I may leave the Chevrolet line .....

[Benelli]

The new Ram outdoorsman sounds like a pick up truck I would want - and when I get out of college in two years and I have my 16 dollar an hour job, I think it should be a fairly affordable option for a guy who is starting out his life. Especailly for how much of a hard-core hunter and fisher-man I am.

Basically, my question is, how are the new Ram's? I reallly am not a fan of how they look, but the basic ruggedness of this pick up really just...I just want it. I wish Chevrolet would actually make a pick up for outdoorsman.

http://wot.motortrend.com/6703731/au...men/index.html

[vectorit]

Looks like a lot of good marketing to me.

I don't know about you, but I wouldn't dare put my hunting rifle in a bed box like that. Especially in a truck all marked up for the world to know there may be a rifle in a box on the outside of the truck, a box that looks like you could bust open with a screw driver.

Other than that, it's a sharp looking truck. Personally if I could afford or have a need for a full size and couldn't buy a GM, I'd buy a Ford F series truck before a Dodge.

I have two friends that had the big Dodge trucks, and they would just fall all apart around the drive train. The truck would run, but driving it you'd actually watch parts fall off. I borrowed one, and as I am driving - knobs were falling off the dash I rang up my bud on the cell, and asked him what the deal was with all this?!? He just said to collect them up and throw em in the glove box as if it was a common thing, as I opened the glove box it was full of broken knobs and interior parts that had fallen off in the past.

Those Dodges are a love em or hate em thing if you ask me.

[foamypirate]

$16/hr won't go nearly as far as you would think. That's all I'll say about that.

[irishman999]

New trucks are nice but after 6 months they lose that appeal and feel like any other vehicle I've driven. I compare the 07 sierra I recently drove to my 85 High Sierra and really enjoy the 85 alot more.

No job now is secure and car payments are hard to keep up on when you have no job, they take the truck and sell it to a buddy at an "auction" for a low price and you still owe that money. Its a very vicious cycle, ask me how I know about it!

[gearys 5600]

I have an 05 dodge ram 4x4 that has rust holes in both bed sides,doors are sagging,steering is sloppy,and is a rattle trap.. Oklahoma truck its entire life,77k miles. My 100k mile 06 ford 4x4 still looks and drives like the day I bought it new.. Anyone want to buy my Dodge? Its for sale..

[special-K]

I never had a problem hunting and fishing out of whatever I had.I'd buy a new truck for the drivetrain and dependability record.You're doing the right thing by asking around.Talk to Dodge owners,but also talk to owners of the other brands.

[Liz]

Js Dad has a newer dodge (09 or so) and its in the shop more than its out. Sounds alot like my 96 I had

[72BlckButy]

Scratch resistant bumpers, but nothing about the scratch resistant paint for an outdoorsmen's truck... and other than the tool boxes, nothing that a few extra bucks and an endless selection of aftermarket goodies to make any model of truck, pretty well the same thing.

One piece of advice which was already mentioned above, new cars/trucks are nice, but a huge investment. With the marjority of vehicles selling for $30k+ (generally closer to the $40k for trucks) that is a major commitment especially for someone just starting out.

And I completely agree with vectorit... I wouldn't put any of my rifles or poles in the side boxes, easy target for the opportunity of theft. Anymore, there's fishing poles that cost more than most rifles, not for the average fisher like myself, but still. Bait, tackle boxes, poles, reels, etc. it adds up quick and that's a one stop shop for thieves, just my opinion.

[Shane]

Originally Posted by special-K

I never had a problem hunting and fishing out of whatever I had.

Very well said.

Too many marketing "gimics" in the U.S. car business these days. If they would spend half as much time engineering a better vehicle as they do coming up with the latest marketing crap then they would not be in the pitiful shape they find themselves in now.

[big_al_71]

Good luck you will need it owning that.....

[screwballl]

Originally Posted by foamypirate

$16/hr won't go nearly as far as you would think. That's all I'll say about that.

exactly... I make slightly under that with a family of 4 to support and would never look at any new vehicle. Stick with used or well kept classic trucks if you need one.

[LEEVON]

I'm going to be blunt and it's fair game since you posted this in an open forum but your going to have fun paying bills let alone for a $40K truck that will be worth $17-20K in two years. Don't be in such a hurry to ruin your financial future by being a slave to debt.

[screwballl]

Also look at the state of things.... the trend indicators show things getting much worse before it gets better, so hold off on any new vehicles for another 3-5 years...

[fastwillie 696969]

[QUOTE=irishman999;4287381]New trucks are nice but after 6 months they lose that appeal and feel like any other vehicle I've driven. I compare the 07 sierra I recently drove to my 85 High Sierra and really enjoy the 85 alot more.

No job now is secure and car payments are hard to keep up on when you have no job, they take the truck and sell it to a buddy at an "auction" for a low price and you still owe that money. Its a very vicious cycle, ask me how I know about it![/QUOTE) this is when the insurance kicks in ,for some reason it got stolen

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by fastwillie 696969

this is when the insurance kicks in ,for some reason it got stolen

Q, I get your point... but that's insurance fraud.

