What truck and why?

FLATHEAD · Dec 31, 2003

This was kind of started on another thread. But with a thread all its own we can let the BS fly

First my why not's. I would never own a Ford truck. We have a fleet of them at work and they are constantly down. We have everything from 150's up to 550 dumps. Plowing snow has become a clinic on drive train repair. They struggle when trailering, the brakes are soft. I can honestly say that every single day one of them is on the lift. My friend had a brand new 2000 f 150 that needed a new motor within 6 months. The ford vans we have seem to be bullet proof?? never had many problems with them. I have owned a few Chevy's and for the most part they have served me well. Back in the day rust was a problem with them but that has now been fixed. The biggest gripe I have with chevy is they are over priced. I currently own a 2002 Dodge 2500 4+4 quad cab long bed. I have owned a lot of trucks (mostly chevy's) but this is the best one I ever had. Goobs and goobs of power, tons of room in the cab, has not flinched when pulling a heavy trailer, does not squat badly or get squirrelly when its loaded to the max. I have not had one issue with the tranny , I know alot of others have. The biggest thing that sold me though was a 6 year, 60,000 mile warranty, and the price was very good. Glad I did it. Sorry I left out the imports, I would not own one.

KeltonKrew · Dec 31, 2003

Re: What truck and why?

This is my Second Ford Truck....First was 84' F250 6.9 idi diesel.....175,000 miles w/out problems (other than the ac). My 1999.5 F350 Crew Cab Powerstroke is even better. I tow frequently and have never had 1 problem with this truck...I now have 113,000 miles. I've pulled out stumps with it, almost anything you can imagine....And the crew cab has the most room over all the brands....Dodge Crew cab is not much more than an extended cab with almost real doors

Don't get me wrong, I like the cummins, but for interior room in the back seat (I have a lot of passengers), Ford is it, plus the powerstroke is an awesome engine! Here's a link to MY truck. www.keltonkrew.com/psd.htm In the link above, it is even boating related...One has a pic of my canoe on top of my truck, and the last 2 are pics of my Lake Front lot on Lake Livingston right after I got it and boy did it need work.....Now we're enjoying the lake!

mellowyellow · Dec 31, 2003

Re: What truck and why?

GMC because I like the local dealer, svc. dept. has been v.honest w/me and the local ford and dodge dealers are high pressure con men IMO.

one more cast · Dec 31, 2003

Re: What truck and why?

I 1992 I bought a new S-10 2wd short box $9995, In the first year the side window fell out,the emblem on the grill fell off, the clutch slave cyl. went bad, the throw-out brg. had a recall and the front brake lines wore out from rubbing on the suspension.(all under warrenty)after that it was a great truck. then bought a used 2000 ranger 4x4,started knocking and clunking so after 6 months swapped it on a new 2002 silverado short box 4x4, $20,049.paint is way too thin, clunky front end (fixed),anti freeze leak in intake,been back to the shop 3 times still not fixed.and the back bumper rusted all to heck, new one on order.and the warrenty is now off.I hope it lasts me 10-15 years.

JB · Dec 31, 2003

Re: What truck and why?

I've had a string of Ford trucks and all were good machines. One Dodge and one Chebby, both were also good machines, but I remain prejudiced in favor of Fords. I understand that it is a prejudice and I can live with it. I don't think anyone is making bad trucks, inluding Toyota and Nissan, and I don't think one can go wrong with any brand.

crab bait · Dec 31, 2003

Re: What truck and why?

i've always owned ford products.. not by love or choice.. but by that's the way it went... just circumstance/by accident.. had fair luck with 'em.. altho, i'm easy on stuff, anyways.. i bought an 01 gmc 'astro'van.. boy-o-boy,,man-o-man,, do i like it..!! great ride,great mpg, no problems.. has that sawed-off 350 vortec.. i just love.. from now on will only by a GMC product.. (kick my butt for not earlier in life )

Ralph 123 · Dec 31, 2003

Re: What truck and why?

1997 GMC Sierra Diesel. I was driving by a local small used car dealership with my Chevy Blazer overloaded and something possesed me to turn into the dealership and there was the truck parked out front. It looked like a steal for $8K. I did some inspection, took it for a ride, came home and did some quick net research, went back within a few hours with a check. I needed something to tow the boat as my cousins F150 could not handle it. It worked out great.

JasonJ · Dec 31, 2003

Re: What truck and why?

