Two techs I know of with 08 1500 5.7 3.92 geared 2wd trucks say at 70 mph and not being harsh on it they get right on 20 mpg.The 09 Ford 5.4 3valve 6 speed is rated at 21 and the GM with 6 speed(auto's now) also is rated at 20 mpg as is the Dodge 5.7 1500.

 

14 MPG? Ouch! My 1 ton averages over 17 in mixed driving, mostly running around town, with some towing thrown in.

They are really struggling at the local dealer to dump these '08 Tundras. They've had $9,000 off for over a week and it looks like they've only sold one of them (they have about 12 sitting on the lot).

 

You can get MSD in a Dodge also. Can also get the off-road package and the truck sits a bit higher. IMO look at how low the Ford and Chevy frames are below the cab. IMO Dodge has decent ground clearance for a 1/2 with IFS. They get good milage and the warranty is great. Nothing has changed much driveline wise. Just styling of the truck. Drivetrain is solid. Only think new is the 4-link now in the rear.

 

If you can deal w/ the 5'7" bed , then the 09 Dodge Ram crew cab is the nicest, most powerful of ALL the 1500s, I drove them all and my wife wanted the most loaded and nicest and look what we got. Price really wasn't a big deal and even the denali and escalade truck were not what our Ram is. The power of these 400+ chevys most be getting sucked up in the drivetrain somewhere, because they dont put it to the ground like the ram does even w/ the TM of the ram. Drive a loaded 09, you will love it.

 

After having spent a day with a new Tundra, I can safely say it is a POS. Cheap construction, soft/spongey suspension, weak brakes (all Toyotas), cheap plastic dash, thin/flimsey doors, etc... My son rode in it and said "what is this piece of junk Dad"? He was amazed at the cheap flimsey doors too. Go with the Dodge.

 

I haven't driven one but the 6.2 GM motor is advertised to have more hp and torque then the 5.7 Hemi. I did drive a 1500 Dodge.Wow on the power and the ride was nice.

 

How come nobody posted this yet http://www.fordvehicles.com/2009f150...N3016.Primedia

 

Well between the crumbling tailgates, weaker frames, and beds cruching into the back of the cab I'd avoid the Tundra like the plague. Nothing makes me laugh more than a truck with "a bigger hitch than any other half ton from the factory", and a frame the flexes so much it'll push the bed into the cab.

 

Here's the tailgate crumpling issue...
http://www.bodyshopzone.com/editoria...y_problem.html

A link with most known issues...
http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/bl...ndra-problems/

 

Years ago I had a Toyota truck and it got rear-ended. It slammed the bed into the cab so hard it dented it. What a POS.

 

i have the '08 5500 which i sure won't sell for a long, long time. but i've got to talk my wife into trading her '05 300C AWD for the 2010 3500 dully 4x4 for a smoother around town ride. it's awesome. checked out the 1500, but too lite for second truck, has to pull 10,000 lb. trailer.
any suggestions on how to convince her?

did someone mention tundra and trucks in the same sentence?

 

Most any of them that get hit in the bed bend the cab.Thats just a truck thing.Not defending Toyotas but thats common damage on trucks.

 

Does GM or Dodge or Toyota etc.have a web site/page like Ford does? The Ford site is pretty good I think.I picked up a GMC brochure and some of it is white/silver and I found next to impossible to read or scan through.I thought it was thought out poorly.

 

I'll 2nd that. F150 is inexpensive and a decent truck.

 

I don't think I would buy either truck - the Toyota or the Dodge diesel. The Toyota is a good truck and Toyota trucks sold in the USA, unless I'm misstaken, are built here as well. My problem with them is their relatively poor mileage when compared to the newer gas domestic 1/2 tons.

While I love my 1 ton Dodge diesel, I do not think diesel is the way to go at this point unless you need the extra power a diesel provides. Diesels are generally trouble free and come with good warrantees, but diesel fuel is more affected by market forces/shortages than gasoline. Diesel costs more per gallon - and fuel pricess are NOT going to stay at current levels. I got real tired of paying nearly $1/gal more for diesel than the cost of unleaded last year.

Frankly, it would not be a shock that in 10 years diesels will not even be made available to light truck owners. The guy in the White House may well place an environmental tax on diesel fuel and/or up the license fees on diesel trucks.

If I were in the market for a light duty truck I would probably select between a Ford or Chev - probably the Ford with the 5.4 Triton motor. I'm a little concerned about the solvency of Dodge.

Anyway, I'm sure others will have decidedly differing opinions.

Good luck.