One thing that I never hear covered is the looks of the HD trucks. Me personally I think the HD trucks usually look a hundred times better than the 1500s. I bought one almost just based on that one factor, as it was in the same price range as the 1500s I was finding. Im not going to lie. I just think they look awesome.
Living in northern Minnesota, I have been driving super dutys and HDs since I was 15. I know in some larger cities HDs can take more skill to drive daily but the ease of never needing to question loads I pick up is why I've chosen my trucks over smaller vehicles
I love how everyone loves diesels, wait to you have to replace a $7K DEF filter because it cant be cleaned or its cracked.. new diesel are not as reliable as the old ones.
Nathan have you driven down the average US residential street? People are using their trucks to replace minivans. Very few people Not on a construction site have any use for a 3/4 ton. Heck they can't even justify the half ton. There has been much written about how people in the US and Canada exaggerate their towing needs. Need to pull a 3000lbs boat? Get a half ton etc. It's typical excess and not needed. Get the half ton and be glad you already over bought for your needs...
It's ALL about payload and towing. There is no other reason to discern them. If you live in the suburbs, wear pleated pants to work, and don't own a 35' boat or 5th wheel, it is stupid to buy an HD. This is not like a sports car. You can drive a Hellcat at 10/10ths whenever you feel like it (when safe to do so ;). You cannot randomly decide to tow 30,000lbs 'cos the truck next to you revved his engine and gave you the nod. So, the excess is useless unless you have a good use to put it to.
Truck pulls with stock or lightly modded trucks is still big in the south. Kids with backward hats blasting gucci mane want to outpull their friends. It's why the SRW diesel crew cab short bed is the new bro truck
haha this comment is so true! I tow 30,000lbs to impress my babe all the time... she loves it way more than the Raptor! honestly, I'd by a heavy duty just for the sweet diesel sound
Who cares what you do. Buy an HD if that's what you want - with a little negotiation the prices are nearly the same nowadays and the longevity of a Cummins makes it a no brainer.
HD diesel all the way. I went from a chevy 1500 with the 6.2L to a ram 2500 with the 6.7 i6 and I will never look back, better mpg, better towing, looks better IMHO, and with a leveling kit and 35's it will go places the chevy couldn't. HD for the win
I think Roman hit the nail on the head when he said light duty trucks are family vehicles aka everyday drivers, while HD trucks are tools. I drive a 3500 HD Silverado (gas) for work and a 1500 Silverado as my personal and I would not want to flip that around! :)
You forgot one thing: if you ever need to drive a truck on the moon, you will definitely want a heavier duty truck (more weight). You wouldn't want to hit a bump and launch yourself into space because your light duty didn't weigh enough. I'm glad I could finally settle the argument. Buy HD!
Here in Toronto I priced out a brand new 2016 F150 XLT Sport with leather, came out to $46 000 CAD which is like $35 000 USD. An equally equipped F350 is like $70 000, so I don't understand why you're saying they're in the same price range. Plus there are plenty of people who work in an office, like me, who just use their truck as a daily, for camping and moving smaller loads. Light duty all the way.
And the xlt? Thats not a fully loaded half ton you need the fx4 package with all the bells and whistles and then go compare it to a a single rear wheel diesel not dually
Light duty is definatley more versatile and for any average joe. And the heavy duties are for the ones that tow and lift for a living. Personal preference and what you need.. Too many people out there that'll just say heavy duty because it's "Bigger and better", but will NEVER put the truck to even half it's potential... Lmao
I'd like to point out that many truck buyers are still unaware of tow rating vs GVWR/GCWR. I've seen many 1/2 ton buyers tow trailers that are technically at or below the maximum trailer weight, but are burdened with 4 full size adults and heavy cargo in the bed. While these new awesome trucks can handle things for the most part, it's technically illegal and can be a liability nightmare if an accident occurs.
+Pat massey two best comments so far. for safety purposes I typically don't tow more than 80% of rated capacity unless it is a short distance. in my case it was actually cheaper to find a 1 ton dually diesel than the 3/4 ton variant because down south just about everyone drives a 3/4 ton truck. it's way more capable than I need, my current camper only being 6500lbs but it's comforting to know that my next camper, moving up to a 36ft fifth wheel, won't be a strain on my truck. I also still get 14mpg towing my 6500lb trailer at 75mph unlike my last 1/2 ton gasser than only got 9mpg pulling the same weight. plus the stopping ability is much greater on the 1 ton especially loaded down. yes it is a pain to park and back up and mpg isn't the greatest 18mpg hwy but that's why I bought a cruze diesel. 55mpg and it zips around town.
+Pat massey two best comments so far. for safety purposes I typically don't tow more than 80% of rated capacity unless it is a short distance. in my case it was actually cheaper to find a 1 ton dually diesel than the 3/4 ton variant because down south just about everyone drives a 3/4 ton truck. it's way more capable than I need, my current camper only being 6500lbs but it's comforting to know that my next camper, moving up to a 36ft fifth wheel, won't be a strain on my truck. I also still get 14mpg towing my 6500lb trailer at 75mph unlike my last 1/2 ton gasser than only got 9mpg pulling the same weight. plus the stopping ability is much greater on the 1 ton especially loaded down. yes it is a pain to park and back up and mpg isn't the greatest 18mpg hwy but that's why I bought a cruze diesel. 55mpg and it zips around town.
ya there rlly jasnt been a towing capacity test between each brand.. they have only all claimed numbers based off their engineering plans.. Both my 1/2 tons have pulled at most 18,000 pounds even with an extra 1500lbs load in the bed quite frequently........ when you dont want to spend the cash for a 3/4 or 1ton, you make due with what you have ...
+Snipe Stud00 that's also illegal and highly unsafe. towing the max tow rating is still sketchy especially in hilly areas where it's brake, gas, brake, gas. once you get a hd you learn how much better they are at hauling. making things work is simply accepting the risk and hazards. risking my life I won't do. 2016 chevy 1500 rated to tow 10000lbs with crew cab and 4x4 easily hits 40k my 2013 chevy 3500 crew cab 4x4 was 36k before additions. yes the HD truck was used but it looks new and has all the featured need 50k miles left on warranty and a tow rating up to 22500lbs.
Kyle Vanwinkle Why would i want a 2500 or anything like that.. much as i tow and how often, my 1/2 tons work fine.. besides, laws require brakes on all trailers now. unless you pass as farm use then you can get away without it all.. but my 1/2 ton pulls my 25ft flatbed with a 4540 series 40hp mahindra 4x4 frontloader tractor (13,000lbs) with a (2500lbs) diskharrow and a full 1000 diesel gallon fuel tank tank fine..... besides, anything marked "farm" lets you get away with murder...
Light trucks are better off road and in snow, cheaper running costs, nicer interiors, more refined(quieter engine, e.c.t), easier to live with. Unfortunately I need a long box. For the time being im stuck with my f350. In any diesel truck you will be lucky to get 15L/100km(15mpg) a gas 6.2L v8 like in the new f350 gets the same or better fuel economy. Torque doesn't matter because we have gears. Efficiency is what matters and modern diesels are choked out by emissions equipment so they are not as efficient as there gas counterparts. My ford 6.4L diesel broke 1 exhaust gasket bolt and ford wanted $8000 Cad to fix it...(i found someone to do it for $2k) I dont think most diesels last more than 300,000 km without something major breaking(Mine at was at 280,000km and over the last 2 years it cost over $20,000 to keep it on the road). What i have learnt about the makes Ford= bad diesel engines, Dodge= Bad auto transmissions, chev= Bad components(alternators, pumps, switches, e.c.t). Choose what you will; I hope to help inform readers.
you have a 6.4, that's why it cost so much to maintain and fix. my 6.7 PS has 274k miles on it and has had nothing major done. Changed the egr cooler at 200k miles bc of plugging, and I average 18.8 mpg. My old 6.4 would be lucky to get 12 to 13 mpg with grandma like driving. dump the 6.4, get a BP 6.0 or a 6.7 and don't look back.
TheMOTOX85 Thanks for the info, it sounds like yours is running well. My Fuel pump went at 250k($8000), exhaust bolts at 290K($8000 if you want a proper fix), my flex pipe exhaust had a small leak($3000), my Egr cooler was leaking coolant($700), one of my heads had a slow oil leak(bad gaskets). The list of common problems is endless. I actually just sold it and im looking at a 2017 f350 with the 6.2 gas. I drive in extreme cold and in winter in the mornings I have the block heater on, 2 battery heaters on, then after the truck starts I have to run the truck for 30 mins on high idle with the rad blocked off before the interior thaws out enough to drive. If I park it at the grocery store while im shopping, I have to leave it running in high idle or the coolant temp drops off and it clogs itself with soot(I had a DPF delete). The 6.2 gas is a lot simpler engine, that makes it more reliable. Diesels have a place, but for my situation a gas makes more sense.
You drive an F350 and you think that light duty trucks have a "nicer interior"? Did I not read far enough? What year is it? I drive a 2012 F250 and its interior is just as, or nicer than any light duty I've ever been in.
TheMOTOX85 Also changing a major part of the engine like an egr cooler is sort of a big thing, if you can diy and buy the parts for cheap its ok(A real pain in the ass), in my mind the truck should last at least 300,000 miles before anything major goes wrong(not including wear items).
***** Yeah, it was an 08 long box, 4 door, lariat(loaded) it has a nice interior but compared to a similar spec f150 its not as nice. The 2011-2016 trucks are a bit better but still not as good,less cab space(engine comes into the cab in super duties), less passenger foot room(hurts my ankles after 5+ hours as passenger), in general it has a more heavy duty work feel to it and it feels more spread out. Realistically its not a huge difference but if you spend a long time in both trucks you do notice the difference. Thats not taking into account the increased engine noise and hard ride of the super duties.
I defiantly am team light duty (1500). It is more livable and practical for the guy that needs to drive to work everyday and go out into the desert to shoot guns and camp on the weekends. And manufacturers defiantly pay more attention to the light duty class and revise it more often in my opinion.
