I had a 2000 GMC Sierra, the same truck as a Chevy. (Don't let anyone tell you it's really different, the front and the option packaging is different, but there's less than 100 bucks difference in price for an identically equipped truck) I had it for almost three years and liked it a lot, I would still have it if I hadn't been in a big wreck in it. It was never the same after that, and I traded it for my 2003 Dodge Ram, hemi,of course. It's been a very good vehicle so far, just past 2 years old. Only problems have been a stuck tailgate latch (They actually overtightend a collar on the one latch rod and it broke) and warped brake rotors, something everything I have had in the last 20 years has had. I like it better than anything I have owned preciously! I've been driving 32 years now and had over a dozen vehicles and I love it.
If you want a soft ride, get the Ford. It's not the equal, power wise of the Nissan, Dodge, or IMO, the GM trucks , but it's got a great interior, and is spooky quiet. Using that bed is not going to be easy, unless you are seven feet tall. My neighbor's F150 blew the tranny TWICE right after he bought it, and Ford replaced his truck. This one seems to be good.
Power wise, it comes down to the Nissan and the Ram. The Nissan is slightly faster than the Ram, and has, without question, the best performing transmission of all 1/2 tons. It's set up almost perfectly, drivetrain wise and uses lower numbered gearing the other trucks can't pull due to their more primative trans gearing. Bad points on the Nissan are they squeak and rattle in a year or two like the Chevey and Dodge do at 8-10. A guy at work had one of the first ones and going over a bad railroad crossing it sounds like it's coming apart.
The GM trucks, (I would look at GMC's myself, that Chevy front end is nasty) look good, and get the best mileage, about the same as the Toyota. The ride is good, they are fairly quiet and the 5.3 is a decent running motor. If you read about them, there will be mentions of CSK (Cold Start Knock). Some of them do it very badly, at least they did a couple of years ago. GM claims this is "carbon" on the tops of the pistons. BS, some engines were badly machined. My truck did it for about 5 seconds in the summer and 15 seconds in the winter, when started up after over a few hours sitting. My friend's nearly identical truck was much worse. It had a tiny water leak and the dealer decided to "decarbon" the heads and pistons when they replaced the head gaskets. Trouble was, there really wasn't any carbon, and when they started it up after "decarboning" it, it tapped away, just like it always did. Eventually, they replaced the engine. Mine stopped when I went to a different than stock oil filter.
The Toyota is a little smaller, a little less powerful, and a little slower. It's a nice truck in a lot of ways, but not for me. I don't like the looks of it either, too last generation F150 for me.
The Ram is the best looking (I liked the 94-2001 much better though) one, IMO, but the Ford looks good too. The GMs are ok, except for the awful Chevy front end, and are about to be replaced by new models. The Titan is pretty ugly though, and the Toy is ..blah. The Ram is pretty quiet, runs a close second to the Nissan (Just needs a better trans and it would move to #1), and is a lot of fun. It handles well for a truck and can be picked up pretty cheaply right now with the deals they have. An 05 identically equipped as my 03 can be bought for about 25K, or 2K LESS than I paid, and I got a really good deal for mine. A friend of mine just bought a 2500 Cummins 4x4 for like 32K. Sticker is about 42k!
Have fun shopping.
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