What to get for a truck?

I currently have a 2010 1/2 ton Chevy crew cab 4x4 z71 5.3l that I pull a car trailer with a JD H to shows. Works ok but even when not pulling a trailer the truck shifts down when it even thinks there will be a hill in the next mile. I have been having a lot of check engine lights lately (mostly sensors need replaced) and have always questioned the transmission. Shifting down to first always kinds jolts you. That is my excuse to look for a different truck along with the possibility of buying an unstyled JD D. I am looking at 3/4 ton Chevy's with a 6l and Fords with a 5.4l. Seems to me the ford is about the same engine I already have. I know they are probably geared differently, just not sure which direction to go. This truck is a "family wagon" and my daily driver, hauling tractors is definitely not the norm, so I dont think I can justify a diesel. What should I look for and what should I avoid? Thanks!
 
I am looking at 3/4 ton Chevy's with a 6l and Fords with a 5.4l.

I'll preface this with saying I live in Nova Scotia, and work in the autoparts industry. So your experience may differ.

The Chevy 6 Liter is a good motor, one of my old boss's trucks had 750,000km on it before we let the truck go to a new home. Be careful of the 5.4 ... I don't know how new your considering, but the 5.4's had a bad problem with plugs either sticking in the heads, or blowing clean out of the heads.

Either one is going to be about the same as far as wear parts go ... Fords tend to run a bit more expensive as far as brake parts, and front suspension parts, at least around here.

AR
 
Well I like the Ford cabs better but the Ford gas engines are not the best at holding up lately. The 5.4 have spark plug issues. Either they fly out and then you need to fix the plug hole or they stick in and you need to fix the hole. LOL

The Chevy 6.0 is a rugged motor that LOVES to drink GAS. My son has a 2500HD with a 6.0 in it. That truck gets 12 MPG loaded or empty. Nice ride and plenty of power but drinks fuel.
 
I have 2 5.4 fords. One is a f250
with 5.4.. I have pulled a 25 ft
trailer a lot. 180000. 2003. Never
had the plug problem on it. But did
on the other one. A Expedition.
2005.Cost 700 to change plugs at
11000. Everybody told me to change
them at 60000. I would move up to a
6.2.
 
I've got a 99 F250 with a 5.4 2 valve, not the newer 3 valve that has problems with the plugs and cam phasors. It's an XLT, so nice creature comforts. I've had 14,000 lbs behind it with no trailer brakes. Crazy, I know, but the truck took it just fine. I have a styled D, and an M. The D is a bit of a pull, but not bad on my 10,000 lbs tandem. It barely knows the M is there. Yes, the older 2 valve is lower HP rating than the 3 valve, but when you're occasionally pulling 8-10k lbs, do you need to be concerned with 0-60 times? As much as folks praise the Allison in the GM, I really like the torque-shift tranny in the Super Duty. I find that it does really well with every day driving, loaded, and tow mode. Sometimes it likes to hold on to OD going up a hill, but it's not hard to persuade it. I've put 100,000km on it since I got it, and I love it! I've done a bit of brake work, but not bad. Right now I have one ball joint that needs some attention, but that's not even that bad for a 16 year old truck. I may sound like I'm a little stuck on Ford, but we have GM at work, and they are frustrating to drive. Tranny does whatever it feels like, which is usually not what you want it to.
 

I ended up test driving a 3/4 ton chevy (6l gas) and that pretty much sealed the deal. I will not be getting a 3/4 ton pickup. It rode very rough, which is to be expected. I just came to the conclusion that for no more than I am hauling and for the amount of times I do haul, a 3/4 ton is probably way overkill, at least right now. A new oil pump and pressure relief valve solved my oil pressure issues. I am still not happy with the transmission but everyone at the dealership says "that's just the way it is". Funny though as no other trucks I test drove did it.

If I have any more issues, other than the existing transmission issues, I will probably start looking at a ford 1/2 ton with a heavier tow package.

On a semi related note: what does everyone think of the new ford's aluminum body and 2.7 ecoboost motor?
 
A guy I work with has checked out the new 2.7. He seems to like it, though he did say that he thought it wouldn't be that great for heavy towing.
 
Have you considered the new Dodge (Ram) half ton with the v6 diesel? Friend of mine has one and loves it.
 
Ford's 2.7L ecoboost is holding its own. Check out the youtube channel "the fast lane truck". They have a new review video of the 2.7 pulling 7,200 lbs up the Ike gauntlet.

http://www.tfltruck.com
 
(quoted from post at 00:51:23 02/08/15).....the Ford gas engines are not the best at holding up lately. The 5.4 have spark plug issues. Either they fly out and then you need to fix the plug hole or they stick in and you need to fix the hole. LOL......
believe Ford corrected those problems in late 2005. I had an 06 that according to the info had been re engineered to solve the problem. Mainly thicker walls where the plugs went in as I was told.
 

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