I don't know, the 95 Ford F350 one ton I plow snow with has been a good truck. It pushes a mountain of snow. Other than typical maintenance things, the truck has been great. We tow a Bobcat 753 Turbo with it as well, and have a large in bed fuel tank with diesel for the Bobcat. My personal truck, a 95 F150 with 5.8 has 144,000 on the ticker and runs great. Smooth, plenty of power. Our Chevy trucks we have tried to run have always given us trouble. I am not saying one is better than the other, just what I personnaly have experienced. If I were buying new, I would probably go with the Dodge Ram or one of the Ford Superdutys, maybe the new F150 (have to see what track record it develops). I just look at the new GM trucks and they just seem like they are meant for the person who wants a vehicle that looks like a truck but doesn't need to be actually used like a truck. You know, image over substance. I cannot attest the actual durability of the new GM rigs, just my impression. I will say up here, this is rough country, very hard on vehicles, and I mainly see Ford and Dodge being used for the work trucks, and GM being used by the crowd that just wants to look cool.

LubeDude · Dec 31, 2003

Re: What truck and why?

Ive always wondered what kind of truck CastawayRay Drives, anyone out there have an Idea????

Sorry, I previously said SpinnerBaitNut, I ment>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I personnally am driving a 1993 Ford Ranger 4 Litre, 4x4, 5SP! If I had known how bad the miliage was going to be I would have bought a 1/2 ton! 16-18! Its a great little truck though and has given me no trouble other than having to put in a heater core and reseal the steering box at 145.000! It tows my 18' Bass Boat fine! thats all I need a truck for other than the normal things you use them for! LubeDude

11 footer · Dec 31, 2003

Re: What truck and why?

We have owned one Chevy, and two Dodges. The chevy rusted out so bad that we ended up cutting it in half and turning it into a trailer. The first Dodge was a 1989 250, it was a great truck. We got rid of it because it was no good for highway driveing because it only had three speeds, no overdrive. We replaced that truck was a 2002 Dodge 2500 with a regular cab, its black. Very nice looking truck. It has 15,000 miles on it any no prolbems this far, non of those tranny prolbems everyone talks about. Although we never had a Ford truck, I've spent some time towing my uncles boat in his 1998 Ford F-150 crewcab. It got the job done, but sure as hell wasn't a cake walk. The truck had a hell of a time stopping the boat and getting up to speed took what seemed like a life time. When not towing the boat it seemed okay, but the think the dash is ulgy, but thats just personal opinion. As for the imports, my other uncle bought a 2003 Toyata Taccoma last year. Its a decent looking truck, but when I ride in it I feel like I'm sitting on the floor. It towed my little 11foot whaler no prolbem, we coundn't even feel it back there. But when we pulled a large wood chipper while the bed was full of logs the truck struggled, I thought the rear end was gonna fall out on the street

. I woundn't own a Toyota or a Masda, again just my person opinion, many people includeing my uncle are happy with them Like JB said, they all are decent trucks. Most people are happy with what they buy and thats all that matters. To answer the question, I'd but a Dodge if I got to pick, but it a GMC, Chevy or a Ford that was a F-250 or bigger came along I was look into them, they are all nice.

11 footer · Dec 31, 2003

Re: What truck and why?

I think I recall the SBN drives a fairley new GMC.

snapperbait · Dec 31, 2003

Re: What truck and why?

Gas motor, gotta be a Chevy/GMC 1500 with a 5.7/350, pre OBD2.. Basicly, because I know those trucks inside out and thats what I drive... Diesel, depends on the year... From what I understand, the new GM duramax diesel is an isuzu product, and that just don't make me happy at all... I'm very partial to GM's 6.5 turbo diesel... If I had to buy a brand new 3/4 or 1 ton with a diesel today, it'd be a toss up between Dodge and Ford, leaning slightly in Fords favor because of price..

tylerin · Jan 1, 2004

Re: What truck and why?

mainly see Ford and Dodge being used for the work trucks, and GM being used by the crowd that just wants to look cool.

OH, OK

JasonJ · Jan 1, 2004

Re: What truck and why?

Tylerin, we have a huge income gap where I live, as it is a resort/tourist community. You have the people who work and done't make a ton of money, small business owners, things like that. Then you have the big money, the people who have 10,000 square foot "summer cottages". There isn't an in between. The people who work, work very hard. There is a lot of timber, construction, landscaping, snow removal that sort of thing. The money people come up here, all they want to see is their nice new lake house, they don't care how it gets done. The most common truck you see around here doing all the real work is Ford Superduty and F350s 92-97 vintage. A close second is Dodge Rams. You will see the occasional GM pulling a lawn care trailer full of weedeaters. You want to see what the money people drive, the people who do no real work? Besides the H2, BMWs, typical money rigs, you see them in fully loaded leather clad GM rigs. The roads suck here so trucks and SUVs reign supreme. I was not saying that GM trucks can't do work, but there has to be a reason why there are few GM trucks being used for real work here. There is an overiding opinion here that GM trucks look nice, and are good for picking up a big TV, but no one is willing to hook up a real load on them, and that does say something to me. I also see a million summer travel trailer pullers, and again it is Ford and Dodge, with a smattering of GM for smaller trailers. That just tells me that just in my little world there are literaly thousands of people who won't work a GM. Like I said, I don't have a problem with GM trucks, but I wouldn't buy one to do work with....

tylerin · Jan 1, 2004

Re: What truck and why?

