Looking for advice on the right truck

[AHarris]

In Summer '08 I am returning to the States with my wife and kids and need to buy a new truck. Want to keep the cost under $40K. Have a 5000# TT we will tow about 1,500 miles total per year (which my old '99 Ram did just a marginal job of towing), 2 growing 9/10 year old kids (and my wife's SUV), and about 15,000/year of mostly commuter driving.



When I was in the States a couple weeks ago on TDY, I test drove a '07 Toyota Tundra Crewmax gasser with a 5. 7L V-8 and a '07 Quad Cab/Mega Cab (leftover 5. 9L CTD). The Tundra was impressive, takes off like a rocket, gets 18mpg, and felt like it was just the right size for what I need--with a 10,500lb towing capacity. Both the Cummins trucks blew me away--I am impressed with that Cummins! The Mega Cab feels like a land yacht, though and the Quad Cab seems about right. Don't get me wrong--I like the room in the Mega Cab but it just seems so darn LONG!!



In a few months I'm going order a truck for Summer '08 delivery. I'm leaning towards a Quad Cab Cummins 2500 4 X 4 with the 6. 7/68RFE. It's about 4,000 more than a comparable Toyota. I'm looking for a reliable every day truck that will stay with me for 10 years... don't care much about resale value.



As much as I like the Cummins, is it really the right choice or should I take a sanity pill and get the Toyota? Looking for unbiased advice, based on the expected usage above, on the best way to spend my money. Should I follow my heart and get the Cummins for be practical and just get the Toyota gasser?



Appreciate your advice...

 

[jelag]

I tow all the time and own several trucks..... IF I only towed say under 2500 miles per year, I'd at least look at the Toyota... . My sister has one and loves it... hers is the smaller truck... I personally believe they build a nice unit and have very high quality controls in place... . if they offered a 4500 or 5500 style truck next year, I'd hold off ordering my new trucks to see them first... .

One issue for me... is that I can drive my 1 ton dually and get better fuel economy empty and lower cost per mile than I can in my 05 Jeep with the Hemi... . HOWEVER on long trips where we are staying in a motel and don't pull the trailer the comfort and parking ability of the Jeep far exceeds the 1 ton dually..... We (wife and I) both like the comfort level and ride of the Jeep over the Dodge empty... .

My personal choice of a truck would be a Chevy interior, Ford body and frame with a Cummins 6. 7 rated at 400 HP in say a 4500 or 5500 chassis..... I'd step up and buy it tomorrow...

I suggest you check out www.DaveSmith.com and www.Dishmandodge.com and order a new truck from them... . I'm guessing that you'll buy that new truck for = or less than the Toyota... . they both sell to TDR members back of invoice less rebates..... and the Toyota dealers are adding over MSR for their new trucks as the average buyer will pay for it... .

This of course is my 2 cents worth... . or maybe a bucks worth... . at Dishman I like Rob Crosswhite... I've bought several from him over the years. . but understand that both dealers are bottom line straight shots from the onset... and I'll bet the dealer in your home town won't come close to matching the price... .

Hope this helps.....

 

[AKaiser]

If you're going to keep it for 10 years, the choice is obvious: get the one with the Cummins in it. How's that for a sanity pill



The only caveat to this would be the commute mileage: is this mostly at highway speeds, or are you in stop-and-go traffic alot?