[FLYNLOW]

Hey guys, looking to buy a used ::ahem:: "pre-owned" 4x4 1/2 ton pickup and have been considering all makes. Want to keep it at or under 20 grand and newer than a 2000. Been looking at Fords, Chevy's, GMC, Toyotas, Nissans, and Dodges. Just want some feedback from everyone on their experiences and problems. From what I gather, noone seems to make a go-to truck. The Fords have engine problems, the Chevy/GMC trucks have problems with both the 4WD selector/transfer case motors and with the displacement on demand lifters, the Toyotas have a big problem with the air injection pumps, the Nissan Titans...well, everything seems to be breaking, and the Rams have their share of problems including the HVAC assemblies.

How has you ownership of any of the above trucks been?

[lugnutx2]

I've owned 99, 01, 09, 11 GM 1/2 ton gas 4x4 pickups drove them till 60-70K miles and never had a drive train problem. Also had an 06 ford in the mix and it too was a good truck.

[Lemans64]

Toyota's have special policy on the air pumps, 10 years and 240,000 kilometres. 2007-2010 tundra's. I like my 2007 no issues at all.

[njsteve]

The GMs have big issues with rusting brake and fuel lines. Add about $1000 in parts/repair costs to a truck that spent any time in the salt zone. Other than that, I have had my 1995 K2500 6.5 diesel Suburban since new. Great family truck. Only major thing was head gaskets last December at 123,000 miles. Replaced the fuel tank and all fuel and brake lines a year ago.

[The Boss]

I had 246,000 miles on my 2000 F-350 7.3 SuperCrew LWB SRW and spent a lot of money over the years on various parts. At the time of sale this summer it was having transmission issues and needed tires - I got $10,900 for it from the second guy who came to look at it - full asking price.

My 2007 Toyota Tacoma had 144,000 miles on it and over the course of 7 years it needed both front wheel bearings, brake pads twice on the front, once on the back and a couple of U-joints. I also went through two sets of the original allow wheels because they oxidized and peeled - finally ended up the FJ wheels that were on it at time of sale. The actuator that locked the front diff was not working so no 4-wheel drive at the time I sold it and it also had a shudder from the transmission that happened around 35mph that we couldn't figure out, it also needed tires. It sold in less than 24 hours to a guy from NJ who was planning on exporting it to the middle east. $16,000 and we'll probably see it on the news in the next few months.

I think you would do well with any of the current generation used Tundra's - they are overbuilt for what they are intended to do - more of a 3/4 ton truck than a 1/2 ton. I have a 2014 5.7L TRD SR5 Tundra now & love it.

[455Grandville]

I'd look on condition more than the make; I've seen trucks 5 years old that had been beat relentlessly.

[77 Canamman]

Although it is a baby, my '13 GMC Sierra 1500 Z71 4WD has been stellar after 9300 miles. Trip mileage is over 20 MPG with the 5.3 tuned by me. Lifetime avg. is just over 16, with a lot of city driving and remoting starts. In the quarter it just clicked off a 15.7@89 with 3/4 tank of gas and me in it..roughly 5900 lbs. A friend has a '12 1500 4WD with 42k and is super hard on it, without one issue.

[n2ogpsj462]

everything has problems. The 04+ f150s are decent as long as you grab a 4.6L, Silverados are decent but the 6.0L might cost you more money if you run into problems ( motor is more and the 4L80 trans costs more if it goes), the Rams are junk in my opinion. Im seeing lots of Hemi's bad, the rears are junk but oddly enough the trannys are doing ok. The 45RFE trans has some issues but i see more 4l60e's and 4R70w's. Im a transmission rebuilder so my expertise is in the driveline area and not from ownership experience. Just what I observe in the shop. Im also in philadelphia's inner city and these guys abuse the hell out of their trucks and the factory wheels are usually replaced with 24s if you catch my drift. Huge heavy wheels destroy drivetrains

[necdb3]

Go with a Tundra! I bought mine new in 2010, 82k on it now.(5.7 TRD 6.5 ft bed X cab) I use it as a work truck. Tires lasted 73k, still have original brakes. Maintenance has been oil changes, 2 sets of wipers, and 1 driving lamp bulb and the tires. Great truck

[FLYNLOW]

I like the Tundras, but in my budget range I'm basically looking at 2007's-08's - not a lot of years left with the AIP's under warranty. If I wasn't in CA, I'd just buy one of the buypass modules and be done, but at near a $4000 repeating fix - it spooks me. Also intrigued with the Sierra Denalis, seem like pretty solid rides from what I've been reading. But they are very thirsty. Mostly just using the truck for occasional trips to the mountains for snowboarding, hauling household stuff and a spare vehicle. Probably overkill.

