best truck in the U.S.?

[forresth]

I love my super duty for towing and hauling loads, but for an every day truck, It would be a ecoboost F150.

that engine will be causing the competition some headaches. No, I am not a Ford fan-boy, but I don't really care for the current batch of competitors.

I like the Chevy Avelanch for ride and all around utility if you don't make a habit of hauling every day or dirty stuff. You should look into them Cajun. Its a slightly longer Burban (same basic chassis and suspension) with a chop top were the 3rd row used to be. Pretty sure you can get them under $30k. Paid about $25k for the wife's 05 4x4 new.

The import brand full sized trucks don't do much for me. They suck gas and can't be used as hard as the domestics.

 

[Diesel_doberman]

I'm a ford truck guy. I own a 2009 F-350 King Ranch diesel. I love it. I need the power. Where a Toyota won't cut it.

 

[Frank46]

2007 GMC Sierra, paid for in full, have used it to haul dirt, lumber, groceries, the wife and kids. So best truck I've ever driven. Frank

 

[walnutred]

This is an interesting thread to me because I'm in the beginning stages of replacing my Ford Ranger. I'd decided to replace it after owning it 10 years or 250,000 miles, both of which will occur early next year.

Right now I'm leaning towards another Ranger. In looking at online reviews Edmunds says that while the Ranger design is a little dated after the Apocalyps the only thing moving will be cockroaches and a few Ford Rangers.

 

[mkk41]

Chevy/GMC trucks seem to run forever , but the cabs rust out first. Fords seem to have far more mechanical problems and recalls.

When I replace my '94 Chevy Silverado 1500 Z-71 , 137,000 on the old iron small block 350 , it's probably gonna be a new Toyota.

 

[DesertFox]

So, may we fairly assume that "catching air", an elaborate sound system, and etc. , does not put you among the abusers of rural roads, speeders, reckless drivers, and players of obnoxiously loud music of dubious taste, the likes of whom I must suffer when I drive the Apache Trail and elsewhere in rural Arizona? I hope so... I have no patience with testosterone-tainted show-offs who hang their hats on their conspicuous consumption of hardware. Some of these idiots nearly kill me (and themselves... and others) nearly every weekend outing. "Professional Driver/Closed Course" as the inane automotive TV ads disclaim, are the only set of circumstances when these sorts of driving behaviors are not endangering others.

I think the OP was a query about the durability of trucks. I think your reply was non-responsive to the question...

The OP asked about the "best truck". We are all free to interpret that as we might. After owning several, I can tell you that the durability of the Raptor is outstanding.

Every assumption starts will an ***.

Ford accepted no bailout money - that's nice. Dodge seems to be the bottom rung on the latter for durability, then Uncle Sam Chevy, then Ford. Seems to be the pricing structure too. Toyotas seem very durable, especially the older ones.

I had a 1982 Chevy LUV 4x4 diesel that lasted forever and was very durable but I would not give it the moniker of best truck. I had a 1993 Ford F-150 Flairside with dual tanks that I drove from Cheyenne, WY to Amarillo, TX without refueling! But I wouldn't call it the best truck. The 1998 F-150 was excellent, a 2003 F-250 PowerStroke could tow like a train, a 2007 Lincoln MarkLT was as limo-like as it gets. But the Raptor rules. Even on the ground, going the speed limit, playing quiet Bach, driving defensively...

 

[MrAmbassador]

FORD, they didn't take a nickel of gomment bail out money.

 

[doublesharp]

Back when I worked a pickup I was pretty loyal to GM 3/4 tons. Now my main driver is a Honda Ridgeline and it suits me fine.

 

[Doug M.]

No one here has talked about a truck. These are pickups.

A real truck has 3 axles, at least a 12 liter diesel and while one can get by with a 9 speed, 13 or 18 speed transmissions are the better choices. I used to be a Mack fan, but their QC went to hell in a handcart when they moved manufacturing out of PA. I suspect that I will get a Western Star glider as the basis for my RV.

 

[Moonman]

Best truck in the U.S. is one that's;
Paid For,
Runs Great,
Full of Gas,
Suits YOUR NEEDS.

 

[tripledipper]

My 06 Toyota Tundra 6cyl. with only 41k works for me. Owned a few Rangers over the years and was going to upgrade and get a F-150 but got mad at Ford for closing down a truck plant in Norfolk. Not sorry about leaving Ford.

 

[65kaiser]

I guess I have to throw in my 2 cents for Dodge. I have a 95 Dodge 3500 4wd dually with the Cummins diesel. I have owned a lot of trucks but this by far is the best truck I have owned. I build natural rock waterfalls for a living so this truck has been used hard to haul and tow. just turned over 200K and other than general repairs I haven't had any problems. Its ready for the next 200K.

 

[jlrhiner]

'99 Ford F250 made in 1998. first of the "new" models. 230,000 miles and still going.

