Mark - I was starting to think that this site was Detroit Pickuptrucks.com . Your taking your life in your own hands with your post. Watch the vitriol come pouring forth!

Why do I have a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach that most of what Consumer Reports says about these guzzling behemoths was taken out of context?

Buy what you like. They all have problems. I have owned 2 Toyotas, a Chevy, a Ford, a Jeep, and 2 Dodge Rams. Here's how it went. The smaller Toy's never broke. Everyone of my US made trucks have broke. Transmissions, radiators, axles, struts, power steering unites, and so on. I rarely keep them past the warranty. I hunt alot and this could contribute. Half tons are heavy and they break. Period. Some have better luck than others in the same make and model. It's like drawing straws. My 07 Dodge Ram is in the shop right now for a broken axle at 40,000 miles. I abused my 04 for 65,000 miles without breaking an axle, but went through 3 rack and pinions. Go figure? As far as being american made. Come on people. Nothing is anymore. My loyalty to Dodge is dwindling. I'd buy a Toyota again, but I hear the Tocoma has a weak frame and it has been verified by Tacomoa forums. Next truck? Maybe that crazy looking India made pickup!!!

Does anyone else think that with the growing intricacy of cars and technology, that there is no longer a car mechanic but instead a car technician?

WOW, this page is getting hot. I don't think i follow many of these things as much as many of you do, or would like others to think you do but i do have my opinion just like everyone else i guess. I am an wounded soldier (AFG SVBIED) my pay rate is E4 for those who don't know what that means look up military pay rates and you will find i don't make an excessive amount of $. I'm now seeing my final days in service (RET) very soon so I'm getting all my ducks in a row before a large pay cut. replacing my 04 Titan, my wife's Sedona, and sacrificing her dream car 06 Jag S type 4.2 because or the cost to keep the maint up to date. we drove almost everything under the sun. GMC,Toyo,Chev,Dodge,Nissan,.....

Nissan was the only dealer that wouldn't let me keep the truck for the weekend even with a check(backed by cold cash) i drove their truck and wasn't moved. It wasn't much diff than the 04 i had other than it was 4X4(that i couldn't even try out)

Toyo was a nice truck but i couldn't get the options i wanted/needed. i think the looks and the feel of the iForce were the only things i took away that might have kept me interested.

To the mopar fans, keep your head up i think Dodge is offering many good options on a somewhat new platform. The bad part was to get all those nice options to make the truck worthy overall the price was, well you can guess or build one online. when i hooked my trailer up i knew within 20 mi that this truck just couldn't be for "me" and what i demand in a truck. Don't get me wrong what may be good for "you" must not be for me, but i will keep my eyes on what Ram will be doing in the years to come.

Now to the GM diehards, My wife loves Chevy. with that in mind we drove 4 of GMs trucks we found nothing. GM has always put out good trucks according to what i have seen with my fam and a few friends. i always thought that GM trucks in my book were "city trucks" they were refined and had a nice ride and sound system of course, but that they hardly ever held up on the fam ranch as work trucks. when we went looking at them i was floored. GM dropped the ball, even my wife "in love with Chevy" stated that it felt and sounded cheap. other than the nice looking front end we were stumped, so we went up in class to the GMC and still couldn't find a handful of good points to name other than the very nice heated leather seats lol. Sorry but i think GM has started to cut to many corners. But like i said for you diehard fans, yes GM "almost" always makes a good truck but even Babe Ruth had off days.

Now it seems like I'm missing a brand?.....
Oh yeah, Ford. Ford offered me everything i wanted/needed with the perk of have'n a huge cabin that with my disability's and fam size was great. The dealer was also boasting about their fully boxed frame that i thought was cool and sounded like quality to me. never the less i took the truck and ran it thru the same paces that i had with the other trucks not thinking i would get a great diff with this truck. was i wrong this truck was a whole new class to its own. the way it handled off road, on road, loaded, and with my 28 foot enclosed car hauler behind it. the trailer sway control was a welcomed gift from ford as well. the new sync system was also worth mentioning. The only drawback that stood out to myself was i could only get the 310hp 5.4 that has enough power to get the job done but still keeps me wishing i could get one with the new 6.2 that's going into the Raptor, and maybe the new FX2. They should offer it in all of the super crews across the board.

If you haven't guessed i bought the new F-150 4X4. I have driven this truck everywhere and in almost every condition other than the sands in the SW even tho i have been in the sand at the beach. After about 6K mi of drive'n with about 4K haulin my trailer around we still needed to get a new vehicle for my wife.....It took about 5 min of me and my wife talking to agree that we should by another one so that's what we have done, this time i got her the FX4 and a few girly upgrades lol.
My point in all of this is that everyone has an opinion and this is just mine. I want you to know i went in with a very open mind because these trucks will have to last. I'm a 27yo father of 2 "hit" hard by the war. I had to check my personal ideas of the diff brands at the door for the sake of my fam. i couldn't afford to buy what i thought was and will be the best truck by brand, i had to buy what was the best truck. thru my personal experiance, research, and cash i know i made the right choice and i think many more will do the same.

Has Ford fixed it's problem with spark plug blowouts. Wouldn't even consider another Ford truck until the company recognizes that they have corrected this major design defect.

My '01 5.4L has yet to have a problem. The problem wasn't the engine or heads anyway, it was a combination of people not using the right torque spec, using antiseize and aftermarket spark plugs.

Note: Fords original torque spec (15 ft-lbs) was wrong, they now advise 28 ft-lbs.

dodge will always be the best!!!!!!!