarGuru's notifications.

Simmons Rockwell in Elmira, NY has been getting batches of F150 rental/leases - low mileage, 2 year old pickups in excellent condition.

I looked at their current offerings on CarGurus - they're now $5,000 more than they were 2 months ago for the same basic trucks. Some of them are more than I paid for my NEW 2500!

Sellers market, bigly.
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