I have a lawn care business and towing is a everyday thing. I started with a 99 Dakota with the 5.2L and it did pretty well, other then fuel. I purchased a 2001 Ram 2500 CTD about two years ago and that thing is a beast. So much better for daily towing, and towing down the highway. Now the Dakota just sits and is used as a errand truck. I have the diesel addiction now
This has been my experience- it you tow 9000 and under and don't often load down your bed with more than 1000 lbs a 1/2 ton is your rig (no matter what their tow rating on the door says it's been my experience that with over 9000 lbs 1/2 tons get squirrelly sometimes with trailers on them especially if it's windy or if there's snow or ice on the road) If you are often towing over 9000 lbs and often hauling over 1000 lbs a 3/4 ton or one ton is your rig. And with the heavy duty trucks the diesel is usually the beat option because HD trucks are heavy SOBs and they usually get poor fuel economy with gas engines. although, unless your EPA junk happens to fall off, modern diesels aren't a whole lot better compared to their price so idk you have to weigh it out. Generally if you do a lot of towing diesel is the better option, but if your truck usually rides around just hauling you or your family but occasionally does tow your monster 15000 lb camper, a gasser may make more sense. You just have to weigh it out. 1/2 tons drive and ride better no doubt, but they're no harder to park than the other and the amenities are the same been my experience. In fact I'm pretty sure GM and Dodge use the same bodies on all their full size pickups with the exception of a couple bolt on pieces like the hood and bumper and the such. This has been my experience anyhow based on my own trucks and what my friends have. I have had a 1/2 ton F150 for a while but I was for sure pushing it's capabilities (usually towed 9000 lb loads or so but have towed as heavy as 16000 lbs with it) so for my next truck I bought a dodge Cummins and I love it to death. I usually haul trailers around the 9000-15000 lb range but in a pinch have towed grain wagons up to around 40000 lbs of weight before.
overall ride & fuel economy is much better with light duty (unloaded). That said: only big rigs are designed to carry max rated capacity on a regular basis. Running WOT fully loaded all the the time will destroy any light duty in short order.
I know a guy who pulls a big horse trailer with a cummins Dodge for a living. Anyways he pretty consistently gets about 300,000 miles before the engines go tits up. Big rigs can get 1,000,000 miles but not normally without some work.
Well my 06 ram can tow 8600lb's which is more than I need so i'd say the 1500's and 150's are my choice. If i for some reason needed to tow a house and 2 car's, i'd buy the heavy duty truck.
Truck "A heavy road vehicle used for carrying goods, materials, or troops" A one ton is better a being a truck then a 1/2 ton... A 1/2 ton isn't a real truck, It's a pickup.
Heavy duty Diesel truck, never gas in a heavy duty. and the heavy duty trucks get the same if not better mpg than the half ton gssers. and are most capable. currently have a diesel jetta and i love it, diesel is great for power and efficiency and it is the way to go i think
***** your stupid if you pay the full synthetic oil price.. my 5.3L costs 40 dollars for oil. Secondly, that oil will last 10,000 miles... tire rotation free! Filters can be blown out with a compressor, or washed if you you use a reusable filter like K&N or Spectre!! I swear, only morons with more money then sense own these trucks.... technically a gas engine gets the same mpg as a diesel, unless you tow alot.. being that i tow 18,000lbs every couple months with maybe 8,000lbs every 3rd week, a gas engine makes sense.... but in all, i decided agaimst buying a larger truck as both my 1/2ton trucks have never let me down and still average 13mpg pulling, unless i hit a larger hills then i get 8-9mpg pulling that 18,000lbs...
+Kaden Moreland yeah small trucks are in high demand so the prices are massively inflated. A Colorado starts at 20,000 for the base with no power windows and 2wd. Add a crew cab and 4wd and you're already above 30k. It's ridiculous
I just traded in my 2015 eco diesel for a 2015 2500 6.7 with low mileage. BEST MOVE I EVER DID. lol i only tow a 14x7 trailer once a week in the summer. I just love starting that 6.7 up and feeling the truck just rumble. Go big or go home lol
A propper Toyota HiLux is what my heart is set on. 1 Ton payload and small enough to actually fit in a single parking spot. Thats the car of your need.
Nathan was doing a much better job at selling the heavy duties I think. Here's my argument for heavy duty trucks even if you need a light duty: If you buy a truck one size above the one you need it will last magnitudes longer based on the way that things like fatigue failures in metal happen. At least in Rams the Cummins also gets better mileage than the Hemi. The Power Wagon is also based an a base model 4x4 2500 so you can upgrade one of the diesels to go off-road pretty easily. This was a large part of my logic when getting a Ram 2500. I also bought it to tow trailered cars and a camper though. I think if you intend to use it like a truck in any way you're better off with the HD.
I've always felt that 1/2 ton trucks are pointless. Heavy duty and small pickups have a legitimate purpose. Small pickup are handy for anyone just needing to haul tools and supplies, and they get around very easy (look at how many fleet vehicles are Rangers and S-10s). Also, small pickups are the true champs of off-road, Toyotas are everywhere on the trails. On the other hand, full size trucks are the work horses of modern times. Go to any construction site and count how many heavy duty trucks there are, it will far out number any 1/2 tons. You can't haul full sheets of plywood or sheet rock with a 6ft bed, and if you're going to get an 8ft bed why get a 1/2 ton? Might as well get something that can handle a much greater load.
if all you tow is an rv or motorcycle trailer a 1/2 ton is fine, while a hd is overkill and a small truck like an s10 would be overloaded. 1/2 ton truck also gets better mileage than hd and is more liveable.
You can get hd trucks with shorter wheelbases than some 1/2 tons. And 4-5 mpg is really not enough to justify buying a much less capable truck. Also, with a few mods and a tune, you can get BETTER mileage than some 1/2 tons depending on what you have under the hood.
Youre right, they do have their purpose. I built my own house back in the late eighties from the concrete up. I used an 88 bronco 2 to carry almost everything to the job site on weekends along with a 3000 lb capacity trailer. at the end of the weekend I left the materials under cover ON the trailer . I would use the materials directly from the trailer (drywall,2 by 6's ,shingles,cabinets,boiler, appliances etc. A full size truck would not make it through the wooded ,narrow driveway. AS it would be one hell of a lot of work for a thief to carry down a long driveway, piece by piece...it was a theft deterrent. (not to mention the armed neighbors lol) It saved a lot of steps to not just throw the materials on the ground and worry about water damage. Also ,if I wanted to take a break and have lunch offsite...I didn't have to unload the truck first. Another nice thing about a light truck/light trailer combination? The lumber yard can side load a load of drywall or a full pallet load of lumber onto a flatbed trailer or even a full pallet of shingles with a fork lift. Try that with a full size pickup or even a half ton. If you succeed , how do you get them off when you get to the job site? :-) an explorer sport trac would have been great for the task....but were so hard to find and pricey when you did find one.
I think people know what they need for towing and dont really need this video of 5 reasons. It accomplished absolutely nothing. you guys have really stepped up your game on the videos and I have been loving the channel for the coverage of new platforms across the board. thanks guys. keep up the good work.
So you would leave a family behind on a camping trip? You have no friends that weigh over 100 pounds? If you put 5 guys I know all 6 feet or more and not little in a car it would bottom out and there is no where to put any backpacks. Just to take the kids and dog somewhere I need more than the Lesabre can offer. That is why it sits and the trucks are always used.
September 2019 on Ford.com with zero incentives: 2019 XL f150 crew cab short bed with 5.0 v8 and 4x4 $41,690 2019 f250 XL crew cab short bed with 6.2 v8 with 4x4 $40,140 It really comes down to personal preference and the packages you want. Many will argue the mileage between the two. If you're buying a truck you shouldn't care all that much. My f250 with the 6.2 averages about 15 on the highway and a little less in town. Dont have to worry about anything I may need to haul or tow and I love the look much more than the f150. My f250 is easy to drive around for everyday driving and easy to park. I have zero issues with driving a super duty around all the time. I love it. Oh, and mine seats 6. Take that f150 lol
I don't have a hd truck because I simply don't need one. Why pay more for hd truck when not needed. My truck gets better mpg than a hd truck and does everything I need it too do. And beside the manufacturers keep upping the capabilities of light duty trucks to where they have surpassed the capabilities of hd trucks from the past.....
There can be a new Chevy 1500 High Country with every option and a 5.3L V8 for $60K. But you can then get a Ram 3500 or F-350 basic model with dually and a diesel engine AND still spend less then a High County.
I wish I got good gas mileage I have a 96 f-150 and a 1999 dodge ram 1500 both only get about 13mpg the ford is a 4.9 inline six and the Dodge is a 5.9 magnum
I have a 1999 F150 xlt 6 with only 56,000 miles on it. I have always love it. It's been great for trips to the dump and hauling home the new couch and furniture and so on. Never had any serious problems till now. I plan on living in an RV full-time and they say I can not pull over 5,000 pounds. I want the options of pulling whatever I want going up and down hills not afraid. Also I'll be able to haul my utility cart in the back. Or maybe get a camper for the truck. My F150 is comfortable to drive but what's this talk about bouncing. Can that be fixed? I'll probably do lots of highway driving.
As of June 2017, Enterprise Rent-A-Truck offers very reasonable rates for 3/4 ton, diesel crew cab pickups in some locations. I seriously considered taking one halfway across the country, towing a travel trailer. If one of those truck rental centers, Enterprise or a competitor, was near me, I would probably go with a smaller truck and rent a 3/4 ton when it was really needed. As grandpa used to say, "A bargain is being able to buy what you NEED." I have thought very long and hard on those golden words of wisdom.
I like the heavy duty and specifically the Cummins and or ram. Becaue I like to hear my trucks not feel like I'm in a oversized prius! Team Cummins all the way
I've had just about every truck on the market. I'll never own a light duty truck again. Currently running an 04 ram 2500 4x4. Tow my 15,000 lb trailer no problem and average 22 mpg with no trailer. A good driver doesn't have to worry about parking. Cummins for the win
Lets just stop all this nonsensical back and forth on things that matter very little and get the one truck that does all the things most truckers do and need the most. . . Lets all get Honda Ridglines!
If we're being honest, that's about right. Fact of the matter is that unless the truck is purchased for work or towing purposes, most people will never use a fraction of even a light duty truck's capabilities. If the most work your truck will ever see is moving your cousin's refrigerator or stove, a Ridgeline, Colorado, or any quarter ton rig will be more than you'll ever need. But go ahead and waste as much money as you please purchasing the biggest truck you can afford, because after all, it's still a free country.
Honestly. I have a light duty truck because I don't always tow or haul heavy loads frequently. Which most people don't. But nothing beats a big ass diesel truck!
