Truck suggestions?
 

I'm finally going to get a truck, if all goes well! I need a truck for hunting, towing and working around the house. You know. . .mulch runs, maybe a trash run or 2 a year.

In need:
Room for 5. 2 adults and 3 kids.
Max fuel economy. I drive 60 miles a day minimum. Probably more like 75 on average, except the weekends. Now, I spend about $40 a week for gas. I might be able to go for $55.
I can spend like ~$10,000 - 15,000.
I need long term durability, due to the miles. I need it to last for 5 years and 90,000miles, from the day I buy it.
Tow ~4000 for a 20 ft sailboat and trailor.

At this point, it looks like my choices are 2004 Chevy Colorado with like 40k miles or a 1999 Toyota Tachoma with 120k miles. Am I missing other good options.

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

Now I am not you and you are not me.

But you have to forget about gas mileage when you start talking trucks and kids and family and driving long distances and all.

Smaller trucks do not get better gas mileage then bigger trucks.

It took my Uncle TWO Dodge Dakota's to figure that one out.

The very first thing that you have to look at is mileage.
I'm going to talk to you like as if it was a conversation between me and my dad and not some person that I don't even know - so bare with me here.

A truck that has OVER 90,000 miles on it - is not going to be a reliable truck from any persons standpoint. OK

Where I live, Pennsylvania - a truck with 90,000 miles on it is wore out.

Just think about it like this:

If the owner drove it 25 miles a day, 6 days a week to and from work. The doors opened up 4 times a day or more + stopping at the gas station, grocery store, visiting friends etc.

The engine was started up 2 - 5 times a day.

The transmission was shifted a couple of times a day.

The radio played music and the airconditioning blew cold air and the heater blew hot air and the windshield wipers went across the windshield about 1,000,000 times.

The brake rotors spun the same amount of revolutions as the tires, yet the tires were probably replaced every 35,000 miles. People drive the brakes until they make noise - because they can't see them and they can't tell what is wore out with them until they start to make noise.

All the wheel bearings have the same amount of mileage as the truck has and chances are - they are wore and at some point they are going to need to be replaced.

I don't know how much you know about trucks, but the bearings on my Avalanche were about $175 each, plus labor to replace them and a day or two of not having a vehicle while they were being changed.

Then if you have a 4 Wheel Drive, you have driveline components like CV joints and U joints and ring and pinions and transfer cases and front axles - all which will wear out sooner or later.

Small things that costs big money like the window regulators.

Just stop at a glass shop and ask them how many window regulators they put in them Colorado's in a years time and how much they cost to replace and you might have second thoughts.

Nothing lasts forever and nothing is guarenteed.

A truck is not a Honda Civic - which you can dump gas into and drive until the wheels fall off.

Sooner or later you are going to have to fix stuff and nothing is cheap.

Then there is the family, you got 3 kids. You can't cramp them into the back of a Colorado and expect them to ride there for any length of time. There is not much leg room in a compact pickup truck and not much elbow room either.

Looking into the future, you got to figure that they are going to get big and you will need a bigger pick up truck to haul them around.

Towing a boat is hard on transmissions and if you live in an area like I do where you have hills and mountains - not to mention slippery launches at the lake. You are going to want to buy yourself a FULL Sized pick up.

I would suggest a 99 - 01 Silverado Extended cab or a Toyota Tundra King Cab.

Dodges rides rough and Fords are nothing but problems.

Expect to get around 15 - 17 miles to the gallon , depending on where you live and how you drive.

Buy yourself a little car to get to work and drive the pick up nights and weekends and the little car will do what you want it to do and the money you save on gasoline will pay for the extra plates and insurance.

Forget about them little trucks and you will save yourself a lot of grief.

Now that is just my opinion, but I am sticking to it.

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

Great Post Rifleman. you are 100% right.

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

I have a 2006 F150 Supercrew 4x4. I love it. Lots of room, power, and great features. I get around 350-375 miles per tank. I fill er up twice a month, at about $150 a month. Wouldn't trade it for nothin!

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

I agree with almost everything said, except I'd go for the crewcab. I have an extended cab, and it's just a bit tight with kids. With hunting buddies, it's a nightmare if you need to go long distances.

I must say, I was a bit dissapointed with the news I heard about the gas mileage on the new duramax engines this year. Seems they aren't doing any better as my 6.0 L gas V-8.

Gas wise, I think you're looking at $ 150/week.

