Modern class 3 pickup durability?

[MG84]

I appreciate what you've had to say. This is a decision that doesnt have to be made right away so ill sit on it for a while and hopefully talk to more operators. I did test drive a Ford F350 and F450 already, yes much quieter than a Mack.

The technology in the new trucks is impressive and like you mentioned the truck is so quick to warn you if the trailer is connected/disconnected, brake faults, low tire pressure, all sorts of stuff I check for multiple times a day on the old trucks.

Some people like all that, the never ending messages, warnings, lights and nanny's drive me insane. Yes, my tires are at 50psi instead of 80psi, they are larger than stock and don't need to run that kind of pressure, but the computer doesn't know that and is constantly upset. Messages about low washer fluid, oil change due soon, trailer wiring fault (there isn't, all is working fine), a tire just slipped, and a constant bombardment of other useless information. If that little screen didn't also have the odometer I'd have put a piece of tape over it long ago.

 

[cfherrman]

My pickup is a 06 and often tells me that the trailer is disconnected even when I don't have a trailer behind me

 

[ianjoub]

This Ram is a 2015 (14k GVW). Just got this truck in December as a support vehicle & for light hauling.

Photo was taken Monday at the Little Fort brake check (Hwy 24 here in BC).

Small (6200lb ASV RC50) on trailer, only a 10,000lb total load.

Very long (over 10km) continuously steep hill with several runaway lanes. 4:10 gears, 3rd gear 60 km/h and exhaust brake did not provide adequate hold back. Can't even imagine hauling a heavy load on this type of terrain...really shows the drawbacks of a light duty truck...

Have driven this same route many times with 'heavier' loads with this old International. No comparison safety wise...The 1 ton dually will, for us remain a light duty service type truck. Just my opinion, and I tend to be very conservative in regards to holdback on hills & braking.

The class 8 has been very reliable (C12, 13speed) for our light usage....

I brought my boat and trailer from northern MI to central FL, about 1500 miles. It was a little over 20k. I hardly knew it was back there. Coming down the mountains in TN it held 55 mph with the exhaust brake and literally one or two 1 second taps on the brake on the steepest and longest grade.

2021 F-350 diesel dually, long bed, crew cab, 14k GVW.

 

[DM&RDBulldog]

My pickup is a 06 and often tells me that the trailer is disconnected even when I don't have a trailer behind me

You could say it isnt wrong telling you that.

All kidding aside I wouldn't substitute the technology in place of physically checking. Im still going to pre trip check before every use and multiple times a day as I do now. I could see the tire pressure monitoring come in handy if you pick something up in a tire and are losing air quickly, same with trailer brake faults or lights out. Stuff that can happen immediately even if you're paying attention.

I have a new Tacoma and turn most of the assist features off and just press ok to clear any warnings upon startup. Lets just say I know more people who could use those warnings than not unfortunately.

 

[CM1995]

Some people like all that, the never ending messages, warnings, lights and nanny's drive me insane. Yes, my tires are at 50psi instead of 80psi, they are larger than stock and don't need to run that kind of pressure, but the computer doesn't know that and is constantly upset. Messages about low washer fluid, oil change due soon, trailer wiring fault (there isn't, all is working fine), a tire just slipped, and a constant bombardment of other useless information. If that little screen didn't also have the odometer I'd have put a piece of tape over it long ago.

^This.

In addition to all those annoying messages my 22 350 in Fords infinite wisdom made the back up sensors so damn sensitive that the pintle combo hitch sets it off 80% of the time. You can turn it off but when the key cycles, it goes back to on.

Come on Ford the truck has a receiver hitch rated to pull more than the truck should so you'd think they would've taken into account a big assed hitch back there.

Very frustrating. Love the truck but this drives me nuts.

 

[ianjoub]

^This.

In addition to all those annoying messages my 22 350 in Fords infinite wisdom made the back up sensors so damn sensitive that the pintle combo hitch sets it off 80% of the time. You can turn it off but when the key cycles, it goes back to on.

Come on Ford the truck has a receiver hitch rated to pull more than the truck should so you'd think they would've taken into account a big assed hitch back there.

Very frustrating. Love the truck but this drives me nuts.

My wife's Navigator does that with the hitch but also applies the brake so the truck doesn't hit its own hitch.

 

[MG84]

My pickup is a 06 and often tells me that the trailer is disconnected even when I don't have a trailer behind me

Same. My 2019 gives messages like 'trailer wiring fault', 'trailer disconnected' etc when there is no trailer attached. Probably some wiring gremlins in the truck which is concerning, considering its still in almost like new condition.

 

[crane operator]

Try driving around with the tailgate down, the sensors don't like that either.

 

[Oxbow]

My pickup is a 06 and often tells me that the trailer is disconnected even when I don't have a trailer behind me

Well, it's not lying then!

 

[skyking1]

The work 1 ton is pretty beat, and I put a class 5 hitch on the dump truck so I can haul the mini. I rarely do otherwise. The dump truck does not care about the mini back there and I get to bring the bedding with it on the same trip.
I may haul the mini a dozen times year. I can suffer through rowing the gears and listening to the 3406.