New Truck Help
#1
Posted 12 September 2009 - 06:26 AM
of other FWC users, I have a Hawk. Don't think this will change, but my brother keeps saying I should go for a Grandby and get more space. tempting. Long bed? Just maybe.
Anyhow, for now I will assume short bed. Probably an extended cab truck, as I don't have need for the crew cab. 4x4 and probably a 3/4 ton as I am tired of hitting the payload limit of my older truck.....
I went looking at the major big truck makers yesterday. Wow. Expensive and big. Nice nice nice. Lots of money, so probably need to make a very good decision between now and probably spring. Unless I want to try to get an 09. Seems a lot of those are gone already!
Toyota makes a mighty nice truck. My friends with Tacomas and Tundras swear by them. They seem to have much better reliability ratings. I like that. BUT no 3/4 ton truck. Man, if they made one I am sure they could corner the market. So, sorry Toyota, I don't think this will cut it.
Since I have a dodge, I think the only reason to go with dodge is if I want the Cummins diesel. Nice, and a lot of folks really like them. But, can't see myself paying the premium for diesel. I don't think I will drive it that much.
Ford? oddly, I don't know too many with big ford pickups. My family seemed to like the chevy trucks. I drove a few. Nice, but not sure I would be ready to go ford.
Chevy/GMC. Boy, I really like the new chevys with those nice doors. A good friend has an 08 with a Northstar on it. Very very capable. My brother has an older chevy and loves his northstar on it.
I have read countless accounts of what truck is better and such. But what I want to know is which is better for us FWC and ATC users? OK, youall, let me hear what you have to say before I make any final decisions.
Thanks
Dave in Seattle
#2
Posted 12 September 2009 - 11:29 AM
#3
Posted 12 September 2009 - 12:30 PM
If you browse MSN Auto's reliability ratings, you'll see that Dodge and Ford's big trucks stand equal to Toyotas in quality. I don't know about Chevy, because I wanted a solid front axle.
Now that clean air has finally caught up to the diesel engine, their fuel efficiency is about the same as the gasoline versions.
I got a nice used truck with 46k miles on it for less than half the original sticker price. This is probably because the price of big trucks crashed when fuel prices spiked a year ago. Nowadays, you may find that the incentives on new '09s make them the best deal.
If I can do anything to help your search, like perhaps helping you find a clean Texas truck, please send along a PM.
#4
Posted 12 September 2009 - 03:00 PM
Right now I am thinking new just because i will get many years of use and can make changes early. Didn't do that last time and got less enjoyment out of it. Pretty sure this
truck will be used for a long time and will probably run it into the ground over about 15 years or so. Maybe longer.
One question i was asking myself when looking at the brochures and stuff, what really is the difference between a 3/4 ton and 1 ton truck? seems not a lot. might it be worth the little extra to get the extra payload capacity? You never know what I'll carry/tow in the future. I never intended to put a camper on my 1/2 ton when I first bought it and now the hawk is the best thing I ever got.
Also, I think gas will be the way to go for me. availability is the key and to do diesel, I'd have to make sure it had a really nice size tank...probably after market and that is more cash. Besides, driving patterns will be lots of sitting in the street, then nice long trips on the weekends or vacations. Not ready for retirement and long distance travel yet. Of course, if I were to retire today, I'd probably get a diesel, a big big tank, and get the hell out of town!
dave
#5
Posted 12 September 2009 - 04:34 PM
If i had it do over again I'd go with the long bed and the grandby, but its not something that bothers me enough that I'll change at this point. The short bed and the hawk get the job done just fine.
Craig K6JGV_________________________ 2004 2500 CTD 4X4 FWC HAWK 1960 CJ5
#6
Posted 12 September 2009 - 05:00 PM
If u change campers, I would be interested in talking to ya. Maybe u should get a 1 ton longbed with a grandby after all. ha ha..................
cheers
#7
Posted 13 September 2009 - 07:37 PM
I like the torque and efficiency of a diesel, but not so much the 45k price tag. If I can buy a brand new truck with a solid diesel engine for under 30k, I'll probably buy a new one in 2010 or 2011. Having previously owned a CTD, I'd like to get back to diesel - but it has to be right. If it's not, I'll run another 100k on my 3/4 ton gasser.
2005 Toy Tun Access Cab 4x2
#8
Posted 13 September 2009 - 10:54 PM
#9
Posted 13 September 2009 - 11:08 PM
I have read countless accounts of what truck is better and such. But what I want to know is which is better for us FWC and ATC users? OK, youall, let me hear what you have to say before I make any final decisions.
Well, really it's easy. FWC/ATC are American made and owned. So, in this department, think Ford.
Really, I think the big 3 are all the same... Except you get a solid axle, not IFS, and some ground clearance if you go Ford or Dodge. That is enough for me to rule out GM completely.
As far as diesel vs gas? Man, I *LIKE* how effortlessly the diesel takes me up the grades. I like how diesel can sit in the tank for a couple months without risk on my camping truck. I don't like how much diesel engines weigh or cost.
As far as I'm concerned, a v8 F250 extended cab long bed seems pretty optimal...
Scott Bailey -- W7SEB
2007 F350 XLT Diesel CC SRW SB 4x4
Cheap tent and a Partner Steel stove.
Future? Really like the Hiatus, but I'm broke AF, so dreaming about a DIY.
SOLD: 2008 ATC Panther:dinette, 5th wheel
#10
Posted 14 September 2009 - 01:27 AM
I don't hear anybody ravin' about the interior,
Actually I think the interior on my dodge is nice.
2022 F350 7.3L; family trailer at the moment and some aluminum stuck together to eventually form another truck camper
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