Been researching pickups

[Yendor357]

If Dodge built a small pick up that got bad gas mileage, had a frame that completely rusted away, sat like a car, and doors that sound like a tin can when you closed them, you’d never stop hearing what a piece of junk they were. But have the beloved, hallowed, Toyota do that, and they’re still the greatest things ever. I simply do not get it. And yes, Ive driven the Toyota extensively.

Everyone that wanted a Gladiator has one. They were a funky, goofy idea that sold really well. Chrysler made a pile of money on those over priced things. From a marketing standpoint, they were probably a success. But their time has passed.

The 3.6 Pentastar Chrysler is a fabulous engine. Change the oil at 5k miles. Change the timing chain at 500,000. Good power. Good economy. Why didn’t Chrysler put 2 more cylinders on the Pentastar, make it a V8, and call it a day, I’ll never know.

I’m not a fan of the Turbo 4s. (I call those things, whoever makes them, The EPA Engine). They may be fine, but all the little turbo engines are unproven. 3.5 Ecoboost? Not a fan.

 

[kraynky]

My last "new truck" purchase was a new F-150 in 1984. I've purchased gently used ever since then. Last fall I decided to finally replace my 2003 F150 Lariat with a newer one. Probably my "last truck" if it holds up like my other Fords have.

Used truck prices shocked me when I started looking around! Even trucks with 6 figure mileage are priced ridiculously high. Being retired now I'll only put 5,000-6,000 miles a year on one, but still, I didn't want to start out with a high mileage truck.

I feel like I lucked into this one owner (local guy) 9 year old truck with 86,000 miles on it. A 2015 F-150 Lariat FX4 in Kentucky Wildcat blue, and it already had a "pappy cap" on it. The 5.0 Coyote is strong, and I get close to 20 mpg on the highway (if I keep my lead foot out of it).

Even then I had to take a heart pill at the $25,000 price tag. But it was what I wanted, with the options I wanted and it was a local truck since new. Keeping my fingers crossed that it's as good of a truck as my 2003 F-150 Lariat FX4 was. (is, I'm having trouble letting it go, but I know I need to just rip that band-aid off and sell it)

 

[ladder13]

If Dodge built a small pick up that got bad gas mileage, had a frame that completely rusted away, sat like a car, and doors that sound like a tin can when you closed them, you’d never stop hearing what a piece of junk they were. But have the beloved, hallowed, Toyota do that, and they’re still the greatest things ever. I simply do not get it. And yes, Ive driven the Toyota extensively.

Everyone that wanted a Gladiator has one. They were a funky, goofy idea that sold really well. Chrysler made a pile of money on those over priced things. From a marketing standpoint, they were probably a success. But their time has passed.

The 3.6 Pentastar Chrysler is a fabulous engine. Change the oil at 5k miles. Change the timing chain at 500,000. Good power. Good economy. Why didn’t Chrysler put 2 more cylinders on the Pentastar, make it a V8, and call it a day, I’ll never know.

I’m not a fan of the Turbo 4s. (I call those things, whoever makes them, The EPA Engine). They may be fine, but all the little turbo engines are unproven. 3.5 Ecoboost? Not a fan.

Toyota has had their share of issues for a long time.

 

[forindooruseonly]

I can say that the newer the truck, the more capable, and the more comfortable it will be. Engines, transmissions, brakes and suspension are all better than they used to be. Interiors are quieter and more comfortable. We've done 900 mile days with a camper in the bed and a trailer behind and there's no way I could have done that in my older trucks.

This is very true. I have a 2001 Dodge 2500 Cummins that we bought new and still drive and pull with it. It rides like a log wagon, terrorize you with it's steering, barely has enough power to get around itself and will make you deaf from engine and wind noise..

All my buddies have late model Ford diesels and it is amazing how well they pull and how comfortable they are. They smoke my Dodge in every department except the ability to DIY repairs. I don't know how those will be twenty years from now, but I suspect the electronics will kill them. But in the meantime, I am jealous of their rides, until one of them has to pay a repair bill.

My suggestion is to get an aftermarket warranty for as long as you can. They've saved a couple of my friends and my sister big repair bills for things like transmissions in Chevy and GMC 1/2 tons. However, make sure the warranty company is reputable and will cover major issues, and don't do anything to make it invalid, such as delete emmissions or lift it. And plan on selling it before it expires.

