Its getting time that Im thinking about my next vehicle and Id like to hear real world experiences with them.

Ive got it narrowed down to:

Chevy Avalanche
Chevy Trailblazer EXT
Chevy 1500HD 4 door

Dodge 1500HD or 2500HD (hemi) 4 door

I know the Dodge Hemi is just coming out so hopefully some people will know about them already. I havent even seen the 1500 Hemis yet but the dealer I talked to says he has them on order and the Dodge website says now available in 1500s.

I was going to switch to Chevy from my current Dodge Ram Quad Cab, due to always having and liking Chevys in the past and also in the 24800 miles on my truck ive had the ball joints go out, the rear main seals in the engine go out and also I keep having a damn warning light come on and stay on. This is my second Dodge and my last one was a Dakota which also had the engine seal go bad within the first 20000miles. According to the brochure Dodge now has a new assembly plant which is suppose to ensure better quality. Maybe not Mexican this time hopefully. The dealer says I can get some extra cash for staying Dodge loyal (I lease) but I also have a GM discount I can use.

go with the dodge a much better built truck

I have a 99 silverado Ext. Cab 4x4, had it since new 45000 miles not 1 problem, I just change fluids and filters and drive it. I also have a co-worker that has the same truck and at 76000, the only problem he has had is the switch went bad on the auto 4wd button. Much better luck than with the 98 F150 i had, what a piece of junk.

Go with the 2500 Hemi Dodge Ram.

Dodge makes a real truck, and quality is definitly up from a few years ago. Mercedies has sort of given them a kick in the ###.

I drive a 1500 5.9 and the engine is the only downfall. It is a little weak for its size and uses gas. But the 5.7 will change all that. The truck it self is unreal, It handles any kind of terrain with ease and the chassie is much stiffer and stronger then the previous models.

IMO chevy has a lot of little problems with there newer trucks and the fit and finish is poor.

I know there will be people that say the same about dodge, But all I can say is that im very satisfied and my buddy that works at the dodge dealers but likes chevy says that there a good truck. That means more then you thing. :D

Not to mention 7 year warrenty. Thats got to say somthing.

Oh and its to my understanding that the 1500 will remain the 5.9. Hemi is next year 2004 in 1500. You can only get the hemi in the 2500, 3500.

I can honestly say that ford has the toughest truck out there, if you want real life experience then listen to me. I'm a dairy farmer and i actualy use my truck for work, i dont buy a heavy duty truck to drive around towing my sled, not ever useing it for anything else. We work our trucks, pulling haywagons all day long in the 90 degree heat, hauling cattle to the auction,hauling rocks from the field, you name it we haul it. Nobody works a truck harder than farmers and i mean nobody. When they say Ford tough they mean it.

Hey, get the Chevy 1500 or the Avalanche.

I don't have a Chevy truck but I have an 02' GMC Yukon XL and I love it. The 5.7 engine, handling, braking and overall ride are excellent. Previously had a 99' GMC Suburban which was great but the new chassis is much better.

My 98 Ford was junk 18000 miles and both front torsion bars broke, the power steering went out and the computer died. Had it to 3 different dealerships and they replaced the computer twice and the fuse box under the hood once, after the forth time being stranded with a brand new truck I traded it for my Chevy. I now drive an 02 F150 Supercrew that my company provides for work and it has been a bit better than my 98, but at 50000 it needed CV joints, U joints, Ball joints, and tie rod ends. That is a bit excessive. These two trucks have left a very bad taste in my mouth and I always was a ford guy. Can't speak for the dodge, I don't know anyone very well that has one. Had a temp. lease one for work for a month and it was OK but sucked gas like it was going out of style.

Keep them coming.
Im not even thinking Fords so the farmers can keep all those.

I was originally only looking at the Avalanche and the Trailblazers. I wanted the Avalanche and my wife wanted the Trailblazer.
Then my friend pulls in with a brand new Chevy 1500 HD with the 6.0 and that is one sweet ### truck. Lots of room in the back seat and lots of luxury type features.
One thing I have always liked about my Dodge is the stance of it is much higher than the Chevys. My 5.9 is weak even compared to a Chevy 5.3 but I am thinking the Hemi is going to be sweet!

Its tough to choose!!

I just thought I'd mention the 150,000 trouble-free miles on my 98 F-150 :D It is still like new,alot has to do with how you take care of it and drive it.

i personally like the dodge i had a 99 dodge ram 4x4 sport never had a problem with it i traded it in in july with 58,000 miles only had to due the normal maintenance on it still had the original tires on it with decent tread but i wish i would have waited a few more months and got the hemi i have an 02 slt 4x4 4 door i really like how it drives and seems to have plenty of power i'll have to wait 3 years till my lease is up to get my hemi now

Chev Avalanche would be my choice if i didn't have a 5th wheel trailer.Lockable storage for the gas cans and dirty sled covers etc etc. Lots of toys on this truck and looks great.

Well, I have a 99 Dodge Ram 2500 with the Diesel. My recommendation is to forget the gassers and get the Cummins. With the HO option you get a 6 speed manual and a 305 hp and 555 lb/ft engine, 20+ to the gallon if you drive it nicely, and a million mile capable truck. The common rail diesel is supposed to be very quiet according to DC. I second the quality statements. Since the so called merger (more like takeover), quality on Chrysler products has been improving dramatically and rapidly.

I have 92,300 miles on my truck, and the only things I've had to fix was the ABS/speedometer sensor (took longer to crawl under the truck than to fix), and the A/C compressor clutch springs broke, hosing the compressor (that one was a bit pricey).

