Pickup Truck Advice?
 

Anyone here want to spend my money?

I know this is a sports car forum, but there must be a few of you out there with a truck in the driveway.

I'm starting to look at replacing my 2004 Avalanche. Had Mrs. ZCanadian's 370Z in for an oil change yesterday, and being alone and unsupervised at a dealership (always dangerous), I spent some time browsing the inventory at Nissan and the adjacent Toyota dealership. Being tired and vulnerable after a long week, I then went to my local GM store for some more window shopping. Test drove a few full sized pickups from each marque (new/used). Have yet to try a RAM, which I haven't test driven for over a decade despite having bought a dozen or more for the company in that period. I've never been much of a Ford fan.

Given unlimited time, I could search every brand on its own forum, but I barely have time to work and sleep anymore. So I'm going to start my search by asking you for personal experience or opinions with late model full-size 4x4 pickups of any make.

I actually need a vehicle like this. It isn't a driveway trophy used for pulling my toys (unless you consider horses, feed, farm equipment, and laden hay wagons to be toys). Where I live, even the Avalanche can get bogged down in deep snow and I require a vehicle like this for the farm. Baby trucks don't have the clearance, tow capacity, or brakes to cut it. But I also daily it in winter, so it needs to be relatively economical to operate.

Needs:
1/2 ton will work for me.
Tow 8,000lbs +
True 4x4.
Ground clearance.
4 seats.
Reasonable box (6' or bigger, closed).
Reliable, even in cold weather, and not expensive to operate.
Smaller than an aircraft carrier, would be nice!
Not too expensive to buy.

Wants:
Nice place to be (pleasant, practical interior).
Everything else is usually avalable as an option anyway.

I found some used Tundra 1794 Edition crew cabs that are pretty good. But I don't need a full crew cab. My second favourite model, but not cheap! Regular Tundra with some upgrades might be a good option as it comes with a double cab (vs crew). Fuel economy isn't stellar.

My favourite is the Titan XD but it would have to be with the Cummins engine as the gas mill sucks fuel like air. But it's also only full cab (big truck!). Would have to be used to make my budget. How's this engine in the cold? Don't like regular Titan much (smaller box, kind of cheesy interior and exteriors).

The Sierra SLE double cab with some upgrades is not horrible, with present discounts the new 2017 is 20% off list and comes in lower priced than used examples of the same truck (= minimual initial depreciation). There is a very good local dealership for service whereas the Nissan and Toyota are 45 minutes away. The best on gas, too. I've had pretty good luck with reliability on my Avalanche (13 years old). Yes, the interior surfaces are a bit cheap, and things will start falling off at 60,000 km.

RAM is perennially the low-cost, best-pulling option. Not a fan of the now-dated exterior and the interior is pretty nasty compared to the others. Again, there is a local dealer and they are pretty economical to run. Also available with a Cummins diesel or Hemi with MDS. Has a double cab option.

I might be better to keep my Avalanche for another year (it's not going down in value much anymore, and winters are hard on trucks here). There will always be sales and good used trucks on the market. But I've got a bee in my bonnet, and as my wife will attest, that's usually dangerous.

So, suggestions? Advice? Cautions?
Your chance to try to spend my money!

Thanks in advance.

My wife has a 2009 titan and a 2016 xd cummins. Like both of them for what they are. Gas mileage sucks on both xd models cause they weight 7500 to 7800 lbs. Acceleration is sluggish compared to the king cab titan we have. But it does tow almost as much as the f250 and 2500s. Ground clearance on her xd I don't believe is as good as the titan either (she has the platinum). However the platinum is a great ride with fantastic interior finish compared to our plasticity titan. The box size on our king cab is the same as the xd. Haven't had it for a winter yet so we don't know about cold tolerance. Will also have more maintenance with the egr crap, 10qt oil pan, etc with the xd

Thanks for your detailed thoughts on this. Very much appreciated!