 

[Rodan]

This is very true. I have a 2001 Dodge 2500 Cummins that we bought new and still drive and pull with it. It rides like a log wagon, terrorize you with it's steering, barely has enough power to get around itself and will make you deaf from engine and wind noise..

All my buddies have late model Ford diesels and it is amazing how well they pull and how comfortable they are. They smoke my Dodge in every department except the ability to DIY repairs. I don't know how those will be twenty years from now, but I suspect the electronics will kill them. But in the meantime, I am jealous of their rides, until one of them has to pay a repair bill.

We had a 2004 3500 Cummins prior to our '17 and that's absolutely true. I was significantly more fatigued after a full day behind the wheel with the '04 than the '17.

I can still DIY most of the stuff on the '17 that I could on the '04. The truth is don't have the facilities to work on heavy diesel stuff, and I'm getting a little old to manhandle cast iron transmissions and other heavy stuff. I still do much of the regular maintenance items. I'm doing a CCV filter today... Oil changes I farm out, mostly due to the volume of oil.

 

[LVSteve]

Everyone that wanted a Gladiator has one. They were a funky, goofy idea that sold really well. Chrysler made a pile of money on those over priced things. From a marketing standpoint, they were probably a success. But their time has passed.

The 3.6 Pentastar Chrysler is a fabulous engine. Change the oil at 5k miles. Change the timing chain at 500,000. Good power. Good economy. Why didn’t Chrysler put 2 more cylinders on the Pentastar, make it a V8, and call it a day, I’ll never know.

I’m not a fan of the Turbo 4s. (I call those things, whoever makes them, The EPA Engine). They may be fine, but all the little turbo engines are unproven. 3.5 Ecoboost? Not a fan.

I agree on the Gladiator. It is a fashion accessory, and its time has passed.

Two more cylinders on a basic Pentastar wouldn't work. Nobody wants a 60° V8. Besides, they had already introduced the latest generation of the Hemi.

As for unproven turbo engines, you might be surprised to learn that the 3.5 Ecoboost first found its way into a F-150 in 2011. The one my buddy had ran flawlessly.


The Gen2 Ecoboost had can phaser issues, but Ford are hardly alone in having valvetrain problems. Not exactly turbo related. GM and RAM had plenty of trouble with their various cylinder deactivation schemes. I chuckle when I read "I want the V8 because it's simple". Clearly they have not read what has been done to these "simple" engines to get the mileage and emissions numbers required today.

 

[Sarge9]

Small truck, prob go w/the new Stout, after they are out
for a year.

 

[Farmer17]

[QUOTE

The 3.6 Pentastar Chrysler is a fabulous engine. Change the oil at 5k miles. Change the timing chain at 500,000. Good power. Good economy. Why didn’t Chrysler put 2 more cylinders on the Pentastar, make it a V8, and call it a day, I’ll never know.



I agree about the Pentastar 6 banger mine has been a great engine, smooth, powerful, good gas mileage on cheap E10 gas now with over 210k miles. The only glaring weakness is the plastic oil filter housing which can crack and cost you about a grand. They now make them out of metal but it took them a long time to make the change.

 

[Bullet Bob]

"mechanical knowledge from the engineer that helped design the engine. www.youtube.com"

Tried to find it as inline sixes are my favorite engines, but I wasn't smart enough. I don't youtube much, but does everybody in the world have a youtube channel now? So many experts, so much bad music.

 

[Jon651]

I understand they are great for hauling explosives.

Elon Musk Responds to Tesla Cybertruck Explosion: 'Wrong Vehicle' - Newsweek

I am a detractor of the Cybertruck. As a life-long owner/user of pickup trucks, this thing is a hot mess. As for Musk's claim that it was the "wrong truck" to haul explosives, my personal theory is that the reason why it didn't do much damage in the Las Vegas explosion is that as a wanna-be truck the Cybertruck doesn't really have enough room/capacity to carry enough to actually DO any real damage...

 

[old tanker]

No one makes a standard cab truck with a manual transmission any more. The 3/4 ton fleet work truck with the rubber floor mat interior you can clean out with a hose is extinct.

 

[Bald1]

I have rubber floors in my 2022 F250. I’ve had them in many trucks over the yrs. I never understood the “spray out with a hose”. Why would I want all that water under my seats and on metal tracks? Seems like it would just make a bigger mess splashing stuff all over and against door panels. I vacuum then wipe down with a wet towel. Still much quicker and easier than carpet. I also still use hood floor mats that snap into place even though it’s a rubber floor