Ford or Ram
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Enn
Well-known member
very cool indeed!
I have to admit I have a 4 wheel drive Audi and considering our winters and snow, I do get some advantage every now and then, although I have had also the rear wheel drive MB and I do not recall being stuck in snow either.
But a truck? I mean, the cabins usually are pretty tiny as the box in the back takes most of the space away. And if it is just a rear wheel drive, with the rear being pretty light, it does not give much advantage on the terrain or ice. And then it's such a waste in aerodynamics that you need many hp-s and mpg to get it decently moving.
But then, feel cool factor is actually the only thing the life is good for living, I do buy that!
I have to admit I have a 4 wheel drive Audi and considering our winters and snow, I do get some advantage every now and then, although I have had also the rear wheel drive MB and I do not recall being stuck in snow either.
But a truck? I mean, the cabins usually are pretty tiny as the box in the back takes most of the space away. And if it is just a rear wheel drive, with the rear being pretty light, it does not give much advantage on the terrain or ice. And then it's such a waste in aerodynamics that you need many hp-s and mpg to get it decently moving.
But then, feel cool factor is actually the only thing the life is good for living, I do buy that!
beemerdons
Certifiable Old Fart
+1, Gunny; Blind Squirrel is right and if we Americans didn't own/drive trucks they would force us to move to Estonia, or worse yet either Latvia or Lithuania! JSNS, Häid jõule ja head uut aastat!!
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hppants
Well-known member
Enn makes a good point. I've owned pickup trucks since the mid-80s. I've owned boats longer than that. The truck is just wonderfully convenient for me. It tows and it hauls where and when I want it to. But the reality is that it only does that for me for about 10% of it's miles. The other 90%, its just hauling me to work and errands, drinking 15mpg gasoline and scraping $300.00 tires.
I may keep my current truck 5 more months, 5 more years, or 15 more years - it just depends. But when it's time for something else, I'm going to look outside of the box. My current boat is only about 2500 pounds loaded. There are currently 20 or more vehicles that can tow that and get near 30 mpg on the hwy without trailer. I'll seriously look at that option, and just purchase a 5 x 10 trailer to haul crap when I need to.
While my 19 year old tree hugger son is far different than me, he's taught me quite a lot about the whole picture lately.
I may keep my current truck 5 more months, 5 more years, or 15 more years - it just depends. But when it's time for something else, I'm going to look outside of the box. My current boat is only about 2500 pounds loaded. There are currently 20 or more vehicles that can tow that and get near 30 mpg on the hwy without trailer. I'll seriously look at that option, and just purchase a 5 x 10 trailer to haul crap when I need to.
While my 19 year old tree hugger son is far different than me, he's taught me quite a lot about the whole picture lately.
TomInPA
Well-known member
Everyone needs a truck to bring home that big screen TV from Costco for the Super Bowl.
JSNS
JSNS
beemerdons
Certifiable Old Fart
+1, Gunny; this statement right here is why TominCA is the smartest Dude on our Fine FJR Forum, next to dcarver and WheatonFJR of course! JSNS, Whackos!
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I work in remote Alaska for 6 months of the year. No road to get there, everything we need is barged in during April and barged out during October.
In 2013, we got 3 Dodge and 17 Ford half tons, all brand new.
We put about 3000 miles on the trucks in a season. None of the roads are paved. These are working trucks.
The Fords ran all season with no problems. The Dodges progressively crapped out, and by July, none were running. These were brand new trucks, 100 percent of them did not make it to 2000 miles.
In 2014, we split between most of the same Fords and some Chevy's. All ran fine all season.
Co worker just bought a new Dodge this fall. His second transmission just quit.
There are too many Dodge experiences like this, IMO.
In 2013, we got 3 Dodge and 17 Ford half tons, all brand new.
We put about 3000 miles on the trucks in a season. None of the roads are paved. These are working trucks.
The Fords ran all season with no problems. The Dodges progressively crapped out, and by July, none were running. These were brand new trucks, 100 percent of them did not make it to 2000 miles.
In 2014, we split between most of the same Fords and some Chevy's. All ran fine all season.
Co worker just bought a new Dodge this fall. His second transmission just quit.
There are too many Dodge experiences like this, IMO.
petey
Well-known member
Just curious, no mention about Toyota trucks...I've had ('03 and '07... 5.7 liter 2WD) Tundras and had zero/nada problems with them. Although gas milege wasn't the greatest..17-19mpg on the highway.
hppants
Well-known member
Ok - I'm having a bout of Vertigo and I'm a little wacko this morning. But I was bored and curious so I made a spreadsheet. Disclaimers are as follows:
1. Each vehicle is a 1/2 ton 4 door vehicle.
2. All prices are MSRP
3. Other maintenance cost differences are not illustrated.
4. Fuel cost are using Gasbuddy.com for my home zipcode (cheapest price for 12/27/14). Gas prices change every day. If gas prices go back to 2013 numbers next year, this whole story changes.
