My ‘14 JGC just crapped out. In the market for a reliable pickup truck. What’s out there??

Definitely get out of that Jeep. Cant imagine buying a transmission to keep the thing going... Haul it to the scrap heap and let it die with dignity.

Clean 4x4 Tundras are $15-$20k over here. You are kidding yourself if that is not the move.

The guys recommending Frontiers and Ancient F100 fords obviously haven't driven them. The only good thing about a Frontier is that is is cheap.

Titans? - 5.6L is good (Nissan makes good engines in my opinio) but they are ancient trucks by this point. And that 5.6L is still attached to the rest of a Nissan. Buttons falling into the dash, Random CEL codes, Wheel Bearings every 25,000 miles.
 
While I've been happy with my Ram, I gather the Hemi Rams have lifter issues. The newer Hemis come with the eTorque, and the motor/generator units on the Hemis are a source of expensive headaches. The Pentastar eTorques are less troublesome (knock on wood).
 
Dave Sherman said:
While I've been happy with my Ram, I gather the Hemi Rams have lifter issues. The newer Hemis come with the eTorque, and the motor/generator units on the Hemis are a source of expensive headaches. The Pentastar eTorques are less troublesome (knock on wood).
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2018+ HEMI's have the updated lifters. Our '19 Sport doesn't have eTorque, nor does my parent's 2024 JGC with the 5.7L.
 
01171980 said:
....I’m drawn to the Sierras and silverados but I fear the lifter issues on the 5.3. I’m looking to purchase used and stay in the sub 20k range if possible. What’s the consensus on a strong pickup truck that is reliable and parts are generally affordable? Prefer V8 but not a necessity. Live in southern New England so AWD/4x4 is a must.
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For an under $20K GM 1500, I'd be as fearful of rust as I would AFM lifter issues.

A quad cab 4x4 Ram 1500 with the Pentastar can be a good buy. Nissan Frontiers can be a good buy.
 
Ws6 said:
Yeah, but Stellantis built it instead of ZF. They literally bought the designs for it so they could cheapen it for the American customer, so no, it's not ACTUALLY a ZF8, it's trash knock-off built by the worst manufacturer on the planet (not counting the Chinese EV companies that sprang up overnight) called the "Torqueflight 8", which they have been building in their own plant since 2013 or so. Quality companies (BMW, Audi, Bently, Aston Martin, etc) pay ZF to manufacture the transmission and use actual ZF8 transmissions which they tune the electronics on themselves for their applications instead of cheap knock-offs that they build themselves to save a buck. This is part of why you don't hear about transmission issues with their 8-speeds like you do Chrysler.
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Even folks who spend all their energy hating Stellantis/FCA generally agree that the 8spd in the Rams and other things is among the best AT's you can get. Tons and tons of high mileage examples with no issues.
 
SC Maintenance said:
Updated valve train was for 2018 model year - ie it was refreshed during 2018 - so 2019+?
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I think like with anything, even if FCA said the new lifters were used in anything manufactured 2018+, I suspect there were still some early 2018 manufactured vehicles that got the old lifters as they emptied out old stock (unless they actually started the replacement in 2017, but I've not seen any mention of that). My wife's '19 was manufactured at the end of 2018, I assume it has the updated lifters.
 
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We're Metals said:
The guys recommending Frontiers and Ancient F100 fords obviously haven't driven them.
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It amazes me how some people on a forum can make arrogant assumptions about what others they don't know have or have not done.

I've driven many of them while being in the car business. I know people who own them, some with well over 200k and still going strong. One of those is used on a farm, and let me tell you, it is used as a farm truck. Oh, and it still has plenty of highway miles added to it.
It may look like hell, but it won't die.
They're great little trucks. If the OP needs full-size, it won't work, but otherwise, it's a great option given his price range. He could easily get a "low-mileage" 4x4 Frontier in that price range.
 
F150 with the NA V6 and 6 speed is probably the sweet spot for reliable and affordable. The 6 is not known to have any glaring flaws and just goes. The 6 speed transmission is not known for issues like the 10 speed is.

I’d consider the pentastar RAM as well, if reliability is a key item.

I had an 06 Tundra that was anvil-reliable but thirsty on gas.

Had a 2018 F150 2.7 which was super comfrortable, towed wonderfully, was great on gas - but seemed like there was always something wrong - trans acted up a bit, hvac had a couple of issues (dash removal), and started losing coil packs around 80k, also wept coolant when towing. But it was superb at doing truck things.

I couldn’t buy another ford - the dealer experience was poor too. Bought a Tacoma eventually - the smaller size is both an advantage and a disadvantage, but aside from one odd hiccup it has been very nice to live with.

GM uses the same 10speed trans as ford, but their version seems more reliable at least to 100k. If I had to buy a full-size, if you can find a clean early 2000s GM or a 2005-6 tundra, those are both stellar ranges.

Also, I’ve seen a couple of early titans around here with over 200k on them and everything still works and they run well, aside from paint and wear.

If it’s a daily driver, the rams probably drive the best, with the fords being a little more sporty and the gms a bit more utilitarian in handling.
 
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