Which Truck to Buy

Sambo · 12-11-2003, 12:53 PM

Need some input. I will be purchasing a new 2004 Truck in the next 3-5 months and have been doing lots of research on the Toyota Tundra Access Cab 4 x 4 V-8 SR5, Chevy K-1500 Ext Cab 4 x 4, LS, 5.3L V-8 short bed and the GMC Sierra K-1500 ext. cab, 4 x 4, SLE, 5.3L V-8, short bed. I have two children in grade school, so the backseat space needs to have enough room. Main purpose of vehicle. Pull my small 14 foot lowe, take kids to school, hunting, traveling over mountain passes ocassionally, etc. Anyone have one of these or have some other suggestions. Believeme, I have done some thorough research and have come up with a couple of conclusions of my own , but would like to hear from you. Thanks.

Sambo

reeldick · 12-11-2003, 01:07 PM

A mechanic I know who works in a Toyota only shop (non-dealer) was telling me they are replacing a lot of head gaskets on Toyota trucks with the
V-8. Something about a steel block with aluminum heads. He said they seldom have to work on the four cylinder engines.
The Chevy and GMC should have the same running gear in them, just different dressing.

James in Idaho · 12-11-2003, 01:09 PM

Look at the new Nissan full size truck. Supposed to be really nice and well powered. Otherwise, I vote Toyota, it'll last forever (my Tacoma has 206,000 on it, no major problems yet). Only grip I have heard is the gas milage is not the greatest. That's why I'm looking for a Tacoma.

CHUMSALMON · 12-11-2003, 01:44 PM

I only have another suggestion for you. You may want to look at a dodge dakota quad cab. Has a v-8 (produces the same kind of power as the toyota) has 4 full size doors and now comes with 7-70k waranty (at least i think there still doing that).
It would be a worthwhile look. Now for the downside of this rig. since it has four fullsize doors they made the bed shorter 5'3" so it makes it hard to find a camper for it.
I like it so far (except for the small bed size, since i'm now looking for a camper)
anyway, just another thing to take a look at.
chumsalmon

WaterDog · 12-11-2003, 01:47 PM

I won't comment on your choice of vehicles

but I will say you might want to concider a "crew cab". I mean a real crew cab that has 4 independant doors. Kids get bigger and adult friends will appreciate it. :smile:

12-11-2003, 01:58 PM

4 real doors would have been nicer on my truck. The smal ones are better than nothing. And, like Waterdog, I won't tell you Fords are a better choice :grin:

Day Late · 12-11-2003, 02:03 PM

My 2000 Silverado X-cab short-bed Z71 1/2-ton is a comfortable ride (even adults in the back seat are comfortable on long trips. The 5.3 ltr V-8 provides plenty of power for my 24' travel trailer with good mileage(10 1/2 mpg) while towing (17-18 on hwy empty). The feature I like the best and to my knowledge not found on other brands is the optional on-dash 4wd selection with the "auto 4WD" feature (only shifts power to front wheels if it senses slippage on rear) a great feature for rainy/sleety/snowy weather when going over passes. Still has traditional 4wd hi and lo choices for muddy or off-road use. Good luck! :smile:

Day Late

Thumper · 12-11-2003, 02:38 PM

To even put the Toyota and the Nissan in the same category as the American trucks makes me want to smile.

I operated a fleet of Nissan courier cars. 72 of them. Never replaced a vehicle with less than 260,000 miles.

I kept my last Nissan for nearly 200,000 miles. Our last Honda --- 300,000 miles.

By comparison, my last Chevy truck ('82)lasted 70,000 miles before the diesel blew up. Oh, and that was after 27 warrantee claims. And the '83 Chev van blew both the diesel motor and the tranny at 83,000. And the last Ford ('92) dropped its drive shaft on the first weekend after I picked it up. ARRRGGGH.

The Toyota and Nissan vehicles are gonna last longer than you. :grin:

Having said that, I now drive an Expedition to pull a bit bigger boat. But I am nervous about it.

If you don't need the towing capacity, stay with the Japanese products.

DanS · 12-11-2003, 03:13 PM

Look at the Toyota Tacoma 4-door 4wd with the 3.4L V6. I have an 02 and love it. 19-21 mpg, the kids love having their own doors and lots of room, and it has plenty of power for towing my DB.

foxer · 12-11-2003, 03:45 PM

Toyota now makes a Tundra with 4 full doors

monoman · 12-11-2003, 03:46 PM

Keep the kids safe! Get this one!

www.monroetruck.com
Kodiak Crew Cab

[ 12-11-2003, 04:49 PM: Message edited by: monoman ]

HeavyMetal BankFisherman · 12-11-2003, 05:00 PM

Ford

380 HP SVT Lightning

DownTime · 12-11-2003, 05:25 PM

Look at the horsepower of the tundra v-8 235-245? vs.285 for the 5.3L,I owned Toyota's for 13 years and they are great little trucks,but it sounds like you need some room for the little ones.I went back to a full size this year and love it.My friend has a Tundra he pulls a '22 bayliner with and it is marginal with terrible gas mileage towing.There is not as much room in the back seat of the Tundra vs the Chev. or GMC (same truck different trim).There are two things you can't substitute for 1. is money 2. is horsepower!

good luck with your new rig

JB

Sammy · 12-13-2003, 08:40 AM

Thanks for all the replies. I am looking into the 4 door Tundra. Something about Toyota reliability. Of course, there are disadvantages to the Tundra as well. I got a great offer on a 2004 GMC Sierra from an Ifish board member. I will keep on looking and doing a little more research before I go out and start test driving them in February. Once again, thanks for all your input.

Sammy

timinthegorge · 12-15-2003, 01:52 PM

Check out the Ram Quad Cab. I did alot of research when trying to figure out what to replace my '93 Toyota 3L V6 XtraCab SR5 pickup. I haven't owned a Dodge since my '68 Dart with the 318 auto. When they quit makin' the 318 about 5 years ago they replaced it this new 4.7L OHC motor. I like it.... alot!

I know there's lots of chevy and ford lovers on this site, but I just bought an '04 Ram, and no I didn't get a HEMI. Can't get it with the 5 speed. The 4.7L Magnum, 5-speed pulls my 19' Alumaweld up hill and down without a problem.... Check it out.

This ain't your Daddy's Dodge! And as far as room for the little ones, it's got plenty of room and it's plenty comfy, even in the back seats....

I got the short bed (5'3" as ChumSalmon mentioned) but then I'm not planning on putting a camper on the back. It's already got a toolbox on it.... :grin:

Good luck with the search.... BTW, I also got it for 6K less than other dealers in the Mid-Columbia area. Email me if you want details.... Tim

[ 12-15-2003, 02:59 PM: Message edited by: timinthegorge ]

pdxkevin · 12-16-2003, 05:45 AM

Make sure to give the Chevy Avalanche a try! You can get it in either a 1500 or 2500 HD. We went with the 1500 and have never been happier. I am constantly amazed at the versitility and dependability. We use it camping, hunting, daily, and for hauling. The storage in the bedrails is a big plus.

Nothing else is even remotely this flexible and useful!

They ride very smoothly and don't even notice the mountains, even when loaded down.

Now, they make them without the lower plastic. We got one with the plastic and have saved the paint several times. It really absorbs rock and tree scrapes and cuts.

Chevy is running a 24 test drive on them, too!