5. But if my Aunt had balz, she'd be my Uncle.
6. To coin a phrase, YMMV
7. Anything else I can't think of, fill in the __________
I picked 7 years for the analysis because that brings the truck to the 100,000 mile mark. No other reason and that really doesn't mean much. However, if we look at that, it would appear the from purely a fuel standpoint, the Ford EcoBoost seems to be worth the money.
1. Each vehicle is a 1/2 ton 4 door vehicle.
2. All prices are MSRP
3. Other maintenance cost differences are not illustrated.
4. Fuel cost are using Gasbuddy.com for my home zipcode (cheapest price for 12/27/14). Gas prices change every day. If gas prices go back to 2013 numbers next year, this whole story changes.
5. But if my Aunt had balz, she'd be my Uncle.
6. To coin a phrase, YMMV
7. Anything else I can't think of, fill in the __________
I picked 7 years for the analysis because that brings the truck to the 100,000 mile mark. No other reason and that really doesn't mean much. However, if we look at that, it would appear the from purely a fuel standpoint, the Ford EcoBoost seems to be worth the money.
ionbeam
2 FUN
Our friend used to be a Dodge dealer (Allen Dodge, Derry NH), we have had both Fords and Chevy trucks. The Dodge trucks could have a long life, but it was a flog to keep them going. I had no interest in gambling if my vehicle would make it through the day without something going wrong. In terms of utility, the Ford and Chevy trucks were about equal and gas/maintenance was about the same but our personal preference was the Chevy based on driving perception.
If Ray is looking for a PUT, I'm sure he will make his work truck work, unlike the other 75% of PUT owners. Anyone want to put a ratio on how much an Adventure/Tour motorcycle spends really Adventuring vs Touring? Riding groomed dirt county roads doesn't count, I do that on my FJR.
Up until the mid 70's you could buy a full size, 6 passenger, rail frame car that had good towing capacity and a huge trunk so it could do a lot of work that today's light PUTs perform. Granted, it got 10 mpg and lasted a reliable 60k miles. Today, if you want to do anything more than light towing or need to bring home Tom's big screen TV then you have almost no choice but a PUT. I have no idea why people that live in downtown Boston have 1/2 ton or bigger PUTs.
Here on the coast a lot of people have PUTs to pull their boats but do it so infrequently it may make better sense to rent a truck for a day or pay a towing service for the 2 days a year the boat travels over roads. New England is still rural enough that there are lots of home/farms that can still make use of a PUT.
When we owned horses we really had a need for a PUT to haul hay and horse stuff plus tow a 2 horse trailer. Our PUTs got used as a work truck almost every day. Today, in a mixed bag, we need to occasionally tow up to 1/2 ton, get to our town's muddy household dump weekly and be able to carry home construction stuff. Instead of a PUT, we have a Weird Alice vehicle -- a Honda Element. When we come back from the barn we can open all 4 doors and fire hose the interior to get out all the foot borne barn byproducts. We can pull out the seats and have about the same bed capacity as a LUV (Light Utility Vehicle). With Blizzak snow tires, the Element is about the best snow vehicle I've ever driven and it gets mid 20's for mileage. But damn, it's embarrassing to be seen driving
If Ray is looking for a PUT, I'm sure he will make his work truck work, unlike the other 75% of PUT owners. Anyone want to put a ratio on how much an Adventure/Tour motorcycle spends really Adventuring vs Touring? Riding groomed dirt county roads doesn't count, I do that on my FJR.
Up until the mid 70's you could buy a full size, 6 passenger, rail frame car that had good towing capacity and a huge trunk so it could do a lot of work that today's light PUTs perform. Granted, it got 10 mpg and lasted a reliable 60k miles. Today, if you want to do anything more than light towing or need to bring home Tom's big screen TV then you have almost no choice but a PUT. I have no idea why people that live in downtown Boston have 1/2 ton or bigger PUTs.
Here on the coast a lot of people have PUTs to pull their boats but do it so infrequently it may make better sense to rent a truck for a day or pay a towing service for the 2 days a year the boat travels over roads. New England is still rural enough that there are lots of home/farms that can still make use of a PUT.
