nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Jul 24, 2014 17:03:41 GMT -8
We are close to buying a new truck. We narrowed our search to Tundra and Ram. Both have a max towing capacity of around 10,000 pounds. Ram's 8 gear auto transmission make it our frontrunner. It's quieter and smoother than the Tundra...or our cars for that matter. And it's rated at the top of almost every review on trucks to tow with.
I thought it best to ask people who tow a lot if they have any experience with the Ram. Praise? Problems?
We want the following:
5.7 V8
3.92 rear end
Brake control
Can a 5.7 liter really get 22mps highway? Hard to believe.
I read these trucks don't really need a transmission cooler. Sounds odd to me.
Any thoughts?
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Post by bigbill on Jul 24, 2014 19:25:48 GMT -8
Either would pull the average vintage trailer with know problem. I have a 5.3 Silverado with a six speed and a 9000 lb tow rating and it doesn't know when a trailer is hooked to it. Driven sensible in reasonably flat country it gets into the low twenties on gas mileage. I towed with a big Dodge for six years and it did a great job but it was thirsty with or without a trailer. It was a 5.9 with a four speed manual and 4.10 gears. All trucks have made big strides in power and gas mileage since then.
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Jul 25, 2014 5:24:04 GMT -8
Do you think a 4.6 liter will be noticeably weaker than a 5.7liter?
We have a V6 3liter rated to tow 3800 pounds and it struggles in the mountains even with the Shasta.
I've learned the hard way, you can tow a vintage camper with almost anything, but you can't tow it well without a V8.
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pathfinder3081
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Post by pathfinder3081 on Jul 25, 2014 5:50:58 GMT -8
I can say that I love my Dodge(2002)1500..134,000 miles and not one problem since I've had it. I have put 110,000 of those on it as well. I have put brake pads on it, changed the oil, and replaced a couple of sets of pricey 17” tires. That's it. I think that the Interstate battery is one that my dad might have installed. I have been driving this girl for 7 years now and just keep an eye on it's water. My dad really knew how to pick them. God bless him,(smile)
It has a V6 3.7L and while it gets slow on some of the hills, it's a perfect fit for me. It is just not a designated "tow" vehicle for us. I get 20 to 21 MPG back and forth to work but a lot less towing of course. You have to turn off the overdrive when towing if you want to follow the manufacture recommendations. If you don’t' do that.. you will burn out the transmission. It has the cooler as a factory standard but not the tow package. I still need to add the brakes on. I'd love a V8.. maybe next time. But so far the Dodge Ram has gave me nothing but joy.
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Jul 25, 2014 11:35:27 GMT -8
"134,000 miles and not one problem since I've had it." " so far the Dodge Ram has gave me nothing but joy." Good to hear. I have never owned a Dodge so I am cautions. I only considered it because every review has the 1500 at or near the top of the list for towing. But one write up encouraged people not to buy "a foreign made truck like Ford, Chevy or Dodge, and go with the only truck made in America...Toyota." Times sure have changed! |
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Post by bigbill on Jul 25, 2014 17:07:31 GMT -8
"134,000 miles and not one problem since I've had it." " so far the Dodge Ram has gave me nothing but joy." Good to hear. I have never owned a Dodge so I am cautions. I only considered it because every review has the 1500 at or near the top of the list for towing. But one write up encouraged people not to buy "a foreign made truck like Ford, Chevy or Dodge, and go with the only truck made in America...Toyota." Times sure have changed! Last time I checked 2014 Silverados were still being built in Flint Michigan. Did Ford close the truck plant in Louisville? |
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Jul 26, 2014 4:43:50 GMT -8
Good to hear. I have never owned a Dodge so I am cautions. I only considered it because every review has the 1500 at or near the top of the list for towing. But one write up encouraged people not to buy "a foreign made truck like Ford, Chevy or Dodge, and go with the only truck made in America...Toyota." Times sure have changed! Last time I checked 2014 Silverados were still being built in Flint Michigan. Did Ford close the truck plant in Louisville? You know your trucks. I read they make the pieces elsewhere and assemble most cars in America. That Toyota is the only one "making" the truck here. Who know these days??? |
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Post by bigbill on Jul 26, 2014 6:48:28 GMT -8
Yes it is a world market today probably all vehicles contain parts that are made all over the world. I would doubt that anything is built with stuff just from one country anymore.