+Greg O'Brien i havent driven in snow with the ko2 but i have with the ko's. I had a 2.5 ton trailer on and 1 ton of grit in the bed and they handled great. Personally i would get them fitted, you will have no problems.
When I see a heavy duty truck carrying lots of stuff either in it or behind it, I've got respect. When I see one empty and freshly washed, I can't help but think the driver is trying to compensate for something. You go heavy duty because you're a trucker.
***** Perhaps, and it could be a regional thing too but surely you can see how appearances could be deceiving in this case? Someone who drives their truck to work 5 days and hauls horses/camper/boat/firewood on weekends would be running around empty most of the time.
I've had a 1988 Ford Ranger, a '94 F 150, a '00 F 350, and now a '12 F 250 and I've loved them all but now that I have a need to pull stuff, I prefer the heavy duty. I don't have enough knowledge to debate one over the other but I know that if you put large tires on a gas truck without changing the gears, you lose a lot of power so I'd hate to see what I'd lose in a light duty. Plus I want a truck that won't hesitate when pulling a heavy load when I come to a steep grade. If I can get all that in a light duty, I'm all for it.
Thumbs up. When building a GMC Sierra on their website, I noticed that the 1500 Denali actually costs more than the 3500 Denali. The only reason I would prefer a half ton over a one ton is to save money.
I spent over a year doing research on every truck out there, cause I needed an upgrade from my 2x4 F150. I ended up finding that the RAM 2500 4x4 with the Cummins was the best all around truck for what I needed it to do, which was towing a modest travel trailer regularly along with my family and all our junk; occasionally towing larger loads; and doing some wicked awesome off-roading and teaching folks what NOT to do off-road with a 3/4 ton. :-P Bottom line, I guess, and what y'all were alluding to is: figure out what you're gonna need the truck to do most often, and find the truck with the capabilities to do just a little bit more than that (say 10-15% more), that way you're not disappointed. But also set proper expectations. If you buy a 3/4T+ truck you're just not going to be as maneuverable as the baby-full-sized trucks. :-D
A couple of years ago I was looking to purchase a new truck because I had been driving the same vehicle for over 20 years with no major problems. When I was looking at diesel trucks and the salesman was showing me the tank that is used to hold some type of chemical/fuel additive that is now required on all diesel trucks. Can you tell me anything about that? I ended up buying a gas truck because I didn’t want to mess with some additive that I knew nothing about. Do you know if that’s still required? I’m interested to hear what you have to say about it. Also how much does it cost and how much do you need to buy? Thanks
And I'd like to add I've switched up to a ram 1500 ecodiesle for my 18ft hybrid camper. Truck is slightly modded pushing 500 tq to the wheels. Perfect combo though. Still 30mpg highway empty and still 17mpg towing 65. Rides good, parks easy, and has no problem accelerating with a load
Over hear in Australia, you hardly ever see huge heavy duty truck's... You know why? because the only advantage of having one is towing big stuff on the highway, and if someone wants some big stuff moved they call a trucking company or a removal-est. As for off road use, a huge truck with a long wheel base is useless. A suzuki jimny or an older model Vitara would do better than those huge things off road. I myself own a 2016 duel cab Colorado LTX 4WD with a 2.8L diesel, but most people I know that are into serious four wheel driving mostly own Land cruser V8 turbo diesel's or Hilux 4wd Duel cabs. I really see no point in owning a HD unless you are ALWAYS towing something huge on the road.
I popped for the F-250 over the F-150, daily drive it, tow with it, work with it, and I haven't been sorry. Simple, rock solid, 6.2 V8 vs an aluminum block turbo 6, rugged drivetrain all the way through, easy to drive, comfortable, the only drawback is the height and I'll live with that any day :)
I purchased a new Ford Raptor in 2014 and loved it more than any truck I have ever owned. I kept it for 2 years and simply could not justify keeping it. I replaced it with a Chevy 3500 Dually diesel because I need payload and towing capacity. Until the day comes when I can afford having over $120,000 worth of trucks in my driveway, I will have to stick with the heavy duty option.
I've got an 1988 and a half chevy silverado 2500 2wd, we converted it to 1ton all around (also a new crate 350 and trans). As long as your truck can seat 4-5 and haul a long bed full of gravel/dirt it's good enough. When he mentioned putting the truck in his garage was funny though.
I agree with Nathan. The only area that the half-ton wins, as far as I am concerned, is that it is easier to park them. For those people who need the heavy-duty, nothing else will really do. And, in my opinion, the heavy-duty trucks are just tougher.
I drive an 03 F350 super duty with the extended cab and 8ft bed every day. That thing is a Mother in a parking lot and takes 3 lanes plus the one you are in and a bike lane to make a u- turn.
I was just in the market for a new truck it's a pretty big decision to pull the trigger on a brand-new truck due to the heavy price tags. My last truck was a Dodge ram 2500 diesel with a manual transmission . This truck had a very solid drive train with a 14,000 pound towing capacity but Had to replace the whole front end @ 60,000 miles with a truck that never had a plow. The best thing about this truck was the resale value of it was great.I had the truck for seven years and sold it for two thirds of the original price. Making my new purchase I considered three trucks F 250 4x4 6.7. Ram 2500. 4x4. 6.7 Toyota Tundra 4x4 5.7 I ended up getting theToyota due to the high reliability rating And with the new diesels having all of the new emissions diesel crap . All the new emissions stuff lowers Mpg's and causes reliability problems and higher operating/maintenance cost. Plus I really need to only tow 10,000 pounds anyway! Had the new truck for approximately four months now and extremely satisfied!!!
I think you missed several points, or didn’t really focus on them enough: 1. Turning radius - really important off-road. The difference tends to be huge between a 1500 and 3500, especially when figuring DRW. 2. Maintenance costs - HD parts tend to be more, but also wear harder. 3. (You touched on this) HD trucks are simply less comfortable when empty. The suspension is much harder and it is very noticeable, not just when going over train tracks. 4. Towing - it is too easy to tow near the capacity of a 1/2 ton truck. While you may not need the 20,000lb tow capacity of a HD truck, you will be thankful for it when you tow 8,000lbs and have the updated frame, suspension and brakes of the HD in the mountains and are going down a grade and have to stop. For me the trigger is towing. If I’m going to tow a camper that is more than 5,000lb I’m going to want a HD truck. If I want to tow a small camper, or dirt bike trailer, then a FWC in the bed of a 1500 is perfect.
It really comes down to what your needs are. Myself the things I tow are well below the towing capacity of my 2011 Silverado 1500 Z71 with a 5.3L/323c.i. which is 9600 on the ball hitch. The heaviest thing I tow is my boat which is around 2000 lbs and it handles it very well. My 98 Silverado 1500 2wd with a 5.0L/305c.i. was having problems towing that boat but it was getting worn out at 180,000 miles. Thought about putting a good 350 or 383 crate motor in it but it was time for something newer. Years ago I towed a 65 Impala on a heavy steel car trailer from St. Louis to my home near Kansas City with the 98 and had no problems. I am guessing I had around 4000 lbs or so and it was rated for 5000 on the ball hitch. Now if i towed heavier stuff and way more often then sure I would want the heavy duty with a diesel. A Silverado with the Duramax of course.
When I had a 13000 lb 5th wheel I had and loved my F350 diesel. Now I'm retired and just do repairs around the property I have an F150, Love the 2.7 EcoBoost and it's 24mpg
Drive diesel for a living but gas in my personal life. There are arguments for both. i drive a Ram 1500 with a v-8 Hemi. Works well for me. If you just want a big truck to compensate for personal issues, God bless you, you are going to have problems if you don't work that diesel. If you use your pick-up and have big loads frequently, diesel is the way to go.For all other more domestic "Average Joe" needs, buy a gas engine 1/2 ton truck.
So you can get a light or heavy duty truck for the same price. If I need to have 20k lb towing capacity well then I have to get a HD truck. At 10k lb towing I can choose between either a LD or a HD. What I'd look at then to help me decide is running costs (fuel economy, maintenance, reliability, tires etc), comfort & practicality and resale value. But hoowee I think the new Superduty looks mighty fine 06:42...
As a blue collar working man, I had several ford rangers, because I could afford those and overloaded and towed stuff I shouldn’t. F150’s and 2 dodges both 6 cylinder trucks, now in my 50’s I can finally afford the heavy duty trucks. They just cost way to much, when I registered my superduty if I registered it for max payload I needed a cdl. Love that ford brought back the ranger, but it’s not the affordable working mans truck, it’s a 40k grocery getter. Love my superduty, but they are super expensive, would like to see an affordable working mans truck with payload and towing.
One is much more of a commercial vehicle and one is much more of a personal vehicle. There shouldn't be any debate about which is "better." They serve different purposes.
I personally use both on the farm and don't have much of a problem with either, my 2500hd Chevy tends to spin in the sand due to the weight and my 1500 just glides right across everything, I love my 1500 for driving to and from the farm (over 60 miles away from home) because it's so cheap to drive with gas. Where as my 2500hd you have to maintain the expensive diesel and yet the DEF. As far as hauling, I wouldn't recommend attempting to pull a medium sized load with a 1500 it just can't pull. My 2500hd pulls like a dream. Everyone that farms in our area that has bought a gas truck has switched back to diesel.
Just bought a 2018 gmc 2500hd z71 with the 6.0 gas. Love the truck, wish it got better gas mileage. But the truck is awesome!! Thank for all the great videos!
People in these comments are ignorant. "duhh it's all about towing" No, if you only need to tow 5,000 pounds but you need to tow it daily, a 150/1500 isn't going to last longer than a few years if you're lucky. A HD, especially diesel, will last a decade or more.
My daily driver is a 2005 Dodge Cummins 2500 and i love it. I totally agree with the heavy duty. I can live with my truck, it does everything i want, it might not be a smooth ride but it does the job.
