Full size pick up trucks - which one?

Which full size pick up would you buy?

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Kool

Kool

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I'm planning to buy either new or slightly used full size 4x4 truck in the near future so I thought I'd see where the popularity is and why. I've been partial to GM/Chev but the new Dodges are lookin good. You really can't say bad things too much about any of them...Fords sell and are proven. Toyota look cool enough only owned the compacts. Don't know alot about the Nissan or Honda but I'm sure they are capable. Lets here whatever you got to say.
 
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Anything but Ridgeline. Not sure why anyone would want a unibody pickup. Personally Id also skip Nissan and Dodge.

Toyota, GM, and Ford have their **** together.
 
i have the 05 f-150, a good truck, comfy, powerful, but i find the build quality failry low in certain areas which it does not need to be, such as using plastic parts where it should be metal etc. i think thats the problem with alot of american trucks though. the new generation look great though.

the dodges have put alot of work into their new trucks as there competing with ford so heavily and there a great deal right now as you can find a lot of deals on them.
dont know anything about chevs or the other options.
 
I was just in the market for a new full size. Looked at ford, and my only want from Ford was the EcoBoost. That motor is sweeeeeet. But, in order to get that motor in the truck (the motor itself is a $2500 option) you also have to have a certain level "package" of the truck. So for example you couldn't get a base model with the motor in it. So, the only thing drawing me to the ford was also the thing that put it out of my price range. I've also heard a rumble here and there about transmission issues.

GM... I'm a GM guy and always will be. I really wanted a GMC, and with the multiple cylinder shut off they get good gas mileage. But, again to get the package I wanted, it put me in the hole too much to get the 4x4 with the big motor and all that stuff.

What I ended up with, is a Ram 1500 SXT quad cab, 4x4 with the Hemi. I threw in some options like the locking rear end, spray in bed liner etc. As listed, it was $41,000 but Dodge had a deal on for $9,750 off the quad cab 4x4 Ram (might have ended at the end of Feb), and I got a military discount from the dealer. I got the truck for $28,500.
So far, I really like the truck. Great power "yeah, it's a Hemi", and I pulled out 660km on the 92 liter tank, so not too shabby! Pulls my trailers just great, and for it being "basic" the inside is roomy, comfortable with all the things you need and then some.

I've heard people bending the tailgates on the Toyotas when loading sleds in the back... Sleds these days are pretty much the same weight as bikes but with less weight loading (the weight is spread out across a large track and 2 skis... They have less lb/in than a person), so if you can kink a tail gate with that kind of weight, think about loading a bike in the back.

Honda is not an option... It's a car basically. Sure, they look decent but they're a yuppie truck and not something I would expect to be able to put to work.

Nissan I don't have too much info on, but I seem to recall them not having such great fuel consumption from the reviews I read.
 
I have the 011 F150 ecoboost, a 6 cyl with turbo, Lots of power and good on fuel, a little cheaper feeling than the 03 I used to have but all in I am very happy with it
 
^ how 'good' on fuel exactly?

Just wondering because my Pathfinder with a 4L 6 is fooking terrible, I might as well be driving a full size pickup. I get 500km out of 80L if I'm lucky.
 
I heard a Nissan Titan go past me, I swear I thought it sounded like a NASCAR.
 
How much do you want to tow, how much do you want to fit in the back, how many people do you need to haul, how much excess power do you want versus how much do you want to pay in gasoline.

Honestly, for what most people actually do with their trucks, a Ridgeline does fine. You CAN put a motorcycle in the bed - the rear wheel will be sitting on the tailgate, but I've seen it done, and you can get a little bed-extender to contain stuff back there. You CAN tow a trailer with it - in fact, one of the parties who recently went to Jennings GP used a Ridgeline with one bike in the truck and two in a 5x10 enclosed trailer, and they sure didn't seem to have any trouble towing. I'm not a fan of the styling, but still - for what most people actually do, this is all they actually need. And they really do drive like a car.

Beyond that ... The Nissan and Toyota have gas-hog V8's with nothing done to them for fuel savings - they run on 8 cylinders all the time. The Dodge and GM (if you pick the 5.3 V8) have cylinder-shutdown capability, although if you're towing, it's gonna be running on all 8 anyhow. (Take a test drive and see if it actually does run on four cylinders, I've heard that the GM's switch to 8 cylinders at such little load on the engine that it's practically of no use in reality.) The GM is theoretically available in some trim levels with a 4.3 V6, but that engine is so outdated that it's pointless to choose that over the 5.3 with displacement-on-demand, and the 5.3 will probably use less fuel. The Ford has the best drivetrain choices. All 6-speed auto transmissions, and even the base 3.7 V6 still has close to 300 horsepower. Do you really need more than that ...

