Which truck / Chevrolet or Ford

[TackDriver284]

I want to trade in my crew cab 09 Silverado HD2500 since I don't haul RV's or trailers anymore. I just pull a 20 foot boat to go fish.
Wondering which truck I should look into? The HD2500's heavy and are hard on bumps compared to the 1500's. I just like diesel engines due to torque and power and able to cruise at 65- 70 pulling my RV in overdrive and stays in overdrive even over a bridge or overpasses without downshifting. I had issues with previous HD2500 gas engines without the Allison transmission, those 4 speeds would shift hard from 2nd to 3rd gear for some reason, dealer says they dont find any issues, they always say that when its under warranty. Issues started happening after I tow heavy loads long distances, and that was with two previous gas trucks. That is the past, anyways back to the subject,,,,what trucks do you guys like and have good experience with in Ford or Chevy. Please do not bring up Dodge. lol. I just pull a boat, that is about it. I like power and torque and hopefully better mileage than my 09 Silverdo HD2500 which gives me about 14-15 mpg highway. What do you think about that weeny 3.0 Duramax diesel in the 1500 trucks? I hear they run about 30 mpg highway.

 

[Ralt71]

Oh man, the Ford vs Chevy thing haha. I'll start by saying I have been Bias to GM for many many years.. until recently. I am currently driving and Eco Boost F150.

I bought a 1500, AT4, Carbon Pro edition new in 2021. That year had the LM2 Minimax. I loved it! Great torque, towed better than any half ton I've owned, got decent MPG. It does not make much HP and lives on boost. Because of that, your MPG is greatly dependent on air density. In the winter months with thick air I would lose roughly 3mpg. Summer I got 26-28 in the winter I got 23-25. I live in Central PA, in the foothills of Appalachia so my MPG takes a bit of hit driving up these hills and the AT4 has a slight lift with lower gears. The truck gave me so many little problems though. Lost an injector at 22k, radio would shut down periodicly for no reason and who knows how long it would stay off (really was a bummer when using GPS in an unknown area) the CAC system has an electric pump that went out on me twice ($800 repair out of warranty with me doing the labor) the suspension knocked and GM couldn't figure out way, and the gunmetal finish litterly blew off in the wind. It made whistling noises when getting a sideways wind because the doors and windows don't seal up lol. After about 60k miles there was a noticable loss in power and mpg. I was not getting 20-22 in the winter and 24-25 in the summer. A full tank of def would last roughly 7k miles (without towing) to about 3k. GM said they couldn't find anything wrong and it was normal.

in 2022 I bought my wife a new Yukon Denali with the 6.2. Motor makes all kinds of power and is quick for a stock platform. The problems with her car never stopped. The 6.2 drank oil like fuel and you basically added so much oil to it and so often that all you had to do was change the oil filter ever 5k miles. GM said this was normal. It got towed to the shop three different times due to transmission problem (both vehicles had the 10 speed) the rear power outlets stopped working, the washer system was always messed up, the rear heat quit working, it failed 3 injectors, The blind spot monitoring system quick working and the lights in the mirror would just blink randomly. Most of the issues was a fight to get GM to cover. I changed the injectors myself (all odd bank injectors) and i changed the rear HVAC pump myself because GM would not over it. That car was over 100k new and it was broke every 3 to 4 months. Would sit at the dealer for weeks. Then the letter came out that her engine was needing replaced and we traded it last year for a Navigator. That vehicle is yet to need anything.

I tell you this just to say GM is not the same as it once was. Their Auto in the large truck world has major valve body issues, their 6.2's are on a recall, their 5.3's are having lifter issues that could blow the engine up, and their injectors across the board won't have a full set make it to 80k.

My F150 has been pretty good, MPG with the eco is great and it tows decent. Her navi has been awesome, is a great ride. Doesn't make much for power but does good on MPG. Both of her vehicles were the XL or long version because we have 4 kids (two in car seats). The Yukon got 9-12 MPG and 1 quart of oil per 850 miles. The navigator gets 18-19 and on a road trip to TX it will get 24-25.

 

[Blkram]

Sorry, I'm a Dodge man...so cannot help you here...

All I would say is check on the reviews, as I have read that the Chevy engine is one of the worst rated engines available in a pickup right now, as rated by the mechanics who work on them...

