F150

[Adios Pantalones]

Been thinking about buying a truck. I'd like to put a cap on it for hauling around show stuff, occasionally hauling 5x8 enclosed trailer, maybe a load of wood now and then.

I see good reviews etc on the F150. Without getting into the BS guy thing about this or that brand being crap, any good feedback on issues, etc? I'm looking for reliable, lightish duty, and OK gas mileage.

 

[Mrs. Krabappel]

My brother does painting/drywall all around Miami. He racks up a lot of miles primarily on surface roads. He's been very pleased with his F150.

 

[fossil]

Edmunds sez the top three selling full-size pickups in America are the Ram 1500, the F-150, and the Chevy Silverado. Couple of my nephews have Rams, and they love them, but I think they work them harder than you're talking about. Toyotas might be worth a look, as well. There are lots of fine trucks from which to choose. Have fun!

 

[Gary_602z]

I think it would do you a good job.

Gary

 

[begreen]

How do the top 3 trucks stand up to road salt? Rust issues? For gas mileage I think the RAM is the champ.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

How do the top 3 trucks stand up to road salt? Rust issues? For gas mileage I think the RAM is the champ.

Ram does look better for mileage. I would ideally like something with a back seat- the price for Ram trucks jumps a lot more that the F150 for that option, so there is a tradeoff to consider

 

[jeff_t]

Buying new?

 

[jeff_t]

Ram does look better for mileage. I would ideally like something with a back seat- the price for Ram trucks jumps a lot more that the F150 for that option, so there is a tradeoff to consider

I'm not sure if it still the case, but when I looked a couple of years ago, the F150 was available as a real four door crew with a 6.5' box. The Ram only had that 5'-whatever box with a four door.

 

[Jags]

Are you looking at a new or used purchase? There are some pros/cons to each truck and that can vary quite a bit from year to year/engine/tranny, etc.

As an example - Dodge 360 in a half ton gets crap gas mileage, but the newer models, even with the hemi can get as good, if not better mileage.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

Right now I'm thinking new

 

[Jags]

Lots of good options right now. Ford has a high mileage "eco boost" engine that seems to be performing well, and the new ones are put together very well (neighbor at the river has one). Dodge has a similar design that can also shut off cylinders. Dodge is also coming out with a V6 turbo diesel, but no real world info on performance.

 

[peakbagger]

Not sure if you have owned a truck in the past but despite all the electronics, a 2wd pickup truck unloaded is just about worthless for traction in snow especially if it doesn't have limited slip rear end. Once you load them up they are a lot better but that is why most folks buy four wheel drive and live with the lower gas mileage and higher long term maintenance costs. ABS brakes help a bit in stopping than prior trucks without but not by much. Hard to justify a new truck for occasional work and good front wheel drive econobox with snow tires will run circles around a truck for winter use. Lot to be said for buying a used truck and use it when you need it but run a car when you don't.

 

[Utilitrack]

Lots of good options right now. Ford has a high mileage "eco boost" engine that seems to be performing well, and the new ones are put together very well (neighbor at the river has one). Dodge has a similar design that can also shut off cylinders. Dodge is also coming out with a V6 turbo diesel, but no real world info on performance.

+1 on Ford F150 with Ecoboost, bought a used 2011Tundra earlier this year, I got a great deal on it, but I would have bought the Ford F150 with Ecoboost if I could have found what I was looking for.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

Thanks all. Ya, I'd go with 4wd- it's basically a must in my neighborhood. It would be a bit more than "occasional use". Right now I feel like I will prematurely burn out the engine on my Subie towing a trailer every other weekend spring through December (and I can commute in my wife's car most days, as she travels).