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

Always buy more truck than you think your going to need. Because if you don't you will not be happy with the performance especially if your towing.. There is not a huge difference in gas milage between a 6 or 8 cylinder. Chevy made a good low cost truck with a 4.8l V8 and crew cab 4X4.. It was called the LS2.. I got one out the door brand new for 26,000. And I have seen the same truck in 2wd advertised for 19k...

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

my 2500 HD Sierra 4x4 with a 6.0 Liter gets 10 miles a gallon. my father in laws new 2500 HD Silverado 4x4 with the Duramax diesel gets approximately 20-22 miles a gallon.

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

Chip and mod the airflow you'll get the same (possibily a little better) then the dmax. Have 2 friends who have done it and they seem like different trucks -both MPG's and performance is way up. Cheaper then a diesel.

I have an 05 ram 1500 crew 5.7L I get 16 - 18MPG doesn't sem to matter if it's loaded or empty. Lots of power and good ride. I am chipping it this year,I am told to expect5-8MPG betterand it to run cooler under load...main reason for doingit. Ihave changed the springs and installed air bagsas i haulan enclosed trailer and some heavy loads in her bed. Right now i ain't buying a diesel at the price to fuel it, more then gas[:o]!Everything on a diesel is more, oil changes, tires wear quicker, etc. Another fact they don't like our cold weather means on a job site i need to have it running a lot throughout the day, my gas I rarily have to worry about cranking it over for fear of starting after a day of sitting in -30 weather.

Best truck i had for gas mileage was my 99 chev with 5.3L. Empty she'd run mid 20's, under moderate load it would dropslightlybutunder heavy load that little 327 worked and she'd drink a bitmore dropping into the teens. Still a great truck, had it been a crew cab i would never have sold it. Ext'd cab just didn't offer the room I need for the family, work, etc.

I agree get a crew if your back seat will be used regularily for people.

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

i'm running a K&N Airflow system on it right now. i noticed little if any difference over the stock air flow system. i haven't tried a programmer yet because of all the mixed hype. some claim they work and others don't.

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

Last Feb I traded off my 01 suburban and 03 outback and bought a 07 Toyota TacomaDoublecab 4x4 thinking that was the ticket,I used to drive around 150 miles a day to work and back(72miles to work one way plus odd stops),then got a job closer to home and started towing more....anyways the toy was getting around 17 mpg average and when towing dropped to 12-15 depending on what I was towing....

I just tradded it off and bought a 08 Ford Supercrew Cab 4x4 v8 5.4and Iam getting around 15-16 mpg with it and can tow more with it then the toyota plus there is way more room for the family....

I should of bought the full size trk right away..........

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

Wow I'm glad I opened this forum I have a Lincoln aviator and I hut a lot Montana Wyoming Oregon and I live in the San Fransisco Bay Area I have been looking at trucks because I just finished restoring my 1982 CJ5 and I will be towing it everywhere. My Lincoln has a 304 HP V8 and it would tow my jeep but I know it tear the chit out of it. I have looked at the Ford super crew 4X4 with the 5.5 bed full leather entertainment package just shy of 40k I think itis the best bet out there. JUST MY OPINION what is you all's thoughts

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

Suggest scoping out sites like www.edmunds.com. They are high on the new Chev Silverados. Next is Toyota Tundra. Fords have had fire issues.

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

Speed controll wires/relayover heating in steering collum...was the Ford issue...

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

2000 f250 w/7.3 diesel. consistently averages 18 mpg. empty or loaded. I hear you about the price of diesel. That wasn't the case when I bought it. Although I figure if I buy a new truck and add the payment to the fuel, I'll be around the same as I am now. Therefore I'll keep the ole girl and drive her till the wheels fall off! She only has 220k on her. Bought her w/11 miles. As mentioned before, buy more than what you need.

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

At $3.50 + a gal, I guess this conversation is over for a while!!

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

I tow a 6000 lbs trailer behind my Avalanche - loaded to the gills with racecar stuff and I rarely get more than 12 miles to the gallon when I am towing.

Empty, I can expect 14 MPG - maybe if I baby it some.

I have never gotten over 18 MPG on a trip with the little 5.3

The 99 Chevy Silverado Z 71 ex cab I had got around 16 MPG empty and would eat my brothers 2000 3/4 ton 4x4 with the 6.0 any day of the week.

I noticed a performance loss with the 2000 Z 71 that I had - also had the 5.3

The smaller V - 8 is a real turd 4.3 - 4.6

The Ford Truck - 4x4 with the 6.4 that I drove was also a real turd.

Most guys won't buy an extended cab full sized / crew cab pick up - because their wives refuse to drive them because they feel that they are too long.

