Talk me off the cliff....

[Tarpoon75]

I'm on the fence for a 2019 limited Ram 1500, or Ford 150. I love the Ram, but the questionable reliability is really giving me cold feet. Am I being too cautious or have the majority of the growing pains been sorted? This is a 50k mistake I would rather avoid.

 

[HitchHiker]

I'm on the fence for a 2019 limited Ram 1500, or Ford 150. I love the Ram, but the questionable reliability is really giving me cold feet. Am I being too cautious or have the majority of the growing pains been sorted? This is a 50k mistake I would rather avoid.

Which F150 model with what engine option?

What reliability issues are you specifically referring to on the RAM Limited?


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[JoeCo]

Which F150 model with what engine option?

What reliability issues are you specifically referring to on the RAM Limited?


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And how long do you plan on keeping it?

 

[MADDOG]

Which F150 model with what engine option?

What reliability issues are you specifically referring to on the RAM Limited?

I too am curious about what issues you are referring to.

 

[crash68]

This is a 50k mistake I would rather avoid.

Anything is bound to break. Either way you go if it breaks your gonna kick yourself and say you should've bought the other one. It's hard to get an objective decision on a particular brands forum, your going to get a lot of votes to buy the Ram here.

 

[RainDesert]

Well I still consider myself a Ford guy because I always really have been until recent. Ford seems to have more problems than ever anymore, especially in the F150 world where I used to believe they dominated. Now there is a new problem with the new 5.0 consuming oil so there goes the old V8 reliability vs ecoboost in F150. If I were going 1/2 ton I would be looking at a 2014 F150 or the new Ram. Since the aluminum Ford 150-350's came out they have really gone down in reliability to me. That's why I'm in a 2018 Mega now. My previous truck was the 2017 F250. IMO, It's too bad "tech" seems to be what the big 3 push instead of pure reliability w/simplicity. I'm not a Laramie or Lariat guy so I see things different than many, all I want is a truck for daily, reliable use. There's no way the new ford 10spd is close to the reliability of the Ram 8spd, the motor is even further apart for reliability. If electronics are your concern well that's a crap shoot. Just like any new appliance regardless of brand I put in houses, one is bound to fail within one year.

 

[Tarpoon75]

I too am curious about what issues you are referring to.

Seems to be water leaking issues with the body seals in the sunroof and doors. I see a people complaining of transmissions failing or unable to switch out of 2 wheel or 4 wheel, a good number of issues with the infotainment system not working or requiring updates. I'm guessing that alot of this is growing pains with a new ground up model. Normally I would wait a year but I need a new vehicle now.

My dad, had multiple GMC/Chrysler products in the 70s and refuses to own any of them again. I suppose a little of fear/Hatred is rubbing off on me.

And how long do you plan on keeping it?

I plan on having it for the next 8-10 years.

 

[JB1]

I can’t speak for the 5th gens, I’m a die hard 4th gen owner and wouldn’t trade my truck for any 2019 make/model

 

[wgreggking]

ALL new trucks can have issues. Ive owned all three brands. like going to Vegas, sometimes your lucky sometime not. Been a ford and dodge guy on and off for 30 years, Had great trucks in both. More tech=more issues IMO. some of the best years were in the mid 90's to the mid 2000's. just enough tech but still bullet proof. If your the worrying type get a warranty.

 

[Mehgyver]

you'll get more truck for your money from Ram than you will from Ford. I spent a ton of time comparing fords/chevys/rams before I bought mine (like 6 months worth) and I just couldnt find a Ford that would give me as much truck per dollar.

I would imagine to a certain extent finding issues with a truck brand seems inflated when you are on a forum for that truck brand because people who have issues are going to go to that forum to voice them whereas the 95% of the people who dont have issues wont be posting the fact that they have no issues.

Ive had pretty much no issues with door seals, transmission, 4 wheel drive, or infotainment system but I suppose I could be an outlier

 

[BWL]

In reality I think the ford 10spd is likely a good transmission. A lot went into the design and it was a joint Gm/ford effort that will be in a lot of vehicles and it doesn't pay to have to warranty them. The 5.0 consuming oil isn't an every engine thing, much like the hemi lifter and cam issues. The hemis can easily last a long time as can the aisin, but that can be said of the 5.0 and 10spd as well. I've seen high mile ecoboosts that guys swear by as well so really luck of the draw. Drive them both and whichever one you feel you'd enjoy driving for the next 8-10 years go with that one. Which dealership has the best service department reputation is probably the only other factor I'd consider as neither will make you happy without somebody to repair it properly when you have a problem. 1st year trucks extended warranty usually pays off.

 

[WilliamS]

I run a Ford dealer, and if the prices were the same option for option Id get the 3.5 Ecoboost in a heartbeat. I see the shop all day and all the issues people claim to have just prove the internet creates terror and fear instead of hope and joy. I very rarely see any transmission issues, in fact Ive seen zero so far, and only failed 3.5's were tuned. Dont trust the internet, as most of the stories are based on angry people. Very rarely someone will go on a website to tell how great something is, its always a place for people to grow internet muscles.

