Full-size pick-up truck choice

[3LOU5]

If you were in the market of purchasing an used American-made 1/2-ton 4X4 pickup truck, what would you buy?

[ff]

Nissan Titan.

[3LOU5]

Nissan Titan.

No Japanese makes allowed, strictly American.

[nate]

No Japanese makes allowed, strictly American.

Why?

[3LOU5]

Why?

Japanese makes seem to command a higher price when compared to their American-made counterparts, though I could be wrong. :dunno:

I am basically shopping for a beater for the upcoming winter. It should be able to tow a 19-20 foot boat effortlessly as well.

[bren]

We got the best deal on a Dodge so that's what's in the driveway.

[ff]

No Japanese makes allowed, strictly American.

The Titan is made in America. And it'll tow anything that those 1/2 ton Ford, GM, and Dodge's will tow (more, actually?).

[Optimus Prime]

I bought my Chevy 1500 last year. I was pretty much doing the same thing you are, except I didn't care about 4x4. I drove the Chevy/Ford/Dodge/Nissan... they all seemed to work just fine. I got the best deal on an odd-ball leftover Chevy the dealer had on the lot and wanted to move. I didn't like the Dodge a lot, but any of the other three were equal in my mind, and I still would have taken the Dodge for the right deal. I purchased purely based on who gave me the best deal. I got a 1500 long bed, supercab, tow package, upgraded interior, 5.3 Flex, for under $20k. It's been a fine truck for everything I need. They were selling a 4x4 for the same price, but it didn't have the long bed.

With all the incentives being thrown around right now, you should be able to get a good deal.

[John V]

I've been told that the 1500 and even the 2500 series trucks don't tow that great. Depending on how much you tow and how heavily that weighs your decision, you might want to think about it.

[kognito]

Titan is made, and designed in america, but you might have a hard time finding a used one. How old is "used" to you?? This is the time of year for great end of year clearance sales, coupled with slow sales means you can get a great deal!

New, Chevy and Dodge warrenties are hard to pass up, but Dodge really needs the lifetime powertrain cause their transmissions don't last long.

Used, Chevy (or GMC) will be the most dependable for you.

[Rob]

Why is it so difficult for people to grasp the concept that Chevy makes the longest lasting and most dependable trucks available? Nissan . . . doesn't. Just curious.

I have no opinion about pick up trucks. I thought about buying one to haul wood for awhile, but the van seems to work just fine (at least as opposed to buying another vehicle to use once a month or so).

[lupinsea]

Well, he said "beater truck". . . . maybe signifitantly older than the last few years. :dunno:

Anyways, might want to consider a 4x4 for the sole point of having extra traction on the boat ramp. I'm not a boat guy, never launched a boat from a boat ramp, never retrieved one so I could be talking out my ear. But I'd think the pavement could get a bit slippery and having to lug a 20 ft boat out of the water would only add to potential traction problems.

[Rob]

Depending on the boat and the ramp, 4WD can be a life safer for pulling boats out of the water. For example, I have a friend with a 2WD expedition for boat hauling (a 19' Mastercraft, not huge but probably 4k pounds) and he used to use the boat motor to push the truck up the ramp. The truck had plenty of power, but it couldn't get enough traction most of the time.

[Nick M3]

Depending on the boat and the ramp, 4WD can be a life safer for pulling boats out of the water. For example, I have a friend with a 2WD expedition for boat hauling (a 19' Mastercraft, not huge but probably 4k pounds) and he used to use the boat motor to push the truck up the ramp. The truck had plenty of power, but it couldn't get enough traction most of the time.
Given that many boat ramps are too slick to stand on, I couldn't imagine backing a truck down them without 4WD.

The truth is that in a beater truck, you can't really go wrong with any of them. Buy the cheapest you can get. (But I voted for the Chevy.)

