On selecting a tow vehicle

[Kokaholic]

Looks good. I like that set up. Thanks for the info. This has been a informative post. 101goodpost101

 

[twisted lines]

You have spent lots of time reading about them, don't listen to BS, get in them and pay attention to the things you will enjoy like; Turning radius, ride, Performance, reliability, I can understand the fear, If my throttle stuck wide open someones going to ****. It don't just make a lot of noise and blow smoke!

 

[Kokaholic]

As mentioned above, the Ford F-150 is a nice vehicle and I agree with that. That at this point is my second choice. I have made my first the Tundra. I have a few friends that have the Tundra and pull large boats long distances and have great experiences with them with litttle to no problems.

So,, Soon as I can get rid of my F-350 power stroke and 5th wheel with it, i will be getting me a newer Tundra.

 

[SuperD]

As imports go, I had heard that the Titan had bettered the Tundra. Has the Tundra climbed back on top for power and pulling?

 

[skyhammer]

As imports go, I had heard that the Titan had bettered the Tundra. Has the Tundra climbed back on top for power and pulling?

First, it is not really accurate to call the Tundra an import, it actually has more American parts than a Ford.
I owned two Titans and they were nothing but junk.
My first Titan (04) last 9 months and 9600 miles before Nissan bought it back and replaced it with an 05.
The 05 was better, it lasted 22k miles, only went to the dealer 43 times in that period.
Over $12k in parts were replaced, not including labor.
Short list of major parts replaced.
Rear diff- replaced twice. The diff is only 8.5" and is way to small, same diff is used on the Frontier.The Tundra has a 10.5" diff, about what a 1 ton has.
Front diff= replaced twice.
Manifolds replaced
ABS replaced twice.
rear axle seals replaced- twice
BCM- replaced 4 times.
all sorts of electrical problems.
Both front doors replaced because window motors and windows dropped to the bottom of door.
Radiator replaced.
There is a reason why the Titan has very low sales #'s.
As far as power goes, the Titan has 317hp, the Tundra 381.
The Titans lowest gear ratio is 3:36. Nissan claims it is the same as 4:10, because the use a Rube Goldberg setup that uses the tranny to lower the gear ratio, thus more tranny wear.
The tow mode on the Titan is a sad joke, it only raises the shift points in the 1st 3 gears(5 speed).
The tow mode on the Tundra works on all 6 gears when up shifting and from 6th to 3rd gear when down shifting.
With the Titan, you have use the manual tranny mode and put the shifter into 4th gear or the tranny will over heat.
With the Tundra, just put it in drive and go.
The traction control on the Titan is truly sad. You have little if any control.
Both trucks use a brake activated system for limited slip, which I don't like. But on the Tundra you can turn it off if you like, with the Titan it is on all the time.
The Tundra has several different modes, the Titan has two.
The Tundra starts out in default mode(2wd), with TRAC and VSC on. Trac is a type of Brake activated Limited slip. Push a button and TRAC is off and ALSD is on with VSC. Push the button again and you have turned off VSC leaving you with ALSD. Push the button again and you have turned every thing off.
You can't do any of this with a Titan.
You have similar options when the Tundra is in 4WD.
I have a little over 40k miles on my 07. It has been to the dealer once for recall on the hardness of the drive line. Mine passed so nothing was done.
I live on a ranch and over 20k miles are 4WD, no issues.
I consider the Titan a pseudo truck, it looks like a truck, but if you use it as a truck, it will fall apart.

 

[DLM]

It is interesting that the discussion has centered around the Ford and Toyota, with I believe only one post on the Chevrolet pickup and I don't see any about Dodge's.

Growing up and living in farming and logging country I have noticed that those involved in logging and construction ALL drove Fords with a Dodge thrown in here and there.

On the other hand, the farmers almost to a man drove Chevrolet.

Not promoting any particular brand here, just saying..........

 

[Mark McWillis]

To answer the OP's Q...I think you'll want more rig than the Suburu. Now, to go off topic, slightly, We've had several Ford Diesels since 1999. The last two were 6L and we had problems with both. Traded the last one for a Duramax 3500, it's an 07, and it's been great.

 

[gonefishing]

Don't be supprised if you are faced with $5.31 to $5.35 Diesel this year.

So,

When making a truck choice, I think that looking at the New Chevy/GMC 8.1L and the Ford V-10 6.8L is a choice for effortless pulling while skipping the high cost of diesel. You would be considering 2 poweful motors that have made significant gains in the combination of HP and Torque.

The Durmax is a solid performer in Torque and HP but not the best in mileage in general.

Find a 2002-2004 Ford with the 7.3L chipped with low milage and I would be all over that. They are getting harder to find.

Any of the trucks with the 5.7 L range have similar performance.

The Tundra, fewer mechanical and truck issues.

My Truck of choice, is what I own paid for.

My prefered truck I would purchase if I wasn't so spooked by this countries financial condition I found a couple weeks ago, but just won't pull the trigger. That is a 2002 Ford F550 with the 7.3 L engine. Now there's a truck. A few modifications and it would be a true pulling animal.

I could pull my 5th wheel and boat both with that one.

 

[skyhammer]

The Chevy 8.1 and Ford v-10 are no longer available except in certain fleet/commerical applications.
None of the big 3 offer a big block gas engine in their consumer trucks any more, only small blocks.

 

[Bduck]

I have a 2000 F250 Powerstroke. I chipped it and installed 4" stainless exhaust. Thats my party BEAST there. At current diesel prices, I try not to let it get below 1/2 tank which costs me about $75.00 to top off. This is weekly. Its a great vehicle with 7.3 motor. I'm finding its getting difficult to use daily anymore because of fuel pricing and may have to considering parking it some and use it for my fishing trips. Some of the smaller trucks are being considered or at least something that will show a little guts to pull what I have.

 

[gonefishing]

The Chevy 8.1 and Ford v-10 are no longer available except in certain fleet/commerical applications.
None of the big 3 offer a big block gas engine in their consumer trucks any more, only small blocks.

That is really to bad. The split between diesel and gas will likely get to be more as there is just so much diesel that you can get out of oil. That is, my understanding is that it takes hirgher quality oil to make diesel, but I am not a oil guru. Only what I have heard.

Now it is starting to make sense why some of these big block trucks have been showing such strong resale values.