I too have downgraded to a degree...no longer have 5 trailers, and won't be hauling trailers 48% of the time anymore, and do not need to haul 120 round bales a year anymore. Just the 19' holiday trailer, boat trailer for the 12 1/2' inflatable, and tilt deck for the sxs...so am also thinking of going back to a half ton...and will most likely be getting another Tundra.

 

[TackDriver284]

I was thinking whether to keep my 09 HD2500, since I rarely had any big issues, except replace a glow plug here and there which I do myself after a computer scan for plug #, cracks on the top dash due to the heat, door lock actuators in the back works mostly, but sometimes won't work, and starts working again. I had a rear cabin air vent replacement where rain water entered in the rear cab. There are no issues with my 09 so far except these mentioned above. A 16 year old truck is pretty old and I have the original paint and at 110,000 miles. Still runs great. I'm just thinking,,,,

 

[JD338]

I love my 2018 GMC 2500HD 6.6L Duramax. I'm probably going to get another one next year, most likely the AT4.
There's no replacement for displacement

JD338

 

[sako2]

Keep what you have. Love my 06 duramax. I drive a 04 outback when i don't need the truck. I refuse to pay the prices they want.

 

[NYDAN]

I have a 2013 F150 XLT with the 5.0 liter V8 engine which I really like and have used for towing an enclosed snowmobile trailer. I would buy one like it again. However, I would stay away from the 6-cylinder Eco Boost engine. I have heard there have been problems with those.

 

[Backcast88]

I have a 2018 f150 with the 5.0. Bought it new and have had 0 issues with it. Truck pulls trailers just fine. Mine is leveled with bigger AT tires and I do a fair amount of city driving so I've taken a hit mpg wise but that was expected. But, I would happily buy another one tomorrow if I had to. I would not get the 3.5 eco v6. Those seem to have some issues. But, the 2.7 eco v6 is great. Dad has one. Good mpg, pulls a trailer very well and will scoot right along.

About the only truck I would consider would be a Tundra. We have one as a company vehicle we used for running errands and stuff and does great. It's got a couple things I personally don't love but it has more to do with the way it was optioned out rather than issues with the truck in general.

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

I wish N/A would let Toyota put a diesel in the Tundra. Then again, it wouldn't be fair to the other big terrible 3... They'd about go absolete and ya know our government would never go for that. Dodge and Chevy have already went bankrupt how many times lol? Toyota dominates literally every other car/small truck/suv market with the Camry, Tacoma, 4Runner and Hybrid models. They'd have a monopoly on the whole auto industry with a diesel Tundra.

I've always been a Toyota fan. They're reliable and run forever. You can't say that about the other terrible 3...I've got a 97' 4Runner with 3.4/5spd with 403K No issues, original motor/trans. Just bought a brand new 25' Tacoma with the 2.4 turbo. Oil change and routine maintenance, should go easy 300K with no major issues.

My vote would be a 2021 5.7 Tundra if you want a full size. The last year of the 5.7 Plenty of power to pull a boat, and the best thing is you wouldn't ever have a major issue with engine/trans as they're bullet proof. Oil change and routine maintenance you're good for an easy 3-400K.

You couldn't give me a Chevy, Ford, or Dodge with all the problems they have.

 

[RL338]

I have a 2022 F-150 with the 3.5L Ecoboost and it tows circles around my old 5.4L Triton. My son also has a 2022 F-150 but with the 5.0L V-8 which he tows their camper with. His V-8 on average makes better MPG.

 

[PJGunner]

Well I'll admint I somestrng prejudices against anythinfrom GM. It all stemed from the time I bougth a 1958 Impala convertibled, candy apple red. The garthest that hunk of junk ever got form the dealership was maybe three block when it scattered the tranny all over the pavement. The deal repaired it twice nf refide to do so after the the thid tranny went south. That lefet a bad taste in my mouth that has never gone away. I went with Fords after that and none of them ever gave me a problem except the 1949 through 1951 models. I never saw a car that ate the pushrod for the fuel pump as rapidly as those Fords. I got so I could change one in just a few minutes and always kept spares in the tool box in the trunk.
My before the last truck was a 2015 F150 4x4 that I totaled in a nasty wreck. I currently drive a 2019 F150 4x4 . The 2015 was good for 195. city and 23 highay. The 2019 18.5 city and I haven't done any road trips with it yet but I'm guessing probably 22 and may 23 if I'm lucky.
Paul b.

