Thinking about converting to a full size, what are my options now in terms of reliability?

WTF??? So much for the internet being anonymous!!! Where did you find my picture???

 

craigslist

 

Story checks out

 

It does look cool and the power output is truly impressive, i cant even imagine that much TQ haha.

I am just not sure how i feel about electric vehicles just yet. I also live up north where it gets quite cold, not sure if its the best idea to own one. Although I dont know much about battery types and what how cold affects them.

It will be a very sad day when I will have to give up my 3 pedals and getting into an EV, it is inevitable though.

 

All the domestic trucks are about the same just stay the heck away from diesels.

 

Ford has been good to me. I currently have a 2014 F150 in addition to the 2007 Tacoma. If I wanted to move up to a 3/4 ton I'd NOT buy one with a diesel engine. The diesel is a $10,000 upgrade and you'll spend a LOT more on maintenance. They only get 1-2 MPG better than gas engines and are less reliable. With the extra cost of diesel vs gas you'll never break even.

 

A coworker lives in Richmond VA ... has an EV. Says sub-30 has a marked negative effect on response of her EV. An aunt had to park her diesel in an underground garage during winter in Chicago or it was iffy about starting.

I lived in Ohio ... I know what borderline-far-north is like on gasoline engine.

 

Welp… variety is the spice of life! I have an old car in the garage that still has three pedals, my wife has a regular gas SUV (she works from home) and I have the Super Duty. The Lightning is my 3rd EV mostly because I’m a car junky and I get 100% free charging at work so driving 15-18k miles a year cost me $0…. It’s kind of a good deal.

I have an 11.5kW charger at home too, but obviously I don’t use it if I can avoid it lol.

Tbh with very few EV’s on the road (or at my job) it’s freaking awesome, if 50% of the cars on the road are ever EV’s it’s going to be beyond awful.

Right now though it’s the golden era. To
me even traveling is easy as the chargers that do exist very rarely have anyone using them. I just did a 600 mile trip over the holidays with it with no issues.

FWIW I live in a very cold northern climate (northern NY) and while it’s true range goes way down in winter (it does in your gas car too) it’s never been a problem. Obviously in an ICE vehicle the heat of the engine heats the car with an EV you’ve got to do that with electricity which uses a lot of range.

Id recommend anyone have an EV as a second or 3rd car (for a family) but definitely not as your only vehicle!! Just my thoughts after 5 years or so of EV ownership.

 

I would probably just go with a 5.0 F-150, probably could score a good deal on a Nissan Titan since they have been discontinued.

 

Just food for thought - The mid size market, Taco, Ranger, Colorado are all larger than the full sized market was 10 or 15 years ago. Every time I think I wish I had a bigger truck, I remind myself how America was built on Dodges, Fords, and Chevys that were the same size or smaller than the Tacoma I'm driving now. What's more the 5.0 HO Ford Motor in my dad's 1986 F-150 work truck probably put out less HP and TQ than the Turbo 4-Banger that is out in the Tacoma today.

Having said that, I saw a guy at the gas station pulling a camper the other day (5th wheel) that was 40' maybe 45' long and dwarfed the Silverado 3500 HD dually truck that was towing it. I have no idea what it weighed. Maybe 10 tons? The trailer had 3 axles for a total of 6 wheels on it. That would have been in the territory of a commercial rig in years past so people are definitely pulling more with trucks these days too.

 

Yep, the 1986 f150 302 efi was 190hp @ 3800rpm and 285lb ft @ 2400rpm. I've done alot of work in those trucks with the 302 and 300 straight six. I can't picture my Grandpa without imagining him in an 80's f150 with a dog sitting shotgun.

Times have changed.

 

I live in northern Michigan, and my brother in law let me use his lightning for a while, cold matters not one bit honestly. Seriously looking at this as my next "commuter" truck

 

That engine was making about 200hp/300tq. We had the '89 version in an F150 that made about 225hp if I recall correctly.

 

2021 Low mile, one owner and well serviced Tundra would be my only go to used. If I was only buying new it would have to be an F150 with the 5.0 V8. Even with Fords issues I think that's the only current engine I'd feel comfortable with.

 

I second what some others have already said. The super duty gassers seem to be a solid deal in todays market, as odd as that is to say.

 

If I was buying a heavy duty, it would most likely be a GM with the gas engine. I think for 2025 you can get them with the 10 speed.

 

Another option for thought.

My dad drives a 2021 GMC 1500 with the 3.0 Duramax Diesel. Straight six- unbelievably smooth motor. He drove it from Toronto, Ontario, to Boston MA, on one tank of gas. Gets high 30 mpgs on the highway, and it also tows 8k comfortably. It's a great truck- and if you delete it, it (allegedly) sound wicked as well.

 

i saw
@RichochetRabbit
coming out of his probation officer's monthly appointment and snapped that pic

 

I gave up a 2500HD 6.0 GMC for my tacoma. worst decision ever, thought I needed something a little easier to park and a little easier on gas and its just worse at everything.
I'm jumping ship and getting another 03-07 silverado as soon as I find a clean one. there's no way I'd get a new 1/2 ton, they've just engineered the reliability and durability out of them.