Anybody have a pickup truck?

I'm interested in getting one in the future since I believe I would benefit a lot from it since I am an avid outdoorsman, I will be hunting, etc. I've never had a car before (still in college so it will be a while until I get one) and nobody in my extended family has owned a truck before (they're all about Civics and Camrys since they're fuel efficient). So far I've been looking into the F150, Silverado, GMC and Tundra. With my research for quite a few months, I've narrowed it down to the Silverado and Tundra. What I've read/know is that the Tundra has given the title as 'most reliable' truck there is. However, the MPG really is turning me off and the price is a bit more compared to its competitors. The Silverado is a pretty good car as well, better MPG than the Tundra, however I keep on hearing after 40-60,000 miles, it starts rattling.

But these are some of my questions for those who have trucks:

What kind of truck do you own?
What kind of add-ons do you have on it? (Off road package, Crew Cab, etc.)
What's your opinion on it?
Were you able to haggle down the price quite a bit?
Is it reliable?
Is it a 'new vehicle person' friendly kind of vehicle?



So far that's all I have, but I'd like to have some peoples input on this matter! Thanks!

Bought my 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins Diesel Mega Cab (duely) new.

Have only put fuel, oil and tires into it in 100,000 miles and the recommended transmission fluid change at 60/70 k? Nothing else, not even brakes.

I don't baby it. I work it hard. It constantly has a load of 1000-1500 lbs in it. And occasional runs a load of 3000-3500 lbs.

Occasionally pulls a 14,000 LB trailer from Texas to California without knowing it's back there, even up the mountains while passing everybody.

Probably more than what you need, but that son, is a truck! Tells ya what a Dodge is capable of. :)

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Originally Posted by Reinz

Bought my 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins Diesel Mega Cab (duely) new.

Have only put fuel, oil and tires into it in 100,000 miles and the recommended transmission fluid change at 60/70 k? Nothing else, not even brakes.

I don't baby it. I work it hard. It constantly has a load of 1000-1500 lbs in it. And occasional runs a load of 3000-3500 lbs.

Occasionally pulls a 14,000 LB trailer from Texas to California without knowing it's back there, even up the mountains while passing everybody.

Probably more than what you need, but that son, is a truck! Tells ya what a Dodge is capable of. :)

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Thanks for the reply!

Haha, that is a bit more than what I need! Do you know if the 'average' Rams are still as good? How about the new ones? I've heard the older ones are a lot better than the more recent ones so.

I have a friend with 2012 3500 Cummins that tows an RV. I believe he is at 60k miles with no issues.

I can think of two friends with reg Rams that I haven't seen in a while. Last time I saw them they were pleased with their trucks.

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Originally Posted by Reinz

I have a friend with 2012 3500 Cummins that tows an RV. I believe he is at 60k miles with no issues.

I can think of two friends with reg Rams that I haven't seen in a while. Last time I saw them they were pleased with their trucks.

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Okay thanks! Do you know if a reg. 1500 would be able to tow an RV or a trailer?

1984 1008 4x4 CUCV, basically a 5/4 ton military full-size pickup. It's big, ugly, has the anemic diesel 6.2L non-turbo engine, gets a whopping 9 mph, no amenities like A/C, radio or even interior lights, and probably wouldn't break 70 mph even in free-fall. I love the thing. It has 4x4 so it will go anywhere, and it can pull/haul almost anything. It's just not fast. It's a work truck not a daily driver.

1999 K2500 Suburban 4x4 w/ 454 V8 that will pass everything except a gas station. This is my long-distance tow vehicle. It's big, sturdy, cushy, has all of the amenities (I bought it used), hauls a ton of stuff, and tows my horse trailer. I keep good tires on it so it's also a winter go-in-the-snow vehicle and has yanked many a car out of the ditch.

Since you're going to use your pickup off-road and for towing get one that's 4-5 years old with a lot of years of use left in it, but someone else has taken the depreciation hit. If I had to get one today I'd be looking at the full-size Toyotas.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

1984 1008 4x4 CUCV, basically a 5/4 ton military full-size pickup. It's big, ugly, has the anemic diesel 6.2L non-turbo engine, gets a whopping 9 mph, no amenities like A/C, radio or even interior lights, and probably wouldn't break 70 mph even in free-fall. I love the thing. It has 4x4 so it will go anywhere, and it can pull/haul almost anything. It's just not fast. It's a work truck not a daily driver.

1999 K2500 Suburban 4x4 w/ 454 V8 that will pass everything except a gas station. This is my long-distance tow vehicle. It's big, sturdy, cushy, has all of the amenities (I bought it used), hauls a ton of stuff, and tows my horse trailer. I keep good tires on it so it's also a winter go-in-the-snow vehicle and has yanked many a car out of the ditch.

Since you're going to use your pickup off-road and for towing get one that's 4-5 years old with a lot of years of use left in it, but someone else has taken the depreciation hit. If I had to get one today I'd be looking at the full-size Toyotas.

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Thanks for the reply!

