Author Topic: What is the "toughest" 4x4 truck? (Read 13106 times)

jh45gun · « **Reply #60 on:** May 10, 2006, 07:20:55 PM »

Chev 1500 series. Rated a Best Buy. After market parts are cheap and easy to get compared to other brands of vehicles. I just got a 92 Blazer and I really like it and before I bought it I did a lot of research. Before I bought the full size I had a 89 jimmy S15 that I paid 700 bucks for and drove for 5 years.( Still The bigger 1500 series is a better truck than the smaller ones like the S10's ) Jeeps are good with the straight six motor the v8 is a gas hog. Dodges have a really bad rep for tranny problems so they did not even make a consideration. The local GMC dealer has a row of Dodges on Death Row. Fords have earned the fix or repair daily in my book they can nickel and dime you to death. I would never buy a ford again. I know more of a few guys who have told me they will never buy a ford again. Toyotas yea great trucks only reason I did not get one is that the resale value is really high on these and for a good reason, still I could not see buying a 92 vintage truck for 5000 bucks and that seems to be a average price for that year class in my area.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #61 on:** May 12, 2006, 12:17:31 AM »

toughest one i ever owned was a 78 3/4 ton chev with a stick and a 350 in it. Road like a lumber wagon but was indestructable. I live in big snow country and id say comercial snow plowers use more chevs then all the other brands combined! I look around at old beat up plow trucks that people keep for plowing themselves and its rare to see an old ford or dodge. Lots of old rusted up chevs with plows on them around though. I also work for a fairly large utility that studys everything and keeps logs on repairs and buys accordinly and they have standardized on chevs and gmcs for small trucks. The fords and dodges were cheaper to buy but by 100000 miles the repair cost way outcost what they saved on the initial purchase.

gp911 · « **Reply #62 on:** May 13, 2006, 05:46:14 PM »

From my experience in owning vehicles or examining parts when I worked in the industry:

Toughest Diesel: Cummins

Toughest Auto Trans: Allison GM had a great ad that showed the input shafts of the big three and that alone probably sold a lot of trucks as it was similar to the connecting rod pic seen earlier.

Toughest Manual Trans: Not sure nowadays, but I loved the NP435 in my old '68 D200... I like the Cummins enough that I'd just buy one with a 6-speed if I had the scratch to get a new truck... Haven't heard anything bad about them.

Chevys had those exploding rear diffs for awhile and I hate non-lever transfer cases, Ford had several weird issues with the Power Stroke (too bad, since they make great power), Dodge auto trannies for the gas engines tended to go early...

As for the Japanese trucks I only have a few mini-pickups for personal experience, and friends' Toyotas outlasted them all. The Isuzu pickup (2WD stripped model) was great pre-Hombre/S10, nice low gearing and peppy Mitsu motors that were great as long as you changed the oil. Several blew up from lack of maintenance though, which Toyota 22Rs laughed off. The other was a Nissan 2WD, but it had freeway gearing (which i hate in a truck) and it was showing signs of rust at 40k...

For older full-sizes my experience was that GMs drove really sloppy as they aged and rusted, but great drivetrains and parts availability. Fords seemed pretty durable in general, I just didn't like their engines much aside from the 300-6 (for truck use). Then they tried those weird lugnut sizes and bolt patterns... Dodges were always ugly and outdated, but they did the job and the hideous '60s models are still my favorites. Internationals had sluggish engines and rusted but they ran until they rusted in half. Same with the Jeep J-series trucks, they ran and worked right until the bodies crumbled to dust around the drivetrain. Too bad, as those Jeeps were great off-road.

Currently my "truck" is an XJ Cherokee 4.0L, but I'd love a new 6-spd Cummins...

My 2 cents...

gp911

rockbilly · « **Reply #63 on:** May 13, 2006, 06:09:38 PM »

This is a very subjective question. Best 4x4 for what purpose?

a. Running the swamps in south Louisiana.
b. Running sand dunes.
c. Deer/ERlk hunting in Colorado
e. As a snow plow in Vermont

THere are many questions to be answered before stating one is better than another. I own both a Ford and Toyota. The ford, a FX4. F250, Crew Cab Diesel is great as long as I am on the road or a fairly solid surface, in sand or mud it sinks like a rock. I can pull a 30 foot stock trailer loaded with cows out of the pasture with no problem as long as it is DRY.

The Toyota, a 1993, Extra Cab, V-6, will go anywhere, but it lacks the power to pull a stock trailer. But it has a low center of gravity, enough power to climb mountains, it works well in the mud and has never left me stranded.

