Im shopping for a half ton pick-up. Crew cab/4-door and 4X4 are the main needs, next would come fuel efficiency and general reliability. I do most of my own wrenching so fixing small things that come up aren’t a big deal but things like auto trannys or expensive electronic sensors, engine issues are what Im worried about. Budget: 15-20K. Im thinking I would like something with 40-60K miles. I tow a boat weekly but its only around 2500lbs, and larger trailers (up to 5,000lbs) occasionally.  lets hear the recomendations.  Thanks.

Edited by lucky_logger6, 08 May 2012 - 12:31 PM.

I have a 2000 5.3l Tahoe that my dad used to drive. we pull like a 14ft trailer with my bike and his quad just fine. the limit is like 6,700 lbs. the only thing that had broken is the window regulator and a window motor. We dont even put it in tow/haul mode most of the time and it doent have a problem, but it has a hard time climbing hills if its in over gear so i usually put it in 3rd.

Well, this debate has been going on since the Model T really. Our family has had terrible experience with GM, so we try and stay away from them. Ford makes some okay rigs, they're better than GM, but not by much. I've been a Dodge man my whole life and probably will always be one. We've clocked over 100,000 miles on my Ram and it hasn't had a hiccup. Not even a pump replaced.

It does get terrible gas mileage though. I get 10 in town and about 14 on the highway. But, this is my 1996 that's worth about 4 grand, so you can skip out on that generation. The only problem with the 3rd generation Rams is that their quad cabs are pretty small. You can buy a Mega Cab, but they are few and far between on the half ton models.

This is blasphemy coming from me, but i would get a 2005ish Super Crew Ford F-150 with the 5.4 Triton. My grandpa owns one and it's worked extremely well for him. It would definitely be my second choice in a truck.

I was in a similar situation over the winter.  I was looking mainly at GM or Ford.  I wanted the current body style, my reasoning being that it should depreciate slower than the last year or two of a body style.  If it's not going to look basically new, might as well get something older but solid, like a 2000 or so.  But the new style Tundras and Fords are mid-20s or higher,  which narrowed it down to GM for me.  I ended up getting an '07 GMC 4x4 crew with 40K for just under $22K, which was a little more than I was planning on spending, but it's been good so far.

These are all two wheel drive and I bought all of them new. I have a 1999 Silverado extended cab (4.8 liter) with ~255,000 miles on it, a 2008 Silverado extended cab (5.3 liter) with ~ 73,000 miles on it, and a 2012 Silverado crew cab (6.2 liter) with ~1,200 miles on it. Care to guess what I recommend?

Thanks guys, if anyone else has any comments feel free to chime in.

Best condition 05 or newer Dodge. Don't bother with the 4.7l it actually is worse than the hemi on fuel.

If you have the scratch, a Tundra is the way to go. Simply pu they are the longest lasting trucks around. Lots of the oil companies up here in northern Canada are switching to Toyotas. They just hold up better, period!

 Pumpkin450sxf, on 09 May 2012 - 06:20 PM, said:

How many 1999 model and older Tundras do you see on the road?

GM, our 2010 with the 5.3 gets 18-20mpg hauling one bike on the hwy and 16ish around town (it is my wifes DD). It goes down to around 12-14 when towing the trailer, I've pulled a 8x16 enclosed trailer with it before with no power problems at all. I'm not a fan of the 6sp transmission though, it doesn't provide engine braking on downhills which causes your speeds to increase (obviously) when not in tow mode. The ground clearance sucks also, my corolla has more!  We had a new model Tundra when they came out also, great truck but mpg sucked. I towed 8k+ lbs twice with it the 1st month we had it with no problems. We sold it due to mpg, 9mpg towing and 13-15 on the hwy but holy cow did it have balls.

Edited by Gotlabs, 10 May 2012 - 06:45 AM.

Gotlabs, I have no idea how you are getting 18-20 highway. Our Suburban with no cargo and two people only gets 16 with the 5.3. That whole truck has been garbage for us anyway. (Dad's trying to convince mom to switch to a new Ram, but it's not going well. hahaha)

 tdub2112, on 11 May 2012 - 04:03 PM, said:

Stories get told on the internet...don't you know this?

 tdub2112, on 11 May 2012 - 04:03 PM, said:

18 to 20 on the highway sounds right to me. I had a 2008 extended cab Silverado with the 5.3 for almost 4 years. I never reset the average on the DIC while I had the truck. It was showing 17.6 the day I sold it. That's the average for all the driving and all conditions I did the whole time I had the truck.