I don't think it'll be taken outdoors a lot, just sometimes camping and such. As for towing, it'll def. happen later on after a few years most probably. The only reason why I'm hesitant with used is that I, nor any of my family, knows much about trucks and I don't want to get ripped off at all haha. All of my friends have a basic understanding, but mainly just cars and such. What advantages does a 4x4 have over a 4x2? Are there any pros to 4x2?

Can't go wrong with a Toyota truck. I've had a bunch and loved every one of them...:gj:

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Originally Posted by Pampho85

What kind of truck do you own?

I have owned or still own(in order) a 59 Chevy Apache, 96 Chevy S10, 02 Ford Ranger, 04 Ford F150 FX4 with lift running 35s, 10 Dodge 1500, 07 Ford F150 Lariat, and my current 10 Ford F150 Platinum.

What kind of add-ons do you have on it? (Off road package, Crew Cab, etc.)

My current truck only has 20K on it as I ride my motorcycle everywhere. It is a crew cab with the 4x4 off road package. I have also added exhaust, cool air intake, programmer, wheels, and it sits on 33x12.5 D!ck Cepek FCII tires.

What's your opinion on it?

Out of all my trucks I have had I have enjoyed the Fords the most. Dodge has come a long way but the one I had just felt cheap inside and the doors when shut didn't leave you with the impression there was much there. The new Longhorns are awesome but I doubt you are looking at that price range.

My current 10 F150 Platinum is my favorite truck to date. It has a V8 5.4L and with my add ons I can get 15-19 mpg and usually stay around 17. I do pull my bass boat regularly and it does it well but the gas drops to 11-15. Any truck you buy should be able to pull a trailer but the size and weight will depend on what motor you have and your suspension. A big plus to a 4x4 is they usually have a beefy suspension and allows you to tow more.

Were you able to haggle down the price quite a bit?

I had a family member is sales and is now in finance so I didn't have to worry about this.

I would encourage you to still look at used. If you are buying from a true dealership you will be able to add an extended warranty to it so you will still be covered for most things. I have always had one and have used it a few times on small repairs. It was worth it for me. The length and miles all vary as you can select different plans.

Is it reliable?

I have had two major issues with my trucks. The first was with the S10, its trans went out with 70K+ on it. Then my 04 F150 had some front differential issues but they may have been caused by the lift I put on it. I will not do that again. My last few trucks have never had any issues and have only needed gas, oil, and brake pad(I drive hard).

Is it a 'new vehicle person' friendly kind of vehicle?

I find a truck pretty easy to work on and do things like oil yourself. Much of this will depend on you and your ability.

If I was in your situation but had my experience I would check out a Ford F150 XLT. The new Eco Boost motors do well on gas and still give you plenty of power to pull a RV or small trailer. If you truly are going to be camping and needing to go off road through mud, snow, or sand the 4x4 would be a great option. I will always have it as it has saved me several times from being stranded or getting all dirty digging it out.

Just don't buy more truck than you can afford and make sure that you can afford the gas as you will spend much more than in a small car. My buddy found this out the hard way and took a major hit getting out of the truck to get a car again...if he only listened.

If you plan on adding exhaust make sure to get a V8 as adding it to anything less sounds bad. Think angry weedeater.

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Originally Posted by sho220

Can't go wrong with a Toyota truck. I've had a bunch and loved every one of them...:gj:

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Thanks! If you don't mind me asking, what kind of features would you have added on to an offroad Tundra that you think is really needed?

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Originally Posted by KMG

What kind of truck do you own?

I have owned or still own(in order) a 59 Chevy Apache, 96 Chevy S10, 02 Ford Ranger, 04 Ford F150 FX4 with lift running 35s, 10 Dodge 1500, 07 Ford F150 Lariat, and my current 10 Ford F150 Platinum.

What kind of add-ons do you have on it? (Off road package, Crew Cab, etc.)

My current truck only has 20K on it as I ride my motorcycle everywhere. It is a crew cab with the 4x4 off road package. I have also added exhaust, cool air intake, programmer, wheels, and it sits on 33x12.5 D!ck Cepek FCII tires.

What's your opinion on it?

Out of all my trucks I have had I have enjoyed the Fords the most. Dodge has come a long way but the one I had just felt cheap inside and the doors when shut didn't leave you with the impression there was much there. The new Longhorns are awesome but I doubt you are looking at that price range.

My current 10 F150 Platinum is my favorite truck to date. It has a V8 5.4L and with my add ons I can get 15-19 mpg and usually stay around 17. I do pull my bass boat regularly and it does it well but the gas drops to 11-15. Any truck you buy should be able to pull a trailer but the size and weight will depend on what motor you have and your suspension. A big plus to a 4x4 is they usually have a beefy suspension and allows you to tow more.

Were you able to haggle down the price quite a bit?

I had a family member is sales and is now in finance so I didn't have to worry about this.

I would encourage you to still look at used. If you are buying from a true dealership you will be able to add an extended warranty to it so you will still be covered for most things. I have always had one and have used it a few times on small repairs. It was worth it for me. The length and miles all vary as you can select different plans.

Is it reliable?

