Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives Chevy or Tundra ?

Think they're both good.I'd go with the chev myself.I don't know how long you keep your truck?If like me it seems forever and chev parts are alway a dime a dozen and usually found pretty easy.

I'm one of those guys that dealers hate. I buy my truck to keep till it dies beyond recovery. When you pay $30-$45,000 for a truck you need to get your moneys worth out of it. Buy new, payoff in 3-5 years then keep for 10 more at least. Gonna break that rule with this Dakota though. Payoff quick or at least owe less than I will get on trade then buy a good truck. Can't believe I fell for the Dodge hype. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Really liked my Chev but am interested (at this point) in the Tundra.

Can't go wrong with a Toyota truck that is for sure.

With Chev and Toyota both intoducing new variations this year, could be a tough choice. Definately need to wait/see how they both are rated by actual users.

Can't go wrong with a Duramax truck that is for sure. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Steve

Steve I like the chevy diesel.My older brother has a 03 Duramax and it's been great.My problem is when you spend as much time in a diesel like my Star a gas pot pick-up looks really appealing.

I listened to enough clanging and banging with the black smoke bletching to know at the end the day a gaser is nice to jump into.Most guy's I know are the same way who run diesels.Weather logging truck or other equipment.

D-Zap'r,

That sho be true, it do.

I've got a 02 D-max/Alli and it is and has been one fine truck (GMC, 4x4, C.C., SWB). When I travel (and that's a lot), Ole "Toby" get's the call, Tahoe stays in the garage. Climb up in'em, saddle up and let the schitt hit the wall. LB 7 engine and runs like a spotted azzed ape. Injectors warrantied to 200k or some # of years. Wont smoke those BFG 285's but will cause a little racket. For an old fart like me, anyhow.

That Tahoe 4wd, a 1999, has been a fair buggy, too. Not but 185k miles on it. To date; Water pump, fuel pump, radiator crack, brakes, shocks and tires. GM does ok by my reckoning.

Noting wrong with the Yotes, either. A friend has a Tacoma with +200k on it. Nice truck. Tuff, too.

Zero problems, for both of mine, all considered,,, but I am a maintenance slut.

Old Toot

Well lets see, my 94 toy truck had 140k miles on it when I burned a valve. My bad as I went cheap on service and didn't have the valves adjusted. So I decided it was time to upgrade. During Thanksgiving weekend I purchased a new 2006 Dodge 2500 w/ cummins turbo diesel.

Turns out it had a coolant leak, which I found 3 weeks back, when I noticed the coolant overflow tank was empty, and pulling the radiator cap yielded the coolant 3" below the top. Before Christmas I drove by the dealership and had them add coolant, 2 1/2 gallons. Took the truck in the following wed, they said they fixed it by putting a hoseclamp on the line to the overflow tank, picked it up and noticed coolant on the ground. Called them up and took it back the next day. They didn't have time to look at it that day, they looked at it the following day and when I called the serv dpt they said it was "done". Paperwork mentioned a hose and clamp, nothing about needing to have that installed and needing to make a followup appt. I drove it home that fri and found coolant on my driveway, drove it back and was told the hose would come in the end of last week. Didn't drive the truck last week as I was home with the kids and didn't want to get stranded. Took it in this monday and got a loaner.

Apparently the hose was backordered and should be here "soon" So I have a new truck, out of the 6 weeks I've had it, I've only been able to drive it for 3, has been in the shop 3 times, and I don't know when they'll be done. So I'm out nearly a whole months payment on a rig I can't use, and my wasted time is worth well over double that.

I've spent more time in the shop with this one truck in 3 weeks than I spent with my toyata truck in 12 years. To say this will be my last American vehicle is a pretty safe bet. I guess the average guy/gal that buys American vehicles has a much lower expectation of quality.

Buddy bought a new chevy 2500 turbo diesel this summer, has had it in the shop a couple times due to a low power light intermitantly coming on, bad sensor on the engine.

My expectation isn't a 100,000 mile warranty, my expectation is a vehicle that doesn't need repairs for 100,000 miles. I've seen that with Toyota, BMW and Mercedes, have yet to see that on any American vehicle I or family members have owned.

Bbbut, what if Toyota starts to build diesel pickups here and they source the sensors from the same company that supplies Dodge and GM with their sensors??

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Bad luck on the Dodge, but there are likely tens of thousands of owners who think their CTD's are the cat's ass, just as there are tens of thousands who swear by their Fords, Chebbies and Toyotas.

