Truck hunt: the options

"bob and john" (bobandjohn) 08/17/2020 at 13:28 • Filed to: None

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So, i want a truck. I will be doing some military (bases = off- r oadyness needed.,..esp in canada) and I will need to carry my shit back and forth between a base / home / other bases.

I also want to be able to carry a pair of sport bikes in the bed (gate down doesn’t matter)

I am down to 3 contenders.

1: Dodge Ram Laramie eco-diesel. ~ 70k (cad with taxes)

2: jeep gladiator eco-diesel ~60K (cad with taxes)

3: toyota tacoma ~50K (cad, taxes in)

so, the dodge I’ve driven on a trip to NC. I LOVED the interior and everything about it. but its by far the most $$.

the jeep, I dig the ‘jeepiness’ of it. And it will be better off-road. I’m not quite sure about its highway comfort...I need to drive one. See if i’m willing to give it up.

Now, notice these two are BOTH diesels. For the amount of hwy I will be doing, it makes sense. (plus I think the base will have diesel on site, for cheap!)

The wild card: a taco. Its kind of the ‘meh’ and boring choice. but at the same time, Taco. But, no diesel.....

what would oppo do? I really like that ram diesel...and with the 12 inch screen the interior is so nice...

but at the same time, joop.

Just Jeepin' > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 13:58

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I don’t think you have to stretch fa r to guess my answer.

I have absolutely no need for a pickup, but that Gladiator. Damn.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:02

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I think the Gladiator is actually a great choice. Less expensive than the Ram, much more novel, and even in the truck world will have crazy high resale value. Plus they come in all sorts of fun colors, manual if you want it, and CONVERTIBLE PICKUP TRUCK! A diesel will be hard to find, but will leave you with something different and cool.

You might consider a lightly used diesel Ram. Won’t be easy to find one, but it could bring it within your budget. Taco doesn’t sound quite right for what you are wanting to do. I’ve heard the driving position and ergonomics are bad, not ideal for tons of highway driving.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:02

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I vote Ram for sheer ride comfort alone. Sadly, I don’t think the ecodiesel has the best reliability record. I know they revamped it a year or 2 ago to help make it more reliable, so hopefully that fixed the issues.

bob and john > Just Jeepin' 08/17/2020 at 14:03

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I am not flexible doe :(

yea, the jeep appeals to my inner 12 year old, and it would fun to do some off-roading.

but at the same time, how much off-roading will I ACTUALLY be doing? Military will take up a lot of my time...

bob and john > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/17/2020 at 14:04

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the nice thing with the glady is that its jokes, and its got a better re-sale then the dodge (not that I would REALLLYYYY be intrested in that, but it helps a touch)

bob and john > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/17/2020 at 14:04

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the nice thing with the glady is that its jokes, and its got a better re-sale then the dodge (not that I would REALLLYYYY be intrested in that, but it helps a touch)

bob and john > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI 08/17/2020 at 14:05

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so, the ram can be had with air ride, which = NEAT.

but, the air ride isnt the most reliable.  maybe buy sans airride and fit one aftermarket? 

Just Jeepin' > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:05

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For me it’s not so much off-ro ading as back-ro ading and open air experience. Especially the open air.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:05

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Between the double post and knowing what you mean by “jokes,” I didn’t understand most of that.

bob and john > Just Jeepin' 08/17/2020 at 14:07

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if i want open air, i get on the bike.

if anything, thats a negative for me. 

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:07

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You could, but even without air ride, it’s the only full size truck to use coil springs in the rear which helps the unloaded ride quality a ton.

bob and john > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/17/2020 at 14:08

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the jeep is more fun. its an entertaining truck. ppl and kids see it and think off-road tonka truck.

the resale, it IS stronger on the jeep. But i dont care for it really. Is it nice to have, sure. is it a selling point to me? no. the better aftermarket is a better selling point to me. 

Forrest > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:08

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Ridgeline?

Just Jeepin' > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:09

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See, I never don’t want open air (except in the winter). It’s nice having one vehicle with nearly every part of the driving experience I want ( except of course the reliability) so wherever I go I have what I want with me.

HoustonRunner > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:11

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My dad has a Ram Eco-Diesel. He loves it, can get will into mid/upper 20mpg on road trips, and it is comfortable as heck. My mom even prefers the ride over their Ford Flex, but she doesn’t like the climb up into it.

Especially in the crew cab (or whatever they call the full 4 door), the interior room is amazing. Overall I prefer the look of Ford trucks, but the Ram has the best interior right now.

Assuming if this is for work you can write off or expense part of it?

Ssfancyfresh > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:11

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I’m not a Jeep h8rrrr, but everything about the way that phat duc is loaded has me triggered.

I’m sure it’s fine. Everything’s fine. WE ARE ALL GOING TO BE FINE, DO YOU HEAR ME!!?????!