I have had two major issues with my trucks. The first was with the S10, its trans went out with 70K+ on it. Then my 04 F150 had some front differential issues but they may have been caused by the lift I put on it. I will not do that again. My last few trucks have never had any issues and have only needed gas, oil, and brake pad(I drive hard).

Is it a 'new vehicle person' friendly kind of vehicle?

I find a truck pretty easy to work on and do things like oil yourself. Much of this will depend on you and your ability.

If I was in your situation but had my experience I would check out a Ford F150 XLT. The new Eco Boost motors do well on gas and still give you plenty of power to pull a RV or small trailer. If you truly are going to be camping and needing to go off road through mud, snow, or sand the 4x4 would be a great option. I will always have it as it has saved me several times from being stranded or getting all dirty digging it out.

Just don't buy more truck than you can afford and make sure that you can afford the gas as you will spend much more than in a small car. My buddy found this out the hard way and took a major hit getting out of the truck to get a car again...if he only listened.

If you plan on adding exhaust make sure to get a V8 as adding it to anything less sounds bad. Think angry weedeater.

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Thanks so much for the help! I'll definitely look used for the first one, maybe a few years off, and I believe it'll help me in my job quite a bit. I don't plan on using a vehicle a whole ton of a lot if I could help it (rather use a bike or walk) but I'd use the truck for the needed things.

Thanks again!

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Originally Posted by Pampho85

Thanks! If you don't mind me asking, what kind of features would you have added on to an offroad Tundra that you think is really needed?



Thanks so much for the help! I'll definitely look used for the first one, maybe a few years off, and I believe it'll help me in my job quite a bit. I don't plan on using a vehicle a whole ton of a lot if I could help it (rather use a bike or walk) but I'd use the truck for the needed things.

Thanks again!

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Never had a Tundra but the weakest link on almost every new truck is the tires. Get a decent set of A/T or M/T and you're good to go...

I owned a toyota pick-up from 1985 - 1992 it had 4wd and a standard trans. i loved it put 120 thousand miles on it before some idiot was so busy watching pretty girls in the next car ran into me and totaled her. I would still have it now. great gas mileage and great on the beach, just cruised over the soft long island beaches. Now we have a v6 chevy pick-up and it is not a 4wd but the gas mileage is great, and very dependable, my husband drives an hour each way for work every day. I would look for something as simple and basic for your needs. remember all the extras are great, but they are great but if you don't have use for them, they will just be an expensive add on you'll have to eventually will have to repair. So keep it simple, and get a truck with only your nessecities in mind.

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Originally Posted by Reinz

Bought my 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins Diesel Mega Cab (duely) new.

Have only put fuel, oil and tires into it in 100,000 miles and the recommended transmission fluid change at 60/70 k? Nothing else, not even brakes.

I don't baby it. I work it hard. It constantly has a load of 1000-1500 lbs in it. And occasional runs a load of 3000-3500 lbs.

Occasionally pulls a 14,000 LB trailer from Texas to California without knowing it's back there, even up the mountains while passing everybody.

Probably more than what you need, but that son, is a truck! Tells ya what a Dodge is capable of. :)

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Hey Reinz that a guy! I knew I liked you...

I am a truck fanatic, and always have been. I just bought a 2015 Ram 1500 quad cab in black.

Right now my mods include a Line-x spray in bed-liner, Bilstein 5100 series ride height adjustable leveling shocks set at 2.1, Smittybilt bull-bar, Flowmaster S40 muffler, stock pipes with resonators removed, Diablo tuner. Next month I am having a 6" Zone suspension lift installed, and will be putting on 35s.

In my opinion Dodge gives you the best bang for your buck with 'entry level' trim packages. I bought the express trim, which was one level up from the super basic tradesman model. IMO entry level f150s look like work trucks, and aren't very esthetically pleasing. So far this truck has been tough as nails. I hunt/backpack/camp almost year round, and the five trips that this truck has been on so far, it outperformed my friends f150 by far. I have the Hemi 5.7L V8 and this thing just roars, even without a flowmaster. I am getting around 19 mpg on this guy surprisingly. If there is only one modification that you do, a spray in bed liner is crucial. There are many other options available, but none IMO that perform as well as Linex.

I have owned Fords in the past, and having now switched to Dodge, I feel like the Ram edges out the F150 all day. To me the new f150s look like an SUV with an attached bed, not a true truck. For some reason Ford insists on painting the name of the trim package all over the side of the truck, and to me it looks cheesy. I don't think people a block away need to be able to see that you have the 'Raptor' edition.

I believe I was able to haggle a ton on this truck. Check out Truecar.com and you can see what others in your area are paying for the exact same truck. It's a good starting point for negotiations. I got mine at about 2k below the truecar.com "good price" quote. Don't be afraid to stand up and walk out. Usually you will find the salesman running after you in the parking lot.

For reliability I will say that it has been top notch 'so far.' I am pretty intimately linked into the Ram community in Denver, and the new generation of Rams is getting pretty stellar remarks. I've pushed it hard in offroad, snow, sleet, mud and heavy rain. So far has cranked through it all with no issues.

