Pick WinterDeere's next truck

[WinterDeere]

Yet another truck has rusted out on me, this time 11 years. Bed walls are bulging due to delamination behind spray-on liner, and eye bolts are just falling out. But outer body still looks presentable... maybe it won't totally kill me on trade-in. Truck has 52k miles.

I've been a "Ram guy" the last 20 years, for one reason: Ram offered manual transmission with a V8 and extended cab, while no other brand did. Now that's gone away, so I have less reason to stay with Ram, although I will admit they've been the most reliable trucks I've ever owned... rust aside. I've also grown to like the feel and controls of them, in fact we have three Dodge's in the garage right now.

The requirements:

1. Must be 4wd. My primary use of this vehicle is "bad weather days", when I don't want to drive my sports car or sedan in snow and salt. I also take it off-road several times per year, mostly when pulling a trailer.
2. Must have integrated trailer brake system, and will favor highest tow rating. I use this truck for pulling a 7k# trailer loaded with logs or tractor over hilly terrain and offroad.
3. Would favor lower roof height, as I also take this vehicle into old parking garages in Philly, where roof clearance is a constant issue. This is the sole reason I've been buying 1/2 ton trucks, despite 3/4 ton being more suitable for my trailer's ~1000# tongue weight.
4. I will always choose highest horsepower and highest rear gear ratio available. This is another area where Ram seems to outperform everyone else.
5. Yes, I would consider an EV, if it actually looks and feels like a real pickup truck. When I see numbers like 1000 hp posted, I don't understand how you can't be interested in driving that. I am a founding member of the HA = "Horsepower Anonymous" support group. But I ain't paying $100k for a pickup truck, so that may be off the table, anyway.
6. Not interested in diesel. Slow, and unnecessarily expensive, when I never get more than 70k miles out of a truck before it's rusted thru.

I don't have a specific budget. But I don't like throwing away money on anything, so it's going to be a matter of seeing where the market is, and then choosing "good value" for my dollar.

If there's any truck of any series or brand available with a manual transmission, I'm probably buying that. If there's one thing I hate more than any other mechanical device on earth, it is the automatic transmission. But it needs to be 4wd extended cab, and capable of pulling my trailer at highway speed, so not a wimpy v6 configuration.

Thoughts? Recommendations?

 

[jeepcoma]

If you want to move up from a 1/2 ton, any of the gasser 3/4 tons will fit your bill. Take each brand for a test drive and pick based on how you like the truck and how you like the dealer - they are all close enough capability wise for the technical specs to not really matter for what you need. You can get barebones or full on lux or anywhere in between. I also looked for manual transmissions, and gave up that search 10 years ago. Modern autos are not what they used to be in the "good old days", the 10-speed you can put behind the Ford PSD is a wonder. And the autos are actually superior for towing (RAM would de-rate their diesels to go behind the manual, since it's harder on the clutch).

I've driven my 1-tons (crew cab + 8' bed) in NYC and parked in underground garages and airport garages, and it's not a problem. You might need to plan ahead (I've called garages to verify height - once ripped my roof mount antenna off, whoops), and be OK with not parking in the "best" spots all the time.

 

[Phil Timmons]

Considering you may be inclined to the OPPOSITE of anything I suggest . . . just because or whatever . . . this may not be so useful, but you ask so we answer.

With the lineup (your spec. list) ram + not-a-freak-show + 1/2 ton really better than 3/4 + trailer + maybe EV-ish . . . ) really only truck lines up to one thing -- Dodge Ram-Charger or whatever they are call the 2026 (now 2027?) hybrid, etc.

Are they taking waiting list deposits? Do they still do that? I might do that. And just wait. That can tell your brain things are good, so you do not have to do paralysis by analysis.

And put some good walking shoes in the old truck when you are driving in case that one dies early. My apology to your feet, but that is what they were made for.

 

[Hay Dude]

Yet another truck has rusted out on me, this time 11 years. Bed walls are bulging due to delamination behind spray-on liner, and eye bolts are just falling out. But outer body still looks presentable... maybe it won't totally kill me on trade-in. Truck has 52k miles.

I've been a "Ram guy" the last 20 years, for one reason: Ram offered manual transmission with a V8 and extended cab, while no other brand did. Now that's gone away, so I have less reason to stay with Ram, although I will admit they've been the most reliable trucks I've ever owned... rust aside. I've also grown to like the feel and controls of them, in fact we have three Dodge's in the garage right now.

