f150, silverado,or ridgeline for my situation?
 

What would you get? I've done a bit of research, here is where I am so far...

Here's what I need a truck to do:

-fit in a 20 foot garage

- tow a 2000 lb 16' (loaded) bass boat 9k miles per year. About 30% of this light towing will be at 5k feet, the rest closer to sea level.

- daily driver 9k miles per year

- drive in snowy conditions well (with snow tires)

- best mpg is a consideration. So is price. I'm cheap.


So I need either a Ridgeline Sport (only Ridgeline that looks OK IMO). a 4x4 reg. cab F150 XL 126' WB w/ 3.7 V6 (or 5.0?), or a Silverado 4.8 liter 4x4 reg cab.

Thoughts so far:

The Ridgeline and Silverado seemingly beat out the F150 in the winter driving department since they have AWD options.

The F150 IMO is the most well-built of the three.

Ridgeline drives best day-to-day, given the nature of its' frame.

MPG on the V6 Ridgeline is pretty pathetic. The 5.0 seems to do a little better/about the same, the 3.7 get 2-3 mpg better it seems.

-towing mpg seems to be very similar in all 3 models based on what I'm reading w/ light loads such as mine.

Priced how I want them, the Silverado is cheapest with the F150 very close, then the Ridgline a few K more.

What would you get in my situation? Thank you for reading my long-winded blather!

Have u driven a new f150? It probably feels better than the ridgeline. Not to sound biased, but I'd go with the f150 with a 5.0. The only thing that the ridgeline has over the ford regular cab is that it's a 4 door. And its probably more luxurious since its a sport edition and the xl is basically a work truck

I'm not sure you will get too many honest opinions here. But I will try since I am a car guy and not a brand loyalist. I just recently bought my truck so I test drove a ton of vehicles.

Silverado (I drove the Sierra): drives like a truck, but with soft, almost spongy steering. The interior wasn't exciting, but did the job. I wasn't excited about it after I drove it.

Ridgeline: looks good, but it's built on a FWD minivan platform. Love the trunk feature in the bed, but if you keep anything back there, it's hard to access. Interior is ok, but the flat dash isn't all that exciting. I personally think Honda is way too proud of this vehicle, and they show that in the price.

F150: I've never owned a Ford prior to this one. I've not been much of a fan of the feel of the F150, until I drove this body style. The interior looks and feels great. The ride, for a truck, is spectacular. And the steering is firm and accurate, much like a true sports car. The only thing I would change would be the factory nav unit.

I did forget to mention, you're comparing apples to apple cobbler here. An XL F150 isn't going to have anywhere near the same amount of features as a Ridgeline Sport. It would be similar to comparing a base model flip phone to an iPhone 4S. It's just not the same.

My wife just got a 2012 honda pilot which is basically a ridgeline with no bed ....... i tried to talk her into a ford edge but you know how women are with listening :) Let me start off with this...... the pilot is great. 20 mpg, comfortable and roomy. However, it has one of the cheapest interiors ive ever seen. My 2010 xlt was the same price and my interior blows hers away. Thats really the only negative i see. Honda powertrains will outlast a ford by a long shot. The 4wd system honda has works great too.

I have owned all three, an older k1500 extended cab (POS), tradeed for a 2006 Ridgeline, traded for a 2011 f160 screw eco-shudder. And I like my shudder, but the Ridgeline got better daily gas milage, better towing milage (towing a 5k trailer which is max for the truck). Maintenance on the Honda was easy drain plugs for everything, which was good since they wanted you to change the tranny fluid and vtam fluid every 20k miles, and I didn't find an approved aftermarket. Also due to the front/all wheel drive the Ridgeline was the best car or truck I have driven in the winter. Any truck or suv you chose will have its share of problems, and will probably be good at one thing or another but not good at all things.

In my opinion your choice falls between the F150 and the Ridgline. The silverado IMO is outdated and unless your going to opt for the 5.3L with the 6-speed tranny your going to regret buying one. The interior on them is boring and the 4.8L Vortec with the 4 speed drinks just as much if not more fuel then the 5.3L with the 6 speed, but with less power available.

