So I will be getting a new truck sometime in the 1st quarter of 2014, and I have been doing so research. Looking at the Chevy (GMC), Ram, and Ford, and I believe that that all make good trucks these days. Now saying that does not mean I am actually considering all three brands, I have just been comparing the three. Here are a few observations that I came up with and see what you guys think.
1. I see know where Ford is now offering the STX in a Crew Cab, to be honest I think its a good move, I like the looks but to me for a few thousand more you can get into an FX4. Of Course I don't think you can get a 4.10 and a full center console in a STX, and I am sure there are others things too. Do you think they did this just to keep 2014 fresh?
2. Speaking for center console, I noticed that Chevy and Ram you can get a full center console is the LT for the Chevy and the Big Horn for the Ram, but you can't in an XLT in Ford. Now you can get a center console, but not the full one as offered in the FX4 and up. I personally like the full center console and would buy one in an XLT, I am not sure if I want leather so that leaves me with an FX4. Not that I am complaining! I just find that interesting.
3. I was looking at trucks on my local dealer lot, these are XLT's with the off road package, when building a truck on the ford website I don't see where I can choose the off road package for an XLT, am I missing it somewhere? I assume is skid plates, maybe different shocks, and a sticker. It does not include tires, because one the window sticks, you get LT tires, but it adds something like $250 to the price.
4. I also thought it was interesting that Ford finally offered leather in an XLT F150. I have often thought it was stranger is all there other offerings that have the XLT trim, you could get leather in them i.e. explorer and expedition. Don't know about the super duty.
I have had two F150's one was an 2004 and the other was a 2010, so no need to tell me that Ford has the best truck, I already feel that way, I just like comparing the three to see what they have to offer. Like I said, these are just my observations and if anyone has anything to ad, by all means please due.

 

Disregard number 3 about the off road package, when you start building a truck, you have to pick the 3.55 electronic locking rear axle to get that package to pop up later in the build.

 

I ordered off-road package with my 2012. It's like you say, skid plate, shocks, and a big sticker. I removed the stickers from the bed of my truck. It was kind of tacky having huge 4X4 OFF ROAD on my obviously stock F150 with highway tread tires.

I had a lot of similar observations as you when I shopped in 2012. Chevy center console was most useful, but the overall truck didn't have the refinement of the Ford and Dodge, especially with ride quality and wind noise.

The Dodge had the sweetest interior hands down, but the crew cab isn't really a crew cab and the tiny little truck bed was silly. Also, the Dodge was the slowest 390+ Hp vehicle I've ever driven. Talk about doing less with more! And the styling is worn out. I really didn't like the boy racer look in the first place and they just keep doing it year after year after year after.... you get the point. I am surprised that Chevy and Dodge haven't change their look in so many years. It's pretty bad when they have to tell you it's "all new" because you can't figure it out on your own.

Ford didn't have the best of everything but it did have the best engine lineup, a ride quality comparable to Dodge with the independent rear, best towing package, largest cab, and longest bed with a crew cab. I am definitely not happy, let me repeat, NOT HAPPY with materials Ford put in the interior. Plastics excel in the sport of getting scratched. Dash pad oozes some kind of sticky substance when it gets hot so you can't get the dust off the dash pad all summer. Carpet is thin. I'm skeptical the seat cushions will last. And I have to be super careful with the back seat latch or it will break.

 

In all reality none of the Domestic Big Three make a bad truck these days. You just have to pick the one that speaks to you & gives you what you want at the price you want! Good luck & have fun looking for that one!

 

I do agree, but it's perhaps not as bad as you make it sound. As far as the dash, that's a common vinyl issue. You need a good cleaner designed for vinyl. I use Meguiar's M40 Mirror Glaze vinyl/rubber cleaner/conditioner and it takes the "goo" right off and conditions the vinyl nicely.

As far as the seat cushions and material, they are fine in my 09 after 135K of my fairly large (235lb.) rear end.

 

I still think Ford is #1 and still on top as far as the 1/2 ton segment goes. I am also not brand loyal by any means, the only other truck that even appeals to me is the Tundra, Crew Max w / 5.7 & 3.92 gears.

I've enjoyed every 2007+ Tundra I've driven, had an '11 & '12 Crew Max rental on two occasions while sorting out warranty stuff on my previous truck '11, F-150, 5.0.

The only things I didn't like about the Toyota were the abysmal mpg's, that truck can suck down some fuel. I also could not stand the almost F-250 size of the truck, it is substantially larger than an F-150. I also could not find a comfortable seating posisiton in the Tundra no matter what I did.