After having driven Cadillac Escalade's for 15 years I bought my first pickup truck: a 2015 RAM 2500 Laramie Mega Cab which I ordered from the factory in late April of last year and took possession of 7 weeks later in June '15. The Caddy that I traded in was 10 years old (2005) and had 308,000+ miles on it...it was time.I looked at the new Escalade's and they're just too expensive now...as are the Yukon Denali's, Chevy Tahoe LTZ and the Lincoln/Ford competitors. A business partner had just recently bought a 2014 Ford F-150 King Ranch and he suggested that I look into a pickup. I was reluctant at first because I really don't have a need for a truck per se but I did have several prerequisites for my purchase: a big vehicle (not a crossover or hybrid), a big V8, a plush interior with all the creature comforts, 4 wheel drive and in the $50k range. I looked at the GM, Ford and RAM offerings in 1500/150 in the upper but not highest trim levels for several weeks and had pretty much decided on the RAM 1500 Laramie Crew Cab but then I saw a Mega Cab on the dealer lot and inquired about it. I was told that the Mega Cab is the biggest cab on the market but that it's only available on the 2500 and/or 3500 so I started to look at the 2500. The ride is a little firmer than what I'm used to but it's in no way harsh. The Mega Cab provides an ENORMOUS volume of room for the back seat passengers...about 5 more inches of legroom than the Crew Cab plus reclining rear seats and extra storage behind the rear seat. In the last 13 months I've put over 30k miles on the truck and no problems at all...nothing but awesomeness. I have the 6.4 HEMI with the 4.10 rear axle and all the bells and whistles. It's a great looking truck and extremely comfortable to drive and ride in. GM and Ford build excellent trucks too but at the end of the day you're going to be spending your own money on a vehicle and you have to decide which you like best. TO me the Mega Cab made all the difference. This is my daily driver and I don't tow or haul. My RAM is the nicest vehicle I've ever owned.
I've had both light duty and heavy duty. I currently have a Ram 2550 with a CTD. I tow a 5th wheel or load my truck camper (3200#) and then tow a 16' trailer with my Jeep JKU loaded on board. Why? Cause the gas engine truck I had before would not pull the load! Now I can go over the same pass at the speed limit instead of crawling at 45 mph. In addition, I go to Colorado frequently and I can climb the mountains (e.g., Wolf Creek Pass) with no problem even with the heavy load. I'll drive this truck till I can't drive anymore. In New Mexico, we have long distances between towns, so fuel mileage is important, but I get around 20 mpg -if I remove some of the EPA required stuff, I could get up to 30 mpg. However, the new diesel trucks must use DEF, which costs about $12/gal, and every tank of fuel you must add 1/2 gal of DEF. Increased cost for limited reduction in polutants.
I've owned light and heavy duty trucks (1500, 2500 & 3500) for over 20 years, including a 99 suburban 1500 with factory HD options.. For my 2 cents, the light duty suv and trucks wore out well before its heavy duty counterparts. I currently still own a 04 Ram 2500 QC diesel and recently added a Ram 3500 MC dually to replace it as my 2500 was handed over to my college bound son. I prefer to have the ability to tow whatever I want without worrying about safety, being over weight or stressing the vehicle. I frequently tow my jet boat and 33' toy hauler all over CA and from CA to TX to FL and many other places between without any issues. With the heavy duty trucks I get better fuel mileage, towing power and sense of security towing on the highway that I didn't get with light duty trucks. I don't tow super heavy, normally at or less than 15k lbs and I can tell you a light duty truck will struggle up steep mountains grades with any significant amount to weight! Buy what safely suits you.
Heavy Duty ie. 3/4 ton or 1 ton is Better in Every Single Way than a 1/2 ton or 1/4 ton. Safety in hauling & towing is extremely better in the Heavy Duty trucks. Even if the HD truck is the size of a school bus, parking it in a parking lot is no big deal. I drive a 2001 F350 Crew Cab, Long Bed, SRW truck and I can still park no problem in parking lots, as well as I can fit through most drive thrus with no issues what so ever. As well as go through regular sized car washes. I've owned a 1/2 ton before and I will never go back to one after buying a 1 ton. It is night & day difference and half tons simply don't have the GVWR to back up their "tow ratings" The weakest link in a 1/2 ton is it's GVWR, because that is it's limitation at the end of the day as to what it can and cannot safely tow or haul. And most 1 tons are well over 10,000 lbs+ when it comes to GVWR, my truck is a 2001 and it's got way more GVWR than modern day 1/2 tons, my GVWR is 9900 lbs where the newer F150s with the Max HD package have something like 8200 lbs or something like that. 1 tons got bigger brakes, frames, axles, solid front axles, suspension components, etc. 3/4 tons and 1 tons are the Only way to go for any sort of real trailer towing.
I used to only have ford f150s, but a few years ago I bought a F350 with the 7.3, and I have to say, the mileage is ALOT better than the 1/2 tons, even loaded down the mileage on the 1 ton is about the same as the 1/2 tons when empty. I have been tempted on downsizing lately just cause I dont tow as often (or as much weight) anymore, and the older diesels are not the cleanest environmentally. But it is hard to part with the reliability and mileage of the diesel (not to mention the reliability & cheap maintenance of a manual trans)
This isn't which one is better or not. This is an "I need to haul a lot of weight so the heavy duty is better" vs "I don't need to haul a lot of weight, so light duty is better"
I DD my '16 RAM 2500 Mega Cab in Seattle and can do everything a light duty truck can do. Oh, and with the Laramie Longhorn package I look just as good doing it, if not better. The amount of truck you get for just a few grand more is immense.
Let me start by saying that i've had trucks my whole life. Having said that, I still have no idea what the difference is between a single and dually as far as capability goes. Does the dually axle hold more weight?
For those on the cusp-who want to go on the road for a few months each year with a light weight slide in camper, plus other payload,, which would put a light duty truck over gross, what would be the best choice? A light duty truck with suspension augmentation, like a airbags? Or, An HD truck that would be a pleasure when loaded, for a few months of the year, but a pain the remainder of the time? I’d love to see a video about it, thanks...
I had two, half-ton trucks I used for towing. Four-speed or six-speed transmissions, it didn't matter. The diesel three-quarter ton trucks are the way to go for towing. Manufactures market half-ton trucks that tow 10 and 12k, but doing it with a truck that weighs about 5k. Whereas, diesels are 7k and up in weight. This makes a difference when controlling a large load. Gas mileage on a diesel is better when towing. I get over 2 MPG better towing the same weight over a gas powered truck. The gas mileage advantage holds true even when empty and not towing.
As a Dodge guy I tend to be a bit biased when it comes to trucks (though I HATE the new front end on dodge) but that light duty diesel actually seems to be the best of both worlds. I know a lot of cummins guys don't think the newer engine is as good as the old 12 valve, but it's a relatively light truck with an engine you don't normally have the option of in that sector. As someone who's recently worked on the suspension of a 3500 I can say it'd be nice to get that power in something that's easier to work on.
Modern trucks, the greatest trucks ever built for the working man... That no working man can afford XD.
💯
One thing that I never hear covered is the looks of the HD trucks. Me personally I think the HD trucks usually look a hundred times better than the 1500s. I bought one almost just based on that one factor, as it was in the same price range as the 1500s I was finding. Im not going to lie. I just think they look awesome.
Living in northern Minnesota, I have been driving super dutys and HDs since I was 15. I know in some larger cities HDs can take more skill to drive daily but the ease of never needing to question loads I pick up is why I've chosen my trucks over smaller vehicles
I love how everyone loves diesels, wait to you have to replace a $7K DEF filter because it cant be cleaned or its cracked.. new diesel are not as reliable as the old ones.
Craig Hager or just change it yourself.....
Or just yank the whole thing out lmao
Well, I've read all the comments and everyone is wrong as usual.
Glad we have an expert on our hand
That's why youtube comments are pretty much useless.
Good thing we have the truck specialist and public voice troy here with us.
The Old Gentleman Without troy all is lost
Nathan have you driven down the average US residential street? People are using their trucks to replace minivans. Very few people Not on a construction site have any use for a 3/4 ton. Heck they can't even justify the half ton. There has been much written about how people in the US and Canada exaggerate their towing needs. Need to pull a 3000lbs boat? Get a half ton etc. It's typical excess and not needed. Get the half ton and be glad you already over bought for your needs...
It's ALL about payload and towing. There is no other reason to discern them. If you live in the suburbs, wear pleated pants to work, and don't own a 35' boat or 5th wheel, it is stupid to buy an HD.
This is not like a sports car. You can drive a Hellcat at 10/10ths whenever you feel like it (when safe to do so ;). You cannot randomly decide to tow 30,000lbs 'cos the truck next to you revved his engine and gave you the nod. So, the excess is useless unless you have a good use to put it to.
Truck pulls with stock or lightly modded trucks is still big in the south. Kids with backward hats blasting gucci mane want to outpull their friends. It's why the SRW diesel crew cab short bed is the new bro truck
True. Unfortunately That's the mentality that the manufacturers picked up on that led to us getting 60k half tons. Smh.
haha this comment is so true! I tow 30,000lbs to impress my babe all the time... she loves it way more than the Raptor! honestly, I'd by a heavy duty just for the sweet diesel sound
Who cares what you do. Buy an HD if that's what you want - with a little negotiation the prices are nearly the same nowadays and the longevity of a Cummins makes it a no brainer.
Trust me, if you are used to it, the day to day living is a moot point.,
HD diesel all the way. I went from a chevy 1500 with the 6.2L to a ram 2500 with the 6.7 i6 and I will never look back, better mpg, better towing, looks better IMHO, and with a leveling kit and 35's it will go places the chevy couldn't. HD for the win
I think Roman hit the nail on the head when he said light duty trucks are family vehicles aka everyday drivers, while HD trucks are tools. I drive a 3500 HD Silverado (gas) for work and a 1500 Silverado as my personal and I would not want to flip that around! :)
The answer to your question is "You need both!".
^^^^^ this guy ^-^
Nissan Titan diesel then?
+Ryan Plumley ecodiesel, tows 9200lbs vs the titan which tows 12,000. but it would be much cheaper and better on fuel
This is the correct answer
Titan XD is a heavy duty truck its a 3/4 ton truck. is shares nothing with the base titan other than the name
heavy duty maintenance costs are much more. 10 ply tires, double batteries, my F250 took 15 quarts of oil
You forgot one thing: if you ever need to drive a truck on the moon, you will definitely want a heavier duty truck (more weight). You wouldn't want to hit a bump and launch yourself into space because your light duty didn't weigh enough.
I'm glad I could finally settle the argument. Buy HD!
Here in Toronto I priced out a brand new 2016 F150 XLT Sport with leather, came out to $46 000 CAD which is like $35 000 USD. An equally equipped F350 is like $70 000, so I don't understand why you're saying they're in the same price range.
