70-442-W30

So this journey of going to pick up the 442 has me establishing the need for a truck in order to get the job done. Therefore I'm in the market for a 4WD crew cab 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton gasser. We have a 30 foot bumper pull camper that I might pull in a few years. On an annual spot at the beach for now.

I spent part of this past weekend at the Ford dealer. Looked some at the F150s but mostly at the 250s. They were ok, but I need a crew cab with a bench seat up front. None of those had vents to the rear.

Also stopped to look at a Toyota Tundra, the new style but used...a 2014 from another state. Overpriced for used too...problem is with that one is that on the bench seat models they can't be found new, except in a non-FFV edition which is only sold in some states, and NC isn't one of them. Otherwise it would have worked. Had rear vents even with the bench seat. But I wasn't paying almost new price for a used truck. Even if it was the 5.7 crewmax and 4wd like I need.

So I'm considering other options. I'm hesitant to try another Chrysler product, as I've never had a ton of luck with them in the past. In my opinion the styling looks good, but there always seems to be issues like fit and finish or mechanical. Ram 2500 and 3500 have rear vents with the front bench seat. And the warranty is good.

Chevy/GMC 2500 is a possibility. Like the new styling on those. But no rear vents on the bench seating either. Warranty also good.

Overall, I'm more concerned with day to day ride and I know most 1/2 tons would feel like driving a large SUV, which is fine. However, getting into 3/4 ton and 1 tons are the bone rattlers when empty. Which worries me a bit because I have back problems.

Fire away with opinions. Not looking to spend over $40k. So I would basically be in a WT model Chevy/GMC or Tradesman Ram, XL 250...possibly XLT.

joe_padavano

My 1999 Chevy K3500 crewcab dually 4x4 is the only vehicle I've ever bought brand new. It's got over a quarter million miles on it now, and I definitely got my money's worth. I strongly recommend a dually for pulling a big trailer, but you won't get a new one for under $60K, which is why I'm keeping mine running. It was $30K out the door in 1999 with every option on the sheet except the block heater (I got the 454, not the diesel). Before that I had a 1986 K30 crewcab dually 4x4 that I bought used and put about 150K miles on it (it started with 50K) before I got the 99 truck. It snows here and since we live on a dirt road, I definitely need the 4WD (ok, 6WD).

wr1970

I am a ford guy have had chevy's no luck with them.What i have now is a 4 door crew cab 2005 f150 xlt 5.4 eng bought with 50,000 miles it isn't a 4x4.It has center shift console and rear air i love it.It has 90,000 miles on it now trouble free.I paid $15,000 one owner.I have a 4dr super cab f150 2000 ford 4x4 5.4 eng that has 292,000 miles and still going not major problems.Just battery ,brakes,tires,ect.This truck was bought in 2004 with 50,000 miles.

chip-powell

As long as the gas prices remain down, trucks and SUVs will remain in demand. I would not expect the prices for any of them (new or used) to go down anytime soon.


Just an idea...If this is not going to be a daily driver and you only need it every now and then for towing a camper, have you thought about just renting one whenever you need it? You would save a ton of money and not have to worry about the maintenance.

joe_padavano

4WD crewcabs are especially popular. The only reason I bought my truck new was that I couldn't find a used one that was appreciably less expensive than a new one. On the other hand, there are a lot more of them in the marketplace now than there were in 1999.

70-442-W30

I have thought of renting one, yes. But the more things I get into I'm thinking the truck is the way to go (this car transport, camper, cleaning out garage and moving stuff to storage, etc.)

If they still made the Excursion, I'd likely be all over that as a used model a few years old. The Expedition EL I had a year ago was very capable compared even to some 1/2 ton trucks. Higher payload and axle ratings than many. The problem was with the camper hooked up and the W/D hitch on it was getting close to the GAWR on the front axle with everyone loaded in. Took it to the scales so not just a guess.

What I'm finding about some of the 1/2 tons, especially the crew cabs and 4WD is that those options come at a cost on the payload rating. So unless you can locate one with the max tow, max payload package then it just starts to go into 3/4 ton territory if I don't want to worry about weight for what I tow. Axle ratios don't matter. Manufacturers advertise their vehicles can tow 10000 but at extremely light payload ratings. When you have a family it starts to become an issue. Two people in the truck, no problem.