Yeah, I love the interior of the Platinum XD (and the exterior is no slouch either). Anything on the road bigger than it will have "Freightliner" written on the grille! But I recognize that truck would cost more to own. Your comments in that regard are appreciated. Definitely the downside of owning such a capable truck. Oddly, insurance quote is coming in lower than the other trucks on my list, and considerably lower than my '04 Avalanche! But brakes, tires, oil, transmission will all be more expensive to maintain and to fix. And I keep my vehicles for a long time so I will feel that pain!

Any issues with yours? I read some horror stories about the early Diesel XD's especially. I suspect it has more to do with the way people drive them (those engines are meant to run long and hot, not go to the store for milk and back). Too many people own trucks as driveway trophies these days!

Bought ours used. The only issues so far has been a quality control job on the steering wheel (someone cut the leather wrap too thin nissan replaced free), had to replace windshield due to road debris (insurance covered). The big one was someone tried to fix the hard shifting everyone bitches about, and tinkered with the fuel injectors (timing i guess). Well the didnt tighten them and the truck blew one out while driving. Nissan fixed, no cost, no damage to the engine. Other than that has been a good, comfortable truck that probably gets more compliments than my 2010 nismo. Time will tell if its as dependable as our 2009, which has been awezome overall. Only complaints driving it is the sluggish acceleration compared to the lighter titan, and if you slow down almost to a stop then try to accelerate, that big *** hesitates to move for awhile. It asks are you really sure you want to go cause you just tried to stop.

I've been hearing great things about the cummins titan, so that may be a path you want to look into. Plus they look awesome. I personally drive a tacoma because I don't really "need" a truck but I enjoy the usability of it and it's on the smaller side. For your situation...I wouldn't hesitate on purchasing the tundra when you're ready!! If I actually needed a truck for its intended use it would be a tundra no doubt. Some people think the platform is outdated, but I think that speaks to their proven reliability. Tundras are comfortable, strong, and I personally think they look good inside and out. Then again I'm bias towards toyota. Good luck!

Much appreciated.
Although, you realize that you've just made my decision harder? I had amost written thrpe XD off the list, but I think we can live with these downsides as long as the quality and support are there. My heart wants the Titan. It's my head that keeps whispering GM!

I've had my Ram Power Wagon since new in 2008. I've been to helll and back with it. The Power Wagon is the only truck with true 4 wheel drive. As it has electric lockers front and rear. Some have only a rear locker. But not both. For ground clearance. The Power Wagon and the Raptor have the most. The Raptor is light on towing cap. The Raptor is $$$. The Power Wagon option is about $6,800 over a standard 2500. Chevy is coming out with a Colorado that has lockers front and rear, and some ground clearance. But it's light on towing too. And it's a mid size.

Ok......with that out of the way.
1500 Ram with the V6 diesel. It's coming back. They got the emissions fixed.
The Titan isn't bad with the Cummins.
These would be my first two picks.

Ford has too many recalls. My brother hates his.
Toyota doesn't have too many recalls. What they do is service campaigns. You take your vehicle in for service. Without you knowing. They will fix things under the service campaign. This is how they get around recalls. The frame replacement is still going on. :shakes head:
Chevy just don't thrill me after owning 3 of them. All have been POS.

Our third Tundra. Many competitors have more features but the bulletproofness is hard to argue with

Hell's Gate, Moab, and Rausch Creek. I've been in water over the hood. That's why the snorkel. :eek:

Thanks!
But you should get that rad leak fixed. It's huge! :rofl2:
(Sorry, had to do that).

Cheers, Rusty!
Good info. That's why I like hearing from owners of multiple brands, rather than scrolling through dozens of individual forums. People I know a little by now, too.

You're welcome. Here's a link to the Power Wagon forum that I'm on. It's a small group. Around 1,000 members. We all help each other. We don't like BS, and don't beat around the bush. You will get honest opinions. We kid each other pretty good too. We are all cast offs from Dodge Talk. Most of us have been banned from there for our opinions.

