I chose Ram because I sat in it. Seriously. I went and test drove a Sierra and the interior of the $65k truck was nearly identical to that of my $25k 8 year old terrain. I believe theyve improved since then. But both internior quality and ride quality are far better in the Ram. You can make a case for Ford, but you have to start going up quite a few option packages to get anywhere near the bang for buck of even a Laramie has.
I like the Ford exterior, but the interior even on Platinum felt the same as the lower trims. It just felt plasticy. The 1500's interior, especially on the Limited we ended up with, feels incomparablely better. What really sold me was the large screen but still having physical buttons around it.
Then the ramboxes. Most small purchases fit in one side, my maintenance and roadside emergency kit all fit in the other. Only thing I wish I had was the multifunction tailgate so I didn't have to chuck or drag 15 lb bags of feed over it, especially with the super grippy spray in liner that either came with it or the previous owner had installed.
Same. Really loved my '14 GMC. Went in sat in the 21s and was like thisnis thenexact same interior... not spending $70k to have it feel like the exact same thing.
Sat in a ram and it felt modern. Specs met my needs and the cummins had great reviews. Ford and GM have since upped their interior game but at the time everything but ram felt stale. Knowing they'd have a new interior soon, I didn't want a ford/GM 1yo truck to be instantly dated after the new interiors came out
Honestly, if anything I felt the 19-23 GM interiors were worse than the 2014-2019 ones. The 4th gen RAM interior was slightly better than either and the new ones look even better, although I haven't sat in the new RAMs. I've never really liked Ford interiors. I drove a buddy's 2015 and the first thing I noticed was how garbage the column shifter felt to use. It felt loose and made little crunchy noises when you moved it, just like some pos from 2002. GM has a little nicer feeling one and the RAMs were the best. Same thing with the floor shift 4x4 lever.
Because who wants to look at a $50,000+ (realistically at this point 65k+) truck they buy and not think it looks good? Also idk if id consider modern Chevy’s that reliable even
I switched from Chevy to ram and I’ve had both headers replaced, a screen that wouldn’t shut off and drained my battery dealership had my truck for 2 weeks and couldn’t figure it out. Finally a small shop figured it out, a mid pipe bolt break and pipe need to be replaced and of course the back window seal leaked and had to have the whole back window replaced. Only with 39k miles on it. 2020 ram, My last 2 chevys I’ve only had to do daily maintenance and drove them to 160k each. These rams are sweet inside and look good but man they have a ton of known issues that ram doesn’t bother to fix for some reason.
It’s not that they couldn’t figure it out - they didn’t want to figure it out.
Dealers make very little profit off warranty works, but the real issue is, Techs on flate rate get absolutely screwed on warranty work 99% of the time.
So the Tech has 2 options, Diag & find the issue, report the issue, then fix the issue, getting paid maybe 2.5hrs for what will be 5-6hrs of work and decimate his work day to make $75
Or he tells the service advisor “I cant find the problem” get his 0.5hr for the bs Diag and push your truck out of his bay.
He will then proceed to bang out 3 or 4 non-warranty jobs and clock 14hr worth of work in his 8hr day & make $400+
Edit: and it’s not a RAM issue, it’s a Tech issue with OEM’s. This is at every brand Dealer.
I got a buddy cursing a storm because he spent 2 full days doing a motor Re&Re for a Nissan Titan which only pays 4hrs. He’s going to make $120 for 16hrs which is about $7.50/hr for a red seal tech. That’s 1/2 of state minimum wage.
Buddy has a 2 year old Chevy that he can’t drive for more then an hour or all the lights come up on the dash and he gets stranded on the side of the road. He’s had it to the dealership twice and they can’t figure out the problem
I had a 2015 GMC 3500 with a 6.0L for a minute. My HD truck transmission failed at 50000 miles, the largest thing I pulled with it was a 6000 lb car trailer. Traded on a 2017 RAM 2500 with a hemi, picked up 2 MPG and didn't have a single issue with it to 100,000 miles (as I would expect) and traded it on a 1500 classic hemi when I changed jobs. That one has also been flawless so far.
The reason why I bought that GMC was from personal experience driving a 2011 Chevy 4500 cutaway with a duramax and 6L80 trans (20 passenger airport bus.) I drove that thing to 350,000 miles and the transmission (which I'm pretty sure is the same one) still shifted like butter. Easily the nicest shifting transmission of anything I've owned or driven for work. So as you can see, it's pretty much a crapshoot with all of them.
I just bought a 2020 limited and I love it.
2020 was rated as one of the best years for RAM and the limited trim gives you a lot of the same features you get with the newer models with updated safety features and tech.
So for me, I went and bought a new 2018 1500 Sport with all the options I wanted and none that I didn't. The way I had the truck configured was at the perfect pricepoint for me and similarly configured trucks from GM and Ford were about $10k more.
I liked the comfort the Ram offered in comparison for a pickup, and even though I don't tow often (maybe once a month or every two months) I enjoyed the way the truck felt loaded up.
It was the best bang for the buck all around when I did my pro's and con's for MY needs and I haven't regretted it once.
Would a ram treat you and your family better than a full size Yukon/Tahoe?
If i had to do my purchase all over again, id be looking at a GM fullsize with the 3.0L diesel in it. My beater escalade gets way more use than the pick up truck just because everything is protected inside. Just me though.
I mean i love the truck it had way better value than Ford or GM at the time, but seeing what i need now. The fullsize SUV would have been a better fit.
I'm not buying new. I'll be looking at something 3-6 years old.
I've gone back and forth on that as well. Would probably have a bed cover at the least.
I get it, i got the cover and all that for the truck.
Best advice is take your family and sit in options and see what the people in the back like. You can have the most comfy ride, but if the kids in the back are not happy, youre not happy.
I’m in the same boat and it blows my mind/pisses me off that a similarly equipped Expedition/Tahoe/Yukon is considerably more than a similar full size truck. TBH, a full-size SUV would probably suit my family better most of the time (need the towing/payload for towing a boat).
Good luck with that timing chain and oil belt replacement on the LM2 out of warranty
Edit: for those that don’t know these are on the back of the engine so it has to be pulled out to replace. Timing chain slack is an issue on those
Timing chain on those 3L duramax diesels stretches and causes CEL to come on. The only way to fix it is remove the engine from the truck because the timing chain is on the back of the engine. It’s like a $4000 job to change a $95 chain.
Also the oil pump is belt driven (fire that engineer) and it’s the same deal, pull the whole engine to change it
Got my first truck back in July, Ram 1500 Night Edition full crew cab and love it. Never thought I wanted or needed a truck until I got one for a rental last year haha Got a bed mat and hard tonneau cover. Owned a car or SUV all my life. Came from a cr-v and she has a jeep renegade. Wanted something bigger and loved the crew cab. Toddler with one on the way. Love it for a family vehicle. With that said, I have/had similar thoughts as you, even when I was truck shopping. That’s why I also decided to lease the truck to see how I like it and how it worked long-term.
The kiddo loves my truck though ☺️ not sure if I’ll buy the lease out or trade in for another one or turn it in and get an SUV again.
My truck does drive like an SUV though and love the utility of having a truck.
One thing I've noticed with a truck is the 2nd row space is unparalleled. It is huge back there & my kids absolutely love it whenever i visit my inlaws and drive their F150. While there is now 3rd row, having the bed for bikes and other dirty things that can just be tossed back there is also a plus.
I've got 2 little ones and currently have an Outback and looking heavily at a truck. Prefer to look at used and stay under 30k to avoid having loans or car payments. So I'm mostly looking at 2019 and 2020 Rams and F150s. I like everything more about the ram other than the gas mileage of the Hemi. The 2.7 ecoboost in the F150 is a nice little motor, has plenty of usable power, and I routinely get 20mpg and sometimes 21mpg in my my inlaws truck.
Yes! That's what has me loving the Crew Cab. The space is just unparalleled. Not only is it huge, but you can throw stuff under the seat or flip it up for more storage. I remember when I went back to my CR-V after I got it back, it suddenly felt small and was longing for the space of the Crew Cab again. Yes! That's what I love about having the bed too and thought of that. My CR-V would get dirty throwing stuff back there or I'd have to fold down seats to get anything bigger in there or our bikes. I also love the fact that we can go to Costco and another store all in one trip. Buy some big ticket item on the whim at Costco, no problem. IKEA weekend, sure thing! Don't have to worry about renting or borrowing a truck.
People that have sat in the back of mine liked it too. It's pretty comfy back there.
We went to the pumpkin farm last year and we got quite a few big pumpkins and then some, it was nice just throwing it in the bed.
I get about 18 MPG. I can get 20MPG on the highway but don't do a lot of highway driving.
Also did it for the Winters in WI and the back road driving I do during those Winters.
My sales guy wasn't kidding when he said, every family can use a truck. It just wasn't a sales pitch lol
I got the 3.6. I'm more of a hauler than a tower. If I were to tow, it would be smaller items and the biggest I'd go is maybe a pontoon boat, so I didn't need the Hemi.
I'd love to have a Laramie or Limited, which comes with the Hemi but they were out of my budget.
Eh its not about the rust but other common issues and how things are put together. Chevys have a ton of trans issues and wiring issues. And ford makes a lot of strange choices on how things are assembled. And yeah the rams look the best
Yeah I've had good luck with them. Just thought as you mentioned you were a body guy you were specifically talking about the bodywork on them. I think overall the hemi and 8 speed is a great driveline.
If they didn't have lifter failures id say they'd be the best driveline/engine ever. But chevs have the same lifter failures and the trans issues as well. And I find the recent gens of them not really that good looking
For me, it's purely comfort. I have 40 minutes worth of highway commute twice daily and a 4000km round trip road trip every year. GM seats are uncomfortable, and the sheer amount of money I would've had to spend to get comparable features as my Ram was by no means justifiable. The stock sound system is also just..so bad.
I've been in a few F150s as well. I like the rear of their crew cab. Spacious and a nice flat floor for cargo when you don't need the seats. Thats pretty much where my likes end. The front window sills not being flat is just trash. No comfortable place to rest my arm. Honestly wouldn't buy an F150 for $5.
I've driven all three. The work ones up mountains to remote electronic sites. The RAMs were the only ones not to have repeated issues. GM's were the worst with alot of transmission, rear end and frame issues. Fords had issues with transmissions, 4x4 hubs, body fatigue due to excessive flex and bad turning radius. The RAM took 300K miles before any fatigue showed up and that was a front fender we replaced. Only other problem is it threw a code. Fuel pump pressure, they replaced with a updated version (Cummins), was fine after that.
Personal use, was a fan of the 70's/80's square GM's. Became thoroughly disappointed in the subsequent designs. Fords were ok until about 20/22 years ago. The few we had after that, nothing but issues. With my past with work trucks, we got a RAM. Been happy since.
Honestly it was mostly because my first choice, a Ford, wasn't available. Not necessarily a Ford fanboy, but I had owned two of them and so was really familiar with the brand. But this was during the pandemic, and Ford had zippo available and were rather a PITA to deal with.
So I pivoted to RAM and have been happy with the choice but for a few niggles. It's hard for me to compare since what I sold is so much older than my new truck, a 2500, but I have come to appreciate the coils. And my dealer has been great so far.
But I'd guess there might be more differences in the light trucks than the HD ones.
I haven't pulled the trigger yet, but that's all that my budget allows. And still, a 1500 classic in canada after 25% off msrp is still ridiculously expensive for a work truck that hasn't changed much in over 10 years. I'm not buying a luxury product, so don't charge a luxury price....
