Truck owners thread

Discussion in 'The Mainboard' started by Phil Weston, Sep 14, 2015.

  1. theregionsitter

    theregionsitter Well-Known Member
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    Hit 129k miles today on my 2014 F250

    It's holding up well
     
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  2. RJF-GUMP

    RJF-GUMP Daubert Qualified in Cooler Thermodynamics
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    want to get some nice tires but don't want to pay $2000 for them. my taco would look so much cooler...
     
  3. Rebelution

    Rebelution I'm not superstitious but I am a little stitious.
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    KO2's, great looking tire and should be able to get them for a 1000 bucks.
     
  4. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    thinking about getting a 15 dodge 2500 cummins for my next work truck

    never had a dodge before, would prefer a ford but finding a used super duty long bed that is in good shape is proving to be impossible

    anyone have the newer cummins and have any issues?
     
  5. Cornelius Suttree

    Cornelius Suttree the smallest crumb can devour us
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    Been driving a 2014 Tacoma the past few weeks and it's been a boss. About to head out to the mountains where there are a few feet of snow :fap:
     
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  6. texasraider

    texasraider thanks
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    My F250 basically fell apart at 80k miles. Between the death wobble and fuel system issues, I ended up buying a Denali 2500. It's shocking how much more I love the GM over the Ford
     
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  7. Biff Bridges

    Biff Bridges The words. You are good with the words man
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    Don't hate on my superior trailer hauling stability.
     
  8. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
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    I'm about to pull the trigger on this 2012 Ram Crew Cab. I've read a decent amount about them (they seem to have really good reviews), but what are everyone's thoughts on them? This is going to be my first truck.

    Picture:
    IMG_4674.JPG
     
  9. DriveByBBQ

    DriveByBBQ Well-Known Member
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    Going to hit 200K on my 2006 Ford F150 lariat Triton 5.4L V8 4x4 in the next month or so. Just took her in for a tune up, kept going into failsafe mode. Throttle door was sticking open and closed because it needed cleaning. Cleaned it up, replaced the air filter, and running back smooth as silk. Love that truck.
     
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  10. wes tegg

    wes tegg I'm a Guy's guy, guys.
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    Holy shit that's a lot of miles.
     
  11. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    what year?
     
  12. texasraider

    texasraider thanks
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    2011 F250 and 2016 Denali
     
  13. Open Carry

    Open Carry TMB Rib Master
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    :rain:
     
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  14. leroi

    leroi -
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    well i would hope so, the damn thing is only 2 years old

    i have fewer miles than that on my 12 year old Tundra
     
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  15. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    i think thats 3 or 4 in truck years
     
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  16. leroi

    leroi -
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    well thats true, i think they normally come out at mid-year, so that might be as old as july 2013
     
  17. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
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    Anyone have any thoughts/warnings about this 2012 Ram before I buy it?
     
  18. Open Carry

    Open Carry TMB Rib Master
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    Don't know anything about the newer ones, but my experience with an 02 quad cab was not good and I have no intentions of buying a ram again. I've heard they fixed the transmission problems that plagued them, but the damage is done for me.
     
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  19. theregionsitter

    theregionsitter Well-Known Member
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    Sales life
     
  20. Bo Pelinis

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    I have a 15 which is awesome. I bought it because I have a good friend with a 12 and he loves it. My uncle has leased like 3 straight Rams and loves them. My other uncle owns a Ram and loves it. Think all are 1500 quad cabs and 12 or newer currently. No complaints from anyone, tons of space, feels like a tank in a good way. I wouldn't be scared of it at all.
     
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  21. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
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    Got it, from what I have read I haven't seen any transmission issues. What mileage did it go out?
    Awesome, looked at a '15 first yesterday but almost all of the affordable 14-15 Rams in Portland are through a dealership group that bought them in bulk through an auction and they were originally Canadian Rams. This one is a '12 crew cab with 38k miles bought and kept in Oregon with one owner.
     
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  22. Baron

    Baron Well-Known Member
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    Lefthook knows a thing or two about Rams
     
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  23. Open Carry

    Open Carry TMB Rib Master
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    I think the transmission issues were prevalent in the early to mid 2000 models. Its been a number of years, but I think I bought the truck with ~120k miles. Had it for a couple months and needed an entire transmission overhaul which was in the thousands to repair. Fine, whatever it happens. A few months later and the transmission shit the bed again. There goes a few more thousand. Happened to me a third time all in less than two years and I promptly sold it after. Bear in mind I drive maybe 15k miles a year.

    As a side note, I've had back luck with transmissions with all my vehicles except my current. Multiple clutch replacements on the 3000gt, transmission shit the bed in my civic around 98k miles, and the transmission problems with the ram.
     
