So help quit driving myself nuts An Update

[todpod]

So we are going to buy a truck mainly for camping. I walk to work so it won't be a daily driver so I am fairly unconcerned about gas mileage. My main problem is deciding between and older truck 2005-2006 or a newish truck. Our miles will be on the highways and I am not real concerned with having 4wd so I can get a newer truck with lower miles for the same money. So here is what i am trying to decide to do, I have found a 2006 Chevy 2500, 6ltr crewcab, w 56,000 miles for about 13,500. I have also found a new Dodge crew cab, 4.7ltr, for about 23,000. I just driving myself nuts going back and forth as to the best way to go. We hope to make a couple of extended trips in the next couple of years, so I guess thats why I am think a new truck maybe the way to go. Other then they long trips I may put 5-6000 miles on it a year if I am lucky.
I am not real brand sensitive just want something fairly reliable, will more then lucky stick with Ford, Chevy and Dodge. Any thoughts, thanks.

 

[Larry]

You can’t go wrong with anything GM 6.0L or Dodge 5.7L. I think you will be disappointed in the 4.7L OHC V8 in the Dodge Ram though. Must be a 1500 series Ram you are looking at? The 4.7L has the power of an old 22R Toyota 4 cylinder and the fuel economy of an old carbureted big block V8. I don’t believe in anything Ford so I can’t speak to those much but I’ve never been a fan of their modular OHC V8 spark plug spitting engines that sound like a Hoover vacuum cleaner when they run. I would suggest sticking to a GM or Dodge if you are planning on a domestic truck. I am sure for Ford lovers will disagree. Everybody has an opinion. If you could find a used 2005-2006 Dodge Power Wagon with a 5.7L that would be the cat’s meow. Great truck, great powertrain and drivetrain. All it needs to go camping is your gear thrown in the the back.

 

[Alaskan1Ton]

What Larry said. Ouch, no 4x4, its hard to consider that a real truck and not a car with a bed.

 

[Texan1983]

going to have to agree, 4x4 has better resale and you never know where the road may lead you!

 

[Alaskan1Ton]

Others have argued the point with me many times about how not everyone needs a 4x4. Well all I can say is that your right, you never know where the road might lead you. I mean something even as silly as a massive flash flood hits and your left trying to get to higher ground..................and cant with a 2wd. You are ran off the road and into a ditch and then you cant even get yourself out of the ditch. You pull over on a country road to read your map and.....the shoulder was softer than you thought. You come upon an awefull wreck and you for some reason need to pull another truck off an elderly woman to save her......................I could do this for days. all im saying is that its a piece of mind to be more self sufficient and less reliant on others when you have a 4x4 vehicle, isnt that worth the extra mpg's and weight?

 

[todpod]

Ok so you guys are making more crazy, but i am looking found several 4x4s in my price range. I am trading years and some miles, but I can still get under 100k miles for less then 15k. A trade off can be an extended cab for a crew cab. How much more room is in a crew cab keeping in mind I have 3 kids i will stuff back there. Dodges seems to be cheaper as a whole and Fords the most expensive. My wife may shoot me before this is over. Anything to watch for in Dodge engines/transmissions 2004-2007ish, if I go 4x4 thats probably the way I would go. Thanks again

 

[rxm6]

...all im saying is that its a piece of mind to be more self sufficient and less reliant on others when you have a 4x4 vehicle, isnt that worth the extra mpg's and weight?

And as an addition to the above statement, the loss in mpgs between a 4x4 and a 2x4 of the same vehicle manufacture is in the 1-3mpg range depending on the make. For example, I own a 2006 2x4 silverado extended cab with a 5.3l that gets between 19-20.5 at speeds between 55-65, unladen. My uncle owns a 2006 4x4 silverado crew cab with a 5.3l that gets about 17.5 - 19.5 at speeds between 60-70, unladen. It's not that much of a difference, and those are real world figures for unmodified trucks of the same make. That being said, I'll echo the above sentiment; go 4x4.

 

[Texan1983]

Don't be so scared of miles either... good care and modern trucks last a long time. Pick the truck and features you want and then find best deal...

 

[MR. ED]

If you have three kids get a full four door crew cab. Get a 4x4!

 

[cmayer]

I went through this not too long ago. With two little ones, both in booster seats, I couldn't do the extended cab anymore. I traded in my Titan 2wd that I had built to be perfect for "me" for a crew cab f250 4x4. I love having the 4 full doors and plenty of room for kids or adults in the back. For regular use with more than 2 people, a crew cab is the way to go in my opinion.

I spend a lot of time in the desert and with the family 4x4 and slow with the new truck is better than the old truck's built 2wd and fast... at least until they're older lol. I do like having the 4x4 for wet boat launches and other lower traction situations.

 

[todpod]

Not really worried about mpg, I don't drive to work and if I did it would only be a mile round trip . Probably looking at a Dodge, they seem to be cheaper for some reason. I not really convinced there is alot of difference between any of them, other then looks and that really doesn't matter.

 

[Alaskan1Ton]

well If I was going for a gas motor Id go with the dodge 5.7 hemi, the ford motor of choice was a 5.4 for its trucks and they dont impress me. Go with a 3/4 ton truck and you get the straight axle front with coils which you will get simplicity, reliability and strength. oh yeah and 4 door quad cab all the way..........and if you can swing it get the POWERWAGON and you'll never buy another truck again, promise.

 

[todpod]

How about something like this, I am kinda leaning this way for know anyway.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.j...02WD&max_price=17000&seller_type=b&make=DODGE

 

[roboter]

I have no idea why you wouldn't want a diesel? With 50k miles on a gas engine the life of that truck is already 1/3 dead. A diesel with 150k is barely broke in. Its more economical, more power, usually in 4X4 form, and has a 1,000 times better resale value. I own a diesel and I can not logically form any reason why a gas truck would be put into service. Any Gas truck pulling or hauling will not yield more than 9mpg..... Period. You can find really nice diesel RAMS well equipped for $10K with LOW miles.

 

[redthies]

I have owned a couple of similar Dodges. They are decent trucks. If you are only going to use it once in a while and don have plans for hauling anything heavier than 500-600 lbs, they are fine. If you think you might want a camper some day, then get a 2500. The truck market is waaay expensive in Philly... I just looked at craigslist in a range of $10-15k. The link you posted has 2/3 the miles of other trucks in that price range. I would go offer them $2k less than their asking price and see what they say. Dealers usually have some room in their price... And yes, a diesel would be nice, but you probably don't need to consider it for your intended use. If you have time or ability to go for a drive, there are great deals in Texas and all along the west coast. You might get a whole lot more truck for the same money.