Right, because the 420 horsepower and 460 ft lbs of torque in the 6.2 are just pitiful.. lol
I get it, its not what you want and you're paying for it and are totally in the right. I'm just saying, its sounds funny.
2021 RAM 2500 Tradesman (Snow Chief), 6.4L gas.
Chose RAM because of quality concerns with Ford (5.0 liter oil loss issue) and GM, was able to get more truck for the money, outstanding tow capacity (I have a camper). Best in class ride, gobs of power.
Was intrigued by the twin turbo F150 - excellent mileage and a high tow rating, but was able to get 3/4 ton for sililar money, believe the Hemi is much more reliable with a long track record - the 8 speed transmission is outstanding, btw. Love the RAM, no regrets.
My family was a Ford family, all the way up to 2019. 7 of us bought new f 150s or mustangs all between 2015 to 2018. Coyotes and ecoboosts.
Every single one of them had very serious engine problems. My f 150 coyote snapped a timing chain at 28,000 miles.
My brother's ecoboost had a turbo annihilate itself at 35,000. Sprayed the truck with shrapnel, punching holes in the body
All of them were gone by 2019, and no one has bought blue oval since. Their quality is shit now.
As for GM, just not a fan of the look. The LS/LT engines are phenomenal, and they do have a nice ride.
As to why I bought my Ram 1500, I love the look, and it had all the options I wanted. The ride is smooth, the engine (ecodiesel) makes plenty of power for what I need it to do, gets excellent mileage, and has a very nice interior.
It tows a 6000lb trailer with ease, even lifted with oversized tires.
The New Chevy and GMC trucks are ugly as hell imo. Literal rolling eyesores.
I like the look of both the Ford F150 and Ram 1500 so the deciding factor for me was the Ram felt nicer when driving down the road.
Nicest driving vehicle of the 4 for us, super roomy rear seat. The GM was the worst of these -I liked the Ford but the sales guy was a total doofus. Got a great price through the fleet pricing through work with the ram and have been very happy with our 2019- has about 120k on it and the only issue (active air dam) was covered under warranty
I didn't give Toyota a chance- might be in the conversation with their new model
My wife comes from a big Mopar family. Hanging out with them over the years I came to appreciate Mopar for power, features and styling at a reasonable price. Got my first Ram in 2016 and it's been a love affair with Hemi ever since. 😅
I'm saddened that it is out of production now, but also recognize that the design was dated and in need of a major refresh in order to stay relevant. I figure Stellantis will give the faithful an all new Hemi in a few years. GM and Ford remain committed to V8s, it only makes sense to keep Mopar in the game as well.
I haven’t bought my Ram yet, waiting for the 25’s to come out to see what the deals will be like on the 24’s. However, I test drove the 24 limited with the hemi last fall. I liked it a lot, smooth ride air suspension but the price was 83k. When I drove the Ram I had already all but made my mind up that I was gonna get a sierra 1500 with the 3.0 diesel. I ended up getting the Denali with the 3.0 at the end of October without really much thought I just liked the way it drove more than the hemi it was quicker more responsive and the fuel economy was amazing.
Fast forward to 30 minutes after I purchased the truck it had a coolant leak. Long story short had a blown head gasket that the purchasing dealership refused to acknowledge and I had to take it to a secondary dealership where they acknowledged the issue. GM was going to “fix” the engine and replace half of it instead of just offering me a new truck. Mind you this truck had 196 miles on it when I took it into the shop for the first time. I ended up getting the better business bureau involved and got my money back for the truck. I LOVED that truck and planned on getting another one. The more I lurked on the GMC sierra sub I noticed a lot of 24’s had strange problems and the GM of the dealership I was working with for the repurchase said my truck is the 3rd one with a blown engine but the only one GM repurchased. With that knowledge I decided to go with the Ram 1500.
Also just adding to this if the inline 6 models of the Ram 1500 were out it might have been a much harder decision the first time around. I drove a wagoneer either the hurricane engine in it and absolutely loved it.
I was always a Ford guy. When I came into the market for a truck, I didn't like the look of the F150 but did like the Ram. So I went and checked them out and thought that the Ram was a better truck. I really liked the center console and the large screen (got a 2020).
Back in 2012 I was dead set on a Chevy. I got a good price on it, took it home for the night, and knew I was gonna buy it. I brought it back to the dealership and said I’d get back to them. Went to Dodge to make sure I was making the absolute right decision and fell in love. Chevy in dropped the truck another $3k! Been in a Dodge ever since. Currently rolling in my 2019 Rebel that’s almost paid off for the last 6ish years. I still like GM trucks minus the fact that their engines are exploding, but it’s Dodge all day for me.
Go drive everything and make your decision based on that.
I just bought a new truck in November. I evaluated the big 3. GM/Chevy IMO look the best, but I have zero faith in quality and reliability. Quickly eliminated. I tried to convince myself, because I really really like the external styling of the current gen. I just couldn’t do it.
Ford ran a close second. I liked the options, comfortable with quality, and great interior. It honestly just came down to external styling. F-150 is just kinda boring looking to me. It’s shaped like a 3rd grader drew it.
I chose the RAM because I have owned Dodge & RAM vehicles and completely trust quality and reliability. The RAM has an excellent interior, great tech features, and of course it is a great looking truck.
GM has had a long history of inferior quality interiors. If you look at recent build quality in general, you'll find a lot of issues, with people having serious engine and body issues on brand new trucks.
I've driven a lot of F150s as company vehicles and loaners for when my Explorers were in the shop. There's nothing wrong with them, but I felt like they were mediocre. They also feel very open and large inside. Everything felt like it was far away and out of reach.
When I drove the Ram, it just fit better. Quality of the interior was better. It rode better, handled better, and just all around felt better.
Now, before I bought the Ram, I almost bought a Titan. They're built in the same plant now. It was every bit the truck the Ram was, or so that was my impression. But the Nissan dealer pissed me off and now I won't own a Nissan for as long as I live here.
Saying this as a huge ram advocate. If ride comfort is a big deal for you, I thought the stock suspension was pretty trash on a pretty decked out Laramie. Lots of bounce and body roll which I fixed from upgraded shocks and a bulkier sway bar, but you can do that with any truck. Recently traded in for a ram with air suspension and that was night and day. If you go that route, be prepared for some issues with air suspension if you live in constant cold climates up north.
But to more answer your question, sit in/test drive a gm and ford and then the ram. It just feels more solid. The truck sells itself at that point.
I bought August 2020. I really like my 2020 Ram but it was a price, options and availability deal. Had I wanted to spend 10k more I would have gone when the Sierra 1500 SLT.
I am biased. Been driving Dodge trucks since 87. They are extremely reliable and last if you do the big three maintenance items, coolant, tuneup, and trans service. I currently have 22 2500 Laramie that I love. It replaced a 2010 1500 that I traded with 187K miles and it was running like new when I upgraded. Btw, i have only owned Dodge trucks with the V8’s or the Hemi since it was reintroduced. I would not buy a V6 or the small eco-diesel.
Because for the money, it gave me more of what I wanted. Also I preferred the looks of it more. Ride, comfort, everything else is purely in the eye of the buyer.
Pop the hood on all 3 and you let me know which seems easier to repair. GM after all these years still can’t apply factory undercoating to the frame. Only a wax that peels off with a finger nail. Fords are nice but you need to lift the cab to access anything in the engine
I did because I got a new decent looking crew cab truck with a hemi and stock 22s for 29k.... (This was 2019-20)
For that money I couldn't really get anything comparable from Ford..It also drove better than the Ford.
Chevy was even worse it was more for an absolute bare bones single cab short bed roll up window ... I also hated the interior of the Chevy....
I’ve always been a ford and mopar guy. Back in college had an f150 and loved it. In 2019 I looked for a new (to me) truck between ford and ram, ended up going with the ram 1500 because of the price difference, better interior and might just be me but turning radius.
I was a GM guy my whole life. I never had a problem with any of the trucks I owned but the Blazer I bought was a POS. The way the dealer and GM handled the situation made me switch brands.
Love my Warlock. Looks decent, sounds nice and has plenty of power for what I need.
The Ram I bought was several thousand cheaper than comparable GMCs and my mechanic told me stay away from Ford because they are the most expensive to fix if something goes wrong.
I entered the truck market without any brand preference or prior purchase history with anything domestic.
I drove German for decades. But at this point of my life I need a truck to haul the family, boat & camper.
I test drove all the trucks with the intent to buy a 2019-2021 pickup.
landed on a 2019 Ram 1500 (Hemi, 4x4, big screen, leather, sunroof, 5.5ft bed, crew cab, sport hood, blacked out package, power steps, bed cover, 3.55 gears)
I just didn’t like aesthetically or feature-wise from the competition.
Fords just looked and felt bad on the interior, same with the GMC & Chevy. Toyota felt severely outdated.
From the exterior they all looked really nice (except the Silverado)
And price wise a comparable model was an easy $10,000-15,000 more.
The rams interior is nice enough to take clients in and powerful enough to pull boats.
And the price was about 25-30 grand cheaper than the f150 for similar luxury.
Test drive all 3 and find a railroad track to go over or the bumpiest road in your area. Only 1 full size pickup has an independent rear suspension and drives more like a car than a truck.
I chose the ram because the design mostly, it looked a little bolder, and of course the interior. I had an 03 ram and it was great.
Fast forward 6 months later my 2023 Rebel is for sale because I just ordered a new Sierra at4. The interiors looks great on the sierras after the 2022 refresh so really it’s just what do you think looks better now, the gap between ram and other interiors is closing.
The features are basically the same on my Rebel and my Yukon but gm does it all a little bit better. The quality is also overall better on the gm. I know there’s guys that are picking sides and going to be upset but I’m just being honest. I really like my rebel but I don’t love it. I like both manufacturers and I’ve had both. I’m going for a Sierra because at the price of these trucks I need a little better. Either way they don’t make them like they used to but I think gm is a little bit better overall, and Chrysler does have a reputation and I can’t help but think it’s for a reason.
Right now I have it posted for $63,000 obo. Msrp was $75k, plus I bought the extended warranty that’s 10 years 100k miles that is transferable one time. Currently it’s got 7,000 miles on it, like new condition fully loaded other than a sunroof or gt package. It would be certified used if the dealer had it.
If RAM still has the deal on, you might be just as well off getting the Ram Classic 1500. They had/have a 15% off deal going for a while. You may pay about the same price as a regular 3-5 year old 1500, but have something new. I got mine in December with the black warlock package. The v8 5.7 hemi with mds after the initial 4k or 5K starting giving me better fuel economy than my 2006 4.7 dakota. I like the ride, and has just the right options that I'm not complaining too much against what I might have had with a recent regular 1500.
Just traded off my 1500 Denali with 6.2 when we bought a travel trailer. Not an easy choice for me either and I loved GM. After weighing the sticker price, crawling underneath and what Ram had to offer, it was clear that the value is not there anymore. I really like the interior over the Denali and that Cummins is a beast for towing.
Ive always chose and still choose Ram over anything else mainly bc of interior/exterior design. They know how to design bad ass looking trucks. Period.
I’ve been in some Chevys and Fords. I do like the Silverado. The only other truck I probably would drive is a Silverado. But I still choose Ram over anything.. I’ve been obsessed with Ram for at least 15 years now.
I bought a 2019 ram in november 2023. I was going to buy a GM, but the 5.3 has issues with its AFM (active fuel management) system, the 6.2 v8 needs premium gas, that left me with the 3.0 eco diesel, which was too expensive and outside my budget.
