Hey Scotty! I could use some experienced advice.
I’m shopping for a new pickup truck and all the local “experienced” recommendations I’ve been getting in my small town (Portland, TN) are coming from generations of brand loyalty. (Well, my dad and grandpa have always had chevys/fords/etc, so I got one too.) Since I have no established heritage line of loyalty, I can’t seem to figure out which truck to really focus on.
I need a pickup capable of towing our fun, sporty car (2009 MazdaSpeed3 decked out as a corner carver) out to the mountains (steep grades and windy roads, like the Tail of the Dragon) as well as being a great winter vehicle (4x4 aspects). However, I’m not keen on driving some giant semi-like vehicle on these country back roads if I can avoid it. And since I like a little bit of power and fun too, a sportier look is certainly a huge bonus for me.
I DID order a new 2022 Dodge Ram Rebel with the 5.7 Hemi (and G/T package) that is supposed to arrive in 4 months. However, hearing more horror stories and transmission issues in Rams…. I’m worried that going through with the sale will be a huge mistake. I’m obviously ok with ordering a new truck and waiting a few months for it, especially since it’s a tax write-off for my business and there are better deals and rebates available for the patient. I want something new so that we have another dependable vehicle in our household, preferably with a warranty of sorts.
What would you recommend if you were shopping for a NEW truck with 10-12,000lbs towing capacity and winter weather handling that doesn’t ride the mustard and mayo simultaneously for $75k or less??
Thanks for your help!
Marie
Get a heavy duty Ford or GM. Avoid Dodge products.
Ok, but I’m curious on why. What are the reasons? And even then, which model? Different engines and transmissions in different models can be all the difference sometimes too.
The Dodge quality is not good, yet you pay a lot for them. If you want to spend that much money, get something that gives you less headache. Generally, the Dodge has lots of electronic issues when they age.
The Dodge Rebel, even though it has leather wrapped everything, would be my last choice in trucks. And the 5.7L Hemi , I wouldn't even consider. I would be looking at 3/4 ton minimum, like @yaser says.
I DID order a new 2022 Dodge Ram Rebel with the 5.7 Hemi (...) However, hearing more horror stories and transmission issues in Rams
It's a 5th generation RAM pickup, from my understanding of things, these come with an Aisin.
I can't find any complains on the Aisin transmissions in these, as it seems - they last.
I don't really have a good suggestion for a good truck in that capacity range, Quite honestly, although RAMs have constant issues with the electrical system - I'd stick with that.
I think that Ford's 3.5L EcoBoost is worse than Stellantis' Hemi, and as it seems, the Ford/GM 10 speed is significantly worse than the Aisin 6 speed, there also have been a lot of complains about the "Variable Displacement Engine" system breaking down on Ford's 5.0L and being almost impossible to repair.
I'm unsure, maybe there are GMs with big engines and the 8L90 instead of the 10L90, those could be alright. So far according to the internet almost all 8L90 breakdowns are because of owners not changing the ATF causing the vavle body to get clogged.
IMO, There's just no good truck in that towing capacity range.
Welcome to your second post! I'll give you my opinion in a minute. But this is a very interesting topic in that the answers you get will be all over the place. On this forum, if you ask "What compact sedan should I get?", within 10 minutes you will get five people all saying "Corolla" and 2 more saying "Civic". But full size pickups? There is no consensus.
The reason, I believe, is that there is not really a "one-perfect truck". Up until 2021, you could safely say Tundra (except fuel economy), but not any more. There are many good truck options (except Rivian, don't buy a Rivian) but none that don't have potentially serious flaws. For example, the Ram 5.7L hemi is a great motor, but the electronics are dicey. The Fords are mostly fine, but even though their Ecoboost series has improved they're still risky, and in the meantime owners are saying their V8's have gone downhill. The new Toyota might be the best overall, but it's a new redesign, and it is having enough teething problems to make people nervous.
In your particular case, you are right on the watershed between a half- and 3/4 ton, which opens up a whole other can of worms. If you decide you want to go heavy duty, you might want to look at the brand-dedicated heavy duty forums first (like duramaxforum.com).
For me, I just bought a new half-ton pickup 2 months ago. I went with the GMC Sierra 1500 with the 3.0L Duramax. Like you, I have no brand loyalty (my last truck was a 2014 Tundra, and before that was an '01 Silverado 2500; my other cars have been Subaru, Audi, Mazda, and Saturn). I am not towing as much as you (probably 5000 lb max), but after weighing all the pros and cons of all the brands, that one came to the top. I know it's a GM product, so something eventually will blow up, but I figure the fuel savings (30 mpg real-world highway mileage) will offset the cost to fix whatever breaks. I only have 4000 miles on it, but I think I made the right choice.
Oh, and the secret sauce was the dealer. My local GMC dealer is a small family-owned shop with no hard-sell. If you are undecided, go with the local dealer with the best ethics.
PS: Look here too: pickuptrucktalk.com
2022 Toyota Tundra