[3LOU5]

I bought my Chevy 1500 last year. I was pretty much doing the same thing you are, except I didn't care about 4x4. I drove the Chevy/Ford/Dodge/Nissan... they all seemed to work just fine. I got the best deal on an odd-ball leftover Chevy the dealer had on the lot and wanted to move. I didn't like the Dodge a lot, but any of the other three were equal in my mind, and I still would have taken the Dodge for the right deal. I purchased purely based on who gave me the best deal. I got a 1500 long bed, supercab, tow package, upgraded interior, 5.3 Flex, for under $20k. It's been a fine truck for everything I need. They were selling a 4x4 for the same price, but it didn't have the long bed.

With all the incentives being thrown around right now, you should be able to get a good deal.

If I was in the market for a new truck, you're right, now would be the best time to get a 2007 leftover.

However, this rig will only be used for winter driving (Ski Tahoe !), occasional Home Depot/plant nursery runs and towing my yet-to-be-purchased boat on the weekends. (Thus, I'm trying to save some $$ for the boat, and that a used truck will be the only way to go).

Right now, I'm leaning toward a GM product though....

[3LOU5]

I've been told that the 1500 and even the 2500 series trucks don't tow that great. Depending on how much you tow and how heavily that weighs your decision, you might want to think about it.

I see a lot of 1/2-ton trucks towing 20-footers around here, so I'm assuming that it's relatively safe. :dunno:

(I'll have to further research this).

The boat size is really limited to my RV parking space, so I can't see myself getting a boat longer than a 20. Also, I don't want to compromise my safety (and the safety of others) by towing something that is barely within the towing safety limits.

[3LOU5]

Titan is made, and designed in america, but you might have a hard time finding a used one. How old is "used" to you?? This is the time of year for great end of year clearance sales, coupled with slow sales means you can get a great deal!

New, Chevy and Dodge warrenties are hard to pass up, but Dodge really needs the lifetime powertrain cause their transmissions don't last long.

Used, Chevy (or GMC) will be the most dependable for you.

Used being < 10 yrs old.

I'm pretty lucky in the fact about 80% of Nevadans here drive trucks. Kinda like Texas, I guess.

So the used truck market here will have PLENTY to choose from. Like most high-dollar items I've purchased over the past, I tend to research the crap out of a product before plunking down the green stuff, like any informed consumer.

[3LOU5]

Why is it so difficult for people to grasp the concept that Chevy makes the longest lasting and most dependable trucks available? Nissan . . . doesn't. Just curious.

I have no opinion about pick up trucks. I thought about buying one to haul wood for awhile, but the van seems to work just fine (at least as opposed to buying another vehicle to use once a month or so).

Yeah, you REALLY need to get a 4x4 pickup for those times when San Diego gets blasted with snow. :p

[TD]

U-haul

Give it back when you are done with it.

[3LOU5]

Well, he said "beater truck". . . . maybe signifitantly older than the last few years. :dunno:

Anyways, might want to consider a 4x4 for the sole point of having extra traction on the boat ramp. I'm not a boat guy, never launched a boat from a boat ramp, never retrieved one so I could be talking out my ear. But I'd think the pavement could get a bit slippery and having to lug a 20 ft boat out of the water would only add to potential traction problems.

4-wheel drive is a definite advantage on the ramps....and on everything else that I'm going to use it for.

Except at the gas pumps. :(

I've entertained the idea of getting a Jeep (since you're a Jeeper), but they seem to run higher AND the cargo space that a p/u truck provides is something that I really require.

[3LOU5]

....Buy the cheapest you can get. (But I voted for the Chevy.)

:+1

[3LOU5]

U-haul

Give it back when you are done with it.

My real estate agent said the very same thing. :eeps:

I think the convenience factor FAR outweighs the whole renting thing. And especially the fact that used trucks around here can be had for a pretty reasonable price.

[3LOU5]

Depending on the boat and the ramp, 4WD can be a life safer for pulling boats out of the water. For example, I have a friend with a 2WD expedition for boat hauling (a 19' Mastercraft, not huge but probably 4k pounds) and he used to use the boat motor to push the truck up the ramp. The truck had plenty of power, but it couldn't get enough traction most of the time.

Looks like a recipe for a "dinged-prop" disaster. :eeps:

I've spent many a time at boat ramps when I had my waverunner back in FL. The ones with 4wd had THE easiest time - in and out with no problems.

