those of you that know about trucks, please help........?

Question

my pops wants to get a new truck, but wants it to be almost exactly like the toyota tundra. a truck thats not too big, has big wheels, rides nice, able to carry a lot, a truck that wont give problems, and its got to be american, cause that's the only way i roll, and that's how i want my pops to roll. please give me some advice. thanks.

Answer 1

Your best bet would be a new or nearly new Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, or GMC Sierra. The Dodge Ram fits into the rock-solid category too, but Consumer Reports has listed it as having some major reliability issues, and also the worst gas mileage.

The Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra are both average to slightly better in reliability, can haul a lot, tow a lot, and are comfortable, competent trucks. You can also get them in a variety of configurations, unlike the Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan. Regular Cab, Extended-Cab, or Crew Cab; Stepside, Shortbed, Longbed, or Flatbed; V-6, V-8, or V-8 Diesel. Any combination of this will bring you a good truck. The Extended-Cab models are said to offer more room behind the seats than any other Extended-Cab trucks. However, I would advise against buying the redesigned ones, as the reliability is untested as of now (the slightly older style, built from 1999-2006 is still availabe as the Silverado Classic and Sierra Classic). The Chevrolet Avalanche is based off of the Chevrolet Suburban, and is also very reliable, but isn't good on gas at all becuase it only comes with a massive V-8. The off-road version of the Silverado and Sierra, with the larger wheels and tires and heavier load range like you want, is the Z-71.

Ford's F-150 has been the number one selling vehicle on Earth since 1977, even outselling the Volkswagen Beetle. This is for good reason. The F-150 is more reliable than the Chevrolet and GMC, and even the Nissan (only Toyota was able to better it). The redesigned model is smaller than the new, upcoming Tundra, but slightly larger than the current one (which, by the way, Toyota used the old 1997-2003 Ford F-150 as a benchmark for making the 2000-2006 Tundra, hence the similar styling). It also has a very deep bed, and comes in all the same configurations as the Silverado and Sierra, minus the diesel engine (which may be available in the future). There's also a Lincoln version, the Mark LT, said to be every bit as good as the F-150 but with a nicer interior and classier styling. The off-road versions (only available on the Ford) are the FX4 and King Ranch.

I say your best bet is the Ford F-150 FX4. It's the middle ground in price and options, and would make an excellent work truck. You just have to pick out the cab, bed, engine, and drivetrain configurations based on what the truck would be used most for.

If you would like any more information, please feel free to ask.

Answer 2

The tires that hang up in the air not touching the ground are not there to take weight off the other tires. On certain heavy haul dump truck/trailers, box trailers seen mostly in Michigan where they are legal, that wheel the extra wheel, is a weighing wheel. It is used mostly for weighing the load initially, where all the wheels on the ground surface helps even out the overall weight in the trailer, and then propped up. If that wheel was touching the ground, and the driver needed to go left or right, he/she would be going straight instead.

Answer 3

Nothing's more American than the Tundra... built in America by Americans. Or do you mean American like the Ram... which is mostly built in Mexico and Canada.