Looking at a 2005 Chevy Silverado...

[murphy55d]

3 years @ $405/mo. Plugging my numbers into edmunds our truck payment would be around $235.

Most of my driving is highway...and again fuel economy is not paramount here because as I said we have a Neon which gets the majority of our "around town" miles.

We're doing a lot of home improvement now and its tough to haul anything home from Lowes in a Tucson, much less a Neon. or another sedan. We're tired of having to borrow someones truck for this or that. Again the monthly payment is what I want to get out of, even if it means extending my term another 2 years. The fuel isn't what i"m as concerned with.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: murphy55d
3 years @ $405/mo. Plugging my numbers into edmunds our truck payment would be around $235.

Most of my driving is highway...and again fuel economy is not paramount here because as I said we have a Neon which gets the majority of our "around town" miles.

We're doing a lot of home improvement now and its tough to haul anything home from Lowes in a Tucson, much less a Neon. or another sedan. We're tired of having to borrow someones truck for this or that. Again the monthly payment is what I want to get out of, even if it means extending my term another 2 years. The fuel isn't what i"m as concerned with.

Fair enough. That truck should serve you well. Try to get one with low miles though.

A couple bags of sand in the bed and some snow tires will help you get through the snow.

Good luck.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

I went to school here for 5 years with a RWD truck:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl....666016&z=6&iwloc=addr

I basically DROVE ON PACKED SNOW for 5 months or so each winter.

My advice:
1) With a RWD truck, the V6 is easier to drive. Less torque means better control when accelerating (less likely to fish tail)
2) That V6 (4.3L I think) has the added benefit of about 5% better fuel economy than the 4.8L V8
3) Over the years, I figured out that about seven 70 pound bags of tube sand did the trick. It was very easy to drive with this much weight (talking V6 here, the V8 will require more weight). So, 500 pounds should do the trick.
4) Accelerate slowy!
5) Yes, you can drive fast on snow so long as you have alot of weight in back. I easily would go 55 on packed snow as cars were going 30 or so.
6) Make sure you have good tire tread in the winter! SNOW TIRES ARE NOT REQUIRED. Just all seasons with the weight in the truck bed.
7) And if the weather is that bad, do what anyone should do. Only go out if it is an emergerncy.

Do they handle well? I would say there as good as any FWD car you would drive in the snow so long as you have sufficeient weight in the truck bed.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

Originally posted by: Vogel515
Do yourself a favor, get the Hyundai

Never thought I'd say that... or type it

Edit: there is a misconception that you need a truck / SUV for the snow, FWD cars are the best vehicles to have if you're going to be sticking to paved roads, as long as they have a decent set of tires on them they will handle very well in the snow.

Growing up one of the best driving experiences I ever had was playing around doing donuts in the snow, it really taught me how to control the car, I would suggest some sort of practice for anyone unfamiliar with how their car reacts in the snow or on ice. (Make sure there is enough snow/slickness otherwise you'll need a new alignment!)

Ever try driving up a snow covered drive way or street? Sure you can manage, but you can manage a lot better with AWD.

I would like to chime in on this comment. Yes, I have with my RWD. Up a good grade with 8" of wet snow. I went right to the top as everyone else got stuck (cars and trucks wtih 4WD, shocking). Someone that knows how to drive in snow can do wmore with RWD than an idiot with AWD. You are correct though, bottom line is that the AWD has the advantage. Then again, RWD with locking reaer diffs might be just as good (with weight of course)

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Originally posted by: Ktulu

Originally posted by: Sawyer
Stay away from Nissan's small truck , my mother-inlaw has one(4x4) v6 and it gets HORRIBLE mpg. I know a few people with 6 cyl full size Chevy/Gmc/Fords who are claiming they get 18-20 mpg

Is that weird? I get 22 hwy regularly on my 5.3L Silverado.