That was why my brother bought a Trail Blazer instead of an Avalanche

Funny thing is, when he comes up to hunt, his wife has the Trail Blazer and he has his Pontiac Gran Prix. You can tell who wears the pants in that family.

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

ok...ok go ahead and laugh but I just love my Honda Ridgeline!:D

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

Honda Ridgeline

AS I have said before, one of my x school teachers has one and even with summer / all season tires, he has parked beside me in the woods.

I asked him abnout his and his reply was that in 70,000 miles, he has not done anything to it except change the oil and the tires and the brake pads.

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

ive got an 04 gmc extended cab 4x4 z71. I gave 19,000 for it last year. ive had good luck with it and have recently got close to 20 mpg on a recent road trip.

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

Well I have started to look at used and I'm down to a 2002 Ford 4X4 7.3 Diesel crew cab all leatheredout lariat pkg with 80k stock for 14k clean about 300 miles from me. Or a 2003 Ford Crew cab triton V10 lift kit black new tires just beautiful and its 50 miles from me they want 15k I want you all to try and help me make up my mind PLEASE

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

well I just pulled the trigger on the 2002 Ford 7.3 Diesel F... the price of diesel at least I know while I'm climbing the mountains of Montana pulling my Jeep with 3 other hunters in with me andno one will be passing mein any other truck pulling aJeep or a trailer unless they have a diesel

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

Had a 91 Toyota ext cab 4x4 with 4 cyl and 5 spd. 22 mpg all the time be it city or hwy. Ok if you have little kids but the backseat wouldn't handle them if they are getting older. Awesome truck, just needed more room.
Then had a T100 with the V6. 17mpg hwy and 12 towing 5000 lb trailer. Great truck but not enough power.
On to a 2000 Silverado with 5.3. 17 mpg hwy and 10 (if lucky) towing the same 5000 lb trailer. This truck was a POS to boot and was in the shop at least twice a month. Shoulda got the Tundra.
Now-2003 F350 with 7.3 Diesel, 4x4 crewcab SB. 18 mpg hwy (have gotten 23) 17mpg city, and 10-11 mpg towing a 13000 lb 5th wheel. Does everything I need it to except cannot hold a candle to the Toyotas for reliability. Still waiting for that Tundra 1 ton crew dually with a diesel...........................

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

Well I pulled the trigger on the ford that I was talking about in my earlier post and the woman quit answering her phone and wouldn't call me back so finally found her and she sold it to some on else. So I'm back looking and I'm down to 2 a Ford 2006 crew cab 23k very very cleanfactory warranty or a 2005 chevy crew cab with 100k warranty both gas and both 18500 both clean........any help

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

I have owned a Chevy, Ford, Nissan and Toyota over many years, and I will tell you this nothing compares to the Toyota. It will out last those other trucks by a long shot

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

I have a 04 Lincoln Avitor and it get 17-18 on freeway it has everything dvd nav leather 20 inch rims 4 wheel drive towed my jeep 600 miles and went and bought a truck FX4 supercrew 5.4all leather 2005, 28000 miles clean and looks brand new, 60k warr the guy owned 4 house's and was in trouble with ajd loans and had to sell his toys I looked for a long time almost 4 months but I found a real deal I paid 17000 for this truck put a programer in it towed my jeep on a short trip 100 miles with the jeep and the programer in tow mode avg 14 miles to the gallonI also changed the air intake to a K/N I live in cal hunt in montana Wyomng and Northern Calif so this year a lot of miles. I would rather drive that truck the then the Lincoln and I can't even feel the jeep behind that truck I agree with cjwink buy more truck then you think when you tow My brother in law has the chevy deisel and loves it and he also has the programer and says that make a big dif when he pulls his boat BUY BIG NOT small in trucksand buy american........Go to Overstock.com they have autos and trucks now my buddy just bought a honda ridgline for 28000 fully loaded nav moonroof cd
6cd player leather the whole shootin match. [8D]

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

I've owned my 2005 Toyota Tundra limited for about a month now and I love it like I never dreamed I would. I would suggest an '05 if you go for a Tundra as its the first year with both a 5 speed transmission and the VVT-i (variable valvetiming technology w/intelligence)to save you lots of gas mileage. If you drive the speed limit and avoid aggressive starts and stops, you can get 20mpg on the freeway. This is for a truck that can tow close to 8,000 pounds. I'm nervous that if you bought that Tacoma and tried pulling more than a few thousand pounds, you'd be better off MPG wise pulling with a Tundra. I don't do towing and haven't hauled much yet, but with the power and options I have on the Tundra I can't envision having a Tacoma just to save 2mpg. I haven't had the chance to do much off roading with mine yet but I'm sure it will perform wonderfully. I just did a quick eBay search and it looks as though you can a baseline double cab for around 15K. Obviously, mine being a limited and having fairly low miles it was $5K+ more than that. I'm so glad I didn't buy a fall-apart domestic truck. Best luck and God bless.