If you need a 4 door vehicle for extra passengers or storage and you absolutely do not want anything more then a reg cab pickup, your decision is pretty simple, go with the Ridgline.

The F150 will be a better hauler and is designed to be 100% truck (although still drives great) where as the ridgline is more focused towards people who are thinking about buying a crossover or suv but still want a truck bed.

If you can I would suggest looking for a good deal on an extended cab XL F150. The extra cost will be very much worth it with the addition of the back seats and extra interior storage. The interior of the base XL is sparse, but if your okay with no goodies (like a CD player or power windows / locks) then you will be more then happy with the Ford interior, well laid out, well built, very comfortable. Also you can get the 3.7L 4x4 in an extended cab, although you'll love the extra power of the 5.0 (I know I do :thumbsup:).

Given the 3 choices your working with I would personally go with the F150. But thats just my opinion, good luck with your decision!

I'm a 100% biased ford fan so i automatically say screw chevy, and definitely forget the civic. But, in realistic facts, you will be towing an albeit light load, far distances. This is what i do know, independent suspension doesn't like towing. The ridgeline is full independant, meaning it doesn't have a solid rear axle; it is cv joints: which wear way quicker under a load, and are (generally) not as strong. I personally think the ridgeline is an ugly truck to boot. It also is terrible to back up to anything, the rear window is too small and the tailgate too high, causing a humongous blind spot (chevy has the same issue in the avalanche). The Chevy is what its always been. Old technology, with a few doodads to make it seem new. Like i said, I'm biased, but its for a reason. I honestly feel if you spring for a nice xlt package you will surpass all the competitors in every single category. Just my .02 :thumbsup2:

Show me a Honda that can take the abuse my stepdad's 83 F-100 took and still make it to 450k miles. The first 150k, my grandpa owned it and towed a camper trailer all over America. After that, he sold it to my stepdad, who drove the HELL out of it, and it only ever needed minor repair until the 3 speed manual finally gave out at 450k. The 300ci straight six still ran fine!

If you don't care about carrying more than 2 people (3 in a pinch) the RCSB F150 XLT is probably your best bet. The V6 will get better gas mileage and is less expensive, 5.0 has more power (and sounds ridiculously good).

IMO, I'd look at some SUV/CUVs before I'd consider buying the Ridgeline. 2000lbs is nothing, even for some of the small CUVs. Explorer, Jeep Grand Cherokee, etc. Even the new Escape is rated for 3500lbs with the 2.0L EcoBoost.

Did you post the same question on a chevy forum or honda forum. I am sure each one will say theres is better. I am not a brand car guy. But I am on my second F150. I drove all trucks before buying it and my now 2012. The F150 keeps winning hands down. I remember chevy always prided themselves on a truck that rides like a car, but I feel like the Ford drives much better. And like mentioned above the F150 cockpit is much nice than the silverado. I like the body style on the Silverado and really tried to like the whole truck, but in the end I went with Ford. It just feels like a better truck

If I were you I'd buy a F150 STX 4x4

^^^

I had an 08 Ridgeline prior to the F150. It was a great vehicle for what it was designed for! It took a lot of abuse, as I dove it about 30k / year!
I traded it in with 93,000 on it, and the original tires were just hitting the wear bars!
Only complaint was the crappy material on the seats that frayed and even stained from water! Kinda disappointing for a $30k truck.
But otherwise, I'd recommend it to anybody!
Like my FX4 EcoScrew much better, but that's a jump from a XL.

Drive a 3.7L 4x4 XLT or STX supercab and see what that does to your decision making gland.

^ If I was in your shoes, with your requirements, the above recommendation is spot on, and would easily trump the other choices IMO.

If you gotta ask this question in an F150 Forum...Go with the Honda Civic! Bwahahahahaha!