Plus there are plenty of people who work in an office, like me, who just use their truck as a daily, for camping and moving smaller loads.
Light duty all the way.
Here in the lower 48 There is very little difference in price about 10k to 15k
And the xlt? Thats not a fully loaded half ton you need the fx4 package with all the bells and whistles and then go compare it to a a single rear wheel diesel not dually
+Brenton Crowe XLT is a trim level. FX4 is nothing but an options package.
Don Hanson - Sometimes not even that much.
10-15k is a big price difference.
Why does the guy on the left seem so angry?
+Abd Alhamadani that's great☝️️
LOL
Dodge Guy
Cause he can't find his penis
lolol noticed that too.
Light duty is definatley more versatile and for any average joe. And the heavy duties are for the ones that tow and lift for a living. Personal preference and what you need.. Too many people out there that'll just say heavy duty because it's "Bigger and better", but will NEVER put the truck to even half it's potential... Lmao
But half the potential is more than a half ton can safely do.
That's why HD will last longer
I'd like to point out that many truck buyers are still unaware of tow rating vs GVWR/GCWR. I've seen many 1/2 ton buyers tow trailers that are technically at or below the maximum trailer weight, but are burdened with 4 full size adults and heavy cargo in the bed. While these new awesome trucks can handle things for the most part, it's technically illegal and can be a liability nightmare if an accident occurs.
+Pat massey two best comments so far. for safety purposes I typically don't tow more than 80% of rated capacity unless it is a short distance. in my case it was actually cheaper to find a 1 ton dually diesel than the 3/4 ton variant because down south just about everyone drives a 3/4 ton truck. it's way more capable than I need, my current camper only being 6500lbs but it's comforting to know that my next camper, moving up to a 36ft fifth wheel, won't be a strain on my truck. I also still get 14mpg towing my 6500lb trailer at 75mph unlike my last 1/2 ton gasser than only got 9mpg pulling the same weight. plus the stopping ability is much greater on the 1 ton especially loaded down. yes it is a pain to park and back up and mpg isn't the greatest 18mpg hwy but that's why I bought a cruze diesel. 55mpg and it zips around town.
+Pat massey two best comments so far. for safety purposes I typically don't tow more than 80% of rated capacity unless it is a short distance. in my case it was actually cheaper to find a 1 ton dually diesel than the 3/4 ton variant because down south just about everyone drives a 3/4 ton truck. it's way more capable than I need, my current camper only being 6500lbs but it's comforting to know that my next camper, moving up to a 36ft fifth wheel, won't be a strain on my truck. I also still get 14mpg towing my 6500lb trailer at 75mph unlike my last 1/2 ton gasser than only got 9mpg pulling the same weight. plus the stopping ability is much greater on the 1 ton especially loaded down. yes it is a pain to park and back up and mpg isn't the greatest 18mpg hwy but that's why I bought a cruze diesel. 55mpg and it zips around town.
ya there rlly jasnt been a towing capacity test between each brand.. they have only all claimed numbers based off their engineering plans.. Both my 1/2 tons have pulled at most 18,000 pounds even with an extra 1500lbs load in the bed quite frequently........ when you dont want to spend the cash for a 3/4 or 1ton, you make due with what you have ...
+Snipe Stud00 that's also illegal and highly unsafe. towing the max tow rating is still sketchy especially in hilly areas where it's brake, gas, brake, gas. once you get a hd you learn how much better they are at hauling. making things work is simply accepting the risk and hazards. risking my life I won't do. 2016 chevy 1500 rated to tow 10000lbs with crew cab and 4x4 easily hits 40k my 2013 chevy 3500 crew cab 4x4 was 36k before additions. yes the HD truck was used but it looks new and has all the featured need 50k miles left on warranty and a tow rating up to 22500lbs.
Kyle Vanwinkle Why would i want a 2500 or anything like that.. much as i tow and how often, my 1/2 tons work fine.. besides, laws require brakes on all trailers now. unless you pass as farm use then you can get away without it all.. but my 1/2 ton pulls my 25ft flatbed with a 4540 series 40hp mahindra 4x4 frontloader tractor (13,000lbs) with a (2500lbs) diskharrow and a full 1000 diesel gallon fuel tank tank fine..... besides, anything marked "farm" lets you get away with murder...
Heavy duty all the way. Capability is very useful. Living in a fairly rural area and heating with coal and wood a 3/4 or 1-ton comes in very handy.
Light trucks are better off road and in snow, cheaper running costs, nicer interiors, more refined(quieter engine, e.c.t), easier to live with. Unfortunately I need a long box. For the time being im stuck with my f350. In any diesel truck you will be lucky to get 15L/100km(15mpg) a gas 6.2L v8 like in the new f350 gets the same or better fuel economy. Torque doesn't matter because we have gears. Efficiency is what matters and modern diesels are choked out by emissions equipment so they are not as efficient as there gas counterparts. My ford 6.4L diesel broke 1 exhaust gasket bolt and ford wanted $8000 Cad to fix it...(i found someone to do it for $2k) I dont think most diesels last more than 300,000 km without something major breaking(Mine at was at 280,000km and over the last 2 years it cost over $20,000 to keep it on the road). What i have learnt about the makes Ford= bad diesel engines, Dodge= Bad auto transmissions, chev= Bad components(alternators, pumps, switches, e.c.t). Choose what you will; I hope to help inform readers.
you have a 6.4, that's why it cost so much to maintain and fix. my 6.7 PS has 274k miles on it and has had nothing major done. Changed the egr cooler at 200k miles bc of plugging, and I average 18.8 mpg. My old 6.4 would be lucky to get 12 to 13 mpg with grandma like driving. dump the 6.4, get a BP 6.0 or a 6.7 and don't look back.
TheMOTOX85 Thanks for the info, it sounds like yours is running well. My Fuel pump went at 250k($8000), exhaust bolts at 290K($8000 if you want a proper fix), my flex pipe exhaust had a small leak($3000), my Egr cooler was leaking coolant($700), one of my heads had a slow oil leak(bad gaskets). The list of common problems is endless. I actually just sold it and im looking at a 2017 f350 with the 6.2 gas. I drive in extreme cold and in winter in the mornings I have the block heater on, 2 battery heaters on, then after the truck starts I have to run the truck for 30 mins on high idle with the rad blocked off before the interior thaws out enough to drive. If I park it at the grocery store while im shopping, I have to leave it running in high idle or the coolant temp drops off and it clogs itself with soot(I had a DPF delete). The 6.2 gas is a lot simpler engine, that makes it more reliable. Diesels have a place, but for my situation a gas makes more sense.
You drive an F350 and you think that light duty trucks have a "nicer interior"? Did I not read far enough? What year is it? I drive a 2012 F250 and its interior is just as, or nicer than any light duty I've ever been in.
TheMOTOX85 Also changing a major part of the engine like an egr cooler is sort of a big thing, if you can diy and buy the parts for cheap its ok(A real pain in the ass), in my mind the truck should last at least 300,000 miles before anything major goes wrong(not including wear items).
***** Yeah, it was an 08 long box, 4 door, lariat(loaded) it has a nice interior but compared to a similar spec f150 its not as nice. The 2011-2016 trucks are a bit better but still not as good,less cab space(engine comes into the cab in super duties), less passenger foot room(hurts my ankles after 5+ hours as passenger), in general it has a more heavy duty work feel to it and it feels more spread out. Realistically its not a huge difference but if you spend a long time in both trucks you do notice the difference. Thats not taking into account the increased engine noise and hard ride of the super duties.
No one is better then the other it just depends what you need in your truck this should be more of a which type of truck is right to you
I defiantly am team light duty (1500). It is more livable and practical for the guy that needs to drive to work everyday and go out into the desert to shoot guns and camp on the weekends. And manufacturers defiantly pay more attention to the light duty class and revise it more often in my opinion.
defiantly ?
+Michael Hernandez definitely is what I meant. It was autocorrect.
+lance “fuzzypeach” avats I know, I was messing with you. that happens to me all the time
you might as well but an SUV. you can't use it as a truck
It makes since that a Light duty truck gets revised more often and heavy duty trucks don't. Because if it ain't broke don't fix it!
I have a lawn care business and towing is a everyday thing. I started with a 99 Dakota with the 5.2L and it did pretty well, other then fuel. I purchased a 2001 Ram 2500 CTD about two years ago and that thing is a beast. So much better for daily towing, and towing down the highway. Now the Dakota just sits and is used as a errand truck. I have the diesel addiction now
i love these top 5s, keep them coming!
It is 4:33 am and I am currently watching this. Why am I awake?? But I couldn't help but watch TFLtruck, love your guys' videos!
Buy the light duty truck and when you need a heavy duty truck "RENT IT" and save the money
so rent it all the time?
@@patb9375 why not?
If i win to lotto ,,I better get one or Two heavy trucks
This has been my experience- it you tow 9000 and under and don't often load down your bed with more than 1000 lbs a 1/2 ton is your rig (no matter what their tow rating on the door says it's been my experience that with over 9000 lbs 1/2 tons get squirrelly sometimes with trailers on them especially if it's windy or if there's snow or ice on the road) If you are often towing over 9000 lbs and often hauling over 1000 lbs a 3/4 ton or one ton is your rig. And with the heavy duty trucks the diesel is usually the beat option because HD trucks are heavy SOBs and they usually get poor fuel economy with gas engines. although, unless your EPA junk happens to fall off, modern diesels aren't a whole lot better compared to their price so idk you have to weigh it out. Generally if you do a lot of towing diesel is the better option, but if your truck usually rides around just hauling you or your family but occasionally does tow your monster 15000 lb camper, a gasser may make more sense. You just have to weigh it out. 1/2 tons drive and ride better no doubt, but they're no harder to park than the other and the amenities are the same been my experience. In fact I'm pretty sure GM and Dodge use the same bodies on all their full size pickups with the exception of a couple bolt on pieces like the hood and bumper and the such. This has been my experience anyhow based on my own trucks and what my friends have. I have had a 1/2 ton F150 for a while but I was for sure pushing it's capabilities (usually towed 9000 lb loads or so but have towed as heavy as 16000 lbs with it) so for my next truck I bought a dodge Cummins and I love it to death. I usually haul trailers around the 9000-15000 lb range but in a pinch have towed grain wagons up to around 40000 lbs of weight before.
