Which V8 fullsize truck best? Dependable?

[Heinz CA.]

Am just thinking about which fullsize V8 American truck the most dependable, decent mileage,safe, reasonably priced, with good performance around? I'd want 4 wheel drive, 4 door crewcab, short bed, V8, tow package, auto trans., pwr everything. I'd definitely consider buying used too. Just thinking out loud, , Heinz

 

[cpasseno03]

Re: Which V8 fullsize truck best? Dependable?

American??? No such thing anymore! Sounds like you need a Hummvee better be willing to cough up some dough for that rig tho. Ive always been a Ford fan, but its really up to you...<br />Craig

 

[martyscher]

Re: Which V8 fullsize truck best? Dependable?

I was hell-bent on a F-250 or 350, with the powerstroke diesel. They are supposed to get good mileage and last a very long time. Was looking to move up to tow a 5th wheel and boat.<br /><br />I decided to keep my 98 Pathfinder though, at the end of it's lease, since these Ford models fit everything you had listed, except "reasonably" priced. New are $40K+ and used with 110K miles are $20k+ (4wd Diesels)<br /><br />Also If I can't fit into my garage - no sale. Don't like scraping ice and snow.<br /><br />Never been a Ford man (Toyota and Nissan) yet, but if I went for "Detroit" big iron, the Ford series is where I would go.<br /><br />I did not see any big reasons to go to Dodge or GM instead, although both are fine.<br /><br />Marty

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Which V8 fullsize truck best? Dependable?

I myslef prefer Fords. There has to be a reason why most ambulances are Ford. I have owned both Ford and Chevy, spent more on repairs on the Chevy. My company had several Chevys but have been phasing in Fords due to the problems from the Chevys. Just my opinion......SS

 

[GF]

Re: Which V8 fullsize truck best? Dependable?

Saw a great comerical on TV a while back. The chevy truck is lauching a boat at the ramp and the truck ends up completly submerged. A ford truck hooks up to the chevy and hauls both the chevy truck and the attached boat out of the water. As the older gentleman is getting out of his ford a man asked him DID IT SINK? The guy replied in a deadpan voice LIKE A ROCK.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Which V8 fullsize truck best? Dependable?

Heinz, I have owned Chevy's and drive Fords at work. I bought A 2002 2500 Dodge 4+4 quad cab long bed with towing package 5.9 v-8 auto. I did not get all the power stuff and wanted one with a rubber floor instead of carpet because I use my truck mostly for huntin and fishin. This is a lot of truck and I only paid 21,000 out the door for it brand new. Thats less than some of the used chevys and fords. 7 year drive train warrenty to boot. I always like'd the Chevys but they are way out there on price. I know some here wont like this but the ford 250's and 350's we have at work are constantly broken down and have drive train problems up the ying yang. JMHO<br />----------------<br />Flathead

 

[KennyKenCan]

Re: Which V8 fullsize truck best? Dependable?

I drive a 1976 Chevy C-20, 350 c.i., 2wd, 4-speed trans. pick-up I bought new in '76. <br /><br />Only repairs were the usual, brakes, tires, spark plugs, oil, anti-freeze, battery or 2, etc.<br /><br />Put 786,550 miles on it.<br /><br />Never ever been towed.<br /><br />Don't use it as everyday driver anymore, but truck sat all winter, stored outside, started this truck at the beginning of April, put key in, and it started without a jump start or anything.<br /><br />Mainly use this truck for going to the dumps or lumber yard and only put about 1000 miles on it a year, but I would never trade it or sell it for a new one, they don't build them like that anymore.<br /><br />It may not look the best anymore, lots of rust now, but mechanically, it's perfect.<br /><br />In it's lifetime, I have invested less than $3000 into it, and thats 23 years of faithfull service.<br /><br />Don't see too many 1976 Ford's or Dodges around, but I do see alot of 1970's Chevy's still out there working.<br /><br />I know that the new Chevy's have a high sticker price on them, but if I was considering a new truck, I'd buy another Chevy. <br /><br />Just one more note here:<br /><br />My neighbor has a 35' travel trailer that he pulls with his 2001 Ford Excursion with the Triton V-10, and 4 wheel drive, and he uses my old Chevy to get the trailer backed up the hill on his property because the Excursion will not push it up the hill, go figure!

 

[12Footer]

Re: Which V8 fullsize truck best? Dependable?

Dodge V-10 Magnun 4x4 with dualies.

<br /><br />The tow package is standard equipment on thier entire line, and is a great setup. I have heard horror stories about the trannies, but where I werk, our pickups in the fleet are 40%Dodge,with many 91's still chuggin with over 100K,and daily City driving/towing.<br />But we haven't had the reported transmission stories in our garage. Brakes, yes. Fords, transmission problems --- Chevies, not bad, but a/c, alternator problems, and water pumps seem to not hold-up.<br />In the larger trucks, (gas dump trucks, chery-pickers) the chevies are the least problem.<br />Fords the worst.<br />Fuel ecomomy, Chevy is best in same range.<br /><br />But again, overall, te Dodges are good trucks.<br />Just my own observations, and those of our garage forman (I asked him before buying my '02 Dodge).<br />His only caveat; don't hit anything! they are much more costly to repair bodywerk.

 

[Heinz CA.]

Re: Which V8 fullsize truck best? Dependable?