 

[semipro]

Brand names aside there are a lot of options when choosing a pickup truck configuration.
We purchased a dual cab pickup with short bed (5') and it has really worked well for us for hauling, towing, everyday driving.
I never thought the back seat would be that useful but it really is.
I've found the shorter bed to be ideal. With the double cab a full bed would have made the truck too long. Almost everything we've needed to haul does well in the smaller bed, including firewood. We have a bed extender that can be used when needed to increase capacity. I also find the bed extender very useful when hauling lumber and materials even too long for a larger bed.
For really long stuff we either open the rear sliding window, use the roof racks, or use a rack that attaches to the hitch receiver.
I've found this truck to be a great tool. I load up my tools in it and move it to wherever I'm working, put the tailgate down, and get after it. The satellite radio comes in real handy then too.

Edit: if you're going to haul firewood figure out a way to protect your rear window for loading.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

Ya, I need better than 6' at least. I have shelving that is that long that I haul around on a regular basis. A full 8' bed is less than a $1k option, but then it gets harder to manage. Ford has a 6'5" or something option that could be ideal.

 

[blades]

Ran a 99 F150, 4x4, extra cab, 6.5 box 4.6l v8 up til last year I was happy with it, Got used 250 5.4l same configuration. Been good so far. The F150 could not handle my SS and trailer legally, 250 can. Unless things have changed ford and chevy/gm have beefier front ends than dodge.

 

[Ashful]

I've owned all three brands, in the order Ford, Chevy, Dodge. All 1/2 ton (F-150 / K1500 / 1500 SLT), but being vastly different years, it's hard to compare. I buy based on pricing and options available that year, and am not loyal to any brand. I will say that all three did their job well, without major trouble, but I generally liked the Chevy best and Ford the least. The Chevy was heavier than the other two, in terms of suspension, factory tires (the Dodge came with station wagon tires not even rated to the GVW of the truck! ), body, and bed. The Chevy was also the most expensive and least powerful, with Dodge excelling at cost per performance, with the possible concession of quality. The sheet metal on my Dodge is much thinner than the Chevy, such that putting anything heavy in the bed of the Dodge deforms the floor of the bed, under my heavy sprayed-in liner. The Ford rusted like nobody's business, but I'd guess they've improved their coatings since then. The Chevy had more expensive repairs than the other two, but I also had double the mileage on that truck, versus the other two.

 

[Jags]

What year was the Dodge, Joful? I literally "chuck" wood into the bed of mine and was just commenting on it a couple of days ago at how well the bed has held up.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

Thanks, all. I think that cars/trucks of all sort are better at resisting body rot and maintaining value. Remember the 70's-80's, when every third car had major rot (at least in northern states)? The trade off is that you need an engineering degree to work on them.

I don't really need excessive power, so it sounds like any one would do

 

[Jags]

I don't really need excessive power, so it sounds like any one would do

And that is okay, but remember - you can go too far the other way. If you get a slug of an engine you are constantly working it hard just to get it down the road. I drove a half ton dodge with a V6 in it once. It couldn't get out of its own way.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

And that is okay, but remember - you can go too far the other way. If you get a slug of an engine you are constantly working it hard just to get it down the road. I drove a half ton dodge with a V6 in it once. It couldn't get out of its own way.

If you get any sort of extended cab, Ford and I think the others automatically drop an 8 cyl in it

 

[firefighterjake]

And that is okay, but remember - you can go too far the other way. If you get a slug of an engine you are constantly working it hard just to get it down the road. I drove a half ton dodge with a V6 in it once. It couldn't get out of its own way.

Owned a Toyota 4Runner with a V-6 that was like that . . . just about useless for towing anything. Ended up going in the opposite direction with a big ol' V-8 in the Nissan Titan . . . plenty of power . . . but I pay for it at the pump.

 

[Hokerer]

If you get any sort of extended cab, Ford and I think the others automatically drop an 8 cyl in it

The EcoBoost is a six and you can get that in extended and crew cabs.

By the way, have alway driven F-150s: 1985 Reg Cab, traded for an 2001 Crew Cab, traded for a 2012 Extended Cab

 

[USMC80]

love mine, I have to say don't buy brand new. You can find a 2012 with 20k miles on it for sooooo much cheaper