Asking which 4x4 is best is kinda like asking which deer rifle is best. Where do you hunt, is it mule or whitetail, what is the average dsistance of your shot? You could go on and on, with the rifle or with the 4x4. But in my opinion, and for my needs, the Toyota works best. :roll:

Keith Lewis · « **Reply #64 on:** June 27, 2006, 03:13:44 PM »

For you guys that want to crow about how many trucks Ford sells, try adding the GMC and the Chevy trucks together and see how the numbers work out. If Ford split their truck into Fords and Mercurys they would not have the same volume to report either. The GMC and Chevy trucks are basically the same vehicle but split for marketing reasons which puts them at a disadvantage for total sales volume figures. There are still more old Chevy trucks on the road than old Fords is spite of the fact that they were outsold by Ford almost every year. Just to add a little confusion I have a Suzuki Samurai that is tougher than anything I have previously experienced considering how rough it is treated. It is basically an old Jeep except that the transmission and brakes actually work.

Selmer · « **Reply #65 on:** July 18, 2006, 06:57:05 AM »

I have to vote for my 1973 Chevy Suburban. My father bought it new, family vehicle for 25 years that did double duty all year and THE hunting a fishing truck, when the weather got bad, all of our friends that wanted to hunt made sure they came with us so they could get pulled out or not get stuck. We restored it 4 years ago, still going strong as a family/hunting/fishing truck, new body, 500,000+ miles on the structure, engine rebuilt twice, tranny rebuilt once. GREAT vehicle!
selmer

kyote · « **Reply #66 on:** July 29, 2006, 06:20:01 PM »

I have used, owned Jeeps M151s,CJs since 69..but they are not trucks.but jeeps(jeep did venture into the truck market I did not think they did a very good job at it).and they are tough.one said ya have to rebuild them often.that mans uses his.I am always under mine fixing something.not because it is cra- but it goes where most others turn around and head back home.I have a 1500 Z71 GMC I think she is tough.It goes places that are tough.and gets me home.and I do have to work on her.But then I enjoy doing PM.but as for the toufest truck..
unimog wins.there is nothing in the truck world to compare it to.

steve · « **Reply #67 on:** August 02, 2006, 06:44:13 AM »

I go with the Toyota I have over 200,000 miles on my tacoma 4x4 and never had any problems. These miles were hard miles I would beat the crap out of this truck and it keeps on running. The body and the frame show no rust. This is a 1997 model.
I have owned Ford and Chevys I had a lot of problems with them. Dodges I wouldn't have one in my yard. Dodges sound like a tin can.
News yesterday the 3 biggest car and truck sales: GM, Toyota, Ford, and last but not least Dodges.

midnightrider_slt · « **Reply #68 on:** November 18, 2006, 06:56:15 AM »

another vote for dodge here

black-tail · « **Reply #69 on:** November 18, 2006, 04:34:53 PM »

The old straight axle Chevy's from '73-'87 P/u and the 73-92 Blazer and Suburban.

howdy doody · « **Reply #70 on:** November 20, 2006, 09:11:27 PM »

I was a Ford guy for years. Went to a Dodge Ram 2005 model and am more than happy with it. I need more miles to be totally convinced.

lefteyedon · « **Reply #71 on:** November 21, 2006, 03:00:13 PM »

EXTRA Full Size M-35

FULL SIZE
M-37

Compact Cj5

Notable, M715, Landercuiser, Landrover m90

Why would you want cool air and speeds over 55mph anyway?

Markus · « **Reply #72 on:** November 21, 2006, 04:39:47 PM »

I have no first hand knowledge about them but I have to admit seeing the taliban and Iraqui insurgents beating the crap out of nissans every ady on the news has me considering one of them for my next play truck. Drive an 01 Tacoma now that has served well so far. What does tough really mean any way. Durable? Tough looking?

no guns here · « **Reply #73 on:** November 22, 2006, 02:11:52 AM »

One word... UNIMOG... known the world over as one of, if not the toughest 4x4 on the planet. Used as airport tugs, personnel carriers, campers, snow plows, snow blowers, cranes, backhoes, farm tractors, logging, pulling trains (believe it!), rock buggies, swamp buggies, fire-trucks, and who knows what else. Try www.rockymountainmoggers.com or just google up "unimog".

ngh

Grubbs · « **Reply #74 on:** November 22, 2006, 11:38:13 AM »

As long as Ford continues to advertise in gay magazines, and push the gat agenda by doing so, I will never, ever even consider one. I hope the new Tundra drives F-150 sales to the bottom.

nontypical1 · « **Reply #75 on:** November 30, 2006, 01:00:25 PM »

I am a Chevy man.Dad bought the blazer when they first came out.Next came the 76 suburban and so-on.All lasted many maine/canada/ny hunting trips.My first was a 76 blazer,then 87(new)pk/up,then 90 pk/up,then my new creation.A 95 Xtend cab w/a solid front D60 axle and D70 duallie rear.Both have LS's, and 4.56.Trans,axles,driveshafts ALL been beefed up.

hummer · « **Reply #76 on:** December 12, 2006, 11:39:13 AM »

Going for the Dodge Ram 2500 Turbo-diesel

Tried the other 2 companies....Dodge...

