Truck - what do you drive, and why?

Hey ya’all.

From across the pond, as a limey, may I suggest gentlemen that you consider our British designed, by one of HRHs’ Kinghts Sir Radcliffe no less, the
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Ineos grenadier. Also available in pick up/ twin cab.

I use one as my shooting wagon in Scotland for loading in the deer, and on driven game days. A most capable wagon off road and for towing.

This one’s name is Lilly Bett, in honour of the late HRH Queen Elizabeth, given her “queens red” colour. Hazzar!
 
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375er said:
I have a 2026 Tundra and have had zero problems with it. It has been fantastic to drive and more than does what I need it to do. If they had problems with them in the past they certainly do not now.
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Massive recalls, actually. Their supplier for the engine blocks failed to remove small filings from the castings. Toyota being Toyota, owns their failures in a way that the Big-3 never will. The impacted vehicles all get new engines. Largest single recall in automotive history. Unfortunately, vehicles within the VIN number range cannot be sold to auto dealers at present as they cannot market a vehicle with an open recall and Toyota cannot keep up with the backlog of customers that need their engines replaced.

Note that awaiting a new engine doesn't mean that the actual engine has signs of failure, it just qualifies for the new engine by virtue of it being susceptible.

Postscript: It looks like 2026 makes were not impacted.

For the Toyota Tundra engine-replacement recall, the main affected trucks are non-hybrid Tundras with the 3.4L twin-turbo V35A-FTS V6.

  • Original recall (NHTSA 24V-381): certain 2022–2023 Tundras. Roughly 98,600 Tundras were affected, generally built from early November 2021 through mid-February 2023. Toyota’s remedy is a complete engine assembly replacement at no charge. NHTSA
  • The defect is machining debris left inside the engine, which can damage the main bearings and cause knocking, rough running, failure to start, or complete loss of power. NHTSA
  • Hybrid i-FORCE MAX Tundras were not included in that original engine-replacement recall. NHTSA
The situation has expanded since then. In November 2025, Toyota issued another engine-debris recall covering certain 2022–2024 non-hybrid Tundras, along with certain Lexus LX/GX models. Toyota USA Newsroom And in May 2026, Toyota added roughly 44,000 certain 2024 non-hybrid Tundras after determining that machining debris could still damage the #1 main bearing. Toyota USA Newsroom

So, practically speaking, if you're shopping for a used 2022, 2023, or 2024 Tundra with the non-hybrid V35A twin-turbo V6, I'd check the VIN carefully. A 2022–23 with a documented Toyota-installed replacement engine could actually be attractive because the replacement engines use the improved bearing/manufacturing configuration. Toyota said in May 2026 that more than 77,000 of the original ~102,000 Toyota/Lexus vehicles had already been repaired using engines with the improved #1 main bearing.
 
Man, I just switched to a Ram 2500 (Cummins) after almost three decades of having a Powerstroke. Stellantis has their issues for sure, but the 100,000 mile powertrain warranty and huge discounts, plus repeated recalls on my last Fords (I know Ram has there share), was enough to make the jump. Time will tell if this was the right move. I will probably have an electrical gremlin when I get in it shortly. :-). A diesel mechanic friend told me to keep idle time (at idle RPMs) down as much as possible. Again, time will tell. I cannot tell if I like/don't like the aesthetics of the truck, but the coil spring suspension does provide for a better ride than leaf spring suspension I have become accustomed to over the decades.
 
2018 Toyota Tacoma. It's been trouble free and holds great resale compared to some other trucks. I was thrilled when I found out that Toyota finally dropped the rear drum brakes in favor of discs, but not so thrilled when I heard they dropped the 6 cylinder from the line up.
 
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2021 Ram 2500.

I only buy R title vehicles and send them to my body guy to get rebuilt. This rig had <10k miles on it when I bought it at auction. 10 months later I had a new truck.

After the sale and body work I have <$30k into it. I hate buying new vehicles. This was the most expensive rig I had rebuilt.
 
rookhawk said:
Massive recalls, actually. Their supplier for the engine blocks failed to remove small filings from the castings. Toyota being Toyota, owns their failures in a way that the Big-3 never will. The impacted vehicles all get new engines. Largest single recall in automotive history. Unfortunately, vehicles within the VIN number range cannot be sold to auto dealers at present as they cannot market a vehicle with an open recall and Toyota cannot keep up with the backlog of customers that need their engines replaced.

Note that awaiting a new engine doesn't mean that the actual engine has signs of failure, it just qualifies for the new engine by virtue of it being susceptible.

Postscript: It looks like 2026 makes were not impacted.

