Ram Chevy Nissan Ford Toyota which to buy?

Ok the reason for my post is this. I have scoured forums for input on what to buy and hope to help someone else.

Stick with me and I’ll get to the point.

I have owned a truck manufactured by all of them all most all crew cabs and all 4x4. Both gas and diesel in 2500 - 3500 and a 1500. Auto and manuals.

All of them make good products, and they all have problems. If it’s made by human hands, it will break.

The Chevys that I have owned, have been comfortable rides. I was turned off by the service I received from the dealer.

The Fords have been ok, peeling pain was the worst problem. The diesel (untuned) gave me zero issues. I switched to Dodge because of the Ford sales staff, I was told to pay sticker price or not to buy it at all.

Dodge (Ram) worked with the price. The diesels (tuned) got great MPG, ran oversized tires and had minor issues. The 3500 5.9 was by far my favorite, rebuilt the transmission at 120,000 and sold it at 200,000 (stupid mistake). The 1500 diesel (tuned) was awesome as well. 20+ mpg running 35s (Green Diesel Engineering) 16 mpg towing a 21’ boat. Due to a major setback with my daughter (becoming wheelchair bound and having to sell everything I could to pay to retrofit the house) I had to sell it. Downgraded to a 1500 5.7(12mpg hwy, no that’s not a typo), I absolutely hated that truck. I could not stand the sight of it. It was possessed by something, but bad was an understatement. Traded it and lost my rear end on it but Toyota worked the numbers. So it was not too painful.

Toyota, well I have had a few. The 2015 crew 4x4 I had custom ordered, with v6 auto. It rode like a car. Fuel economy was normal, but sluggish towing my boat. I traded it for the Ram 1500 diesel mentioned above. I have a 2006 Tacoma with 200,000+ miles, 4cyl manual, it just keeps going. It’s my better half’s. I now have a 2019 Tacoma crew v6 manual (TRD Off-road). It pulls the boat fine. There are complaints that it’s a long throw on the shift. For me it’s not, my elbow doesn’t move from the center console. I have also read complaints about towing and manual transmissions on boat ramps. It’s not a problem, I like many of you grew up on manual transmission. It’s what we could afford back then. If you know how to drive one it’s not an issue. All the kids have grown up driving manuals, one ended up with 380,000 on the original clutch. It’s how you drive it.

I have owned a Nissan with the 4cyl manual as well. It pulled a 16’ boat fine. It wasn’t as nice as the Toyota, but I had zero issues with it.

Now what does all this mean?

Buy what you want if you have the money. Otherwise buy what you can live with and afford until you can afford what you want.

I was so mad with that gas 1500 that I would wake up at night hating it. I was either getting another 3500 or a Tacoma. Like comparing apples and watermelons, right? Well the untuned 3500 gets ehhhh mpg. Tuning the new Cummins is expensive and can cause expensive repairs if not done correctly. I don’t pull 20,000 pounds anymore, maybe 4,000 once a month. Kinda talked myself right out the 3500. If I had all the money in the world I would go back to a 3500 (what I want). Instead I bought another Toyota (what I can live with).

Let me say this, once you go Tuned diesel, nothing else compares. However tuning adds more stress to more components, which can cause premature failure $$$.

I know this probably doesn’t help, but look at all the money I wasted trying to find the truck to do it all. What did I end up with (something I can live with until I can buy what I want).

Everyone has opinions on the best one out there, but you may not like it. Well then it’s not the best one out there for YOU. You have to make the payments and see it in your yard. Buy what makes you happy or something that you don’t cuss at every time you see it.

Good luck and don’t buy something that causes you to lose sleep at night.

 

I've never agonized over a vehicle. It serves a purpose in life. But in no way does it define me or cause me even the slightest bit of anxiety. Too many important things in life to put energy into

 

Welcome to TW!!

 

Welcome, my vote is for a Tacoma, go figure

 

I like my 3rd gen but would love the extra room of a full size. Wanting dodge, past 2 companies I worked for had fords and they are just to bland in my opinion for what you pay. Chevys look absolutely horrible in my eyes, so it’s left with dodge.

You may have stepped me away from the hemi if the eco diesel is ever offered in the new gen 1500s, don’t really want to loose my butt on trading but one day I might bite the bullet

 

The tuned eco diesel was my second favorite. I ran 35s and towed no problem. The green diesel engineering tune is a must, it really makes it shine. I will always have the 3500 as my #1, just can’t afford it right now and may never be able to again.

 

What year did you have? First run of them?

Heard a couple problems with the engine and then a couple with electronics. Mainly the huge 12” screen

 

Maybe look at which forum your on. That'll give you what a majority of the responses would be. (Hint: If you go on an F-150 forum they'd tell you to buy that)

 

I had a 2015 eco diesel.

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld!

 

Sorry to hear about that.

All the 'truck stuff' pales in comparison.

 

Welcome to TW!