When we owned horses we really had a need for a PUT to haul hay and horse stuff plus tow a 2 horse trailer. Our PUTs got used as a work truck almost every day. Today, in a mixed bag, we need to occasionally tow up to 1/2 ton, get to our town's muddy household dump weekly and be able to carry home construction stuff. Instead of a PUT, we have a Weird Alice vehicle -- a Honda Element. When we come back from the barn we can open all 4 doors and fire hose the interior to get out all the foot borne barn byproducts. We can pull out the seats and have about the same bed capacity as a LUV (Light Utility Vehicle). With Blizzak snow tires, the Element is about the best snow vehicle I've ever driven and it gets mid 20's for mileage. But damn, it's embarrassing to be seen driving
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Geezer
Parsimonious Curmudgeon
SInce the state where I live uses a lot of road salt, I am curious about the aluminum Ford. I never expected a significant difference in fuel economy between the aluminum truck and a steel one, but the price is close and I expect the aluminum to last a lot longer. My current pickup- a '94 Chevy 3500 crew cab, has been very good to me, but it is literally coming apart due to rust.
I won't compare the 3500 with a typical 1/2 ton truck because the 3500 is significantly heavier and sturdier. I believe a 1/2 ton would have rotted away long ago.
My son-in-law sells Toyotas and he loves his Tundra. If Toyota made a heavier pickup I'd probably have one. The Tundra is the heaviest they offer in the US, and it is a 1/2 ton.
My experience with Chrysler products is that they usually look and feel very noice when new, but do not last very long before they start to cost a lot to keep them running.
And what's up with the demise of the manual transmission? It is rare to find a pickup truck that is even available with a manual transmission these days.
I won't compare the 3500 with a typical 1/2 ton truck because the 3500 is significantly heavier and sturdier. I believe a 1/2 ton would have rotted away long ago.
My son-in-law sells Toyotas and he loves his Tundra. If Toyota made a heavier pickup I'd probably have one. The Tundra is the heaviest they offer in the US, and it is a 1/2 ton.
My experience with Chrysler products is that they usually look and feel very noice when new, but do not last very long before they start to cost a lot to keep them running.
And what's up with the demise of the manual transmission? It is rare to find a pickup truck that is even available with a manual transmission these days.
08FJR4ME
-WYNPRO-
TOYOTAS AREN'T TRUCKS, ARE YOU SERIOUS?
NS,
NS,
08FJR4ME
-WYNPRO-
For the last three years near my work the TOYOTA dealer has been using a Ford truck to plow there lot. What more do you need to say.
Dave
Dave
Blind Squirrel
Well-known member
08FJR4ME
-WYNPRO-
I believe the cause may be due to gas mileage. 6 speed automatics will produce better mileage. I could be wrong though.
FJRay
Well-known member
I think the biggest load my F150 has hauled was hauling bodies "drunk and Sober" to and from my house at the first Reuben Run. That was when Richard forgot he was in a truck and walked off the edge.
TomInPA
Well-known member
Now that's why ya gotta own a truck...What a load!I think the biggest load my F150 has hauled was hauling bodies "drunk and Sober" to and from my house at the first Reuben Run. That was when Richard forgot he was in a truck and walked off the edge.
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Pterodactyl
Well-known member
+1 on Toyota
Two kinds of people in this ole world. Those that have a truck and those who want to borrow a truck.
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HotRodZilla
GOD BLESS AMERICA
I won't talk crap about Toyota. They make a good truck, but they're seriously proud of those things. Holy cow.
Yeah, lots of people that don't need trucks buy them. Just like lots of people that don't need sports cars and motorcycles buy those too. Personally, I use the **** out of my truck. I have horses, hunt, deal with snow, move stuff, all kinds of things. I will never be without a 4x4 truck either. That's just stupid; for my needs. Others don't have those needs and should buy accordingly. However, NM is very rural, and there are lots of trucks here that are very needed. I guess it depends on where you live.
Yeah, lots of people that don't need trucks buy them. Just like lots of people that don't need sports cars and motorcycles buy those too. Personally, I use the **** out of my truck. I have horses, hunt, deal with snow, move stuff, all kinds of things. I will never be without a 4x4 truck either. That's just stupid; for my needs. Others don't have those needs and should buy accordingly. However, NM is very rural, and there are lots of trucks here that are very needed. I guess it depends on where you live.
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lnewlf
Well-known member
40 years self-employed
6 Chevy or GMC trucks..all hit 250-300K ..all ran great when sold due to salt rot.. Only once did I have to tow one home [fuel pump]
6 Chevy or GMC trucks..all hit 250-300K ..all ran great when sold due to salt rot.. Only once did I have to tow one home [fuel pump]
