Looking for some COTH experience and wisdom on trucks.
Time to shop for a new truck to tow with- new to me anyway. I am looking at used 3/4 ton trucks no older than 2008.
I have looked around but have not seen good reliability ratings for Chevy v. Ford v. Dodge (I will probably end up with gas not diesel as I doubt I will find a diesel that fits my criteria in my price range).
So truck expert COTHers- what has been your experience in the reliability of the big 3 and/or do you know a good place to look for reliability ratings (nothing on Edmunds and the Consumer Reports ones suck and nothing good coming up when I google)?
Any years post 2008 that I should avoid or have known problems or are notoriously pricey to maintain?
TIA
The only thing I know for sure is stay away from the 2013 GMC model year. My friend had a zillion problems with a 2013 GMC to the point where the dealer admitted that model year was a dud and gave her a new 2014.
I’ve had all of them, and never had any trouble from any of them that wouldn’t be expected from normal wear.
Watch out with Dodge/ RAM for years mentioned in the article-
http://blog.caranddriver.com/fca-will-buy-back-578000-ram-trucks-after-failed-recalls/
For 150/1500 type trucks you can look at a number of “consumer” reports type pubs. Take your pick from what Google give you!
For bigger models there are no independent evaluation sources that I know of. If you find one you make many friends here!!! 
There are some things you can do, like look at recall notices on 3/4 or one ton trucks, articles in trade papers, etc. But mostly you’ll be getting opinion based upon thin to no evidence.
Good luck as you give Google a workout!!!
G.
If you know a good truck mechanic I’d ask him. We have a great one who’d give you an honest answer - of course it’s just anecdotal, but at least it’s informed 
I’d lean towards Chevy/GMC or Dodge. Ford does too much tinkering IMO and kept flipping and switching things around. My ex had a 08 350 and it was decent, but would blow the hose off the turbo regularly if hauling a trailer up a hill. Then we got a 2013 that was actually quite nice, but he busted the frame when it got stuck in the mud with the GN attached, and replaced it with a 2015 that is the exact same truck but Ford did something and it gets practically half the fuel economy 
.
I have an older Chevy (2001) and have had so few issues with it that I’m a convert. My Dad is a Dodge man, and while he has to bring them in for recalls, he’s never had an actual issue.
FWIW - I love my 2013 Dodge RAM 1500 !
FWIW ~ I love my Dodge [B]RAM 1500 !
And I’m not a 'truck person ’ :lol:[/B]
Chevy…we have not had a lick of trouble 5 trucks 2 with over 200k and ticking along like Swiss watches…
I have experience with Fords and Dodges, although not quite as new as you’re looking at. For heavy duty towing (like, hauling 15 yearling cows up and down hills on gravel roads) I like Dodges better. My uncle’s Dodge does seem to have more issues but 1) he drives it HARD and 2) the mechanical work he does himself is…interesting. It’s got about 170k on it. I’m not sure of the year but it’s a 2500.
My other uncle has an F250 that’s IMO a more comfortable ride. It’s good for hauling, although not quite as much of a beast as the Dodge. It’s decently reliable, considering it’s now at 285k (he’s very good about maintenance). I know it’s a 2004 with the 7.3L Powerstroke engine everyone seems to love. Both trucks are diesel.
I’ve also hauled with a 2007 F150 that was a really good, solid truck. Very few maintenance issues and a comfy ride.
You guys are lucky! We’ve have had them all and keep switching because there’s always something wrong with them. but we work them pretty hard, I think that makes a huge difference.
Like the time my Chevy 454 caught fire pulling 4 horses on the Interstate with just me and my Jack Russell to deal with it…that was fun. My brother had so much trouble with his Ford diesel’s brakes that he got them to take it back under the lemon laws. And the Dodge was plagued with a series of problems, too.
I have a Ford now and it’s been a good truck so far. I am hoping it restores my faith in trucks…but it has had an easy life, mostly just serving as a daily driver with the occasional trailer trip a few times a year. Those are easy miles so it had better be OK!
I really agree with finding a mechanic pal that isn’t a brand aficionado and talking to him about reliable models. Someone like that can tell you which years of diesels are OK in Chevys and which ones are pretty awful, for example. Some years are known to have particular weaknesses, like the brake problem my brother had was pretty common with Ford in that year. I can’t recall which year it was but it would have probably been older than 2008 anyway IIRC so not relevant here. But still, a good mechanic who is a real “truck guy” will know all those rumors and it’s very helpful.
