Alright guys, so I am in the market for a truck. I"m really liking the lightweight and manueverability of the Regular Cab Short Bed 4x4's. And I'm really torn between the F150 and the Ram.

Whichever one I get, I plan on doing a mild lift, probably between 2 and 4 inches. A high clearance front bumper, and some aggressive off-road tires.
I plan on doing some mild off-roading in it, and camping. I may someday in the future get an ATV for more extreme stuff.

• Dodge Ram, Regular Cab 6'4" Bed (Express package)
  • Pros
    • 5.7 Hemi V8
    • Feels like a rocket comparatively.
    • Shorter
      • 209" length
      • 120" wheelbase
      • 39.7' turning circle
    • Rambox
    • About $3000+ less expensive similarly equipped
  • Cons
    • Only limited slip rear end from factory
    • Reputation as less reliable? My Wranger was pretty stout.
• Ford F150 STX (maybe an XLT) 5.0, Regular Cab 6'6" Bed
  • Pros
    • Exterior Looks
    • Should be more fuel efficient, though just barely
    • factory selectable locker rear end, and factory skid plates
    • Frame is more stout
    • More storage space behind the seats (Partially offsets the Rambox)
  • Cons
    • Longer (barely), larger turning circle
      • 213.2" length
      • 125.9" wheelbase
      • 41.7' turning circle
    • Interior looks and feels cheap compared to the Ram. (remember, these are $25k trucks, not the Laramie $45k versions)
    • Can't rest my arm out the window easily.
    • Feels less comfortable driving it.
    • Feels slow and heavy compared to the Ram

My head is telling me F150 for the locker and the stouter frame. My heart is telling me Ram. Yesterday I test drove both of them about 4 different times. Each time I felt let down by the F150's general feel, and excited by the feel of the Ram.

What am I missing here? What does the F150 do that the Ram does not?

As for my use. Mostly I'll be daily driving it. Sometimes moving furniture or Home Depot projects. Camping in the woods. Once a year going up to the mountains of Colorado and off-roading a bit. Maybe in the future buying an ATV or a Dirt Bike and hauling those to the riding area. No real plans to do any towing. I just really like the extra space of the full size RCSB trucks over a Tacoma. And my Tacoma didn't exactly impress me with it's reliability, so I wanna give an american automaker a try.

 

if you have to ask get the ram. you will never enjoy the full ability's of the f150 other wise you wouldnt be asking!

 

Interesting. And unexpected on this forum.

What abilities does the F150 have that the Ram does not?

 

^ none. chevy makes a good truck too

 

^ Yuk, Chebby? are you serious? They are the oldest, slowest trucks on the market right now.
Kytan, you already mentioned reliability. Chry-co is always dead last in 3 year reliability studies. Rams are always cheaper, so you kinda get what you pay for. The locker in the F-150 is a definite plus. It already seems you are forcing yourself to like the F-150. The ram feels better to you so why not give it a try. Just don't go blasting on every forum that american is junk when you experience problems. Although, ram is no longer American. Not saying the F-150 will be perfect, but numbers are in your favor.

 

I agree with Blue, get the Ram. You are leaning toward it more. You can always get the lockers added and there frame isnt that bad. I think the f-150 will give you better longeverty. Good luck.

 

I really wish Ford had a package similar to the Ram Express (basically a modestly optioned truck with the most powerful powertrain available). I love the "no chrome" look of the Ram Express. The only way I see to get this in the F-150 is to go with an FX4, which is a beautiful truck, but expensive. Also, I really need a bench front seat. I've seen several XLT's on EBay with color matched painted bumpers, but they were all V6's. I don't see a way to get this package on Ford's website with a 5.0 V8 or the Ecoboost.

 

STX Package. Body color bumpers and the V8.

The dash looks a little cheap compared to the XLT, but otherwise like you are describing

I was looking at a black version of this
http://www.appleautos.com/2012-Ford-...yMN/vd/9500738
with the Elocker (and a few other options). Priced at 26,650

Here is a gray supercab one. Personally I like the Regular Cab better.
http://www.appleautos.com/2012-Ford-...eMN/vd/9256716

 

the STX F150 gets the body color bumpers and black grille just like the FX4. I currently drive an 09 STX and If I were replacing it I would have to seriously have to consider the Ram as well.

 

I had a 2007 Wrangler Rubicon. Also a Chrysler product. The only thing that broke on that was my fault for breaking it.

I think they've come a long way from the dark days. And Toyota has certainly fallen from grace in the reliability department. Had 4 Toyotas. Only one of the was as reliable as the Jeep.

Last ford I owned was a 1971 F150. Can't really compare to current ones though, that was a long time ago and a very different price bracket.

One thing that does concern me. I keep finding pictures of F150's out doing off-road trails like my intended use of the truck. I am not finding pictures of Rams being used the same way. It could be just that there are so many more F150s sold.

 

Eco boost motor, best in class towing, class leading MPG, find a crew cab dodge with as much room in the back set as the F150 and your in the high 45,000s to 50,000 with the mega cab.

but best of all it's the best damn looking truck on the market. OK OK so thats just my take on it.

oh and just because the dodge seems faster don't make it better. trucks where not made to race 1/4 mile runs, but to haul the goods safely to the 1/4 run

 

6.2 f250 4x4 lol

 

Kytann, from what you list as pro and con it sounds to me like the Ram is what you would be more at home with, but that's just my opinion. lol In the end it's on you. Enjoy which ever you wind up with.

 

I agree with what you've been saying,but the Ecoboost is not available in RCSB configuration, which is what he asked about.

 

I like the V8 growl. I'm coming from a string of small 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder cars. If I'm gonna be paying Full Size truck gas mileage than I want the V8 soundtrack to accompany it.
I know Ecoboost is supposed to be better mpg. But from what i understand real world the two are extremely close.

As far as faster, I don't race or anything. I just mean it feels faster from a seat of the pants perspective. And that is a difference that'll make a man smile every time he drives it.

Just like how my Harley feels faster than the old sportbike I had. But I know if I actually could race against myself, the sportbike would be faster. But seat-of-the-pants feel just puts a smile on my face to ride the Harley.

As far as price, with what I am looking at the Ford is about $4,500 more expensive. The Ford dealer is willing to give me $1,000 more on my trade. But that's still a $3,500 difference in favor of the Ram. And back seat space doesn't matter as I am looking at Regular Cabs.

It's $25k - $20k for the Ram
vs
$29.5k - $21k for the Ford


I do like the Ram better. Heart is saying Ram. The engineer in me (Head) likes the Ford.