Pickup Truck advice, Dodge vs. Chevy
 

Hey all. I've been driving S-10 style trucks for a few yrs now, and am getting ready to sell my little GMC Sonoma and get a full size 1/2 ton, 4x4, extended cab. For various reasons, I'm not into Fords, but cannot make up my mind between the Dodge and the Chevy / GMC.

Maybe some of you guys who know both will feel like giving me a few positives and negatives. I'll add here a little about what I'll be using it for.

I'll mostly be using it as a second vehicle for camping, going on vacations, etc. If I do any pulling, it would be a small motorcycle trailer. Occasional 4wd, not hard mudding. I'd consider a 3/4 ton, but mainly prefer 1/2 ton. I'd like to get a small to medium V8, definitely not the large V8. I'll be looking at something between years 2000 - 2006, in the $10 - 12k range.

The things that I'm wondering about, and that are important to me ... do either of the brands mentioned have less of a tendency to get body rust when exposed to winter weather and salt? Does either of them have a particular engine which is known to have better reliability and/or fuel economy? I've mostly had GM products in my lifetime, but I did have a '78 Dodge half ton with a 318, and it was a great truck. I like the newer Dodge, but it seems I see more of them rusted on the road.

I'm just starting to do the research, so I thought I'd throw it out here ... any info / suggestions regarding Dodge vs. Chevy would be greatly appreciated.

JT

As far a rust is concerned, Dodge is the absolute worst of all the brands. For every rusty Chevy I fix, I probably fix 10 rusty Dodges. Dodge likes to fill every open cavity with foam which doesn't do anything other that hold moisture and speed up the rusting process.

The 5.3L in the Chevys runs good with plenty of power to tow and they get good gas mileage. I get 19 mpg empty and 13mpg pulling an 18ft trailer with 5 cubs on it.

I have a '01 Suburban with the 6.0L and it's a 2500 ( 3/4 ton )

I have over 195K on it and it still runs great. Vote for another GM here.

I have a newer Ram 2500 with a cummins and manual transmission and love it, but to be honest, as far as an older 1/2 ton for what you want it for I would have to say a chevy too. They seem like nice trucks, my only issue is the plastic door/ tailgate handles seem to break easy.

I am not a Chevy fan but after owning a Dodge Ram 2500 with the 360 Auto I would say the Chevy is your better option. My truck rusted out bad in the rear wheel wells and the rocker panels were completely trashed. I didn't baby the truck but it did get washed regularly.

I'm neither so have fun guys!

Chev's of that vintage rust bad too, I had an '04 Sierra extended cab z71 with a 5.3l that I bought new, it was an excellent truck but rockers rusted out bad on me. Mine had fender flares so I don't know if the wheel wells were trashed underneath or not. It was a good truck. I've stayed with GM trucks since (a '12 and now a '15). I am a technician at a Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge/Ram dealer.

The vintage trucks you're talking about I would go GM no question and the 5.3 is going to be your best bet as far as the engine. The trucks got a facelift and interior upgrade in '03 along with some nicer wheel options, and I think satellite radio came on in '04, '05 went to rear drum brakes (from discs) , and I think in '05 1/2 they dropped the vortecmax trucks with the 6.0L in the 1/2 ton although they are hard to find.

Personaly I prefure the chevy. I've owned both for a few years each. Gas milage in the chevy was definatly better. But it did seem like the dodge had more grunt to tow. Chevy rode better and just felt a little more sturdy... if I were to get another truck that were newer itd definatly be another chevy with the 5.3

I hate to go here... but I have to...

The Dodge mechanicals are great but the bodies are not that great... They are a lot better than they were in the 70's and 80's.. They also like a lot of gasoline..

The Chevys are good if you mostly ride and use it for occasional heavy work.. Good ride and drive and good fuel economy

If you want to work it hard and have it stay together... get a Ford...

Look at what all the rollback, wrecker and power companies use... 80 percent Ford around here...

We have owned and run Fords for 3 generations.... My dad used to maintain a fleet of trucks for a large farm supply dealer... everything from a 1/2 ton to a 3 ton.. Quite a few have over 300K hard work miles on them... Never had a bad one...

Just my opinion... don't hate me :biggrin2::biggrin2:

Last Dodge I owned was a Dakota, worst POS I've ever owned. Chevy's not a lot better. I'm now driving a Toyota Tacoma now, it runs like a clock. Plenty of power and good on gas.