Ford. Without a doubt.
Dodge uses Cummings engine, which is excellent too.
Ram. Been driving them since 1996 without issue. And they are not “Dodge” Rams anymore - just “Rams”. Dodge doesn’t make the trucks now.
I just bought my first full size pickup this past fall. Pricewise for what I wanted:
Full size 4 door cab to fit 4-5 adults
Towing capacity to haul 2-3 horse trailer
4x4
Under 50k
The Dodge Ram was the best deal out there and so far I love it.
I wish they would do a better job with the bed of the F350. We bought ours new in 2004 for over $40,000 and the bed started to rot within 6 years. I heard from other Ford owners that this is a Ford problem. Also, the bench seat in the back should have a cut out in the middle so you can see the gooseneck hitch in the bed when you’re back up to hook up. That was a real issue for me.
I have (well, technically it’s the DH’s) a 22 year old GMC Sierra 2500 that was a beast in its day. But… we’ve kinda let some maintenance slide and it is currently dead in the driveway.
We replaced it with a “new” beefed up Ram 1500 and I have to say, it blows the Sierra out of the water so far. I was worried about stepping down to a half ton, but it’s been a powerhouse. It may be just because it’s new, but it is just a better ride all around, with or without the trailer behind it.
Thanks guys, that’s a lot of great info and opinions. We get to drive all the new trucks before they hit the market, and as a horse owner, my own angle while reviewing, is how the truck will best serve our specific needs.
Someone mentioned how difficult it is to see the gooseneck hookup when the seat back/headrests are in the way - Ford and Ram (not sure about GM, but probably, since they cross-reference competitive products) all have bed cameras for this now. Ford goes one step further with cameras you can place behind the trailer, or inside. The backup and hookup aids are really impressive.
Ladymcts, a lot of vehicles are now coming with Apple CarPlay, or Android Auto, so you can project your smartphone on the screen. If I’m in a vehicle without a connectivity screen, I hook up the phone to Bluetooth, specify the vehicle’s sound system for output, and use Google Maps as voice navigation through the car speakers.
Clanter, re: the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro - I agree, great truck! We tested it late last fall, the crawl-control feature is particularly good.
Really great hearing all of your real-world opinions. We test them for a week at the most, which sometimes doesn’t give you the whole picture of how well that truck’s going to work for you.
Im still using my '99 Dodge Ram, I’ll just leave this here…
Around here Dodges and Fords are about even. Dodges are more popular among my friends, nearly all of us have the 5.9l rams. I love mine. Grew up driving an '03 Ford that was just an absolute nightmare. The truck I drive now is a 2007 5.9l Dodge and I absolutely love it.
I’ve had one Ford and two Chevys. All have been good. There was just recently a thread on here where the general consensus was that Chevy is the best fit for shorter people.
OP… how well does that Ford automatic trailer backing up system function… is it any good?
While looking for a reasonably used Duramax, I have tried a bunch of other cool trucks.
I test drove the fabled f250 7.3L, and it sure lives up to the hype. That truck is a beast!!! However, it wasn’t a realistic choice for me, as maintenance on a truck that age (2000) is a bit beyond my skill set, and it wasn’t made to haul children in the backseat.
I tried the new Colorado diesel, which is really quite small in person, and it felt a little underpowered.
The newer half-ton and 3/4 ton trucks are just so full of bells and whistles, they can be very expensive to repair even minor things (Ford spark plugs, I’m looking at you). I don’t care about the screen or bluetooth or whatever, but stuff like that puts a lot of newer trucks way out of my price range.
I like them all. We have a Ford F150 for my Hawk 2 horse.
But, yes, Dodge/Chrysler still makes Ram trucks. Just as they make Jeep. The truck itself may not go by Dodge Ram, but the same company still makes it.
There are two different systems. Because the F-150 uses an electric steering system, the radar, cameras and computer can control the steering wheel.
The larger trucks have a hydraulic steering system that’s not compatible. Instead, it gives on screen prompts on which direction to turn, and how much, but the driver is still in control of the wheel.
