A what should I buy poll.

[billiebob]

I'm torn between buy and build or get a truck that already has offroad prowess.

I'm not sure what the advantages of a Raptor or Rebel are for overland camping. Personally I'd rather buy a half ton with increased payload options.

 

[badm0t0rfinger]

I'm not sure what the advantages of a Raptor or Rebel are for overland camping. Personally I'd rather buy a half ton with increased payload options.

Sometimes people just want they want and they'll make it work for what they want to do with it.

I'd say you will get more out of a Raptor but I'm not sure I'd willing to buy a Raptor thats 25k right now.

None of the above. I am 100% on board with buying within budget and staying out of debt. However, used truck market is stupid (STUPID) expensive right now.

I’d have a hard time paying $25k for a truck with over 100k miles. Or even 75k miles. I’d much rather put that money towards a new base model truck...
OR
Buy one with 170k miles for $8-12k, drive it for 3-4 years, save up, sell it and get a new(er) truck with less miles.

This is bang on. Id rather pay 40k for a new truck (or with prices these days, 60k) than 30k for a used truck. Debt should make up only a small part of your overall economic picture but lets not act like having a car isn't a necessary debt... having a 50k truck is when it comes down to want vs need. If you can afford it, get what you want.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

What the cool-package trucks do really well is look cool. Which is good, I'm not hating on appearance. But if you're not financially comfortable to drop money on something as superficial as how something looks then you're pretty foolish going into debt over vanity.

Nailed it!

 

[jpop8807]

That's almost what I paid for a crew cab, STX, F150 in 2017...lol. Sounds like you need to take a road trip to somewhere else to buy a truck...haha.

Trucks are so expensive in colorado. All the good deals i see were in Utah, Texas, and east coast

 

[jpop8807]

Quick point I'd like to mention, the Rebel is a considerably less significant departure from other Ram trims than the Raptor is from the other trims of F150.

With a Rebel you get a slightly different front ride height (same suspension as any other 4wd, just different struts), a front bumper with better approach angle, limited slip rear axle and all terrain tires on 17" wheels. Everything else is cosmetic, and all of the functional enhancements can just be added to any regular 1500 without drama.

My 1500 Tradesman didn't have skidplates, tow hooks, all terrain tires or raised ride height from the factory but I bought those things and an aftermarket high clearance front bumper & voila I've got everything a Rebel gets, except the fancy tire-tread pattern seat fabric.

I'm not suggesting there is anything wrong with the Rebel and maybe it speaks to how capable the platform is even at its most basic.. not a lot needed to be done between landscaper's truck and Rebel.

But yeah in the context of covering distance, "overlanding" whatever - I don't really see an advantage to the Raptor or the new Ram TRX. Clearly they have meaningfully more robust chassis and suspension there's no argument, but I would argue whether or not there's anything wrong with the base model of either vehicle. When I have a long journey the last thing I want to be doing is travel too fast for the terrain and risk severe damage and being stranded, or having to abort my journey.

I also don't really see an advantage to the Rebel trim if it's going to cost significantly more to buy, in particular if you have plans to upgrade the suspension and tires anyway. A Rebel on Bilsteins has exactly the same suspension and ride height as a Tradesman or Outdoorsman or Laramie or whatever other trim package on Bilsteins or Eibachs or Superlift/Zone/BDS/whatever because the only suspension difference a Rebel has are the coil spring height and the struts, which you replace with any kind of lift.

What the cool-package trucks do really well is look cool. Which is good, I'm not hating on appearance. But if you're not financially comfortable to drop money on something as superficial as how something looks then you're pretty foolish going into debt over vanity.

I also want to add for OP, I don't want to suggest the Ram platform is better or worse than any other - it happens to be the one I am closely familiar with but I am not loyal to any particular brand. If you find yourself shopping Rams there are two different transfer case options, multiple engines, multiple transmissions.

Transfer cases: either an automatic TOD type or a conventional part-time one. You can tell which is which by the button, one will have auto the other won't. The auto one is nice for stock or near-stock sized tires and general purpose use in all weather and terrains, but it does not 100% lock up - drive to the front axle is always through a clutch even in low range. This frustrates some owners who equip 35+ inch tires and work the truck hard off road.

Engines: the 4.7 and 3.7 I think ended in 2012 or 2013. They both kinda.. aren't that good. The 5.7 is decent and apparently its worse achilles' heel (cam failure) was permanently fixed some time in 2016 or 2017 - well that's the rumor anyway. But failure rate before that is low. People get all witchcraft about oil and stuff, I'm in the "use what the manual says" camp on that. The 3.6l V6 is an exceptionally good engine, and I wouldn't hesitate to buy a 3.6 powered Ram, it's simply not a handicap like older 6 cylinder full size trucks may have been. I don't know a lot about the ecodiesel except that I never seem to hear anyone complain about them so it must be reasonably stout.

