New half ton truck, what is your thoughts??

huntingman121

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Jun 28, 2004
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montana
So my current truck is a 2014 dodge ram 1500. I bought new, and it has been a good truck, decent gas mileage plenty of power. It has 145,000 miles and the only thing I had to do was a new water pump. Been looking at trading it in on a new truck. After researching I am kind of looking at another Ram, or a Tundra. I really would like a Tacoma but we have an 18 foot pontoon. I don’t tow it that much as it stays at our cabin for the season. Cabin to lake is only 3 miles. Cabin to our main house is 100 miles. We store it at our main house in the winter way less snow.

I heard the Ram have some engine issues with the cam and lifter issues. I haven’t had any issues. The down side I heard of Tundra is way worse gas mileage than advertised. Also I not impressed with the local Toyota dealership. Not that I really trust any dealerships. I am mostly a bird hunter in Montana. I am at the age where I start thinking I need to chain up, I turn around. 😀 I would like your thoughts and opinions. Thanks
 
Id say the Ram would be a comfortable replacement. Are you looking at the latest gen Tundra? Those things are really sweet, but very costly. Their base model 4x4 is intriguing as you get most of the creature comforts anyway, a slightly detuned motor(but still a ton of power). I think they automatically come with a limited slip rear end. Some good AT tires and id bet it would be a formidable off roader. I think the gas mileage issues are mostly due to people who cant keep their foot out of a twin turbo v6. Its a lot of fun to drive. Also folks that complain about gas mileage when they lift and throw 37in tires on their half ton should probably not comment. They did everything to go against the fuel economy.

My neighbor has the newer gen ram with the EtorqueHemi. Only thing I dont care for is the start stop that you have to click a button to shut off every time you start the truck.
 
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There's only 5 brands of half ton trucks. Test drive them and see what feels good. Price them and see what's in your range.

When i asked Chat GPT these were the numbers that came up....


Model / SpecificationsHorsepower (hp)Torque (lb-ft)Payload Capacity (lbs)Towing Capacity (lbs)Fuel Economy (MPG, City/Highway)MSRP
Ford F-150375-450 hp470-510 lb-ft1,500-2,300 lbs5,000-14,000 lbs19/25 - 13/18$30,000 to $70,000.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500285-420 hp305-460 lb-ft1,870-2,280 lbs7,900-13,300 lbs15/20 - 23/33$30,000 to $60,000
RAM 1500260-702 hp269-650 lb-ft1,300-2,320 lbs6,280-12,750 lbs20/25 - 10/22$32,000 to $70,000
GMC Sierra 1500285-420 hp305-460 lb-ft1,870-2,280 lbs7,900-13,300 lbs15/20 - 23/33$31,000 to $60,000
Toyota Tundra381 hp401 lb-ft1,600-1,730 lbs8,800-10,200 lbs13/18 - 17/22$34,000 to $54,000
Nissan Titan400 hp413 lb-ft1,620-1,950 lbs9,210-9,740 lbs15/21 - 20/24$37,000 to $61,000
 
I've got a 22 Ram 1500. It has been a great truck so far, I've got 21k on it. Mileage is acceptable for the 5.7 hemi. Low 20s on the highway and mid to high teens around town. I average about 18 or so. I tow a 22ft travel trailer very occasionally and it pulls fine with plenty of power. I also have the etorque, but would probably skip it if I did it again. I really don't like the start stop feature. It is also a really comfy truck to be in for a long time. The new Tundra is sweet, but I honestly wouldn't buy it simply because it doesn't have tow hooks!
 
Titan might be a good buy, The truck is a dang nice truck they just dont sell enough to justify keeping them around.

I have a '19 silverado with the v6. More power then you would think strangely enough. I dont think that v6 is offered in anything but WT trim now, but that 4banger turbo i hear is very torquey.
 
I love my 2022 Tundra. I'm approaching 30k and it's been flawless. I have the non-hybrid. The hybrid is an inline that essentially just adds power. I've done a little bit of towing with mine (26' travel trailer) and the power was great. I'm sure the hybrid is even more fun though. My brother had a 2016 Tundra with the 5.7 and a supercharger, and now has a 2022 hybrid and says he wouldn't go back.

Before I put bigger AT's on I was averaging 20-21 mpg. I'm hanging around 17-18 now, and I drive like a jerk.

If you want the rear locker you need to get the TRD OR package. That will also get you the panoramic view monitor which is amazing. Cameras all around the truck create an overhead image on the 14" display.
 
Had a ram 1500 hemi bighorn that I loved. It had a TON of power. Traded it on my 2500 diesel bighorn. Diesel has a full hysterectomy.

They were/are have both been great trucks.

153K on the hemi with 0 problems

226K on the Cummins with 0 problems (Other than having to do the deletes at 75,000 miles).

I'll never buy another diesel though. Stinky things.
 
