Quick Truck / Buell question

[cb750]

It's a four wheel drive and in the real world as a work truck I get like 8-12 mpg

Describes every Dodge and Jeep I have known. Terrible mileage. My '97 Dakota runs about 11-12 according to the computer, while my old '99 half ton Silverado with 5.3 would run 14-16. Both are 4wd and extend cab. My Chevy has hauled my Buell a couple times. Good ramps make a big difference. I know you said you don't need a diesel, but if anyone ever come out with a small diesel in a half ton it would be a good buy, I have a crew cab diesel one ton chevy and it gets better mileage (empty) still. (around 18)

I'm a Chevy guy, so you know where I'm biased, but I've heard good things about Ford's Ecoboost engine, so you may want to look at one of those if you are buying new. I wouldn't consider a Dodge unless it was an older 12 valve.

 

[anrkizm95]

the fords have plug problems,coil problems and timing chain problems,chevy has intake problems and lifter problems,dodge has pushrod and lifter problems if abused.toyota is a great truck

was a big ford truck fan until they went to coil on plug design,they are ok if you dont offroad in the mud,snow or water.
we work on tons of fords,chevys,dodges and toyotas.the toyotas have the least major problems

 

[pvmike]

I know this won't be a popular opinion but I had a Honda Ridgeline and loved it to death. It was designed for motorcycles to be hauled in the bed. It has wheel chocks built in to the front of the bed and the tailgate has deep recesses to fit the rear tire. It is comfortable and spacious and always got decent gas mileage. It could use a bit more motor but it was never a problem for me. I never hauled anything crazy in the bed so I never worried about payload numbers. I wanted something strictly for hauling bikes and it fit the bill wonderfully. The trunk in the bed is one of the greatest inventions ever as well as the dual tailgate. I never liked them because I thought they were ugly but the utility and design won me over in the end. The look eventually grew on me and it started to remind me of the Warthog from Halo so it became a vehicle I truly loved. Unfortunately my department got shut down at work and my wife lost her job around 2009 and it got repo'd. I actually got really sad to see it go, but once I get back in a good financial place, I'll definitely be looking at another one.

I have a Ridgeline that I love as well. It's comfortable seating 4, has a 5 foot bed that will hold a bike, and the underbed trunk is comparable to any car trunk. It's such an amazingly useful vehicle. I wouldn't call it a good looking truck either, but it has won me over so I don't care. Now that it's 6 years old, I am considering replacing it with a Raptor or Tundra, but I don't think either of those will be as versatile as the Ridgeline with it's underbed trunk. Apparently there will be a new one released in a couple years, but that's a long time out.

 

[snrusnak]

It's funny to see how everyone has developed "a bad taste" on certain makes. As for toyota, My aunt has had camry after camry after camry and she's had a handful of issues. She keeps getting them because she's stuck in the payments, she always talks about how much she hates her car. A friend of mine has a camry and threw a rod at something under 50k miles and he takes care of it. Replaced the engine under warranty. I know some guys with tundras that have sheared camshafts as well.

All makes have issues, but at the end of the day any of these newer vehicles are pretty damn good. I've had really bad luck with ford and toyota, great luck with gm and ram. Some others the exact opposite.

 

[07Bolt]

I got to drive a 2013 dodge ram crew cab 4x4 last week. Went to OKC, Austin, Tyler all over D/FW. Barely 14mpg. My '01 with a 5.9L got 17mpg on the hwy coming back from Texarkana to Dallas in 2008. The 2013 had balls though even with the flex-fuel. At $2.50 a gallon and 400 miles to the tank. Ford has the new alum chassis f-150 now for 2015. Lighter and with a high output v6.

 

[Theycallmecrash]

I love all the "my friend, my family, i know a guy" crap.

Get a Tundra, gonna be the best truck. Only issues Ive ever noticed working on them over the years, some front suspension bushings go bad, rarely any other issues.

Dodge, chevy and Ford all seem to have coolant leak issues at or near the water pump, dodges specifically like to leak at the timing cover.
Ford- spark plug issues like stated above, either get seized in place, or say the 5.4L blow a plug right out, ball joint wear out quickly uppers and lowers, oil leaks front rear of heads fairly common too.
Chevy/GM- wheel bearings, all the steering linkage wears often, intake gaskets/seals, instrument clusters failed often on a wide range of years, just might be me but Ive experienced a lot of charging system issues with GM trucks.
Dodge- eats brakes, everything leaks all the time, suspension/steering, are generally under powered compared to the other american trucks, and feel cheaper by far all around.

Toyota- control arm bushings on 05 and older, less power than the other trucks but also a lot lighter.

Honda- hardly ever see them, probably a good reliable vehicle, but they look stupid IMO

 

[anrkizm95]

Chevy/GM- wheel bearings, all the steering linkage wears often, intake gaskets/seals, instrument clusters failed often on a wide range of years, just might be me but Ive experienced a lot of charging system issues with GM trucks.

[up]
also hvac problems heater cores,actuators and doors.ive found gm has more electrical than any other make

 

[mowgoli84]

New 1500 w/ a 5.3.

Each his own, but my brother has 15 years as a GM Mechanic; I have an uncle who has been a mechanic for 35 years and both of them have worked on everything under the sun.

Both of them don't agree with the wheel bearings, all the steering linkage wears often, intake gaskets/seals, instrument clusters failed often on a wide range of years, just might be me but Ive experienced a lot of charging system issues with GM trucks statement.

Carry on.

 

[ANIMOSITY]

Buy a diesel (Cummins or Powerstroke) and never need another truck again.
My truck, a 97 f350 crew cab with 6in lift on 38's was getting 18 MPG. Thats a big ass truck to get
18 MPG. Plus diesels take mods well.

 

[Theycallmecrash]

My buddy says, buy a ford cause he hasnt had an issue in 3 months, My dad says chevys never have any issues and he once built an engine. My chicks dad swears by dodge, and i trust him cause he owns a colorado.

And I say Toyota cause I once heard from a friends mom whos dad was a toyota mechanics uncle, that they can fly with race fuel.