For the Toyota Tundra engine-replacement recall, the main affected trucks are non-hybrid Tundras with the 3.4L twin-turbo V35A-FTS V6.

  • Original recall (NHTSA 24V-381): certain 2022–2023 Tundras. Roughly 98,600 Tundras were affected, generally built from early November 2021 through mid-February 2023. Toyota’s remedy is a complete engine assembly replacement at no charge. NHTSA
  • The defect is machining debris left inside the engine, which can damage the main bearings and cause knocking, rough running, failure to start, or complete loss of power. NHTSA
  • Hybrid i-FORCE MAX Tundras were not included in that original engine-replacement recall. NHTSA
The situation has expanded since then. In November 2025, Toyota issued another engine-debris recall covering certain 2022–2024 non-hybrid Tundras, along with certain Lexus LX/GX models. Toyota USA Newsroom And in May 2026, Toyota added roughly 44,000 certain 2024 non-hybrid Tundras after determining that machining debris could still damage the #1 main bearing. Toyota USA Newsroom

So, practically speaking, if you're shopping for a used 2022, 2023, or 2024 Tundra with the non-hybrid V35A twin-turbo V6, I'd check the VIN carefully. A 2022–23 with a documented Toyota-installed replacement engine could actually be attractive because the replacement engines use the improved bearing/manufacturing configuration. Toyota said in May 2026 that more than 77,000 of the original ~102,000 Toyota/Lexus vehicles had already been repaired using engines with the improved #1 main bearing.
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Thanks for a MUCH more comprehensive post than I made in post # 197. I think it is hard to conceive of the numbers involved--77,000 motors and counting! I wonder how much sales of malox and Tums increased for the buyers....sad. And really, hard to accept at face value. As usual, you spelled it out!
 
Right now a 2026 Silverado 2500 Custom, 8ft box with the Duramax and the 10 Speed for work and a 2021 Tacoma SR5 four door with a 6ft box for fun. Both bought and paid for. I move the work trucks along every 3-4 years depending upon the mileage. They sell like hotcakes with the Duramax and the write off is nice for the business. The Toyotas stay until they are 150k on the odometer or so.
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Current update, knock on wood… last two, bought used, low mileage, low cost F-150s. Both with 3.5 eco boost. No issues. Current is 12 year old F-150 with FX4 package and 95k miles. Both consistently 20-22 mpg, all conditions. 700 mile tank range. Perfect for my use for all conditions, low initial cost, low maintenance, excellent suspension, reliable.

Our other “truck” is a diesel but lives in a warm, diesel friendly climate so no cold start issues :) A 4 year old Mazda 4x4 BT 50, A model not available in US. Perfect for use there- mixture of town, highway and rough mountain road use. Low mileage, bought used. Currently with about 30k miles. Low initial cost, low cost of maintenance, low cost of operation, reliable, excellent suspension. 30 mpg. As an aside— diesel cost there currently is roughly same as for the common 95 octane unleaded at about $5-5.20/gallon. You read that right… common unleaded there is 93-95 octane not the 85-86 we get here,
 
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A friend of mine had a 2014 Toyota Tacoma with 300k miles on it. He gave it to a nephew and bought a new 2026 Tacoma. He told me his new Tacoma is larger than the 2014 Tundra. Interesting comparison.
 
West_Texas_Bull_Shooter said:
I currently have a 2018 Dodge Ram Cummins Diesel 3500 Dually 4x4 Laramie Longhorn. I live in the DFW area of Texas and I have pulled a 39-foot DRV RV trailer from here to Ashville, NC and from here to Reno, NV and back. I have had no problems.
I have owned the Dodge Cummins Diesel Pickup Trucks since they first came out. I have never had any trouble with any of the Cummins Diesel engines. I had a couple problems with Dodge Manual Transmissions. But Dodge has matched the engine with a heavier transmission now and resolved that issue.
As long as you do the normal maintenance you should have no problem. Good luck.
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Good thing you have a 2018 and not a 2019 or 2020 when Dodge had the CP4 high pressure fuel injection pump in them which could (and did) fail catastrophically if additional lubricity was not added to the diesel fuel. Dodge recalled those two years unlike GM from about 2011-2017 when they had the CP4 in their Duramax. Ford still used the CP4 up until 2025 when they went with a Denso fuel pump. I wanted to replace my 2002 Ford 7.3 diesel with only 151K but I’m now scared with the newer diesel engine problems and probably won’t anytime soon. My neighbor has a 2018 Dodge diesel and had to have the turbo rebuilt six months ago and now had the transmission valve body replaced. He pulls a forty foot fifth wheel about six times during the summer but doesn’t drive a bunch of miles other than that.
 