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #77 on:** December 14, 2006, 12:24:01 AM »

I guess im comming into this late. Im a chev truck man through and through allways have been allways will be. I woulnd be ashamed to drive a dodge but no fords in my driveway. We live as far north in the contenental US as you can go and do more plowing and have our trucks in 4 wheel drive more then probably anywhere in the country. My old man used to drive fords until he learned what worked too. I work for a big power company that encompasses all of northern wisconson and northern michigan. This company studys a (censored word) bolt before they buy it for 6 months. They used to buy whatever pickups that they got the cheapest until they did a reliablility survey on the fleet and found that chevs on an avearge cost @40 percent less to maintain during a lifespan of 150000 miles. They figured that even with the slightly added cost at purchase that over the lifespan of the truck they were saving about 2 grand per vehicle. Now to be fair with the dodge, jeep and jap drivers they were not included. They had a few old dodges but everyone knows the quality on the old ones wasnt up to the quality of what dodge puts out now. Another big savings was in gas milage. They figure there fleat avearges about 2 mpg better by going with chevs and with the ammount of vehicles they run thats a big savings too. I drive a club cab 06 silverado 4x4 5.3 liter 1/2 ton yes i had to crank up the torsion bars to get 285s under it but it still rides as good as any ford or dodge and cranking up the torsion bars took about 15 minutes of my time. It will blow any ford 4x4 off the road and run stock with anything but a vortec max, duramax or a hemi and with the exaust intake and custom program it will outrun a hemi and get 5 mpg better gas milage doing it. But imo you want a real truck drive an duramax allison 1 ton 4x4. now thats a truck.

R.W.Dale · « **Reply #78 on:** December 14, 2006, 03:24:09 AM »

Quote

I drive a club cab 06 silverado 4x4 5.3 liter 1/2 ton yes i had to crank up the torsion bars to get 285s under it but it still rides as good as any ford or dodge and cranking up the torsion bars took about 15 minutes of my time.

NOT good! I've seen many trucks done this way and the prognosis is ALWAYS the same. Check your ball joints OFTEN like every couple of months

because I doubt you'll have a set last much longer than a year.

When people ask me about "torsion bar lifts" I always tell people that if you touch those adjusting bolts your truck will NEVER drive right again...........Everybody who has gone ahead and done it now agrees with me. I have seen many people do so and it only spells trouble. The direction in which the bar is turned to allow a higher ride height takes away all upward wheel travel. this means when you hit a bump you wheel will not bounce up as it is suposed to, however, you will have that much more downward travel. just from normal bumps like pot holes, speed bumps, and the like; you will break them. im telling you, get a lift spindle, your looking at about $350.

MY S-10 that somebody did this to previously actually cracked an upper controll arm on top of 3 sets of ball joints in 2 yrs.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #79 on:** December 14, 2006, 10:43:27 AM »

i got the ok from my chev dealer to do it and with two and a half years of warantee left im not going to worry to much about it. It will be time for a new one then anyway.

MI VHNTR · « **Reply #80 on:** December 14, 2006, 02:45:53 PM »

You can tighten the torsion bars on your car, err "truck", but it's still a poor suspension for a truck to have, especially if it's used for anything other than riding around town. Tried a GM a while back, but I got sick and tired of putting ball joints, tie rod ends, shocks and idler arms on it.

Pretty big claim to be able to "blow any ford 4x4 off of the road". I think that it's laughable at best.

Keith L · « **Reply #81 on:** December 14, 2006, 03:01:25 PM »

Everybosy has a right to their opinion. I have had several Fords and a few years ago I bought a GMC. Now it isn't a 4X4, its a Savana. And it really runs well. But the interior continuously falls apart. And it has rattles and squeaks like no tomorrow. i have never had such trouble with my Fords. Kind of a mixed blessing.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #82 on:** December 15, 2006, 12:00:20 AM »

my truck is a club cab 310 hp .343 rear auto with 285 tires borla exaust k&n intake and a power programer. My partner at work has a short box ford standard cab stepside 373s 5.4 flowmaster cat back k&n intake same power programer and stock sized tires. We ran last month after i took my custom tune out.(I run a custom tune in a predetor and he runs the predetor 93 tune) I had mine out for the winter to run 87 octane.He jumped me by a truck lenght out of the hole. Mostly because without the custom tune the dammed chevs have so much torque managment that its a joke. End of the quarter I had him by 3 truck lenghts. Now short of a lightning or a deisel i doubt if ford makes a quicker truck then his so ill stand by that statement. Now put that same power package in a short box standard chev with 373s and it would be a laughing matter.

