J, you could throw a hemi under the hood. I had good luck with mine, just didn't have the towing power that my diesel had. Sure worked well in the mud and the front end seemed to last in my 1500 dodge. I would miss hearing/not listening the cummins engine. Even the new stuff sounds awesome.

 

If it were me I would stick with either the Ford or the GM. Easier to maintain, especially in your areas and turnaround on repairs would be quicker. The Ford with the Ecoboost engine is supposed to be more economical based on the adds, but who knows. The Ford frames are verrry flexible, which can be good or bad. The GM, not sure on the new trucks as far as repairs.

The smaller trucks, the wheel track is too narrow. For the lease roads where 90% of the trucks are the full size version, you will be cutting your own ruts in the muck as one side of the truck will be in the rut and one will be out. Tough sledding and doesn't work well for avoiding big holes or other obsticles on the road. I had to operate a Ford Ranger type rig for my previous employ. That part SUCKED..

The Honda.. Seroiusly???? That is not a truck. I would put the Honda with the Toyota WRT repair cost and availability. Put a drum of oil in that Ridgeline and you now are in a sled pull with FWD.. Or you just put a set of rollers on the bumper. . I do see a lot of operators with the Toyotas, but they are closer to major centers with dealers but its not a little Tacoma, they are running the full size version for the a fore mentioned track width issue.

Just my $0.02

 

Well I'm keeping my truck forever, but just thinking out loud I think that the Dodge Cummins is the only truck you can buy nowadays with a manual transmission..

I guess, if I was in the market for a new truck, that would make my decision very easy.

 

You guys are not telling me what I want to hear! Lol. I was hoping you would all say get the Tacoma. They are awesome. Good fuel mileage, minimal repairs and awesome resale. Everyone is poo pooing them. Maybe I will have to test drive a ford and see what all the fuss is about. And no love for the ridgeline either. Tough crowd over here!

 

Suzuki Samurai!

 

If you aren't hauling stuff I guess the Tacoma is OK. But I would be up for a more full sized truck myself. Small truck + Bambi/Moose=1 less operator IMHO..

 

LOL-----1988---my first brand new vehicle i bought in the late 80'S----drove it for 10 years,170,000km and took it everywhere.Even managed to stuff a few deer in the back during some hunting trips and acted like quad pulling the moose i shot out to the road.64HP and if you had a good head wind 5th gear was i no no as she would not hold it----the memories.PS ---even though i mentioned my work ride in an earlier post----for a newer pick-up on the gasser side "Toyota" would get my vote----just spendy to get fixed and a full size Tundra runs low 50's.DW

 

Yep my 2nd post said it all.

 

If the new GMC are anything like the mid-2000's for relaiblity I would say that would be my choose for a gas truck, I know alot of people with 200k ish on them with minimal repairs.

 

my better half has an 01 tundra with 271,000 kms, the only times that thing has been in the shop was operator stupidity, her ex drove it to the carwash, popped the hood and started washing, cracked exhaust manifold, her dad borrowed it and decided to push the 4wd button at highway speed and burned out the transfer case actuator because he never lifted to let it shift, the thing will go through more snow and mud (although significantly different mud than you will see) than any of the 4 dodges in the yard whether they are gas or diesels. they are tougher than people give them credit for.
my buddy has a ridgeline "work car" and hates pulling anything bigger than a lawnmower with it haha
GO TOYOTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! haha

 

I would find a cheap 1/2ton what ever brand. If you can lease it the better. I had a dodge 08 1500 truck that way. Worked great, had all the options I needed. I leased that truck for less than $30k. Its cool having a vehicle that you don't have to care about and a month/y payment less the $450.

Its a work truck, I tend to lease. 3 to 4 term, by that time the truck will need some money. 1/2tons gas pots are throw away vehicles, these days.

 

out of your list i would go with the yoda..

 

A good friend of mine is an operator up by Peace River and he's running a 2010 F150 Crew cab 4x4 5.4 and he's pretty pleased with it so far. Goes everywhere he wants and gets decent fuel economy for a V8. I test drove one of those new ecoboost V6s a while back and Ford definitely did their homework on that one, time will tell how good it is I guess. My vote goes to the Ford, their half tons seem to be very solid rigs IMO

 

Do they still make the Ridgeline?
Several friends have had the Toyotas and all got rid of them due to the mileage.
One even told me when he loaded it full of firewood the gas cap door would pop open.
My first Cummins came by way of a buddys step dad. He sold his Dodge to me then bought a Tundra.
Hated it so bad he traded it for a car then bought a used 1/2 ton Ford.

 

Try the ecoboost.
https://www.drivef150.com/locations.aspx