Half-ton pickup redux

Exhaust corrosion depends somewhat on driving style.I do almost exclusive short trips where the engine seldom even warms up to operating temp,a death sentence for exhaust parts. I do agree, for the price of new trucks these days SS should be standard on all. Both Brake lines and exhaust.

they were for awhile on some units now we are back to plated steel lines, don't know what kind of steel and plating but it ain't worth squat in my parts. Lines going bad in 3-4 years sometimes less.

Looking at new trucks now. May go in for the 2 year lease. $339Mo. So many changes and improvements(Power, MPG ect.) on the horizon would be nice to trade up every 2 years. Can always buy it at end of lease if its a keeper. Of course id keep my classics for the grunt work.

Seasoned Oak said:

Looking at new trucks now. May go in for the 2 year lease. $339Mo. So many changes and improvements(Power, MPG ect.) on the horizon would be nice to trade up every 2 years. Can always buy it at end of lease if its a keeper. Of course id keep my classics for the grunt work.

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Knowing we have similar thoughts on MPG vs horsepower, I’m not sure I’d assume the changes are improvements. I find that getting what I want in a truck is getting very difficult, as they’re moving more and more toward satisfying the lumbersexual highway queen market, than what I’m looking for.

My ideal truck:

1/2 ton chassis with independent front end
4wd with posi diff
3.93 - 4.11 gears
400 cid (6 liter) MINIMUM displacement
Heavy duty rear suspension
- min tongue weight > 1000 lb w/o WDH
- min GTWR > 10,000 lb
Quad cab with 6.5’ bed

This crew cab with 5.5’ bed, that seems to have become the standard configuration in the last few years, bothers me most. I need a back seat for dry gear and around-town passengers, but it doesn’t need to be limousine size.

I’m also xomfounded by the too-short gears (3.15 - 3.23!) that’s become the norm in 1/2 tons. Finally, why can I buy a 6.2L coupe, sedan or mini SUV, but I can’t get that motor in a 1/2 ton full-size pickup?

I have been driving some rentals lately
1st 2018 F-150 nice truck but I was looking to tow ..
2nd 2018 Tundra a little behind in the times and one thirsty bastard
3rd 2018 F-250 turbo diesel .. Holy sh*t nice truck .. 17 to 19 avg miles . haven't towed yet..
I hope they take there time putting a new frame on my Tacoma ...(335,500 miles so far )

i like to go after a 2018 250 or 350 - but those prices are just insane - it's a truck- not a limo and have no use for DEF and EGR systems , bad enough I have to deal with EGR on my 04-

Since iv been driving a 2WD half ton truck for the last 6 months iv found it to have some definite advantages over my 4wd 3/4 ton of similar age. First turning radius is tighter. Second ride is so much softer, floats over RR tracks.With my 3/4 ton i have to hold on to my teeth fillings over RR tracks. Im sure these things have evolved with the newer models so ill have to test drive a range of options. Dont think i need 4wd in a new truck,when conditions are that bad ill be using the older 4wd truck anyway.If i didnt already have a dependable 4WD id get it in the new truck. So im on the fence about that.Definitely want the posi lock rear. I do like the extended cab over the crew cab. Mostly gear in there not people.

If buying new, you can still order extended/quad cab. You won’t find many used, though, which makes finding a clean one with the other options you want an issue. I didn’t want to spend new truck money, having bought a new car in the same year, so my options were more limited.

bholler said:

The same as our newer ones.

I bought a new project today and agreed to sell the j10 to a freind. I picked up a 1990 bronco really cheap almost rust free with really nothing wrong with it other than needing paint and it has a fuel issue. Once i get it running i am getting rid of my pos trailblazer.

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Why don't you like the Trailblazer? I never owned one, don't know much about them but it was in the running when I was looking large used SUVs. I'd assume since it's a straight 6 it would be pretty smooth.

Ashful said:

My ideal truck:

1/2 ton chassis with independent front end
4wd with posi diff
3.93 - 4.11 gears
400 cid (6 liter) MINIMUM displacement
Heavy duty rear suspension
- min tongue weight > 1000 lb w/o WDH
- min GTWR > 10,000 lb
Quad cab with 6.5’ bed

?

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Wouldnt a 3/4 ton be better fit for most of these requirements except for the first one? GM used to make a HD half ,i dont see it offered anymore though.

Some interesting developments coming in the 2019 trucks.10 SP transmissions. 3L Duramax Diesel Engine. Not a fan of the start ,stop Tech. ID pass on that unless its controllable. Love the new body style.

Ashful said:

Finally, why can I buy a 6.2L coupe, sedan or mini SUV, but I can’t get that motor in a 1/2 ton full-size pickup?

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In exploring the 2018s build and price site there is an option to select the 6.2 L 8Cy.

If I won the lottery - good to see Dodge still has a manual transmission available, but as it's been for several years just with the 6.7L straight 6 diesel engine in the 2500 and 3500. True engines are getting smaller with turbos. Efficient yes but I wonder about durability as they get up there in miles.