For real though....My neighbor has a Ridgeline and we do a lot of hunting and he can haul people more comfortably than my SCAB can (4 200lbs adults) but holy crap is his interior UGLY! The bed is also worthless...our shotgun cases just barely fit in there with the gate closed. In my F150 we put 6 shotguns, 6 AR15's, 6 boxes of clay, 1000 5.56 NATO rounds, 1000 shells, and an automatic thrower.

He is actually looking at F250's now and is GIVING HIS RIDGELINE TO HIS WIFE...hahahahahahahaha!

I am recent Chevy Silverado 2007 new body style crew owner until it came time to trade. While a nice truck this time around the Ford stood out over the Chevy in so many ways. Quality, fit and finish, creature comforts, etc. I can't speak for the Ridgeline. However, I would not pay extra for one. As to what engine I would suggest the 5.0 V over EB. I am not convinced it is all it should be yet. Personally I am V8 person:) My truck is 2011 Screw 6.2 Lariat. Very nice truck and much quiter than my 2007 Chevy.

Well, respectfully, I don't think you know what you want. Pulling a 2K bass boat and driving 9K is light duty work. Any kind of bottom feeder truck can handle that. Do you really and truly drive a lot in the snow? Sure see a lot of 4X4 in Phoenix that never see a dirt road or snow either one.

Since just about any truck is overqualified for your actual needs, (as opposed to your psychological needs) I'd go for something pretty cheap. Ford has done an excellent job of knocking a hole in the pricing strategy of low-end American trucks. Since you will be hauling a small trailer, and the price is a little cheaper, I would go for a low end hemi-Dodge. The Basic 3.7 Ford pulls 5.5K, so it could handle a 2K bass boat without much problem and get good gas mileage. Then would be Chevy. Ridgeline would probably be last. Too expensive, I think.

1 more vote for the STX SuperCab.

I'd opt for the:
-3.7L V6 for the fuel economy
-3.73 Limited slip for traction both in the snow and on the boat ramp.
-Supercab for added storage, elbowroom (flying elbow almost took out the back window once in my old Chevy), and ability to haul a few more friends if you need to... basically the general versatility of it makes it a winning combo for those who don't need 4 full doors.

The difference between 4WD and AWD is 1 differential and a switch. Both will go very well in the snow. (even better with a limited slip of some sort) An AWD usually tracks a little better in turns but most people won't notice the difference.

I would NOT go with the Chevy and that is an unbiased opinion. I test drove a 4.8L with the 4spd and did not care for it. It would tow your boat just fine, but you really would be better off with the F150. As someone else already said, the Chevy 4.8 & 4spd combo is out dated as well as going to be the least fuel efficient of the 3 trucks you listed.

The Honda I have not been in, driven, or looked at so i cant really comment on it. I personally would rather have a straight axle for towing as well as the security of a real frame. Additionally, I would be willing to bet that the long term cost of ownership will be cheaper with the Ford.

Buy theF150 today. You will sleep better tonight.

I put over 194,000 miles on a '99.5 F-250 diesel, and it was a great truck. I now have an F-150, and it's nice too. But for your needs, I'd buy the Honda.

I had 2005 and 2009 Odyssey EX-Ls, and they were wonderful. I wanted a Ridgeline which is basically an Odyssey with a different back end, but I needed to tow a 7,000 pound trailer. The Ridgeline was too light in the britches for that job, so I settled for the F-150. My Odyssey's got 20 MPG driving hard @ 74 to 84 MPH on the west Texas interstates, and my F-150 EcoBoost gets 14 to 15 MPG without a trailer and driving the same speeds. My Odysseys never saw the dealer's shop after delivery. Like a rock, as another make claims. The F-250 was a normal American-designed and manufactured pickup with normal problems that caused it to visit the dealer a few times. Nothing major, but niggling problems I've never had with any of my numerous Toyotas and Hondas.