I haven't bought all that many new trucks, but have had some problems with them due to sloppy assembly and the like, but most problems were with dimwits at the dealership who could've cared less whether the repairs were done right or in good time.

The absolute worst new truck I ever owned, was a '72 G-20 Chevy van that left the factory with paint runs; peeling and bubbled paint in the interior; sliding door that wouldn't latch; front sway bar whose rubber mounts wouldn't stay in and all four wheels rusted-fast to the hubs/brake drums (wheel center holes were too small, supposedly a wheel vendor screw up).

The dealer could've taken care of all that crap within a few days, instead I spent months hagglin'with them until I finally called the Chevrolet zone office and got them involved. Most of the problems I attributed to their ahole service manager who could've cared less about some dolt with a $3000 van, when he had Impalas and Corvettes to monkey with.

On the other hand, the '69 Chevy 1/2 ton PU I had before and after that van, lasted forever, was still driving it until about 1996. Had very few problems with my 2002 Chevy S-10 ZR2 in four years, zero gremlins in the new GMC thus far in 10 months. No question what I'll buy next, now that GM has a 5yr/100,000 warranty.

92 2500 is pushing 350K. Has had normal wear/tear stuff like starter/alternator/muffler/brakes replaced. New computer a couple years ago due to mistake at repair shop (not dealer). Rebuilt tranny 6 years ago because wanted upgrade. Still a solid truck. It was second new truck. Dakota is third (first/last Dodge). First new truck was Ford. Only kept it for a few years though. Out grew it with family. Was also a good truck.

Heres another thought to ponder....

If a Toyota dealership gets enough negative feedback from its customers, they get put on probation, piss off enough customers and they will yank your franchise. This is clearly not the case with American made vehicle dealerships or there would be quite a few shut down in several towns I have lived in. Toyota doesn't play that, their Rep is their #1 priority! Lots of American vehicle owners call normal stuff that which would drive a Toyota owner crazy. Normal stuff is doing nothing to your vehicle but change oil till 30K then consider some stuff for preventative maintenance. Trust me I know, after owning 4 Toyotas and never taking them to the dealership for anything I needed a big truck. I drive a Dodge 2500 with a Cummins now and yeah the only thing thats been done to its been normal stuff!<grin>

But until Toyota makes a truck that will hold a heavy cab-over camper and pull the river boat like a raped ape through the mountains I am stuck with the Dodge. Its actually not been a bad truck, but its no Toyota, I have to look under it every once in a while and find where the drips in the snow are coming from.And yeah she's got well over 100K miles onher.

One thing I like about the Dodge is the running gear.They still use those stout Dana axels.

I'm pretty sure Toyota still uses Nippodenso and other japanese sensors.

To me it's just a sad commentary to have a leaking hose on a new car in 2007. Crap, in 20 years and about a dozen cars from many, many makers, I've never had a leaky hose. Making hoses that don't leak has been no problem for a looooong time.

Considering they had 57 on backorder, I'm sure my truck isn't the only leaky one. I also wouldn't be suprised if they don't have a seized engine or two from folks that didn't know they had a leak. There was no sign of a leak for first 4 weeks, then it started leaking fast enough to leave a dribble trail on the ground.

If this is the only problem, and it finally gets truily fixed, no harm no foul. If not, well, somebodies getting their truck back.

If your referring to my "normal" stuff comment, thats 350, 000, not 35,000. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Any veh that needed that stuff at 35,000 should be burned to the ground along with the dealership that sold it.

Wasn't referring to you specifically thats just what the guys I talk to always say. You know normal stuff, starters, alternators, belt tensioners, electrical components,etc etc.

And yeah my Dodge needs "normal stuff" every 30-35K.

I'm thinking I got really lucky with my 92 chev. It has lasted a lot longer than alot of guys I know trucks. Didn't baby it either. Life goes on! Always need a new truck sooner or later. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Just hate doing it too frequently.

Nope, Dodge switched to American Axle company axles in 2003. They had a falling out with Dana.

Translation = They found someone cheaper than Dana

That's my guess anyway.

Sounds bang on to me.

Slam dunk for me it would be the Tundra.

It has been my experience that my Toy's would go to 200K b4 starting to give me some issues.

I've yet to have a GM, Ford product make it to 100K without the same issues beginning to crop up.

Mark D