Which truck would you buy?

I'm Ford through and through! We use Ford Rangers 4X4 extended cab, 6' bed.

You may want a larger truck, but in our area Rangers are easier to get around on the mountain roads.

Also, the first thing I do is go to the Whitney catalog and add an extra leaf and coil spring to the rear end to support the load.

These are good for a 2 man crew - but that's it.

Dodge is tougher than both and generally cheaper.

Get a hemi with 4x4 and let it rip. If you really wanna have fun, put a Ranch Hand brush guard on front of it.

I miss my old dodge, but the chevy I drive now is much smoother on the ride.

For work, we don't run anything but dodges.

Don't care for any type of extended cab. Makes them to hard to handle off road and the extra wheelbase gets the bottom beat up from high centering when off road. Get what you like, anything else you will find fault with anyway. Smart move to not buy new. I buy nothing unless it is payed for in cash.
jud

hemi? That should tell you that the manufactures have exceeded the design capacity of the block and to get more cubic inches they are carving out the inside of the heads. Get more power, but will the crank and bearings stand up to it over time? Time for them to build a larger block.
jud

> I really like the fact that Ford has survived the economic mess on their own with no help for the feds.

I agree with this tidbit. That impressed me, especially when Chrysler and GM were whining about their problems to the government. Ford stood its ground and survived. Plus now they are getting better overall ratings in quality than Toyota.

I've always been a Ford guy but my wife inherited a Dodge truck several years ago when her uncle passed away. It's been a really great truck, but I still miss my 1998 F-150. I remember whining when the fuel pump went bad on it when I lived in Tucson, then my mechanic said it was pretty amazing that it made it to 120,000 miles in the Arizona desert. I sold that truck at around 160,000 miles and it was still running like a new one and my only complaint was that fuel pump. Someone told me that it was just barely getting started at 160k.

Wendell - I hope you're right. My 2000 F-150 has 162K on it right now. Fuel pump went out a couple months ago - expensive item, then the replacement failed, but seems OK now.

I had not even considered Dodge. Don't know why. Now I have another variable to the equation. But thanks for the info.

Sorry JUD, you don't have a clue what you are talking about with the hemi head. The don't put the hemi head on to get more cubic inches, it has certain adavantages for flow, larger valves, central spark plugs. I've owned a few late model hemi's in both trucks and cars, and they are great engines.

My dream truck would be a 2004-2007 Dodge 1 ton, single rear wheel, extended cab with 5.9 turbo cummins.

At work we have GMC and Ford two wheel drive extended cabs. I personally don't like the new Ford, the controls and seats just seem akward, but it rides really good. I like the GMC's better.

Ford Ranger.

Mine just rolled 162k and the transmission went out - simply because I didn't maintain it. The mechanic who looked at it said the truck is otherwise in great shape and well worth the investment of a new transmission. I thought he was just trying to make a sale so I took it to another shop and they said the same thing. So next week she gets a new Jasper transmission and I expect her to roll another 50 - 60k before I sell her.

There is a reason you see Rangers everywhere - it's a good basic design that Ford has perfected over the years. They ain't flashy and they ain't particularly luxurious, but damn, they last.

> Fuel pump went out a couple months ago - expensive item, then the replacement failed, but seems OK now.

That jogged my memory a bit. My mechanic said I would pay more, but recommended an official Ford replacement because there wasn't a manufacturer on Earth that made a good off-brand replacement.

jud you're showing your age dude

I promise, 200k is nothing for a hemi. Now, I will stipulate, that you can wear out a rear-end in 70k, but it's no tougher on the truck than taking it off-road.

FWIW, I love the extended cabs. However, you have to learn a new skill set to drive them off-road and when and where you can turn around.

However, the hemi, when you absolutely, positively, need to throw 30' rooster tails, you can do it! 🙂

Check out what they're doing with small blocks these days. Hell, Chevy makes a 300 hp v6 for crying out loud.

The days of needing big blocks that tink for more than 400 horses are a thing of the past. Just look at what's coming off the line now. Or better yet, look at the "fast and furious" cars with the coffee can muffler with 300 horses at the wheel, not the fly wheel, the front wheels and they've got 4 cylinders.

It's okay, you're just getting older jud. 🙂

:good:

I've got to agree with Kris, Mopar or no car.

If I was going to get a new survey rig I'd take a good hard look at a Sprinter Van.

1 Ton, with a Mercedes Diesel:clap:

I currently want one of these...but they are close to $500,000....

Over the years the companies I've been with have had Fords, Chevys & Dodge trucks. The Fords seemed to have a better maintenance record, lower cost & frequency of repair. A dodge we had required a transmission replacement @ 36,000 miles, just after the warranty expired.

Toyota Tundra

I suggest a Toyota Tundra.

The last four trucks in our "fleet" consisted of 3 Tundras and one Ford F150. The Ford was a money pit...until I gave it to my ex-wife. 😐 The Toyotas...dependable.

I've owned 4 Dodge vehicles...ALL pigs. You're lucky to get a year out of a Mopar battery in the Florida heat.

If I had to choose from Ford, Chrysler, or GM...GM all the way.

Every time I buy, I am open to looking at all of

the manufacturers. After looking at all the data I find, reviews, and comparing options and pricing, I have ended up with a Ford every time.

I currently have a Ranger 4X4 (209K miles) and a F-150 4X4 (197K miles). Both are NOT the top of the line, because I don't like/need all the bells and whistles. Replacing an alternator on the Ranger is the biggest 'repair' so far. Original engines and transmissions. They are still running very good (knock on wood).

I do regular maintenance on them.

I recently hit a deer while in the F-150. He came up a side slope into the highway at night. I hit him at about 30 mph and sent him flying. I ended up only having to replace the front grill. Bought a $200 aftermarket grill and put it on in about 10 minutes. Pretty cheap for hitting a deer that hard.

Not saying others don't make a good truck, but I've been happy with Ford for about 24 years.

Edit to add:
4L in the Ranger and 4.6L in the F-150.

With a topper they each get around 22 mpg +/- a very small margin. On a recent long drive to Frankfort, I was a little heavy on the gas peddle. Going about 78 mph, I ended up getting 18mpg out of the F-150.

Toyota Tundra

Depends on what you do and where you go.
I used a toyota 2wd for a year and it was a good truck, good gas smileage, good power, fair off road if you're careful.

My all time favorite was a Ford F-350 4wd (not dually), single cab diesel, stick shift, heavy duty front end with a 12,000 lb. Warn winch. I pulled more than a few jeeps, toyotas, and chevys out of bad situations with it. And the diesel will last longer than you will. Fairly good mileage and tons of power.
DJJ

Toyota Hilux

There are worn off-road trails all over the world just as wide as a Toyota Hilux. For a reason...it is simply the best.

My '82 Hilux used to run circles around stuck "domestic" trucks all the time. Good times, good times.
My 2003 was just as nice. My '07 Crewmax is the roided up version...

Ford

Ford