Quote from: MI VHNTR on December 14, 2006, 02:45:53 PM

You can tighten the torsion bars on your car, err "truck", but it's still a poor suspension for a truck to have, especially if it's used for anything other than riding around town. Tried a GM a while back, but I got sick and tired of putting ball joints, tie rod ends, shocks and idler arms on it.

Pretty big claim to be able to "blow any ford 4x4 off of the road". I think that it's laughable at best.

MI VHNTR · « **Reply #83 on:** December 15, 2006, 04:16:20 PM »

Double tap

MI VHNTR · « **Reply #84 on:** December 15, 2006, 04:17:26 PM »

I bought my truck to use as a truck not a pseudo race car and it's darned good at what it's used for. It uses leaf springs, a solid axle and is tough as nails. It also has plenty of horsepower AND torque, which is essential in a truck engine. That being said, a Ford Triton V-10 will more than handle the paper horsepower that GM claims to have. Anything less IS a laughing matter.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #85 on:** December 16, 2006, 12:05:14 PM »

probably going to start a fight here but one of the last fords we have at work is a 4x4 duelly club cab with a v10 in it and its the biggest slug in the shop the 5.4s felt stronger on the low end. Nobody wants to drive it and the only good thing about the truck is that you get to stop for a break every two hours to fuel it up!! Dont get me wrong ford did make some good stuff. One is the old 300 straight six and the other is there power stroke.

MI VHNTR · « **Reply #86 on:** December 16, 2006, 02:37:05 PM »

Your reply won't start a fight as far as I'm concerned. If it makes you feel better, I'll tell everyone that your truck can out accelerate and outrun an F1 Ferrari. I know what the HP/Torque numbers are for both engines and they don't lie. Subjective statements and paper horsepower are another thing altogether. Reality tends to correct such misstatements .
As far as the mileage statements, my real world mileage isn't exaggerated or inflated, nor does it need to be. I don't have to fuel up every two hours though. According to your statement, there must be something wrong with my truck.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #87 on:** December 17, 2006, 04:12:24 AM »

Quote from: MI VHNTR on December 16, 2006, 02:37:05 PM

never said a word about anything that i havent experienced myself. No second hand info here. Just like any post ive ever made conserning shooting. I calll it like i see it. My truck WILL get 20mpg going down the road on a trip driving 65 or a little faster. At least according to my readout on the dash. Which has been corrected for tire size. It actually got 22 before the bigger tires. Guess ive yet to see a ford or dodge full sized club cab get that and its nothing special for the chevs its about what everyone gets. Outurnn a ferarri? Not in this lifetime but its made short work of the few fords that have tried. My truck isnt a sports car either and i dont drive it like that. The little racing ive done with it has been because of the taunting of a few young guys I work with. Hp and torque figures quoted are a joke. They claim my motor makes 310 hp and it puts about 240 down on a real dyno. The manufactures are known to write numbers down they like. Just like my old grand national. They went the other way on that one. Called it 235 hp and it would smoke vettes that were almost 1000lb lighter and had 15 more hp. Both my grandnational and my vetter were tuned on real dynos and the numbers they put out stock are sure a far shot from what Gm will tell you. Your reply won't start a fight as far as I'm concerned. If it makes you feel better, I'll tell everyone that your truck can out accelerate and outrun an F1 Ferrari. I know what the HP/Torque numbers are for both engines and they don't lie. Subjective statements and paper horsepower are another thing altogether. Reality tends to correct such misstatements .
As far as the mileage statements, my real world mileage isn't exaggerated or inflated, nor does it need to be. I don't have to fuel up every two hours though. According to your statement, there must be something wrong with my truck.

MI VHNTR · « **Reply #88 on:** December 17, 2006, 02:00:24 PM »

"My truck WILL get 20mpg going down the road on a trip driving 65 or a little faster. At least according to my readout on the dash. Which has been corrected for tire size. It actually got 22 before the bigger tires. Guess ive yet to see a ford or dodge full sized club cab get that and its nothing special for the chevs its about what everyone gets."
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It sure must be nice to have a super-powered, high-MPG truck that delivers better mileage than any other brand of truck on the road. Further, it's also better than any other Chevy truck that I (and many others) have ever seen or heard of. While we're on the subject of your overly powerful truck, the towing power must be massive too. You must feel so special to have a one-of-a-kind truck like that.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #89 on:** December 18, 2006, 12:16:48 PM »

dont know pal what your trying to say but if you doubt my honesty you might want to check with some of the guys on here that know me personaly. Youll find that although i have many faults lack of honesty and honor sure isnt one of them.

Poll

What is the "toughest" 4x4 truck?

Author Topic: What is the "toughest" 4x4 truck? (Read 13106 times)