What I did like was the power of that i -force V8, it is by far the most refined V8 I've ever driven in a truck. With that said, the F-150 won me over a second time after experiencing the EcoBoost. It's not the most economical mill on the market, but it is the most practical when you factor in towing, hauling and fun.

I also prefer the F-150's conservative, yet innovative styling to the over the top themes from Toyota, the over played Big Rig wanna be look of the Ram and the over all ugliness of the new GM trucks (although GMC isn't as bad looking as Silverado)

 

I think all of the big 3 make great vehicles. That said, it comes down to styling for me. The new GM offerings look like they fell out of an ugly tree. The Dodge is the same old, same old. The front end of the new Tundras look like an abortion, the back end looks like a Tonka toy I had when I was a kid, and the interior is an F150 anyway.

 

Not sure about t he high end Fords for 2014, but the high end GM's have charging ports for power tools and cell phones.

Even though GM remained ugly, they did a nice job on the truck overall I believe.

But if I ever found a need to leave the Ford stable, I'd be looking at all things Toyota.

 

I have to admit I don't think I'd buy another F150 before at least test driving the new GM trucks. The 5.3L engine is rated for superb fuel economy for being rated to tow 11,000 lbs. I think it's pretty common knowledge that the Ford interior is the worst of the big 3, but of course the competition is very stiff in this segment. I have no regrets with mine, and I don't think there is a better built half-ton out there.

I would have agreed with that statement until our 3-year-old minivan blew up it's rear differential just out of warranty. I don't think their quality is much better than any of the others at this point. Perhaps I'm just bitter though, my wallet is still pretty sore from that one.

 

I sat in several 14 Silverado's and Sierra crew cab's and with the front seats all the way back I couldn't sit comfortably in the back. The F150 has a HUGE interior and with 2 car seats in the back that was a big selling point for me.

I also don't care for the looks of the new GM trucks. The Tundra's on the other hand look very nice but they were almost $6,000 more for a similar truck so that kind of stopped me for looking any further.

 

The quality of todays Toyota's are greatly over rated! They have been riding on those coat tails way too long now. LOL

 

I remember following that story Tom and I actually think you handled yourself admirably. But if you remember, I've put two fuel pumps in my Expedition. Flukes happen. I'll wager that your van will outlast any van of that vintage from any manufacturer.

 

I have driven a new Chevy, I have a buddy who is a sales manager for a Chevy dealership, and I think the interior is a big step forward from where they were the previous generation and I do have to say that it was quite. My problem is I don't think they are a good looking vehicle, I actually preferred the old model compared to the new ones...on looks alone. I do feel that if you compare the LT to the XLT, the interior on the Chevy is nicer. But like it was said a few times, all manufacturers make nice trucks now a days. I was reading one of the GM trucks forums and I was surprised to see the issues the '14's seem to be having. Now I know that alot of people come to forums to seek answers or just complain. Grant it, not big issues, but things like seats making noises because of broken clips or the radio not getting very good reception. I am a ford fan and I hope when they roll out the '15's its smooth and very little issues.

 

I didnt put this together for some time, but not all the 4x4 f150 models come with the 4A option meaning automatic 4x4....Which if you live in Miami or San Diego makes no difference to ya.... But if you live in a winter wonderland for 4-6 months of the year, its a pretty big deal in my mind We had icey roads for almost a week this month and I can keep my truck in 4A and it engages 4-high when the computer feels the rear tires slippin, its noiseless and you cant tell its happening and its worth gold for me I do not think the fx4 trucks have that option on the ****, which really baffles me I have a Lariat and just assumed it was on all the 4x4 *****, but its not. My boy and I turned the 4A off last week, just to see how much the truck would slip and slide and it was crazyness, on ice forget about it with stock tires. I lucked into choosing a lariat, just in the fact it comes stock the 4x4 auto option.....I have the 'off road' also,but dont think that's were the 4a comes from....Anyhow, somethin to think about...

 

I just left toyota and come from a multi generation bowtie family. I don't think you can make a truly "bad" choice when it comes to any of the current 1/2 ton pickups. It's essentially personal preference at this point. they all have their pros and cons. I narrowed my truck choices down based on wanting a crew cab and a 6.5ft bed. Ford was the only one so I didn't spend much time researching other choices. I would buy another toyota in a heartbeat, I've had two tundras(01,06 ) and they were both amazing trucks but they were not true full size trucks. I didn't use them towing and hauling loads other than dirtbikes every weekend and the occasional trailer or load of rock for the yard but they did the job everytime. before I start rambling about trucks, the only opinion I have when it comes to the 2014 trucks is pick what you want. I honestly don't think that you can buy a bad one.