Well, it has been a mostly great 4 years and 83K miles with my '13 King Ranch Ecoboost 4x4 but the time has come to move on... know I'll get flamed here for my choice, but... I bought a Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn 4x4, Hemi, monotone white, Cattle Tan/Black interior, full trailering pkg, 3.92 Anti-Spin, polished forged wheels.
I test drove 2 '17 F150's (EB Platinum and 5.0 KR), a Tundra 1794, a Chevy High Country, a GMC Sierra Denali and 2 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorns--all 4x4's. I really tried to like the new F150's but just couldn't warm up to the aluminum body and the price. Was not impressed with the GM twins or the Toyota. The Fords listed for $62-64K and the best deal I could make was $5500 off list. The Ram listed for $56K and I negotiated $14K off... they also gave me $1500 more for my truck. $15K to trade vs $32K to trade (plus tax on the difference here in TX). Impressions? The Ram Longhorn interior is just as nice, the stereo is better and it hands down rides smoother and is quieter than any of the others. It's design is dated and it does not have the latest safety aids (adaptive cruise, lane keeping assist, trailer backing assist, etc). Due to the smoother riding rear coil spring set-up it does give up some towing and load capacity but I don't pull over 8000 lbs anyway.
Due to the newer design and the new EB/10 speed combo I honestly did like the Ford a little better... but not $17K better.
This has been a GREAT forum and I used the advice on here A LOT. Will miss you guys. Later...

 

hope you like the new truck and it's good to see you did thorough, unbiased research before you made a decision. one of my best friends bought a new Ram 1500 Sport the same week I bought my 2014 F150 and it's not a bad truck at all.

 

No love for the new Titan?

I do think the Ram's look sharp, arguably better than the F150's.

 

Just didn't like the looks of the Titan.

 

Someone asked me yesterday my final thoughts on my '13 KR. Had to think about it a bit... really liked the truck overall, but....

• loved the low-mid range torque but didn't like the momentary turbo lag
• loved the power but didn't like the gas mileage, not much 'Eco' and a lot more 'Boost'
• ride was pretty stiff--especially when compared to the Ram
• pulled a trailer like no other 1/2 pickup I've ever driven
• stock stereo sucked--the Ford/Kicker sub upgrade did help
• hated the stock Pirelli tires--loved the BFG KO-2's I replaced them with
• overall liked the interior but the new for 2013 bonded leather seats showed wear way too fast
• didn't like the intercooler condensation issue at all--lost power unexpectedly several times, first one nearly got me killed--pulling an enclosed car trailer in the rain in a construction zone with no shoulder in busy North Dallas traffic, had to come to a complete stop

 

Good luck with your purchase. Just please tell me it doesn't have the giant chrome "RAM" letters on the tailgate?

 

I appreciate your logical and well documented process! You don't owe a bunch of strangers on the internet any explanation but, you wanted to do the right thing.

Agree on every bullet point you have there. Honestly, If my truck was to do what your last bullet point lists, it would be gone the first chance I could do it.

Years back we were traveling with a 26' toy hauler behind a 1500HD purchased new in '03. Truck had 50K miles at the time when we made a stop for fuel / nature etc. Truck wouldn't re start. After lots of different things attempted it finally did, but no AC the rest of the trip. Told my wife, "If we pass a Ford dealer along the road, I'm pulling in" She knew......


Just have a zero tolerance policy for owning something that would harm or leave my family stranded. Thankfully, the Lord has blessed us with the financial ability to make those kinds of decisions.

 

And this.

 

Pics! We want pics!

 

Congrats on the new truck! I was looking at getting another Ram, but the years I could afford had the cam/lifter problems and they were all 100k trucks. Found a good deal on the F150 with lower miles than anything else.