The best I did with my 1996 Chevy was 21 mpg going aabout 60 mph on average. A new V6 should be able to get you 21 mpg highway (70 mph). I'm surprised that you get 22 mpg hwy with a 5.3L V8. That 5.3L should get similar fuel economy to the 4.8L though. The difference is negligile. It's the biggest V8 that eats the gas. With a tanoue cover and 65 mph, you might get that 22 mpg. I don't see it though.

 

[Ktulu]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004

Originally posted by: Ktulu

Originally posted by: Sawyer
Stay away from Nissan's small truck , my mother-inlaw has one(4x4) v6 and it gets HORRIBLE mpg. I know a few people with 6 cyl full size Chevy/Gmc/Fords who are claiming they get 18-20 mpg

Is that weird? I get 22 hwy regularly on my 5.3L Silverado.

The best I did with my 1996 Chevy was 21 mpg going aabout 60 mph on average. A new V6 should be able to get you 21 mpg highway (70 mph). I'm surprised that you get 22 mpg hwy with a 5.3L V8. That 5.3L should get similar fuel economy to the 4.8L though. The difference is negligile. It's the biggest V8 that eats the gas. With a tanoue cover and 65 mph, you might get that 22 mpg. I don't see it though.

Right now I average 22mpg without my tonneau cover, but the absolute best I've achieved with my 5.3L is 25mpg with tonneau cover on, seriously.

 

[Throckmorton]

Look into a compact pickup with 4wd.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
I went to school here for 5 years with a RWD truck:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl....666016&z=6&iwloc=addr

I basically DROVE ON PACKED SNOW for 5 months or so each winter.

My advice:
1) With a RWD truck, the V6 is easier to drive. Less torque means better control when accelerating (less likely to fish tail)
2) That V6 (4.3L I think) has the added benefit of about 5% better fuel economy than the 4.8L V8
3) Over the years, I figured out that about seven 70 pound bags of tube sand did the trick. It was very easy to drive with this much weight (talking V6 here, the V8 will require more weight). So, 500 pounds should do the trick.
4) Accelerate slowy!
5) Yes, you can drive fast on snow so long as you have alot of weight in back. I easily would go 55 on packed snow as cars were going 30 or so.
6) Make sure you have good tire tread in the winter! SNOW TIRES ARE NOT REQUIRED. Just all seasons with the weight in the truck bed.
7) And if the weather is that bad, do what anyone should do. Only go out if it is an emergerncy.

Do they handle well? I would say there as good as any FWD car you would drive in the snow so long as you have sufficeient weight in the truck bed.

I've been to Potsdam many times. My childhood was spent on a lake about an hour east of there and I went to high school in a suburb of Albany, NY. We never owned or drove a 4x4 truck or SUV in the 22 years I lived there. I lived in Rochester, NY and spent a good deal of time in Buffalo for a year before I moved to California too. Lake effect snow FTW!!! I remember driving from Buffalo to Rochester on the NYS Thruway in damned near blizzard conditions one night in a RWD Ford F150 (thankfully, I had put some weight in the bed and it was a standard cab, short bed model-it was a company owned truck and I drove it to Buffalo for a company party).

And no, snow tires aren't necessary but they do help quite a bit.

 

[murphy55d]

Well we ended up passing on the Silverado...we got there and discovered it didnt even have power doors, locks, windows. Didnt know they even made cars with non-power windows anymore. Even in 05. Inside was kind of bleh.

We found another lower mileage 05 Dakota, similar to the one I posted. 4x4, quad cab. Just ran the carfax and it came back clean, we're going back tomorrow to finalize the financing, as it was too late to hear back from the banks tonight. assuming all goes well i will have a new used dakota tomorrow.

i appreciate everyones input!

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Originally posted by: Ktulu

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004

Originally posted by: Ktulu

Originally posted by: Sawyer
Stay away from Nissan's small truck , my mother-inlaw has one(4x4) v6 and it gets HORRIBLE mpg. I know a few people with 6 cyl full size Chevy/Gmc/Fords who are claiming they get 18-20 mpg

Is that weird? I get 22 hwy regularly on my 5.3L Silverado.