Rating on the Expedition EL was 15000 GCWR. That's pretty good. But like I said the front axle rating was a little low for me...but higher than many 1/2 tons of today.

Maybe I'll have to go back to the Expedition EL. 131" WB though. Would be nice to have more.

droldsmorland

Bigger Q is mechanical design for heavy pulling and other heavy applications. IMO 1/2 ton isn't enough at least not for me. The other deciding factor is chassis design. I just do not like IFS and CV axles under a HD truck. So I went with a new F250 SD with the 6.2/6R140. I had a 08 F250 5.4/5R110W and it was a dog and I hated the Torqushift. IMO if you want new tank for hauling heavy loads you can not go wrong with a F250 or 350 in gas or diesel. The 6.2 kicks butt with 405lb/ft of torque with the 4 series carriers and a electronic locker. Though Im considering stepping up to a 6.7 diesel for the next one cuz I use this truck.
If you only pull occasionally, short distances and use it a a daily driver then a 1/2 ton may be OK, just depends on how often and how heavy your tow loads and other demands are.

joe_padavano

Well, yeah.

The axles/tires/brakes don't change, and they are usually the limiting factor, so anything that adds to empty weight (plush interior, power options, extended cab, transfer case) will detract from available payload or towing capacity. That's why I have a one ton.

70-442-W30

Does sound like you got your money's worth, yes. I would consider a dually if I was certain I was going to buy a fifth wheel camper and take a tour of the US in the next few years. But the (bumper pull) camper we have is new, so I'm probably stuck with that for a while. Plus we live in an urban/suburban environment. Not too friendly for parking lots or general maneuvering in my case. But it sounds like it works for you.

joe_padavano

Yeah, we have a farm. I tow a gooseneck horse trailer and a bumper pull five ton equipment trailer, so the dually definitely makes for a more stable towing environment. My first truck was a 1974 Chevy one ton single wheel crewcab and it did OK, but the two duallies I've owned are better at towing. Parking obviously isn't that big a deal here. I don't make it a point of driving the truck into D.C., for example.

Actually, funny story about that. I was driving my obviously empty truck on RT 110 that goes past the Pentagon. This was about a year after 9/11. I got stopped because apparently a truck this large could carry explosives (again, despite being obviously empty and I don't have any kind of bed cover). The cop didn't want to hear about how an E350 van with no windows could carry just as much yet look just like a half ton van... I had to exit the highway and take surface streets.

70-442-W30

Here is one I thought was a good price: http://www.randymarionchevy.net/Vehi...-NC/2595527853

70-442-W30

Good one! Though that detour likely killed your MPG.

joe_padavano

Actually, that truck gets the same (poor) mileage no matter how or where you drive it. I'm sure that has NOTHING to do with my right foot...

Koda

My couple cents is that you may not need a truck to tow. An SUV with a frame hitch will tow normal things, but not gooseneck or 5th wheels. I put a few grand into a Tahoe a month or so ago, and it will tow a car on a uhaul-size trailer well enough.

I would say that Toyotas are high because nothing goes wrong with them, but my Tacoma gets a new frame next week. I would expect any 8 year old truck in the Midwest to have some rust on the frame, but they say it's eligible for the recall. So I will take the bed cover off this weekend and take plenty of pictures first.

1970cs

The wife picked up a left over 2014 1LT for $34800.00 out the door.


Fyi not a 2500

Pat

gs72

I have a 1999 F250 7.3L diesel with 280k on it and I love this truck. I am partial to Ford trucks having worked at ford dealers for so long. It doesn't have rear a/c ducts but I never ride back there anyway. Lol. Just stay away from the 6.0l and the 6.4L if you go diesel, they both have a lot of problems. The dodge/cummins are good but I understand their trannies are weak.

70-442-W30

I've heard good things about the 7.3. I think everyone that had/has one loves it.

Run to Rund

I have had good results with the Ram diesels, currently have a 2013 3500 single wheel 4x4. A friend who worked for Chrysler 33+ years bought a new Hemi Ram, so they must be good in his opinion, and he should know.

70-442-W30

Found the perfect truck:

oldcutlass

Now that's what I'm talking about