Picking up where I left off

[rasband]

I think you assume I have more money than I do

Maybe in a perfect world I’d have a few, but one is expensive enough as it is. Besides, the next purchase is a F150 so I can trailer

My wife is pressuring me to get a 4door something for the kids (especially since with the top on I can’t reach the 1.5yro)... I’m looking at cummin’s trucks but love the mid 2000s power strokes. Seems like later fords are hard to service.

 

[Lou]

My wife is pressuring me to get a 4door something for the kids (especially since with the top on I can’t reach the 1.5yro)... I’m looking at cummin’s trucks but love the mid 2000s power strokes. Seems like later fords are hard to service.

Maintenance along with repairs is much, much easier on a Dodge than a Ford or a Chevy. The v8's "fit" but they are TIGHT.

 

[Chris]

Maintenance along with repairs is much, much easier on a Dodge than a Ford or a Chevy. The v8's "fit" but they are TIGHT.

Really? Is this just as far as the diesels or the gasoline engines as well? Currently for me it’s a toss up between a Ram 1500 and a F150. The EcoBoost engine seems to have more usable power though for towing.

My wife is pressuring me to get a 4door something for the kids (especially since with the top on I can’t reach the 1.5yro)... I’m looking at cummin’s trucks but love the mid 2000s power strokes. Seems like later fords are hard to service.

Yep, that’s why I am thinking a truck with the large cab. We rented both a new F150 and a Ram 1500 and they were both plenty big for us and all three kids.

 

[Lou]

Really? Is this just as far as the diesels or the gasoline engines as well? Currently for me it’s a toss up between a Ram 1500 and a F150. The EcoBoost engine seems to have more usable power though for towing.

Yeah I am just talking about diesels. The main maintenance item I was referring to was a valve adjustment and since posting that I have found out that fords use hydraulic lash adjusters. Either way, its easier to work on the inline 6 than either V8 diesel option.

For a 1500 I like both... I hate to say this but I think going with a Ford gets you a nicer truck for the money.

 

[Chris]

For a 1500 I like both... I hate to say this but I think going with a Ford gets you a nicer truck for the money.

Having driven both, I would agree that I liked the Ford F-150 a lot more, my wife did too.

 

[rasband]

Yeah I am just talking about diesels. The main maintenance item I was referring to was a valve adjustment and since posting that I have found out that fords use hydraulic lash adjusters. Either way, its easier to work on the inline 6 than either V8 diesel option.

For a 1500 I like both... I hate to say this but I think going with a Ford gets you a nicer truck for the money.

Diesel is my focus as well, I think otherwise it’s a toss up of what you prefer. Chrysler/Fiat had some good years just like Ford. Both are miles above the car/suv lines of the same brand.

 

[Lou]

Hemis are pretty reliable engines. If you fail to change your oil you may have Cam issues... Otherwise we hardly ever got into those engines when I was a tech at the dealer. Late model Chrysler products always have their electrical issues, but most other manufacturers do as well... The Hemi also uses 16 spark plugs so that can get a little pricey. Its very easy to DIY at home though.

I don't have much experience fixing Fords but the new aluminum trucks I have been in were very nice.

 

[Chris]

A diesel would be nice, but man those things are expensive!

 

[psrivats]

Having driven both, I would agree that I liked the Ford F-150 a lot more, my wife did too.

Have you seen the newish RAMs? They are very nice in and out

 

[Lou]

Have you seen the newish RAMs? They are very nice in and out

Ford, GM, and Ram all make very nice trucks but I have been in some lower trim Fords that really impressed me.

Disclaimer: I hate GM and I really don't like Ford but I am just stating what I have noticed.

 

[Chris]

Have you seen the newish RAMs? They are very nice in and out

The one we rented was a 2019 with the 5.7 Hemi.

 

[psrivats]

The one we rented was a 2019 with the 5.7 Hemi.

You liked that less than you liked the F-150?

 

[Chris]

You liked that less than you liked the F-150?

Yep, that F150 was really damn nice and had more power than the Ram. A Ram with the 6.4 Hemi might have been a better comparison, but even then, the EcoBoost has more torque and better MPG I believe.

