Used truck advice

[Carl]

I'm starting a search for a used truck. I would like 2018 or newer.  I like the F150 with EcoBoost engine, but Some like the Ram trucks. 

Has anyone done some comparisons on F150 like trucks?  Pros/cons would be appreciated.


Not looking for a diesel. Occasionally, I'll be towing a camper, < 10,000 lbs, or a boat.  I currently have a Tacoma that I like very much but it struggles pulling a 3,500 camper.  I think I can get better towing capacity and at least equal (probably better) mileage with a larger truck.

 Any information will be a big help.

Thanks,
Carl

[ne kid]

I would take the Ford. The Ecoboost has been a great engine without a lot of problems.

[Boss .300 winmag]

My son has one of the early model Ram Eco diesels, and loves it, he pulls a toy hauler that his truck is rated for.👍

[bornhunter]

Drive both of them. I have the ram and my buddy has the ford. He complains about how uncomfortable his ford is when he gets in my truck. Lots of both of those trucks out there.

[C-Money]

My nephew just bought a 2018 F150 with the 5.0. He really likes it. Pretty good gas mileage and seems to pull his camper around just fine. Very nice truck!

[dc]

Do not hesitate to get the Ecoboost.  I had a 6.0 liter diesel, and for many reasons got rid of it.  I replaced it with a 2014 Ford with the 3.5 ecoboost.  I have a 6700 (dry) bumper pull trailer that I have zero problems pulling with the ecoboost.  Everybody who drives the truck cant believe it is a 6 cyl. engine. 

[Stein]

The Fords are amazing, I bought a 2016 a few weeks ago and have been incredibly happy with it.  I only looked at Fords, so I have no info on the Rams.

The biggest piece of advice I have is to not buy a Canadian truck.  Every one I looked at had significant rust problems, even in 3 year old trucks from Vancouver BC and the ones from further north or east were practically destroyed.  The Alberta trucks were the worst, many are oil field trucks that are beat.

You can find the origin by the CarFax which most dealers and some people provide.  If it's a Ford dealer, they often have a link to the original sticker which will show if it's Canadian or not.

When I was looking, probably 80% of the trucks for sale were Canadian.  They sell for more down here so a ton of Canadian trades end up in auction and the US dealers scoop them up for inventory.

Know what you want, what it will cost and what you are willing to live without and act fast as they don't last very long.

Ignore any claims by the dealer or their joke inspections, don't buy a Canadian truck.

[CP]

10K is a hefty load to tow.  I have a 2018 F150 4x4 with the 2.7 Ecoboost.  I believe it is only rated to tow 8500 lbs. 

[dc]

I believe the 3.5 liter is rated for 13,500.  I would not want to pull that much with it, but the 7500/8000 that my trailer weighs with a load in it is not an issue pulling with this truck.

[Carl]

The Fords are amazing, I bought a 2016 a few weeks ago and have been incredibly happy with it.  I only looked at Fords, so I have no info on the Rams.

The biggest piece of advice I have is to not buy a Canadian truck.  Every one I looked at had significant rust problems, even in 3 year old trucks from Vancouver BC and the ones from further north or east were practically destroyed.  The Alberta trucks were the worst, many are oil field trucks that are beat.

You can find the origin by the CarFax which most dealers and some people provide.  If it's a Ford dealer, they often have a link to the original sticker which will show if it's Canadian or not.

When I was looking, probably 80% of the trucks for sale were Canadian.  They sell for more down here so a ton of Canadian trades end up in auction and the US dealers scoop them up for inventory.

Know what you want, what it will cost and what you are willing to live without and act fast as they don't last very long.

Ignore any claims by the dealer or their joke inspections, don't buy a Canadian truck.

Great advice. I had no idea! 

[Carl]

10K is a hefty load to tow.  I have a 2018 F150 4x4 with the 2.7 Ecoboost.  I believe it is only rated to tow 8500 lbs.

Agree. I just threw the 10K number out for a max I would ever pull.  My current camper is only 3,000 dry.

 

[Old Man Yager]

The Fords are amazing, I bought a 2016 a few weeks ago and have been incredibly happy with it.  I only looked at Fords, so I have no info on the Rams.

The biggest piece of advice I have is to not buy a Canadian truck.  Every one I looked at had significant rust problems, even in 3 year old trucks from Vancouver BC and the ones from further north or east were practically destroyed.  The Alberta trucks were the worst, many are oil field trucks that are beat.

You can find the origin by the CarFax which most dealers and some people provide.  If it's a Ford dealer, they often have a link to the original sticker which will show if it's Canadian or not.

When I was looking, probably 80% of the trucks for sale were Canadian.  They sell for more down here so a ton of Canadian trades end up in auction and the US dealers scoop them up for inventory.

Know what you want, what it will cost and what you are willing to live without and act fast as they don't last very long.

Ignore any claims by the dealer or their joke inspections, don't buy a Canadian truck.

yes to that, my daughter has a 2015 Ram 1500 it’s a rust bucket underneath. They threw a coating on it, but fender wells are rusted out where mud flaps mount. She’s had it for about 5 years, and they were already like that when she got it.

[Stein]

The Fords are amazing, I bought a 2016 a few weeks ago and have been incredibly happy with it.  I only looked at Fords, so I have no info on the Rams.

The biggest piece of advice I have is to not buy a Canadian truck.  Every one I looked at had significant rust problems, even in 3 year old trucks from Vancouver BC and the ones from further north or east were practically destroyed.  The Alberta trucks were the worst, many are oil field trucks that are beat.

You can find the origin by the CarFax which most dealers and some people provide.  If it's a Ford dealer, they often have a link to the original sticker which will show if it's Canadian or not.

When I was looking, probably 80% of the trucks for sale were Canadian.  They sell for more down here so a ton of Canadian trades end up in auction and the US dealers scoop them up for inventory.

Know what you want, what it will cost and what you are willing to live without and act fast as they don't last very long.

Ignore any claims by the dealer or their joke inspections, don't buy a Canadian truck.

yes to that, my daughter has a 2015 Ram 1500 it’s a rust bucket underneath. They threw a coating on it, but fender wells are rusted out where mud flaps mount. She’s had it for about 5 years, and they were already like that when she got it.

Yeah, I saw a few that had a black spray on coating but you could easily tell it wasn't factory because there were places they didn't get, half a shock was sprayed, etc.  All signs to move on.

[Stein]

One more, if you google the model and year and "brochure", you will find the link to that year's brochure which has all of the trim packages, colors, engines, rear ratios, payload, tow capacity, etc.

Here is the 2016 I found when I googled "2016 F-150 brochure"

https://www.ford.com/services/assets/Brochure?make=Ford&model=F-150&year=2016&postalCode=17406

OK, one more.  I have the 36 gallon upgraded fuel tank and it's awesome.  I just one-stopped Arlington to Jackson, WY and it makes road trips much more enjoyable not having to worry about fuel stops nearly as much.  With 19 mpg, I have nearly 700 miles of range.

[Carl]

One more, if you google the model and year and "brochure", you will find the link to that year's brochure which has all of the trim packages, colors, engines, rear ratios, payload, tow capacity, etc.

Here is the 2016 I found when I googled "2016 F-150 brochure"

https://www.ford.com/services/assets/Brochure?make=Ford&model=F-150&year=2016&postalCode=17406

OK, one more.  I have the 36 gallon upgraded fuel tank and it's awesome.  I just one-stopped Arlington to Jackson, WY and it makes road trips much more enjoyable not having to worry about fuel stops nearly as much.  With 19 mpg, I have nearly 700 miles of range.

Thanks, Stein.  That's a big help in figuring out what options/packages to look for.