Heavy half ton here :
Best ride.
Tow / haul occasionally-
Had some heavy half tons that handled loads better than 3/4 ton.
overall ride & fuel economy is much better with light duty (unloaded). That said: only big rigs are designed to carry max rated capacity on a regular basis. Running WOT fully loaded all the the time will destroy any light duty in short order.
I know a guy who pulls a big horse trailer with a cummins Dodge for a living. Anyways he pretty consistently gets about 300,000 miles before the engines go tits up. Big rigs can get 1,000,000 miles but not normally without some work.
Diesel get significantly better gas mileage your plain wrong but ride is only worse on a dually.
Fuel economy is not true. I get better mileage in my 3/4 to diesel than my prior half ton, single cab 6 cylinder gasser
Diesels get better diesel mileage not better gas mileage.
+brandon w diesel is designed for better fuel economy that's why people buy diesel not to mention most are turbo and have kick ass torque
Well my 06 ram can tow 8600lb's which is more than I need so i'd say the 1500's and 150's are my choice. If i for some reason needed to tow a house and 2 car's, i'd buy the heavy duty truck.
Truck "A heavy road vehicle used for carrying goods, materials, or troops"
A one ton is better a being a truck then a 1/2 ton... A 1/2 ton isn't a real truck, It's a pickup.
GM 2500hd 6.0 4x4 seats six and parks in DC every day while hauling Bricks.
HD EVER DAY
Heavy duty Diesel truck, never gas in a heavy duty. and the heavy duty trucks get the same if not better mpg than the half ton gssers. and are most capable. currently have a diesel jetta and i love it, diesel is great for power and efficiency and it is the way to go i think
I have a 6.4 Hemi Ram 2500...
+Jay Smith they have ram 3500 duallies with the 5.7L and 6.4L hemi .......thought about buying one...
if you go with a diesel get a old one like a 5.9 or an 7.3 idi
***** your stupid if you pay the full synthetic oil price.. my 5.3L costs 40 dollars for oil. Secondly, that oil will last 10,000 miles... tire rotation free! Filters can be blown out with a compressor, or washed if you you use a reusable filter like K&N or Spectre!! I swear, only morons with more money then sense own these trucks.... technically a gas engine gets the same mpg as a diesel, unless you tow alot.. being that i tow 18,000lbs every couple months with maybe 8,000lbs every 3rd week, a gas engine makes sense.... but in all, i decided agaimst buying a larger truck as both my 1/2ton trucks have never let me down and still average 13mpg pulling, unless i hit a larger hills then i get 8-9mpg pulling that 18,000lbs...
Andrew Barcomb 12v is bettee then the 24.. also can about double torque with a couple bolt ons..
Hey Nathan, why don't you drive a heavy duty truck instead of a Toyota Tacoma?
the Toyota Tacoma is probably the only thing he can afford
Are you kidding, a Tacoma costs almost the same price as a heavy duty.
+TheGreatGW oh I didn't know that sorry
+Kaden Moreland yeah small trucks are in high demand so the prices are massively inflated.
A Colorado starts at 20,000 for the base with no power windows and 2wd. Add a crew cab and 4wd and you're already above 30k. It's ridiculous
+TheGreatGW he bought the cheapest one he could at the time with 5 or 6 seats I don't remember what he said his has and he wanted it to have a 5 speed
I just traded in my 2015 eco diesel for a 2015 2500 6.7 with low mileage. BEST MOVE I EVER DID. lol i only tow a 14x7 trailer once a week in the summer. I just love starting that 6.7 up and feeling the truck just rumble. Go big or go home lol
I love Nathan but he can come off as more angry than necessary (on occassion)....
A propper Toyota HiLux is what my heart is set on. 1 Ton payload and small enough to actually fit in a single parking spot. Thats the car of your need.
I'm happy enough with just a Ford Ranger.
Nathan was doing a much better job at selling the heavy duties I think. Here's my argument for heavy duty trucks even if you need a light duty: If you buy a truck one size above the one you need it will last magnitudes longer based on the way that things like fatigue failures in metal happen. At least in Rams the Cummins also gets better mileage than the Hemi. The Power Wagon is also based an a base model 4x4 2500 so you can upgrade one of the diesels to go off-road pretty easily. This was a large part of my logic when getting a Ram 2500. I also bought it to tow trailered cars and a camper though. I think if you intend to use it like a truck in any way you're better off with the HD.
Damn he called him out for living in a travel trailer...
Y'all have been coming up with some really interesting topics. Gas vs Diesel. HD vs light duty. Etc. Thanks!
I've always felt that 1/2 ton trucks are pointless. Heavy duty and small pickups have a legitimate purpose. Small pickup are handy for anyone just needing to haul tools and supplies, and they get around very easy (look at how many fleet vehicles are Rangers and S-10s). Also, small pickups are the true champs of off-road, Toyotas are everywhere on the trails. On the other hand, full size trucks are the work horses of modern times. Go to any construction site and count how many heavy duty trucks there are, it will far out number any 1/2 tons. You can't haul full sheets of plywood or sheet rock with a 6ft bed, and if you're going to get an 8ft bed why get a 1/2 ton? Might as well get something that can handle a much greater load.
if all you tow is an rv or motorcycle trailer a 1/2 ton is fine, while a hd is overkill and a small truck like an s10 would be overloaded. 1/2 ton truck also gets better mileage than hd and is more liveable.
You can get hd trucks with shorter wheelbases than some 1/2 tons. And 4-5 mpg is really not enough to justify buying a much less capable truck. Also, with a few mods and a tune, you can get BETTER mileage than some 1/2 tons depending on what you have under the hood.
sogma Lukem wich toyota?
Youre right, they do have their purpose. I built my own house back in the late eighties from the concrete up. I used an 88 bronco 2 to carry almost everything to the job site on weekends along with a 3000 lb capacity trailer. at the end of the weekend I left the materials under cover ON the trailer . I would use the materials directly from the trailer (drywall,2 by 6's ,shingles,cabinets,boiler, appliances etc. A full size truck would not make it through the wooded ,narrow driveway. AS it would be one hell of a lot of work for a thief to carry down a long driveway, piece by piece...it was a theft deterrent. (not to mention the armed neighbors lol) It saved a lot of steps to not just throw the materials on the ground and worry about water damage. Also ,if I wanted to take a break and have lunch offsite...I didn't have to unload the truck first. Another nice thing about a light truck/light trailer combination? The lumber yard can side load a load of drywall or a full pallet load of lumber onto a flatbed trailer or even a full pallet of shingles with a fork lift. Try that with a full size pickup or even a half ton. If you succeed , how do you get them off when you get to the job site? :-) an explorer sport trac would have been great for the task....but were so hard to find and pricey when you did find one.
I think people know what they need for towing and dont really need this video of 5 reasons. It accomplished absolutely nothing. you guys have really stepped up your game on the videos and I have been loving the channel for the coverage of new platforms across the board. thanks guys. keep up the good work.
if I need to haul 5 people, I'm using a car. trucks should be standard cabs & long boxes
amen to that
So you would leave a family behind on a camping trip? You have no friends that weigh over 100 pounds? If you put 5 guys I know all 6 feet or more and not little in a car it would bottom out and there is no where to put any backpacks. Just to take the kids and dog somewhere I need more than the Lesabre can offer. That is why it sits and the trucks are always used.
September 2019 on Ford.com with zero incentives:
2019 XL f150 crew cab short bed with 5.0 v8 and 4x4
$41,690
2019 f250 XL crew cab short bed with 6.2 v8 with 4x4
$40,140
It really comes down to personal preference and the packages you want. Many will argue the mileage between the two. If you're buying a truck you shouldn't care all that much. My f250 with the 6.2 averages about 15 on the highway and a little less in town. Dont have to worry about anything I may need to haul or tow and I love the look much more than the f150. My f250 is easy to drive around for everyday driving and easy to park. I have zero issues with driving a super duty around all the time. I love it. Oh, and mine seats 6. Take that f150 lol
If that Raptor is a Light duty then where does my Nissan Frontier stand? 🤔
Its actually heavy for a mid sized truck.
..in a amusement park as a $0.25 ride ...
Guy Mooglie Ohhh snap we have a hater! Lol
LOL...just playin'.....
Hahaha.. that was good though
You did solve it - a 3/4 ton single rear wheel is the way to go!
I don't have a hd truck because I simply don't need one. Why pay more for hd truck when not needed. My truck gets better mpg than a hd truck and does everything I need it too do. And beside the manufacturers keep upping the capabilities of light duty trucks to where they have surpassed the capabilities of hd trucks from the past.....
An hd truck isn't much more and has heavy duty everything.
There can be a new Chevy 1500 High Country with every option and a 5.3L V8 for $60K. But you can then get a Ram 3500 or F-350 basic model with dually and a diesel engine AND still spend less then a High County.
I wish I got good gas mileage I have a 96 f-150 and a 1999 dodge ram 1500 both only get about 13mpg the ford is a 4.9 inline six and the Dodge is a 5.9 magnum
My 2001 Supercrew F150 4wd got 13 on a good day. Usually 11, loaded or not...
3/4 or 1 ton diesel. Either Duramax or Cummins. Can't wait to see what the next gen Duramax's numbers are.
so hd stands for heavy duty and not high definition. I'm going to watch videos in 4k 'cause ULTRA HEAVY DUTY
Your face is heavy duty
I have a 1999 F150 xlt 6 with only 56,000 miles on it. I have always love it. It's been great for trips to the dump and hauling home the new couch and furniture and so on. Never had any serious problems till now. I plan on living in an RV full-time and they say I can not pull over 5,000 pounds. I want the options of pulling whatever I want going up and down hills not afraid. Also I'll be able to haul my utility cart in the back. Or maybe get a camper for the truck. My F150 is comfortable to drive but what's this talk about bouncing. Can that be fixed? I'll probably do lots of highway driving.
All that to go to/from work. 🙄
merica! F yeah
Now thats big riggin, mayne
If you got the $$$$$, Why not?
