Turns out I need a real truck. Kindly help me choose one!

[nickw]

That all came crashing down when I swallowed the red pill and invited reality to join the conversation.

LOL - funny how that works....

 

[hdas]

I still think I’d spring the extra to go Tremor

The way my research is going, it seems that the Tremor for around ~$85k & the RAM 3500 Tradesman with AEV Prospector Package for ~$90k are the top contenders. It's just insane how I went from trying to keep it under 60k in the Tundra, to now considering these insane prices. All of this exclusive of the AluCab build.

 

[Todd780]

The way my research is going, it seems that the Tremor for around ~$85k & the RAM 3500 Tradesman with AEV Prospector Package for ~$90k are the top contenders. It's just insane how I went from trying to keep it under 60k in the Tundra, to now considering this insane prices. All of this exclusive of the AluCab build.

Tremor or Ram Rebel you should be able to negotiate off MSRP now.

There are deals out there as inventory is accumulating and sales have slowed.

Prospector is a different story as it is more of a specialized vehicle.

 

[hdas]

Prospector is a different story as it is more of a specialized vehicle.

Its 2 separate bills, the cost of the vehicle + the cost of the build........im hoping you are right and I can get a few nickels below MSRP

 

[phsycle]

The way my research is going, it seems that the Tremor for around ~$85k & the RAM 3500 Tradesman with AEV Prospector Package for ~$90k are the top contenders. It's just insane how I went from trying to keep it under 60k in the Tundra, to now considering this insane prices. All of this exclusive of the AluCab build.

Yikes. I just built up an F350 XLT. Supercrew, 6.5’, 7.3L with the Tremor package. Little upgrades like tailgate steps, aux switches, etc. — Nothing big.
All came out to $64k.
I’d re-evaluate the need for a diesel.

And definitely, as @Todd n Natalie said, deals are out there.

 

[hdas]

I’d re-evaluate the need for a diesel.

This might be the toughest decision of all of them, So far I can establish two facts:

1. Diesel Engine is $12+K more expensive and heavier.
2. Diesel Engine has way more torque at low RPM which comes in handy where I live. But even this needs to be tested, hopefully dealers let me take it to a very steep and rocky climb and "feel" the damn thing.

All the other claims about fuel efficiency/cost, reliability, maintenance, availability are subjective depending on ones particular needs. I'm biased to like diesel, but my wife has me in check, asking me for real reasons and solid evidence, so we have that going for us.

 

[phsycle]

This might be the toughest decision of all of them, So far I can establish two facts:

1. Diesel Engine is $12+K more expensive and heavier.
2. Diesel Engine has way more torque at low RPM which comes in handy where I live. But even this needs to be tested, hopefully dealers let me take it to a very steep and rocky climb and "feel" the damn thing.

All the other claims about fuel efficiency/cost, reliability, maintenance, availability are subjective depending on ones particular needs. I'm biased to like diesel, but my wife has me in check, asking me for real reasons and solid evidence, so we have that going for us.

If you get nowhere with the dealers, try Turo. I just checked and there are a number of Super Duty’s around me. $50-100 per day. You could then tow a heavier load to see if it’d work. Pretty cheap experiment.

 

[MarcusBrody]

Yes, Payload is around 1800.

We are light people, the but say we invite 2 175lbs friends. Thats just 700lbs in people. Alucab alone is 500. Water, skid plates, rocksliders, bigger tires.........I just don't see how you stay even at 2000 with 4 adults.


Do you have a link?. I was looking at the Webasto systems. I would love not to use the propane stuff.

Wait, so you're trading your Tundra and buying a full sized trick on the off chance that you want to bring along two very large friends to stay with you and your toddler in a small truck camper? I say simply let them drive their own vehicle and you don't need a new truck.

Going further, looking at the terrain you're aiming to be comfortable on, I'd be perfectly happy without rock sliders. I'd probably add the skid plates just for things that get kicked up, but I'd also drive those roads without them.

So, with simply not taking hypothetical large passengers when you're at your heaviest load out and ditching the sliders, you would be comfortably within the payload limit and wouldn't need a new truck.

Unless you just like doing vehicles. Then do as you will!

 

[Todd780]

Yikes. I just built up an F350 XLT. Supercrew, 6.5’, 7.3L with the Tremor package. Little upgrades like tailgate steps, aux switches, etc. — Nothing big.
All came out to $64k.
I’d re-evaluate the need for a diesel.

And definitely, as @Todd n Natalie said, deals are out there.

64K? Wow, that's cheap!






