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This seems like a good idea: Buy that big, beautiful truck that will take you into the mountains, let you take your trash to the dump, and tow trailers or RVs when needed. But many truck owners quickly start having buyer’s remorse after purchasing their truck for a few months. After a few years, they begin to wonder if they will ever buy a truck again.
In fact, a Study by Axios Found that most pickup truck owners do not use their trucks for “truck stuff.” And when you consider how easily trucks break down, how expensive gas is and how much space trucks take up, it may be worth it for some truck owners to get an SUV instead.
Still, according to the experts in that study, many truck owners buy trucks for the truck’s image, it seems. So, if you’re one of those people who either needs a truck for the “truck stuff” or likes the image, how do you decide which trucks to spend thousands of dollars on and which ones to avoid?
To get the answer, we talked to two experts – what they had to say about which trucks aren’t worth your money.
ram 1500
According to RAM, the Ram 1500 truck currently starts at $40,275 for its latest model. website.
“Although it may be equipped with a large towing capacity and a nice-looking interior, it is not very reliable. Research indicates that it experiences above average repair incidents and expensive service problems, especially on its air suspension system,” he said. michael krauseDUI lawyer with over 34 years of practice in cars and driving safety.
“Over the life of the vehicle, owners will have to spend a lot of money on repairs, which will reduce the vehicle’s value. The Ram 1500 loses its appeal when you consider that some of its more complex systems will be more expensive to repair due to increased parts and labor costs,” he said.
“The Hemi is a beast when it works, but these years were plagued with cam and lifter failure problems. Once the lifter seizes, it chews up the camshaft and sends metal through your engine. You’re looking at a $4,000 to $8,000 repair, easy,” he said. tyler williamsPresident of All American Billet, which offers car repair and part replacement.
Williams also said there are some general shop improvements for the RAM 1500:
- Complete top-end rebuild
- replacing cam/lifters
- Engine replacement in worst case scenario
Ford F-150
Pricing for the ever-popular Ford F-150 currently starts at $38,810, according to ford website.
Kruse said, “The other truck that is always overrated is the Ford F-150, especially the versions that have turbo engines. These versions are appreciated because they are more powerful, but long-term engine durability and performance is questionable. Turbo-charged engines consume oil at higher than normal levels and are very expensive to repair after they break down.”
“Also, although the truck’s towing capacity is good, its overall fuel consumption is not as good as its competitors, thus owners can expect to spend more on fuel in the long run. While it continues to perform well in the market, turbo-powered varieties of the F-150 are not as good as the hype it generates in regards to total cost of ownership,” he said.
Williams said, “The 5.4L 3-valve Triton V8 (especially in 2004 to 2008 models) has several flaws: spark plug breakage in the head, timing chain problems, and cam phaser failure. Repairs are labor-intensive and expensive.”
chevrolet silverado 1500
Finally, pricing for the base model Chevy Silverado 1500 currently starts at $42,700, according to edmonds.
“Although the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is a good car in the full-size truck segment, it is exhibiting a pattern of transmission failures,” Cruse reported. “Many owners complain of shifting problems and the transmission can be expensive to repair if it wears out quickly. Its ride can also be reviewed as mixed, as it has a stiff suspension and is therefore not comfortable to use on a daily basis, unless you need heavy towing capacity.”
Ultimately, of course, it’s up to the buyer to decide which truck is best and worst for them. There are lots of factors to consider. car and driver The Ram 1500 is rated as the best full-size pickup truck on the market. But those critics probably aren’t on the ground, in real situations, with real people, like Cruz.
He gave us these words to remember when buying a truck or any car, in fact: “When shopping for a truck, one should never focus on fancy features or towing capabilities that are attractive to some people unless one realizes that they are out of the budget or not practical in the long run.”