Ahem. So. The jeep, then?

bob and john > Just Jeepin' 08/17/2020 at 14:11

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thats the thing. I’m in canada. Winter is kiinnnnnddaaaa a big thing up here.

eventually i’ll get a sports car as well. But yea, truck does everything 4 wheels needs to for me. I currently do 2 wheels for funsies 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:12

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I agree with you on the resale value in general (what’s the fun in already planning to sell a car you’re buying?) and yes it is probably the most fun and novel pickup truck on the market. It’s a winner, especially with the diesel.

sn4cktimes > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:13

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I’m not a huge fan of the 4 door Gladiator. But out of those options I’d lean towards it for the ease of maintenance and bevy of accessories for whatever you're into. The Taco would be my second choice. Reliable and yet again a VERY large aftermarket selection of stuff. Better mileage... diesel is gonna reign king.

bob and john > HoustonRunner 08/17/2020 at 14:14

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no, this would be a personal vehicle. I just need something that can carrie and haul more then the lexus can in the coming years.

bob and john > Forrest 08/17/2020 at 14:15

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didnt think about it.

I dont think its ‘truck’ enough for what I need. more worried about the off-road-worthiness then i am of its ability to tow.

nice other wise though. 

bob and john > Forrest 08/17/2020 at 14:15

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didnt think about it.

I dont think its ‘truck’ enough for what I need. more worried about the off-road-worthiness then i am of its ability to tow.

nice other wise though. 

Milky > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:15

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Apparently lef t han d utes does conversions for like 5ok USD. Clearly would be better for bike loading.

Discerning > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:23

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Have you checked out the F150 diesel? Similar to the Dodge but I think marginally better highway.

bob and john > Milky 08/17/2020 at 14:26

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yea. Id love one.

but no off-road :( 

HoustonRunner > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:27

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OK, my endorsement of the Ram still stands :)

Discerning > Forrest 08/17/2020 at 14:27

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As an owner of an F150, I fully endorse the Ridgeline if you don’t need to tow more than 5k lbs.

Decent fuel economy, best ride, perfectly fine in most offroad situations.

We only got the f150 because we needed to tow 9k lbs.

bob and john > Discerning 08/17/2020 at 14:28

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I actually drove a F150 diesel, LOVED the drivetrain.

but the interior. Oh my lord. even in the King ranch, it didnt feel THAT different to the base model. Maybe the new one will be better? but i adored the dodge we rented for NC (had the 12 inch screen, which , *swoon*)

Discerning > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:29

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The ridgeline is actually decent in most average offroad situations. It has actual torque vectoring and it does a good job of putting power to the correct wheels.

bob and john > Discerning 08/17/2020 at 14:31

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hmm. how are they for hwy fuel econ? I know they are reasonably well put together...

Speed > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:33

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All I know is a friend of mine bought a new Ram with some sort of cowboy rancher woodgrain interior package and that’s the nicest truck interior I’ve ever sat in. There were also so many storage compartments (even in the floors) that it would be infuriating to remember where you put things. There were storage compartments on top of storage compartments and freaking belt buckles on the leather. I hated the new body style until I sat in that cowboy cruiser. I’d probably forego the diesel for the old tried and true Hemi.

That said, I’d rather roll in a Gladiator Sport with the Max Tow package. Dropping the top on a truck is too cool to pass up given the trio of choices. You can throw some factory backed MOPAR goodies into an S and come on under the base price of a Rubicon.

I’ll also casually mention finding a 2019 (new engines int he 2020's) Frontier Pro-4x if you can still find a new one on the lot. It’s not as flashy as a Taco or popular with the hashtag crowd, but you can find an equivalent truck for significantly cheaper than a comparable TRD. You could cut this budget substantially.

Sovande > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:36

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19 city/26 highway

E90M3 > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:37

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Did you join the army? 

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:38

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Check this out bro!

https://www.thedrive.com/news/35759/2021-ram-trx-the-702-hp-hellcat-powered-truck-thats-been-years-in-the-making

bob and john > Speed 08/17/2020 at 14:38

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yea, thats a Laramie.

and I was looking specifically for the diesel for fuel economy. The mileage I plan on doing, warranty will cover any breaks I have. its the fuel I need to pay for.

a frontier: ew no. That truck hasnt been touched in so fucking long, and it shows. it doesnt even have a 6 speed. its beyond dinosaur. and frankly, they arent THAT much cheaper then a taco here. its a 45 K truck. another 5k and I get a taco. which, easy worth it. 

Discerning > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:38

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We test drove every truck pretty much at the end of 2018 and we ended up in the F150. I liked the ride in the Dodge but the interior was too glitzy. I also really preferred the 5.0 and 10 speed over the 5.7.

Wife and I both didn’t like the gear knob thing and the huge screen. The biggest detractor of the screen was the climate control. I like how in the Ford you can super quickly adjust temp and fan speed without looking over.

Discerning > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:39

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19 city, 24 highway. Which isn't spectacular Best part though is regular gas.

