Ford or...?

I've had all the big three over the years, mostly Fords. I liked the Econolines over the other two vans and you just couldn't kill a 300 in line. We have the Expeditions because we moved to the edge of the plains and the first year had a snow storm that was too much for the van and a set of chains. As I was digging it out a Expedition passed by like it was nothing and shrugged off a three foot drift before pulling into their driveway. We traded in our Van and Cougar on a pair of Expys that week.

I do have a F 150 but honestly it was suppose to be a work truck and I went to Chevy first. All of my family has worked for GM and I was suppose to be able to get a deal. What they told me was I'd be better walking in off the street as there was a set price they would have to charge me. For what they wanted for a bare bones two wheel drive half ton, I went to Ford and got a 4x4 with stereo/CD, bed liner, Chrome rims and Air. It really wasn't a contest as the F 150 was also more stylish, comfortable, quieter and had a better ride.

dockmasterdave wrote:
For me it was fairly simple. Look at the older model pickups you see driving down the road, in extremely good shape. You'll see 10 Fords to 2 Chevy's and 2 Dodge's.
Simple math, who do you think makes the longest lasting truck?
Doesn't get much simpler.

This is exactly what I was talking about.
The worst reason to buy a particular model is just because someone else did.

3oaks wrote:

MargaretB wrote:
I'm a NY apartment kid, so we didn't have cars when I was growing up. I have no marque preferences.

My post was generated by noticing how many people have F-150s. I haven't done a statistical analysis, but I'd guess that at least half, if not more, do. So I wondered what it is about that particular truck.

And... half a ton is 1000# in the US. So a truck with a half-ton payload isn't worth much as a TV, is it?

With that comment, I would suggest you go to the manufacturers' web-sites and learn something about F-150s and 1500s pickup trucks. However, I now believe you posted solely to "stir the pot", as in trolling. Oh well, kids............

Which part of my statements, all of which are true, do you consider trolling or pot-stirring? My original question was based on a genuine interest. Sorry you had to read some ulterior motive into it. Your problem, not mine.

If you don't know anything about trucks then I would suggest you start out with a smaller one like a used Ford Ranger or Tacoma. Get used to owning one and learning to drive it. After a year or so if you still like the truck then trade it in on a larger one.

It's funny.. One grandpa only owned Chevy's. The other grandpa only owned Fords..

The Chevy grandpa owned a nursery so he had Chevy trucks for his business.. Ford grandpa drove Galaxies and LTD's..

Dad's first truck was a brand new 1971 F250. Got that when I was 8 years old.. He still owns it to this day. (not the original engine/trans however)

He now is a Dodge man for his tow vehicles. But he tows heavy and needs a diesel dually.

I've only had 2 trucks in my life. A 97 F150 that I bought used in 2001 and it had 255,000 miles on it when I traded it in on the 13 F150 in my sig.

I'm only towing a #5000 TT so this 13 F150 is more than enough truck! :)

Mine is an XLT and has a lot more stuff than the 97 XLT had in it..

I've got #1920 payload and #7700 GVWR. The higher trim levels and extra cab space will cost you payload, so choose wisely! :) I didn't want a "crew cab" (full 4 door cab). So, I got the "extended cab", which has the smaller suicide doors, but still holds 5 passengers. :)

Anyway, it all boils down to what you like when you see and ride in it to what you don't like when you see and ride in it..

NO ONE can tell you what's gonna be the right truck for YOU.. Only YOU can determine that.

All makes will have ones with problems and all makes will have ones with no problems.. That's just luck of the draw and you get what you get..

I know eventually, you are gonna have to do like the rest of us have done and just pick SOMETHING and go with it!! :) :)

Right, wrong or whatever... If you don't pull the trigger on something, you'll just waste time and not enjoy anything.

Good luck!

Mitch

MargaretB wrote:
I'm a NY apartment kid, so we didn't have cars when I was growing up. I have no marque preferences.

My post was generated by noticing how many people have F-150s. I haven't done a statistical analysis, but I'd guess that at least half, if not more, do. So I wondered what it is about that particular truck.

And... half a ton is 1000# in the US. So a truck with a half-ton payload isn't worth much as a TV, is it?

Your asking about payload? That's wonderful! The Sequoia not cutting the mustard?

Have you considered a Tundra? Mine has almost 200000 miles on it.

The more optioned your chosen truck is, the heaiver it will be. I think you know your tounge weight, so go into it focused on payload instead of towing capacity. Hey, Im experienceing some Dejavu here...

This is exactly what I was talking about.
The worst reason to buy a particular model is just because someone else did.

I bought Ford after growing up on Chevy's, because they obviously make a better truck. Why else do I see almost no Chevy, or Dodges from the early 90's, in great shape?
You hardly see any, much less in great shape.
Buy what you want, but millions of people researched my decision, and until they start making something better, I won't be buying a non Ford.
Just keep saying whatever makes you think, you know, which is he best truck.
By the way, I was a long time ago, a mechanic, and did work for Ford and Dodge.

I bought a Ford simply because it Looks and rides better than any other truck I looked at The payload was good and the gross combined is as good as others. I live in MI. so anything other than a MI. built truck was out.
They look simple and tough.

Margaret,

I don't think you are trolling at all but are asking a genuine question. Let me tell you our towing experiences. First tow vehicle was a 2005 Ford Explorer towing a Sunline 19 foot trailer. We towed one time with that combination and went out and bought a used 2006 Expedition which towed the Sunline perfectly.

Then the bigger trailer bug bit and we traded the Sunline on a North Trail which was 29 feet overall. Towing with the Expedition was okay but not great so an F150 replaced the Expedition. The F150 had the 5.4 engine and towed well on flat ground but was not cutting it in the mountains. Due to our standard poodles traveling with us, the crew cab is a necessity.

My husband always wanted a diesel truck so in 2013 a new F250 Lariat made its way to our driveway. It pulled the North Trail like it wasn't even there (LOL) so of course we had to get a bigger, heavier trailer and traded the North Trail on an Open Range that is 33.5 feet long with a GVWR of 9800 pounds. The diesel tows the new trailer with no issues, even through a bad rainstorm with high winds.

When we started this odyssey into RVing, we made all the classic newbie mistakes on not understanding payload and buying tow vehicles that just could not do the job as well as we expected. So three trailers and four tow vehicles later, we now have the perfect truck for our needs.

I have to agree with the folks here talking about payload and how it varies from truck to truck. Our crew cab has only 1950 pounds of payload due to the large cab and truck features but I would not trade them for anything. It is a comfortable truck to drive and gives us the room we need for us and the dogs. It will be getting airbags in the next couple of months due to a "squat" of about 1-2 inches from the tongue weight on the new trailer (1,000 pounds dry).

This truck is not a daily driver so spends most of its life waiting for camping trips but I have no problems taking it to the local shopping centers by myself and I do drive it while towing. It is a pleasure to tow with it. One issue is that these larger trucks will not usually fit into urban parking garages due to the height of the trucks. Before I retired, I could easily fit the Expedition and then the F150 into the garage where I parked but I never attempted to fit the F250 into that garage.

If you do look at trucks, pay particular attention to the yellow sticker showing payload and remember that most salespeople do not tow and do not understand what we who do need. So what we learned the hard (expensive) way is to do our homework and buy the truck that will do the job.

Diane

All of the Big 3 make a truck capable of performing well if selected with the right options and equipment. I choose Ford because it fits all of my needs and the last 5 Fords I have owned have performed extremely well and been perfect on reliability.