If my towing needs were only a 2,000 to 3,000 pound trailer, I'd be driving a 2012 Ridgeline now. Or I'd probably still be driving my 2009 Odyssey EX-L which was set up for towing with receiver hitch, 7-pin trailer wire, trailer brake controller, and tranny cooler. But the Odyssey struggled over the low west Texas mountain passes with a 5,000 pound cargo trailer, so I knew it wouldn't live long when I had to load that trailer down to 7,000 pounds. Plus I (and my Honda service dept.) couldn't figure out a way to add a tranny temp gauge to the Odyssey, which is required when towing at the limit unless you enjoy replacing automagic trannies.

And for your use, the Odyssey doesn't come with 4x4, which you need to drag that boat up the wet, slick boat ramp. So the Ridgeline is the obvious choice if you want better MPG and reliability.

Just to be clear... are you saying you towed a 5000lbs trailer with a minivan... in mountains?!?!

Well, not quite 5,000 pounds but almost 4,000. My Odyssey was rated to tow a trailer up to 3,500 pounds. On one trip to El Paso I had 3,420 on the trailer axles. It did it, but it wasn't happy doing it. Same thing with my 2003 F-150 4.6L 2V. It was rated to tow 6,500 pounds, but it wasn't happy towing 5,000 pounds either.

So I traded them both for a new pickup with tow rating of 8,400 pounds. This weekend we'll drive the new Ford EcoBoost and tow a 5,000 pound travel trailer 600 miles round trip to Austin, through the Texas Hill Country both ways. If that works out as expected, then in late May/early June we'll tow the 4,000 miles round trip to Knoxville and Detroit and home again.

The "mountains" you mentioned are the three ridges of what's left of the Rocky Mountains on I-10 in far west Texas. But long steep grades that will give any tow vehicle a real workout. That's why I need a tranny temp gauge. The 2012 F-150 Lariat has one built in at the factory. ;)

The ridgeline may be the only one that will fit in the 20' garage he needs to put it in

Ya a supercab 6'5" box is 19 1/2 feet long, a bit tight for a 20' garage.

2012 F-150 regular cab with 6.5' bed and 126" wheelbase he mentioned is 17.8' long, so it will easily fit in a 20' garage. Same truck with 8' bed is 19.3' long, so it will barely fit with the front bumper touching the wall and still be able to close the garage door. So it's a no brainer that if you want the F-150 that will easily fit in a 20' garage, buy the shorty, and that's the one he mentioned.

Way back when shorty half tons were first available, about the only people who bought them were high school kids. The usual customers for pickups were farmers and ranchers and construction companies that needed the 8' bed. But the successful rancher's son wanted a shorty pickup to drive to school and pick up girls. Style before function. So out here in west Texas they became known as "High School Harry" pickups. ;)

The raptor comes in short bed super cab configurations ;p

My fault...your right. I could have swore I read he needed to accomodate passengers...must have been a different thread.

Go with the F150!

No brainier too me F150 all the way, no comparison in any situation

Not a fan of Ridglines but F-150's are big and might be too big in your scenario. Have you looked at Nissan Frontiers or Toyota Tacomas. Nissan is giving those Frontiers away and they are nice mid sized trucks. My Dad just got the Pro4x and its pretty cool truck, crew cab, rear locker, alot of power. Huge discounts and ways cooler than a Honda.

Hands down f150. Any style.

+ + 1

I drove a Frontier Nismo (now Pro4X) for 4 years. Really really enjoyed it. Power is surprising and it is way cooler and better than a Ridgeline in almost every aspect IMO

Then your grandpa got lucky. All american made vehicles (and anything else american for that matter) arent made to last. I dont mean that they are junk but my wife has had 5 hondas. 2 used and 3 new and havent had one of them in the shop for anything other than routine maintenance. Ive owned 3 fords.... 89' bronco, 01' f-350, and a 2010 f150 and all 3 have been in the shop for things other than routine service. I love ford and america but we cant seem to match the quantity produced with the same level of quality

I don't think the Japanese are that far head if any these days.

Wife's Camry has had entire door panel replaced (fell apart), evaporator core replaced, infamous stinky A/C, and minor gas pedal fixes for the 'stuck' accelerator recall. It's as same age as my new F150.