I miss just watching newbies launching and retrieving their boats/PWC's. I've witness one time when this guy forgot to screw in his drain plugs on his waverunner, and by the time he got to it after parking his vehicle, it was half-way submerged.

And of course, let's not forget those times when a couple is mercilessly shouting at each other, telling the driver which way to turn the wheel when backing down the ramp.

Cheap thrills, those boat ramps........

:lol:

[John V]

I would definitely want 4WD for launching and retrieving boats. No question.

[bren]

I've been told that the 1500 and even the 2500 series trucks don't tow that great. Depending on how much you tow and how heavily that weighs your decision, you might want to think about it.

Most 1500 trucks are more for contractors than towing anything heavy - I can't imagine anyone telling me the 2500 that I have isn't great for towing.

[JST]

I would definitely want 4WD for launching and retrieving boats. No question.

+1.

Growing up, we had plenty of boats and yanked them out of the water with numerous 4x4s (I have lost track of the number of Bronco IIs may family had, but I think it's more than half-a-dozen).

I wouldn't even try and launch a boat without 4WD, and if it were a decent-size boat, I'd want a low-range transfer case.

[FC]

Renting can be too much of a hassle. I rent small u-haul trilers to dump my leaves in the fall. That is about all I can stand.

[Nick M3]

Most 1500 trucks are more for contractors than towing anything heavy - I can't imagine anyone telling me the 2500 that I have isn't great for towing.
Today's 3/4ton trucks are tougher and carry more than yesterday's 1 ton trucks.

[bren]

Today's 3/4ton trucks are tougher and carry more than yesterday's 1 ton trucks.

...but he is looking at used trucks - so wouldn't they be yesterday's? :p

[BahnBaum]

I agree with all the other boat launching experienced people here. I would definitely get 4wd. You don't need a low range xfer case with a 20' boat though, and the marinas I go to are jammed with 1500s towing boats in the size range you're looking at.

And anyone who advises renting a uhaul has never owned a trailered boat. If you expect to use it often enough to justify the expense, you need to plan on every opportunity to reduce the hassle factor. Trust me on that one.

Alex

[lupinsea]

Yup, Jeeps hold their value a while. Also, they only have about a 5,000 lb. towing limit for the GC and Cherokee models. The Wranglers have a wopping 2000 lb. limit (due to short wheel base). AND, Jeeps in general are surprisingly compact vehicles so not much in the cargo volume department. Further, the only vehicle I'd toss messy stuff in is a Wrangler (hose out interior) and that's only rated as a 1/4 ton vehicle.

For a while I wanted to get a pick-up truck for cargo hauling to / from home improvement stores, etc. For that I'd really only need 2WD but it was hard finding them when I was looking. As I think about it more it's not making much sense to get a truck right now as it'd maybe be used about 1 weekend per month.

My aunt has one I can borrow but I waste 4 hrs every time I want to use it to drive out to her place, pick it up, drive back, and then repeat to return it.

Instead I'm thinking of retro-fitting my sandrail trailer so I can also haul materials. And/or fabricating my own cargo rack up top for the Jeep.

The truck rental as TD mention has a lot of merit. Only use the truck when you need to. But then it's a hassle to go down and pick one up every time you want to use it. If you can get a cheap enough beater truck the convenience of having it at your house is nice. I'd suspect it would get used more often. You can probably get a real beater for $4-5k that runs well. May need some love but full-size trucks are pretty stout.

My dad's '76 F-250 ran for 300k+ miles before the transmission blew out on it. Old and worn it was still doing work duty hauling stuff when he needed it. BTW, he bought it new in '76. My aunt's full-size '86 GMC crew-cab has 130k+ miles on it, (maybe 230k). Apart from a messed up carb it's doing well, need to put maybe $200-500 into getting it to pass emissions, though. She bought it almost 8-10 years ago fr $3500 and uses it as her farm truck.

[Nick M3]

...but he is looking at used trucks - so wouldn't they be yesterday's? :p
Nah. I'm thinking back to when these geezers were, you know, our age. ;)