We looked at one a while ago and I didn’t have any complaints other than the vanilla front end and the dumb gear selector. Interior is a little plain too actually, but pretty functional.

bob and john > Discerning 08/17/2020 at 14:40

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i’m not shopping gassers, diesels in that category .

weirdly, I like the huge screen and the gear knob *shrugs* different strokes, different folks. 

Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:44

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Vote for Taco.  If you can’t say anything nice;

PatBateman > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:48

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My normal answer would be Ram, but I must concede that the right answer is the Taco.  You can dude it up with the money you saved, PLUS Toyota reliability.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:49

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Say “truck hunt” 5 times fast.

bob and john > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 08/17/2020 at 14:52

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too much fuel consumption. as jokes as it would be.

bob and john > E90M3 08/17/2020 at 14:52

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its the plan. I did my apptitude test long ago and its still valid. I need to polish up my degree and I should be in

412GTI > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:53

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The Gladiator is much more comfortable on the highway than the Wrangler. I actually prefer them over the Wrangler.

The Ram diesel is one of my favorite products currently and the interior is a wonderful place to spend time.

I might lean toward the Jeep based on your life style needs but both are great choices. Taco is great as well but I loathe the powertrain on them 

bob and john > PatBateman 08/17/2020 at 14:53

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thats the BIGGEST thing with the toyota. Its a bit smaller. not as capable. It will suck gas.

but. it will never, ever, ever break down. 

HammerheadFistpunch > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:56

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Is the Jeep diesel available yet?

PatBateman > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:56

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You can MAKE it capable off-road. It won’t tow nearly as much, but if you needed to tow more, you should probably be looking at a 3/4 ton.

Also, TONS of aftermarket goodies.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 14:58

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Ya, I was kidding lol

Would be a hoot tho...

bob and john > HammerheadFistpunch 08/17/2020 at 15:06

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its on the list for the 2021 model from what i understand 

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 15:34

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Read your title wrong. Thought it said track hunt. Thought you bought a Diavel as a track toy. Disappointed I'm wrong 

Future next gen S2000 owner > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 15:43

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Get the Taco. Resale matters. Highway mpg isn’t terrible. With the right tires, it will go to whatever off-road place you need. Interior is a bit tight though. Go with the access cab and have lots of bed space. A Daytona will fit in the bed with the tailgate down on the double cab though.

I like mine but the family has outgrown it.

Pickup_man > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 15:44

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The fun me says Gladiator even though I found it to be very cramped, loud and rough on the highway. They’re just a fun truck and obviously good off road.

The practical me says extended cab F-150 F X4. 2.7 for the fuel economy , or 5.0 for the longevity/ V8 noises . Still plenty of room with the extended cab, tons of bed space, FX4 package and a meaty set of tires will give you plenty of off road ability. The interiors in the latest F-150 are meh, but livable. 

nermal > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 15:47

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All 3 of those will handle like crap with two bikes in the bed due to the weight. Plus, loading bikes into the back of a truck is miserable. You’re much better off with a trailer.

The Gladiator will handle like the Ram (the rear suspension is the same) with crappier steering, more wind noise, and a crappier and smaller interior space. The trade off is that you can take off the roof and doors.

Get the gas powered Gladiator instead of the diesel , and don’t go stupid on the options. Use the $$$ saved on the engine to  get a 6x12 enclosed trailer set up with PitBull trailer restraints for two bikes. Done.

bob and john > nermal 08/17/2020 at 15:54

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I dont have where to store a trailer is my issue.

if I wanted a trailer, id just take over my dads GLK can call it a day.

We had the 2 bikes in the bed and the 2 on a trailer when we did the NC trip...it was fine, dont see the ‘crap’ part of it...

I know the glady with be worse objectivly, but more fun subjectively ...i need to drive it first.

bob and john > Pickup_man 08/17/2020 at 15:55

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if i get a fullsize, its going to be a diesel. the fuel econ jump is noticable for me, as this truck with be either on the freeway, or in off-roady conditions.

I HATE the ford interior .I love the powertrain (esp the diesel) but the int..ugh. 

CRider > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 17:00

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F-150 5.0 with Roush supercharger. 

bob and john > CRider 08/17/2020 at 17:40

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lol
no because ford
no base gas
no because you. 

CRider > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 18:09

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“No Fords!" - Guy considering two FCA products 

bob and john > CRider 08/18/2020 at 09:08

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I like the ford power trains . But they have such shitty interiors I cant get over the m

CRider > bob and john 08/18/2020 at 15:10

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Disgusting!

Yup, that'll do just fine. 

bob and john > CRider 08/18/2020 at 15:17

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who said I didnt have an issue with the toyota either?!

CRider > bob and john 08/18/2020 at 23:57

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The fact that it made your short list despite being a gas guzzling gas motor and having a crappy interior? You're just biased against my good ideas. Racist. 

bob and john > CRider 08/19/2020 at 11:45

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yea, the toyota there is also TWENTY grand less.

again. I like the ford motors. But the interiors, aside from some color changes, reallllyyyy arent that different from the base truck