Seymore and I knew each other in HS. He dated my dad's best friend's daughter who lived 4 houses up.
He's a funny guy.
Been researching pickups
- Thread starter LVSteve
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Seymore and I knew each other in HS. He dated my dad's best friend's daughter who lived 4 houses up.
He's a funny guy.
venomballistics
Member
kicking around the idea of a set in a recently extruded prusacaster project
venomballistics
Member
Thought you might like to see this.
The day has come that a guy can squirt an axe out of a nozzle
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My friend bought a 2023 2dr 2wd GMC 3/4 long bed no extras, from a dealer in the past year. $37,000 cash. It was the least expensive truck he could find.
OP
LVSteve
Member
Former coworker has a Ridgeline and loves it. It is one of the suggestions I plan on making to the guy looking for a truck. I know he wants something with a full size passenger cab (crew cab) to take his family about, and there is also a possibility of his job moving and his commute getting longer.
Trouble is, he has been sending us copies of ads for older RAMs and various heavy-duty trucks, probably just because of the price. He doesn't have a trailer or boat, and the possibility of one has never been mentioned, so I'm not seeing the need for a monster hauler. I think he might be getting dreams ahead of his needs and budget.
Rather oddly I have noticed that the V6 1/2 ton pickups receive almost no comments online at all. Is there a stigma in admitting you own one? Finding a decent test/review of them is difficult. The only one I've found so far is for the V6 RAM, and it seems the Pentastar motor with the 8-speed copes quite well for most uses. I'm uncertain if the V6 can be had as a crew cab. I'll do some more digging for that info and the Ford and GM equivalents.
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LVSteve
Member
I know the early 3.5 V6 Ecoboost had issues with cam cover gaskets leaking and exhaust manifold studs shearing off. name.The second gen 3.5 had cam phaser issues according to the Interweb.
The 2.7 Ecoboost appears to have none of these issues, suggesting there is a lot of variation in design under the Ecoboost name.
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LVSteve
Member
Ματθιας;142147011 said:
I'm not sure how an ex-gov interior will work with his wife.
I'm not sure how an ex-gov interior will work with his wife.
Not all of them are strippers
I leased a 2020 Ram 1500 Big Horn. Prior truck 2003 Ram 1500 still running with 190K. Almost went with the Silverado but the coil spring ride and interior room had me go with the Ram. Bought it last year off lease and bought the extended warranty. I’m friendly with the owner of the dealership and he told me to buy out the lease and NOT to buy or lease a new 2024. He recommended the Chrysler extended warranty vs any others. Same as new car warranty with anything covered for a $100 deductible. The truck has had no issues at 60K. I’m very happy with it. Limited towing of anything big (20 foot pontoon boat twice a year).
Jon651
Member
I guess the primary question is "How will this truck be used?" Really, nothing else matters. If you want to tow an 8-ton trailer, forget about any of the turbo 4-cylinder offerings, period. If you want a grocery getter for the wifey, ditch the thought of any of the big diesels. You can't have both types of trucks on the same list because each is a specialist in its own category. If you don't narrow down your potential usage range, the choices will drive you nuts!
As for trucks with potential issues, every system (engine, driveline, body/interior, etc.) has issues - but for every one that has a critical failure there are an order of magnitude more that soldier along with few or no problems.
For example, the prior generation of GM Duramax diesel motors (the LMN series) were condemned as being extremely problematic. I saw dozens of YouTube videos decrying their issues and even more "experts" saying "Stay Away At All Costs!". And yet, I owned mine for 10-1/2 years towing my trailers, driving to the grocery store, and doing everything else in between - without a single engine-related problem at all. All I ever did was routine maintenance and the most expensive part I ever paid for were new batteries. Admittedly, the local dealer's tech damaged it when they replaced the DEF tank under warranty by being an absolute moron, but I don't blame the truck for that issue.
Frankly, it's all going to come down to the usage you want to get and the money you have to spend. Oh, and cup holders. Cup holders are important!
As for trucks with potential issues, every system (engine, driveline, body/interior, etc.) has issues - but for every one that has a critical failure there are an order of magnitude more that soldier along with few or no problems.