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

I'm sorry but I have to have a truck built in the USA in fact all three of my cars are built in the USA. There is so much room in my FX4 super crew 4X4 with the programmer I get 16.5 per gal pulling the CJ5 as far as fall apart domestic trucks my aviator has 62k dose not leak a drop of any thing and runs great and solid as a rock not even a rattle anywhere in the cab. The FX4 is the same way I think J for the USA might be a bit mixed up because that tundra was made in the USA.

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

don't buy a ford

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

or a dodge

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

Ahhh, the age-old question. Having owned nownine Ford and Chev/GMC pickups and SUVs, and considering that fuel costs are NOT likely to come down for a long time:

- Best mileage: Diesel, hands-down (22 hwy, 15 city)

- Best power: Diesel, hands-down

- Most pulling power (I tow anything from a snowmobile trailer to a 28.5 ft Fifth-wheel with an 18-foot boat behind (about 17,000 lbs)) - Diesel, hands-down

- Most expensive purchase price: Diesel, hands-down

- Most expensive repairs: Diesel, hands-down

I currently drive an '07 Chev Silverado DuraMax/Allison Crew-cab, coming up from an '01 Extended cab. Have just one kiddo, but that extra room in back is a lifesaver. With three, that Colorado's not big enough by a long shot. The whining you hear all the time won't be from the tranny.

There's nothing wrong with a gas engine if you don't have a big towing requirement (and a once-a-year trip may not justify paying an extra $50-$75 each time you fill it up the rest of the year - I'm paying about $130 twice a month now). I know lots of guys who, although the biggest thing they might load in the back or pullmight be a lawnmower, absolutely MUST have a diesel. That's kind of silly, but whatever floats yer boat. I know other guys pulling trailers like mine who think they need to be able to pass Ferraris on the interstate. What concerns me most then isn't so much "pulling power" but "braking power". Most of them can't slow themselves down in time to avoid accidents. When I've kept my wits about me and been patient about getting there, even with a 17,000-lb load I can pull 14 mpg from the truck at 65mph. Kick it up to 75, I'm lucky to get 10.

If I were simply using a truck for get-to-work and light pulling, I'd probably be inclined to stick with something 5.3-6.0 and gas. I've not heard good things about anyone's big motors lately (8.1 or V10), nor about Dodge's gas engines at all,other than from people holding shares of an oil company. More important to me is 1/2-ton vs 3/4. Simply because thestuff turning power to motionall tend to be a little heavier-duty (not to mention the brakes are better), I'd opt for a 3/4 if I had any choice at all. An aside - the DuraMax/Allison with a Tekonsha Prodigy inertia brake controller are an incredibly effectivecombination, especially when you're coming off Wolf Creek or Vail passes with a big trailer on behind you.

While it does pain me to say it, I've seen a couple Honda Ridgelines in the woods. Honda's been known for durability for years. No, you probably won't see them at the weekend's mud-bog competitions, or running on the slickrock, but for general purposes, they might be a solid alternative. I see a lot of Toy and Nissan "full-size" trucks with 5.7-5.8 engines running around lately, but I'm not hearing any better of them than I have the Fords and GMs. Their smaller offerings (Tundra, Frontier), even in the crew-cab versions, leave me with a short box and stuff hanging over the tailgate, and feeling like I'm jammed inside a buzzing sardine can. Of course, the things'll run FOREVER, but a recent past experience where it seemed like every knucklehead with an AK-47 or RPGwas driving one, I can't say that I'm eager to drive anything that I used to shoot at on a regular basis.

There are a LOT of choices out there, my advice is go a little bigger if you can - especially in the cab if you're hauling the family. If you really PULL stuff often, think about a 3/4-ton. If you pull really HEAVY stuff often, think about a diesel.

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

I disagree with that comment on Fords - Have had 3 - one I kept 23 yrs and it is still running. Added on rear end and 2 clutches and has 306,000 on it when I sold it.

The other was a 2001 extended cab to which I traded in for a 4 door - 6.5ft box FX 4x4 and absolutley love it. Has the same turning radius of my extended cab.