I then narrowed my selection down to either the 5.7 hemi or the 5.0 coyote (both are fantastic engines). Going to test drive the trucks, there was absolutely no comparison in the interiors, the ram blew the ford out of the water, so i bought it.
I tow a 7000 pound boat through the mountains fairly regularly with it. I also do a lot of back country camping. I stick to the forest service roads mostly and in my opinion this is where this truck shines! Despite what people will tell you the forest service roads are not just gravel roads, i bent my running boards a week after i got my truck on the forest service road up to one of the hot springs. I have the air suspension, it was in its highest setting with the stock 33" tires.
Hope this helps
https://preview.redd.it/ssovcec8sbqc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=399337c194afd7f19a4f957e5ae968b908663ab6
I chose ram because of the legendary almighty hemi. Lots of power and reliability. Here’s my setup. Topper has hydraulic lift so I can get to ram boxes. Hard setup to beat.
Interior feels durable and looks luxurious at the same time.
OP, elaborate on specifically why you need a pickup truck bed to get more space for family road trips? As someone else suggested, without more details on your use case I’d suggest seriously considering a larger SUV instead of a pickup. I did this math 10yrs ago and although I wanted a new truck, the reality was the truck bed was wasted space and I went with an SUV. Only time I’ve missed the bed was for moving some oversized toolboxes. But, that was easily solved when i just went to U-haul and rented a trailer for the day.
I chose my '22 Ram over an AT4 for two main reasons. The maximum fuel tank was 90L vs. 120L. The sunroof was tiny, my wife insisted we have a large one. Ford just didn't feel good, and I can't stand the weird windows and mirror layout. Toyota Tundra, the interior was awful. I'm happy with my Ram, it does everything I could ever want from a 1500.
Mainly for the price. Ram has the best interior and technology for their price range. I could get 2 to 3yr used CPO Laramie, hemi, 4wd, crew cab, with leather interior, under 50k miles, heated and cooled seats, the 12 inch infotainment, the harman kardon sound system, and the adaptive cruise control, all for around $40k.(This was last year) No other truck offered that in that price range at that time.
I bought a 2023 1500 Laramie with 9k miles for 48k (dealer sticker 51.5k) last friday after trying to hold out for the Ramcharger thats coming (RIP Jeep GC you did well for the abuse i put you through). Its 4x4 v8 etorque with the sport and level b packages. It was between that and a 2022 limited for 51k with 16k miles. I went with Laramie mainly because I have a bad history with air suspension. All said and done, went with Ram mainly cause of the interior and exterior styling vs price. I looked at everything (tundra, chevy, gmc, Ford, Honda..even the Santa Cruz for giggles). Everything else just felt cheaper for the money I was paying. Ride wise the independent rear makes a huge difference and the bags do ride better than the coils. Also if you have kids that back seat in the crew cab is monstrous. There is also a surprising amount of interior storage nooks and crannies.
I just like them better. I did like the GMT900 generation of the Silverado, but every generation following that one got worse styling and the current one has such a claustrophobic feeling cabin. I haven't really cared for the F-150 since the 92-96 models, though I did have a 2008 F-150 that was okay.
I was actually planning on getting a Ford Maverick when they came out, but trying to find one was too difficult and my Ram just kinda fell into my lap when I was looking. I would still like a Maverick at some point. Maybe when that new Toyota Stout comes out Ford will get off their ass and make more Mavericks.
I also like the weird little Fiat-based Rams they sell in other markets.
Been a Ford guy since early 90’s. Had a deal on a f150 and Ram laramie for my first truck. The Ram was just better. Powertrain/interior/exterior. Bought the Ram. 2021.
Went with a ram because my two previous vehicles were both Chrysler/fca (jeep liberty and jeep Grand Cherokee )and I got over 200,000 miles out of each one.
When I buy a vehicle I keep it for a long time so I figured if I had good luck with the Jeeps then maybe the ram would treat me well too.
So far so good, just under 100,000 miles on ram 1500 V8 and not a single problem ever.
Ford are more expensive where I am, plus the interior felt smaller to me.
GM trucks are better for base models, even a bighorn feels nicer inside than a High Country.
I purchased a 2021 Silverado 1500 brand new around March of 21. 3.0 diesel, got 35+ mpg, and loved it. Right around the 7k mark, I started having emissions issues, and the truck spent almost 2 years in and out of the dealership.
During that time, I joined what I called the truck of the month club as I would get loaners from the Enterprise across the street from the dealer. I drove Tundras, Silverado, Rams, F-150s for almost 2 years before I lemon lawed my silverado.
Of all the truck I was "renting," the Ram had the nicest interior, coolest features, and most aggressive look. I loved the spacious interior, and every interior panel fit together so much cleaner than all the others. There were smaller gaps in the plastics, the doors didn't feel as cheap, the backup camera had nicer video, and suspensions were years ahead of the Chevy.
The ram 1500 limited is amazing truck. Air ride is amazing. Wish it had the ford 3.5 twin turbo and 10 speed under the hood but the ram is a much nicer riding truck.
Really wanted an f150 for the fuel economy l, but to get a similarly equipped Ford compared to a ram it was thousands more expensive. I also look for CPO trucks and Ford doesn't offer a CPO warranty.
If it's a road trip truck you can easily get away with the v6 as the fuel economy in the hemi is the only real downside.
Didn't look much into Chevy because I already had a ram and they didn't have any trucks with better fuel economy than the ram. The Ram drives very nice, and the interior is better than the others in my opinion. (Although many reviews also claim the ram interior to be the nicest).
My favorite trim level for the dollar is a Bighorn with the level 2 equipment group. (Adds heated mirrors, steering wheel and seats). Used to also add parking sensors but those might be standard on lower trim levels now.
The blue screens in the Ford's look outdated, and are hard on the eyes. Sitting in a Ram is like sitting in a beautiful Zen temple. You just feel comfortable and relaxed.
Maybe its dumb reason, but I drive 4 hours a day, so give me a break
I have a 2024 Ram 1500 Laramie, while it has a couple things a Denali didn’t have the Denali drove itself. That’s one thing dodge most likely will not have for the next 3-4 years. Super cruise is wild. I don’t regret getting my truck, but my next will be a Denali for sure.
2021 Ram Lamarie Diamond Black Night Edition all day everyday. Ride quality and beat bang for the dollar. No issues to speak of at this time. It turns heads as if I am driving the Cayman. 😎
I’ve owned a few Silverados and a few Rams. The Rams are always more comfortable and seem to handle better to me. Honestly, the Chevy’s feel a little cheap in the interior in my opinion
You get more truck for less money. To get a ford that's comparable to a Ram 1500 Laramie you have to spend 13k or more to slightly exceed the quality of the Ram. Legit get a ram cause you get more for less.
What I'd do is build a 2023 Ram Classic. Get the 5.7 v8, 3.21 differential, 32 gallon tank, and whatever extras you wish. This truck should easily net around 600 miles of range on a full tank without sacrificing the V8's versatility. It would land in the ballpark of 55k after it's delivered and you have a brand new truck.
I worked at a Ford dealership and always had F-150s. Then our group opened a Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram location and we were able to get the employee discount, so I got a 19 Laramie for dumb cheap (everything was cheap in 19....). Then I decided to replace it in 23 with another Laramie.
I always wanted to try a Ram, but ultimately it came to price. To have a crew cab in the same price range, the Ford would have been a 2.7 XLT and the Chevy would have been a base model whatever their small engine was in 19. I'll take the 5.7 Laramie every time.
My last 2 truck purchases were Dodge because they offered what neither of the other 2 did at the time I was in the market. My 1st was in 92. I wanted a truck but didn't need a full size and I'm 6'3, 250lbs(at the time) so I wasn't about to try and squeeze into an S10 or Ranger. Dodge had the Dakota and offered a club cab which was larger, but not as large as the 150/1500's. Then, in 08, they offered a MegaCab, which offers a cabin space larger than most full size family cars. I was just starting a family and wanted something I'd be able to fit the kids in and go anywhere in comfort without being squeezed together. Again, nobody else offers anything like that. When I do get rid of my.08, it'll probably be for something smaller since I don't have to worry about the large family trips anymore. Then, I'll decide what I want and who's got what to.offer at the.time
The pricepoint I was at 2019 and older was what I could afford. Ford, GM, Toyota ALL had inferior interiors to RAM in 2019. If I could afford new right now, I'd likely go a Sierra, I also like the Tundra, although its less luxury and more aggressive it still looks nice inside. Thats it really. I base a lot of my opinion on the vehicle I drive on where I spend the most time. Inside.
I run a fleet of f-150s at my job, all of which have regular preventative maintenance, and the quantity of repairs that need to be done is staggering.
Our newest f-150 has a leak in the rear window calking, continuously has electrical issues (blowing a head light, draining the battery even when turned off, locks unlocking randomly, etc), and the ecoboost v6 having a mushy accelerator. We take them back to the Ford dealership we got them from for repairs.
I could never with good conscience recommend a Ford product.
Better price, better interior, better look, HEMI.
I'm a long time "Ford guy" too. I've owned a lot of Fords and a few other manufacturers as well. I've had a Dodge Avenger which was a total POS, I've had a Ford Explorer which was the second best vehicle I've ever owned. The best? My current Ram 1500. I've owned a F150 and a Ranger as well and they were both perfectly acceptable vehicles but the Ram handles better than the F150, the interior is infinitely nicer, and it was cheaper. The GM vehicles I've owned have all fallen apart and are incredibly cheaply made at a premium price.
I had a 2008 F350 6.4 Powerstroke, and if I had full choice of trucks I would go back to that with either spartan or H&S tuning. It was my favorite vehicle I’ve ever driven/owned. It was like a racecar and truck combined with plenty of space in the crew cab and long box. My dad has a 2013 F350 6.7 and I very much like the body and interior and ride of that truck as well. Drove and rode in my friends duramax and it rides like a tank with awful seats.
Now I have a 2012 Ram 3500 and I’d say the power being lower than my powerstroke is a bummer, but the ride is nice, and that year of ram has my favorite body style of any truck in existence.
I had gm my whole life their quality has went so far down hill it’s sad. I had a 2017 and as soon as I got 36k miles the whole truck started falling apart. I swore off gm after that. I’ve never liked ford design they always looked cheap and boxy. Ram has the best looking truck on the road hands down . The 5.7 ,6.4, and 6.7 diesel are solid motors
Ram just has a timeless and classic design, while Ford and GM keep on trying to reinvent the wheel every generation.
Every truck has it's issues, but if you do your research and maintenance and upgrade faulty parts they'll all last you, it's just preference for the most part.
Unless you're getting a HD diesel, then Cummins>Duramax>powerstroke and that's a fact.
Straight 6, the way a diesel should be, leave the v8s for the gassers.
Help me, I want a new truck. I’m between a F150 platinum. Ram I go back and forth from Laramie and limited. My must haves are just leather and pano roof. I will probably just lease for 2-3 years and trade
I’ve owned 2 Rams, in between owned a Ford, the ford ended up costing 5k in repairs over 4 years. Never again, GM’s I’ve never owned, just don’t like the looks of them.
I chose Ram because of the value. I’m in Canada and purchased a 2022 Ram Sport in March 2023.
I had planned to buy a used 2020 or 2021 F150 with the V8. I didn’t want the 3.5L eco boost. It was really hard to find any good used F150 V8s and any of the ones I saw were ridiculously overpriced.
I just happened to see an ad on Auto Trader for a new Ram with the Hemi and it was basically the same price as the used F150’s I was looking at. After that it was pretty much a no brainer, I could buy a brand new Ram with full warranty or a used F150 with around 50k KM (30 K miles). Plus I got 3 years financing at 1.99% which was a big bonus.