Transmissions: older V8 trucks (through around 2018-2019 or so) in the lower trim levels could have the 6 speed RFE transmission, all 3.6 and most 5.7 trucks after 2013 or so have the 8 speed. Both are good transmissions, there is nothing at all wrong with the 6 speed but the 8 speed is basically the best automatic transmission made. Neither of them has lifetime fluid no matter what Ram says, change it at 60k miles and if you get a used truck with unknown service history, change the fluid right away. Either transmission is easily a 300k+ mile box if you just stay on top of the fluid maintenance and don't go out of your way to beat it up. I think the diesels could have either the 68RFE or the 8 speed.

Hope that's helpful and if you wind up shopping Rams and need more info just ask.

Initially I was just looking at the base trucks. Then I noticed the rebel with the air suspension, and so forth would mean less money spent on upgrading stuff. Same goes for the Raptor rear locker, front back cameras, both have a better approach angle then their counter parts. I viewed it as a bigger initial investment, plus I read they hold value better. Only reason the rebel came into the picture was if I go to Moab or something further away the gas mileage 17 city 23 highway was better then the Raptor. Like I said I was originally just looking at your basic trucks then saw all the off road goodies that these came with stock.

 

[jpop8807]

Quick point I'd like to mention, the Rebel is a considerably less significant departure from other Ram trims than the Raptor is from the other trims of F150.

With a Rebel you get a slightly different front ride height (same suspension as any other 4wd, just different struts), a front bumper with better approach angle, limited slip rear axle and all terrain tires on 17" wheels. Everything else is cosmetic, and all of the functional enhancements can just be added to any regular 1500 without drama.

My 1500 Tradesman didn't have skidplates, tow hooks, all terrain tires or raised ride height from the factory but I bought those things and an aftermarket high clearance front bumper & voila I've got everything a Rebel gets, except the fancy tire-tread pattern seat fabric.

I'm not suggesting there is anything wrong with the Rebel and maybe it speaks to how capable the platform is even at its most basic.. not a lot needed to be done between landscaper's truck and Rebel.

But yeah in the context of covering distance, "overlanding" whatever - I don't really see an advantage to the Raptor or the new Ram TRX. Clearly they have meaningfully more robust chassis and suspension there's no argument, but I would argue whether or not there's anything wrong with the base model of either vehicle. When I have a long journey the last thing I want to be doing is travel too fast for the terrain and risk severe damage and being stranded, or having to abort my journey.

I also don't really see an advantage to the Rebel trim if it's going to cost significantly more to buy, in particular if you have plans to upgrade the suspension and tires anyway. A Rebel on Bilsteins has exactly the same suspension and ride height as a Tradesman or Outdoorsman or Laramie or whatever other trim package on Bilsteins or Eibachs or Superlift/Zone/BDS/whatever because the only suspension difference a Rebel has are the coil spring height and the struts, which you replace with any kind of lift.

What the cool-package trucks do really well is look cool. Which is good, I'm not hating on appearance. But if you're not financially comfortable to drop money on something as superficial as how something looks then you're pretty foolish going into debt over vanity.

I also want to add for OP, I don't want to suggest the Ram platform is better or worse than any other - it happens to be the one I am closely familiar with but I am not loyal to any particular brand. If you find yourself shopping Rams there are two different transfer case options, multiple engines, multiple transmissions.

Transfer cases: either an automatic TOD type or a conventional part-time one. You can tell which is which by the button, one will have auto the other won't. The auto one is nice for stock or near-stock sized tires and general purpose use in all weather and terrains, but it does not 100% lock up - drive to the front axle is always through a clutch even in low range. This frustrates some owners who equip 35+ inch tires and work the truck hard off road.

Engines: the 4.7 and 3.7 I think ended in 2012 or 2013. They both kinda.. aren't that good. The 5.7 is decent and apparently its worse achilles' heel (cam failure) was permanently fixed some time in 2016 or 2017 - well that's the rumor anyway. But failure rate before that is low. People get all witchcraft about oil and stuff, I'm in the "use what the manual says" camp on that. The 3.6l V6 is an exceptionally good engine, and I wouldn't hesitate to buy a 3.6 powered Ram, it's simply not a handicap like older 6 cylinder full size trucks may have been. I don't know a lot about the ecodiesel except that I never seem to hear anyone complain about them so it must be reasonably stout.

Transmissions: older V8 trucks (through around 2018-2019 or so) in the lower trim levels could have the 6 speed RFE transmission, all 3.6 and most 5.7 trucks after 2013 or so have the 8 speed. Both are good transmissions, there is nothing at all wrong with the 6 speed but the 8 speed is basically the best automatic transmission made. Neither of them has lifetime fluid no matter what Ram says, change it at 60k miles and if you get a used truck with unknown service history, change the fluid right away. Either transmission is easily a 300k+ mile box if you just stay on top of the fluid maintenance and don't go out of your way to beat it up. I think the diesels could have either the 68RFE or the 8 speed.

Hope that's helpful and if you wind up shopping Rams and need more info just ask.