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vschwartz0001
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Post by vschwartz0001 on Jul 27, 2014 10:54:52 GMT -8
Fords are still made in America with 75 percent of its parts still sourced in America
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vschwartz0001
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Post by vschwartz0001 on Jul 27, 2014 10:57:22 GMT -8
Also I drive a Ford and love it. You should look at the F150 with ecoboost they are excellent vehicles
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Post by bigbill on Jul 27, 2014 19:41:48 GMT -8
Competition is so strong for the pickup market they all have to build good trucks or go down the tubes. I drive a Silverado that I dearly love but you don't hear me bad mouthing any of the new trucks they are all very capable of doing what they claim. Also they all look good and ride even better, it is great when you can get in a pickup and it rides better than a car did twenty-five years ago and gets over twenty miles to the gallon.
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Jul 28, 2014 4:39:12 GMT -8
This has been the toughest new car decision I've had to make. As Bill said, they all are solid choices for one reason or another. Even more confusing, everyone has a strong love of their favorite brand. ("I'd rather push a Ford than drive a Chevy!"' One person said.) Add to that, everyone knows somebody who knows somebody, who had real "problems with that brand".
Just yesterday I had a friend say firmly, "you don't want a Ram, they have real quality issues".
I asked if he owned one. No. Do you directly know somebody who owns one? No. But his landscaper knows somebody whose brother in law had real problems.
I've heard that type of warning for EVERY brand of truck.
Confusing.
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Post by bigbill on Jul 28, 2014 6:00:03 GMT -8
nccamper Here is my experience with all three brands over many years. Ford drove it 13 years replaced timing chain on motor. Dodge drove six years had to repair electric door lock motor on right door every 30 to 35 thousand miles. Two chevys drove one 15 years had to wash and wax it. Second three years old this month and the only thing I have had problems with is the Left door seal tears where your feet drags over it getting in and out. All of these trucks have been driven all over the country and properly maintained. I have heard more horror stories on each brand than you can dream of. What I believe is that yes every brand produces a lemon now and then but the two major problems that I see that causes people to have heartache in most cases is bad dealer support and owner abuse.
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pathfinder3081
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Post by pathfinder3081 on Jul 28, 2014 9:32:32 GMT -8
I am with you on the "every now and then a lemon" gets made. This is the only Dodge Ram I have ever own. The only other truck I had was 1953 International Harvester.. Three in the tree on a straight six. It had been a Military Issue but looked like a regular civilian model. I wish I still had it. (lol).  My Ram doesn’t have any electric windows so I don't have any experience with that. My fan on the heater / AC only operates on Hi speed now though. I guess I need to fix that. I had a power steering drip leak but a clamp snugged that up and fixed it. I just had to buff out the front head lights the other day because they were so "hazed" out... I can see at night again now. Yeah, that's about it for my story.. Ford has a good reputation with almost everyone I talk with... No one had to bail 'em out either. I like the Fords, but unless the Ram goes way south on me before I get 200,000 on it I'll probably go with another one if the price is right. |
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Jul 29, 2014 5:36:35 GMT -8
Thanks for the real world input on brands. I just took my wife down to the Chevy dealer (based on your advice) but she didn't love the interior. I love that people have had good experience with them. O'well...
Last night we went to Ford, based on a thumbs up from a couple of people. I didn't like the lack of lumbar support (yes, I'm over 50) and I wish the mid level model had a telescoping stealing wheel. O'well...
Ram made us a great offer on a 1500 but, in the model and color we want, the only truck they have has 400 miles on it. My father always said the first few hundred mile break in period is important. So I passed on that particular truck.
Another person told me Tundra has been good for them. So back to Toyota I go to reconsider a good, old fashion American made truck;-)
Quote of the day from a friend: "What do the Japanese know about trucks? They make econo boxes!" Not very helpful.
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