Half-ton Pickups - The full field - READ ONLY

333 messages, Last post on Oct 12, 2007 at 5:58 PM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Tundra, Dodge Ram Pickup 1500, Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, Nissan Titan, Car Comparisons, Car Buying, Truck

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#8 of 333 Re: Tundra, Ram or Tacoma? [tent2tt] by p51b Jun 13, 2007 (8:36 am)
Replying to: tent2tt (Jun 12, 2007 8:44 am) I have a 2003 Toyota Tundra with the 4.7 liter gas engine; 4 wheel drive; automatic transmission; tow package with transmission oil cooler; and 71,000 miles on the truck. I have had zero problems with this truck. I change the oil and filter every 3-4,000 miles and am running Mobil 1 5W-30 fully synthetic oil. I change the transmission fluid, front and rear differential fluids, transfer case fluids, power steering fluid; every 50,000 miles. And coolant every 2 years. I am towing a 2005 Prowler 25 foot travel trailer that weighs loaded maximum 5,500 pound; and using an Easy Lift Hitch with anti-sway bars. I take it out of overdrive on even the slightest hill or bucking a headwind. This 4.7 liter engine has enough power to tow this trailer and am getting about 10-12 miles per gallon while towing. I get 16-17 MPG driving the freeway at 65 MPH (not towing). I am considering upgrading to the 2007 Tundra with 5.7 liter engine that delivers 100 more horsepower. I also am considering the Dodge RAM 2500 Heavy Duty with cummins turbo diesel engine. I have had such good luck with the 4 toyota cars and trucks that i have owned over the last 20 years; that i am reluctant to switch over to the Dodge. I don't think you will find a more reliable and trouble free truck than the Toyota. The Dodge is definately more of a towing rig than the Tundra; and the turbo-diesel will get a little better MPG. The 64,000 dollar question is---What will it cost to maintain the Dodge for 200,000 miles??? My Toyotas that i have owned all went over 264,00 miles and were still running with the orginal engines and transmission with no problem (with consistant preventative maintenance/changing lubricants). Lubricants are the lifeblood of moving components and reduce friction and wear and is very inexpensive preventative maintenance. Replies to this message: tent2tt (Jun 14, 2007 10:19 am) dustyk (Jul 12, 2007 3:20 pm) treehuggerjake (Jul 15, 2007 4:25 pm)
#9 of 333 Re: Tundra, Ram or Tacoma? [p51b] by tent2tt Jun 14, 2007 (10:19 am)
Replying to: p51b (Jun 13, 2007 8:36 am) Thanks for your response, p51b, You are the first Tundra owner I have heard from. I have heard from 4 Tacoma owners who've been able to tow around 5K lbs., though one out of the 4 said he "white-knuckled" it every time (then got a Dodge Ram 2500). Reading the Dodge forums gets me all freaked out that I will be dealing with one headache after another, bad warranty coverage issues and the fact that I don't know squat about diesels. But then I hear from Dodge owner like that one who loves his rig and I start thinking about the power and relatively good mpg (however, the '05 and newer models do not seem to be getting as good as the older models. The 2002- 2003 models seem to be the best). I am so confused right now. The city and hiway mileage on the Tundra seems really low, though the towing mileage seems reasonable. Part of me feels that if I am going to get that huge of a truck, seems like it ought to be a diesel, but then it's the reliability issue... so I am back to looking at Toyota...Geez, can someone please get me off this see-saw? I want a truck with the Dodge Ram's power and at least 21-24 mpg hiway and at least 14-17 mpg towing and I want it to be as reliable as Toyota! Is that just too much to ask for my hard-earned money? Replies to this message: dustyk (Jul 12, 2007 3:20 pm) treehuggerjake (Jul 15, 2007 4:25 pm)
#10 of 333 Re: Toyota Tundra v. Dodge Ram [tundrahq] by adamb1 Jun 21, 2007 (10:18 am)
Replying to: tundrahq (Apr 13, 2007 4:00 pm) The only time I have seen single-digit fuel economy with my '03 QC HEMI has been towing a trailer. That said, I've never come close to the in-town figure on the windon sticker. I routinely averag 11.5-12.5 mpg in town. On the interstate, I have seen 16-17 mpg.
#11 of 333 Re: Tundra, Ram or Tacoma? [tent2tt] by dustyk Jul 12, 2007 (3:20 pm)
Replying to: tent2tt (Jun 14, 2007 10:19 am) A look in to the Ford and GM diesel forums seems to indicate a fair amount of issues as well. In fact, it looks to me like there are more angry Powerstroke owners out there than disgruntled Cummins' owners. Most of the Dodge diesels owners I know or have spoken to have had little problems. Yes, I have noted a couple that had problems. But the majority have been please with the Cummins' motor and the truck. I have an acquaintance that thought his Dodge diesel experience was going to be bad because so many GM and Ford owners told him he would. I spoke to him a while back and he remarked that after four years he was convinced that even the Dodge platform was far superior in his opinion (He owned GMs before). In my experience as a former fleet manager, I believe the Cummins' is the best you can get in a light duty pickup. Best regards, Dusty
#12 of 333 Re: Tundra, Ram or Tacoma? [tent2tt by treehuggerjake Jul 15, 2007 (4:25 pm)
Replying to: tent2tt (Jun 14, 2007 10:19 am) Like tent2tt I want a pickup that can safely tow 5000-7000 pounds when needed (which is a few times per year), that will get good gas mileage both city and highway, and that will be a reliable vehicle that will last for years. What are my best bets?