 

[TexasLife]

i'm a chevy fan (can't say that about gmc). the '15 3500hd i have has just over 85k and the only issue i had was the def tank heater causing me to get reduced speeds. warrantee was covered at the time many years ago when it happened. the power is fine, but mpg is ticking me off as it'll barely get over 20mpg empty. pulling a 32' with 22 (2 wide & 2 high) 5' round bales has lots of drag even w/o wind. mpg average during that time is between 5-8. my '81 chevy dually w/454 (390hp/450tq carbureted) turbo400 and 3.73's @ 85mpg would get me over 10 into a headwind. i don't care for diesels in p/u's or cars, but i got stuck with what i have due too not being able to have a bb engine in gasoline. their newish 6.6gas is available which is better than their old 6.0/6.2. both brands are good, but chevy will have less to no recalls.

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

My first truck was an ‘84 Chevy Scottsdale 4x4, Red, White and Silver, our school colors. Loved that truck except it ate starters, alternators and batteries like crazy. Despite originally being a Chevy man I have now owned one each, Chevy, Dodge, Isuzu, Mazda, Toyota, Acura and Ford.

My current vehicle is a 2013 Ford F-150 with the 3.5 Eco-boost. So far it has been the best pickup I have ever owned, the Toyota Tacoma being a close second.

 

[jimbires]

my next door neighbors son had a fairly new chevy 1500 with the small 3.0 diesel . he really liked it . said it got about 30mpg empty . he pulled a large camper and said about how much power it has , and how well it handled the trailer . the original tires were wearing out , and he replaced them . he said the new tires made the truck feel wishy washy when pulling his camper , and the check engine light came on about the DEF system . the dealer worked on the DEF a couple times, under warranty , but didn't fix it . he ended up trading it on a 2500 . I think it has the big diesel .

I was thinking about getting one with the small diesel , and did a little research . the 3.0 diesel uses a belt driven oil pump . the belt is INSIDE the engine , yes it's a wet belt . to replace this belt the transmission needs to come out , remove the flywheel , remove the cover off the rear of the engine block . the recommend service interval is 150,000 miles . they recently increased this to 200,000 miles due to owners complaining about the cost of the belt replacement . this does not sound like a dependable oil pump drive system to me .

I'm another guy that would love to get a toyota diesel

 

[salmonchaser]

I am on my 7th ford truck since 1974. All but one pushed 300k before trading in. We also have a 2006 Dodge 2500 for pulling the airstream. Even has manual window cranks.
My late brother in law when operating with the Rangers in Afganistan commandeered every Toyota Hilex they could get their hands on. Most of his war time photos have him carrying an AK, or an M14, a 1911, and sitting in a Toyota.
Catherines Ranger detachment used the Hilix when they took her high into the mountains to visit tribal leaders there.
Cat and I spent two weeks riding in the Toyota diesel when we were in South Africa couple years ago. Impressive rig, don’t know about towing with it.
If we could get the Hilex here I would give my ford to the dealer, keep the dodge for towing and probably live happily ever after until they take my keys away. I’m at 150,000 on my 2021 F150, 5 liter. Catherine’s BIL is a top drawer guy at the Ford truck plant in Louisville, getting close to retirement, perhaps well drive home from the Kentucky Derby next year.

 

[Bruce Mc]

I am on my 7th ford truck since 1974. All but one pushed 300k before trading in. We also have a 2006 Dodge 2500 for pulling the airstream. Even has manual window cranks.
My late brother in law when operating with the Rangers in Afganistan commandeered every Toyota Hilex they could get their hands on. Most of his war time photos have him carrying an AK, or an M14, a 1911, and sitting in a Toyota.
Catherines Ranger detachment used the Hilix when they took her high into the mountains to visit tribal leaders there.
Cat and I spent two weeks riding in the Toyota diesel when we were in South Africa couple years ago. Impressive rig, don’t know about towing with it.
If we could get the Hilex here I would give my ford to the dealer, keep the dodge for towing and probably live happily ever after until they take my keys away. I’m at 150,000 on my 2021 F150, 5 liter. Catherine’s BIL is a top drawer guy at the Ford truck plant in Louisville, getting close to retirement, perhaps well drive home from the Kentucky Derby next year.

I got a heck of a deal on my current Ford truck, 2013 F-150 XLT 5.0 4x4, due to a discount number provided by a Ford employee "relative". It has 140,000+ miles and has been very reliable and has handled some very rough terrain in New Mexico and Colorado.