[71swb4x4]

www.daveramsey.com

[rwolf9653]

We no longer have Dodge trucks at work because they could not hold up. All of the stuff mentioned above, and we went through several tranny's. Whether or not the "new" trucks will have the same issues, we will find out in a few years. My opinion is that Dodge quality is not at an acceptable level yet for the cost of the vehicle.

[El Jay]

One piece of advice which was already mentioned above, new cars/trucks are nice, but a huge investment. With the marjority of vehicles selling for $30k+ (generally closer to the $40k for trucks) that is a major commitment especially for someone just starting out.

Not to be argumentative, new cars/trucks are not an investment, but rather a liability.
There are very, very few few new vehicles that appreciate in value.

Regardless of the marque you choose, I would stick with something used, & preferably something that can be purchased for cash, no payments.

[Palf70Step]

MY 2003 was a good vehicle. It sucked way more gas than my 96 GMC. I never had tranny issues, but the truck did blow both head gaskets and basically I had to have two new heads put on. Thank goodness for the warranty. Had it been used as a 1/2 ton truck before me, I think it may have done better. But the owner prior to me pulled WAY to big a camper for the truck/engine/tranny combo. All that said I put on almost 80,000 miles in 2 1/2 years with no other issues.

Like other have mentioned, I doubt I will ever buy a new vehicle again, especially a truck that will be used as a truck.

[markeb01]

When shopping for a new vehicle about 10 years ago, the consistent warning I read about was the automatic transmissions in Dodge trucks. They were the worst on the market and failed as early as 1500 miles. My boss had one at the time, and didn't have any transmission troubles, but had the front end replaced several times at dealer expense and constantly went through front tires. He finally traded it off for a new GMC since he had a relative working at the local GM dealer. They may or may not be better now, I haven't done any recent research.

Regardless of what you decide to drive, I agree with the others above. A new vehicle is a liability not an asset. Just starting out in life that kind of big money could be better invested for your future.

[silverspeed04]

I know a guy with a great tow truck. I would switch to a Superduty before I ever sat behind a wheel of a Dodge. The rifle compartment is just a way for people to have a reason to steal from you and the cops to stop you to check for loaded weapons. Dent resistant is an expensive way to say tupperware and the beefed up tires is just their way of saying you didnt get highway tires. For the price you pay for the options, you could buy a regular one and go to Walmart or whatever and get some A/T tires for about a grand less.

Stick to a bowtie so you dont ever have to call a bowtie to come get you. It will help you in the future both financially and morally.

[boatpuller]

i think if you went to a dodge site you may get some different opinions.my knowledge is only in the diesel line.iv'e owned a super duty 250.that i used to haul a large boat for as much as 500 miles one way up some steep grades here out west.after being literally blown away up those hills buy dodge diesel's,and after spending more than a payment on a new one each month just to get it to start. i bought an 02 cummins 4x4.and it went up those same hills pulling that same large boat with half the effort.i sold the boat and made the mistake of buying a 2005 half ton chevy 4x4 crew cab with abou a short bed.that was no stranger to the shop.but,a comfortable truck..i don't think the japanese offer a real truck only half ton pickups.my 02 dodge never had a serious problem .i work with several cummins owners who will all attest to their dodges.my current 09.dodge is a beast towing a 13k 34 foot fifth wheel.as mentioned dodge did have some transmission issue's.which have been resolved several model years before.chevy and ford have had problems too.ever hear about gm piston slap?type it in some time.and read about the lawsuits for hours.they also had a steering issue in recent years.their diesel while now seems to be good took a few years to get right. ford has gone thru about 3 different diesel configurations in the past 10 years.point is they can all have problems.and everybody knows somebody.i can tell you as an actual owner.i'm am very pleased with dodge.i won't offer financial advice because i don't think it's any of my business.but,i would offer this.if you plan on using it like a truck for several years. look at a long box 3/4 ton or 1 ton 4 wheel drive,then you'll be able to do and haul whatever.i know people including myself who bought shortboxes on looks alone only to be restricted by bed length.and i think you got expected feedback about dodge on a chevy forum.

[gearys 5600]

I agree this is a chevy forum, But I own a dodge, 2-fords, jeep cherokee, and a couple of chevys..As soon as I sell MY dodge I wont be buying another one. The cummins engine is great, Its the rest of the truck that is Junk. jmo.

[timjt]

Originally Posted by 71swb4x4

www.daveramsey.com

[bigcow94]

my boss' neighbor just bought a '10 dodge ram half ton with the stow away boxes in the bed. they're nice but he's also retired and just keeps ratchet straps and what not in them. when i bought my '03 f250 back in 05 i was a slave to my truck payments. if i were you, like boatpuller said look into a 3/4 ton or 1 ton pickup. and don't buy a new truck buy one that's 3-4 years old. they're still new enough and you don't have to pay the crazy sticker price. i dont' know about you guys but around here a new diesel 3/4 or 1 ton is fetching around 45-55k! all brands have they're own flaws just what you're willing to deal with. unless you wanna put a cummins into a superduty