On that Jennings trip, the tow vehicle that I was in was a Ford Expedition with the 5.4 truck V8 (2-valve) and the old 4-speed auto trans. With a 6x12 trailer in tow, it wouldn't hold overdrive with the torque converter locked. (22 - 23 L/100 km at 105 km/h and pretty much in 3rd gear the whole way ... ouch.). The newer GM and Ford trucks have a "tow-haul" mode, and I've been in a truck with that, it works well - holds the torque converter locked much more, and it will give you overdrive when you can have it, and there's a smaller gap between top gear and the next lower gear, so it ought to do better.

The base 3.7 V6 in a 2011+ F150 has equal or more power than the 5.4 2-valve V8 in the older trucks (depending on what year of 5.4 you are talking about) ... Sure, the Ecoboost will be faster, but the base 3.7 ought to be good enough for most people.
 
What are you going to use this truck for?

Work?
Daily Driver?

Everyone thinks they need a fullsize but 80% of the people driving them don't.

I have a F150 for the contracting side of our business and I would never use this thing as a daily driver its a monster, terrible turning radius and the 2010 V8 engine in this thing sucks gas like no other especially in city mileage.

Then again it's often used it to haul 1,200lb+ skids of steel, fits a 4 man crue, and you don't give a **** if it gets dinged up or a zoom boom backs into it on site. This is when you need a full size, if you are "hauling" bikes you can do that behind a car.

From your list I would say the ridgeline is the most practical unless you actually need a fullsize and my guess is if you put the ridgeline on the list you dont. This is far from a "yuppie truck", you hear this crap from guys that like to play contractor and think they need class leading torque to hual their ourdoor power toys.
 
mmmnaked said:
Not sure why anyone would want a unibody pickup. .

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Because majority of people who drive these trucks use them like cars anyway.

The Honda is a mid-size, so really out of the Full size league of the other makes, but still a decent choice for what it is.

GM and Dodge quality and engineering scare me.

Nissans are notorious for lousy reliability.

My money would be on Ford, or Toyota, with the Toyota the most likely candidate with that oh so refined and smooth V8 engine, and the Toyota overall quality.

People who buy these types of trucks usually dont place fuel economy at the top of their list.

.
 
Current daily driver is an 09 Sierra with the 5.3 V8 Flexfuel cylinder management waffle iron attachment, etc etc. It does the job, but unless these trucks are making you money, you're better off with something else.
Having said that, I'm actually selling this 09, and looking at the new F-150's. GM's just not building them how they used to, great truck, but sensors galore and had a few CEL's come on for no reason other than fouled up sensors.

Had a 2007 Chevy Avalanche (5.3 v8) that was great, but again, gas pig averaging 15-16L/100km.

I still have a 2000 Sierra with 450,000 km's on it now. 5.3 V8 that just won't quit. That's the one we use for all the dirty jobs ;)

I would really evaluate why you need a full-size pickup, especially with the way gas prices are going. Good luck.
 
Yes I'm lookin at buying a truck and I do have my reasons but, was just wanting people who own trucks to say what they feel about their truck or what they know about others...experiences and opinions.
I'm a truck guy always been one...will continue to do so. Since I got out of the construction biz full time where I had full size pkups I've went to compact trucks...toyotas and now Canyon. But I was doing alot of commuting but always needed a truck cuz I'm a red neck and just need a truck...lol. Dump runs, picking up building supplies, fire wood...my toys sleds, atv's etc.
But now I live in town.... my work is only 5mins away. I ride my bike all season long everytime I can possible. But when I need a vehicle it mostly means I need a truck...my dog is a great Dane/German Shep and is BIG he needs a large space badly. The canyon isn't cutting it. Gas isn't all that important but...who wants to spend when you don't have to. I do like the Gm's always have...we have the flex fuel 2010 4x4 ext cab at work...it's great driver. But the Dodges are everywhere and they look pretty cool.... because of the discounts I'm sure that's why they are selling and winning truck of the year 2x now I believe. I know they are a bit of a pig on gas so they say. Just like to hear opinions on what they like aand dislike in trucks they have had the opportunity to try out...all info is good info.

Oh ya it's gotta be black
 
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im probably going to be selling my 04 ford f-150 Lariat 4x4 ext Cab

loaded with every option there was availaible, including the tow package and 18" rims

if thats something you're looking for
 
I can't speak on the other vehicles you have in your poll, but for God's sake don't get an F-150.
I've had nothing but headaches with mine and was still a POS after I did all the repairs lol...
However, if you're buying new then knock yourself out.
 
^ year/model?

boooya said:
I'm averaging 14.3L per 100k.
Not to bad for an F150, does slightly better in the summer around 13L per 100k.
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^ might help to post what year and model (engine) it is.... I get 14-15L out of my Pathfinder and I find that pathetic/horrendous.
 
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