Many reliable engines indeed do not make the most horsepower that they could make. This is true because the parts are not being pushed to the limits of the materials
Chevy vs Ford vs Toyota pickup
- Thread starter Renaissance_Man
- Start date
Toyota is one of the most innovative vehicle companies out there. The Taco gained its reputation for reliability by being reliable, not by being fancy. I have no qualms whatsoever that the Camry engine is in it. Actually, the Taco engine is in the Camry, is just as good a though process here.
Also, why on earth would I complain about an old design for a transmission if it was bulletproof? Answer: I wouldnt.
Would you prefer the "innovation" of GM's AFM / DFM engines? Or the infamous 6 and 8 speed transmissions in the last generation of trucks? I have a 2014 GMC Sierra 1500. So far so good, knock on wood, but I think about those two factors once almost every day. My nephew has a 2500. Much more heavy duty and not prone to the same issues. I honestly think I might go that route the next time.
Ford is Ford. Farm and industry related trucks and so on. Cant argue that, but they are not without thier issues. Regarding the 150's with EcoBoost...you aren't really getting that much better fuel mileage because of the twin turbo setup, but you are winding the thing up beyond it's normal limits. And the first thing to screw the pooch on a turbo engine is, well, the turbo. Hard pass for me.
The thing about Jeeps only looking good on 37's is highly subjective, but i agree with you about manual transmissions for sure. Wouldnt have all this gear hunting if I had a manual
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Looking at new trucks. Ram 2500 Tradesman with Powerwagon Package.
Get it with RAMBOX and hit the trails.
If I did not use the hell out of my 8 foot bed...one would be in the drive.
If I was doing this by myself...i would be getting another one of these and love the simplicity and be truly roughing it
I should have never sold it. The reason I have 3 Mopar trucks now...
Get it with RAMBOX and hit the trails.
If I did not use the hell out of my 8 foot bed...one would be in the drive.
If I was doing this by myself...i would be getting another one of these and love the simplicity and be truly roughing it
I should have never sold it. The reason I have 3 Mopar trucks now...
Contributor I
There's nothing wrong with it - it was completely the opposite of what I expected. I couldn't even get him to tell me what makes Chevy special
Advocate I
Don't know a lot about US pick ups, but for overlanding there are a list of common criteria you should consider.
You should make a proper list, and list the vehicles that fit the bill, make a top 3 - go drive them, and make a choice.
1. How much payload and space you need - nobody knows but you. I guess you made some trips already and you should know by now if you can live in a hammock like you say, or you need tent where you can have a small weeding inside. Do you travel in bad weather ? do you need a space where you can spend the whole day in case it is raining ? Consider when you get older you might want more creature comforts ( that translates in more stuff to haul around ) and leave some room for that. Now you might be ok with a small fridge, but perhaps, in the future you will want a dual zone 80 l to have a lot of icecream for your nephew. Since you buy new and keep for let's say 5 years, consider if your needs will evolve..
2. consider not only the vehicle itself but the relationship with the local dealer ? Does he has a good reputation ? this relationship will be like a fixed therm marriage for the warranty period.. can become very difficult and expensive.. you will modify the vehicle, maybe add 2 battery - will he give you trouble with claims because of this ? So even if Toyota have a good rep for reliability, is your local dealer OK ?
3. Consider the aftermarket support for modding the truck and how easy it is to do some work yourself. Some are better than others, for example for Jepp there are endless mods and things you can do to them, tutorials, videos on how to do stuff... some other models not so much.. This is connected directly with your wish list as camping equipment . Do you plan an dual battery system, a water tank , shower etc.. ? Can you mount them easy on that model ? Do they even exist for that truck ? This can save you a lot of trouble and grief after..
4. In theory this should be a rational decision and needs to make sense financially.
That means you make a a short list with what fits the bill, and choose the one with the highest score and it is prudent financially as well.
In real world we are humans. You will use this truck for hobby, at least part time, maybe only for hobby. You will spend many days in a row living out of it, driving it for hours that are suppose to be fun. So you have to like it as well. If it fits the bill perfectly but you hate it..walk away.
