[QUOTE=tbchick84;8342155]
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.[/QUOTE]
I have a '13 GMC and haven’t had any issues (knock on wood)
They all have issues OP - just go with whatever one you like best when you drive it.
Personally, I’ll never own a Dodge. My cousins always had them and they were always breaking down; usually the transmission.
Growing up, we always had Fords. They’ve worked fantastic even to haul very heavy loads on a regular basis (like a full sized tractor … much heavier than a horse trailer).
Hubby had a 1/2 ton GMC that I towed my horse trailer with for a few years. Was really impressed with it. It had held up so well and has been USED hard. So when I could finally afford a 3/4 ton, we went with a GMC. No brainer for us.
[QUOTE=judybigredpony;8342738]
Chevy…we have not had a lick of trouble 5 trucks 2 with over 200k and ticking along like Swiss watches…[/QUOTE]
Same…
Ford person here. But saying that if you are hauling anything at all, I would not go less than a 250 Super duty. But that’s just my personal preference. I think the lowest miles we have on one of our fords right now is like 80k. We have an Escort 4 banger that has like 198k that we use for running around town. Let me tell yah we load that sucker up to the brim with groceries and grain and shavings, on a regular basis. And she still keeps running for us.
That and I find myself unable to trade them in if I want something newer, because they have served me so well I cant part with them. Which is fine because dealers don’t want them anyways.
We’re a Ford family - Dad has an F150 now, Mom has a Freestyle, I have an Escape.
Love my Escape, hate the Freestyle, haven’t driven the F150 much.
Dad had an F250 Super Duty. I hated that truck, the drive was just, ugh… It was like trying to steer the Titanic. The F150, the couple times I’ve been in it, still handles too big/tight for my preference, and the brakes are so sensitive I end up throwing myself around :lol:
Now, my buddy is a Chevy guy, and I drove his '99 and '04 Silverados a lot. I like the way they handle: loose, but not too loose. He’s never had trouble as far as needing more power. But I gotta say, they seem to rust like a sonofagun. Saw a for sale ad the other day for one that said, “Decent body, has the normal Chevy Truck Rust Pattern,” so it must be a bit of a ‘thing’. Though, my Escape is an 08 and is rusting quite a bit, in my opinion, so there’s that.
Overall, there are people that love and hate each and every one, it’s an individual thing.
My parents have always been GMC people, they’ve got a Sierra 1500 and 3500. They use both for hauling and plowing and haven’t had any trouble. They hate driving the 3500 if they aren’t towing though.
My boyfriend had his last truck stolen so we test drove 10-15 trucks, new and used and he settled on a 2012 Toyota Tundra. He’s used it to tow heavy equipment, boats, etc., (not my horse trailer yet) and hasn’t had any trouble. It’s also VERY comfortable, I drove it for 8hrs straight and I didn’t have a sore butt or lower back.
Oh, I forgot to say that the Dodge Ram is considerably easier to drive than my Ford. I love fords, but if you plan on driving it a lot when not towing, the dodge is better for that. For example, my turning radius is MUCH better. I can do a U-turn in one time. In the ford, it can take me a few turns…
To throw another brand in the mix, I love the Toyota Tundra.
With a towing capacity of over 9,000 it is capable of pulling a gooseneck trailer.
A small one, yes…just like any other 1/2 ton from GMC/Chevy, Ford and RAM. But not a more substantial trailer. There is a lot more to this than weight capacity.
I LOVE my Dodge dually. I also have an older, '02, Dodge 1/2 ton that is my run around vehicle. Love it too.
Trouble is you find out the problems after you have purchased the truck. Had 23 years of beautiful driving with the Ford F-250 7.3 diesel, the next Ford blew up just after the warranty expired and customer service was abysmal.
We now own a Dodge Ram diesel on e ton and are in the Dodge mess right now, with no information from the Canadian dealership. Just keep on hoping for recall.
Also have a TDI VW diesel and are in the emissions mess right now too…
So we just keep on trucking, do the best maintenance we can and hope.
[QUOTE=enjoytheride;8352386]
To throw another brand in the mix, I love the Toyota Tundra.
With a towing capacity of over 9,000 it is capable of pulling a gooseneck trailer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8GS0qSsUgA[/QUOTE]
I would have bought the heavy duty Tundra - love that truck! But it wasn’t available in 2004 when I finally had the money for a truck. So I got the Nissan Titan. We tow a Hawk two-horse, straight load gooseneck with it and it easily got us over the Continental Divide pulling that trailer with a horse in it.
Other than maintenance - such as tires and brakes etc, it has never been in the shop. I love that thing.
I would have bought the heavy duty Tundra had it been available at the time I was truck shopping, but I got the Nissan Titan instead. It’s a 2004 and we tow a Hawk two horse, straight load gooseneck with it. Other than maintenance, like tires and brakes etc. we have had zero problems. I love that thing.
I really love my Dodge diesel. It’s old and has nearly 400,000 miles (no that is not a typo) and the engine is going strong. I haul an steel two horse up a mountain every week for lessons and it is holding up well.
I have owned 2 fords in the past that I didn’t like as well.
[QUOTE=judybigredpony;8342738]
Chevy…we have not had a lick of trouble 5 trucks 2 with over 200k and ticking along like Swiss watches…[/QUOTE]
I am on my third Chev truck, and I would not hesitate to get another one again.
I would go with a chevy/gmc 3500. they are comfortable rides, reliable and handle well even when loaded down, they also hold value better in my opinion.
dodge would be my second choice.
i would never tow with a Ford (“found on roadside dead” -my dad always says this) but that is just a personal preference.
i would also never tow a horse trailer with a nissan or toyota, but again that is a personal preference.
I’ve been a Dodge convert for my last three trucks and have been happy, though I have replaced the transmission on my one ton dually at the 100,000 mile mark, but it works HARD, pulling a massive LQ trailer up and down the state. My barn manager has a 3/4 ton gas dodge that she uses as a daily driver and for hauling and she’s been very happy with it, and gets pretty darn good gas mileage. I believe it’s a 2013.
DH had Chevys and GMC’s and never had an issue. I had a Ford that was a total piece of crap. Almost all my friends that had/have Fords had a huge number of issues. Wouldn’t touch one. Dodge or Chevy.
Fred- is your Chevy 2500 or 3500?
My 2006 Ram 2500 has given me lots of problems. Right now I am driving it with the ABS light, the check engine light, and the airbag light on. There is a recall related to the airbags but Dodge hasn’t been able to supply the parts. What kind of recall is that? Mostly it has had electrical problems. The 2006 has pretty bad reviews.
My towing truck is a Chevy 2500 with about 100,000 miles. Never any problems, very low maintenance. Touch wood. Love it. Love Chevies really. My other truck is a '95 half ton with about 250,000 miles and still runs like a champ.
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