While I doubt that I'll ever have to replace my truck, the only thing I'll even consider would be another Dodge with the Cummins.

I wont even begin to go into the horror story of the 94 Chevy truck that I owned several years ago. The post will get deleted.

Go to CAR POINT .COM Before you make your decision you may be surprised .I bought a Tundra after reading all the Chevy,ford, and dodge problems.Great gas mileage rides like a Lexus and has power to pull sleds too.

The Hemi wont just be awsome. It will be AMAZING.

It makes more power then the 8.1L GM and will put on one great smoke show.

As far as gas engines go Dodge and Chevy both have there good and bads. However like mentioned before, Chevy is having there piston slapping problems with all there new engines. That would tend to make me walk away even though GM claims it causes no harm.

However if your considering a desiel engine. DODGE/CUMMINS is the only real option. THe isuzu desils in the GM are horrible (so says the local tow truck driver who towed my 2000 Grand prix to the dealer) He said that out of his fleet of 8 brand new duramax desils 4 of them are lemons and all of them are having small little problems that should not happen.

Another notch for the dodge. I have never owned a dodge, but my dad has owned 3-4 dodge trucks. I was living at his house while he owned them too. All were/are very good quality. The one just before his 01 Diesel was a great truck. It was a 97 2500, built very well, and didn't have any problems. The tires were worthless though, IMO. Now the 01 Diesel he has is just amazing. I think Dodge makes a great truck.

It would be a tough choice btwn the Avalanche and 1500...Trailblazer is nice, but lack of room would leave me feeling confined. I would prob go with the 1500...just 'cause I don't like the cladding on the 'Lanche. That 6.0 litre is a sweet motor too.

As for the other brands, ask enough people and you will find loyalists to every brand, and haters of every brand. Don't buy a diesel unless you simply have an extra 4 or 5 grand to throw away...you would have to keep the truck for a couple hundred thousand miles and use it constantly for heavy towing to reap the benefits of the extra cost. We have had NO unusual problems w/the Duramax diesels though. Our GM trucks have consistently got better mpg than our Fords and Dodges. One thing is a fact, Dodge's resale value is the worst, unless it has the Cummins...and Dodge still lives w/it's poor transmission history.

i have a 00 chevy suburban, it has been a great rig, 60000 miles and not a lick of problems, i have a 97 chevy 3/4 ton that i a m going to trade in i think for a hd, have been debating going with the dieasel. good luck

In '03 Chev lost the cladding on the Avalanche and rounded out the wheel openings, I think it looks alot better. I work in a body shop and can tell you that Ford and Dodge build a stronger frame than GM in 1/2 ton class, I haven't had any new GM HD's on the frame rack yet to give input on that.
If I had to have a truck for hard work it would be a Ford Super Duty, but I don't like working on them. I don't like to empty my toolbox to remove a fender! I hate the old body Dodges, bad brakes, weak trans., weak bodys, terrible gas mileage, weak door hinges... I hope the new Dodge is better. The Cummins is a good motor but it is noisy, and if you don't need the pulling power, it's a waste of money
I drive a '99 Silverado with a 5.3 that will run circles around any comparable competition, and get good mileage! I like the ride, handling and brakes.
i would buy the Crew cab 1500 or the Avalanche, the Trailblazer just isn't a truck.

chevy HD silverado 2500 4x4 with a duramax .

Weak tranny history in dodge's ??? I guess you have forgotten about gm's past/current problems as well ;) Wait till dooman has a boo at your statement :p REAL TRUCKS have solid axles and engines that make torque at
lower rpms.But what doo i know about trucks as i've only been a mechanic for 13 years ;)
Bottom line buy what you like and can afford. :D

:blahblah: :sleeping:

If you can afford a diesel it's the only way to go. All the guys and Barry(dooman also will ateast) that they consitantly get 20-24mpg with there des. I know my dad is easy,way easy on his 5.7 chevy tahoe and gets like 13-15mpg no towing ever! Doesn't take long for 10mpg to add up in huge savings, not to mention resale. Deisels have incredible resale value. And even with a load the diesels get greast mileage,way better than a gas engine, and they are alot funner to drive with a load as the darn motor isn't working. Everyone has problems, thats what a warrenty is for. It's how your dealer services it that makes the diff.

caleb

We currently have a 2002 Avalanche 1500 2wd, Great truck, We had a 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 HD with the 5.7 and that sucked gas, getting at most 14 mpg but it stayed at that whether you were towing a cart or a boat, very torquey that engine was, a little too much for me and it rode like an old truck compaired with the Avalanche which is built on the Yukon/Tahoe Chassis which means softer bumps.

All in all, the Avalanche gets my vote, with it's sturdy 5.3 and great susp. it was the way to go for me, I'm getting 21 mpg when I keep the RPM's down to about 1,700 about 68 mph, although today I did an av. 85 mph with 17 mpg.

Where I work we have a fleet of about 30 4X4 trucks loaded heavily, we have all three brands and by far have the fewest problems with the GM trucks, thats why I bought one, the 5.3 L engine is awsome lots of power and great gas milage, 17 MPG most of the time.

go with the hemi it has the power and its a good over-all truck

i'm on my third dodge, second diesel (99 2500). the cummins part is the only thing about the truck that is worth anything. every dodge i've had has eaten trackbars like candy. the motor is second to none, but i get tired of bad/wandering front ends. plus figure on ball joints every 30k. every brand has it's problems, but if it werent for the cummins, i'd stay away from dodge.