I hooked up the F-150 to a small utility trailer. Trucks equipped with the software come with a set of stickers that the cameras will recognize - these are mounted on the trailer tongue. Measure the distance from camera to the sticker, hitch to the stickers, and from the tailgate to the axle. The software prompts you for these measurements, and from that it determines the dimensions of the trailer and the angles needed to back up. It controls the steering wheel, while the driver uses a dash-mounted knob to turn, almost like there’s no truck behind. This sysem is only good for bumper pull, not fifth wheel or gooseneck. It can store several trailers in the program, so you don’t have to keep entering the data.
Here’s a more detailed explanation from one of my co-writers - he lists the good and bad:
http://driving.ca/ford/f-150/auto-news/news/are-you-trailer-challenged-ford-is-here-to-help
The Super Duty trucks use a different system, and it does work with goosenecks & fifth wheels. It uses 7 cameras and an on-screen program to help line up the trailer hitch. I was able to do it on the second try - and I’ve never hooked up a gooseneck.
Backing up works a little differently than on the light duty trucks. It uses the same decal system, and the cameras project an image onto the screen. Using a steering wheel graphic and hands graphic, the system gives the driver guidance on how much to turn, and how much leeway there to prevent jacknifing.
Here’s a vid of it in action
thanks
what deal “You can apparently back up in a straight line at up to 35 km/h”
I like Fords. 
When we go to horse shows around here and around the northern states, I mostly see GM’s, some Dodges and a handfull of Fords and almost no Chevys.
All brands have their pluses and minues - for me, it just depends on what “look” you like.
We’ve had all sorts of different brands over the years (Chevy, Ford and Dodge from 1500’s, 2500’s to 3500 duallys - my in laws and parents both have GM 3500 duallys as well) and we’ve loved them all, but do tend to purchase our trucks based on interiors and even outer looks to a degree. Some brands are known to have “better” motors, “better” transmissions, “poor” front ends etc, but in the end, IMHO its just what you like in cosmetics.
We currently own a 2012 3500 Dodge dually with the long horn package, a 2005 F150 King Ranch and I drive a 2010 F150 Platinum and they all tow great. My parents have a 2016 GM 3500HD Denali and they love towing their 5th wheel with it and my in laws have a 2013 3500HD Denali and tow a 20,000 3 axel toy hauler and have no issue keeping up with us (we use the Dodge to pull our 15,000 lb 40ft horse trailer/LQ).
My husband drives a trailer daily and is very good at backing up a trailer. He did try the Ford with the trailer assist and had a hard time at first figuring it out, but once he did he said it was nice and easy to back up/park. He thought it would be great for people who dont regulary back up a trailer.
As of yesterday, we just traded in our 3 trucks (yikes!) and have purchased a 2017 1500 Chevy High Country and a 3500 Dually 2017 Chevy High Country and we will get them in a couple of months. I hear that the GM (Chevy, GM, same thing) are great for hauling as our neighbour just got his a couple of weeks ago and said the power is amazing (he’s owned just about every truck under the sun as he gets them sponsored to him for his buisness), but he’s been happiest with this truck for hauling. We have known him for many years and listned to him and hope for the best.
My husband is crying a little as he loves his Dodge but we did get a great deal. I’m sure we will both be happy with the trucks as I’ve heard good things from other Chevy/GM drivers out there.
Ford fan here.
I have been looking for a new truck and agree with other poster new Fords are awful. The steering is lose, lot of play in the wheel . I would never buy a ford now. Its not just me read the reviews on the ford truck steering. I wouldn’t drive a car with that lousy steeruing much less a truck . What were they thinking?
Also tried new GMC and I’m 5’6 so not tiny yet when I pulled up to a 4 way stop I couldn’t see cars on my left , the big mirrors and all the plastic in the corner is driver vision made it impossible to see small cars at the 4 way. Thats why I went to look at the Fords. I guess I’ll just try to keep my old dodge going though the dash is cracked into many pieces and its a 1500 but doesn’t want to pull loaded 2HBP.
Ford, Ram second, currently have one of each.
I meant to add the one thing I do hate about my ford is backing up. The back headrests are so large you can only see out the middle sliding partition (maybe 2ft). It was hard to get used to just looking at the camera for backing up, but for one, you don’t always see everything in the camera, and if the roads are wet/salty/snowy, the camera is totally useless.
The best thing to do is just remove the back headrests so you don’t have a blind spot. In the new Chevy I just test drove, I noticed right away that the headrests are really small and I can see over them so I have a great view out the whole back window. A huge plus for sure!