Jason, I own a construction company. We work our trucks hard. I buy Chevy's, cause thats what I know. They cost a bit more than others but they have good resale value too. I don't buy them to look cool. I'd buy a 57 if I wanted that. In your last post you actually characterize Chevy owners. Your wrong, but

thats okay, you know what they say about opinions

SeaMasterZ@aol.com · Jan 1, 2004

Re: What truck and why?

NAPA, the car parts people, uses the ::drumroll:: CHEVY S-10 EXCLUSIVELY as their drive em til they drop work trucks, I see em loaded down all the time with engine core exchanges, now granted, they arent towing a fully laden concrete mixer behind em, but they are working working working seven days a week, all year round, and NAPA keeps going back to the S-10 .... I guess theyll stick with the Colorado, havent seen any out there yet tho As far as the big buck rigs go, welll I LOVE FORD, but those GM's look SOOOOO sharp, they look like money, the Ford King Ranch F-150 decked out runs 50 grand (!), but my cheapo stripper looks as fancy as that thing, and cost as much as the replacement costs for those rawhide seats! Astro Vans are THE BOMB as far as I am concerned, O I love how clean the lines are drawn, I love the way they ride and the power, I just hate the cost! well, that and the engine intrusion, but even the big ford sucks now, guess I am spoiled! if you ride it, and like it, get it

JasonJ · Jan 1, 2004

Re: What truck and why?

Yeah Tylerin, you got me.

Cursed opinions....Hey, everyone has something that works for them, glad the Chevies work for you. Like I said, I don't have anything personal against the Chevies, I'm just sayin' what I'm seein'. As for being wrong, I had read a few posts from posters such as yourself who have had good luck with GM, but I see an interesting lack of gm trucks used for serious work in my area, what exactly do you think I should base my opinion on? Is it price? Are the GM rigs weak? Do Fords just rock? All I know is all the fleets in my area use Ford, Fish And Game uses mostly Ford, with some GM, the local Police department uses Ford Expeditions and Crown Vics, the Sheriffs Department do use GM, most of the contractors use Fords and Dodges with a scattering of GM, The county uses Ford. Maybe its a regional thing, who knows... Our Napas run a mix of S-10s and Rangers. We need another bug rig and are considering the Colorado, we like the thought of the midsize rig, and the Dakota is a little too "spiffy" looking for a professional rig. I will admit the Chevies look nice. A business owner/friend of mine has the new 4 door fully loaded Chevy pickup with every single bell and whistle you can imagine. When he demonstrated the power extending mirror I about fell on the ground laughing. I asked "what do you need that for, you don't tow anything". It was an almost obscene phallic display of "mine is better". He payed 40something thousand for that thing. My lord. All he did was make me very happy that I only paid $5000 for my 95 Ford.

tylerin · Jan 1, 2004

Re: What truck and why?

Jason,its funny, my love for chevrolet came as a teen when we were hotrodding our cars or trucks. Only the rich guys could afford to tinker w/ there Fords. Chevy's parts were a dime a dozen and everything was interchangable. Almost all public works trucks in my area are Chevrolet. I glad you like your Fords, but more importantly I'm glad we're arguing over two American made trucks.Honestly, Ford vs. Chevrolet, its just a p!ssing contest, I'm sure they both have good ones, and bad ones. Take care

lund17 · Jan 1, 2004

Re: What truck and why?

I'm driving my second pre-'97 F150 with the 4.9l six. I've never lacked for power or reliability. When I first looked for a tuck I wanted a Chevy or GMC because my uncle ran 'em in his business for forty years and he's the smartest guy I know. They served him well and that was good enough for me. By accident/circumstance I bought a '92 F150 and worked it as a landscaper where it was always loaded or towing. Never, never, ever let me down. Loved that TRUCK! Next one will be a F250 diesel. Just want a little more for longer hauls with a bigger boat. My humble opinion and a bunch of sentiment. Buy American!!! even if it's in name only - the message means something.

11 footer · Jan 1, 2004

Re: What truck and why?

Jason, I notice what your are saying about the newer GM's and Chevys being used for driveing around and not working. Around here, the trucked I see being used for working the most is Ford, I don't know why. I do notice for snow plowing there are alot of guys bombing around in late 70's to early 80's Chevys and GM's,,,could never figure you why i see so many of them old beasts plowing.

What truck and why?

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