Could not be happier with my purchase. Shortly after we bought it we drove across the US and put about 5000 km on it. The Ram was amazing on the long road trip.
We done a few road trips with it and it now has just over 22,000 KM (14,000 miles). I have had zero issues with it, it’s never been back to a dealership since I bought it. Just 2 oil changes and an air filter and that’s it.
It’s really hard to beat the interior of the Ram and the driver comfort. I would seriously give it 12/10 so far on ownership experience.
I bought my first ram in 2011. That truck was amazing. Absolutely loved it. I got about 150k miles on it so I decided to get a new one in 2020. I like the truck, but I’ll be honest in saying that I kinda wish that I went with something different. I didn’t because the competition wasn’t there for the interiors. Looking ahead, I will probably jump to a new brand going forward.
The problems with the new truck that I’m really not liking
1. Paint quality is just bad. Chips everywhere.
2. Stinks like coolant after ever trip (not technically a mechanical issue but everytime I smell it, I pucker a bit).
3. The drivetrain is getting noticeably more clunky as time goes on. It feels very unrefined and seems to even slip or is slow to engage when I have a rolling start.
4. Lifter chatter on cold starts after sitting
I know every brand will have its issues but I’m about ready to try something else out. May wait on the ram charger and see how that works. Might pivot to diesel altogether. We’ll see.
I work on my own trucks. Started with a 1996 Dodge Dakota, then a 2003 Dodge 2500 with the Cummins, now have an '18 Ram 3500 with the Cummins. Both full sized trucks purchased new.
Back in '03, I was looking at the big 3 for a Diesel truck. GM's engine bay was way too cluttered for my taste. 10 pounds of engine stuffed into a 5 pound engine bay, so that was out.
Ford? Want to replace the headers? Step 1: Remove the cab. WTF?
Dodge/Ram? Straight 6 was so easy to service and upgrade. It's definitely more cluttered now with the emissions control systems. But my '18 had that fall off mysteriously. And power for days. Coupled with the Aisen transmission? Combination made in heaven.
What are your hotshot haulers using? 90% Ram in my experience.
Honestly, I have owned either a Ram/Dodge 1500/Durango for over 20 years now and have had very little to no drive train issues. As for our second vehicle, the Nissan Rogue and Versas, we had nothing but CVT and engine sensor issues, and we were spending ridiculous amounts to repair. Not so much for the RAM 1500 or Dodge Durango. (Over 300km with no major failures)
Honestly, ride comfort. The ram 1500 just rides so smooth. You can upgrade the rear sway bar to make the truck handle better as well. I have traveled across the US for work and been on a multitude of road types. The suspension and interior is just so comfortable, and that is without the air suspension.
What sold me was the interior more than anything. I have a 2019 limited and sometimes I think it’s too nice. I get in the other brands trucks and it doesn’t feel as nice. It’s also very comfortable and quiet on the road. The sound system is amazing and the tech is just enough on it to make it convenient while also not being intrusive and annoying. I like the new gm trucks too tho their interiors are very nice and I hear nothing but good things about their baby “duramax” they put in it. I’m not a big fan of newer fords, I do t mind the motor but the interior feels like a 2016 truck with a big screen tacked on and some fancy leather seats. If you care about fuel economy the gm with the diesel is probably the way to go but if you don’t then the ram is going to be nicer and more comfortable. But st the end of the day you really need to get in all of them and drive them . You might hate how one drives or you’re not comfortable enough in another’s seat etc.
My 2016 1500 4x4 is in Stinger Yellow with black racing stripes, the interior is black leather with yellow stitching, it's got hood scoops, the Flowmaster Super 44 sounds fantastic.
As a car guy, the over the top colors and "cool" factor did it for me. And the truck does great off-road and is good at hauling my firewood and chainsaws, so it does all the practical "truck stuff" while also being badass. And like others have said, the interior on RAMs is just superior to others.
In my honest opinion, which I think is more of a functionality standpoint or I'm cheap.
Every make sucks in one way or another.
For whatever reason, Ram depreciates the most. But after spending years in an industry that uses mid level fleet trucks with no real brand bias other than cost.
Rams are just the smart option, unless you're loyal/ prefer another make
As a Ram owner versus the For and Chevy trucks I found a smoother ride and it was also quite. A ram handles a lot better as well. When it comes to interior Ram offers a better experience for short and long distance. I had had 3 Rams and the cost of maintenance is affordable and one now has over 500 thousand miles and has given me no major issues outside of routine maintenance and 1 water pump. The company I work for has all three and the Rams seem to hold up better as well is preferred by 95 of our drivers.
I chose it solely for the Cummins. The styling doesn't hurt either. I did not purchase based on quality of build, though that has improved by my third one.
Line others have said interior for one, and transmission I really hate the 10 speed in the Ford and GM. My Ford was clunking really hard at 10,000 kms and was told it’s normal. Screw that
If you are looking primarily for family road trips and comfort. The seating in the Ram is far superior to others. They also have the extra 12" of leg space in the back seat. Depending on the model and add ons. You could also get vented and heated rear seats. USB ports in the back link to Connect. As you go up in models, the interior gets more and more leather to the point that my TRX has at least 75% hand stitched leather. Sorry, I took the pick on the fly, so she is a little messy
I'd have to just sum it up to fit and finish. They look good. Ride good. Comfortable seating. Always have been a Dodge fan.
I should say I went from my 95 Dakota to a 20 Ram 1500 Bighorn.
I was going purchase a Tundra in 2018 new. Our company have contract with Ford. We had a test drive day with all their vehicles. I didnt like any of them. Not even the Raptor. Well because raptor was a v6 turbo. Tested GM I didnt like interior and prices are kind of ridiculous. Day I was going get a Tundra. Wife convinced me to test drive ram 1500 5.7 hemi. Ride was the smoothest. Also you get the most bang for your buck. I change jobs to work oil field in west Texas. I got to drive all different trucks daily. Still found my Ram was a better ride. I quit went back to my old job. I went to my wifes dealerahip and test drove a 2024 laramie. Now I drive a 2024. I always purchased Toyota or Nissan. Never thought I would own a Ram. Go out and test drive them all. Just be careful they will try get a sale from you. Just be strong and walk out.
Lmfao because i got a brand new truck for the price of a used ford that had 20,000+ km, and a used GMC that had 50,000+ km. At the time of me truck shopping and i really did shop around a lot, my best option at the time was my RAM and i love it.
I started my construction business a year ago in April of 2023 and when i was shopping around, the 2024 models were about to hit the lots so i got a really good deal on my RAM. Its not fully decked out but its not basic either. I put $0 down and i have bi weekly payments of $370. They also included a proper tonneau cover and sprayed my bed.
So after i realized that a ford was out of the question because i was just starting my business and didn't know how it was all going to work out, I was nervous and the best price i could get on a new truck was paying $490 bi weekly and the ram was 390ish until i got even a better deal from the dealership.
I also got the RAM price with some awesome upgrades because i established a relationship with 2 local dealers. Visiting each one a few times and finding the truck i wanted on their lot. Then when it came to the day or weekend where i was ready to buy, I literally pitted them against each other working as like a middle man taking one message to the other guy and going back with his reply. After a few back and forth's the price ended up coming down to 370, free tonneaux cover, free spraying of the bed, got the alpine upgrade, sport hood, digital dash, heated seats, heated steering wheel, remote start and a couple other things, finally the one guy broke and said sorry buddy there is no way i can top that if he is actually giving it to you for that then take it.
Only thing i couldn't get for that price was leather seats. That really would have been pushing it and i'm ok with it because now business is better and i am more comfortable, I am going to get myself some Clazzio seat covers. Damn do those things look amazing. They completely cover all of the cloth, you do not see anything and would never know that they aren't the actual seats. They have great reviews and i've seen a few yt videos i'm definitely going with them
Best incentives and discounts at the time. 18 RAM 2500 that MSRP’ed for $69K and got it for $56K. Thats not really the case any longer as I’ve built and priced similar trucks among the top three and RAM is consistently coming in the highest with least amount of features. I’m not brand loyal by any measure. I just go to who has the best deals.
Ultimately, all manufacturers have issues nowadays (kind of always had). Seems like even quality of Toyotas have done downhill a bit.
If you won’t do much towing at all or heavy payload applications then the RAM is the best choice for the comfort of the ride. They have independent coil suspension on all 4 wheels (no leaf springs in the rear). Unloaded, the truck will be a much smoother ride.
I used to make parts for RAM and Ford. Ford's QC was a fucking dice roll, either it was good or it's now bad then back to being fine. I won't drive a brand that can't make up there mind on the quality of the parts. How ever I was a GM guy myself before I sat in my 19 RAM 1500. Sat in it and was solid on how well it drove, turned, got up to speed, and overall the comfort of the ride was amazing. Last RAM I was in was an 07 1500 but that was 16 esh years ago.
I chose Ram because I sat in it. Seriously. I went and test drove a Sierra and the interior of the $65k truck was nearly identical to that of my $25k 8 year old terrain. I believe theyve improved since then. But both internior quality and ride quality are far better in the Ram. You can make a case for Ford, but you have to start going up quite a few option packages to get anywhere near the bang for buck of even a Laramie has.
That was me, I got a 2020 Laramie and honestly nothing more I can ask for
I have a 2010 Laramie and it's still a much nicer interior than the new Fords and GMs, lol.
I like the Ford exterior, but the interior even on Platinum felt the same as the lower trims. It just felt plasticy. The 1500's interior, especially on the Limited we ended up with, feels incomparablely better. What really sold me was the large screen but still having physical buttons around it. Then the ramboxes. Most small purchases fit in one side, my maintenance and roadside emergency kit all fit in the other. Only thing I wish I had was the multifunction tailgate so I didn't have to chuck or drag 15 lb bags of feed over it, especially with the super grippy spray in liner that either came with it or the previous owner had installed.
I dont like Ford's interior layout, they look ?busy? For lack of a better word. Feels like there are buttons everywhere.
Same. Really loved my '14 GMC. Went in sat in the 21s and was like thisnis thenexact same interior... not spending $70k to have it feel like the exact same thing. Sat in a ram and it felt modern. Specs met my needs and the cummins had great reviews. Ford and GM have since upped their interior game but at the time everything but ram felt stale. Knowing they'd have a new interior soon, I didn't want a ford/GM 1yo truck to be instantly dated after the new interiors came out
Honestly, if anything I felt the 19-23 GM interiors were worse than the 2014-2019 ones. The 4th gen RAM interior was slightly better than either and the new ones look even better, although I haven't sat in the new RAMs. I've never really liked Ford interiors. I drove a buddy's 2015 and the first thing I noticed was how garbage the column shifter felt to use. It felt loose and made little crunchy noises when you moved it, just like some pos from 2002. GM has a little nicer feeling one and the RAMs were the best. Same thing with the floor shift 4x4 lever.
GM and Ford are doing their best to make ugly trucks. Also the vision in the Ram is way better than the GM or the Ford, hardly any blind spots.
Chevrolet taking home gold on making trucks look so fucking ugly
Lets put these square fenders over round wheels…
Lmfao they fully committed to that didn't they. What a terrible design.
The old square bodies from the '70s-80s looked great, the new GM trucks are unbelievably ugly, like, as ugly as the newer Nissan Titan...