[KS circutguy]

Tundra.

[71GP76TA]

2007 and under Chevy/GMC.... they run forever...make sure you get the 5.3....the 4.8 is a little underpowered IMO.

[David Jones]

Tundra.

[poncho-mike]

My son has 300K+ plus miles on a 2000 Z71 with a 5.3L. He bought it with 130K miles and has worked it hard for the last 170K miles. He got into the business of processing foreclosures and at least half of those miles were spent towing some form of trailer.

He replaced the motor with a re-man'd unit at about 280K miles and put one tranny in at about 250K miles. As far as we know, the previous owner never replaced the motor or trans.

He also has a 2500HD that has been flawless, but uses a lot of gas. He bought a Bobcat and has started doing grading work, and uses the 2500HD for that.

One of my friends has one of the newer 1500 Chevy trucks with the 6-spd tranny, and he didn't think very highly of it. It always seemed to be gears all the time.

Mike

[PONTIAC-ONE]

300,000 km on my 5.3L 2000 GMC Sierra ext cab 4X4. No mechanical issues other than the normal stuff like battery & alt replacement. GM did some abs repair on their dime.
It was getting rusty though from our harsh winters.

I now have a 6L '03 GMC Denali ext cab AWD with quadrasteer...all wheel steering.
It's at 200,000 kms and runs great, rides like an Escalade.

[Lemans64]

Not sure who is quoting you on those prices, seems pretty high to me, and haven't seen a repeat failure on these. Repair parts come with modified intake pick up for air pumps so no water gets into pumps and valves.

..

Originally Posted by FLYNLOW

I like the Tundras, but in my budget range I'm basically looking at 2007's-08's - not a lot of years left with the AIP's under warranty. If I wasn't in CA, I'd just buy one of the buypass modules and be done, but at near a $4000 repeating fix - it spooks me. Also intrigued with the Sierra Denalis, seem like pretty solid rides from what I've been reading. But they are very thirsty. Mostly just using the truck for occasional trips to the mountains for snowboarding, hauling household stuff and a spare vehicle. Probably overkill.

[71GP76TA]

If you want to win the ugly truck award....buy a Tundra.. Tundras are way over valued IMO.... Though value is in the eye of the beholder...

[necdb3]

Originally Posted by FLYNLOW

I like the Tundras, but in my budget range I'm basically looking at 2007's-08's - not a lot of years left with the AIP's under warranty. If I wasn't in CA, I'd just buy one of the buypass modules and be done, but at near a $4000 repeating fix - it spooks me. Also intrigued with the Sierra Denalis, seem like pretty solid rides from what I've been reading. But they are very thirsty. Mostly just using the truck for occasional trips to the mountains for snowboarding, hauling household stuff and a spare vehicle. Probably overkill.

The Tundra is worth the money. It wouldn't cost $4k to fix the air pump. Even if it did, the low cost of driving Toyota's in the end is where you win.

As an Auto Tech, I switched my whole family over to Toyota about 30 years ago. That was the best thing I ever did. I was tired of working on family cars in my spare time. Our family keeps cars till the end. We have about 8 now with 300k on them. The little things on the cars don't fail anywhere near as often. (windows, locks, wiper motors, water pumps, etc. Even the interiors hold up better.

I'm not looking for argument from diehards. Just my opinion.

In most cases with products, if you want quality, you have to pay for it.

[69gp400]

ford ranger if you can find one

[77 Canamman]

Originally Posted by 71GP76TA

If you want to win the ugly truck award....buy a Tundra.. Tundras are way over valued IMO.... Though value is in the eye of the beholder...

X2.. The 5.7, while powerful, is the thirstiest engine in a light duty truck. There are much better trucks out there. And yes, the Tundras break too. When they do, BEND OVER.