I had an old Landcruiser that I sold after a few years, it was giving me a lot of mechanical problems and expensive bills.. I loved that thing but it had to go.
I bought a new pick up, a Hilux instead.. It was a complete rational thing, and mostly because I had lower taxes for pick ups in Europe, where I live, it made a lot of sense financially. By any metric (except ride quality) it was better in every way : more space, reliable, capable off road, better fuel economy ans so on, but I hated the thing..
I remember when I had the Landcruiser, I would just look trough the window and see it parked in front, I just wanted to go some place, did not matter where ... I was making an excuse for every sunny week-end .
Than I had this Hilux... nothing - it left me cold. Yes I would use it for trips, it would do the job.. but no matter how much I tried to really enjoy it.. I did not succeed. I actually traveled less because of this, I did not even wanted to be bothered to take it out of the garage for short week-end trips..
So I sold it after less than 2 years of ownership, taking a financial hit and now looking for something else.
Now I understand the relationship of LR owners they have with their cars.. they know they will break down but they don't care, they just love them and they can live it with and have great fun . They sell them, they swear they will never buy another, try something else and come back into the fold :)
So consider this as well..
You should make a proper list, and list the vehicles that fit the bill, make a top 3 - go drive them, and make a choice.
1. How much payload and space you need - nobody knows but you. I guess you made some trips already and you should know by now if you can live in a hammock like you say, or you need tent where you can have a small weeding inside. Do you travel in bad weather ? do you need a space where you can spend the whole day in case it is raining ? Consider when you get older you might want more creature comforts ( that translates in more stuff to haul around ) and leave some room for that. Now you might be ok with a small fridge, but perhaps, in the future you will want a dual zone 80 l to have a lot of icecream for your nephew. Since you buy new and keep for let's say 5 years, consider if your needs will evolve..
2. consider not only the vehicle itself but the relationship with the local dealer ? Does he has a good reputation ? this relationship will be like a fixed therm marriage for the warranty period.. can become very difficult and expensive.. you will modify the vehicle, maybe add 2 battery - will he give you trouble with claims because of this ? So even if Toyota have a good rep for reliability, is your local dealer OK ?
3. Consider the aftermarket support for modding the truck and how easy it is to do some work yourself. Some are better than others, for example for Jepp there are endless mods and things you can do to them, tutorials, videos on how to do stuff... some other models not so much.. This is connected directly with your wish list as camping equipment . Do you plan an dual battery system, a water tank , shower etc.. ? Can you mount them easy on that model ? Do they even exist for that truck ? This can save you a lot of trouble and grief after..
4. In theory this should be a rational decision and needs to make sense financially.
That means you make a a short list with what fits the bill, and choose the one with the highest score and it is prudent financially as well.
In real world we are humans. You will use this truck for hobby, at least part time, maybe only for hobby. You will spend many days in a row living out of it, driving it for hours that are suppose to be fun. So you have to like it as well. If it fits the bill perfectly but you hate it..walk away.
I had an old Landcruiser that I sold after a few years, it was giving me a lot of mechanical problems and expensive bills.. I loved that thing but it had to go.
I bought a new pick up, a Hilux instead.. It was a complete rational thing, and mostly because I had lower taxes for pick ups in Europe, where I live, it made a lot of sense financially. By any metric (except ride quality) it was better in every way : more space, reliable, capable off road, better fuel economy ans so on, but I hated the thing..
I remember when I had the Landcruiser, I would just look trough the window and see it parked in front, I just wanted to go some place, did not matter where ... I was making an excuse for every sunny week-end .
Than I had this Hilux... nothing - it left me cold. Yes I would use it for trips, it would do the job.. but no matter how much I tried to really enjoy it.. I did not succeed. I actually traveled less because of this, I did not even wanted to be bothered to take it out of the garage for short week-end trips..
So I sold it after less than 2 years of ownership, taking a financial hit and now looking for something else.