Last truck was a Frontier. Had more than my fair share of problems with it. Replacing crankshaft pulley/harmonic balancer, 3 A/C sensors, exhaust manifold cracks, taking the head off to get refurbed (before 100k miles). Most of these aren't my normal idea of maintenance only until 300k.

Just google 'strawberry milkshake frontier transmission failure' see how many people's transmissions have failed due to a radiator design flaw. Nissan finally replacing radiators but you get to pay for transmission replacement.

Looked at new Tundras until I read about AIP failures. Toyota has finally stepped up and extended the warranty on up to $4k of parts they were sticking to customers.

My truck hasn't been back to dealer since I bought it. May be I'm just lucky.

how was your frontier on fuel tho? we have a few exterras and a couple frontiers. terrible mileage for the size of the truck. and they are pretty pricey too.



to the OP:

Honda Ridgeline, no question. ONLY because you don't need a truck. I have worked for honda/ford/chrysler...had demos of many trucks. the ridgeline is no joke when it comes to ride quality, build quality, mileage, light towing, and off road capability. i beat the chit out of my demo ridgy. it is GREAT in the snow and ice. it isnt a mud bogger by any stretch. it handles like a car. great road trip vehicle. storage is plenty for the tranny/driveline hump is gone. all open under the seat for lots of storage while carrying passengers.
i loved taking it from GP to Edmonton, so comfortable and CHEAP.

BUT:


ITS GAY. i would personally never own one. the are ugly. drive like a car. wont score ya chicks. not that i need that anymore...still nice to turn a nice brunette's head once and a while.
i need a real truck...heck i wont even own anything under a 250/2500. a half ton is a grocery getter. IMO. im currently looking at a F150 FX4 for the wife as our family vehicle. loving the fx4!!

I had a 2006 Honda Ridgeline RTL that was fully loaded. I put about 20k miles on it and it was a nice vehicle. It drove and handled nicely but lacked power. I liked the trunk in the bed - a big ice chest would easily fit in there. The thing was pretty ugly but overall not a bad vehicle. I have my F150 now and the driving dynamics are night and day. The F150 is harder to get around in (parking for example), but it feel solid like a truck should feel. The Ridgeline didn't feel weak by any means but I hated the harshness of the front strut style suspension.

Simplify your thought process
 

No other truck mfg other than Ford offers such a wide variety of trucks,
Something for everyone, anything, any Mountain, any mud hole, any towing,
Multiple sizes, multiple packages, so just rule out the rest, Focus just on Ford
Buy your truck and smile as you pass all of the competitors out there. Don't know how to make it any simpler. So go pick it out that easy

I myself favour the Sierra over the Silverado. The grille in the silverado looks sooo ugly. I test drove a GMC Sierra Navada edition and I hated it.

I test drove my Ford and never looked back. For a truck it rides extremely nice, Nice and smooth. The 5L motor is great. I chose to pay an extra $150 a month for the ford.

I'd never but a Honda for a "truck"

This is very true, Japanese car manufactures quality has been dropping over the past 5 years or so and the new Toyota's, Honda's, and Nissan's are incredibly boring to look at and to drive. Right now the best made vehicles on the road are Korean and the domestic stuff have really brought up there quality in the last few years.

I really hope you are paying 150 more a month for a seriously higher trim level than the gm you were looking at otherwise you're getting hosed!

to the OP:

as a few others have mentioned, it really doesn't sound like you need a truck to haul that load. Is there any other reason you feel you will need a truck? Don't get me wrong, I feel on top of the world driving my truck around - and I only use the bed maybe once a week so I suppose I could get away without one either.

A regular cab / shortbed truck appeals to me, but I hate the way the Ford's look in this configuration now (best RCSB was the 97-03's imo).

I actually love the sierra rcsb with a 5.3 but agree that the interior is outmatched by the ford.

You need to drive them all and make a decision. I would not recommend the 4.8/4spd either it won't be fuel efficient and you will be disappointed.