As far as new owner 'friendly,' trucks can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. If you aren't really into mods or add-ons, you will do just fine with a stock truck throughout the entirety of its life. However, if you like truck toys, sky is the limit. There are literally hundreds of mods that you can do to make it how you want it. Personally I think that Rams look the absolute best when modded out.

My line of thinking is to buy a low level trim, and then add on what you want. Usually you will save a ton of money. For instance, Ram now has a 'Blacked out' package that hikes the price a good 2.5k. You can achieve these mods on your own for much less. All truck companies do this, and it is usually gimmicky crap on the inside that you forget about in six months. Take the back up cameras that are routinely installed for example. I don't trust this item, and cant see why its so hard to turn around and see what is behind you.

I agree with others on here telling you to not buy more truck than you need. Rarely does anyone who doesn't work in a farming/ranching/construction community need anything bigger than a V8 half-ton truck. If you can afford it go to town, but you really don't need it. A V8 can haul just about anything.

I know that Toyota has a nice reputation, but I would personally NEVER buy a foreign truck. Pickups are an American institution, and I believe in them. I have owned only Ford, Jeep and Rams in my life, and would never trade any of them for something foreign.

Other than that have fun! You are going to find that driving a pickup is unlike any other automobile you have ever had. Once you get one, you will never go back.

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Originally Posted by JoshSloane

I know that Toyota has a nice reputation, but I would personally NEVER buy a foreign truck. Pickups are an American institution, and I believe in them. I have owned only Ford, Jeep and Rams in my life, and would never trade any of them for something foreign.

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Psst... http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/t...-for-2014.html
Toyota, Honda, and Ford all tied for #1 for US-sourced parts in 2014, for 2015 Ford didn't get over 75%.

For vehicles overall the Toyota Camry has rated highest for the past few years, go figure.
https://www.cars.com/articles/the-20...1420680649381/

Haha I knew someone was going to pull out the stats. I guess for myself I cant bring myself to pour money into a foreign brand. Call me nostalgic.

Admittedly I don't drive a pickup out of complete necessity. Yes I use the bed constantly for outdoorsman activities, but an SUV would likely serve the same purpose. I love the feel of driving a truck, the power, the possible modifications, and all that goes with it. There is a definite 'pickup culture' and I unabashedly love being a part of it.

Camrys are safe, reliable, cost-effective and most definitely a great buy. But for me, nothing sounds or feels like a big truck engine opening up full throttle.

What kind of truck do you own?


I have owned a 1988 and 1992 Chevy Silverado, a 2000 Dodge Ram, and Now (I know not a truck) a 2007 Toyota FJ, my dad has a Toyota Tundra, and we use to have the good ol Toyota Pickup with the 22re engine. I use to be one of those die hard Chevy fans, and in all honesty when it comes to older vehicles and the classics I still am, my 88 pickup was bullet proof, however in my opinion the NEW big 3 (dodge, chevy, ford) American Trucks I just don't like, The seem to be making them cheaper and cheaper, my grandpa got a new GMC and the thing was a rattle bucket. I hated the Ram with a passion, the interior was ugly and seemed unfinished. The thing went through 2 transmissions (factory warranties). At this point I am sold on Toyotas, their engines have tons of power, I have 95K on my FJ and have had zero issues with it. My dads Tundra has 185K on it with zero issues. (and in all honesty Toyota not only utilizes American parts, but some vehicles are built in America)

What kind of add-ons do you have on it? (Off road package, Crew Cab, etc.)

Steel tubed front and rear bumpers, 35in MT tires, 9000lb winch with synthetic line, Piggback rear shocks with new springs, Front coil overs with external reservoirs, CB radio, cold air intake, custom tucked exhaust, extended breathers for crossing through deep water, complete regear, short throw shifter, On board air compressor, rear lights (spot, chase, dust), HID floods, HID headlight conversion, headers...that's all that comes to mind right now, but there is something I have forgotten.

My opinion add-ons from the factory are overpriced, poorly made, you would be better off getting the engine you want and then building up from there with aftermarket custom accessories. Build it to what you want to use it for. If you are going to be off-roading build it to the terrain you will be in. I live in California so it is all desert out here, I built mine to handle high speed desert terrain.


What's your opinion on it?

Again I know not a truck but I love my FJ, and will be getting a used Tundra down the line.


Were you able to haggle down the price quite a bit?

You can haggle down the price of almost anything from a dealership, however I would recommend picking up a reliable used vehicle, I bought off the show room floor once and see no reason to do it ever again.


Is it reliable?

Toyotas are incredibly reliable, our old pickup with the 22re would still be running today if it didn't get T-Boned.


Is it a 'new vehicle person' friendly kind of vehicle?

Trucks are not overly complicated, anything new will have computers on board so that gets to be a bit of a pain...

If yall haven't had a chance to check out a 2013+ Ram I really encourage you to do so. I know a lot of the issues have been cleared up in these newer year models. And I think you will be nicely surprised with the interior.

I also believe that if I wanted a fancy interior I would get a luxury sedan. Trucks are meant to be able to functionally gut out a job. I'm not a technology fanatic, so my trucks stock package with regards to cab features was plenty.