I added sport appearance and XLT premium though. If it were me, honestly the package I'd delete would be the Tremor pkg.
It's cool n all but, I don't even use my F150 FX4 to it's full capabilities. I'd get more use out of the LED headlights, 360 cameras... and yes the heated seats. Gimme a break, I'm in Alberta and it gets friggen cold here. Our mornings are already hovering around the freezing mark.

 

[hdas]

Wait, so you're trading your Tundra and buying a full sized trick on the off chance that you want to bring along two very large friends to stay with you and your toddler in a small truck camper? I say simply let them drive their own vehicle and you don't need a new truck.

Going further, looking at the terrain you're aiming to be comfortable on, I'd be perfectly happy without rock sliders. I'd probably add the skid plates just for things that get kicked up, but I'd also drive those roads without them.

So, with simply not taking hypothetical large passengers when you're at your heaviest load out and ditching the sliders, you would be comfortably within the payload limit and wouldn't need a new truck.

Unless you just like doing vehicles. Then do as you will!

These potential added passengers are mostly family visiting. But even if I go the lean option, which frankly is quite restrictive and will have me thinking and weighting everything all the time.....I would be in the 1700-1800 which is upwards of 94% of max Payload, on rough roads and long journeys. I understand that that % of safety seems to be a subjective figure. Someone mention to me a friend running a fleet of work vehicles making sure that its never above 75%.......I'd like to have a certain margin of safety in order to prevent failures and keep the car in the best shape possible.

 

[BajaSurfRig]

It doesn’t have to be a 90k buy in to get a solid reliable full size. I bought my current 2014 6.2 Gas F250 FX4 Super Cab Long bed for 25k with 70k miles in 2020. Not a single issue and just broke 100k. Lots of time in dirt in remote areas carrying a 2k+ cabover camper.

I’d get a 2017+ gas super duty so that you get an aluminum body (no rust from road chips in your paint) and the fully boxed frame (less stress on a camper in cross axle situations and easier to properly mount a flatbed). Look for one with 4.30 gears and a rear locker. Most of them can fit 35’s with stock suspension with the correct back spacing on wheels (and a 35 fits in the stock spare spot). Most guys don’t actually need F+R lockers, 37’s, etc…. A stock super duty on 35’s with a rear locker will get anywhere it fits and is capable enough that it will scare most people before it reaches its limits. Buenas suerte!

 

[MarcusBrody]

Your estimated payload for your "Full" loadout is 1625lbs without hypothetical extra passengers or rock sliders. I would be comfortable with that.

And if I also owned a LC100 and Range Rover, I'd be happy to just take two cars on the off chance that we decided to go on a family expedition.

But that is just me. It seems like you're excited to get a new truck and if money isn't an issue, it's fun to buy things!

 

[TexasSixSeven]

There must be some quirk bcs AluCab is being very explicit about it.


Yep, just confirmed by Outfitter.

But another REAL wrinkle emerges: The Alu Cabin door wont support a 37" tire. So I will have to figure out a system that works with bike rack......In a cursory look found this, so I have options. But hate to have to install yet another heavy thing.

Ramble Rack

View attachment 798530

But I think there's more to this. In this video (starting at 11:35), Clay Croft talks about the constant weight pulling on the system, he has a slide in camper, so it might be different. I need to look into this in detail. He had custom made a rack with springs and weird angles to lessen the load.

There’s zero quirks about the 250 and 350 bed. They’re identical in every regard. Of course a short bed will be different than a long bed, but 250 vs 350 has zero to do with that. AluCab sounds like idiots.

 

[TexasSixSeven]

Tremor requires XLT and 7.3 so it closer to $8k. Personally I would go XLT with 4.30s and call it good.

XLT is only available with the 7.3 or 6.7. There’s no up charge for the 7.3 on the XLTs as it’s already factored into the base price. Personally I’d take a STX XL with the sport appearance package over a base XLT. The STX with sport pack includes the LED headlights, which are a massive upgrade from the basic halogens than come on the XL and XLT base trucks.

 

[TexasSixSeven]

This might be the toughest decision of all of them, So far I can establish two facts:

1. Diesel Engine is $12+K more expensive and heavier.
2. Diesel Engine has way more torque at low RPM which comes in handy where I live. But even this needs to be tested, hopefully dealers let me take it to a very steep and rocky climb and "feel" the damn thing.

All the other claims about fuel efficiency/cost, reliability, maintenance, availability are subjective depending on ones particular needs. I'm biased to like diesel, but my wife has me in check, asking me for real reasons and solid evidence, so we have that going for us.

If you made do with a Tundra you don’t need a diesel. You want a diesel. That’s absolutely fine. Luckily we don’t have to justify our purchases to anybody but ourselves. Be honest to yourself about it though.