I currently have a 2009 F250. I thought it was going to be the last truck I bought for a while, but it's rattling my wife's bones around a bit much for marital bliss! I used to own a Duramax Chevy 2500, and the wife liked that, but I'm thinking she wouldn't like it now and it's way, way too much truck.
So I'm looking for a new long bed truck. I tow a light (3500 lbs) Trailmanor. It has about 450 lbs tongue weight. I use a basic hitch - no weight distribution. I tow cross-country.
So, my questions:
1: How big of a difference is there now-a-days between ride (empty and with some tongue weight) on 1/2 tons vs 3/4 tons. Is bounce going to be horrible on the 1/2 tons?
2: In the past (90s?) I liked the Chevy ride better. Without getting into Chevy vs. Ford, is there a noticable difference in ride quality between the F150 and Chevy 1500?
3: Other than the financial stupidity of getting rid of a almost-new truck, am I nuts to look at a 1/2 ton again? I had the bigger truck when I needed it more. Today it's a commmuter + tow vehicle.
No reason not to get a very capable half ton for your uses. Just test drive them all and pick which one suits you the best. Still, get the best engine from the respective brand (6.2L GM, 5.7L Dodge, 3.5L EB or 6.2L Ford) with the shortest axle ratio availible. I like the Ecoboost F-150 the best.
A & A parents of DD 2005, DS1 2007, DS2 2009 2011 Suburban 2500 6.0L 3.73 pulling 2011 Heartland North Trail 28BRS 2012 VW Passat TDI
Sounds like the Dodge 1500 with the new air suspension and small 4.7 V8 would be a good choice for your intended light weight use and desire of a very cushy ride.
You are EASILY in the range of all but the meekest of half ton trucks. Pick one you like and go for it. Dealers will LOVE to take you for test drives but make up your own mind and DO drive them all.
Good luck / Skip
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR - 2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles) 2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
Drive with your wife by your side. Only test drive the upper range of the 150/1500 trucks. Them let her decide, then you will both be happy with "your" choice.
There is a world of difference between truck of yesteryear and today's cushy soft riding 1/2 tons. Load up the wife and go drive the new Dodge Ram. Then drive a new Ford, then a Chevy. Most people are saying that the GM interiors are sorely outdated compared to Dodge and Ford. Dodge interiors are receiving rave reviews of late. Generally better than the others. Pick the one that has the best ride and go camping secure that your wife is now a happy camper.
Donn,Lorri,Max (The Rescued Lab)
Resident Know It All
There is plenty of real world fan fare for the Ford w/ the Ecoboost and the all new 2013 Ram is getting glowing reviews. I'm biased towards the Ram for the looks alone but like everyone else has said, go try them all as they all can manage your RV.
2009 Komfort 256TS
2001 Dodge Ram 3500 QC 4x4 Cummins DRW
2005 Dodge Durango Limited AWD HEMI
2001 Sebring Convertible
1995 Miata M-Edition
2005 DRZ400
1 Wife 2 Boys UW & Bellevue College
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Thanks all - sounds like I'm not going down the wrong path.
I looked at Dodge, but they don't make a long-box extended cab. I'm needing a long box for the bike. I love the Dodge features and look (to be honest, I'd be happy with any of these, and likely Toyota or Nissan too, if they all had long boxes), but only Ford and Chevy make 1/2 tons with some sort of extended cab combined with a long box.
APT: Is there a reason I shouldn't be looking at the 5.3L in the Chevy? Even with the 3.42 gears, 4th gear on the Chevy (with 6 speed) would be roughly equivalent to 4th gear on the Ford (with the 5.4L, 3.73 axle, and 5 speed) as far as torque (highway speed is easily possible in 4th on either without nearing the red line), but also with better horsepower. I have no issues with my current 5.4L Ford with the 3.73 axle - it never shifts down below 4th at highway speeds, and can manage back roads hills fine at less than highway speeds without any issue, so I think the Chevy 5.3 even with a smaller ratio axle should be fine for what I'd tow. Is it a reliability issue in the 5.3?
As for the Ford engine, that 3.5L EB looks interesting. I'll look into that - thanks for the suggestion.
And, yes, my wife will have a say in the truck! I learned my lesson! We'll both will need to love the new truck.
With the F150, if you get the super cab with the long bed, you automatically get the HD payload package and the max tow package with 3.73 axle. It's a very good truck for hauling the hitch weight of a heavy travel trailer or light fifth wheel or small truck camper. Lots of payload capacity with the 8200 GVWR, about 3000 lbs in 2wd, a bit less in 4wd.
The standard towing package on the Silverado 1500 is 9600 pounds. They can be purchased for between 9000 and 10000 off sticker. For me that was reason enough. I tow a. 5000 pound trailer with mine. Its a 5.3 crew cab. You stand to save 1000s over the Ford Eco boost.
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