For example, the prior generation of GM Duramax diesel motors (the LMN series) were condemned as being extremely problematic. I saw dozens of YouTube videos decrying their issues and even more "experts" saying "Stay Away At All Costs!". And yet, I owned mine for 10-1/2 years towing my trailers, driving to the grocery store, and doing everything else in between - without a single engine-related problem at all. All I ever did was routine maintenance and the most expensive part I ever paid for were new batteries. Admittedly, the local dealer's tech damaged it when they replaced the DEF tank under warranty by being an absolute moron, but I don't blame the truck for that issue.
Frankly, it's all going to come down to the usage you want to get and the money you have to spend. Oh, and cup holders. Cup holders are important!
MORSNO
US Veteran
1500/150 series trucks are ridiculously priced. 2500/250 are also overpriced now, but still in demand. A 3500/250 can be had for a better price as there is less demand, and insurance is cheaper for some reason. I have a twelve year old GMC with 6.0 gasser that has never been to the shop for a single repair and all I've done is oil and air filter changes. The battery has been replaced and tires twice, but they are wear items. Most of the miles are while carrying a 3,000+lb camper all over Alaska, western Canada, and western US.
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I wouldn't. Those vehicles were used and abused. My father was in the auto salvage business and he'd always low bid on ex government vehicles because there was a good chance that the running gear was junk.
Ματθιας;142147011 said:
venomballistics
Member
Was it worth it? - YouTubeIt's a shame that the cat is an AI generated fake.... I'd consider one
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LVSteve
Member
Hence my earlier comment about AI in my OP. I don't need the added noise and clutter, the research is enough of a grind already.
pantannojack
US Veteran
I would be lost to find a truck today. I got lucky three times in the past. I still drive them today.
In '95 I got a 91 one ton ford van/460, E4od $8,000. Now it shows 430+k miles. 12 mpg. New trans original 460, still runs quiet.
In '98 I got a '96 Bronco 351, E4od $15,000. 283,000 miles.
11mpg. All original still runs quiet.
In 2017 a 2006 3/4 ton ford van 5.4l two valve, new trans 250,000 miles up to 17 mpg. Still runs quiet.
They all have needed maintenance, especially the 5.4 with their thousand dollar spark plugs.
Someone mentioned "they" won't build what we want. No, that is not it. We all know the answer.
In '95 I got a 91 one ton ford van/460, E4od $8,000. Now it shows 430+k miles. 12 mpg. New trans original 460, still runs quiet.
In '98 I got a '96 Bronco 351, E4od $15,000. 283,000 miles.
11mpg. All original still runs quiet.
In 2017 a 2006 3/4 ton ford van 5.4l two valve, new trans 250,000 miles up to 17 mpg. Still runs quiet.
They all have needed maintenance, especially the 5.4 with their thousand dollar spark plugs.
Someone mentioned "they" won't build what we want. No, that is not it. We all know the answer.
garddogg56
Member
On used govt vehicles...
I've had two - a 1967 Ford Stepside bought from the USFS in '75 - drove it to '84 with only minor repairs (i took off the head and had a real mechanic grind the valves, then replaced the valve lifter pushrods with .020 replacements). When it died in '84, I sold the body for more than I paid for the truck.
In '85 I bought a '78 Dodge from GSA in Gallup, NM with minor body damage - drove it to '99, replacing 4 or 5 starters (these were a weak point) and u-joints. Paid $985 for it and sold it for $650 after over 13 years and 150K miles.
I've had two - a 1967 Ford Stepside bought from the USFS in '75 - drove it to '84 with only minor repairs (i took off the head and had a real mechanic grind the valves, then replaced the valve lifter pushrods with .020 replacements). When it died in '84, I sold the body for more than I paid for the truck.
In '85 I bought a '78 Dodge from GSA in Gallup, NM with minor body damage - drove it to '99, replacing 4 or 5 starters (these were a weak point) and u-joints. Paid $985 for it and sold it for $650 after over 13 years and 150K miles.
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