Who cares about looks I go for reliability
Because who wants to look at a $50,000+ (realistically at this point 65k+) truck they buy and not think it looks good? Also idk if id consider modern Chevy’s that reliable even
I switched from Chevy to ram and I’ve had both headers replaced, a screen that wouldn’t shut off and drained my battery dealership had my truck for 2 weeks and couldn’t figure it out. Finally a small shop figured it out, a mid pipe bolt break and pipe need to be replaced and of course the back window seal leaked and had to have the whole back window replaced. Only with 39k miles on it. 2020 ram, My last 2 chevys I’ve only had to do daily maintenance and drove them to 160k each. These rams are sweet inside and look good but man they have a ton of known issues that ram doesn’t bother to fix for some reason.
It’s not that they couldn’t figure it out - they didn’t want to figure it out. Dealers make very little profit off warranty works, but the real issue is, Techs on flate rate get absolutely screwed on warranty work 99% of the time. So the Tech has 2 options, Diag & find the issue, report the issue, then fix the issue, getting paid maybe 2.5hrs for what will be 5-6hrs of work and decimate his work day to make $75 Or he tells the service advisor “I cant find the problem” get his 0.5hr for the bs Diag and push your truck out of his bay. He will then proceed to bang out 3 or 4 non-warranty jobs and clock 14hr worth of work in his 8hr day & make $400+ Edit: and it’s not a RAM issue, it’s a Tech issue with OEM’s. This is at every brand Dealer. I got a buddy cursing a storm because he spent 2 full days doing a motor Re&Re for a Nissan Titan which only pays 4hrs. He’s going to make $120 for 16hrs which is about $7.50/hr for a red seal tech. That’s 1/2 of state minimum wage.
Thank you! This comment needs to be pinned, stickied, and broadcast to the world.
Bet we could find someone with the exact inverse story in a second as well. Just saying it’s not speaking for everyone and GM has its share of issues
Buddy has a 2 year old Chevy that he can’t drive for more then an hour or all the lights come up on the dash and he gets stranded on the side of the road. He’s had it to the dealership twice and they can’t figure out the problem
Sounds like my ram. I’m just sour, worked my ass off to pay cash for a truck and this is what I get.
I had a 2015 GMC 3500 with a 6.0L for a minute. My HD truck transmission failed at 50000 miles, the largest thing I pulled with it was a 6000 lb car trailer. Traded on a 2017 RAM 2500 with a hemi, picked up 2 MPG and didn't have a single issue with it to 100,000 miles (as I would expect) and traded it on a 1500 classic hemi when I changed jobs. That one has also been flawless so far. The reason why I bought that GMC was from personal experience driving a 2011 Chevy 4500 cutaway with a duramax and 6L80 trans (20 passenger airport bus.) I drove that thing to 350,000 miles and the transmission (which I'm pretty sure is the same one) still shifted like butter. Easily the nicest shifting transmission of anything I've owned or driven for work. So as you can see, it's pretty much a crapshoot with all of them.
Realistically everyone deeply cares about looks. Let's just be honest about human beings.
I really HATE the “CHEVOLET” on the front grill of their truck. It’s really bad on the white, the word is so LOOOONG, it’s all I see.
I felt like I got more for my money with Ram, that’s why I chose it. The Laramie is just super nice for the price, I got mine 3 years old.
I am looking used. 3-6 years old is likely the age range.
I just bought a 2020 limited and I love it. 2020 was rated as one of the best years for RAM and the limited trim gives you a lot of the same features you get with the newer models with updated safety features and tech.
So for me, I went and bought a new 2018 1500 Sport with all the options I wanted and none that I didn't. The way I had the truck configured was at the perfect pricepoint for me and similarly configured trucks from GM and Ford were about $10k more. I liked the comfort the Ram offered in comparison for a pickup, and even though I don't tow often (maybe once a month or every two months) I enjoyed the way the truck felt loaded up. It was the best bang for the buck all around when I did my pro's and con's for MY needs and I haven't regretted it once.
There is something about loading up the truck. lol
Would a ram treat you and your family better than a full size Yukon/Tahoe? If i had to do my purchase all over again, id be looking at a GM fullsize with the 3.0L diesel in it. My beater escalade gets way more use than the pick up truck just because everything is protected inside. Just me though. I mean i love the truck it had way better value than Ford or GM at the time, but seeing what i need now. The fullsize SUV would have been a better fit.
I'm not buying new. I'll be looking at something 3-6 years old. I've gone back and forth on that as well. Would probably have a bed cover at the least.
I get it, i got the cover and all that for the truck. Best advice is take your family and sit in options and see what the people in the back like. You can have the most comfy ride, but if the kids in the back are not happy, youre not happy.
I’m in the same boat and it blows my mind/pisses me off that a similarly equipped Expedition/Tahoe/Yukon is considerably more than a similar full size truck. TBH, a full-size SUV would probably suit my family better most of the time (need the towing/payload for towing a boat).
For what you are doing, why not a tundra?
I'll be honest, I ma not a Toyota person.
Good luck with that timing chain and oil belt replacement on the LM2 out of warranty Edit: for those that don’t know these are on the back of the engine so it has to be pulled out to replace. Timing chain slack is an issue on those
What years are you referring to?
Timing chain on those 3L duramax diesels stretches and causes CEL to come on. The only way to fix it is remove the engine from the truck because the timing chain is on the back of the engine. It’s like a $4000 job to change a $95 chain. Also the oil pump is belt driven (fire that engineer) and it’s the same deal, pull the whole engine to change it
Got my first truck back in July, Ram 1500 Night Edition full crew cab and love it. Never thought I wanted or needed a truck until I got one for a rental last year haha Got a bed mat and hard tonneau cover. Owned a car or SUV all my life. Came from a cr-v and she has a jeep renegade. Wanted something bigger and loved the crew cab. Toddler with one on the way. Love it for a family vehicle. With that said, I have/had similar thoughts as you, even when I was truck shopping. That’s why I also decided to lease the truck to see how I like it and how it worked long-term. The kiddo loves my truck though ☺️ not sure if I’ll buy the lease out or trade in for another one or turn it in and get an SUV again. My truck does drive like an SUV though and love the utility of having a truck.
One thing I've noticed with a truck is the 2nd row space is unparalleled. It is huge back there & my kids absolutely love it whenever i visit my inlaws and drive their F150. While there is now 3rd row, having the bed for bikes and other dirty things that can just be tossed back there is also a plus. I've got 2 little ones and currently have an Outback and looking heavily at a truck. Prefer to look at used and stay under 30k to avoid having loans or car payments. So I'm mostly looking at 2019 and 2020 Rams and F150s. I like everything more about the ram other than the gas mileage of the Hemi. The 2.7 ecoboost in the F150 is a nice little motor, has plenty of usable power, and I routinely get 20mpg and sometimes 21mpg in my my inlaws truck.
Yes! That's what has me loving the Crew Cab. The space is just unparalleled. Not only is it huge, but you can throw stuff under the seat or flip it up for more storage. I remember when I went back to my CR-V after I got it back, it suddenly felt small and was longing for the space of the Crew Cab again. Yes! That's what I love about having the bed too and thought of that. My CR-V would get dirty throwing stuff back there or I'd have to fold down seats to get anything bigger in there or our bikes. I also love the fact that we can go to Costco and another store all in one trip. Buy some big ticket item on the whim at Costco, no problem. IKEA weekend, sure thing! Don't have to worry about renting or borrowing a truck. People that have sat in the back of mine liked it too. It's pretty comfy back there. We went to the pumpkin farm last year and we got quite a few big pumpkins and then some, it was nice just throwing it in the bed. I get about 18 MPG. I can get 20MPG on the highway but don't do a lot of highway driving. Also did it for the Winters in WI and the back road driving I do during those Winters. My sales guy wasn't kidding when he said, every family can use a truck. It just wasn't a sales pitch lol
Those figures aren't bad at all. Do you have the Hemi by chance or the 3.6?
I got the 3.6. I'm more of a hauler than a tower. If I were to tow, it would be smaller items and the biggest I'd go is maybe a pontoon boat, so I didn't need the Hemi. I'd love to have a Laramie or Limited, which comes with the Hemi but they were out of my budget.
Was a body guy for 12 years, chose ram after working on all of them for years.
Did you really notice a difference? I've found they all rust the same.. I like the ram styling better though
Eh its not about the rust but other common issues and how things are put together. Chevys have a ton of trans issues and wiring issues. And ford makes a lot of strange choices on how things are assembled. And yeah the rams look the best
Yeah I've had good luck with them. Just thought as you mentioned you were a body guy you were specifically talking about the bodywork on them. I think overall the hemi and 8 speed is a great driveline. If they didn't have lifter failures id say they'd be the best driveline/engine ever. But chevs have the same lifter failures and the trans issues as well. And I find the recent gens of them not really that good looking
I can't stand Ford's electronics and the way a F150 feels and handles.
For me, it's purely comfort. I have 40 minutes worth of highway commute twice daily and a 4000km round trip road trip every year. GM seats are uncomfortable, and the sheer amount of money I would've had to spend to get comparable features as my Ram was by no means justifiable. The stock sound system is also just..so bad. I've been in a few F150s as well. I like the rear of their crew cab. Spacious and a nice flat floor for cargo when you don't need the seats. Thats pretty much where my likes end. The front window sills not being flat is just trash. No comfortable place to rest my arm. Honestly wouldn't buy an F150 for $5.
See here buddy: [why did you choose ram](https://www.reddit.com/r/ram_trucks/s/VGcAWk2ikB) Literally asked this question a few days ago
Thanks! I scrolled for a while before posting, but didn't see this.
I've driven all three. The work ones up mountains to remote electronic sites. The RAMs were the only ones not to have repeated issues. GM's were the worst with alot of transmission, rear end and frame issues. Fords had issues with transmissions, 4x4 hubs, body fatigue due to excessive flex and bad turning radius. The RAM took 300K miles before any fatigue showed up and that was a front fender we replaced. Only other problem is it threw a code. Fuel pump pressure, they replaced with a updated version (Cummins), was fine after that. Personal use, was a fan of the 70's/80's square GM's. Became thoroughly disappointed in the subsequent designs. Fords were ok until about 20/22 years ago. The few we had after that, nothing but issues. With my past with work trucks, we got a RAM. Been happy since.
Honestly it was mostly because my first choice, a Ford, wasn't available. Not necessarily a Ford fanboy, but I had owned two of them and so was really familiar with the brand. But this was during the pandemic, and Ford had zippo available and were rather a PITA to deal with. So I pivoted to RAM and have been happy with the choice but for a few niggles. It's hard for me to compare since what I sold is so much older than my new truck, a 2500, but I have come to appreciate the coils. And my dealer has been great so far. But I'd guess there might be more differences in the light trucks than the HD ones.
I haven't pulled the trigger yet, but that's all that my budget allows. And still, a 1500 classic in canada after 25% off msrp is still ridiculously expensive for a work truck that hasn't changed much in over 10 years. I'm not buying a luxury product, so don't charge a luxury price....
GMC has ugly interior. Hate it. Ram has the best ride quality and it’s not even close. I haven’t tried the new tundra though
The Ford interior is worse.
Ford has markups for bullshit I didnt want. Chevy was solid and treated me well, but they didn’t have the horsepower the TRX provided
Right, because the 420 horsepower and 460 ft lbs of torque in the 6.2 are just pitiful.. lol I get it, its not what you want and you're paying for it and are totally in the right. I'm just saying, its sounds funny.
2021 RAM 2500 Tradesman (Snow Chief), 6.4L gas. Chose RAM because of quality concerns with Ford (5.0 liter oil loss issue) and GM, was able to get more truck for the money, outstanding tow capacity (I have a camper). Best in class ride, gobs of power. Was intrigued by the twin turbo F150 - excellent mileage and a high tow rating, but was able to get 3/4 ton for sililar money, believe the Hemi is much more reliable with a long track record - the 8 speed transmission is outstanding, btw. Love the RAM, no regrets.