  24. Zebbie

    Zebbie Hey Mike, guess what I have in my underwear?
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    The Ford interiors (minus the ridiculous leg room in the back seats of the crew cabs) have always seemed pretty meh when compared to the GMC/Chevrolet interiors
     
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  25. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    yea, but they dont squeak
     
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  26. Lefthook

    Lefthook token Oregon State fan
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    Are we talking Cummins? I've never bothered familiarizing myself with the half ton trucks at all or the 3/4 and one ton gas trucks.

    The worst transmission problems were the with the 47RE in the 94-02 generation trucks, especially behind the diesel. The 03+ has a 48RE which is a better transmission by leaps and bounds but still it is the weak link in the chain. I hate how it shifts. Mine is fully built because the truck is tuned and runs 50psi of boost (it's an 04.5, pre-emissions equipment but has the common rail HO motor. The stock trans couldn't hold the power so it had to be dialed back on the tune but it lasted to 100k before it needed a rebuild, and I'm now at 150k where the band is wore out and doesn't have any more adjustment so it will need a rebuild next time.

    Maintenance is super, super important, I have the pan dropped and the band re-tightened and fluid flushed every 10k miles or so. I also have a transmission temp gauge on the a-pillar that I keep an eye on when I'm towing, because that big Cummins will chug until the trans burns up if you don't know what it's doing.
     
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  27. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    what about a '14 cummins?
     
  28. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
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    How will the stock transmission be on a 2012? And do I need to flush fluids every 10k on it?
     
  29. Lefthook

    Lefthook token Oregon State fan
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    The 12's had the 6 speed transmission if I recall correctly.

    How heavy are you towing with it? I've got a 12,000 pound camp trailer that I take out when I go riding and go camping with the family, so while it isn't being used as some kind of daily workhorse it does see heavy duty a few times a year especially considering mine has a 6" lift and 37's. So it's working a little harder, I reason. I would think a 25k-30k mile service interval for a 48RE would be a more appropriate if you have a less ridiculous sized truck and don't tow with it as often as I do, all things being equal.

    I had always thought that transmission flushes were total bullshit, and for standard passenger cars I still believe they are, but a heavy truck (that is chewing up the band once every 50-100k miles on mine for sure) requires some additional attention. The recommended service interval for the 68RE in the 2012 is 120,000 but 60,000 for "severe duty". If you even have just bigger tires than stock and a tune and do nothing other than daily drive, I'd still consider it 60,000. If you're the type of guy who wants to keep the thing forever and will spend some extra cash, you have a lift, and tune, and tow with it semi-regularly, I'd be doing it every 50k miles.

    But if you're like me, you do this stuff just "around" that mark but usually when you are taking it on a trip and want everything running perfectly before you go is when it really happens. lol
     
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  30. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
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    Awesome. Yeah it's a 6 speed automatic. Currently has 38k on it. I don't have plans to tow anything as of right now. I'll still probably get the transmission flushed at 60k just to be safe. Any other tips for a first time Ram owner about maintenance?
     
  31. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    I'm assuming the 2014 has the same transmission?
     
  32. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
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    I know most 15s have an 8 speed.
     
  33. Bo Pelinis

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    Yeah that 8 speed is neat. I have a 5.7 liter hemi with 395 hp and it gets 21 or 22 mpg on the highway.
     
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  34. Lefthook

    Lefthook token Oregon State fan
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    I don't know about maintenance, but when you get the urge to start modifying shit:

    I've been told that EFI LIVE is the tune to go with on the 12+ with the 6.7L. Have 2 friends running that tune and although they had hiccups early it's pretty well ironed out.

    Speaking as a lifted truck owner: Don't lift it. Get springs and fox shocks from Thuren. It's such a pain in the ass to load my dirt bike and I can't tow a 5th wheel unless I lift the trailer.. it more than offsets the upside of having the ability to go anywhere.

    Big fan of Amp Research power steps, personally.

    Run synthetic oil, if you're not already.

    Buy a DeeZee tailgate assist shock. They're like $30, will take you 15 mins to install and every time you drop your tailgate someone will think it is cool as shit how yours lowers all gently.
     
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  35. Open Carry

    Open Carry TMB Rib Master
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    Chevy and GMC come with the EZ lift gate. I didn't know other trucks didn't come that way. I just assumed they all had that now.
     
  36. leroi

    leroi -
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    i've also heard the same story from a half-dozen people (including one mechanic), for many years, going back to the 90's. (but definitely the 2000's). The Dakota was notorious for this.

    Dodge spends less money to manufacture a vehicle than any car manufacter sold in America. They're known for cutting corners. They're also known for mating huge engines with inadequate transmissions in an attempt to out-horsepower Chevy and Ford in the marketing wars.

    that said, i have no idea about a 2012 Dodge.
     