The get that I've owned Rams before and loved them. That's why I put that particular year for the 8 speed transmission. I had a 12 hemi and me and my friend got stationed in Colorado coming from Texas. Both 285 70 17 cooper atps and he seemed to have less issues through the mountains and got better gas mileage. I've had tacomas before which are perfect for the trails out here, but with a growing family I wanted something full size for the room.

 

[phsycle]

I'm not sure what the advantages of a Raptor or Rebel are for overland camping. Personally I'd rather buy a half ton with increased payload options.

Regarding the Raptor, yes, 100% agree they’re no major advantages for overloading, especially given the price point.

But man, the suspension package is nice. Living out here in the high desert, there are a ton of dirt roads going through millions of acres of BLM land. High speed, washboard roads, where the Raptor would really excel. Yep, I could buy a regular F150 and slap on suspension and tires, but it would be nice to just have a “Raptor suspension package” as an option from the factory. Without all the other fluff that they come with, jacking the price up sky high.

 

[Todd780]

Regarding the Raptor, yes, 100% agree they’re no major advantages for overloading,

 

[Boatbuilder79]

Would look for a New basic 4x4 truck with 0% interest and long warranty.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

Trucks are so expensive in colorado. All the good deals i see were in Utah, Texas, and east coast

Looks like you know where you need to go shopping...lol.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

The nice thing about a Raptor is they hold their value really well. As long as you keep it in good shape, it will always be worth more than a regular F150 that you modified to preform at the same level.

 

[Jsweezy]

I basically just went through this same debate with myself and decided to buy a new (2020 so not super new but still “new”) base model (XL, not even XLT) F-150 that had all the stuff I wanted and none of the extra bs I didn’t care about. I figured this would provide me with a solid platform to be able to expand upon and also not have me dumping a bunch of money into maintenance or keeping it on the road.

So I searched all over Oregon until I found an F-150 super crew with the 6.5 foot bed, white, all vinyl interior, 3.5l ecoboost, 4wd, rear e-locker, tow package with the 36 gallon gas tank and a backup camera.

Personally I’d never buy a raptor because it’s too nice for me. And I don’t have that kind of money .

 

[badm0t0rfinger]

But man, the suspension package is nice. Living out here in the high desert, there are a ton of dirt roads going through millions of acres of BLM land. High speed, washboard roads, where the Raptor would really excel. Yep, I could buy a regular F150 and slap on suspension and tires, but it would be nice to just have a “Raptor suspension package” as an option from the factory. Without all the other fluff that they come with, jacking the price up sky high.

Why would Ford undercut the demand for the Raptor with a suspension package on an XL or XLT? They're a similar strategy with the Bronco and the numbers haven't come out yet (well neither has the vehicle for that matter) but anecdotally the guys who are getting it are getting the top end trim level they want anyways. I think you could easily build a factory F150 XLT into something better than a Raptor but that requires you dropping it off at a shop and dropping 10k minimum on a suspension system from WOG, SVC, Rogue or Icon. Will you make out on the end? Maybe by a bit... but at the end of the day the bank and any prospective buyers down the line will still see a F150 XLT [and vin] and will be willing to finance only so much. I do agree though. I have to drive a bit to get out to the high desert, but there is no other vehicle I'd rather have. Throw on some desert rock to really complete the ambiance

The nice thing about a Raptor is they hold their value really well. As long as you keep it in good shape, it will always be worth more than a regular F150 that you modified to preform at the same level.

Yes, they do. 71k on my truck and last service I still got offered 36k by the dealer. If I were to sell it [private party] with all my gear on it still I'd probably be able to get about 45k I think. Not bad for a truck closing in on 6 and a half years old.

 

[CrazyDrei]

I think you are doing it all wrong. You are asking people here to pick a truck for you so you can live every one else's dream. I say forget the poll and what others think, go out get what you like, drive it, mod it and post lots and lots of pictures of your dream truck.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[phsycle]

Why would Ford undercut the demand for the Raptor with a suspension package on an XL or XLT? They're a similar strategy with the Bronco and the numbers haven't come out yet (well neither has the vehicle for that matter) but anecdotally the guys who are getting it are getting the top end trim level they want anyways. I think you could easily build a factory F150 XLT into something better than a Raptor but that requires you dropping it off at a shop and dropping 10k minimum on a suspension system from WOG, SVC, Rogue or Icon. Will you make out on the end? Maybe by a bit... but at the end of the day the bank and any prospective buyers down the line will still see a F150 XLT [and vin] and will be willing to finance only so much. I do agree though. I have to drive a bit to get out to the high desert, but there is no other vehicle I'd rather have. Throw on some desert rock to really complete the ambiance

Ford has offered a LOT of options a la carte. ie, rear locker, tow packages, gearing, etc. Unlike companies like Toyota, who offers 3-4 package deals.
Ram has also done the same thing with the PW, offering a “PW” package in the Tradesman model.

All I’m saying is, from a consumer standpoint, it would be great to have that suspension package from the factory.