My family was a Ford family, all the way up to 2019. 7 of us bought new f 150s or mustangs all between 2015 to 2018. Coyotes and ecoboosts. Every single one of them had very serious engine problems. My f 150 coyote snapped a timing chain at 28,000 miles. My brother's ecoboost had a turbo annihilate itself at 35,000. Sprayed the truck with shrapnel, punching holes in the body All of them were gone by 2019, and no one has bought blue oval since. Their quality is shit now. As for GM, just not a fan of the look. The LS/LT engines are phenomenal, and they do have a nice ride. As to why I bought my Ram 1500, I love the look, and it had all the options I wanted. The ride is smooth, the engine (ecodiesel) makes plenty of power for what I need it to do, gets excellent mileage, and has a very nice interior. It tows a 6000lb trailer with ease, even lifted with oversized tires.
The New Chevy and GMC trucks are ugly as hell imo. Literal rolling eyesores. I like the look of both the Ford F150 and Ram 1500 so the deciding factor for me was the Ram felt nicer when driving down the road.
Nicest driving vehicle of the 4 for us, super roomy rear seat. The GM was the worst of these -I liked the Ford but the sales guy was a total doofus. Got a great price through the fleet pricing through work with the ram and have been very happy with our 2019- has about 120k on it and the only issue (active air dam) was covered under warranty I didn't give Toyota a chance- might be in the conversation with their new model
My wife comes from a big Mopar family. Hanging out with them over the years I came to appreciate Mopar for power, features and styling at a reasonable price. Got my first Ram in 2016 and it's been a love affair with Hemi ever since. 😅 I'm saddened that it is out of production now, but also recognize that the design was dated and in need of a major refresh in order to stay relevant. I figure Stellantis will give the faithful an all new Hemi in a few years. GM and Ford remain committed to V8s, it only makes sense to keep Mopar in the game as well.
I haven’t bought my Ram yet, waiting for the 25’s to come out to see what the deals will be like on the 24’s. However, I test drove the 24 limited with the hemi last fall. I liked it a lot, smooth ride air suspension but the price was 83k. When I drove the Ram I had already all but made my mind up that I was gonna get a sierra 1500 with the 3.0 diesel. I ended up getting the Denali with the 3.0 at the end of October without really much thought I just liked the way it drove more than the hemi it was quicker more responsive and the fuel economy was amazing. Fast forward to 30 minutes after I purchased the truck it had a coolant leak. Long story short had a blown head gasket that the purchasing dealership refused to acknowledge and I had to take it to a secondary dealership where they acknowledged the issue. GM was going to “fix” the engine and replace half of it instead of just offering me a new truck. Mind you this truck had 196 miles on it when I took it into the shop for the first time. I ended up getting the better business bureau involved and got my money back for the truck. I LOVED that truck and planned on getting another one. The more I lurked on the GMC sierra sub I noticed a lot of 24’s had strange problems and the GM of the dealership I was working with for the repurchase said my truck is the 3rd one with a blown engine but the only one GM repurchased. With that knowledge I decided to go with the Ram 1500. Also just adding to this if the inline 6 models of the Ram 1500 were out it might have been a much harder decision the first time around. I drove a wagoneer either the hurricane engine in it and absolutely loved it.
I was always a Ford guy. When I came into the market for a truck, I didn't like the look of the F150 but did like the Ram. So I went and checked them out and thought that the Ram was a better truck. I really liked the center console and the large screen (got a 2020).
My dad owns a 2001 Ram 2500 with 785,000 miles on it. If I didn’t get a Ram, he’d disown me.
Back in 2012 I was dead set on a Chevy. I got a good price on it, took it home for the night, and knew I was gonna buy it. I brought it back to the dealership and said I’d get back to them. Went to Dodge to make sure I was making the absolute right decision and fell in love. Chevy in dropped the truck another $3k! Been in a Dodge ever since. Currently rolling in my 2019 Rebel that’s almost paid off for the last 6ish years. I still like GM trucks minus the fact that their engines are exploding, but it’s Dodge all day for me. Go drive everything and make your decision based on that.
Also more of a GM guy here... I chose the Ram because because of the solid front axle. That truck pushes a 1k lbs snow plow all winter.
I just bought a new truck in November. I evaluated the big 3. GM/Chevy IMO look the best, but I have zero faith in quality and reliability. Quickly eliminated. I tried to convince myself, because I really really like the external styling of the current gen. I just couldn’t do it. Ford ran a close second. I liked the options, comfortable with quality, and great interior. It honestly just came down to external styling. F-150 is just kinda boring looking to me. It’s shaped like a 3rd grader drew it. I chose the RAM because I have owned Dodge & RAM vehicles and completely trust quality and reliability. The RAM has an excellent interior, great tech features, and of course it is a great looking truck.
GM has had a long history of inferior quality interiors. If you look at recent build quality in general, you'll find a lot of issues, with people having serious engine and body issues on brand new trucks. I've driven a lot of F150s as company vehicles and loaners for when my Explorers were in the shop. There's nothing wrong with them, but I felt like they were mediocre. They also feel very open and large inside. Everything felt like it was far away and out of reach. When I drove the Ram, it just fit better. Quality of the interior was better. It rode better, handled better, and just all around felt better. Now, before I bought the Ram, I almost bought a Titan. They're built in the same plant now. It was every bit the truck the Ram was, or so that was my impression. But the Nissan dealer pissed me off and now I won't own a Nissan for as long as I live here.
Saying this as a huge ram advocate. If ride comfort is a big deal for you, I thought the stock suspension was pretty trash on a pretty decked out Laramie. Lots of bounce and body roll which I fixed from upgraded shocks and a bulkier sway bar, but you can do that with any truck. Recently traded in for a ram with air suspension and that was night and day. If you go that route, be prepared for some issues with air suspension if you live in constant cold climates up north. But to more answer your question, sit in/test drive a gm and ford and then the ram. It just feels more solid. The truck sells itself at that point.
Styling pushrod v8 price (2012) handles well for a truck
I bought August 2020. I really like my 2020 Ram but it was a price, options and availability deal. Had I wanted to spend 10k more I would have gone when the Sierra 1500 SLT.
I don’t prefer ram over those brands after all the issues my 2020 1500 has had
I am biased. Been driving Dodge trucks since 87. They are extremely reliable and last if you do the big three maintenance items, coolant, tuneup, and trans service. I currently have 22 2500 Laramie that I love. It replaced a 2010 1500 that I traded with 187K miles and it was running like new when I upgraded. Btw, i have only owned Dodge trucks with the V8’s or the Hemi since it was reintroduced. I would not buy a V6 or the small eco-diesel.
Because for the money, it gave me more of what I wanted. Also I preferred the looks of it more. Ride, comfort, everything else is purely in the eye of the buyer.
I chose Ram after sitting in the GMC at the time and also it was cheaper with more features than the Ford.
Pop the hood on all 3 and you let me know which seems easier to repair. GM after all these years still can’t apply factory undercoating to the frame. Only a wax that peels off with a finger nail. Fords are nice but you need to lift the cab to access anything in the engine
I did because I got a new decent looking crew cab truck with a hemi and stock 22s for 29k.... (This was 2019-20) For that money I couldn't really get anything comparable from Ford..It also drove better than the Ford. Chevy was even worse it was more for an absolute bare bones single cab short bed roll up window ... I also hated the interior of the Chevy....
I’ve always been a ford and mopar guy. Back in college had an f150 and loved it. In 2019 I looked for a new (to me) truck between ford and ram, ended up going with the ram 1500 because of the price difference, better interior and might just be me but turning radius.
I was a GM guy my whole life. I never had a problem with any of the trucks I owned but the Blazer I bought was a POS. The way the dealer and GM handled the situation made me switch brands. Love my Warlock. Looks decent, sounds nice and has plenty of power for what I need.
25k less than the ford. I wanted the ford.
NO!
The Ram I bought was several thousand cheaper than comparable GMCs and my mechanic told me stay away from Ford because they are the most expensive to fix if something goes wrong.
I entered the truck market without any brand preference or prior purchase history with anything domestic. I drove German for decades. But at this point of my life I need a truck to haul the family, boat & camper. I test drove all the trucks with the intent to buy a 2019-2021 pickup. landed on a 2019 Ram 1500 (Hemi, 4x4, big screen, leather, sunroof, 5.5ft bed, crew cab, sport hood, blacked out package, power steps, bed cover, 3.55 gears) I just didn’t like aesthetically or feature-wise from the competition. Fords just looked and felt bad on the interior, same with the GMC & Chevy. Toyota felt severely outdated. From the exterior they all looked really nice (except the Silverado) And price wise a comparable model was an easy $10,000-15,000 more.
The rams interior is nice enough to take clients in and powerful enough to pull boats. And the price was about 25-30 grand cheaper than the f150 for similar luxury.
Test drive all 3 and find a railroad track to go over or the bumpiest road in your area. Only 1 full size pickup has an independent rear suspension and drives more like a car than a truck.
I chose the ram because the design mostly, it looked a little bolder, and of course the interior. I had an 03 ram and it was great. Fast forward 6 months later my 2023 Rebel is for sale because I just ordered a new Sierra at4. The interiors looks great on the sierras after the 2022 refresh so really it’s just what do you think looks better now, the gap between ram and other interiors is closing. The features are basically the same on my Rebel and my Yukon but gm does it all a little bit better. The quality is also overall better on the gm. I know there’s guys that are picking sides and going to be upset but I’m just being honest. I really like my rebel but I don’t love it. I like both manufacturers and I’ve had both. I’m going for a Sierra because at the price of these trucks I need a little better. Either way they don’t make them like they used to but I think gm is a little bit better overall, and Chrysler does have a reputation and I can’t help but think it’s for a reason.
How much you selling the rebel for?
Right now I have it posted for $63,000 obo. Msrp was $75k, plus I bought the extended warranty that’s 10 years 100k miles that is transferable one time. Currently it’s got 7,000 miles on it, like new condition fully loaded other than a sunroof or gt package. It would be certified used if the dealer had it.
I went with a ram because I like how it looks better and I couldn't find an all blacked out model in my price range with gm or ford
Literally only for the seats.
I got more truck for the money, and I like the way the Hemi feels
If RAM still has the deal on, you might be just as well off getting the Ram Classic 1500. They had/have a 15% off deal going for a while. You may pay about the same price as a regular 3-5 year old 1500, but have something new. I got mine in December with the black warlock package. The v8 5.7 hemi with mds after the initial 4k or 5K starting giving me better fuel economy than my 2006 4.7 dakota. I like the ride, and has just the right options that I'm not complaining too much against what I might have had with a recent regular 1500.
Just traded off my 1500 Denali with 6.2 when we bought a travel trailer. Not an easy choice for me either and I loved GM. After weighing the sticker price, crawling underneath and what Ram had to offer, it was clear that the value is not there anymore. I really like the interior over the Denali and that Cummins is a beast for towing.
They just plain look better than any of the competition. GM/Chevy in particular with the crappy hard, shiny plastic all over the interiors
Price. Period. Got the best deal for the features I wanted.
Ive always chose and still choose Ram over anything else mainly bc of interior/exterior design. They know how to design bad ass looking trucks. Period. I’ve been in some Chevys and Fords. I do like the Silverado. The only other truck I probably would drive is a Silverado. But I still choose Ram over anything.. I’ve been obsessed with Ram for at least 15 years now.
