Dad is looking for a new truck

[gregk24]

The time has come for my father to get a new vehicle. His current vehicle is a 2002 Chevy Silverado 6.0. It has well over 200K on it and it shows. He has decided on a full sized truck but has not decided what brand to go with.

My thoughts are (1) Ram (2) Tundra (3) Ford/Chevy/GMC).

Ram has a great ride and relatively solid drivetrain with good tech for the money, which is why it gets my #1 vote.

Tundra has reliability hands down, which is tempting, but has old tech.

Ford/GMC/Chevy likely will have their own set of issues, they don't seem to have the reliability they once did.

He is looking for V8 options, no V6 or turbos.

I don't really keep up on the truck scene that much. Are there any models to avoid?

 

[vwmaniaman]

I have a 2007 Ram 1500. Has 219K miles on it and runs like new. I keep it dead stock everything and it pulls our 1/2 ton towable 5th wheel just fine and get 10-11 towing. uses no oil. it is a Laramie model. We love it.

 

[HyundaiAbuser]

my closest friend got a 2019 ram with a hemi and 8 speed and it is well sorted out for driving. If it is for your dad does he care about tech? If not the tundra is probably going to be the most comparable to his older truck in terms of driving and MPG.

 

[Rand]

2020 Ram built to serve edition hemi in the family.
Anyone in the market needs to drive a ram just to compare to the others..
The ZF8/hemi combo is very well tuned.

 

[Skippy722]

From a safety standpoint, I’d wait for the new Tundra if you’re set on that. Not that it’s “unsafe” but there are better options.

The 5.7 hemi and ZF 8 speed is an amazing combination though, I love mine. It also rides nicely and gets (relatively) decent fuel economy.

 

[Markopolo]

What's he looking to do with it? if it's just a once-a-month trip to home depot truck id go with the tundra for reliability plus it has a 8ft bed option.

If he is looking into more regular towing and hauling, the ram would be the better bet (due to the hemi and zf8 as stated above, plus better interior comfort imho)

 

[03hemi]

Hands down the Ram is best truck out,

 

[tyman]

What's he looking to do with it? if it's just a once-a-month trip to home depot truck id go with the tundra for reliability plus it has a 8ft bed option.

If he is looking into more regular towing and hauling, the ram would be the better bet (due to the hemi and zf8 as stated above, plus better interior comfort imho)

Pretty much this.

 

[JTK]

I don't think there's any models to avoid. They're all good. Will he be buying new or used? I'd wait out the current market if/when it ever blows over.

FWIW, I've been driving Ram 1500s since 2018. First was a 2017 quad cab, 4x4, pentastar. Current is a 2019 crew cab 4x4 hemi. Love them.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Toyota is the best

 

[SatinSilver]

Tundra and Ram tied for the most positive comments I hear/read about. Followed closely by Ford trucks. Then Chevy/GMC. But hard to go wrong with any of them.

 

[Rand]

Toyota is the best

thats pretty generic, can you add specifics.

 

[xgmad]

dodge ram 1500 1999 or 2000
v8 magnum, very merican, with merican gas mileage.

 

[AZjeff]

dodge ram 1500 1999 or 2000
v8 magnum, very merican, with merican gas mileage.

He's getting out of a 2002 truck.....

 

[slacktide_bitog]

thats pretty generic, can you add specifics.

I would choose Toyota out of the full-size trucks. Much less quality problems than the others. It has a V8, no turbos, which is what the OP is looking for.

It's also funny how nobody has mentioned Nissan yet

 

[xgmad]

I would choose Toyota out of the full-size trucks. Much less quality problems than the others. It has a V8, no turbos, which is what the OP is looking for.

It's also funny how nobody has mentioned Nissan yet

those toyota trucks with manual transmissions, they are cool!

 

[mshu7]

Tundra has reliability hands down, which is tempting, but has old reliable tech.

 

[mshu7]

Dupe

 

[AZjeff]

It's also funny how nobody has mentioned Nissan yet

I had a 2018 Titan for 2 years and it was a great truck. Drove great, comfortable for long distances, "old" engine tech except for the DI, lots of power. I'd still have it and be perfectly happy but we got a mid size travel trailer and it was obvious Nissan didn't intend this truck to tow. A 400 hp/400 lb/ft truck should not run at 3000 rpm at 65 on flat road with a 6000 lb trailer but it did. It towed fine but the trans programming was stupid. No way I was going to tow hundreds of miles a day at 3000 or above and there was no way around it. Too bad because the reason I bought it and liked it was the lack of unnecessary dashboard tech and powertrain tech. For whatever reason Nissan just isn't very interested in the full size truck segment.

But don't listen to me, I replaced it with a GMC.

 

[AutoMechanic]

Everyone here must have not changed oil in a newer Ram before. You will hate where the oil filter is. I talked to some of the Mopar techs at work they said it causes the steering module to fail all the time because oil gets in it. It’s right above the rack and pinion and electronic steering module. Can’t remember but I think it’s on the V8 ones. Ford would be my number one choice for a truck. I feel they are the best built. Second would I guess be the Tundra even though I’ve never been a big fan of them. Third Ram and Fourth Chevrolet or GMC because those are the ones I work on all the time and they are ugly at least I think so. Not saying the others won’t have issues either it just seems we work on a lot of the Ram and Chevrolet and GMC. Usually for transmission problems or electrical.