Power Wagon Registry - Index page

So, I did a little more research and found out that the PR is available in the regular Titan for 2017, with the 5-year 160,000km warranty, the interior I love, and the new body style. It's 700+ lbs lighter than the XD, better turning radius, fuel economy and acceleration. Just a shorter box and less payload/tow capacity, with which I will live in order to get a more practical, economical daily driver. Not quite the same BAPUT as the Titan XD, but I get most of what I wanted, and for a pretty good deal.

By the way, Nissan Canada's website has a broken link and some incorrect graphics re the interior, and I would not have thought to dig deep enough to find this information had it not been for help, information, and ideas from other owners.

So, thanks to the information from jubei and a number of other people on this and some other forums I'm on, I should be picking up mine in a few days.

And that's ... the rest of the story. :-)

Good luck and enjoy the new truck when you get it.

Love these pics! And the PW!!!!

Ok Paul Harvey. :icon17: Any updates on your 1 yr old Titan?

[QUOTE=Rusty;3701804]You're welcome. Here's a link to the Power Wagon


Geeeezzzz Rusty! Wow, your truck is jacked! How many more mods are even available for your PW?? So awesome!!!! Love it! :driving:


2008 POWER WAGON RC
Mods to the PW; Nerffed Mopar RockRails, Wheel Well Liners, Bushwacker Pocket Fender Flairs, Garvmin dezl 560LMT GPS, Power Wagon Winch Kit, Line X Ultra Bed Liner, PIAA Headlight Bulbs, PIAA 580 Driving Lights (135 watt), PIAA 520 Fog Lights (135 watt), PIAA 520 ATP Off-Road Lights (135 watt), Locker Bypass, Modifed Rockcrusher Diff Covers, Mopar Utility Bed Rails and Tool Box, Warn Winch Wireless Remote Control, "el-cheapo" Inclinometer, Airaid CAI, Winch TPS Bypass, 35" Toyo's, Mopar Spare Tire Lock, 'T' Steering Linkage, Modifed PSC Steering Brace, P3 Brake Controller, Modifed Fusion "mall crawler" rear bumper , PIAA 1500 Back-Up Lights, 1Ton HEMI Tranny Cooler, Leer 100XR Bed Cap, Factory Tow Mirrors, CenterLine Rims 17x9-5.25 BS, Mag-Hytec Tranny Pan, AutoMeter Gauges, PSC Extreme Hydro Assist Steering, Carli G2 Track Bar, Carli Ball-Joints, Dynatrac FreeSpin Hubs, Snorkel, RCV Axles, EBC Pads & Rotors, Aluminess Front Bumper, 14,000 lb Pul-Pal, 60" Extreme Hi-lift Jack, and more riggin' equipment, Carli Long Travel Air Bags, Bilstein 7100 Shocks - Carli Valving, Carli Control Arms, Thuren 3" SoftRide Springs, Thuren Rear Shackles, MagnaFlow Muffler, Crown Stainless Brake Lines, MORE STUFF COMIN'.


I've done like 7 or 8 upgrades to my Hemi Commander. I feel like a slacker now for sure! Ha ha! :icon14:

Planning on lth's, bigger throttle body, custom valved 3" King shocks, and a dyno tune.

The REST of the story? (yeah, I got the reference :-) )

Love most things about this truck.
One-year average fuel economy 1s 14,7 l/100KM (16 MPG) in largely combined driving.

Interior is pretty amazing - looks and feels very high-end.
Audio is great. Heck, it's as big as a concert hall inside!
Storage space is more than adequate.
Ride is nice for a truck and seats are comfortable for long trips.
Engine and transmission have been awesome (not always the case for all owners, though). I have a gas engine.
The brakes are incredible - the only thing that out-stops it is my 2,450LB Alfa!
The looks are unique and I think very sharp.
All-around camera (birds-eye display) makes parking a snap for such a big truck (or, shall I say, berthing this aircraft carrier does not require a tug boat?). That's great, because sight lines from the driver's seat are very poor to the sides and rear. Even the front is difficult, but there is a front camera.