Also if you end up buying new, don’t buy a truck right after a new model/revision comes out, you don’t know the kinks yet after they redo them. Wait a couple years and you get a better sense of how good that truck is and they can get the bugs fixed, there always are some.
We have had several Fords and all were great, not a wrench ever on any of them.
We had one 1988 Chevy and it could not pull, heated too badly.
A friend has Dodge larger pickups and the one before this one was a lemon, spent time every few months in the shop, that he finally traded for and this one is great.
It really is the individual pickup more than which brand it is.
I still would look at any you buy as a shot in the dark, no matter the brand, it can be a good one or a lemon.
Equal opportunity there what you get, so pick the one from those you find that you like best and the price is right.
When buying used, helps to know who you are buying from and get permission to run it thru your mechanic first, or bring your mechanic with you, before paying for it.
I have had both Dodges and Fords, and I have to say I prefer fords. Not that dodges are bad, but I have seen an F-150 pull 5 times its maximum weight up a hill in the mud, when other trucks couldn’t. Those things are built to pull.
Dodges and Chevys are IMO, built like Warmbloods. Can they pull a cart around? Yes, but they are better suited for riding (hauling stuff in the bed) Fords are built like Draft horses, they are built to pull.
I have a 2013 Chevy 1500 and love it. My daughter is happy with her 2013 Chevy 2500. My farrier is happy with his 2013 diesel Chevy 2500. Our old Chevy did well for the 11 years that we owned it. I vote for Chevy.
A friend and I went to pick up a horse, ten hours one way, ten hours back the next day.
We were to pull his three horse slant with living quarters with his regular 1 ton Dodge Ram diesel.
Guess what, that one was still in the shop, so he said lets use my 150 4x Ford, gas.
That thing pulled that trailer all the way without looking back and we had some serious hills, although not mountains, to climb.
Even my friend was impressed and he is not a Ford person.
He also commented it beat his mileage badly and that it rode much smoother and quieter than his big Dodge does.
He has to turn his off at drive-ins, or they can’t hear him over the motor’s rumble.
I still think, don’t get too hung up on the brand, especially buying used.
Look at what you find around and then decide which one suits you best.
Any truck can be a problem- much depends on maintenance and how the truck is used and/ or abused.
I have a 2001 F 350, with the 7.3 liter holy grail of diesel engines, that is at my mechanics right now having $3000- $4000 worth of work done to it. All that is being done is essential- brakes, brakes lines, transmission service, ball joints… plus more. BUT, it is a 14 year old truck that lived it’s first 13 years in Pennsylvania, which is part of the rust belt.
Now some might look at the cost of this service and think it is a ton of money, but 1) I’ve owned the truck since new and know all the maintanence and service that has been done to it, 2) it is well suited for my needs and what I tow, 3) this truck has been paid for for quite a few years, 4) a new truck similar to this one has a sticker price of $65K!
I have seen many Dodges, Chevys, and GMCs that are just as old as my Ford. What it comes down to is which truck best suits your needs for what you are using it for and which truck you are most comfortable driving!
Thanks for all the input. Very helpful.
My towing needs are pretty moderate. Right now I have a 2H BP and may switch to a GN for my next trailer (still a 2 horse). Most of my towing is within a couple hours of home base with the occasional longer trip. So I don’t need a total towing monster. I just want something that will (hopefully) last a good long while. My current tow vehicle was a bit of a lemon and, while the general year and model were supposed to be good, seemed to always need something. Hoping to minimize the odds of that happening again.
I’m on my second Ram truck. My first was a 2500 and I traded up after eight years for a one ton diesel. I pull a three horse gn trailer with a small LQ. I live near mountains so my truck does some serious pulling.
I’ve loved my Ram trucks and haven’t had problems with them.
Your trailer choice plays an important role here if you’re considering a GN at some point. While you can use a simple 2h GN with a small DR with a modern 1/2 ton, if it grows even a little, you’ll not want anything smaller than the next size up truck. Given your thoughts, you’ll probably want to consider the 3/4 ton right from the start.
I hear bad things about Dodge. I think Ford and GMC are pretty interchangeable. If you go GM, get GMC over Chevy. Lots of little things make them better for hauling.
Agree you need a 3/4 ton.
