Full-Size Trucks

Best large trucks: Ford F-150 beats Dodge Ram

If you regularly haul very heavy loads or tow a big boat or trailer, you'll need a full-size pickup -- and most reviews say the 2009 Ford F-150 (*Est. $21,565 to $44,355) is the best you can buy. The F-150 has been the bestselling vehicle in America for about three decades, but in recent years, it had fallen behind Chevy and Toyota pickup trucks in reviews. Most critics say its 2009 redesign puts the Ford F-150 back on top, both as a work truck and as a daily driver. It's not a landslide victory, though: Several very reliable experts prefer the redesigned 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 (*Est. $21,270 to $43,240).

The Ford F-150 "has the image of a work truck -- because it actually is one," writes Justin Berkowitz at TheTruthAboutCars.com. Unlike the new Dodge Ram, which concentrated its redesign on its powerful engine and a smooth ride, most reviewers say the Ford F-150 stuck closer to its working-class roots while still offering a very pleasant drive. Not only can the F-150 haul and tow heavier loads than other full-size trucks, it's also the only one with a flat rear floor under the fold-up seats (great for hauling stuff you want stored securely under roof), handy steps for easy access to the bed and a built-in controller for a trailer's brakes, which Popular Mechanics calls "a game-changing feature." The whole package makes the F-150 very user-friendly, reviews say.

The same stiff chassis that makes the Ford F-150 such a tough work truck also "quells vibration and makes for a serene, peaceful interior" in everyday driving, says Larry Webster at Popular Mechanics. "At a 60-mph cruise, the Ford was nearly luxury-car quiet." Reviewers praise the Ford F-150's direct steering feel -- conspicuously absent in the new Dodge Ram -- and its confident handling. Inside the cabin, most reviewers find the F-150 roomy and comfortable, even swanky in the pickup truck's pricey upper trims. SuperCab and SuperCrew models can seat up to six, the latter with enough rear legroom for 6-footers.

The '09 Ford F-150 also gets better scores for safety, reliability, resale value and fuel economy than the 2009 Dodge Ram. But the Ram still wins over its share of critics with its quick acceleration, attention-grabbing style and a plush, street-tailored ride.

The new Dodge Ram is "largely aimed at families," a Dodge spokesman tells The New York Times. Optional RamBox lockable storage bins can take up the bed space over the wheel wells, providing a dry place for golf clubs and grocery bags (or tools and tow chains). A lightweight plastic cargo divider works ingeniously, reviews say. You can even get Sirius satellite TV to pipe cartoons into the backseat, plus the optional backseat DVD player all full-size pickups offer.

However, reviews say families may be shifting away from the expensive pickup-as-passenger-car, thanks to uncertain gas prices and the equally uncertain economy. They say core truck buyers (those who use their trucks for actual work) will now be buying most of the pickups, and the new Ford F-150 is a better choice for them. A couple of reviewers raise the question of whether Chrysler's bankruptcy and sale to Fiat could make it risky to buy a new Dodge; the U.S. government is presently backing all Chrysler and GM warranties.

Although they were new just a couple of years ago, reviews say the 2009 Toyota Tundra (*Est. $22,490 to $41,605) and 2009 Chevrolet Silverado (*Est. $19,375 to $41,355) can't match the comfort, convenience, ride or handling of either the new Ford F-150 or Dodge Ram pickup trucks. Both the Tundra and Silverado demonstrate great hauling and towing power in tests, and the Silverado's top-of-the-line, 403-horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8 engine is the biggest you'll find in a full-size pickup. However, both the Chevy Silverado and Toyota Tundra pickup trucks receive mixed safety ratings. Each gets average-to-good reliability scores, although some 2000-2001 Tundra owners have complained about severe frame rust. The GMC Sierra (*Est. $19,375 to $44,020) is basically identical, save for some minor exterior appearance differences, to the Chevrolet Silverado; they are the only 2009 model year pickups available as hybrids (see our Hybrid Pickups section).

The aging Nissan Titan (*Est. $26,150 to $39,350) is omitted from several full-size truck comparison reviews these days. Reviews say it lacks the features, fuel economy and safety of newer models. The 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche (*Est. $35,460 to $46,700) has an unusual one-piece body and a fold-in extender that can turn the backseat into cargo bed space, but experts say this is tedious to actually use, making the Avalanche less versatile than it seems. In a weak economy, the luxury-oriented 2009 Hummer H2 SUT (*Est. $61,585) and 2009 Cadillac Escalade EXT (*Est. $61,130) have dropped off most reviewers' radar; GM sold only 4,709 Escalade EXTs in all of 2008 and halted Hummer H2 production (perhaps permanently) in January 2009.