+El Taco ....that's exactly what it boils down to
BMW 2017 yes, this is USA. When you can use 1 liter ecoboost ford fiesta but you drive 60mph on 5-7 liter engine
As of June 2017, Enterprise Rent-A-Truck offers very reasonable rates for 3/4 ton, diesel crew cab pickups in some locations. I seriously considered taking one halfway across the country, towing a travel trailer. If one of those truck rental centers, Enterprise or a competitor, was near me, I would probably go with a smaller truck and rent a 3/4 ton when it was really needed. As grandpa used to say, "A bargain is being able to buy what you NEED." I have thought very long and hard on those golden words of wisdom.
I like the heavy duty and specifically the Cummins and or ram. Becaue I like to hear my trucks not feel like I'm in a oversized prius! Team Cummins all the way
+Josef Stalin slowly Ford and Chevy are going "green"! Dodge, Chrysler, ram, Jeep, are the only American car companies that do have electric cars!
+Josef Stalin you obviously didn't see what I said! I said electric cars nothing on diesels. Come on man
FIAT Chrysler, if your going heavy duty diesel get older ones, ALL the companies are going green including Fiat Chryslers Eco diesel Rams.
I've had just about every truck on the market. I'll never own a light duty truck again. Currently running an 04 ram 2500 4x4. Tow my 15,000 lb trailer no problem and average 22 mpg with no trailer. A good driver doesn't have to worry about parking. Cummins for the win
+kourmoulis1 no kidding! What people don't realize is that diesels are far more file efficient then gas engines
its all about the type of lifestyle you live, one is not better than the other because they both have their uses to different people
Heavy duty 💪🏻💪🏻
If money was no option Heavy Duty all the way. I am with Nathan on this one.
Lets just stop all this nonsensical back and forth on things that matter very little and get the one truck that does all the things most truckers do and need the most. . . Lets all get Honda Ridglines!
lmao
If we're being honest, that's about right. Fact of the matter is that unless the truck is purchased for work or towing purposes, most people will never use a fraction of even a light duty truck's capabilities. If the most work your truck will ever see is moving your cousin's refrigerator or stove, a Ridgeline, Colorado, or any quarter ton rig will be more than you'll ever need. But go ahead and waste as much money as you please purchasing the biggest truck you can afford, because after all, it's still a free country.
I'm deciding between a Tacoma or a Ridgeline.. At most, I'll tow 3-4,000lbs so no need for something massive
+Heartagram Get an SUV
+Heartagram the Tacoma is a much better 1/4 ton
Honestly. I have a light duty truck because I don't always tow or haul heavy loads frequently. Which most people don't. But nothing beats a big ass diesel truck!
heavyhitta52 expect for some gas trucks ( it depends)
NEW TIRES ON THE RAPTOR!!
+Ryan Fiore yup we bought new K02s
+The Fast Lane Truck good choice on the Ko2 👌
The Fast Lane Truck Awesome!
+Ryan Fiore although mine feel like they grip better on wet roads than they do on dry roads
+Greg O'Brien i havent driven in snow with the ko2 but i have with the ko's. I had a 2.5 ton trailer on and 1 ton of grit in the bed and they handled great. Personally i would get them fitted, you will have no problems.
TFL is the only source I use for truck reviews.
I don't care as long as it has a ford badge it's good enough for me.
Ford doesn't make a pickup sold in the USA with a manual transmission, no thank you..
one word, Pinto, boom, literally
+Jay Smith they explode into fire balls because of low speed rear end collisions?
Sure they do, it's both a manual and an automatic.
thats right
When I see a heavy duty truck carrying lots of stuff either in it or behind it, I've got respect. When I see one empty and freshly washed, I can't help but think the driver is trying to compensate for something. You go heavy duty because you're a trucker.
Owning a HD private (outside of work) it's all about penis size.
If you haul race cars etc on the weekends fine but the majority don't.
race cars dont way that much
yeah, I had a tacoma dick head. See I can also name call, that makes me a big man.
pelleper I think you're projecting. Just because you don't have a use doesn't mean that most HD owners don't.
*****
I think you underestimate the amount of people who own a HD for the looks and road presence.
***** Perhaps, and it could be a regional thing too but surely you can see how appearances could be deceiving in this case? Someone who drives their truck to work 5 days and hauls horses/camper/boat/firewood on weekends would be running around empty most of the time.
I've had a 1988 Ford Ranger, a '94 F 150, a '00 F 350, and now a '12 F 250 and I've loved them all but now that I have a need to pull stuff, I prefer the heavy duty. I don't have enough knowledge to debate one over the other but I know that if you put large tires on a gas truck without changing the gears, you lose a lot of power so I'd hate to see what I'd lose in a light duty. Plus I want a truck that won't hesitate when pulling a heavy load when I come to a steep grade. If I can get all that in a light duty, I'm all for it.
he should put some smile on his face, why he so mad!!!have a snicker. ..
Thumbs up. When building a GMC Sierra on their website, I noticed that the 1500 Denali actually costs more than the 3500 Denali. The only reason I would prefer a half ton over a one ton is to save money.
I spent over a year doing research on every truck out there, cause I needed an upgrade from my 2x4 F150. I ended up finding that the RAM 2500 4x4 with the Cummins was the best all around truck for what I needed it to do, which was towing a modest travel trailer regularly along with my family and all our junk; occasionally towing larger loads; and doing some wicked awesome off-roading and teaching folks what NOT to do off-road with a 3/4 ton. :-P
Bottom line, I guess, and what y'all were alluding to is: figure out what you're gonna need the truck to do most often, and find the truck with the capabilities to do just a little bit more than that (say 10-15% more), that way you're not disappointed. But also set proper expectations. If you buy a 3/4T+ truck you're just not going to be as maneuverable as the baby-full-sized trucks. :-D
A couple of years ago I was looking to purchase a new truck because I had been driving the same vehicle for over 20 years with no major problems. When I was looking at diesel trucks and the salesman was showing me the tank that is used to hold some type of chemical/fuel additive that is now required on all diesel trucks. Can you tell me anything about that? I ended up buying a gas truck because I didn’t want to mess with some additive that I knew nothing about. Do you know if that’s still required? I’m interested to hear what you have to say about it. Also how much does it cost and how much do you need to buy? Thanks
Yes dear ford if you're listening. WE WANT A SUPERDUTY AS CAPABLE OR MORE CAPABLE OFF ROAD AS THE POWER WAGON. SO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
And I'd like to add I've switched up to a ram 1500 ecodiesle for my 18ft hybrid camper. Truck is slightly modded pushing 500 tq to the wheels. Perfect combo though. Still 30mpg highway empty and still 17mpg towing 65. Rides good, parks easy, and has no problem accelerating with a load
Over hear in Australia, you hardly ever see huge heavy duty truck's... You know why? because the only advantage of having one is towing big stuff on the highway, and if someone wants some big stuff moved they call a trucking company or a removal-est. As for off road use, a huge truck with a long wheel base is useless. A suzuki jimny or an older model Vitara would do better than those huge things off road. I myself own a 2016 duel cab Colorado LTX 4WD with a 2.8L diesel, but most people I know that are into serious four wheel driving mostly own Land cruser V8 turbo diesel's or Hilux 4wd Duel cabs. I really see no point in owning a HD unless you are ALWAYS towing something huge on the road.
I popped for the F-250 over the F-150, daily drive it, tow with it, work with it, and I haven't been sorry. Simple, rock solid, 6.2 V8 vs an aluminum block turbo 6, rugged drivetrain all the way through, easy to drive, comfortable, the only drawback is the height and I'll live with that any day :)
I purchased a new Ford Raptor in 2014 and loved it more than any truck I have ever owned. I kept it for 2 years and simply could not justify keeping it. I replaced it with a Chevy 3500 Dually diesel because I need payload and towing capacity. Until the day comes when I can afford having over $120,000 worth of trucks in my driveway, I will have to stick with the heavy duty option.
I've got an 1988 and a half chevy silverado 2500 2wd, we converted it to 1ton all around (also a new crate 350 and trans). As long as your truck can seat 4-5 and haul a long bed full of gravel/dirt it's good enough.
When he mentioned putting the truck in his garage was funny though.
I agree with Nathan. The only area that the half-ton wins, as far as I am concerned, is that it is easier to park them. For those people who need the heavy-duty, nothing else will really do. And, in my opinion, the heavy-duty trucks are just tougher.
I drive an 03 F350 super duty with the extended cab and 8ft bed every day. That thing is a Mother in a parking lot and takes 3 lanes plus the one you are in and a bike lane to make a u- turn.
I was just in the market for a new truck it's a pretty big decision to pull the trigger on a brand-new truck due to the heavy price tags. My last truck was a Dodge ram 2500 diesel with a manual transmission . This truck had a very solid drive train with a 14,000 pound towing capacity but Had to replace the whole front end @ 60,000 miles with a truck that never had a plow. The best thing about this truck was the resale value of it was great.I had the truck for seven years and sold it for two thirds of the original price. Making my new purchase I considered three trucks
F 250 4x4 6.7.
Ram 2500. 4x4. 6.7
Toyota Tundra 4x4 5.7
I ended up getting theToyota due to the high reliability rating And with the new diesels having all of the new emissions diesel crap . All the new emissions stuff lowers Mpg's and causes reliability problems and higher operating/maintenance cost. Plus I really need to only tow 10,000 pounds anyway! Had the new truck for approximately four months now and extremely satisfied!!!
I think you missed several points, or didn’t really focus on them enough:
1. Turning radius - really important off-road. The difference tends to be huge between a 1500 and 3500, especially when figuring DRW.
2. Maintenance costs - HD parts tend to be more, but also wear harder.
3. (You touched on this) HD trucks are simply less comfortable when empty. The suspension is much harder and it is very noticeable, not just when going over train tracks.
4. Towing - it is too easy to tow near the capacity of a 1/2 ton truck. While you may not need the 20,000lb tow capacity of a HD truck, you will be thankful for it when you tow 8,000lbs and have the updated frame, suspension and brakes of the HD in the mountains and are going down a grade and have to stop.
For me the trigger is towing. If I’m going to tow a camper that is more than 5,000lb I’m going to want a HD truck.
If I want to tow a small camper, or dirt bike trailer, then a FWC in the bed of a 1500 is perfect.
