Which truck for me?

[Todd780]

The Raptor sounds perfect for the OP. 20k budget might get a hammered one.

There's this one on Bring a trailer .... currently at 10 grand....

No Reserve: Roush Off-Road 2013 Ford F-150 Raptor

Bid for the chance to own a No Reserve: Roush Off-Road 2013 Ford F-150 Raptor at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #28,690.

bringatrailer.com

 

[Regcabguy]

If you're carrying 100 gallons of extra fuel you had better have a 2500+. The original post specifically mentioned desert terrain as his dominant environment - and in that environment I would take an IFS any day - because a solid axle front for long distances on desert washboard isn't a whole lot of fun and whenever I've been out with a group it's always the solid axle guys who have problems with death wobble, etc.

Now - I'm not going to say a solid axle isn't good - because they are - just that specifically in a desert environment they aren't as effective or efficient as an IFS.

Carli and Thuren offer suspension systems that ride incredibly smooth. Thus you have the strength,simplicity and reliability of the solid axle with a great ride.

 

[Explorerinil]

2015 RAM 2500 Power Wagon 4x4 in Roanoke, IL | Peoria RAM 2500 | Roanoke Motor Co

Research the 2015 RAM 2500 Power Wagon 4x4 in Roanoke, IL at Roanoke Motor Co. View pictures, specs, and pricing & schedule a test drive today.

www.romocoinc.com

heres a good truck for the price, to bad the dealership is horrible to work with.

 

[yfarm]

2010 5.4 Raptor supercab. Lots of aging garage queens in the midwest and south.

Ford F-150 RAPTOR - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle automotive sale

2010 Ford F-150 Raptor very sharp, well maintained and serviced.

shoals.craigslist.org

 

[bcfre]

Thank you everyone for the input. I decided to go with a 1st gen Tundra, specifically targetting '05-'06


Picked him up yesterday morning.



And his first mod!

2010 5.4 Raptor supercab. Lots of aging garage queens in the midwest and south.

Ford F-150 RAPTOR - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle automotive sale

2010 Ford F-150 Raptor very sharp, well maintained and serviced.

shoals.craigslist.org

I looked at Raptors but ultimately the bed is just too short for what I need.

 

[badm0t0rfinger]

2010 5.4 Raptor supercab. Lots of aging garage queens in the midwest and south.

Ford F-150 RAPTOR - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle automotive sale

2010 Ford F-150 Raptor very sharp, well maintained and serviced.

shoals.craigslist.org

I know that OP already bought a vehicle, but I've driven a 5.4L Raptor and I'd highly recommend against it. The 6.2L gets as good, if not better, MPG and has more power to boot. The 5.4L isn't inherently bad, and there is a guy I know of with a supercharger on his and you're talking 500hp at the crank, and it seems like a great truck. But I'd pay the 6.2L tax everyday of the week especially if my plan involved adding weight for camping gear and whatnot.

 

[phsycle]

Tundra should work fine, but watch the payload. Make sure the timing belt has been changed in the last 90k miles as well.

I mentioned this in another thread, but if I were single, no kids, I'd probably get a 1/2 ton RCSB. XL or Tradesman, 4WD, V8, 3.73 locked rear, ICON susp, 33's, and a high-rise shell. Big enough on the inside for single (or +1) travel, comfortable than midsize for long road days, and small enough for most trails.
I'd probably not build out the inside of the shell. Keep it simple with a cot or mattress that can quickly be removed. Typical payload is 1,700lbs (or more), so unless you're doing some heavy hauling or towing, it should be fine.

Like this, except high-rise shell (ie, ARE MX).


Someone mentioned vans. They're nice and all, but no way I'd opt for one, given the OP's driving terrain. Sprinters suck off road. Yes, you can get 4WD E-series vans, but those are clobbered together, which means servicing them would be a pain. I'd keep it simple and keep it as OEM as much as possible for parts availability and serviceability.

 

[Buddha.]

Tundra should work fine, but watch the payload. Make sure the timing belt has been changed in the last 90k miles as well.

I mentioned this in another thread, but if I were single, no kids, I'd probably get a 1/2 ton RCSB. XL or Tradesman, 4WD, V8, 3.73 locked rear, ICON susp, 33's, and a high-rise shell. Big enough on the inside for single (or +1) travel, comfortable than midsize for long road days, and small enough for most trails.
I'd probably not build out the inside of the shell. Keep it simple with a cot or mattress that can quickly be removed. Typical payload is 1,700lbs (or more), so unless you're doing some heavy hauling or towing, it should be fine.

Like this, except high-rise shell (ie, ARE MX).
View attachment 572342

Someone mentioned vans. They're nice and all, but no way I'd opt for one, given the OP's driving terrain. Sprinters suck off road. Yes, you can get 4WD E-series vans, but those are clobbered together, which means servicing them would be a pain. I'd keep it simple and keep it as OEM as much as possible for parts availability and serviceability.

Snow plow package gets you the big rear axle and the raptor lsd front diff bolts right in.

 

[phsycle]

Snow plow package gets you the big rear axle and the raptor lsd front diff bolts right in.

That's basically the ideal truck for me. Maybe once the kids are out of the house. The only items I would change if I were to build is to keep it at XL, no other real options, other than tow package, bed lights, brake controller (in addition to what I listed above). No power windows (I think it's awesome that it still has roll up windows), no FX4 package (which requires 101a pkg. I'll just add RCI skids).

Didn't know Ram stopped offering regular cabs, so it would take them out of the running.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

Ahhh...the 1st get Tundra. Good trucks...but they have weak breaks, soft rear springs, they aren't quite as durable as the domestic 1/2 tons of the same era.

Fortunately they are easy to work on and they and the Sequioa are popping up at the pick and pull type salvage yards.

If you have to much body roll, swap in the Sequioa front sway bar and mounts. It makes a drastic difference.

 

[dman93]

I found a dealer in the Bay Area with a 5.0 regular cab 6.5’ bed F150, locker, tow package (9.75” diff etc), 17” steelies. Only one around. But after some thought I realize that the back storage volume and access of our DCSB Tacoma is a key part of how we camp. Unlike a lot of folks, we don’t have a vehicle kitchen and don’t like to be tied to the truck for cooking or sleeping, but we do use the back seats as our closets and pantry. An Access Cab or SuperCab would work but I think the RC would be restrictive. Even our old XtraCab T100, which had space but no access, was a hassle. FYI, this one’s at the Ford dealer at Hilltop in the East Bay (California). Note the nice round number on the MSRP.

 

[Todd780]

I found a dealer in the Bay Area with a 5.0 regular cab 6.5’ bed F150, locker, tow package (9.75” diff etc), 17” steelies. Only one around. But after some thought I realize that the back storage volume and access of our DCSB Tacoma is a key part of how we camp. Unlike a lot of folks, we don’t have a vehicle kitchen and don’t like to be tied to the truck for cooking or sleeping, but we do use the back seats as our closets and pantry. An Access Cab or SuperCab would work but I think the RC would be restrictive. Even our old XtraCab T100, which had space but no access, was a hassle. FYI, this one’s at the Ford dealer at Hilltop in the East Bay (California). Note the nice round number on the MSRP.

View attachment 573012

40K seems crazy to me for a RCSB XL.

 

[Buddha.]

40K seems crazy to me for a RCSB XL.

But it has dual sunvisors!

 

[Todd780]

But it has dual sunvisors!

Well, that is a good point.

 

[dman93]

40K seems crazy to me for a RCSB XL.

That’s sticker. And I assume these trucks aren’t flying off the lots, so I’m sure an OTD price would be much less.