Ford fan too 
I’m short but I love how much better I can see out of my F250 compared the 3/4 ton Chevy trucks. I can probably see better out of my truck than I can my car. Mine is an older truck (sob) so it doesn’t have the fancy-dancey things to help hook up but not sure I really want that ($$$ and something to break). I have a bumper pull and I can hook up fairly easily on my own (doing it long enough I guess).
Mine is an older truck (sob) so it doesn’t have the fancy-dancey things to help hook up but not sure I really want that ($$$ and something to break). I have a bumper pull and I can hook up fairly easily on my own (doing it long enough I guess).
I installed a hitch camera in my 2002 GMC and it took about an hour and cost me…$120 for the camera I’m pretty sure. I have the Hopkins smart hitch. I can hook up in the dark on the first try. Plus it makes it easier to back out of parking spaces driving the boat.
My last three trucks have been Chevs, and the last one, a Z71 Silverado was my favourite. It never let me down, it pulled a heavy 2+1 often 5xs a week, and it was easy to handle, back up, very driver friendly. etc.
Last year I rented a new Ram, and I hated it. I hated all the stuffing in the front, and how far away all the controls are for the driver. (I am fairly small, 5’5")
When it came time to buy a new vehicle, I overcame my Ford aversion and bought a F150 King Ranch. It is a very nice truck, and I am happy with it, but I like the Chev better.
Such a wealth of information and real-life experience here…
Is there anything that truck manufacturers just don’t get? What feature do we want that they aren’t giving us?
There are a few that I love: the step bumpers on GM trucks for instance, and the load-levelling air suspension on the Rams. I also love the numerous cubbies and shelves throughout the interior, great for working vehicles. And full-size, fitted rubber mats, rear seats that fold back to produce a cavernous interior…
What are some of your favourite new features?
It seems to me that the technology is available to place cameras in, around, or behind our trailers that just hook into the display on a dashboard. With my ford, I get frustrated when my tailgate is down and I can’t use the backup camera, thinking it would be so much more useful if the camera were situated at the top of the cab. Or for that matter when I’m hooked up to place one inside the trailer to watch the horses, or at the back top of the trailer so I can see what moron is about to ram into us (or what nice police officer has lights flashing intending to advise us of the errors of our ways).
The screen is there, wireless is available, let me take a little battery-charged portable camera and stick it wherever I want. Or cameras.
That’s my big idea.
And since I commented back in February, I’m now feeling over and done with Fords … have started shopping for a Dodge. My 2013 F350 has been in the repair shop way too often to consider it “reliable” anymore, and it’s not from a lack of maintenance or care on my part.
Ford read your mind: the newest F-Series have 7 cameras, including one mounted at the back of the cab. Then there’s an optional custom mounted one you can put on the back of the trailer. I’m not sure about the factory availability of in-trailer monitoring, but I can find out!
Rams are my personal favourite, Fords are second, and around here those two are the ones you see people using most to get things done with. People use GMC/Chevy but not in the same capacity. I’m no mechanic whiz, but Rams have always struck me as the trucks with a bit more “umph” for hauling.
Aesthetically, I’ve always preferred the Rams, too. The new body style of the Ford Super Duty simply isn’t for me.
It’s cool to hear about all the new technology in the trucks. Those reverse cameras and sensors can be pretty helpful when you’re in a tight jam. However, if you’re looking for a truck to haul with, I’d look at it while ignoring those options. Get a feel for how it handles without basing the vehicle off of the added features. I’ve gotten in a pickle with my truck and trailer previously (scratched up my bumper a bit - I was hopping mad), where I’m sure a camera or a sensor probably would have saved my ass. That being said, I don’t want to rely on them to get myself, passengers, or a trailer around safely. What I’m trying to say, in the event I’ve wandered away from my point, is that one maker may have more technological bells and whistles that make things convenient… drive the truck you like the most.
As others have said, there’s the good and bad in anything you’re going to drive. What it ultimately boils down to is personal preference and what’s going to suit your needs best.
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