 Yamiryder, on 11 May 2012 - 05:42 PM, said:

 tdub2112, on 11 May 2012 - 04:03 PM, said:

Yes, stories do get told on the net. Unfortunately, I don't have time to tell lies nor do I get paid for product endorsements. I do however, own a 2010 GMC Sierra 1500 with a 5.3L "smart motor" (drops of the subsequent firing cylinder when cruising) that gets 18-20 mpg on the hwy. That is, when it's being driven by a responsible adult. The last 2 road trips I've made it were 20 and 19 mpg on average, from 22407-Charlotte NC and 22407-Martinsville VA with on bike and gear.

Suburbans are heavier vehicles and I would guess that is why you mpg suffers.

Edited by Gotlabs, 13 May 2012 - 05:03 AM.

Lucky Logger,

I'm in the same place you are except that I tow a travel trailer about 10% of my annual mileage, so I'm trying to choose 3/4 ton gasser for $10k or newer 1/2 ton Crew for $18K and try to save on fuel.

Having owned about 15 trucks over the years I think the best advise I could give is buy the one you like.  No truck will pull 10K pounds, get 25 mpg, ride comfortably unloaded and with 1500lbs in the bed, seat 5 people comfortably, and cost $15K; it's always a compromise.  Drive a few and buy what fits most of your needs.  Extended cab 1/2 ton trucks are "a dime a dozen" and you should be able to get a great deal on one.  Crewcabs are expensive because they're awesome and very versitile.

I don't like the Tundra and I think they are overpriced.  Driving my cummins as a daily driver was total overkill, it was like riding a CRF450R with my 8 year-old riding a 50.  Midsized and mini-trucks are too small for my needs and their mileage is not that different than a full-sized truck.  I've known MANY happy F150 owners (I'm one of them), some frustrated Silverado owners (who probably get the best mileage of all the 1/2 tons) when they're not chasing some quality issue (electrical, dash board failures, etc), some happy 3/4 and 1 ton Dodge owners.  Titan's are FUN to drive and I like their crewcabs, but they are not as plentiful as "the most sold vehicle in the US for (?) years" (the F150).  

My 2001 Ford Supercrew has been a good compromise, but I'm still trying to figure out what in God's name is 5.5 feet in this country.  I get 13mpg in town, 15 hwy, 9-10 towing; 120K miles and only had to replace the coil packs twice.  

If you know of lightly used 6 1/2' bed, supercrew ford, with a 5.4, let me know.

 Gotlabs, on 13 May 2012 - 05:02 AM, said:

I didn't mean for it to sound like i was calling you a liar. I can see getting 20 mpg on the highway. I am curious however, is your truck 2wd or 4wd?

I forgot to mention that those on-board mileage counters can be fairly accurate to NOT EVEN CLOSE.  When you ask people about what MPG they are getting, be sure to ask if it's "hand calculated".  My Dodge computer consistently was giving me "24" avg over a tank of fuel, hand calculated was closer to 18 when empty.

Good luck.

 KTM Rookie, on 14 May 2012 - 08:48 AM, said:

Yeah, mine is a little optimistic too, but not that much.  It is helpful in seeing how milage varies, though.

I've seen it vary significanctly based on speed and/or hills.  I get like 18.2 as a best on back roads going like 50.  Going 75 on highways I get close to 17 if it's flat, 16 or so when hilly.  Those are all with 1 bike in the back.  I could probably get 19-20 if I drove flat roads at 55 but there aren't any of those around me.

i'll throw in a recommendation FWIW for the '04-'08 F-150.    There are some common issues that come up and a trip an F150 owner's forum will educate you,  but the last 2 i have had have been solid as Sears.

    '04 with 235k when i sold it ---
have an '05 now with 175k --- nothing mechanical has gone wrong other than a cracked brake rotor at 160k -- and 2 power window motors.  both engines are 5.4's.    Fuel mileage is not spectacular, but i can routinely get 16-17 on a long highway jaunt

Have an '08 2500HD with 120k on it --- also rock solid so far-- 6.0 gas engine with a 6 speed transmission -- fuel mileage on the highway unloaded is around 15.   Again, no mechanical problems with the big Chevy either

Guess i am just lucky so far - knock on wood

I can't comment on other makes/models too much because i dont have any first hand experience, bt i will add that a friend of mine who drives his truck (a Nissan Titan)  in a similar fashion as i do (tons of highway miles with light to no loads -- but takes care of routine maintenance religiously ) -- has had similar good luck

 Yamiryder, on 13 May 2012 - 03:40 PM, said:

4wd, hand calculated. Our best was 21MPG from VA-SC on 95, 3 people with luggage and one little dog.

I will say the only reason I have this truck is because my wife HATES the way Dodge trucks look. I wanted a Dodge 3500 diesel, but she won out since it was going to be her DD.