 

[JDS123]

I wanted to get a 12/24 valve a few months back. Couldn't find a seller that wasn't smoking crack. Good trucks, but too expensive. Especially in the midwest where everyone throws stacks on a truck missing half the bed.

The 7.3's are good engines and a lot cheaper. If I wanted an older diesel, a manual 7.3 would be my first choice just due to the market on cummins.

My race team tows a ~9k enclosed trailer with a new 6.4 hemi 2500 ram. Not as fuel efficient as our old 6.0 powerstroke (we all know how that went...) or as a new cummins would be, but still a nice truck. I'm going to pick up a used 6.4 2500 for myself in a few years.

Right now I'm trying to convince Ford to donate a 6.7 F250 with their off-road package to my school since they sponsored our previous 6.0 and the entire engineering school. Was going well before the virus

 

[Lou]

I wanted to get a 12/24 valve a few months back. Couldn't find a seller that wasn't smoking crack. Good trucks, but too expensive. Especially in the midwest where everyone throws stacks on a truck missing half the bed.

An 03+ common rail 5.9 is a bitchin' engine. Its just one of the ugliest trucks in existence coupled with some of Chryslers worst interior electronics. I like the 2nd gen trucks as well but they are still crappy trucks for the money they ask.

 

[JDS123]

An 03+ common rail 5.9 is a bitchin' engine. Its just one of the ugliest trucks in existence coupled with some of Chryslers worst interior electronics. I like the 2nd gen trucks as well but they are still crappy trucks for the money they ask.

Completely agree on that. I started by looking at the second gens but nice ones are priced a bit rich for me, especially when looking at a 20 year old truck. The 3rd gens are alright but the interior would make me want to shoot myself and everybody with a rusted out common rail with 250k miles wants $15k for their truck. I don't mind spending money, but ouch...

 

[Lou]

Completely agree on that. I started by looking at the second gens but nice ones are priced a bit rich for me, especially when looking at a 20 year old truck. The 3rd gens are alright but the interior would make me want to shoot myself and everybody with a rusted out common rail with 250k miles wants $15k for their truck. I don't mind spending money, but ouch...

Yeah I used to live in IL so I know the prices you are talking about. Somehow as a Dodge Ram with a Cummins rusts to shit the price just keeps going up and up.

 

[AMS417]

Yep, that F150 was really damn nice and had more power than the Ram. A Ram with the 6.4 Hemi might have been a better comparison, but even then, the EcoBoost has more torque and better MPG I believe.

Rental fleets bought a bunch of 2019 "Classic" Ram 1500's. Classic is code for old body style, and pretty much base model. I have a new body 2019 Ram 1500, just did a 2800 mile trip in it, I love this truck. Had it a year this month, zero issues and I like it better than the similarly equipped 2014 I had. My dad is a hard core Ford dude, but he likes to drive my Ram when his truck is in the shop.

 

[Chris]

Rental fleets bought a bunch of 2019 "Classic" Ram 1500's. Classic is code for old body style, and pretty much base model. I have a new body 2019 Ram 1500, just did a 2800 mile trip in it, I love this truck. Had it a year this month, zero issues and I like it better than the similarly equipped 2014 I had. My dad is a hard core Ford dude, but he likes to drive my Ram when his truck is in the shop.

Yours is the 5.7 right? What did you pay for it?

 

[AMS417]

Yours is the 5.7 right? What did you pay for it?

5.7 Laramie with Sport package, pano roof, 12" touch screen, lots of options. MSRP was $59,000, I paid $43k out the door. Its pearl white tri coat. Got max towing too, like 12.8k I think. Got 19.5 mpg running 10 over the speed limit over 2800 miles from West Missouri to the east coast through the mountains both ways. I was going to buy a Raptor, but I ain't paying MSRP on one of those.

Here's a pic of me rescuing my dad in one of his F150's when the engine let go due to oiling issues due to bad cam phasers. Had to get a full overhaul. His second engine in about 3 years. I don't like the complexity of the turbo V6 in the new Fords (but the Raptor is bad ass), or the exhaust note, or the interior, or the vacuum hubs on the 4x4. The Coyote engine is pretty solid though.