TV decision for new FC 25 ... help, my head is spinning!

[n2916s]

Nissan Titan XD, built in Canton, Mississippi.

[Jaxon]

Originally Posted by franklyfrank

I quit consulting Consumer reports twenty years ago. They are left of Lenin and totally Anti American anything. Tundra is a Johnny come lately to the Pickup Game. It gets the job done for sure, the Japanese are great copiers.

.
Toyota trucks are built in San Antone...

I find consumer reports very pro-American as they seek to inform honestly and mostly, right on in their reports (which are based upon Americans reporting back their product experiences). I really appreciate unbiased product evaluations.

If being informed is being "left", then I'm all for it!
.

[Wesair]

If I understand WD hitches it shifts the weight from the rear to the front of the TV. You still have 800 lbs to subtract from your total payload. With my F150 EB I only have about 250 lbs available for payload if I'm carrying 2 people and a tank of gas. Checking the GVWR is important.

[Adventure.AS]

Originally Posted by Wesair

If I understand WD hitches it shifts the weight from the rear to the front of the TV. You still have 800 lbs to subtract from your total payload. ...

A properly set up WD hitch will usually transfer up to 1/3 of the weight from the rear axle to the front axle and about the same amount to the trailer axle.

[64airstream]

Great thread and good input. The discussion brought back a funny memory from an MBA class many years ago. The professor was using her personal example of choosing a new car to demonstrate the power of a decision making tool built into Excel. You can list features important to you and rate those features on how important they are to you. Towing capacity might be more important than price point or milage for example. Excel takes care of all the calculations and delivers the result. After stepping through her entire example for her five cars and driving to a conclusion, we asked, "so which one did you buy?" She looked up, smiled and proudly said, "the red one..." Sometimes the decision is really less technical and more personal.

Good luck, enjoy the ride and many adventures in your new Airstream and TV,

Roy and Marie

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by Jaxon

.
Toyota trucks are built in San Antone...

I find consumer reports very pro-American as they seek to inform honestly and mostly, right on in their reports (which are based upon Americans reporting back their product experiences). I really appreciate unbiased product evaluations.

If being informed is being "left", then I'm all for it!
.

1.Did America need another two pickup manufacturers ? All Toyota and Nissan did by getting into the business is dilute the market. Neither are original creations that have contributed something revolutionary to world of pick up trucks.
2.Consumer reports top truck is the the Tundra made by a Japanese MFG. I rest my case.
Both the F-150 Ecoboost and the Ram Ecodiesel are far superior to the Tundra especially towing. Both of them will blow the doors of any Tundra at higher elevations.

[Urbanologist]

These vehicles are EXPENSIVE to buy and maintain. When comparing WHAT they can tow, you should also be evaluating how long they'll serve you. They all look great and ride great, BUT, at the end how much will they cost you. Anecdotally, why do you find few Toyota models being traded for traditional USA nameplates? Yet, you find many USA nameplates being switched for Toyotas. I switched back in 1971 - the bad old days - of my first car. Bought a new Toyota Celica and have had carefree vehicle's (12) over the years - every single one passed backwards through the family. Each of my replacements is purchased slightly used from a single prior owner! Crappy vehicles lost my financial support - no reason to go back at this point.

By the way: Tundras are manufactured in Texas (San Antonio) by Texans.

[us3rnam3]

Check the link below. I bought an F150 for my 27FB after reading this review but you can look at all their reviews and make your own decision. The real world tow testing they do is directly applicable to our Airstreams.
http://www.tfltruck.com/2016/03/2016...llenger-video/

[NorCal Matt]

They've added competition, which is certainly a big part of the reason there are so many good trucks out there. I bought my Ford over a Tundra and Titan, but I looked hard at them. I believe in making someone earn my dollars and if that means giving it to company like Toyota or Nissan, I have no issue with that.

[us3rnam3]

Originally Posted by franklyfrank

I quit consulting Consumer reports twenty years ago. They are left of Lenin and totally Anti American anything. Tundra is a Johnny come lately to the Pickup Game. It gets the job done for sure, the Japanese are great copiers.
1. Ford
2. Ram
3. GM only ones that are made in the U.S. GM is building pickups in Mexico and 40% of that production is imported to the U.S. tax free.
The WSJ had a very informative article on this a few weeks ago.

FYI Tundra plant is in San Antonio, Texas. Personally I tow with a Ford.

[Wesair]

I'm grateful that there are so many good choices. Come to think of it, I'm grateful to have a truck and an AS and an almost infinite number of places to take them. Life is good.
The deciding factor in our case was the electric leather seat that my wife uses.

