Pickuptrucks.com picks best truck in 2008 Half-Ton Shootout
When Mike Levine at Pickuptrucks.com sets his mind to something, it gets done in a big way. Witness last year's 2007 Heavy-Duty Diesel Truck Shootout. This year he's back with a comparison test that bests his previous effort not only in size and scope, but also in relevance. For 2008 he has assembled every player in the half-ton truck segment, including brand new 2009 models of the Ford F-150, Dodge Ram, Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, Nissan Titan and a 2008 Toyota Tundra. Despite the sagging economy, Americans still love us some trucks, and we've never encountered a more thorough comparison of their performance, towing abilities and fuel economy than what Mike has published at Pickuptrucks.com. Consider it the bible of half-ton pickup comparison shopping and have it pre-loaded on your iPhone when you start visiting dealerships.
We're not going to tell you which pickup won, but we will say that it was remarkable to learn how varied are the targets at which each of these trucks is aiming. Some were great for one task while failing miserably at another, and the winner was the one that performed well the most often. Click the source link below to check out the Pickuptrucks.com 2008 Half-Ton Shootout.
[Source: Pickuptrucks.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
retsel 8:05PM (11/14/2008)
i knew the F150 would win... Ford can really make a truck...
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Jj 8:15PM (11/14/2008)
The Ram is a nice looking truck though. It would be a tough call if I were in the market.
Yeah, the Ram may give up some to the F150 on the spec sheet but it's still more truck than I would need 99.99% of the time.
In the end though I would probably go with the F150 for fear of a repeat of the transmission problems I had in my 01 Dakota.
retsel 8:18PM (11/14/2008)
in this market if ford can make a lil truck for $12,000 it would sell... like complex leveraged mortgage products...
the vegas style guy 2:24AM (11/15/2008)
I was really stressed out one day and absentmindedly ran a red light in a rented F-150 supercab (the 4dr). That big ole truck took on three cars and barely shuddered. Of course, the other cars were totalled. thank god I didn't kill anyone!
Btw, I quit that job.
MikeW 8:06PM (11/15/2008)
Ford didn't win, ZF did.
The ZF 6hp28 is fantastic.
Ford needs shorter axle ratios in the interim between the EcoBoost and/or 6.2 V8.
3.73 that's all, how about 5% shorter [3.92] or 10% shorter [4.10]
Torrent 8:13PM (11/14/2008)
It's nice that Ford can still make an awesome truck, but it's even better to see that Chevy can still compete 2 and a half years after it's intro.
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Torrent 8:14PM (11/14/2008)
But I wonder why the GMC didn't have a better score.. Aren't the Sierra and Silverado essentially the same truck?
happy_penguin 9:02PM (11/14/2008)
I think the F150 and the Silverado/Sierra are superior to the rest. But I do love the Ram as well. As far as Silverado/Sierra being the same, as far as I know they are but there may be some trim and option differences. GMC has long been billed as the higher grade truck.
Stuka 10:26PM (11/14/2008)
The GMC and Chevy share many parts. But have some different suspension components, and are equipped differently.
MikeW 8:14PM (11/15/2008)
GM should dial back the camshaft just enough so that cylinder shutoff can be installed, configure the 6.2 for regular fuel (circa 380hp 390ft-lbs) then the axle ratio can be shortened from 3.42 to 3.73 without worrying about CAFE.
oihioohoh 8:15PM (11/14/2008)
It has nothing to do with knowing how to make a truck. Wake up, the F150 is the newest truck so it won. It HAS to save fords ass too.
That's why it won. The newest truck always wins the competitions. Why didn't the ram win then you say? Ford means more and has more history than does the ram.
I've NEVER understood the fascination with the F150. Its a P.O.S., well let me be honest - its ok. Its certainly has a lot of flaws.
I've NEVER considered it the "best" that's for sure.
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Torrent 9:01PM (11/14/2008)
You're ignorant. Simply put.
miles 9:18PM (11/14/2008)
Isn't the F150 the best-selling truck for the last few decades?
Isn't the Ram just as new?
Dude - try employing a bit of logic and a fact or two once in a while.
Wake up, indeed.
happy_penguin 9:48PM (11/14/2008)
If you count Silverado and Sierra together, GM sells more full sized trucks than Ford. Regardless, F150 is the number one seller.
sk13 11:04PM (11/14/2008)
I own one, you do not know what you're talking about-pure and simple.
arturo 1:08AM (11/15/2008)
lets just say this guy knows nothing about trucks. In my opinion you can't go wrong with either one. I Like the Dodge exterior, The F150 Interior, and the silverado engine. I must say that the F150 is a winner in my eyes, it performs just as well as the others while saving some fuel which is great. If I was on the truck Market my eyes would be on the Hemi Dodge Ram, with the F150 interior, but that's impossible.
Torrent 1:35PM (11/15/2008)
I also drive an 06 F-150. Great truck. You must be high, and I respect that, but you don't need to make it so obvious.
andy 8:27PM (11/14/2008)
I figured the ford would win, they always have been known for making superior trucks. Overall, if i had to chose i would take the ford due to its great features and high ratings. Based on looks i really like the dodge but i never heard anything positive about there reliability
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Tony 8:32PM (11/14/2008)
What a dumb analysis.
"the Ford F-150 ... Best Overall Half-Ton Pickup. The only thing this truck is missing is a powerful V-8 — it finished last in two of the three pure-power towing tests"
So power and towing capability were minor criteria? Whatever.
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Paul P. 9:14PM (11/14/2008)
In a light duty half ton, yes. I could see them as being minor criteria. They are more often used as family/passenger/occasional towing vehicles than all-out tow machines. The trucks that are the real towing/hauling work horses are the heavy duty 3/4 ton+ trucks. In that respect, they were looking for the most well rounded truck over the fastest/most powerful towing truck.
Now, if we were talking about a 3/4 ton+ truck, then I would want the one that tows/hauls/works the best over the truck that has the best interior, smoothest unloaded ride, best gas mileage, ect.