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  37. Lefthook

    Lefthook token Oregon State fan
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    Chevy has their stupid IFS that they cling to which I hate with the passion of 1000 suns. They ride like shit with any kind of lift, and they are awful tow rigs when the back axle is loaded.

    Ford hasn't made a good diesel engine since they discontinued the 7.3L in 2003. The interiors are nice, the overall vehicle quality is better but none of that is worth having to pull the cab off so you can yank the heads off the motor and install head studs, HG kits, an EGR cooler, a remote oil cooler, billet water pump, HPOP, FICM... all the things you have to do to bulletproof the post-IH motors.

    The Dodge transmission problems to me are far preferable than dealing with any of that. You spend $4k on a built transmission and forget about it. If you're getting one of the new one tons you can get it with an AISN trans, which I would put up against anything else on the market right now including the Allison trans.
     
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  38. Clemson327

    Clemson327 Well-Known Member
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    That probably has more to do with other improvements (engine, aero, etc.) rather than the transmission. The overdrive gear in the 8 speed is actually slightly lower (higher numerically) than the 6 speed. The 8 speed should help around town though.
     
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  39. Bill the Butcher

    Bill the Butcher Roscoe's favorite poster
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    I had the same issue with the fuel tank one time. I have a '13 SV 4X4 and aside from that one spill I have never had an issue. The main thing that drew me to it was that Consumer Reports was constantly putting the Frontiers on the highly valued resale lists. Thing is a champ.
     
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  40. dawgonit

    dawgonit Like James Brown only white and taller
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    in the market for a new(ish) half ton pickup that I need for work. will be putting serious miles on it (1,200-1,800 per month) and going off-road frequently.

    drove a 2001 silverado in a previous life and while I liked it, it came with a lot of issues after hitting 100k miles.

    research has brought me to the new F150s - as the MPG is attractive and they seem to be a capable off-road choice.

    I know that the aluminum body is a point of concern for some, wondering if anyone itt has any advice as to whether I should/shouldn't pursue the F150

    any other advice is appreciated. will be my first vehicle purchase for myself.
     
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  41. Baron

    Baron Well-Known Member
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    Team F150 checking in. Great trucks.
     
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  42. Fred Flintstone

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    Anyone have a Tundra? Seems like I should be averaging higher than 13.3 MPG. I drive about 1/3 of the time on the HWY. Lots of hills in my area though.
     
  43. thunderstruck

    thunderstruck I'm a Boss

    All of our work trucks are F150s. they take a beating and get driven plenty of places where they shouldn't get to. If you're going to take it off-road look for the electric locking rear differential.
     
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  44. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
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    It's starting to get nice in Oregon, and this summer/fall will be the first camping opportunities I have with my ram.

    Does anyone have recommendations for an affordable and durable tonneau cover? Preferably having locking ability and hard so someone can't just cut through it.
     
  45. Tiger Tiger Woods Y'all

    Tiger Tiger Woods Y'all Putting big balls in little holes, circa 1995
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    In the market for a non work truck and the family daily driver. Something for driving long distance and for tailgating, and road trips. So looking at the top of the line Ford vs GMC. I can't get over some of the convienence things the GMC doesn't have and heard that the sierra/Silverado are getting a redesign this year. I know fords 2018s are coming in the fall.

    Anyone in the know bout what the new GMCs will be like?
     
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  46. Open Carry

    Open Carry TMB Rib Master
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    The gm lineup is pretty disappointing to me in terms of available features. No news has come out yet about the redesign, but it should be the 2018 or 2019 model year that gets it. For $50k is it really too much to expect air vents for the rear? Active cruise control isn't even an option which is baffling to me. I hope they get things like that fixed in the redesign or I'll go with ford when I go to buy a truck in the next year.
     
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  47. gilstein21

    gilstein21 Tight Rip 26 Seal Right
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    I grew up on gm trucks, but when it came down to buying my own I went ford bc of features and overall ride quality.
     
  48. Open Carry

    Open Carry TMB Rib Master
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    I had a bakflip g2 on my ram. You can only open it with the tailgate opened so if you have a locking tailgate, you're good to go.

    [​IMG]
     
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  49. Tiger Tiger Woods Y'all

    Tiger Tiger Woods Y'all Putting big balls in little holes, circa 1995
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    This is what I've been thinking. I liked the fords but my only hesitation is some of the bad reviews on their reliability over 80k miles. I guess just sell it when it gets to that point and move on.
     
  50. 47 straight

    47 straight Well-Known Member
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    Wouldn't trade my 6.3L 8 speed high country for any truck on the market.

    I agree with the lack of air vents in the rear, but I never ride back there so that's not close to a top concern for me.

    I loathe the gear shift taking center console space in the ford, just Put it on the steering column where it should be. The width of the center console, overall comfort levels of the GM is just better for me.

    I've driven 65k so far, zero issues, and lifetime mpg is 19.0, which is pretty damn great for 420hp