Now I understand the relationship of LR owners they have with their cars.. they know they will break down but they don't care, they just love them and they can live it with and have great fun . They sell them, they swear they will never buy another, try something else and come back into the fold :)
So consider this as well..
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Contributor I
While I agree with you and appreciate the effort that you made to type that message, I don't have time to check 20+ parts on 3 different websites to do a comparison; plus I doubt that I can keep track of all that. I was hoping that a mechanic would weigh in
They are all junk. Pick the one you like to look at the top of the hood on and go adventure.
This is an overlanding group. Many different walks of life with many varying opinions.
You can not find some one to agree about a truck on fan boy pages much less on here.
There have been 3 different mechanic type opinions in this thread and each is different.
Heck..look at a tire thread or a tent thread here...
Go sit in the seat of truck. Grab the steering wheel. Start the truck and select drive. See if you like the way the seat fits your body. Does the windshield allow you to see where you are going...
Does the ride feel adequate and does the truck make the noises you like
A group can go to a dealer. All buy the same truck and by noon the next day...a group full of opinions.
And...there is nothing special about a Chevy.
Member III
In my personal opinion on new vehicles for the most part actually suck . doesn’t matter the brand or manufacturer they are not meant to last anymore just like appliances electronics etc. etc. .. the mass majority of people buying a new rig will only keep it till the extended warranty is up and get whatever has the newest doodad and biggest screen on the dash . People use to keep vehicles till the wheels literally fell of because the cost of ownership and very short loan terms made people really care about their rig becasue they knew they would have it a very long time and manufacturers responded by making vehicles that last . Now vehicles are throw away toys that most will keep 5 years and the majority of buyers will never pay it off before buying another rig .
So the best thing you could do is just go out and test drive a bunch of vehicles you’re interested in, everybody likes something different and depending on your body types will find different vehicles comfortable what works for a 5’8 person with a bigger build probably won’t fit a 6’4 with a thin build or vice versa .
So the best thing you could do is just go out and test drive a bunch of vehicles you’re interested in, everybody likes something different and depending on your body types will find different vehicles comfortable what works for a 5’8 person with a bigger build probably won’t fit a 6’4 with a thin build or vice versa .
I am a master tech.
I second the nomination for Ram or Ford 250/350/2500/3500. Ram is more reliable and sometimes easier to work on. Ford is better in every other way except maybe rear springs.
Can we even get the 5.0 in F150's anymore? The new Tundra lost it's v8. Turbo 6 only.
I second the nomination for Ram or Ford 250/350/2500/3500. Ram is more reliable and sometimes easier to work on. Ford is better in every other way except maybe rear springs.
Can we even get the 5.0 in F150's anymore? The new Tundra lost it's v8. Turbo 6 only.
Advocate I
Amen to that, you managed to sum up my wall of text page thing trying to explain this.. :)
Contributor I
I heard that Rams run great until they break then they break catastrophically. I only heard this from 1 mechanic so I guess you disagree right? I would also like to ask you what you think of "Chevy as in are they also easy to work on?"
Influencer II
Okay @Renaissance_Man I saw your different threads and many of your questions.
I absolutely understand that if someone invest money, you don't want it to be a shit investment, but you totally overthinking this whole thing.
For me, its easy... Walk around, read a bit about it, drive it... Does your heart beat faster? Buy it!
And quite a few people tried to tell you this with some sort of nice description...
I'm saying it loud, buy, the heck, whatever gets your blood pumping!
I absolutely understand that if someone invest money, you don't want it to be a shit investment, but you totally overthinking this whole thing.
For me, its easy... Walk around, read a bit about it, drive it... Does your heart beat faster? Buy it!
And quite a few people tried to tell you this with some sort of nice description...
I'm saying it loud, buy, the heck, whatever gets your blood pumping!
Contributor I
Just playing devil's advocate, but I haven't seen anyone mention Nissan. I own a Titan Pro4X and have been very impressed with it over the Ford and Chevy trucks I've owned in years past. There is also a brand new Frontier that was just released. Should be a great truck since they've been running that drivetrain for a couple years and most of the tech has been brought in from the Titan.
