Favourite Truck Brand?

[LesleyW]

Hey guys, wondering if you’d help me tap into the hive mind by sharing your opinion and expertise.

I review cars and trucks for a newspaper chain. We were off-roading in the Nevada desert this week with new Ram Power Wagon, an HD truck that can crawl up rock faces andl has a 10,000 lb tow rating.

The conversation over lunch turned to which truck brands the horse community favours, and why. I know I have certain things that I love in a towing rig (Ford’s back-up technology and camera hook up, Ram’s rear air suspension lowering to facilitate hookup and automatic load-levelling) and the Ram engineers said the horse owner market is one that every brand would dearly love to own.
Back when I was a racetrack groom, the trucks were beasts of burden, and comfort consisted of a bench seat with a horse blanket over it to cover the tears. Most of them now boast the level of comfort and technology once seen only in luxury sedans.

What’s your favourite? What do you wish they’d address?

[clanter]

Just look in the parking lot of a horse event, around here when we did competitive trail the entries were usually hauling 200 to 400 miles or more… it was at least 85% Ford, 10% Dodge and maybe 5% Chevy/GMC

[Bluey]

I wish they would not keep making the bed sides higher and higher.
Some GN trailers can have trouble with that thru uneven ground.

Here, the saying goes, ranchers drive Fords, farmers Chevys.
In reality, our long time friend sells for the local Ford dealer and most everyone that grew up with him buys from him, so that is why you see more Fords here.

[clanter]

OP, for what you are doing this weekend try a Toyota Tacoma TRD PRO… my son got one of those to haul his mountain bikes into the backwoods.

[Magicboy]

I see more Fords in region n 9 horseshows

[ladymcts]

LOL, glad to see I’m not alone. When I went to buy my first truck twelve years ago, I went to a big horse event and literally counted what was in the lot. Ford was by far the most. Chevy behind that. Ram next. GMC hardly anything.

So with that extensive research complete, I made Ford my first choice. It was slightly re-inforced by going to an auto show where I could take a look at what was inside the cabs. I don’t recall what I did or didn’t like about the others, but do remember liking Ford the most, so it sealed a decision I’d already made. Also at that auto show I found the promoters woefully ignorant about towing, and their promotional materials ridiculously absent of any towing information.

Two more trucks since then, all ford, and been pretty happy with them. #2 was purchased to upgrade in towing power, but it was used and had been heavily abused prior to my getting it. It turned out to be a money pit, but I feel more due to the care it got than the manufacture. #3 I’ve had for 2 years and have been pretty happy with.

Although #3 went into the shop and I discovered I have an incredibly dishonest and awful dealer nearby. Will never go back to them.

What do I wish they had? From the 2013 I have now, I guess I’d say I want a CHEAP screen in the truck that does nothing more than project what’s on my phone (for GPS, radio console, etc.). Don’t add $5,000 to the pricetag by putting in some fancy computer that cost $500 to make and will be obsolete in 2 years, these vehicles last way too long to keep building high tech directly into the consoles.

[Zu_Zu]

[B]
Enjoy our Sierra - GMC

but
[/B]
LOVE MY RAM !

[Sandy_M]

My '88 Chevy 2500 went 250,000 miles on the original tyranny. When I went shopping to replace it (used), I was open to anything but a Dodge (good engines, bad rates in safety tests). I found an '03 Silverado HD with only 50,000 miles on it, and it’s been great.

[Sandy_M]

Original tranny! Damn auto correct!

[Tee]

I love, love, love my Dodge. Had a GMC that was okay, but love my 21 year old Dodge so much more.

[Where_sMyWhite]

Ford

[cutter99]

Went from an '01 Ford F-350 to a '16 RAM 3500 last year. Love, love, love my RAM! Love tow/haul mode and the exhaust brake!

[Macimage]

We love our Ford with the 7.3 engine and wish that would come back in a new truck. Unfortunately, that will never happen.

[HorsesinHaiti]

Sandy M - ‘Original tranny! Damn auto correct!’.

No worries, my dyslexic horse woman’s eyes autocorrected it to ‘tranny’!
I never caught it until you pointed it out!

[Bluey]

Our local mechanic whiz, that keeps every pickup around here running for decades, told me, when I asked once a few years ago, he works on all brands, all are about the same, it is the individual pickup that either functions well or keeps having quirks or outright failures.
That if I want to buy a new one, get the one I like best, if used, whatever brand is the best buy when I am looking.
As far as he is concerned, all can have good vehicles and all can have bad ones, not enough difference.
All will get you where you are going and pull whatever you want to pull.

So, there is it, directly from one horse’s mouth.

[billiebob]

I’d say around here it’s a fairly even split between Fords and Dodges/Rams. I like them both pretty equally–I think Fords drive better but Dodges haul better. I’m less fond of GMC because I don’t think the visibility is as good. Otherwise I agree with Bluey–I think there are good and bad trucks of every brand and it comes down to personal preference.

[cheval_convert]

Whatever you choose to buy, make sure you drive it first. I was looking at brand new trucks. Drove a Ram and loved it but was leaning toward a Ford because of reliability ratings. But then I drove a 2016 Ford and HATED IT. We had gone just one block and my husband said, turn around, I don’t like this ride. We think that when they lightened the Ford to get better gas mileage, it affected its ride. Anyway, I am happily driving a Ram but don’t know about towing - will learn about that in the spring. (So take my opinion for what it is worth - from a new truck driver with no towing experience.)

[JustABay]

Love my Ram, I have zero complaints.

Its an older model ('06) and has started to need the usual age related repairs, but other than that, it’s been awesome. It’s my daily driver, and other than parking being a bit challenging in the city, it’s great.

Hauls great, I never felt like it was struggling, and I feel safe and sturdy in it.

My ex’s brother had a fleet of Tundras, and I hated them. They always felt like I was driving an old sedan with a blown out suspension. Not what you want to feel when you’re pulling a trailer on a windy, narrow bridge!

[soloudinhere]

My 16yo GMC is bulletproof.

That said - I’m well connected at Dodge/RAM and if I were to buy a new one it would probably be that. If you aren’t buying a diesel a lifetime warranty (lifetime that the original owner owns the vehicle) is available. I’ve had it on my last 2 Grand Cherokees and it is really great to know that any time anything craps it’s the dealer’s problem. They’ve done an awful lot of throwing parts at our 2007 Grand Cherokee and the only thing it’s cost me is time.

I also know/am related to the head mechanic at a very large Ford dealership in the DC area. Let’s just say his personal truck is a Chevy (actually, almost identical to my own). He told me to never, ever buy a Ford truck. I figure he’s been fixing them for 30 years so I should probably take his advice.

[soloudinhere]

I should also add that at least in my casual observations, you are most likely to see a Duramax pulling a horse trailer in my area.