Hello - first time poster.
I’m on the market for a new full size truck. But if background on me and my lifestyle.
I’m a 33 yr old father of 2. I’m 6’4” with the wingspan of an eagle. I currently drive an 08 Sierra crew that’s been a decent truck. I’m about to hit the 200k mark on it. The only major issue it has is rust. You could fit your fists through my fender wells currently. Every GM I’ve owned rusts and I don’t even live in the north. I’m in southern Indiana where we have mild winters. Also the truck eats oil due to the faulty *** AFM on the GMs of that generation.
I’m a big time bowhunter so this truck will see the dirt. But it will spend the vast majority of its time on highway and city miles. I do a lot of cross country hunts out west so MPG is extremely important. But first and foremost reliability is my number one concern. I plan on keep this next truck for as long as my old which was roughly 8 years. I don’t buy vehicles for vanity and to keep up with the Jones’s. I buy it to use and haul my family so this is an investment for me. It’s worth noting I’m still in the research phase and haven’t driven anything as I plan to purchase in the summer.
I occasionally pull a pop up camper and trailer but I’m by no means towing anything big. I can foresee us getting a bigger travel trailer but nothing huge.
So here’s where I’m at currently. I was almost 100% sold on the f150 up until about 2 days ago. I loved the MPG of the 2.7, the aluminum everything so rust isn’t a concern, and the general track record and commonality of the truck. I felt it was probably my best bet for a truck that would last.
I’ve admittedly hated the rams of the past. I never liked their styling and the interiors were cheap and quite frankly I’ve heard they were the worst truck as far as reliability. BUT then 2019 came and I’d be lying if I didn’t say I loved the styling but it was still just a RAM. So anyways I went down a rabbit hole of reviews and YouTube videos of the 2019 or newer rams and I’m sold in the truck from a style, fit, and pricing. Really seems like you get more bang for your buck on the RAM.
This would be my ideal truck as of now:
Ram 1500
5.7 L
Crew cab
4WD
Big horn package
LED lights (makes the truck look so much better)
Sport appearance
20 in wheels
SO with that long winded intro out of the way - here are my questions-
-what is the real world mileage for you guys? I plan to put on BFG ATs or a similar 10 ply tire but won’t be lifting
-how reliable are these trucks? Are there any common issues? Anything I should lookout for?
-i was going to forgo etorq- good or bad idea?
-is air suspension worth it?
-would you buy a ram over an f150 if you planned to use it as a family vehicle and plan to drive the wheels off of it?
1. I have no idea. I've never measured my mileage. I would be really surprised if it was more than 22-23 MPG and suspect it's probably 16-18 MPG. MPG should be the last question (if even a question) asked about a truck. If you need MPG then you don't need a truck. I've owned trucks of all brands my entire life and none of them have come close in MPG to any small car I've had, and that's in over a million miles of driving.
2. So far mine has been reliable. I hear a hum once in a while that sounds like an unbalanced tire that's RPM specific. I had a wet carpet on the driver's side once from the door weep holes not draining all the way. Beyond that it's been fine but I only have 17k miles on it in 2+ years.
3. Personally I would skip E-torq as it just adds one more layer of complexity to the vehicle for maybe 1-2 MPG fuel savings. Maybe.
4. I don't have air suspension so I can't compare but if you want reliability then you want less complexity. Air suspension = more complexity. I think mine rides just fine with the stock suspension, especially since I always had trucks with rear leaf spring suspension.
5. Absolutely. I buy Fords at work because we get them for fleet pricing and I haven't found them overly reliable at all. I won't say they are POS but they have their fair share of problems just like everything else. Most problems revolve around complexity. If you want less problems then you want less complexity. Every time you add fancy doodads you add opportunities for trouble.
I'm a little puzzled about your build out. You say you're going to spend time in muck and mud hunting but you want to buy sport appearance and 20" bling wheels. My truck sounds better outfitted for what you want than the truck you want to buy. Smaller wheels = smoother ride because you have more sidewall. Not to mention cheaper tires. I don't know if they still have it but I bought the "North" package on mine, which adds a block heater, an electronic locking rear axle, the Ram all-weather floor mats (these are the best mats I've ever had in a truck), HD front/rear shocks, full-size spare, hill descent control, tow hooks, 18" AT tires (don't know what they are now, mine are Falken and they have good bite) and some look-good stuff.
As for the truck: nicest truck I've ever owned. Rides nice, nice interior, quiet, drives like a Cadillac. It drives "big", so small parking lots and stuff like that sucks, but I think it's the nicest full-size out there and certainly best for the money.