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Originally Posted by JoshSloane

If yall haven't had a chance to check out a 2013+ Ram I really encourage you to do so. I know a lot of the issues have been cleared up in these newer year models. And I think you will be nicely surprised with the interior.

I also believe that if I wanted a fancy interior I would get a luxury sedan. Trucks are meant to be able to functionally gut out a job. I'm not a technology fanatic, so my trucks stock package with regards to cab features was plenty.

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Oh I agree they interiors shouldn't be fancy, the ram I had, had those ugly cloth seats that had grey, yellow, pink, and either a blue or purple color to it, almost looked like tiny squares....I hated it haha.

Thanks for the replies everyone! I'll try to answer them in depth later on today when I get home!

Just a question tho, does anyone know if the Toyota Tacoma is a good outdoorsy pick up too? As a first car, I'm leaning towards it since it is quite a bit cheaper and all haha. I will be looking for one used however!

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Originally Posted by Pampho85

Thanks for the replies everyone! I'll try to answer them in depth later on today when I get home!

Just a question tho, does anyone know if the Toyota Tacoma is a good outdoorsy pick up too? As a first car, I'm leaning towards it since it is quite a bit cheaper and all haha. I will be looking for one used however!

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Depends on what you want out of a pickup. Tacoma isn't a full sized pickup. If you just want something to get you to a camping/hunting spot you should be fine in a Tacoma. I don't know the hauling/towing specs but it won't pull the equivalent of a full sized truck.

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Originally Posted by jclaiborne

Oh I agree they interiors shouldn't be fancy, the ram I had, had those ugly cloth seats that had grey, yellow, pink, and either a blue or purple color to it, almost looked like tiny squares....I hated it haha.

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Ha yeah I remember those. New Rams definitely upgraded that.

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Originally Posted by Pampho85

Thanks for the replies everyone! I'll try to answer them in depth later on today when I get home!

Just a question tho, does anyone know if the Toyota Tacoma is a good outdoorsy pick up too? As a first car, I'm leaning towards it since it is quite a bit cheaper and all haha. I will be looking for one used however!

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The Tacoma is a GREAT truck.

X2 on the Tacoma being a great truck. Again it won't have the towing capacity of a full size, but the 4.0 6 cylinder engine is the same that is in the FJ and it puts some power to the wheels. I have towed cars, trailers without issue. The Tacoma is one of the most utilized trucks out here for desert running.

I have a 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3 with 73,000 miles. 2.5" leveling kit with 1" block in back and a set of super springs. One size over stock BF Goodrich AT's on stock 18" wheels. Just added a K&N cold air intake. Get 14-16 mpg a around town and 20 highway.
Traded an 06 F-150 5.4 in on it that I had loads of problems with. The GM 5.3 pushrod engine has been tons more reliable plus the difference in power is ridiculous. Pulling a horse trailer it puts my old ford to shame. I had been a loyal ford truck guy for 20 plus years but without a single doubt my next will be another GMC, well if I ever get rid of this one.

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Originally Posted by jclaiborne

X2 on the Tacoma being a great truck. Again it won't have the towing capacity of a full size, but the 4.0 6 cylinder engine is the same that is in the FJ and it puts some power to the wheels. I have towed cars, trailers without issue. The Tacoma is one of the most utilized trucks out here for desert running.

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X3...I've had both Tacoma's and an FJ and they're both great off-road.

Can a 4x2 Tacoma do good off pavement (desert area, sand, some mud)?

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Originally Posted by Pampho85

Can a 4x2 Tacoma do good off pavement (desert area, sand, some mud)?

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It all depends on how you set everything up and what your main goal is. It depends on what the main part of the terrain you are trying to cross is. You said desert area and sand. A 2 wheel drive Tacoma with the proper suspension (Not a leveling kit, or spacers) and tires will handle desert and sand fine. Most of the pre-runners and race trucks out here are 2 wheel drive, where it gets tricky is mud, depending on the type you are talking about. There is mud as in "a little bit of wet dirt" then there is mud where if you stop in it you are sinking down. a two wheel drive is not the best for mud because if you start spinning your back tires you will just sink down. That can be countered a little bit with a winch and a good set of tires. Again it depends on what you are going for, if you start getting into back road driving with narrow terrain where you will encounter rocks that you need to climb over and mud pits then you start looking at vehicles that are not only 4 wheel drive, but have locking differentials as well as a solid front axle. If you are talking about open desert running at higher speeds then you start being able to consider 2 wheel drive or 4 wheel, independent front suspension with a high speed setup. I can point you in a general direction if you can narrow down what you want to do. In the beginning you said you wanted to tow and do some off road. For me it was the opposite, I go out to the desert all the time during the winter and hit it hard, so I built something that is still able to drive on road, but sacrificed certain things because I was more concerned with off road capability.