The requirements:

1. Must be 4wd. My primary use of this vehicle is "bad weather days", when I don't want to drive my sports car or sedan in snow and salt. I also take it off-road several times per year, mostly when pulling a trailer.
2. Must have integrated trailer brake system, and will favor highest tow rating. I use this truck for pulling a 7k# trailer loaded with logs or tractor over hilly terrain and offroad.
3. Would favor lower roof height, as I also take this vehicle into old parking garages in Philly, where roof clearance is a constant issue. This is the sole reason I've been buying 1/2 ton trucks, despite 3/4 ton being more suitable for my trailer's ~1000# tongue weight.
4. I will always choose highest horsepower and highest rear gear ratio available. This is another area where Ram seems to outperform everyone else.
5. Yes, I would consider an EV, if it actually looks and feels like a real pickup truck. When I see numbers like 1000 hp posted, I don't understand how you can't be interested in driving that. I am a founding member of the HA = "Horsepower Anonymous" support group. But I ain't paying $100k for a pickup truck, so that may be off the table, anyway.
6. Not interested in diesel. Slow, and unnecessarily expensive, when I never get more than 70k miles out of a truck before it's rusted thru.

I don't have a specific budget. But I don't like throwing away money on anything, so it's going to be a matter of seeing where the market is, and then choosing "good value" for my dollar.

If there's any truck of any series or brand available with a manual transmission, I'm probably buying that. If there's one thing I hate more than any other mechanical device on earth, it is the automatic transmission. But it needs to be 4wd extended cab, and capable of pulling my trailer at highway speed, so not a wimpy v6 configuration.

Thoughts? Recommendations?

You don't think you're interested in a diesel.....until you own one. $74,000. Sitting at D'Ambrosio Ram in Downingtown.
Don't test drive it because you'll buy it if you do. ZF-8 transmission. 1075TQ. 11,400 GVWR. 10 year, 100,000 mile warranty. Not slow, either.

 

[dodge man]

Look at Ford, the biggest reason is aluminum bodies don’t rust. They will easily tow what you want but for a tongue weight over 500 pounds you are suppose to use a weight distributing hitch. My 2017 F150 has a payload of 1944 pounds.

 

[jeepcoma]

Look at Ford

Says "dodge man" hah!

Personally, I prefer the Ford Superduty. I think they ride and drive better with a superior engine and transmission. The Diesel + 10 speed... amazing (I don't own one but have driven them with heavy loads, mine was a 6-speed). That said, I'm currently in a RAM 1-ton. The Cummins is OK, but the 6-speed transmission is a dog (newer ones have an 8-speed but I have not driven any of those). My current RAM has more specs on paper compared to my older Ford but in reality it drives like a slug. What I'll give it though is the engine braking is AMAZING, and for what I use the truck for, it's a worthwhile tradeoff.

As for the OP, if "HP matters, but no diesel" I've read a lot of good things about the Ford 7.3 "Godzilla" gasser. More power than the Hemi, and a 10-speed vs an 8-speed. This is why doing a test drive should be your main determination!

I don't know much about the Chevy options, I have never been impressed with their HD line and they don't seem too popular near me, so I can't comment.

 

[GSVette]

Says "dodge man" hah!

Personally, I prefer the Ford Superduty. I think they ride and drive better with a superior engine and transmission. The Diesel + 10 speed... amazing (I don't own one but have driven them with heavy loads, mine was a 6-speed). That said, I'm currently in a RAM 1-ton. The Cummins is OK, but the 6-speed transmission is a dog (newer ones have an 8-speed but I have not driven any of those). My current RAM has more specs on paper compared to my older Ford but in reality it drives like a slug. What I'll give it though is the engine braking is AMAZING, and for what I use the truck for, it's a worthwhile tradeoff.

As for the OP, if "HP matters, but no diesel" I've read a lot of good things about the Ford 7.3 "Godzilla" gasser. More power than the Hemi, and a 10-speed vs an 8-speed. This is why doing a test drive should be your main determination!

I don't know much about the Chevy options, I have never been impressed with their HD line and they don't seem too popular near me, so I can't comment.

I have a 26 Laramie Night Edition 3500-the ZF8 and Cummins are a beautiful match. I had been waiting for Ram to finally move to a transmission with more gears to really take advantage of the HO Cummins early torque and flat power band-they hit it.

Recently hauled our 30’ fifth wheel about 3k miles over multiple passes-engine never broke a sweat, transmission didn’t hunt, automatic exhaust brake is a really benefit on long downhills.

Overall really pleased.

 

[Snobdds]

You don't think you're interested in a diesel.....until you own one. $74,000. Sitting at D'Ambrosio Ram in Downingtown.
Don't test drive it because you'll buy it if you do. ZF-8 transmission. 1075TQ. 11,400 GVWR. 10 year, 100,000 mile warranty. Not slow, either.
View attachment 5336801

If a camera was present at first sight...