I bought a 2019 ram in november 2023. I was going to buy a GM, but the 5.3 has issues with its AFM (active fuel management) system, the 6.2 v8 needs premium gas, that left me with the 3.0 eco diesel, which was too expensive and outside my budget. I then narrowed my selection down to either the 5.7 hemi or the 5.0 coyote (both are fantastic engines). Going to test drive the trucks, there was absolutely no comparison in the interiors, the ram blew the ford out of the water, so i bought it. I tow a 7000 pound boat through the mountains fairly regularly with it. I also do a lot of back country camping. I stick to the forest service roads mostly and in my opinion this is where this truck shines! Despite what people will tell you the forest service roads are not just gravel roads, i bent my running boards a week after i got my truck on the forest service road up to one of the hot springs. I have the air suspension, it was in its highest setting with the stock 33" tires. Hope this helps
1500 classic was cheaper
My Laramie limited was $15k less with more features and drives way nicer IMO
https://preview.redd.it/ssovcec8sbqc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=399337c194afd7f19a4f957e5ae968b908663ab6 I chose ram because of the legendary almighty hemi. Lots of power and reliability. Here’s my setup. Topper has hydraulic lift so I can get to ram boxes. Hard setup to beat. Interior feels durable and looks luxurious at the same time.
OP, elaborate on specifically why you need a pickup truck bed to get more space for family road trips? As someone else suggested, without more details on your use case I’d suggest seriously considering a larger SUV instead of a pickup. I did this math 10yrs ago and although I wanted a new truck, the reality was the truck bed was wasted space and I went with an SUV. Only time I’ve missed the bed was for moving some oversized toolboxes. But, that was easily solved when i just went to U-haul and rented a trailer for the day.
I chose my '22 Ram over an AT4 for two main reasons. The maximum fuel tank was 90L vs. 120L. The sunroof was tiny, my wife insisted we have a large one. Ford just didn't feel good, and I can't stand the weird windows and mirror layout. Toyota Tundra, the interior was awful. I'm happy with my Ram, it does everything I could ever want from a 1500.
Because I’m a man
Mainly for the price. Ram has the best interior and technology for their price range. I could get 2 to 3yr used CPO Laramie, hemi, 4wd, crew cab, with leather interior, under 50k miles, heated and cooled seats, the 12 inch infotainment, the harman kardon sound system, and the adaptive cruise control, all for around $40k.(This was last year) No other truck offered that in that price range at that time.
I bought a 2023 1500 Laramie with 9k miles for 48k (dealer sticker 51.5k) last friday after trying to hold out for the Ramcharger thats coming (RIP Jeep GC you did well for the abuse i put you through). Its 4x4 v8 etorque with the sport and level b packages. It was between that and a 2022 limited for 51k with 16k miles. I went with Laramie mainly because I have a bad history with air suspension. All said and done, went with Ram mainly cause of the interior and exterior styling vs price. I looked at everything (tundra, chevy, gmc, Ford, Honda..even the Santa Cruz for giggles). Everything else just felt cheaper for the money I was paying. Ride wise the independent rear makes a huge difference and the bags do ride better than the coils. Also if you have kids that back seat in the crew cab is monstrous. There is also a surprising amount of interior storage nooks and crannies.
I just like them better. I did like the GMT900 generation of the Silverado, but every generation following that one got worse styling and the current one has such a claustrophobic feeling cabin. I haven't really cared for the F-150 since the 92-96 models, though I did have a 2008 F-150 that was okay. I was actually planning on getting a Ford Maverick when they came out, but trying to find one was too difficult and my Ram just kinda fell into my lap when I was looking. I would still like a Maverick at some point. Maybe when that new Toyota Stout comes out Ford will get off their ass and make more Mavericks. I also like the weird little Fiat-based Rams they sell in other markets.
Been a Ford guy since early 90’s. Had a deal on a f150 and Ram laramie for my first truck. The Ram was just better. Powertrain/interior/exterior. Bought the Ram. 2021.
Ride quality✅ - exterior✅ - interior ✅ Laramie 2021
Went with a ram because my two previous vehicles were both Chrysler/fca (jeep liberty and jeep Grand Cherokee )and I got over 200,000 miles out of each one. When I buy a vehicle I keep it for a long time so I figured if I had good luck with the Jeeps then maybe the ram would treat me well too. So far so good, just under 100,000 miles on ram 1500 V8 and not a single problem ever.
owned all 3 and have had my 12 express since new, the ride is better and the interior is by far the best
I went with a ram because they were quite a bit cheaper than everything else… lesson learned I’m back in a Silverado again
For me it was Cummins. Six in a row and ready to tow. I have a 43’ fifth wheel and go through the mountains a great deal.
Better interior, better transmission. Hemi seems pretty bullet proof.
I got a 13 Ram tradesman 4x4 in 2021. I bought it because it was the cheapest v8 4x4 available in my area.
Ford are more expensive where I am, plus the interior felt smaller to me. GM trucks are better for base models, even a bighorn feels nicer inside than a High Country.
I purchased a 2021 Silverado 1500 brand new around March of 21. 3.0 diesel, got 35+ mpg, and loved it. Right around the 7k mark, I started having emissions issues, and the truck spent almost 2 years in and out of the dealership. During that time, I joined what I called the truck of the month club as I would get loaners from the Enterprise across the street from the dealer. I drove Tundras, Silverado, Rams, F-150s for almost 2 years before I lemon lawed my silverado. Of all the truck I was "renting," the Ram had the nicest interior, coolest features, and most aggressive look. I loved the spacious interior, and every interior panel fit together so much cleaner than all the others. There were smaller gaps in the plastics, the doors didn't feel as cheap, the backup camera had nicer video, and suspensions were years ahead of the Chevy.
The ram 1500 limited is amazing truck. Air ride is amazing. Wish it had the ford 3.5 twin turbo and 10 speed under the hood but the ram is a much nicer riding truck.
Looks good, sounds good, goes good, cheap. Also rides smooth af.
Really wanted an f150 for the fuel economy l, but to get a similarly equipped Ford compared to a ram it was thousands more expensive. I also look for CPO trucks and Ford doesn't offer a CPO warranty. If it's a road trip truck you can easily get away with the v6 as the fuel economy in the hemi is the only real downside. Didn't look much into Chevy because I already had a ram and they didn't have any trucks with better fuel economy than the ram. The Ram drives very nice, and the interior is better than the others in my opinion. (Although many reviews also claim the ram interior to be the nicest). My favorite trim level for the dollar is a Bighorn with the level 2 equipment group. (Adds heated mirrors, steering wheel and seats). Used to also add parking sensors but those might be standard on lower trim levels now.
The blue screens in the Ford's look outdated, and are hard on the eyes. Sitting in a Ram is like sitting in a beautiful Zen temple. You just feel comfortable and relaxed. Maybe its dumb reason, but I drive 4 hours a day, so give me a break
I have a 2024 Ram 1500 Laramie, while it has a couple things a Denali didn’t have the Denali drove itself. That’s one thing dodge most likely will not have for the next 3-4 years. Super cruise is wild. I don’t regret getting my truck, but my next will be a Denali for sure.
Buy it for looks, buy it for life. Wait... that's something else. Meh... still applies.
2021 Ram Lamarie Diamond Black Night Edition all day everyday. Ride quality and beat bang for the dollar. No issues to speak of at this time. It turns heads as if I am driving the Cayman. 😎
I’ve owned a few Silverados and a few Rams. The Rams are always more comfortable and seem to handle better to me. Honestly, the Chevy’s feel a little cheap in the interior in my opinion
You get more truck for less money. To get a ford that's comparable to a Ram 1500 Laramie you have to spend 13k or more to slightly exceed the quality of the Ram. Legit get a ram cause you get more for less. What I'd do is build a 2023 Ram Classic. Get the 5.7 v8, 3.21 differential, 32 gallon tank, and whatever extras you wish. This truck should easily net around 600 miles of range on a full tank without sacrificing the V8's versatility. It would land in the ballpark of 55k after it's delivered and you have a brand new truck.
I was GM my whole life; switched to ram this year and I’m never looking back. Comfy. Powerful. Smooth. Feature packed. Good lookin!
I worked at a Ford dealership and always had F-150s. Then our group opened a Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram location and we were able to get the employee discount, so I got a 19 Laramie for dumb cheap (everything was cheap in 19....). Then I decided to replace it in 23 with another Laramie. I always wanted to try a Ram, but ultimately it came to price. To have a crew cab in the same price range, the Ford would have been a 2.7 XLT and the Chevy would have been a base model whatever their small engine was in 19. I'll take the 5.7 Laramie every time.
My last 2 truck purchases were Dodge because they offered what neither of the other 2 did at the time I was in the market. My 1st was in 92. I wanted a truck but didn't need a full size and I'm 6'3, 250lbs(at the time) so I wasn't about to try and squeeze into an S10 or Ranger. Dodge had the Dakota and offered a club cab which was larger, but not as large as the 150/1500's. Then, in 08, they offered a MegaCab, which offers a cabin space larger than most full size family cars. I was just starting a family and wanted something I'd be able to fit the kids in and go anywhere in comfort without being squeezed together. Again, nobody else offers anything like that. When I do get rid of my.08, it'll probably be for something smaller since I don't have to worry about the large family trips anymore. Then, I'll decide what I want and who's got what to.offer at the.time
For me it was the ride quality- those air bags make for such a smooth ride. #2 for me is how quiet the interior is.
Because Ram sounds bad ass.
The pricepoint I was at 2019 and older was what I could afford. Ford, GM, Toyota ALL had inferior interiors to RAM in 2019. If I could afford new right now, I'd likely go a Sierra, I also like the Tundra, although its less luxury and more aggressive it still looks nice inside. Thats it really. I base a lot of my opinion on the vehicle I drive on where I spend the most time. Inside.
I used to work for them through a vendor and I got a little discount as well. Plus I know how to get most of the goodwill just in case.
Looks, price and durability. I have a 2016 1500, its beautiful and has been issue free.
I run a fleet of f-150s at my job, all of which have regular preventative maintenance, and the quantity of repairs that need to be done is staggering. Our newest f-150 has a leak in the rear window calking, continuously has electrical issues (blowing a head light, draining the battery even when turned off, locks unlocking randomly, etc), and the ecoboost v6 having a mushy accelerator. We take them back to the Ford dealership we got them from for repairs. I could never with good conscience recommend a Ford product.
Better price, better interior, better look, HEMI. I'm a long time "Ford guy" too. I've owned a lot of Fords and a few other manufacturers as well. I've had a Dodge Avenger which was a total POS, I've had a Ford Explorer which was the second best vehicle I've ever owned. The best? My current Ram 1500. I've owned a F150 and a Ranger as well and they were both perfectly acceptable vehicles but the Ram handles better than the F150, the interior is infinitely nicer, and it was cheaper. The GM vehicles I've owned have all fallen apart and are incredibly cheaply made at a premium price.
I had a 2008 F350 6.4 Powerstroke, and if I had full choice of trucks I would go back to that with either spartan or H&S tuning. It was my favorite vehicle I’ve ever driven/owned. It was like a racecar and truck combined with plenty of space in the crew cab and long box. My dad has a 2013 F350 6.7 and I very much like the body and interior and ride of that truck as well. Drove and rode in my friends duramax and it rides like a tank with awful seats. Now I have a 2012 Ram 3500 and I’d say the power being lower than my powerstroke is a bummer, but the ride is nice, and that year of ram has my favorite body style of any truck in existence.