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Originally Posted by jclaiborne

It all depends on how you set everything up and what your main goal is. It depends on what the main part of the terrain you are trying to cross is. You said desert area and sand. A 2 wheel drive Tacoma with the proper suspension (Not a leveling kit, or spacers) and tires will handle desert and sand fine. Most of the pre-runners and race trucks out here are 2 wheel drive, where it gets tricky is mud, depending on the type you are talking about. There is mud as in "a little bit of wet dirt" then there is mud where if you stop in it you are sinking down. a two wheel drive is not the best for mud because if you start spinning your back tires you will just sink down. That can be countered a little bit with a winch and a good set of tires. Again it depends on what you are going for, if you start getting into back road driving with narrow terrain where you will encounter rocks that you need to climb over and mud pits then you start looking at vehicles that are not only 4 wheel drive, but have locking differentials as well as a solid front axle. If you are talking about open desert running at higher speeds then you start being able to consider 2 wheel drive or 4 wheel, independent front suspension with a high speed setup. I can point you in a general direction if you can narrow down what you want to do. In the beginning you said you wanted to tow and do some off road. For me it was the opposite, I go out to the desert all the time during the winter and hit it hard, so I built something that is still able to drive on road, but sacrificed certain things because I was more concerned with off road capability.

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Well for the beginning, since I'm starting to hunt and all, I'd like it to get to the places where ever I am to haul the deer. It might be a bit muddy, or it may be dry, so either one I would try to accommodate it. However, that will probably just be once a year. For the rest of the year, I'll be using it on the road as a reg. vehicle and then take it camping with me whenever I go (which can be in rocky, sandy, grassed areas).

Do you get everything added on (like a proper suspension) at the dealer or do you get that somewhere else? Or would that be covered with the off road package? What kind of tires are good as well?

I would personally never take a 4x2 into ANY off-roading scenario. I can't imagine a hunting location, other than maybe desert or flatland prairie, where you wouldn't need a 4x4. If you are going to be using this truck for anything outdoors, 4x4 is a no brainer. The second the terrain gets wet, muddy, sandy, or icy you are going to be done for. Waiting for a winch out with a gutted deer in your truck is not my idea of fun. There is no point in buying a hunting/outdoorsman truck if it cant reliably get you to the destinations you want.

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Originally Posted by Pampho85

Well for the beginning, since I'm starting to hunt and all, I'd like it to get to the places where ever I am to haul the deer. It might be a bit muddy, or it may be dry, so either one I would try to accommodate it. However, that will probably just be once a year. For the rest of the year, I'll be using it on the road as a reg. vehicle and then take it camping with me whenever I go (which can be in rocky, sandy, grassed areas).

Do you get everything added on (like a proper suspension) at the dealer or do you get that somewhere else? Or would that be covered with the off road package? What kind of tires are good as well?

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4x2s rule high speed desert running. From what you are telling me it sounds like you just want a good all around trail truck, 4x4 would be a good safety net for you. Think this (high speed desert running): http://www.chaosfab.com/2005-2013-To...Kit-88000.html vs this (good all around trail truck): http://thesquealingtire.com/2013-fj-...ack-bear-pass/ Going with a newer truck would mean it will have independent front suspension so you won't be doing any major rock crawling, do not utilize the dealership for anything aftermarket. They are way over priced and the quality isn't going to be that great. To be honest I wouldn't even get the "off-road package" because if you start to build it up you will end up removing half of the junk they hang on. For tires I am a big fan of BFG AT2, Goodyear Wranglers, and General Grabbers. Grabbers are more for the desert running, AT2s are a good all around tire, never been stuck using them, and Wranglers are a good heavy mud terrain tire that is pretty much bullet proof.

Suspension and tires will be your most important and expensive upgrade if done right. I would again say look for a used vehicle in good conditions and put the extra money into the suspension. There will be different setups for different terrain. Again desert running you want high speed handling and maximum travel and absorption so that your impact after jumping is cushioned, that is more important than lift/height that the truck sits at. Trails you want a happy medium, you don't need extreme external reservoirs, you want some added height for more clearance and a decent amount of articulation. I will go out and snap a few pics of my FJ and suspension to show you what I mean. Basically be ready to spend 1-2K on suspension alone for a good setup. You can go buy spacers and shocks for a lot cheaper, but that is not a suspension upgrade it doesn't account for raised COG and the steering geometry. I could rant on all day, but I will let the pictures do the talking. I built my vehicle based around the concept that I wanted it to be able to handle the trails and the desert, so heavy bumpers, a taller suspension, but also one that can handle high speeds. Now I can't keep up with the 2wd in the desert, but I can move across a wash at 60mph without issue and still clear rocks on trails.