If you havent driven the 3.5 Ecoboost, you need to. Mountains of torque.

 

[Tarpoon75]

I run a Ford dealer, and if the prices were the same option for option Id get the 3.5 Ecoboost in a heartbeat. I see the shop all day and all the issues people claim to have just prove the internet creates terror and fear instead of hope and joy. I very rarely see any transmission issues, in fact Ive seen zero so far, and only failed 3.5's were tuned. Dont trust the internet, as most of the stories are based on angry people. Very rarely someone will go on a website to tell how great something is, its always a place for people to grow internet muscles.

If you havent driven the 3.5 Ecoboost, you need to. Mountains of torque.

I've test driven the ford diesel and the TT 3.5 I think they are both great power plants. I think the limited trim of Ram's interior is a much nicer place to be, but I found the Ford seats to be a bit more comfortable. The local Ford dealership offers lifetime powertrain warranty for free, and you just have to have manufacturer recommended service from an SAE tech.

 

[WilliamS]

I've test driven the ford diesel and the TT 3.5 I think they are both great power plants. I think the limited trim of Ram's interior is a much nicer place to be, but I found the Ford seats to be a bit more comfortable. The local Ford dealership offers lifetime powertrain warranty for free, and you just have to have manufacturer recommended service from an SAE tech.

The aesthetic of the ram are superior in my opinion. I just hate it when bad info gets out there. I would not buy the 3.0 diesel.

 

[Jrod]

I tried talking myself into an F150 once. Both trucks can be great as well as horrible.. Unfortunately you don’t know what you have until you commit. Dollar for dollar it just didn’t make sense though. RAM offered a nicer trim level for the same amount of money. Regarding service departments, big maintance jobs (plugs) etc cost less with RAM. The F150 also looked basic and felt weird on the throttle. The HEMI felt much more satesfying than Fords V8. The Ecoboost was definitely not my thing. It simply felt like a modded V6.. The torque was nice once you punch through the lag in turbo’s... Also, the whine in those things made me feel like I was driving a ricer truck, and gawd forbid when the turbos go bad. Those things aren’t cheap to replace!

 

[PoMansRam]

Chevy, Ford, Ram, Tundra, Titan.. They're all good trucks IMO. The more goodies you decide you have to have with them is going to increase your chances of reliability issues. I'm not a real big fancy truck guy myself. Too old, cheap and cranky. LOL

 

[JD Martin]

Chevy, Ford, Ram, Tundra, Titan.. They're all good trucks IMO. The more goodies you decide you have to have with them is going to increase your chances of reliability issues. I'm not a real big fancy truck guy myself. Too old, cheap and cranky. LOL

Exactly. In all honesty the gap between all these trucks is really small when it comes to reliability. I ended up with a Ram because it was the most truck for the money. No way could I have had this same outfitted truck in a Ford for $36750 (what I paid after rebates, before taxes). Just because you hear of some problem on the internet doesn't mean this is common at all; people often come online looking for a cure to a problem or just a place to gripe. The percentage of truck owners of any brand that are part of a forum is miniscule. Just look at this forum. Ram sold 3-400k trucks a year for the past several years, yet there's nowhere near a million members here.

Bottom line: buy what you want. If you are panicked, get an extended warranty from the dealer. That's what they're for - to give you long term peace of mind.

 

[yellowboy]

I am in the market for a new truck in the next 5-6 months and back and forth from Ram to Ford. I am on this forum, 2 other Ram forums and 3 Ford truck forums. The reasons I am leaning toward Ram is because Ford trucks are having a major door latch issue where door latches will freeze and not hold the door closed. Happening in all 2015-2019 trucks AND THEY ARE STILL PUTTING THE LATCHES IN NEW TRUCKS. That alone is a deal killer. Guys and mechanics are taking doors apart, spraying all kids of stuff and nothing works. For now keeping my cherry 07 King Ranch with only 120,000 on it why not - its paid for and not a mark on it. On the down side of Ram it's a new model with tons of issues but the longer you wait the better your chances.

 

[Fatbob Frank]

My next door neighbor bought a new F150 FX4/sport w/ 5.0 and options this summer and spent a buttload on it.
It has been in the shop 4 times so far for extended periods of time.
The quickest he got it back was 2 weeks.
(It is still there as of right now and going on week 4)
He is royally pissed...
I liked his truck enough to look hard at a Ford when it came time to buy, but after 6 months of ownership I've seen the loaner truck in his driveway more than his...

 

[Wahrsuul]

I can’t speak for the 5th gens, I’m a die hard 4th gen owner and wouldn’t trade my truck for any 2019 make/model

^^ This. Though I could be tempted by the 5th gen Classic. But of course it's a 4th gen in sheep's clothing