#13 of 333 Re: Tundra, Ram or Tacoma? [tent2tt] by keeptruckin Aug 20, 2007 (3:48 pm)
Replying to: tent2tt (Jun 12, 2007 8:44 am) I've been a loyal Dodge fan for years, but the issues I had with my '02 Ram were nearly intolerable, so that is why I switched to the '07 Tundra. It can do nearly as much as most 3/4 ton trucks, with a gas engine, and so far I'm getting nearly 19mpg on the highway and about 14mpg city. Not too bad for a big truck. Now my father just recently traded in an '04 Ram Quad Cab 2500 that had the Hemi. He used it to tow a 34' travel trailer that weighed nearly 10,000lbs. His best mpg came after he installed a cold air induction kit and a free flowing exhaust system, but that still only netted him just under 8mpg. He got an '07 Ram MegaCab with the new 6.7L Cummins turbodiesel. It tows that tt without a problem. He hasn't gotten to take it on a long enough trip yet to get the real world mpg when towing but he's guessing around 12-14mpg. But he doesn't expect it to get much higher than that when he isn't towing. His is a 2WD and I would highly recommend that set up for any heavy, long term towing. The only downside to the diesel seems to be more preventive maintenance like 12qts of oil and a water filter of some kind that needs checked every month. His is very nice and would easily tow 5,500lbs. I can tow his tt with my Tundra. The mpg are not great, about 10.5mpg, but it can do it. My suggestion...get the new Tundra. It will easily tow the weight and is likely to have fewer problems. The Tacoma is strong enough to pull it, but the mpg will be bad when towing and they are not that much better than the full size Tundra when not towing mpg wise. My friend's Tacoma only gets 21mpg hwy. Hope this helped.
#14 of 333 My 2007 Dodge Rams' MPG by dennisplus Aug 27, 2007 (11:54 am)
I just bought a new 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7L and it does great gas wise. I stomp it off the line all the time after stop signs and stop lights and not only do I love the power but gas mileage isn't all that bad. I get around 12-16 in town and 20-27 on highway. I love power behind the engine. I've towed a couple good loads of brick and cement and it drives like nothing was behind it. I took my truck to the Toyota dealership right after buying it and asked a couple guys there if they could tell me how there truck was better than mine. They had nothing to say but "IT HOLDS IT VALUE BETTER". I got a Laramie with Nav. and everything and made them sell it to me for $31,000. The Toyota's price with everything I had in my truck was so exaggerating! I'm glad I went to dodge. Replies to this message: bugchucker (Aug 27, 2007 2:11 pm) dennisplus (Aug 29, 2007 7:47 am) obyone (Aug 30, 2007 8:15 am) and 1 more... vegasheat (Aug 27, 2007 7:05 pm) deodude (Aug 27, 2007 7:12 pm) keeptruckin (Aug 28, 2007 3:32 pm)
#15 of 333 Re: My 2007 Dodge Rams' MPG [dennisplus] by bugchucker Aug 27, 2007 (2:11 pm)
Replying to: dennisplus (Aug 27, 2007 11:54 am) Tundra does hold its value better than any truck. Ram is not in the same class as a Tundra. They were probably laughing at you for stopping at the Toyota dealership with your new Ram. Why waste time with you? Damage is done. Replies to this message: dennisplus (Aug 29, 2007 7:47 am) obyone (Aug 30, 2007 8:15 am) dennisplus (Aug 30, 2007 11:09 am)
#16 of 333 Re: My 2007 Dodge Rams' MPG [dennisplus] by vegasheat Aug 27, 2007 (7:05 pm)
Replying to: dennisplus (Aug 27, 2007 11:54 am) I give you maybe two years before you get rid of that Dodge and buy a new Tundra. After taking that Dodge in for repairs many times you will change your whole attitude about these fine Tundra's.
#17 of 333 Re: My 2007 Dodge Rams' MPG [dennisplus] by deodude Aug 27, 2007 (7:12 pm)
Replying to: dennisplus (Aug 27, 2007 11:54 am) I just bought a 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7L Lonestar Edition and currently have 658 miles on it. In Texas we love to gun it on every light and every sign. When I do gun it, I only get 10.6 mpg around town. But I am currently averaging 12.7 miles around town and that is driving the speed limit and gradually accelerating from a dead stop. On the highway I average between 18-21 hwy. I also have Flowmaster 40 dual exhaust and plan to purchase CAI (True Flow). I would like to know what you have under the hood that makes your gas mileage better then mine. When you gun it all the time.