QOTD: Pick a Perfect Pickup, 2018 "Extra Truck" Edition

by Jack Baruth

Published: January 19th, 2018

qotd pick a perfect pickup 2018 extra truck edition

It seems we stood and talked like this, before. We looked at each other in the same way then. But I can’t remember where or when… no wait, I remember it perfectly well. It was eight months ago when I asked you to help me pick a perfect pickup. I ended up with a 2017 Silverado LTZ Crew Cab 6.5′ bed with Max Tow package and the 6.2-liter engine. Not all of you approved.

The Silvy ain’t going nowhere, but there might be space in the driveway for a second truck starting in the spring. Just like last time, I’m going to set some loosely-defined rules — but this time the rules will be very different.

The previous set of requirements were detailed, specific, and difficult to fulfill on a budget. This time I’m going to lower my expectations, and my budget, a little bit.

The purposes and tasks assigned to Truck Number Two will be, in order of descending importance:

* Carry no more than four cyclists and their BMX/mountain bikes to events both competitive and non-competitive. A SuperCab/ClubCab/KingCab is fine.

* Occasionally haul equipment used by my race team and its ever-expanding number of cars. So a 6.5′ bed is a minimum.

* Carry motorcycles from time to time.

* Serve as backup hauler and short-distance tow rig on race weekends, so it should be able to pull 6,000 pounds in fair-weather, no-drama conditions.

* Transaction price after rebates and incentives but before tax and title of $34,999 or less.

Note that I didn’t specify full-sized or compact pickup here. I also didn’t specify mandatory 4WD, so let’s consider the pros and cons. The two candidates that come immediately to mind are:

* 2019 RAM low-spec quad cab with Pentastar.

* 2018 F-150 XLT SuperCab with 2.7-liter Ecoboost.

Are those the best ideas? Should I try the new Ranger? Or should I get another crew cab just for resale purposes?

Oh, one last thing. All suggestions for used trucks will be ignored, unless the suggestion is to purchase a “Prospector Edition” Dodge Ramcharger.

[Image: Ford Motor Company]

#F-150 #Ram #Ranger #Sierra #Silverado #Titan #Tundra

Jack Baruth

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9 of 110 comments

Nick 2012 on Jan 19, 2018

If you’re ever going to consider an enclosed trailer if you start working on your own race cars more often, you may want to look at a gas F250 with the excellent 6.2. We use a 6.2 F250 to tow a 24’ V nose weighing 9-10k depending on loadout. A half ton can do it, but it is much happier behind a F250. Eight foot beds in all cab combos.

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- EBFlex on Jan 20, 2018
  
  The 6.2 is an awful engine. Gutless and drinks fuel. I suspect that’s why Ford is looking to quickly replace it with something that actually works.
  
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- DenverMike on Jan 20, 2018
  
  @EBFlex While Ford needs a new and exciting (supercharged?!) V8 for the entire F-series line, the 6.2 will do anything its diesel counterparts will do, just with less spectacular panache, but with similar mpg. For the max weight, 13 ft tall, extreme trailer pull up a 7% grade battling a strong headwind at high altitude, it may be 45 mph, 4-way flasher time, but the $10K upfront savings more than makes up for it, if that's not a common scenario for you.
  
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- Ajla on Jan 20, 2018
  
  @EBFlex "The 6.2 is an awful engine." Good God, this is possibly the most incorrect comment in TTAC history.
  
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- 28-Cars-Later on Jan 20, 2018
  
  @ajla WHO! Who doesn't want to wear the ribbon!?!?!
  
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- EBFlex on Jan 21, 2018
  
  @ajla Actually it’s the 100% truth. The engine is a boat anchor. We have one in a work vehicle and it’s slower than molasses. Takes forever to rev, gutless bottom end, and the transmission hasn’t a clue as to what it needs to do. The only upside to hearing this engine scream to try and move the truck and watching the fuel gauge go down is the wonderful V8 symphony your ears get to listen to.
  
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- Ajla on Jan 21, 2018
  
  @EBFlex Find any publication where the 6.2L SD is slower than the 6.0L GM or 5.6L XD in a comparison test. It's usually within a tenth +/- of the 6.4L Ram (which I'm guessing you don't consider a 'boat anchor') depending on configuration. This particular test had a regular cab F-250 run a 14.75@96 and a 6.49 0-60. Those are impressive numbers. pickuptrucks.com/2017/03/whats-the-best-34-ton-work-truck-for-2017.html How fast do you expect an HD truck (or ambulance or whatever you have at your job) to be? The Ford engine isn't anything special down low but from 3500 - 5000 it hits with a lot of force. And, it revs a little better than my Charger RT. You don't know what you're talking about. I don't even really like modern-day Ford and all their Ecoboost/mobility solutions talk, but they did a very good job on the 6.2L.
  
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- EBFlex on Jan 22, 2018
  
  @EBFlex "You don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t even really like modern-day Ford and all their Ecoboost/mobility solutions talk, but they did a very good job on the 6.2L." Wow. You're so off base. If the 6.2L was any good Ford wouldn't be looking for a replacement. But the fact remains, it's a garbage engine. Having driven one extensively, I know exactly what I'm talking about.
  
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Art Vandelay on Jan 20, 2018

I own a 2015 F150 Super Crew. It is an XLT with the rear locker, trailer brakes, and the chrome package. I added an aftermarket Android auto headunit that all in including the good install kit that let me keep the stock HVAC controls (other ones use a crappy looking touch screen) was 700 bucks. It will turn 40k on the trip back to Huntsville this weekend and I've had zero issues with it. It is a 2.7 and I pull a 5000 pound travel trailer with it on occasion. Serious pulling will get you into the low double digits mpg (grante my trailer has the profile of a parachute) and even single digits from time to time. Overall I'm at 24 mpg over the lifetime. I drove all the full-sized trucks when I purchased and IMHO it drove the best. The fact that you can actually see out of the Ford cant be overstated.

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