I love my 2022 Tundra. I'm approaching 30k and it's been flawless. I have the non-hybrid. The hybrid is an inline that essentially just adds power. I've done a little bit of towing with mine (26' travel trailer) and the power was great. I'm sure the hybrid is even more fun though. My brother had a 2016 Tundra with the 5.7 and a supercharger, and now has a 2022 hybrid and says he wouldn't go back.

Before I put bigger AT's on I was averaging 20-21 mpg. I'm hanging around 17-18 now, and I drive like a jerk.

If you want the rear locker you need to get the TRD OR package. That will also get you the panoramic view monitor which is amazing. Cameras all around the truck create an overhead image on the 14" display.
I've had my '23 Tundra Limited Hybrid with the TRD OR package for 3,000 miles and love it. Before putting gnarly tires on it, about 19 MPG (but most of my driving is dropping 3000 feet and ascending the same each day). But on a 200 mile trip with less major up and down, I was getting 21. Gnarly tires have me at about 18.

Truck is awesome, tons of power and excited to tow all the neighbors and their kids around on halloween for a haunted hay ride (thanks crawl mode).

Other than the sticker shock of a new truck, zero complaints about my tundra and look forward to still bragging about it on here in 2033
 
145,000 isn't that many miles for a half ton truck. I'd personally wait until the next gen RAM and get the Hurricane straight six.
 
I seriously considered that Tesla cyber truck. But I drove the lightning not long ago. While that thing is incredible, I couldn't get over the range situation and lack of ability to quickly charge and continue on my way. Putting a single cylinder generator on that truck to keep the battery's charged does not seem like rocket science to me. That electric option to me right now is simply just a toy. I dont think its a viable option for me as a replacement anymore.
 
I have a 2022 tundra sr5 TRD OR for about a year. I came from a 2009 ram ST. I want to like the truck but I have a few things that bug me

My key fob remote start died when I unsubscribed from their connected services and opted out of them tracking me and sell that information to 3rd parties. They pinky promised not to and I lost the ability to use hardware that I paid for.

My truck sometimes has a hesitation from a rolling stop. Zero throttle response for a second or so and if you keep depressing it you'll launch like a retard when it finally decides to go. Had a TSB performed that addressed it for around 500 miles and it came back. I'll bring it up at my 20k service but am not optimistic. It really sucks the joy out of driving it.

Fuel gauge has an issue where it will reset to full by itself sometimes. Tends to do this more when it's hot. I read somewhere they redesigned the tank for the 2024 but not sure on that.

Head unit will randomly lose the ability to connect to my phone. Restarting the unit will usually result in a PCS error message. If I am using cruise control at that time I will have to pull over and turn the truck on and off before I can use cruise control again.

Turning radius feels massive compared to the Ram.
 
I know for a fact that the payload on a 23 or newer F150 can go over 2500lbs.
IMG_8226.jpeg

Most dealers just haven’t got a clue how to order it though.

Yes, that’s the payload sticker on my 2023 F150 and it’s rated for a 18,300 GCVWR.

Empty it’s 5700 lbs and rated for a 13,200 trailer.
IMG_0645.jpeg


I had to special order the package and told them if the payload sticker was under 2500 lbs, they were going to get stuck with the truck.

5.0 coyote Flexfuel V8, 4X4, 3.73 elocker, 6.5’ bed.

The 36-gal fuel tank and 20-21 mpg gives me about a 670+ mile range.

I traded a 2012 ram 2500 Cummins in on a 2020 F150 with the 3.5 Ecoboost and the salesperson gave me a line of bovine excrement that 8 months later led me to order my 2023.
 
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I know for a fact that the payload on a 23 or newer F150 can go over 2500lbs.
View attachment 296433

Most dealers just haven’t got a clue how to order it though.

Yes, that’s the payload sticker on my 2023 F150 and it’s rated for a 18,300 GCVWR.

Empty it’s 5700 lbs and rated for a 13,200 trailer.
View attachment 296434


I had to special order the package and told them if the payload sticker was under 2500 lbs, they were going to get stuck with the truck.

5.0 coyote Flexfuel V8, 4X4, 3.73 elocker, 6.5’ bed.

The 36-gal fuel tank and 20-21 mpg gives me about a 670+ mile range.

I traded a 2012 ram 2500 Cummins in on a 2020 F150 with the 3.5 Ecoboost and the salesperson gave me a line of bovine excrement that 8 months later led me to order my 2023.
That coyote is a great motor.
 
That coyote is a great motor.

I like it. Glad I got it over the Ecoboost.

No intercooler to worry about. Able to mount a winch with no issues out front. Flexfuel option.

It still pulls the skid steer with no issues and it’s 7500 lbs in the trailer making me 17,500 lbs gross. It will hold 60 mph on some pretty good climbs coming off the Minnesota River.
IMG_9408.jpeg
 
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