Help me decide on a truck to buy?

[Freeborn53]

I'm looking at two trucks:
2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1/2 ton Engine: 5.3L V8F 4WD Towing Package 4 door 25k miles $18k
or
2006 Toyota Tundra small v8 Towing Package 4 door 18k miles $21K

I live in Wa. state and towing 15.5 ft. Arrowglass puma with trailer approx 2000 lbs.
Going over some tough mountain passes.
What would you buy?
Thanks
Gary

 

[ne7800]

Re: Help me decide on a truck to buy?

Well my truck of choice would be a Dodge but between the two the Chevy i would think is the better deal I had a 03 Chevy with the 5.3 and normal driving (not beating on it) regulary got between 17 and 19 mpg and also towed a 3000 lbs car on a 1800 lbs trailer about 250 miles and averaged 13.5mpg Tundra is a good truck but a 06 is still a midsize go with the Chevy and you can do anything you want

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Help me decide on a truck to buy?

i think in washington state, i would want the 4 wd. i tow a 4500 lb boat with a 1999 Surburban.

 

[Cajun93]

Re: Help me decide on a truck to buy?

Had both- Toyota hands down. The engine is smaller but has the technology to keep up or surpass the 5.3 Chevrolet engine. Also, the Toyota is just built better IMO. It should keep you on road longer with less trouble.

I tow a 20'2" offshore dual console Key West, (2000lb boat, 1klb trailer, 500lb engine, 1k gear= 4500lb to tow without anyone in the truck). It does a great job and never ran into any trouble at the launch with my 2wd Tundra.

As for size- my double cab Tundra is no smaller (front or rear) than the Chevy and has a larger bed. I'll send pics to back up if needed.

Also- how well the truck was cared will play a larger part.
Just another opinion- hope this helps.
PS- Your best bet will be to talk to guys who have had both and can do a true comparison.

 

[642mx]

Re: Help me decide on a truck to buy?

I've had Chevy and Toyota's. Get the Toyota. Its a better built truck. I've got 80K on my Tundra and its only been to the dealer once for a recall. The hood has only been opened to change oil, nothing else. My Chevy had a CEL on before I made it home from the dealer and it pretty much went downhill from there.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Help me decide on a truck to buy?

well; as i have a good freind that had a yota, and i have run gmc's i cant let the "toyotas better" coment stand.
with out turning into a p...ing contest i have 160k on my serra and 50k on my yukon XL both 5.3 slt's
i know they both tow fine. the pu has lived with a atv and sonowmobile trailer on it for the last 4 years and have used the yukon to tow our boats the last two years. our current boat and trailer weights 7000 +what ever gear we have on it at the time
our towing all most allways includes towing over mountain passs as we cant leave out of here with out going over a pass. i use to trailer to grand juncton co with a fellow that had one of the new toyota and we both ran about the same but at the pump he alway took more fuel
i would get which ever one you like the best and i'm sure if you go with the chev its goint to be cheaper to run in the long run
as stated when jay and i ran togather the only big difference was fuel milage and we both liked the seat comfort in the gmc's better

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Help me decide on a truck to buy?

it is your truck, buy the one you like the best, and the one that drives the best to you. if you are not comfortable with the way they drive, you will never like it. they are both good trucks. they both have towing packages, get a test drive with your trailer.

 

[OV1961]

Re: Help me decide on a truck to buy?

I'm looking at two trucks:
2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1/2 ton Engine: 5.3L V8F 4WD Towing Package 4 door 25k miles $18k

Gary

If you want a Chevy for towing buy it Duramax diesel equipped. The fuel is a little more expensive but the engine will do 3x the milage of the gasser before needing overhaul. Lots of low end torque for pulling. I drive a 98 Suburban with 6.5 diesel with 275K miles on original engine.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Help me decide on a truck to buy?

I have the 04Tundra and have posted here on how solid and bulletproof after60,000 mi. It is my seventh Toyota truck. Has the 4.7 and wife gets 21 mpg.

I am not a basher of the US made trucks, however I have been buying Toyotas since 1971 (Hilux) and they just dont have bad engines, transmissions, a/c, suspension, etc.

Some 3.0 Toyota engines have a rap as being a sludge engine, and Toyota will install a new short block on those, even tho problem was too long between oil changes. At least they ponied up and stood behind their product.

And (sacrilege) there is a Celica Supra transmission in the TR-3. Lighter, bulletproof, overdrive.

I don't think the asking price of the 06 is fair. Should be able to buy one for 18-19 k tops.

Iknow our economy is in the tank, but these trucks, engines and transmissions are built in the US. The new Tundra is built in San Antonio Texas in a plant just built at a cost of 850 million. That paid for a lot of US workers and pays for a lot of salaries.

My .02

 

[199675hpforce]

Re: Help me decide on a truck to buy?

You didnt offer other vehicles? id say 2005 jeep liberty CRD diesel tows up to 5k and diesels get the job done. You will have to tinker with them alot though. Your boat is so small my old jeep wrangler with 4.0 would have been fine with me driving braking is scary. How about a newer 4dr wrangler? Toyotas are always my first choice but expensive, you should beable to find a deal. I just bought 2000 crew cab 4x4 nissan frontier price was right and hardly used at all, its not as good say toyota crew cab but second best is better than ford ranger or chev s10 lol. Im very jaded with opinions though if you have to get a loan you cant afford theory thats why mines used. I just towed with my sis CRD i was in the passing lane with boat in tow rolling past everyone!

 

[The-Machinist]

Re: Help me decide on a truck to buy?

I would go with the toy, unless having 4wd makes a big deal. I just put a 1975 toyota 20R and a 5 speed in my 1991 ranger, It is the little truck I was dreaming of having. I now have a ranger that gets 28 mpg empty and more power than ford could have imagined.

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: Help me decide on a truck to buy?

If you're serious about Toyota, perhaps you could add the 4Runner 4-wheel drive model to your short list. We towed our 2,500# boat/trailer rig and got 17.0 mpg into a strong headwind to the lake, and 17.8 mpg with a strong crosswind coming back. Truck has 4.0L V-6 engine rated to tow up to 5,000#. Lots of torque.

 

[Freeborn53]

Re: Help me decide on a truck to buy?

Thanks for all the input, One dealer had a 03 Avalanche, 61k miles, that I bought$ 13,500 out the door. All set up for towing. K1500
Gary