I've never owned a Dodge or Toyota, but I've spent a lot of time in the Tacoma, Land Cruiser, and Hilux. I really wanted to buy a Tundra TRD Pro after test driving the Trail Boss, Rebel, and FX4. But after I test drove the Titan, I was blown away that I could get a truck that nice for 8k less than a comparably equipped competitor. Add the 5 yr/100k mile bumper to bumper warranty into the mix and it was a no brainer for me.
Food for thought.
I've never owned a Dodge or Toyota, but I've spent a lot of time in the Tacoma, Land Cruiser, and Hilux. I really wanted to buy a Tundra TRD Pro after test driving the Trail Boss, Rebel, and FX4. But after I test drove the Titan, I was blown away that I could get a truck that nice for 8k less than a comparably equipped competitor. Add the 5 yr/100k mile bumper to bumper warranty into the mix and it was a no brainer for me.
Food for thought.
I am new to this forum and I’m not sure where you’re at on this but this reminds me when my parents were in the same position you are. So what they did is went to a rental car place that had the vehicles they were looking at and rented one a week and put each one through all the daily tasks they would be using them for and they found the best one for them.
Coming of what you said “no single truck offering everything you’d want” Where I’m at there is a guy who has a custom built Jeep and it say’s on his vehicle “Jeep’s aren’t bought they’re made “ may not be a bad idea for this guy to just make one the way he wants
Some Rams catastrophically lunch their drivetrains. I've got pics of a transfer case that exploded at 65mph. Ripped out every brake line, grenaded the transmission and drive shaft. $14,000+. The hemi cam/rocker issues. And voodoo "shifting to 4wd" bugs are also fun.
My Ram Cummins split it's ALUMINUM injection pump in half, which destroyed all of the injectors. (should be noted that: Ford and Gm use the same garbage diesel fuel pump designs and are having the same results) Steering is getting a bit loose already. But the rest of the truck has been fine.
Everything about my Ford is better than my Ram, but for some reason, with our Fleet trucks, Rams are still a touch more reliable. Ford needs to pick it up and concentrate on reliability. Their trucks are better in every other way. There's always something freaky going on. Generally, my personally owned Fords do fine.
GM is rubbish. I won't touch those anymore. I turn people away. I'll just do a simple brake job, and a month later the customer is complaining "my transmission failed, it's your fault.''. Can't win servicing products of quality that low. Customer is always going to be unhappy. So I don't service GM's now. Not worth wrecking my rep. I can't NOT recommend GM enough.
World Traveler III
Advocate III
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Ex mechanic weighing in… I saw an equal amount of Ford, Chevy/GM, Dodge, Mazda, Nissan trucks coming into my shop for more than just an oil change or tuneup. Only had a couple of Toyotas through out the years with severe problems. And most of those problems with Toyota were caused by owner neglect and/or were during the early 1990’s when the 3.0L was introduced.
By today’s standards, Ford is probably the most reliable Domestic Truck, fallowed closely by Dodge, Chevy has a lot of problems, especially if you want to actually use it as truck and not a pavement princess. Again Toyota comes out on top with the Tacoma with the least amount of problems.
Which one would I buy? Well, I’ve owned quite a few Fords (currently have an 89 Bronco), a couple of Dodges, a Toyota 4Runner (it’s the DD), and only one GM product that I loved so much I sold it a week later. So if I were to buy another new rig, it would be Toyota first, and Ford (New Big Bronco only) or a Toyota. I’m leaning hard on purchases new Toyota in the next couple of years.
Also look at resale value. There is a reason Toyota has one of the highest prices for resale, it’s because they are worth it. My mom’s Corolla got almost 2 million miles out on it with only doing a head job at the 1million mile mark. At the 2 Million mark some one t boned her and made it so that we couldn’t open the driver or left passenger doors so we sold it for scrap. It was a one owner car driven hard for almost 30 years.
Contributor I