It really comes down to what your needs are. Myself the things I tow are well below the towing capacity of my 2011 Silverado 1500 Z71 with a 5.3L/323c.i. which is 9600 on the ball hitch. The heaviest thing I tow is my boat which is around 2000 lbs and it handles it very well. My 98 Silverado 1500 2wd with a 5.0L/305c.i. was having problems towing that boat but it was getting worn out at 180,000 miles. Thought about putting a good 350 or 383 crate motor in it but it was time for something newer. Years ago I towed a 65 Impala on a heavy steel car trailer from St. Louis to my home near Kansas City with the 98 and had no problems. I am guessing I had around 4000 lbs or so and it was rated for 5000 on the ball hitch. Now if i towed heavier stuff and way more often then sure I would want the heavy duty with a diesel. A Silverado with the Duramax of course.
When I had a 13000 lb 5th wheel I had and loved my F350 diesel. Now I'm retired and just do repairs around the property I have an F150, Love the 2.7 EcoBoost and it's 24mpg
Drive diesel for a living but gas in my personal life. There are arguments for both. i drive a Ram 1500 with a v-8 Hemi. Works well for me. If you just want a big truck to compensate for personal issues, God bless you, you are going to have problems if you don't work that diesel. If you use your pick-up and have big loads frequently, diesel is the way to go.For all other more domestic "Average Joe" needs, buy a gas engine 1/2 ton truck.
So you can get a light or heavy duty truck for the same price.
If I need to have 20k lb towing capacity well then I have to get a HD truck.
At 10k lb towing I can choose between either a LD or a HD.
What I'd look at then to help me decide is running costs (fuel economy, maintenance, reliability, tires etc), comfort & practicality and resale value.
But hoowee I think the new Superduty looks mighty fine 06:42...
As a blue collar working man, I had several ford rangers, because I could afford those and overloaded and towed stuff I shouldn’t. F150’s and 2 dodges both 6 cylinder trucks, now in my 50’s I can finally afford the heavy duty trucks. They just cost way to much, when I registered my superduty if I registered it for max payload I needed a cdl. Love that ford brought back the ranger, but it’s not the affordable working mans truck, it’s a 40k grocery getter. Love my superduty, but they are super expensive, would like to see an affordable working mans truck with payload and towing.
One is much more of a commercial vehicle and one is much more of a personal vehicle. There shouldn't be any debate about which is "better." They serve different purposes.
I personally use both on the farm and don't have much of a problem with either, my 2500hd Chevy tends to spin in the sand due to the weight and my 1500 just glides right across everything, I love my 1500 for driving to and from the farm (over 60 miles away from home) because it's so cheap to drive with gas. Where as my 2500hd you have to maintain the expensive diesel and yet the DEF. As far as hauling, I wouldn't recommend attempting to pull a medium sized load with a 1500 it just can't pull. My 2500hd pulls like a dream. Everyone that farms in our area that has bought a gas truck has switched back to diesel.
Just bought a 2018 gmc 2500hd z71 with the 6.0 gas. Love the truck, wish it got better gas mileage. But the truck is awesome!! Thank for all the great videos!
Priced at 50k
People in these comments are ignorant. "duhh it's all about towing"
No, if you only need to tow 5,000 pounds but you need to tow it daily, a 150/1500 isn't going to last longer than a few years if you're lucky. A HD, especially diesel, will last a decade or more.
My daily driver is a 2005 Dodge Cummins 2500 and i love it. I totally agree with the heavy duty. I can live with my truck, it does everything i want, it might not be a smooth ride but it does the job.
I use a F450 as a daily driver, very capable truck for loading up fishing poles and beer for a trip to the lake on the weekends.
After having driven Cadillac Escalade's for 15 years I bought my first pickup truck: a 2015 RAM 2500 Laramie Mega Cab which I ordered from the factory in late April of last year and took possession of 7 weeks later in June '15. The Caddy that I traded in was 10 years old (2005) and had 308,000+ miles on it...it was time.I looked at the new Escalade's and they're just too expensive now...as are the Yukon Denali's, Chevy Tahoe LTZ and the Lincoln/Ford competitors. A business partner had just recently bought a 2014 Ford F-150 King Ranch and he suggested that I look into a pickup. I was reluctant at first because I really don't have a need for a truck per se but I did have several prerequisites for my purchase: a big vehicle (not a crossover or hybrid), a big V8, a plush interior with all the creature comforts, 4 wheel drive and in the $50k range. I looked at the GM, Ford and RAM offerings in 1500/150 in the upper but not highest trim levels for several weeks and had pretty much decided on the RAM 1500 Laramie Crew Cab but then I saw a Mega Cab on the dealer lot and inquired about it. I was told that the Mega Cab is the biggest cab on the market but that it's only available on the 2500 and/or 3500 so I started to look at the 2500. The ride is a little firmer than what I'm used to but it's in no way harsh. The Mega Cab provides an ENORMOUS volume of room for the back seat passengers...about 5 more inches of legroom than the Crew Cab plus reclining rear seats and extra storage behind the rear seat. In the last 13 months I've put over 30k miles on the truck and no problems at all...nothing but awesomeness. I have the 6.4 HEMI with the 4.10 rear axle and all the bells and whistles. It's a great looking truck and extremely comfortable to drive and ride in. GM and Ford build excellent trucks too but at the end of the day you're going to be spending your own money on a vehicle and you have to decide which you like best. TO me the Mega Cab made all the difference. This is my daily driver and I don't tow or haul. My RAM is the nicest vehicle I've ever owned.
I've had both light duty and heavy duty. I currently have a Ram 2550 with a CTD. I tow a 5th wheel or load my truck camper (3200#) and then tow a 16' trailer with my Jeep JKU loaded on board. Why? Cause the gas engine truck I had before would not pull the load! Now I can go over the same pass at the speed limit instead of crawling at 45 mph. In addition, I go to Colorado frequently and I can climb the mountains (e.g., Wolf Creek Pass) with no problem even with the heavy load. I'll drive this truck till I can't drive anymore. In New Mexico, we have long distances between towns, so fuel mileage is important, but I get around 20 mpg -if I remove some of the EPA required stuff, I could get up to 30 mpg. However, the new diesel trucks must use DEF, which costs about $12/gal, and every tank of fuel you must add 1/2 gal of DEF. Increased cost for limited reduction in polutants.
I've owned light and heavy duty trucks (1500, 2500 & 3500) for over 20 years, including a 99 suburban 1500 with factory HD options.. For my 2 cents, the light duty suv and trucks wore out well before its heavy duty counterparts. I currently still own a 04 Ram 2500 QC diesel and recently added a Ram 3500 MC dually to replace it as my 2500 was handed over to my college bound son. I prefer to have the ability to tow whatever I want without worrying about safety, being over weight or stressing the vehicle. I frequently tow my jet boat and 33' toy hauler all over CA and from CA to TX to FL and many other places between without any issues. With the heavy duty trucks I get better fuel mileage, towing power and sense of security towing on the highway that I didn't get with light duty trucks. I don't tow super heavy, normally at or less than 15k lbs and I can tell you a light duty truck will struggle up steep mountains grades with any significant amount to weight! Buy what safely suits you.
LOL loved it keep up the great videos
Heavy Duty ie. 3/4 ton or 1 ton is Better in Every Single Way than a 1/2 ton or 1/4 ton. Safety in hauling & towing is extremely better in the Heavy Duty trucks. Even if the HD truck is the size of a school bus, parking it in a parking lot is no big deal. I drive a 2001 F350 Crew Cab, Long Bed, SRW truck and I can still park no problem in parking lots, as well as I can fit through most drive thrus with no issues what so ever. As well as go through regular sized car washes. I've owned a 1/2 ton before and I will never go back to one after buying a 1 ton. It is night & day difference and half tons simply don't have the GVWR to back up their "tow ratings" The weakest link in a 1/2 ton is it's GVWR, because that is it's limitation at the end of the day as to what it can and cannot safely tow or haul. And most 1 tons are well over 10,000 lbs+ when it comes to GVWR, my truck is a 2001 and it's got way more GVWR than modern day 1/2 tons, my GVWR is 9900 lbs where the newer F150s with the Max HD package have something like 8200 lbs or something like that. 1 tons got bigger brakes, frames, axles, solid front axles, suspension components, etc. 3/4 tons and 1 tons are the Only way to go for any sort of real trailer towing.
there is a company that makes a kit to take last gen chevy tucks and change the front end to a solid axle.
I used to only have ford f150s, but a few years ago I bought a F350 with the 7.3, and I have to say, the mileage is ALOT better than the 1/2 tons, even loaded down the mileage on the 1 ton is about the same as the 1/2 tons when empty. I have been tempted on downsizing lately just cause I dont tow as often (or as much weight) anymore, and the older diesels are not the cleanest environmentally. But it is hard to part with the reliability and mileage of the diesel (not to mention the reliability & cheap maintenance of a manual trans)
This isn't which one is better or not. This is an "I need to haul a lot of weight so the heavy duty is better" vs "I don't need to haul a lot of weight, so light duty is better"
I DD my '16 RAM 2500 Mega Cab in Seattle and can do everything a light duty truck can do. Oh, and with the Laramie Longhorn package I look just as good doing it, if not better. The amount of truck you get for just a few grand more is immense.
Let me start by saying that i've had trucks my whole life. Having said that, I still have no idea what the difference is between a single and dually as far as capability goes. Does the dually axle hold more weight?
For those on the cusp-who want to go on the road for a few months each year with a light weight slide in camper, plus other payload,, which would put a light duty truck over gross, what would be the best choice?
A light duty truck with suspension augmentation, like a airbags? Or,
An HD truck that would be a pleasure when loaded, for a few months of the year, but a pain the remainder of the time?
I’d love to see a video about it, thanks...
I had two, half-ton trucks I used for towing. Four-speed or six-speed transmissions, it didn't matter. The diesel three-quarter ton trucks are the way to go for towing.
Manufactures market half-ton trucks that tow 10 and 12k, but doing it with a truck that weighs about 5k. Whereas, diesels are 7k and up in weight. This makes a difference when controlling a large load. Gas mileage on a diesel is better when towing. I get over 2 MPG better towing the same weight over a gas powered truck. The gas mileage advantage holds true even when empty and not towing.
As a Dodge guy I tend to be a bit biased when it comes to trucks (though I HATE the new front end on dodge) but that light duty diesel actually seems to be the best of both worlds. I know a lot of cummins guys don't think the newer engine is as good as the old 12 valve, but it's a relatively light truck with an engine you don't normally have the option of in that sector. As someone who's recently worked on the suspension of a 3500 I can say it'd be nice to get that power in something that's easier to work on.