Despite crew cab/short box (fair weight over the rear axle), RWD is not great in ice/snow. But 4x4 is super.

There are driver aids, but no semi-autonomous features. SO happy about the latter.

Sounds amazing!

Niggling little issues are mainly design faux-pas, and some typical Nissan BS.
- Climate controlled seats have a known issue (they don't pass heat through when you sit on them) but the dealership refuses to acknowledge despite a Nissan service bulletin.
- The gear shift lever is enormous - and obscures some HVAC controls when in Drive. Why???
- I haven't been able to format music on a USB drive that will play properly.
- Rain-sensing wipers are rubbish. What was wrong with intermittent ones?
- The supplied mud guards must have come off the 370Z - they are tiny and useless. Easily fixed by swapping to aftermarket ones, but on a $50,000+ truck that shouldn't be needed.
- Parking sensors have a fit every time there is the slightest snow, ice, or road grime on them. WE'RE GOING TO DIE!!! Fortunately, there is an off switch.
- Sometimes the air conditioning says it is off, but condensation under the truck suggests otherwise. Not sure what that's all about.
- I wish it had a sunroof, but it's not available. Not a deal breaker as I will drive it more in winter up here anyway.

Final opinion: I don't intend to sell this truck for quite some time. My only regret is that I have to deal with a Nissan dealership for service (local one is not particularly helpful, and a fair hike from home).

I had a 2013 Toyota Tundra it was a very reliable and dependable truck to own. I did all the general maintenance on time and I never had a single problem with it. I ended selling my 2013 Toyota Tundra only because I had no use for another truck. My buddy has a 2011 Toyota Tundra with 350K+ miles on it and it still runs like a top and never replaced a big component on it yet. I would consider the Nissan Titan not because I am biased to Nissan but because the Nissan Titan is a reliable and dependable truck to own from the people I have seen and talked to in the past that have one. I had a 2014 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7L Hemi and it was a lemon from the day that I bought it. It had transmission failure at 20K miles quite sad. I avoid Dodge trucks like the plague. If you buy a Dodge Mopar you better buy a tow bar. The 2014 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7L Hemi was one of the worst vehicles I ever owned right next to the worthless lemon 2013 Hyundai Azrea I unfortunately owned. I purchased my best vehicles by doing my research and talking to people how own them.I wish you the best of luck with whatever you end up purchasing.

My 2008 Ram PowerWagon has been great! :tup: And I offroad it a lot. :driving:

You're hauling heavy. Which one has the highest towing capacity? We have a 5.3 v8 Silverado with I think a 11,500 tow capacity. I'd be thinking along those lines. Plus it gets 20mpg. That's great for a truck.

Final opinion: I don't intend to sell this truck for quite some time. My only regret is that I have to deal with a Nissan dealership for service (local one is not particularly helpful, and a fair hike from home).[/QUOTE]


Glad your Nissan Truck is working out for you! Sounds like you made the right choice. I find that many will stick with a truck/SUV like one of the family once it proves its worth. My brother-in-law has racked up over 230k miles on his 2010 Dodge 1500 Hemi and won't part ways with it until it literally loses all its bolts. His truck has held up like new. I have an 06 Jeep Commander Hemi 4x4 that I've had since new and I won't part with it until it wants to part with me. It runs and looks like new even with 130k miles on the ODO. Hopefully you've found alternatives to the dealership service bays... I have. I've had too many bad experiences with dealerships... they're always my last option. Thanks for the awesome feedback! Have a good one!

My first Dodge was a 1999 1500 4x4. Put 130,000 trouble free miles on it. It was still in great shape when I traded it in for my Power Wagon.

I will leave this here. Its a truck thread lol

That is sooooo fulgy. :wtf2:

I guess they want to close a truck plant also?? LOL

In the full size realm you'll be hard pressed to go wrong with any of the options out there. I've heard of several Tcase issues in the newest Titans though, as well as ECM issues. Hopefully yours remains trouble free.