Here are the pics I promised...not the best quality, I just snapped em with my cell at work but enough to give you an idea, I tried to get the best angles I could of front and rear suspension, bumpers, sliders and the last one is just an idea of what it can do...http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...c60ba849e7.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...bf1e5d8c7f.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...954d890e86.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...4904d441de.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...bd2f552add.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...5d72b2a0c2.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...568ae1289a.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...5948743760.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07...11d63cb894.jpg

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I think what the OP is asking is if a stock suspension is going to be able to get him to hunting spots. The answer is YES. If you are asking if a 4x2 is going to get you there, the answer is probably/maybe not. As an avid hunter I can tell you that rarely will you encounter ideal conditions on a hunting trail. It's going to be wet, snowy, muddy etc. I'm pretty sure that October and November in Illinois is not going to yield very easy terrain when reaching deer. There is no reason not to get a 4x4. You can keep the truck in 2wd when you are driving around town, and throw it into 4wd when you need. My ram gets awesome gas mileage in 2wd, so its not like there is a real downside to having 4x4 capabilities. But there is a serious downside to not having a 4x4 when you begin sliding back down a slick muddy hill. Trust me, you don't want to be that guy with the inadequate rig when you are out in the backcountry. No one is going to be happy to winch you out of mud because you didn't come prepared with the right truck.

As for suspension upgrades its not really necessary with a full sized truck. Your ground clearance will be plenty. I use Bilstein ride height adjustable shocks to level up the front of my truck, but this is more for esthetic reasons. Some use a level to 'stuff' 35s on the truck, but wouldn't recommend that for any intensive four wheeling. Do not use spacer kits, they are mostly junk and compress over time. You also run the risk of blowing out CV joints and other hardware.

A quality suspension lift is highly variable in price, depending on how big and what brand. Zone and BDS are the industry standard for quality. I am getting a 6" Zone lift, and it runs $1400 before install. So don't think you can turn just any truck into a backcountry beast on the cheap.

If I were you I would test drive as many trucks as possible, and stick with a quality stock suspension. There is always room for upgrades in the future. Typical "offroad" packages usually give you something like 1" increase in ride height, and some other worthless features.

Also, keep in mind that Tundras are notorious for horrific gas mileage. With similar sized engines I get at least 6 mpg more than my buddy's Toyota.

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Originally Posted by JoshSloane

I think what the OP is asking is if a stock suspension is going to be able to get him to hunting spots. The answer is YES. If you are asking if a 4x2 is going to get you there, the answer is probably/maybe not. As an avid hunter I can tell you that rarely will you encounter ideal conditions on a hunting trail. It's going to be wet, snowy, muddy etc. I'm pretty sure that October and November in Illinois is not going to yield very easy terrain when reaching deer. There is no reason not to get a 4x4. You can keep the truck in 2wd when you are driving around town, and throw it into 4wd when you need. My ram gets awesome gas mileage in 2wd, so its not like there is a real downside to having 4x4 capabilities. But there is a serious downside to not having a 4x4 when you begin sliding back down a slick muddy hill. Trust me, you don't want to be that guy with the inadequate rig when you are out in the backcountry. No one is going to be happy to winch you out of mud because you didn't come prepared with the right truck.

As for suspension upgrades its not really necessary with a full sized truck. Your ground clearance will be plenty. I use Bilstein ride height adjustable shocks to level up the front of my truck, but this is more for esthetic reasons. Some use a level to 'stuff' 35s on the truck, but wouldn't recommend that for any intensive four wheeling. Do not use spacer kits, they are mostly junk and compress over time. You also run the risk of blowing out CV joints and other hardware.

A quality suspension lift is highly variable in price, depending on how big and what brand. Zone and BDS are the industry standard for quality. I am getting a 6" Zone lift, and it runs $1400 before install. So don't think you can turn just any truck into a backcountry beast on the cheap.

If I were you I would test drive as many trucks as possible, and stick with a quality stock suspension. There is always room for upgrades in the future. Typical "offroad" packages usually give you something like 1" increase in ride height, and some other worthless features.

Also, keep in mind that Tundras are notorious for horrific gas mileage. With similar sized engines I get at least 6 mpg more than my buddy's Toyota.

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I agree with almost everything you listed. At this point the OP mentioned a Tacoma, which is why I started referencing everything I did because it is not a full sized truck, it utilizes almost everything the FJ does, basically take your pick, truck bed or SUV, most other things are the same and while the stock suspension will suffice for moderate stuff it is not the same as a full sized truck which is where things start to differ. Second thing that is if he is going with a Toyota I can tell you for a fact that Zone and BDS are not the industry standard for quality or performance (they may be for Ford, Chevy, Dodge, and since I currently own none of the 3 listed I can't speak to the quality on that). What I can tell you is on the Toyota side of it after looking at their websites they offer nice shocks (not MFG by them) with a drop bracket for the front, essentially not increasing ground clearance at all in the front diff area, this is a weak point in most IFS systems, some Ubolts and shackles for the rear. For a Toyota the top of the line for quality and performance when talking about a FJ or Tacoma (mind you again not full sized) would be Icon Vehicle Dynamics, Total Chaos Fabrication, and Camburg (these are the big 3 for the actual tubular suspension components), now shocks again would be Icon, King, Fox, Sway a way, King being in my personal opinion the best quality.