The best I did with my 1996 Chevy was 21 mpg going aabout 60 mph on average. A new V6 should be able to get you 21 mpg highway (70 mph). I'm surprised that you get 22 mpg hwy with a 5.3L V8. That 5.3L should get similar fuel economy to the 4.8L though. The difference is negligile. It's the biggest V8 that eats the gas. With a tanoue cover and 65 mph, you might get that 22 mpg. I don't see it though.

Right now I average 22mpg without my tonneau cover, but the absolute best I've achieved with my 5.3L is 25mpg with tonneau cover on, seriously.

I have to ask. Was this a long drive on the highway (200 miles for example) where you tanked up before you left and tanked up at the end? Took the gallons required to tank up at the end and divided the miles driven by it? I guess what I am getting at is how did you calculate 25 mpg? Also, how fast do you go when you get 22 mpg?

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
I went to school here for 5 years with a RWD truck:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl....666016&z=6&iwloc=addr

I basically DROVE ON PACKED SNOW for 5 months or so each winter.

My advice:
1) With a RWD truck, the V6 is easier to drive. Less torque means better control when accelerating (less likely to fish tail)
2) That V6 (4.3L I think) has the added benefit of about 5% better fuel economy than the 4.8L V8
3) Over the years, I figured out that about seven 70 pound bags of tube sand did the trick. It was very easy to drive with this much weight (talking V6 here, the V8 will require more weight). So, 500 pounds should do the trick.
4) Accelerate slowy!
5) Yes, you can drive fast on snow so long as you have alot of weight in back. I easily would go 55 on packed snow as cars were going 30 or so.
6) Make sure you have good tire tread in the winter! SNOW TIRES ARE NOT REQUIRED. Just all seasons with the weight in the truck bed.
7) And if the weather is that bad, do what anyone should do. Only go out if it is an emergerncy.

Do they handle well? I would say there as good as any FWD car you would drive in the snow so long as you have sufficeient weight in the truck bed.

I've been to Potsdam many times. My childhood was spent on a lake about an hour east of there and I went to high school in a suburb of Albany, NY. We never owned or drove a 4x4 truck or SUV in the 22 years I lived there. I lived in Rochester, NY and spent a good deal of time in Buffalo for a year before I moved to California too. Lake effect snow FTW!!! I remember driving from Buffalo to Rochester on the NYS Thruway in damned near blizzard conditions one night in a RWD Ford F150 (thankfully, I had put some weight in the bed and it was a standard cab, short bed model-it was a company owned truck and I drove it to Buffalo for a company party).

And no, snow tires aren't necessary but they do help quite a bit.

Small world. I grew up in Lockport, NY. About 30 minutes north of Buffalo. We didn't get snow like Buffalo did. Or Rochester for that matter. What lake near Potsdam? My in-laws have a place on the St Regis Lake chain (Paul Smiths college is on the same lake chain).

 

[herm0016]

the newer chevys have a displacement on demand system that shuts down unneeded cylinders. my fathers new sierra has it and its really nice, gets around 20 on the highway and you never notice the changes.

 

[Ktulu]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004

Originally posted by: Ktulu

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004

Originally posted by: Ktulu

Originally posted by: Sawyer
Stay away from Nissan's small truck , my mother-inlaw has one(4x4) v6 and it gets HORRIBLE mpg. I know a few people with 6 cyl full size Chevy/Gmc/Fords who are claiming they get 18-20 mpg

Is that weird? I get 22 hwy regularly on my 5.3L Silverado.

The best I did with my 1996 Chevy was 21 mpg going aabout 60 mph on average. A new V6 should be able to get you 21 mpg highway (70 mph). I'm surprised that you get 22 mpg hwy with a 5.3L V8. That 5.3L should get similar fuel economy to the 4.8L though. The difference is negligile. It's the biggest V8 that eats the gas. With a tanoue cover and 65 mph, you might get that 22 mpg. I don't see it though.