Has plenty of room for five and with the 60/40 split front bench you will have room for 6

The one I have now a 2006 - has run flawless for me. Has a shooting port (aka mon roof) that my dog likes to stick her head out of. Power windows, did buy buckets and not the 60/40 bench - full size back seats - that do flip up and I can get 2 more large dog crates back there - power slide rear window and I did add a A.R.E. Cap that has yakima roof racks for a canoe, side opwing shop windows with slide vents and the cab/cap front window does fold in for easy cleaning. Cap was colored matched to the truck. Does have running boards on it to help my short wife get in. At this point I am getting just a little over 16 mph. Can run on E-85 though have not tried it.

Only item I wished I had was the turn signals in the mirrors and heated outside mirrors. Does have keyless entry too. Handles nice off road and handles nice in snow. I do add 300 lbs of sand bags though in winter as the 5.4L engine does have the giddy up and go I need if I pull my 18 ft Lund duck boat or down to my pop-up or 14 ft duck boat. It does have back=up sensors to which I really like also.

I did add a K&N air filter as they are cleanable. I still change oil myslef and it is easy to get to filter. I added Husky floor mats front and back and Husky mud guards.

I did go with all leather as with muddy dogs was much easier to keep clean.

JW

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

Have you had bad experiance with them???

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

Currently own a 2004 Ford Ranger fast approaching 110,000 miles!!! Best darn truck I ever owned!! Sad part is they are stopping production on them next year. I personally don't really need a full size truck for whatI do, so my next one might be either a Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, or a Honda Ridgeline.

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

i just bought a a new 08 ford f150 fx4 crew cab and wouldnt trade it for any truck out there. i can pull anything i need to. plenty opf room for kids in the back. i get 18 mpg on regular gas and 16mpg on e85. you cant beat that!!

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

Just for the record, Toyota trucks are built in the US of course with foreign parts, but so are ford and chevy's. Do a little digging into this and you'd be surprised that some parts for fords and chevy are manufactured in Mexico, OUCH! Not to mention the their electronics, which are exclusively made in mexico. Since when did mexico surpass the japanese in quality? Hmmm.... I would think before you'd make a purchase. I drove fords and chevy's most of my life and i am disgusted in the product they make. THey outta take some lessons from the Germans in quality and steal the japanese electronics and make a great product. But they contiue to build less then quality trucks. I miss the old days when I would jump into my pappy's 56 pick up. Now that was a truck!!!!!!

I hope Americans quit getting other countries to make there products and become a great self reliant nation again. I miss that old american quality. Built like a tank and made to last. THis is the American product that would be wonderful to read about. I hate to be so pessimistic and so unamerican cause I love my country, but Choose the Toyota.[&o]

Hope you guys can forgve me.

Justin

RE: Truck suggestions?
 

yep you cant beat them old trucks. i have a 73 ford that you can throw anything at it and not hurt it. i wish new trucks were made like that but again i still like my newFORD f150. i looked at the toyota and their frames looked so weak. i havebent two (not toyota but full size trucks)frameshauling stuff in the past and the f150 has a box frame which help eliminate that among other things.

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I have had 4x4 rangers for years,and have been very happy.Parts are not that expensive and you can work onthem yourself...

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I have owned a 91 ranger 4x4 and an 88 bronko 4x4,both of which suffered several breakdowns and spent plenty of time in the shop.I owned a 95 Z71 extended cab 4x4,a 99 Z71 extended cab4x4,and a 04 Z71 1/2 ton crew4x4,all three of which suffered axle and pinion seal failures.The 04 also suffered electronic problems and a very expensive four wheel drive failure.I am currently driving an 07 Tundra double cab 4x4 which I have had for over 1-1/2 years,and so far it has only been in a shop for oil changes.Mileage wise the 91 ranger averaged about 25 miles per imperial gallon on the highway,the GMs had the 5.7 and 5.3 engines and averaged 22 to 23 miles per imperial gallon on the highway,and the Tundra with the 5.7 averages about 22 miles per imperial gallon on the highway.The Tundra has by far the most power,and the largest interior volume for an extended cab.From my own experiences,my next truck will likely be another Toyota.

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I have an 03 F 150 FX4 with all the heavy duty towing stuff. I tow a 7000lb camper and get 14 mpg highway.

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I have an 04 ram 4 door 1500 4x4 wwhich I bought brand new. It has 60,000 miles on it and have only had to replace the brake pads. I have 2 kids and their is plenty of room in the back.I looked at extended pickups but they were not nearly big enough for the kids.I love my dodge and the only reason i would et rid of it would be to get a 2500.(though i do like the new F250's)