Full size truck under $30k? F150 vs 1500 vs Ram 1500 vs Tundra

[jdoggg12]

I've been trying to come to a decision on which truck to go with as a replacement for my 05 TL. I'm planning on using it as my daily driver and to tow my motorcycle (and eventually a small toy hauler) to the racetracks a couple times a month

My current thoughts:

~2014 Tundra - current top choice. Highest long term reliability rating by far which is a huge selling point coming from 150k trouble free miles on my TL. Not great breaks and steering feel. Poor MPG.

~2014-15 Ram Ecodiesel - current 2nd choice, former first choice. The diesel should be relatively reliable, however, the rest of the truck is worrisome. I hear horror stories of their rattles and transmission reliability. MPG and (efficient) towing capability is a big selling point for this one.

??? F150/1500 - I've not really considered either of these too thoroughly. I hear they've both got slightly better reliability than the Ram but beyond that, not much.

What are your thoughts on each? If there were an ecoboost-like motor for the Tacoma, I'd consider going that route, however, none of their offerings have the torque/acceleration/towing capability I'd like.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Used prices on late model are almost as much as new. Alot of cash on the hoods of the leftover 2016 trucks right now.....

Sure you want used?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

<20mpg daily driver?

I'd rather buy another TL and spend $2k on somebody else's 150k truck to tow my toys on the weekends.

Then again, I drive 60-100 miles a day, depending on errands.

Anyway - my brain says Toyota. My inner child who grew up in Michigan and thought Gung Ho and RoboCop 3 were insightful social commentary says F150.

 

[herm0016]

Why a full size? Sounds like a Colorado/canyon would be perfect. I have a 09 Sierra and get about 17mpg commuting to work. The new motors are a little more efficient. The tundra gets the worst real world mpg of all of them. 85k on mine and only a few fairly minor repairs totaling about 1k including new brakes at 75k miles. I tow, haul a slide in camper and go off road fairly often. Gm twins ride/drive better than the others or at least they did in 09 IMHO.

 

[NutBucket]

Meh, buy whatever fits you best. I'm partial to GM and would have a hard time buying a Dodge.

 

[jdoggg12]

<20mpg daily driver?

I'd rather buy another TL and spend $2k on somebody else's 150k truck to tow my toys on the weekends.

Then again, I drive 60-100 miles a day, depending on errands.

Anyway - my brain says Toyota. My inner child who grew up in Michigan and thought Gung Ho and RoboCop 3 were insightful social commentary says F150.

Half my commuting is on my 65mpg motorcycle so the total gas expense is not huge. I'll be commuting 40 miles total each day.

Why a full size? Sounds like a Colorado/canyon would be perfect. I have a 09 Sierra and get about 17mpg commuting to work. The new motors are a little more efficient. The tundra gets the worst real world mpg of all of them. 85k on mine and only a few fairly minor repairs totaling about 1k including new brakes at 75k miles. I tow, haul a slide in camper and go off road fairly often. Gm twins ride/drive better than the others or at least they did in 09 IMHO.

Taco/Colorado/Frontier/Pathfinder are all vehicles I've considered. The problem is that when I pick up a 25' toy hauler and head up to Tahoe, they won't fare nearly as well.

Meh, buy whatever fits you best. I'm partial to GM and would have a hard time buying a Dodge.

"Fit"? How would you quantify, among these options, which one fits you best?

 

[SparkyJJO]

I have a 2007.5 Silverado 1500. It has 145k on it. I really like the truck, no real complaints about it aside from a couple annoyances that I caused and have no business complaining about lol. It is my daily driver but the mpg doesn't bother me, I still average 16-something despite the bigger, heavier tires I put on it, and I knew the mpg rating going in anyway.

I did have to overhaul the front suspension this year, but hey, with that many miles on stock stuff I'm not surprised.

 

[NutBucket]

"Fit"? How would you quantify, among these options, which one fits you best?

Simple, you'll simply find one is more comfortable for you, whether it's ergonomics or whatever. Basically I'm saying you can't go wrong.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I've been trying to come to a decision on which truck to go with as a replacement for my 05 TL. I'm planning on using it as my daily driver and to tow my motorcycle (and eventually a small toy hauler) to the racetracks a couple times a month

My current thoughts:

~2014 Tundra - current top choice. Highest long term reliability rating by far which is a huge selling point coming from 150k trouble free miles on my TL. Not great breaks and steering feel. Poor MPG.

