Choosing a pickup

[Renaissance_Man]

Hey everyone
So I decided that I want a full size pickup, now I need to decide on a make.

I want something that has the front seat off the floor; in other words I'm going for the caravan setup & avoiding the sedan or Tacoma setup. Will a tundra be comfortable for me?

Happy trails,
Nicholas

 

[MidOH]

Yep. Tundra's a good choice.

I'd rather have an F250 xl, CC, SB, 7.3 gas, Fx4, 4.30, elocker, if I was in the market again.

Those will fit 35" tires stock, even the spare. Front axle is auto locker ready.

 

[Old Tanker]

If I was starting from scratch I'd build on an F250 Tremor.

 

[MMc]

I would also chose the F250 or a Ram 2500 with all the bells and lockers if I was going to start from scratch. Gas for sure.

 

[madcratebuilder]

The new Silverado ZR2 would be a good candidate.

 

[Renaissance_Man]

Yep. Tundra's a good choice.

I'd rather have an F250 xl, CC, SB, 7.3 gas, Fx4, 4.30, elocker, if I was in the market again.

Those will fit 35" tires stock, even the spare. Front axle is auto locker ready.

Thank you for the advice but you use a lot of acronyms and I'm just starting to learn the lingo

 

[ThundahBeagle]

F250xl- Ford F250. XL is a trim level
CC - Crew Cab...four full doors
SB -Short Bed...the box in the back is the short version
7.3 gas - big engine here, 7.3 liters, gas rather than diesel
Fx4 - Ford's common offroad package
4.30 - final drive gear ratio
E-Locker-electronic, selectable locker, for equal power to both wheels of an axle when desired

Full sized pickup trucks come in various levels of capability, even within one manufacturer. For the average Ford consumer, the choices are 150, 250, and 350. For Chevy the equivalents are known as the 1500, 2500, and 3500.

In the older days, they used to be called half-ton, 3/4 ton, and 1-ton respectively, though this nomenclature is outdated.

These designate hauling and towing capacity with each higher number a more capable bracket.

The truck described would be a beast. And expensive

 

[MidOH]

Mine was $38,000, out the door. Less than a base model Jeep.

4" suspensions are around $2000. Front locker is $1000 installed.

Only real challenge with the Ford is making engine skid plates, although I haven't needed any in years. Make them out of cardboard, take the cardboard to a fab shop.

Thanks to current levels of mismanaged inflation, they're close to $44k now.

 

[North American Sojourner]

I just picked up a F250 trading in a 19 Tacoma. Taco was under powered, crazy gear searching. Love the F250.

 

[Renaissance_Man]

Yep. Tundra's a good choice.

I'd rather have an F250 xl, CC, SB, 7.3 gas, Fx4, 4.30, elocker, if I was in the market again.

Those will fit 35" tires stock, even the spare. Front axle is auto locker ready.

If you were never planning on towing would you choose the f150?

 

[MidOH]

Nope. 250 is ten times stronger, same size, same cost.

Front axle is autolocker ready. Front springs are numbingly easy to swap and cheap (for winch bumpers and such), Simpler drivetrain. No GVWR concerns. And maybe a small camper from Bundutec or FWC is in my future.

 

[Renaissance_Man]

Nope. 250 is ten times stronger, same size, same cost.

Front axle is autolocker ready. Front springs are numbingly easy to swap and cheap (for winch bumpers and such), Simpler drivetrain. No GVWR concerns. And maybe a small camper from Bundutec or FWC is in my future.

F250 ame size as the f150? Isn't the f250 longer?

 

[MidOH]

Maybe. Mines not very long because shortbed.

 

[MOAK]

We are thinking that in about 6 or 7 years we’re going to change up our style a bit. I’ll be 75 and my wife 72. We both love our 80 series LC. It gets us to some spectacularly remote, way off grid, campsites. We know as we get older, pitching a big tent or climbing up and down a ladder to bed, may not be ideal. I’m with you mid-Ohio. The F-250 is about the only full size pick-up that is a fine workhorse right out of the box and would be right at home dragging an airstream or a large “off road” trailer into the back country.

 

[Brewbud]

I was looking at Ford 250 and Ram 2500. The Ram with the Cummins was a better choice for me.

Give thought about payload if you are ever going to tow anything big like a 5th wheel though. Pin weight eats up the legal payload of a 250 or 2500 pretty fast.

 

[MidOH]

I wouldn't get a pickup for a 5'er at all. I'd get a 350-550 chassis cab DRW. Flatbed. Better bed clearance.

Truck beds are handy for a TT, but a 5'er is such a one trick pony, I'd get a truck specially for that task.

I've got a 19 Ram 3500 chassis cab 10' box, and a 17 Ford f250 in my driveway right now. Ask me anything.

 

[Renaissance_Man]

I wouldn't get a pickup for a 5'er at all. I'd get a 350-550 chassis cab DRW. Flatbed. Better bed clearance.

Truck beds are handy for a TT, but a 5'er is such a one trick pony, I'd get a truck specially for that task.

I've got a 19 Ram 3500 chassis cab 10' box, and a 17 Ford f250 in my driveway right now. Ask me anything.

Is 5'er a reference to height or a 5th wheel? Does TT mean travel travel? I forgot to mention that I don't want to tow anything. What's your recommendations for me?

 

[MidOH]

It's slang for 5th wheel camper. TT is short for the regular big travel trailers.


I generally dont like 5'ers, they're no more versatile than a 50' motorcoach. At least with a TT you can put bikes or kayaks on the truck.

 

[MMc]

Is 5'er a reference to height or a 5th wheel? Does TT mean travel travel? I forgot to mention that I don't want to tow anything. What's your recommendations for me?

I would go go with a 3/4 ton truck. All of the mfg. are doing good job these days. Research aftermarket upgrades before you buy. Everything is a compromise, with a full size the rubicon isn't on your list of trails. You can haul and pack more than you need. It's all a trade off and what you want to do. I have had little trucks, 1/2 ton, and 3/4 ton, I don't pull anything, the ability to carry anything without worrying about maxing the load or dragging butt is great. The comfort of a full size is also better for me.

 

[cortttt]

We are thinking that in about 6 or 7 years we’re going to change up our style a bit. I’ll be 75 and my wife 72. We both love our 80 series LC. It gets us to some spectacularly remote, way off grid, campsites. We know as we get older, pitching a big tent or climbing up and down a ladder to bed, may not be ideal. I’m with you mid-Ohio. The F-250 is about the only full size pick-up that is a fine workhorse right out of the box and would be right at home dragging an airstream or a large “off road” trailer into the back country.

I would go with the 350 or 3500 single rear wheel. Just a bit more expensive and you're pretty much assured that if you want a truck camper that's not too huge, you'll have the payload to handle it and will be able to get off road quite a bit as well.