I understand what you're saying about the old Chevys!! I had a 75 Blazer 4x4 for 10 yrs., bought with 90K on it, orig owner never changed oil so I rebuilt engine only at 100K, 150K later had to put in new motor ONLY because heads did not have hardened seats and valves and unleaded gas cracked them. Inside of motor was spotless, still had crosshatches in bores. T350 trans., xfer case, diffs. and axles were all ORIGINAL and working great. I agree they don't build em like that anymore! I'm just thinking in 1-2 years of buying something newer. Have 92 Jeep 4.0 Cherokee with 138K on it that runs like new, but I miss having a pickup bed and would like something newer and nicer with all bells and whistles some time. (Hey, I'll be 40 next year! )My buddy with 98? Dodge pickup with 5.9 and 98K really likes his and yes the Dodges are quite a bit cheaper used or new w/ great warranty, I'm looking at them too.<br />Thanks, Heinz

 

[JB]

Re: Which V8 fullsize truck best? Dependable?

Hi, Heinz.<br /><br />I have always been a Ford man when it came to trucks. Owned a bunch and loved them all.<br /><br />When my son in law asked me to help him shop for a 4X4 Extracab V8 I took him straight to my Ford dealer.<br /><br />Then we went to the Dodge dealer, GMC, Chevy. Still liked the Ford F150 4X4 Extra cab with the 5.4 V8 after driving all three.<br /><br />Then we went to the Toyota Dealer and drove the Tundra V8. End of game. In a class by itself. <br />Made in USA by American Union workers.<br /><br />After about a year my daughter loved that truck so much she bought herself a V8 4Runner.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: Which V8 fullsize truck best? Dependable?

If your just driving back and forth to work<br />or towing a light load now and again. Then their<br />all pretty much equal. But if its a work truck<br />you need ,and you have to rely on the truck in<br />the field offroad. Then you need a Ford Truck.

 

[Heinz CA.]

Re: Which V8 fullsize truck best? Dependable?

Actually the F150 4x4 crewcab short bed is EXACTLY what I was thinking about. With 5.4 V8, it<br />s a real good looking truck too. HEinz

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: Which V8 fullsize truck best? Dependable?

Heinz , That super/crew F-150 only has a 5' 6" box<br />A short box is 6 feet.

 

[Heinz CA.]

Re: Which V8 fullsize truck best? Dependable?

Oh, OK, but 5' 6" bed should be plenty for me. still want to be able to go through drivethrus with it. I just really like the wy it looks and the 5.4 V8. Heinz

 

[Moose_Miller]

Re: Which V8 fullsize truck best? Dependable?

A standard shortbox is 6.5', but the super-crew is indeed a 5.5' box. This rules out quads, etc. As for a dually, they only come in an 8' box. <br /><br />My company has many pickups for use over the road. The Super Duty Fords with the 7.3L powerstroke have got all the power in the world, 18 mpg, and I'm not sure how long they last - the 2 we have are 2001's, and they both have over 200,000 miles on them. The 2 F-150's we have with the 5.0L gas motor get 13 mpg, but no major repairs to speak of in the first 100,000 miles. We have 2 Dodges, one with the 360, and one with the 318, both get 13-ish mpg, and BOTH were getting new trannys in the first 100,000 miles. The Chevys are the main choice - great looks, dependability (we have 3 with over 300,000), standard equipment(most of which costs extra with Ford or Dodge), overall cost, and 20-22 mpg with the Vortec 5.7 L, which by the way, will SMOKE any of the other trucks down the road.

 

[MrBill]

Re: Which V8 fullsize truck best? Dependable?

Heinz<br /><br />I have a 2001 Ford F150 Supercrew..and it has been fabulous all the way around. I would suggest the F150 forum for the most up-to-date info on newer models. For instance...Ford continually updates and changes specs during the model year and its even difficult for the dealer s to keep up. You could get a brochure from the dealer outlining options and buy an F150 that has a slightly different configuration. Not good if you were me...thinking you were getting remote keyless entry and taking delivery without it...I was not happy. The vehicle has been awesome though since that one mishap which was taken care of. If you're a boater and tow, it's the vehicle of choice...strong, comfortable ride, etc, etc. Don't even consider two-wheel drive, and for an extra $250, get the limited slip front differential - my only regret. And the 4.6 liter will do just fine too.

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: Which V8 fullsize truck best? Dependable?

Mr Bill , you cant get a limited slip front diff.<br />You wouldnt be able to steer it on dry pavement.<br />only avalible in rear axle.

 

[muskyone]

Re: Which V8 fullsize truck best? Dependable?

i'd go ford we got ride of all our chevy vans at work for fords the one im driveing now has 3,33400<br />and nothing more then a starter here and there i don't know anything about dodges and chevys brakes suck

 

[cpasseno03]

Re: Which V8 fullsize truck best? Dependable?

They all have their setbacks. In the end its a matter of personal preferance. And nowadays the competition is so close its not funny. I have and always will be a ford fan. Even more then that, I will always opt for an old one!! they do NOT make them like they used to. No matter what you get there will be problems, minor or major, and you would like to fix them yourself(at least I would)these days it just cannot be done without a scan tool and computer. And even then they are NOT designed to be serviced. I will say this, when I saw a 1986 F150 for sale I jumped on it!! the old 300ci straight six was the best engine ever built, period. great on gas run forever, and plenty of pulling power for the average tower. My dad has an 83 F250 with the 460ci, and has absolutely beaten the living crap out of that truck, day in day out, it took one hell of a beating, and lemme tell ya that truck stops for NOTHING!!! weve pulled full dumptrucks and semi's out of rather deep ditches with the "hoss" Im my opinion, you cant beat a ford.<br />Craig

 

[JRJ]

Re: Which V8 fullsize truck best? Dependable?

My at work truck is a 2000 GMC 3/4tn 4x4 extra cab short bed, auto trans w/454 engine. The most comfortable work truck I've been in. At 85,000 miles, its gone to the shop once at 75,000 because the posi was hanging up. The most trouble free truck I've driven. For MrBill,I ordered a 1979 Ford F150 with front and rear posi. As long as I wanted to go straight, it was a goer. Mud and snow were a little tricky, and side hill was scary.