~2014-15 Ram Ecodiesel - current 2nd choice, former first choice. The diesel should be relatively reliable, however, the rest of the truck is worrisome. I hear horror stories of their rattles and transmission reliability. MPG and (efficient) towing capability is a big selling point for this one.

??? F150/1500 - I've not really considered either of these too thoroughly. I hear they've both got slightly better reliability than the Ram but beyond that, not much.

What are your thoughts on each? If there were an ecoboost-like motor for the Tacoma, I'd consider going that route, however, none of their offerings have the torque/acceleration/towing capability I'd like.

A friend of mine has a RAM 2500 with diesel engine and he recently had to replace the turbo to the tune of $5,000. The truck is only a few years old with around 60,000 miles on it. Wasn't covered under warranty.

By the way, you could tow a motorcycle behind almost any vehicle. Even a small SUV would be able to handle that.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I'd try to find an f150 with the 2.7L ecoboost which gives you great economy without sacrificing performance. They get well into the mid 20''s for mpg's on the highway and still turn a 6.5 second 0-60 plus can tow a trailer.

 

[SparkyJJO]

If towing was a primary concern I'd get the larger of the two. I've talked to people who have actually used the 2.7L and while it is OK, if you want ecoboost but tow get the 3.5L.

 

[Herr Kutz]

I'd go with the F150 or GM 1500.

 

[*kjm]

If towing was a primary concern I'd get the larger of the two. I've talked to people who have actually used the 2.7L and while it is OK, if you want ecoboost but tow get the 3.5L.

I have had my 2.7 for over a year now and tow 2000 to 6000lbs and love the truck. I drive it everyday and get 19 mpg city and 24 mpg Hwy and with a load 20 (2000) 18 (6000 lbs) Hwy. Way better for me than the V8 I had before..... I tow about 24 to 36 times a year.
And it is way faster than my old V8 was. And with the payload package the door payload is 1777lbs.

 

[joutlaw]

I have a 2015 F-150 with the 2.7 as well. You should be able to find a pretty good deal on leftover 2016 XLT this time a year. XLTs can go as much 10-12K off with incentives.

 

[Bubbleawsome]

The newer ecoboost v6 f150 may be something you would look into

 

[Yuriman]

Not sure how many toys you're hauling. The new Ridgeline has a tow rating of 5000lbs (middle of the pack), a 19/26 EPA rating (best in class), and is the fastest midsize to 60. You know it'll be reliable. The controversial part is that it's a hybrid unibody; it has a partial frame, but it handles like a car.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Meh, buy whatever fits you best. I'm partial to GM and would have a hard time buying a Dodge.

I wouldn't buy a Dodge either. A close friend of mine just put a new turbo in his Dodge truck. Cost him $5k. Vehicle is less than 7 years old with 60k miles on it.

He's an accountant who never hauls anything with his truck. Just drives it back and forth to work.

 

[NutBucket]

Honestly that sounds like a fluke. Turbos these days are so well made they easily last 200k with zero issues.

 

[boomhower]

A friend of mine has a RAM 2500 with diesel engine and he recently had to replace the turbo to the tune of $5,000. The truck is only a few years old with around 60,000 miles on it. Wasn't covered under warranty.

By the way, you could tow a motorcycle behind almost any vehicle. Even a small SUV would be able to handle that.

That's a completely different motor. That is a Cummins and the 1500's motor is Italian designed. Long term reliability of it is still yet to be determined since it has only been on the market a couple of years.

 

[jdoggg12]

Just as a follow up to this post - I ended up picking up this 2015 1500 Outdoorsman 4x4 this weekend. Only 19k miles on it. Big 8" infotainment screen, backup camera, heated seats, alpine sound system, etc. $27k before taxes and goodies.

So far I love it. I test drove all the half ton trucks and the 1500 rode the best, by far.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

There are at least four pickup trucks in that photo...

 

[NutBucket]

Makes sense it would ride the best with the coils out back.

 

[JulesMaximus]

There are at least four pickup trucks in that photo...

Gotta keep up with the Bubbas.

 

[A5]

There are at least four pickup trucks in that photo...

4 totally different models, too. Tundra, F150 (maybe a 250? can't quite read the badge), RAM, Silverado.

 

[jdoggg12]

4 totally different models, too. Tundra, F150 (maybe a 250? can't quite read the badge), RAM, Silverado.

F250

There are at least four pickup trucks in that photo...

Superbowl party at a family friends - they live in a fairly rural city. Inside the garage is a 1949 Suburban and a 70's F250 crew cab. Lots of trucks in the neighborhood.