If I could buy new I'd definitely consider the 4.3 V6 in a GM truck. It puts out I believe more horsepower (naturally aspirated) now than my 5.3 V8. I don't tow, but do loads of firewood. That may be another subject at some point - how much is too much for a 1/2 ton 8' bed.

Stelcom66 said:

If I won the lottery - good to see Dodge still has a manual transmission available, but as it's been for several years just with the 6.7L straight 6 diesel engine in the 2500 and 3500. True engines are getting smaller with turbos. Efficient yes but I wonder about durability as they get up there in miles.

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Starting to see a lot of turbo replacements in the 3.5 EcoBoost. That along with timing chain and Cam Phasers. Chevy AFM motors are eating camshafts.

I went to a 2500 dodge three years ago. Ram won over Ford only for the solid front axle. Grew up on Chevy, turned wrenches in Ford dealerships before becoming a paramedic and run my own shop. No vehicle is perfect and they will all break. I do see more common failures in ford and chevy though. That said if I was to buy a new 1/2 ton tomorrow it would be a F150 with a 5.0. More payload and towing than any other 1/2 ton and equal to a Chevy 3/4 ton SRW.

If your worried about mpg buy a Prius

blades said:

i like to go after a 2018 250 or 350 - but those prices are just insane - it's a truck- not a limo and have no use for DEF and EGR systems , bad enough I have to deal with EGR on my 04-

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We just bought a new f250. I got to say it drive and rides real good. We got the 6.2. Plenty of power. I didn't see the need to spend another $9000 on the diesel for no more than We will use.

That looks like the one I have in grey.

bholler said:

Rust electrical hvac and problems on many of them. Crap mielage because of an antique of a transmission. Absolutly everything on it is a nightmare to work on. The front diff mounts to the side of the oil pan then the cv shaft goes through a hole in the oil pan. I should have done more research before buying it. But it does handle nice and tows well.

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Went through that nonsense with my BIL trailblazer to do a timing chain. Gotta drop the oil pan to get to a single bolt inside the engine!


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Seasoned Oak said:

Looking at new trucks now. May go in for the 2 year lease. $339Mo. So many changes and improvements(Power, MPG ect.) on the horizon would be nice to trade up every 2 years. Can always buy it at end of lease if its a keeper. Of course id keep my classics for the grunt work.

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My father is the sales manger at a dodge dealership. He keeps telling me what a great deal I can get on a leased truck. Admittedly it is a good deal if you are used to leasing or willing to buy new. The problem is that the down payment is usually more than what I am willing to pay for a 15 year old high mileage truck! And then there’s the payments.


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saewoody said:

My father is the sales manger at a dodge dealership. He keeps telling me what a great deal I can get on a leased truck. Admittedly it is a good deal if you are used to leasing or willing to buy new. The problem is that the down payment is usually more than what I am willing to pay for a 15 year old high mileage truck! And then there’s the payments.

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That's close to what I did, paid ~ $4400 for a high mileage 16 year old truck. I'm fortunate to have a company van so I'm not concerned about the mileage and fuel economy since I drive it 3 days a week on average. With new there's also higher taxes - in my town quite high. I can certainly see why a new truck would be great, they look fantastic like the Ford pictured above, ride as well as some cars, and some may get almost as good MPGs as my former Subaru Forester did. But for some of us it's just not an option. I still like looking at new models and reading about the specs.

Seasoned Oak said:

Wouldnt a 3/4 ton be better fit for most of these requirements except for the first one? GM used to make a HD half ,i dont see it offered anymore though.

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Yes, 3/4 ton has its advantages. But there are 1/2 ton trucks that meet my requirements, and since the majority of my mileage is just commuting, the 1/2 ton advantages win out. That is... if the big 3 would stop trying to turn their 1/2 ton trucks into soft-riding grocery getters.

Some of us use our trucks like real trucks on the weekends, and then drive them to the airport on Monday. I’ve had a fully-loaded 7000 lb GTWR tandem axle trailer on the back of mine twice in the last seven days, but it also carried my butt to my office job thrice, in that time.

saewoody said:

My father is the sales manger at a dodge dealership. He keeps telling me what a great deal I can get on a leased truck. Admittedly it is a good deal if you are used to leasing or willing to buy new. The problem is that the down payment is usually more than what I am willing to pay for a 15 year old high mileage truck! And then there’s the payments.
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Iv already got 2 . 20+Yr high mileage trucks for knocking around town and occasional hauling.What im looking for is a replacement for the family van thats getting up there in age and miles. I need something with low or no miles that i can jump in and drive half way across the country in comfort and haul or light towing if need be.Wife suggested a NEW truck, so who am i to argue that?

Ashful said:

I’ve had a fully-loaded 7000 lb GTWR tandem axle trailer on the back of mine twice in the last seven days, but it also carried my butt to my office job thrice, in that time.

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What are you driving?