I have a 2007 Ram 2500HD with the 5.9 Cummins. These trucks are holding resale extremely well due to being pre-smog diesels. Mine has 135k on it and has a 1 ton cabover camper that lives in the bed nowadays. It's lifted, on 35s, and has been a fantastic truck. I also have a '77 F150 shortbed, also lifted on 35s with rear Detroit locker, front Truetrac, Chromemoly shafts in both ends, warn premium hubs, Aftermaket everything, and the old fangled granny low 4 speed. They simply don't make them like that anymore.

:iagree::iagree:

The older pre smog Cummins are getting top price. My oldest grandson picked up a 12 valve earlier this year. He said that no one is willing to drop their price.

I have RCV axles, DynaTrac freespin hubs, Carli ball joints, trackbar, and control arms. Thuren 3" springs, and rear shackles. PSC steering box with hydraulic steering ram. Bilstein 7100 shocks with remote reservoir with custom valving. My next shocks are going to be 3" Kings from Thuren. :yum:

2 afterthoughts on the Titan:

- "A" pillars that can hide a small bungalow!

- Steering wheel heater - yeah baby! I would have never ordered a vehicle with one but it came in the trim level. So I tried it once on a cold morning last winter. I used to consider a myself pretty tough guy, but when the mercury drops man I love this feature! LOL

Cool, we're getting Titan bonus coverage!!

I agree with you on the heated wheel. I don't need it now, obviously... but when I lived in Detroit, Oregon and NC (mountains), that heater option was always on my mind in winter. Luckily I had heated seats. Yeah, and I'm a pretty tough sucker too! If you don't believe me, just ask one of my 5 cats. :eek: :rofl2:

Add me to the Titan club. Picked up a 2018 Pro-4X a couple weeks ago... dumped my 2017 Pro-4X (a lemon - many issues). My 2018 is a completely different truck from the 2017. I already hit break-in mileage (1200) yesterday. I'm very happy now, to say the least.

This one is fully loaded compared to my last one. (Leather, climate seats, Rockford Fosgate Audio, Around View camera). Very close to the Platinum Reserve in equipment.

ZCanadian - I loved seeing your list of minor gripes - it's exactly the same list as mine. I turned off my rain sensor in the dash menu (between tach and speedo) and haven't thought about the wipers since. Nissan hasn't quite figured out rain sensing wipers - wife's QX60 doesn't know wtf it's doing when it rains. They'll be on the longest delay interval during a torrential downpour and on ludicrous speed when it's misting out.

I looked at a lot of different trucks and felt that, with available incentives and packaging, the Titan was the best fit for me. If money was no object, a 2019 Ram Rebel would have been it, but I couldn't get there on the price and didn't want to wait. I also love the Raptor, but just can't justify it. I still want a GT-R in the future, and the sooner I pay this truck off the sooner I can do it. I got $14k off my Pro-4X as there were 2019s on the lot and they're motivated to move the leftover 18s.

Nice. Mine has the Yukon free spin kit, moog joints, Fox 2.0s, BDS 3" system that includes new control arms, adjustable track bar, and taller coils. Since it gets most of its miles on the road I opted for conventional gas shocks vs. reservoir ones. My old Ford on the other hand has Bilstein res shocks, Chromo shafts front and rear, A rear Detroit, a front Truetrac, beefed drivelines, and a 5" Bronco Graveyard lift with all Deaver springs.

I'd own a power wagon if you could have gotten one with a diesel. That said, a newer 6.4 Hemi would be pretty nice in one too. It's not likely though I'll ever buy a newer diesel and deal with all the smog BS and DEF. That old 24v 5.9 hauls my camper around just fine.

We do a couple meetings a year with the Power Wagons. Moab in May, and Rausch Creek in June. Those are the 2 big ones. A stock Power Wagon will do most of the trails in Moab. :driving:

Congrats on the truck, and thanks for the tip on the rain sensor.
Thinking that I have to do this as well!

Enjoy yours. It is a super nice vehicle!