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Originally Posted by jclaiborne

I agree with almost everything you listed. At this point the OP mentioned a Tacoma, which is why I started referencing everything I did because it is not a full sized truck, it utilizes almost everything the FJ does, basically take your pick, truck bed or SUV, most other things are the same and while the stock suspension will suffice for moderate stuff it is not the same as a full sized truck which is where things start to differ. Second thing that is if he is going with a Toyota I can tell you for a fact that Zone and BDS are not the industry standard for quality or performance (they may be for Ford, Chevy, Dodge, and since I currently own none of the 3 listed I can't speak to the quality on that). What I can tell you is on the Toyota side of it after looking at their websites they offer nice shocks (not MFG by them) with a drop bracket for the front, essentially not increasing ground clearance at all in the front diff area, this is a weak point in most IFS systems, some Ubolts and shackles for the rear. For a Toyota the top of the line for quality and performance when talking about a FJ or Tacoma (mind you again not full sized) would be Icon Vehicle Dynamics, Total Chaos Fabrication, and Camburg (these are the big 3 for the actual tubular suspension components), now shocks again would be Icon, King, Fox, Sway a way, King being in my personal opinion the best quality.

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Thanks for the add on. I looked on Zone's site and they make a 5" suspension lift kit for tundra. I do know absolutely that BDS and Zone are renowned as the top of the line for Ram, Ford, Chevy and GMC. Maybe there's a technical issue with tundra that precludes Zone from having a good fitment?

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Originally Posted by JoshSloane

Thanks for the add on. I looked on Zone's site and they make a 5" suspension lift kit for tundra. I do know absolutely that BDS and Zone are renowned as the top of the line for Ram, Ford, Chevy and GMC. Maybe there's a technical issue with tundra that precludes Zone from having a good fitment?

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It isn't so much the fitment as it is a clearance issue. With full sized trucks you have decent ground clearance as it is, so generally when you do a lift it is to increase space between the axle and body allowing bigger shocks and tires. However when you start dealing with non-full sized trucks, rangers, tacomas, FJs (SUV) your stock ground clearance is just not there (and it really is lacking with IFS in general). With lifts like BDS, Zone, Rough Country, etc if you look at the image they include a front member that goes between the tires, basically a "drop down" bracket, this allows you to put bigger shocks on because you are lifting the vehicle and frame up, bolting this "drop bracket" onto the bottom so you get increased shock length but you clearance (on the front end) is not changed from stock because of said bracket. So the best that you can do is avoid systems that utilize this bracket and basically go with better LCAs and UCAs that give you a greater angle to lift.

So if you look at this link: http://cdn.roughcountry.com/media/ca...nstalled-1.jpg This is an FJ with a 6 inch lift. You can see how tall the vehicle sits, but if you look at the front you see the big bracket sitting at stock height between the tires just asking to get hit. This kit allows you to run 35 inch tires.

Now if you look at this link and scroll down: http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=118498 the drop box is gone, the angle on the control arms and the length are increased to allow for bigger shocks, more lift, stability, etc and you still get the clearance. This kit will give you around 4 inches of lift and with proper spacing and alignment will let you run 35s as well. (33s are recommended for high speed allowing full travel, but low speeds not so much), now this picture there is obviously more going on with the shocks, but what I am saying to focus on is the middle section comparing a bracket to non-bracket.

I think its also important to point out that both Tacoma and Tundra run a C-frame rather than a box frame like Ram. Loses a lot of rigidity and structural stability.

Also, if you look at recall issues, new Tacoma and Tundra issues have had horrible issues with frame rust, causing major hassle and issues for brand new owners. Combined with awful fuel economy, very little cab room in Tacoma, I really don't see any reason to pick this truck over a full sized ram.

My suggestion is if you buy from a dealership, pick the best dealership and not the make. Ask for references, bug people at a parking lot if you see a local dealership's logo on their truck. Ask them how the customer service is at their dealership. Any issues with trying to get warranty work approved etc. You can buy used from a dealership and still have some choice in the Make if you have some patience to wait for a trade-in being sold. Also, a good time to buy new is when the next year's models are coming out. Dealerships often have better sales on last year's model and be more willing to haggle.

I really don't think a lift kit is needed. A half ton 150/1500 series truck will be fine for what you want but you will have to change the tires. They put passenger tires on half ton trucks now. Switch to LT tires ASAP. I like Toyo M55s. A little noisier on highway and a drop in mileage but they get you out of trouble and rarely get holes.

I think a better package to get is a towing package. The best reason for this package is a transmission cooler. Base models may not have one at all or be too small for when you are towing.

Yep, like I said earlier, with a half ton full sized truck no lift is needed to reach 99% of hunting spots. If you are looking at a truck and it doesn't have a tow package as standard, turn around and walk away.

I have a hummer h3. It's not really a pick up but its a nice strong vehicle.

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http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08...e8e7a956a8.jpg 99f150 5.4 3 inch lift riding on 34in bfg all terrains. This truck has not me down yet. Weather its mud holes deep enough to flood the floor boards to trail blazing to hunting locations... Only other truck I would buy would be a TRD tundra.

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Good stuff. What do you hunt? I usually hunt deer, but pulled my first elk tag this year.

Deer for big game should hopefully get my bear tag next year or the year after.. But love duck hunting. Grouse rabbit and gray squirrels when I'm not fishing got a 16 and 18 lb flatheads on sathttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08...cf65ee6525.jpg

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