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by 64airstream

Great thread and good input. The discussion brought back a funny memory from an MBA class many years ago. The professor was using her personal example of choosing a new car to demonstrate the power of a decision making tool built into Excel. You can list features important to you and rate those features on how important they are to you. Towing capacity might be more important than price point or milage for example. Excel takes care of all the calculations and delivers the result. After stepping through her entire example for her five cars and driving to a conclusion, we asked, "so which one did you buy?" She looked up, smiled and proudly said, "the red one..." Sometimes the decision is really less technical and more personal.

Good luck, enjoy the ride and many adventures in your new Airstream and TV,

Roy and Marie

That sums it up perfectly. I like mine silver :-).

[Countryboy59]

Originally Posted by Urbanologist

These vehicles are EXPENSIVE to buy and maintain. When comparing WHAT they can tow, you should also be evaluating how long they'll serve you. They all look great and ride great, BUT, at the end how much will they cost you. Anecdotally, why do you find few Toyota models being traded for traditional USA nameplates? Yet, you find many USA nameplates being switched for Toyotas. I switched back in 1971 - the bad old days - of my first car. Bought a new Toyota Celica and have had carefree vehicle's (12) over the years - every single one passed backwards through the family. Each of my replacements is purchased slightly used from a single prior owner! Crappy vehicles lost my financial support - no reason to go back at this point.

By the way: Tundras are manufactured in Texas (San Antonio) by Texans.

you switched in 1971 and never tried anything else? Just clarifying.

I had a crappy car in 1978, but it was a used Maverick and I was in college. Ever since I started buying higher end cars I've never had a single bad experience.

[majorairhead]

Ha, I'm going to recommend a '15, '16, or '17 F150 crew cab with the 3.5 ecoboost engine simply because this is what I have.....a 2015.

It's a beastly towing machine. I have 2,007 pounds of load capacity, 21 to 22 mpg. around the countryside, 11.5 mpg. towing.

With the back seats flipped up the rear is cavernous, I can pack all kinds of stuff in there. Towed our 25' flying cloud over 4,000 miles last summer, no problem.

3:31 rear, tranny cooler, integrated brake control, otherwise no frills, XLT model. No skylight, no sliding rear window, no step bars, no fancy tailgate lift, just the basics, hence, the high load capacity. It's a nice truck. I checked out the Chevy, Dodge, and Toyota, bought the Ford.

[FCStreamer]

I recommend a Cadillac Escalade 2007-2014, 6.2L V8 with 403hp and 417 lb-ft of torque, 1580 lbs payload and 8300 lbs towing capacity.

[Urbanologist]

That's is correct! I had great service from Toyota vehicles. No mechanical problems - nothing to the level of problems experienced with American brands. I've wanted to try them again - BUT WHY? Many ARE great looking - but poorly engineered or built. The USA brands let Japanese manufacturers take the market by storm and the foreign brand NEVER let go. J.D. Powers and Consumer Report continually get feedback that confirms high buyer satisfaction.

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by Countryboy59

you switched in 1971 and never tried anything else? Just clarifying.

I had a crappy car in 1978, but it was a used Maverick and I was in college. Ever since I started buying higher end cars I've never had a single bad experience.

I am 73 and been owning cars since I am 18. I owned every major brand, Chevy,Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, Subaru,BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes.
I drove a 1996 Tahoe for 230k trouble free miles. For our construction business strictly Fords Trucks. We were driving Ford pick ups when Toyota was shipping their crappy thin cans over here. I have gotten grate service out of everything Ford we ever owned and own and will never spend money on a "Me To" Toyota pick up. I prefer the big beautiful Ford logo on the grill. I am an American, Toyota is Japanese and I don't care where its made.
The 2012 F150 Eco Platinum we just traded for a beautiful F-250 gave us 100K absolutely trouble free miles in luxury.
At the end of the day all cars and trucks today are manufactured with the same technology the world over, they are all more durable and enjoyable longer than twenty years ago. Many manufacturers collaborate on critical components so to argue I am buying X because its more reliable is no longer true. Its what you prefer and what configuration fits most of your needs the best.

[Urbanologist]

The whole issue of which truck one chooses to drive gets really annoying. The political undertones are obvious, however, you must buy whatever suits your individual needs! Components AND manufacturers are all over the world. Too many get worked into a fuming lather if you dare to challenge the status quo. Many choices - some BETTER - came about because a fire was - literally - put under the behinds of the entrenched home grown producers.

[AirstreamCSH]

Y'all are overthinking this. Find a good Dodge, preferably one with the optional heater for winter and 12v fan for summer and you are good to go. American muscle all the way.

[Shiny16]

Why the fan? Doesn't it come standard with a 260 ac unit?