NEW Trucks - Whats the deal??

[Ruger4Me]

I bought a new Dodge 4x4 truck in 1983, I drove that truck for 14 years, replace the timing chain and water pump at 115k it was starting to get some play in it, the alternator at about 125k and the clutch at 135k miles, and nothing after that, I sold it with 215k miles and running strong.
 
I sold it to buy a new 4x4 truck in 1997, a ¾ ton new ford, after all the problems my dad was having with his 1996 dodge I had second thought about one so I got a ford.

The ford was not much better It was my plan to keep it 10 years.
I kept it 4 and in the 4 years I replace the clutch, breaks, alternator, water pump, had to have the front end rebuilt, and the oil pan rusted out, all of this in the first 65k miles.
 
I’ve been 3 years without a 4x4 truck and am looking again.  But feel like what ever I get is going to be crap again.

For you that have wither a ¾ ton 4x4 Ford or Dodge how are they holding up?

[colt451911]

I dont have any experience with the newer fords or dodges but I can attest to the reliability of the new chevys.  My dad has a 99 that last I knew had 160,000 miles on it.  He has had to replace the ABS system and a power window motor, thats it, the only other times it has seen the inside of a shop was when he was too lazy to do his own oil changes.  I wish I could say the same about my 76 blazer with about as many miles.

[Ruger4Me]

I have not been impressed with the Chevy’s either I have an ‘89 Suburban, w/350ci with just under 80k. Granted and knock on wood, the only thing I have had to replace is the water pump. But it burns oil like it has stock in Exxon or Shell. And has an intermittent EGR problem that has been there for the last 3 years.

My good friend Doug has a Chevy that’s was in and out of the dealer so many times he finally flipped out and bought a full size Toyota 4x4.

[Redhawk1]

I have a 1996 Dodge 4X4 and the only problem I have had in 93,000 miles is, I blew out the reverse in my transmission, (my fault.) I also own a 2002 Dodge Ram 4X4. I have had no problems at all, I have 12,000 miles on it. I will stick with Dodge.

[colt451911]

General rule of thumb is that the pre 95 chevys possesed average reliability, everyone I know with a 95 or newer has been extremely happy with it.  A friend of mine has a 94 and that has also held up well but I know a couple people with suburbans from the same year that spend a fair amount of time getting fixed.  Many of the mid and late 80s models from all companies were horribly un-reliable.  Most people with chevys from the 70s that I talk to like them.  A friend of mine has a 78 and as I mentioned in my first post I have a 76 blazer.  Both of these have had a bunch of minor problems but nothing big.  Basically if I had the money I would be quick to pick up one of the newer chevys and not as quick to pick up a dodge or ford.

[hunt4570]

First, after previous experiance with GM (Garbage Motors)I won't even consider buying a piece of chevy again.Ford builds a good truck although in my opinion ugly.I'm on my third new Dodge in a row,no mechanical problems except 1 trip to dealer for a sensor gone bad. My thought on buying a truck you are going to keep that long is Dodge's 7/70 warrentee is the best of the bunch.Word of advice on Dodge however is don't get the 20 inch wheels...the only tires available are junk goodyear street tires,no offroad type tires are available.Thuis is my $.02 although I really have no opinion on the matter.       SGB

[rockbilly]

I think anytime you buy a truck you have look at what you intend to use it for.  I have owned many trucks over the years, Chev, Dodge, Ford and Toyota.  I have never had a bad truck.  Some I had more problems with than others, but I really think a lot of my problems were a result of the type of use.  Grading 4x4s, I would put Toyota at the top of the list, but if you want to tow, a Dodge would be my choice.  Chev is nice if you if you are looking for creature comforts.  But, If you want a comfortable truck, that pulls great (not as good as the Dodge) and works well in the dirt, my choice is the Ford.

I just bought a new F-250, Crew Cab, FX4 with the 6.0 diesel.......I pull a 38 foot RV, three slides, weight is about 14,000 and I tuck my Skeeter, SX175 bass boat behind the trailer.  I can run about 70-75 all day long and still get 14 MPG.  The jury is still out on this truck, I bought it in May, have 21K on it already, but I did have a break down that left me stranded over Thanksgiving.  It was a simple problem, but I couldn't find it and there was no one in Alpine, Tx to work on it, had to wait until Friday after Thanksgiving and have it trucked 80 miles to Ft. Stockton to have it fixed.  They had me back on the road in about two hours.

I sold a Toyota and bought the Ford. The Toy handled the bass boat well.  I also have a Chev that I used to pull the RV, but I couldn't handle both the boat and RV ,with it.  I just drive the Chevy around town and out to the farm now.

[Ruger4Me]

I will not buy another GM truck.

I was not pleased with my Ford either for that matter.

[SBF]

I'm interested to see how the new 2004 Nissan Titan fares.  Looks pretty wild anyways.