Right now I average 22mpg without my tonneau cover, but the absolute best I've achieved with my 5.3L is 25mpg with tonneau cover on, seriously.

I have to ask. Was this a long drive on the highway (200 miles for example) where you tanked up before you left and tanked up at the end? Took the gallons required to tank up at the end and divided the miles driven by it? I guess what I am getting at is how did you calculate 25 mpg? Also, how fast do you go when you get 22 mpg?

On those particular drives I didn't bother doing a manual calculation. But I do occasionally do it to match it against my trucks OBD, they were about 70 miles drive though. When ever I do, what I've calculated always seems to match what the display says. So take that for what it's worth. When getting 22mpg It's always while travelling ~60-70mph.

 

[murphy55d]

whats the best place to get a Tonneau cover for the Dodge?

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: murphy55d
whats the best place to get a Tonneau cover for the Dodge?

There's a few different styles, some people like the Checkmate one because it lays flat.

 

[murphy55d]

I want a soft one... snap one. don't really want a hard one.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
I went to school here for 5 years with a RWD truck:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl....666016&z=6&iwloc=addr

I basically DROVE ON PACKED SNOW for 5 months or so each winter.

My advice:
1) With a RWD truck, the V6 is easier to drive. Less torque means better control when accelerating (less likely to fish tail)
2) That V6 (4.3L I think) has the added benefit of about 5% better fuel economy than the 4.8L V8
3) Over the years, I figured out that about seven 70 pound bags of tube sand did the trick. It was very easy to drive with this much weight (talking V6 here, the V8 will require more weight). So, 500 pounds should do the trick.
4) Accelerate slowy!
5) Yes, you can drive fast on snow so long as you have alot of weight in back. I easily would go 55 on packed snow as cars were going 30 or so.
6) Make sure you have good tire tread in the winter! SNOW TIRES ARE NOT REQUIRED. Just all seasons with the weight in the truck bed.
7) And if the weather is that bad, do what anyone should do. Only go out if it is an emergerncy.

Do they handle well? I would say there as good as any FWD car you would drive in the snow so long as you have sufficeient weight in the truck bed.

I've been to Potsdam many times. My childhood was spent on a lake about an hour east of there and I went to high school in a suburb of Albany, NY. We never owned or drove a 4x4 truck or SUV in the 22 years I lived there. I lived in Rochester, NY and spent a good deal of time in Buffalo for a year before I moved to California too. Lake effect snow FTW!!! I remember driving from Buffalo to Rochester on the NYS Thruway in damned near blizzard conditions one night in a RWD Ford F150 (thankfully, I had put some weight in the bed and it was a standard cab, short bed model-it was a company owned truck and I drove it to Buffalo for a company party).

And no, snow tires aren't necessary but they do help quite a bit.

Small world. I grew up in Lockport, NY. About 30 minutes north of Buffalo. We didn't get snow like Buffalo did. Or Rochester for that matter. What lake near Potsdam? My in-laws have a place on the St Regis Lake chain (Paul Smiths college is on the same lake chain).

Chazy Lake, it's about 1/2 hour west of Danamora (big maximum security prison there) and about an hour west of Plattsburgh.

 

[Trashman]

I want a soft one... snap one. don't really want a hard one.

If not to late to reply, i would personally avoid the snap-in tonneau's, i have one and downside is in winter if you ever take it off, you can probably forget about puttin it back on, just something to consider.
There are alot of choices out there, best to go look and see.

 

[murphy55d]

where is a good place to start? do autozone/advance sell them? ebay?

 

[Trashman]

Autozone probably has a catalog to go through, I'd look for some sort of "Truck" performance center in your area, here's a link, they carry a few different types.....LINK
Reason i say to see in person, because there are a few different ways to mount, some are what they call low profile, which makes a clean flush look, installation is rather straight forward and pretty easy.
I have one from Downey Products snap on one here
Hope that kinda helps ya.

 

[iamwiz82]

The cheapest place for me to get them was actually the local dealer via Ebay. I'd check there, if I were you.