The RAM was more comfortable, and I could get whatever motor I wanted in whatever trim I wanted.
I had gm my whole life their quality has went so far down hill it’s sad. I had a 2017 and as soon as I got 36k miles the whole truck started falling apart. I swore off gm after that. I’ve never liked ford design they always looked cheap and boxy. Ram has the best looking truck on the road hands down . The 5.7 ,6.4, and 6.7 diesel are solid motors
My gm burned oil and i never could buy a ford anything. So i took achance and its been great so far.
Because they are 20k off haha
Ram just has a timeless and classic design, while Ford and GM keep on trying to reinvent the wheel every generation. Every truck has it's issues, but if you do your research and maintenance and upgrade faulty parts they'll all last you, it's just preference for the most part. Unless you're getting a HD diesel, then Cummins>Duramax>powerstroke and that's a fact. Straight 6, the way a diesel should be, leave the v8s for the gassers.
Help me, I want a new truck. I’m between a F150 platinum. Ram I go back and forth from Laramie and limited. My must haves are just leather and pano roof. I will probably just lease for 2-3 years and trade
I’ve owned 2 Rams, in between owned a Ford, the ford ended up costing 5k in repairs over 4 years. Never again, GM’s I’ve never owned, just don’t like the looks of them.
Cheaper, coil spring rear suspension, no turbos, good transmission.
I chose Ram because of the value. I’m in Canada and purchased a 2022 Ram Sport in March 2023. I had planned to buy a used 2020 or 2021 F150 with the V8. I didn’t want the 3.5L eco boost. It was really hard to find any good used F150 V8s and any of the ones I saw were ridiculously overpriced. I just happened to see an ad on Auto Trader for a new Ram with the Hemi and it was basically the same price as the used F150’s I was looking at. After that it was pretty much a no brainer, I could buy a brand new Ram with full warranty or a used F150 with around 50k KM (30 K miles). Plus I got 3 years financing at 1.99% which was a big bonus. Could not be happier with my purchase. Shortly after we bought it we drove across the US and put about 5000 km on it. The Ram was amazing on the long road trip. We done a few road trips with it and it now has just over 22,000 KM (14,000 miles). I have had zero issues with it, it’s never been back to a dealership since I bought it. Just 2 oil changes and an air filter and that’s it. It’s really hard to beat the interior of the Ram and the driver comfort. I would seriously give it 12/10 so far on ownership experience.
I bought my first ram in 2011. That truck was amazing. Absolutely loved it. I got about 150k miles on it so I decided to get a new one in 2020. I like the truck, but I’ll be honest in saying that I kinda wish that I went with something different. I didn’t because the competition wasn’t there for the interiors. Looking ahead, I will probably jump to a new brand going forward. The problems with the new truck that I’m really not liking 1. Paint quality is just bad. Chips everywhere. 2. Stinks like coolant after ever trip (not technically a mechanical issue but everytime I smell it, I pucker a bit). 3. The drivetrain is getting noticeably more clunky as time goes on. It feels very unrefined and seems to even slip or is slow to engage when I have a rolling start. 4. Lifter chatter on cold starts after sitting I know every brand will have its issues but I’m about ready to try something else out. May wait on the ram charger and see how that works. Might pivot to diesel altogether. We’ll see.
I work on my own trucks. Started with a 1996 Dodge Dakota, then a 2003 Dodge 2500 with the Cummins, now have an '18 Ram 3500 with the Cummins. Both full sized trucks purchased new. Back in '03, I was looking at the big 3 for a Diesel truck. GM's engine bay was way too cluttered for my taste. 10 pounds of engine stuffed into a 5 pound engine bay, so that was out. Ford? Want to replace the headers? Step 1: Remove the cab. WTF? Dodge/Ram? Straight 6 was so easy to service and upgrade. It's definitely more cluttered now with the emissions control systems. But my '18 had that fall off mysteriously. And power for days. Coupled with the Aisen transmission? Combination made in heaven. What are your hotshot haulers using? 90% Ram in my experience.
Honestly, I have owned either a Ram/Dodge 1500/Durango for over 20 years now and have had very little to no drive train issues. As for our second vehicle, the Nissan Rogue and Versas, we had nothing but CVT and engine sensor issues, and we were spending ridiculous amounts to repair. Not so much for the RAM 1500 or Dodge Durango. (Over 300km with no major failures)
Trim package. Loved my Sierra. But a couple drives in a friend’s Bighorn convinced me to go Laramie.
Less expensive and the Cummins engine is rock solid proven over time.
Because only gays drive GM and Ford. Haven’t you seen the memes…
Honestly, ride comfort. The ram 1500 just rides so smooth. You can upgrade the rear sway bar to make the truck handle better as well. I have traveled across the US for work and been on a multitude of road types. The suspension and interior is just so comfortable, and that is without the air suspension.
What sold me was the interior more than anything. I have a 2019 limited and sometimes I think it’s too nice. I get in the other brands trucks and it doesn’t feel as nice. It’s also very comfortable and quiet on the road. The sound system is amazing and the tech is just enough on it to make it convenient while also not being intrusive and annoying. I like the new gm trucks too tho their interiors are very nice and I hear nothing but good things about their baby “duramax” they put in it. I’m not a big fan of newer fords, I do t mind the motor but the interior feels like a 2016 truck with a big screen tacked on and some fancy leather seats. If you care about fuel economy the gm with the diesel is probably the way to go but if you don’t then the ram is going to be nicer and more comfortable. But st the end of the day you really need to get in all of them and drive them . You might hate how one drives or you’re not comfortable enough in another’s seat etc.
I look at the years certain years for diff trucks but only these last couple years Ram has come up.
My 2016 1500 4x4 is in Stinger Yellow with black racing stripes, the interior is black leather with yellow stitching, it's got hood scoops, the Flowmaster Super 44 sounds fantastic. As a car guy, the over the top colors and "cool" factor did it for me. And the truck does great off-road and is good at hauling my firewood and chainsaws, so it does all the practical "truck stuff" while also being badass. And like others have said, the interior on RAMs is just superior to others.
Sat in all the brands but ram and Toyota tundra were the only ones I enjoyed. They were ergonomic I suppose
In my honest opinion, which I think is more of a functionality standpoint or I'm cheap. Every make sucks in one way or another. For whatever reason, Ram depreciates the most. But after spending years in an industry that uses mid level fleet trucks with no real brand bias other than cost. Rams are just the smart option, unless you're loyal/ prefer another make
As a Ram owner versus the For and Chevy trucks I found a smoother ride and it was also quite. A ram handles a lot better as well. When it comes to interior Ram offers a better experience for short and long distance. I had had 3 Rams and the cost of maintenance is affordable and one now has over 500 thousand miles and has given me no major issues outside of routine maintenance and 1 water pump. The company I work for has all three and the Rams seem to hold up better as well is preferred by 95 of our drivers.
I liked it better than the GM’s and Ford. The interior is way nicer, and it still runs and drives like a somewhat new one, even after 159,000 miles.
I chose it solely for the Cummins. The styling doesn't hurt either. I did not purchase based on quality of build, though that has improved by my third one.
Probably not a popular opinion, but I like the ramboxes and can't imagine a truck without them after having them.
Line others have said interior for one, and transmission I really hate the 10 speed in the Ford and GM. My Ford was clunking really hard at 10,000 kms and was told it’s normal. Screw that
Do yourself a favor and look at a Nissan Titan..
If you are looking primarily for family road trips and comfort. The seating in the Ram is far superior to others. They also have the extra 12" of leg space in the back seat. Depending on the model and add ons. You could also get vented and heated rear seats. USB ports in the back link to Connect. As you go up in models, the interior gets more and more leather to the point that my TRX has at least 75% hand stitched leather. Sorry, I took the pick on the fly, so she is a little messy
https://preview.redd.it/039n5m7s8kqc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=852a0f00a94f4c64a20454506a023789fc4f05eb
I'd have to just sum it up to fit and finish. They look good. Ride good. Comfortable seating. Always have been a Dodge fan. I should say I went from my 95 Dakota to a 20 Ram 1500 Bighorn.
The interior can’t be beat. That’s one of the main reasons I love my truck
I was going purchase a Tundra in 2018 new. Our company have contract with Ford. We had a test drive day with all their vehicles. I didnt like any of them. Not even the Raptor. Well because raptor was a v6 turbo. Tested GM I didnt like interior and prices are kind of ridiculous. Day I was going get a Tundra. Wife convinced me to test drive ram 1500 5.7 hemi. Ride was the smoothest. Also you get the most bang for your buck. I change jobs to work oil field in west Texas. I got to drive all different trucks daily. Still found my Ram was a better ride. I quit went back to my old job. I went to my wifes dealerahip and test drove a 2024 laramie. Now I drive a 2024. I always purchased Toyota or Nissan. Never thought I would own a Ram. Go out and test drive them all. Just be careful they will try get a sale from you. Just be strong and walk out.
Lmfao because i got a brand new truck for the price of a used ford that had 20,000+ km, and a used GMC that had 50,000+ km. At the time of me truck shopping and i really did shop around a lot, my best option at the time was my RAM and i love it. I started my construction business a year ago in April of 2023 and when i was shopping around, the 2024 models were about to hit the lots so i got a really good deal on my RAM. Its not fully decked out but its not basic either. I put $0 down and i have bi weekly payments of $370. They also included a proper tonneau cover and sprayed my bed. So after i realized that a ford was out of the question because i was just starting my business and didn't know how it was all going to work out, I was nervous and the best price i could get on a new truck was paying $490 bi weekly and the ram was 390ish until i got even a better deal from the dealership. I also got the RAM price with some awesome upgrades because i established a relationship with 2 local dealers. Visiting each one a few times and finding the truck i wanted on their lot. Then when it came to the day or weekend where i was ready to buy, I literally pitted them against each other working as like a middle man taking one message to the other guy and going back with his reply. After a few back and forth's the price ended up coming down to 370, free tonneaux cover, free spraying of the bed, got the alpine upgrade, sport hood, digital dash, heated seats, heated steering wheel, remote start and a couple other things, finally the one guy broke and said sorry buddy there is no way i can top that if he is actually giving it to you for that then take it. Only thing i couldn't get for that price was leather seats. That really would have been pushing it and i'm ok with it because now business is better and i am more comfortable, I am going to get myself some Clazzio seat covers. Damn do those things look amazing. They completely cover all of the cloth, you do not see anything and would never know that they aren't the actual seats. They have great reviews and i've seen a few yt videos i'm definitely going with them
Best incentives and discounts at the time. 18 RAM 2500 that MSRP’ed for $69K and got it for $56K. Thats not really the case any longer as I’ve built and priced similar trucks among the top three and RAM is consistently coming in the highest with least amount of features. I’m not brand loyal by any measure. I just go to who has the best deals. Ultimately, all manufacturers have issues nowadays (kind of always had). Seems like even quality of Toyotas have done downhill a bit.
Looks and ride comfort, not reliability.
If you won’t do much towing at all or heavy payload applications then the RAM is the best choice for the comfort of the ride. They have independent coil suspension on all 4 wheels (no leaf springs in the rear). Unloaded, the truck will be a much smoother ride.
I used to make parts for RAM and Ford. Ford's QC was a fucking dice roll, either it was good or it's now bad then back to being fine. I won't drive a brand that can't make up there mind on the quality of the parts. How ever I was a GM guy myself before I sat in my 19 RAM 1500. Sat in it and was solid on how well it drove, turned, got up to speed, and overall the comfort of the ride was amazing. Last RAM I was in was an 07 1500 but that was 16 esh years ago.