 

[M&P Freak]

Toyota. I drive a 02 Tundra and love it. If I were to replace it today I'd get a Tacoma.

 

[Diamondtreo]

'99 Dodge Ram 2500, 5-speed manual transmission, just turned 220,000 miles with no hickups. At this mileage I am still getting 21 mpg on average! Granted, the Dodge bodies are not the best out there, but for all around durability I will take a long-stroke in-line diesel any day over a V-motor. Cummins really improved the performance of their light truck engines when they incorporated the 4 valve per cylinder design.

John

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Purchased my Ford F150 XLT Super Cab 4X4, V8, automatic w/OD, towing package, new in 2004. Have driven it over 150,000 miles in Colorado on all sorts of roads and under all conditions,

2WD and 4WD. Average 19 mpg highway and 15 mpg in town. Have pulled a 6,000 lb. trailer on a 2,000 mile trip with it.

Maintenance to date has been (1) alternator replaced at 115,000, (2) battery replaced at 130,000, (3) spark plugs at 100,000, (4) tires replaced at 52,000, 100,000, and 149,000 (alignment at each tire change), (5) oil & filter changes at 3500 mile intervals, (6) tires rotated every second oil change, (7) air filters every 10,000, (8) fuel filters every 25,000, (8) transmission/transfer case/differential fluids every 50,000.

I think that is an excellent record. Truck still drives like new and I expect it to go another 150,000 or so.

Hard to beat the F150. Best truck I've ever owned.

 

[novalty]

FORD, they didn't take a nickel of gomment bail out money.

Obvious sign of quality...

I like my pre-bailout 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD.

 

[feralmerril]

Here`s the one I WISH I owned. Parks near us occasionaly at loves. Western star.

I dont consider myself a expert on trucks even though I havent been without one for close to 50 years. Right now we have two. A 2000 GMC sierra stepside with the 5.2 and a 2001 chev silverado with the 4.8. I just permently leave my trailer and quad hooked to the GMC. We drive the chev around most of the time. I like the GMC better as it has more power and options yet gives the same mileage. Neither has given me any problems and I have owned both for 7 to 9 years.

 

[BearBio]

"awesome truck!!!!! My friend has one of those and he does drifts, donuts, and air-time. no problem in this truck!! it handles like a dream.
there's nothing like a ford!!"

The first time my wife drove 4x4 was in a blizzard in Evanston, Wyoming, coming back from an elk hunt. I had driven 8 hrs and she volunteered to drive us to dinner. On the way back she learned a very important lesson: Four wheel drive only works if you keep four wheels on the ground!

As a wildlife biologist in eastern Washington, I get to drive all kinds of rigs in all kind of weather in all kinds of terrain. Deep in the Cascades or out in the Scablands, we go where there is no cell phone reception (also no radio and no satellite phone sometimes)==some of the areas (cities) don't have landlines, even! We keep 24/7; 365 survival gear in our rigs. We currently have Dodge full-size and Dakota pickups. We previously had Ford 350 and 250, as well as an S-10.

My private rig is a Nissan Frontier. I don't need anything bigger. It's 4x4 because we have snow 4-5 months at a time and up to 24" in a day. I didn't get a Toyota because they wanted $10K more for one and wouldn't deal (My previous Toyota SR5 had 329K miles on it when I sold it for $3K). It has a tool box with chains (yes, chains for a 4x4=if you need them, they are priceless), large first aid kit, sleeping bags, fireshield, survival blankets, shovel, ax, water, kitty litter, stove, food for 2-3 days, etc. Distances here can be long, so mileage is important as is comfort (wife and I are both pretty tall and we have two dogs).

From what I have observed:
Most people who have an F-350 have more truck than they can handle. Never seen a dirty one yet, except maybe parking lot mud from doing donuts. Few people can drive them and fewer yet can park them.
An F-150 seems to be the truck most farmers and real cowboys drive.
Chevy's are what most of the wanna-be cowboys and cowgirls around town drive. Rarely see one dirty.
Toyotas are either Tundras (nice and clean) and Tacomas (beat up, dirty)
Trailer haulers are either horsemen (large diesel trucks, usually a dually) or RV pullers (using land yachts).

So the definition of "best" is very subjective. Do you need something to cross the Mojave Trail from the Colorado River to San Berdoo (I did it in a Land Cruiser and my buddy in a Toyota P/U), or all weather family hauling? Deep backcountry hunting, hauling a week of food in and an elk or two out? Hauling horses for that two-week hunt on the other side of the US? Crossing high mountain ranges in the dead of winter or stuck in L.A. traffic? All of the above?

Hope I gave you some food for thought!

 

[dswancutt]

Here is a real truck

Daily driver 78 Chevy

46,000 toy 76 Chevy

Old reliable, 78 Chevy 4x4