CoElkHunter said:
Good thing you have a 2018 and not a 2019 or 2020 when Dodge had the CP4 high pressure fuel injection pump in them which could (and did) fail catastrophically if additional lubricity was not added to the diesel fuel. Dodge recalled those two years unlike GM from about 2011-2017 when they had the CP4 in their Duramax. Ford still used the CP4 up until 2025 when they went with a Denso fuel pump. I wanted to replace my 2002 Ford 7.3 diesel with only 151K but I’m now scared with the newer diesel engine problems and probably won’t anytime soon. My neighbor has a 2018 Dodge diesel and had to have the turbo rebuilt six months ago and now had the transmission valve body replaced. He pulls a forty foot fifth wheel about six times during the summer but doesn’t drive a bunch of miles other than that.
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With good care that 7.3 will last another 150k miles. I have put 100k on mine for a grand total of 236k. It doesn’t burn a drop more oil than it when I first got it. Hopefully I can push it past 300k.
 
Hahaha....This has to be one of the most contentious(I hope that this is the right word!) posts you can put up. At least in the South and among hunters. I've seen "people" come to blows over which truck sucks the less. Insane. I'm glad to see that my brethren are much more peaceable. I bought my first new truck (vehicle) last year. As was stated earlier, it was ridiculously expensive (To me at least) and I was reluctant. My wife stepped in and said, "You never buy anything for yourself. Please buy the one you like." So, I did like the lady instructed. I'm glad I did. It is a fantastic truck with more bells and whistles than Ill ever use, and enough umph to get up and out the way when you need it to. It will tow a lot of heavy things...so I'm told. I just have to buy some heavy things and I'll get back to you. I get a lot of compliments on it from other truck guys. Amazing how a "Nice truck" comment can lead into a 45 minute talk and a invitation to go fishing. I think the OP is doing the right thing and researching his peers. Best advise that you can ever have, really. What kind did I by? A black one.
 
For personal use and hunting I’m still running an 03 Super Duty I bought for $8500 in 2016 with 105k on it. Rebuilt the front end and put another 175-180k miles on it. Considering buying another truck for when it finally goes.

I run another vehicle for work. I typically buy that new and run it into the ground. Last one was a 2017 F-150 FX4 w/ the 3.5L Eco Boost that I bought in 2018 left on the lot. Blew the top turbo last fall at 286k miles. Bought a new RAV4 for $30k w/ TTTL last fall and am closing in on 58k miles. Doubling the gas mileage going to the RAV4 was pretty nice and I’m definitely reaping the rewards right now.
 
i am late to this thread,

i have a 2003 dodge straight 6 cummins. when i bought it, diesel was $1 dollar a gallon cheaper than gas and i like the power and durability of the diesel. it has 160K miles on it, swapped out some tie rods, steering linkage, fuel pump and serpentine belt, and it has run great. it is beat up, but been a great truck. or as the PH in SA would say, "no complaints" AAAAND, it gets 21-24 mpg on the highway. and, i don't wanna spend 100K replacing it.
 
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1dirthawker said:
i am late to this thread,

i have a 2003 dodge straight 6 cummins. when i bought it, diesel was $1 dollar a gallon cheaper than gas and i like the power and durability of the diesel. it has 160K miles on it, swapped out some tie rods, steering linkage, fuel pump and serpentine belt, and it has run great. it is beat up, but been a great truck. or as the PH in SA would say, "no complaints" AAAAND, it gets 21-24 mpg on the highway. and, i don't wanna spend 100K replacing it.
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And you don’t have to waste your money on DEF! The diesel trucks made in 2012 and earlier are going for a premium price because of this.

My friend (known here as IGS) has a 2008 Ram 2500 with the Cummins I-6. He gets 22 mpg and has over 200K miles on it. There’s no way he’s getting rid of it.
 
In February 2024, I wrote on this thread that I was looking for a Honda Odyssey as a hunting vehicle. Fast forward to August 2025 and we decided on a Ford Transit 150 (commercial) van instead. Fewer electric gadgets, more room and better towing/hauling capacity made the decision pretty easy. Chose the non-turbo V6 engine that now has 12-quart oil capacity!

We’ve had it for a year now with no complaints. Added a second row of seats, sound proofing throughout and a magnetic curtain to keep the front cabin at the proper temperature. Mrs BeeMaa loves the vision improvement over the Explorer we had before.

Makes light work of weekend tasks.
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I recently upgraded from a 2016 Ford F-250 PowerStoke to a 2025 F-350 Tremor with the HO PowerStroke. I absolutely love the pickup, and hauls my 42’ fifth wheel with ease!!!
 
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