A little change from my recent series of hybrids...
This rig is a 4x4 crew cab short bed with the s.o. Hurricane six, a $3,795 option over the base Pentastar. The Limited I tested a couple years ago had the premium-fed h.o. version of that engine, and it was a hoot! But even the standard setup has more torque and hp than the HEMI. Plus, I commuted downtown with this thing for a couple of days and it stayed in the 12's as far as fuel economy goes. And "goes" it does - the s.o. has plenty of power.
Black Express is a dress-up pkg based on the std trim (Tradesman), so you get hard plastic dash and door panels, but evrything still looks nice in there. Advertised "starting at $56,995", my tester sits at $75k.
$75k for essentially a tradesman truck with hard plastics is just insane.
I'm never going to own a full size truck ever again.
Quote from: GreatBigAbyss on Jul 30, 2026, 09:06 AM$75k for essentially a tradesman truck with hard plastics is just insane.
I'm never going to own a full size truck ever again.
They pay the bills at the "Big 3", and it shows...
Funny thing is - I have to buy reno materials this week (mouldings, electric baseboards, railings, etc.) and nothing fits it the RAM. My CX-90 carried 11 footers inside, and 12 footers leaning on the front right windowsill. The RAM has 7' diagonal max in the bed, and you can't lean MDF on the tailgate or through the rear window, especially if it rains every day like this week.
I'll be borrowing my buddy's 12 year old Ram this weekend to go pick up sheets of OSB and furring in order to do my siding reno project.
It sure is handy having a truck - I just can't afford to own one.
Quote from: GreatBigAbyss on Jul 30, 2026, 01:52 PMI'll be borrowing my buddy's 12 year old Ram this weekend to go pick up sheets of OSB and furring in order to do my siding reno project.
It sure is handy having a truck - I just can't afford to own one.
My biggest issue with pick ups (and full size SUV) is they all drive like crap to me. Even the newest ones.
I think, maybe, you need to grow up driving pick ups to "appreciate" (or overlook) their driving dynamics.
Quote from: RRocket on Jul 30, 2026, 06:20 PMQuote from: GreatBigAbyss on Jul 30, 2026, 01:52 PMI'll be borrowing my buddy's 12 year old Ram this weekend to go pick up sheets of OSB and furring in order to do my siding reno project.
It sure is handy having a truck - I just can't afford to own one.
My biggest issue with pick ups (and full size SUV) is they all drive like crap to me. Even the newest ones.
I think, maybe, you need to grow up driving pick ups to "appreciate" (or overlook) their driving dynamics.
The RAM 1500 Limited I drove a couple years ago had muscle car performance and luxury car ride, thanks to the Hurrican H.O. and the pneumatic suspension. This rig still has plenty of go with the S.O. Hurricane, but is much bouncier even with the coil springs in the back. Still, the level of refinement is incredible for something like this.
The truck was well-used this week with the renos at my daughter's condo and the boxes of furniture that needed to be moved. Also made a run to the ecocenter to dispose of bulky packaging, old mouldings and and old electric baseboards. We you really need it, it's fun to have a truck around,
Plenty of trucks in fleet this summer, more than my schedule can take.
Doesn't look too bad in there, despite the hard plastics.
Do people pay MSRP for these trucks now? Wasn't too long ago that there was always $10-12K off list price, and list price was lower by $20K as well compared to today.
Just for fun I looked at the base price of an F-150 today. $49K! For an XL trim regular cab, 2WD, 8 foot bed. In 2014, that same truck was $20K. It's crazy how much truck prices have increased in the last decade or so, I see so many expensive trucks on the road and I wonder how people afford them.
As someone who's not a truck person at all, why do so many plumbers/electricians/other tradespeople have pickup trucks with a cap on the back? I just don't understand the utility of those things. A van would be cheaper to own and operate probably, have way more capacity, and you could set up permanent storage inside like fixed racks and bins. I'd 10 times out of 10 rather have a van that I can actually get into and have everything organized, than some truck where the bed is 3 feet off the ground, pain in the ass to climb into, stuff gets jammed at the back and you can't see it...
Quote from: RRocket on Jul 30, 2026, 06:20 PMQuote from: GreatBigAbyss on Jul 30, 2026, 01:52 PMI'll be borrowing my buddy's 12 year old Ram this weekend to go pick up sheets of OSB and furring in order to do my siding reno project.
It sure is handy having a truck - I just can't afford to own one.
My biggest issue with pick ups (and full size SUV) is they all drive like crap to me. Even the newest ones.
I think, maybe, you need to grow up driving pick ups to "appreciate" (or overlook) their driving dynamics.
They do drive like crap, especially in comparison to cars. But even my wife's MDX feels like a sports car in comparison to my truck. High ride height, soft suspensions, and BOF design are things you can only overcome by so much.
Once the kids are out of the house I'll have something else alongside my pickup. I simply don't want another vehicle in the driveway to deal with. So it'll be a pickup until then.
Quote from: Blizzard on Aug 03, 2026, 09:30 AMAs someone who's not a truck person at all, why do so many plumbers/electricians/other tradespeople have pickup trucks with a cap on the back? I just don't understand the utility of those things. A van would be cheaper to own and operate probably, have way more capacity, and you could set up permanent storage inside like fixed racks and bins. I'd 10 times out of 10 rather have a van that I can actually get into and have everything organized, than some truck where the bed is 3 feet off the ground, pain in the ass to climb into, stuff gets jammed at the back and you can't see it...
4x4 capability usually. I have a buddy who's a plumber and tried a Dodge and a Ford van, was sick of getting stuck in muddy/snowy worksites, plus the Sprinter corroded like it was made from chinese scrap steel. He's got an 2500 Sierra gasser with a big, walk in topper and he say's its a much better thing than any van.
Quote from: Bridgecity on Aug 03, 2026, 11:56 PMQuote from: RRocket on Jul 30, 2026, 06:20 PMQuote from: GreatBigAbyss on Jul 30, 2026, 01:52 PMI'll be borrowing my buddy's 12 year old Ram this weekend to go pick up sheets of OSB and furring in order to do my siding reno project.
It sure is handy having a truck - I just can't afford to own one.
My biggest issue with pick ups (and full size SUV) is they all drive like crap to me. Even the newest ones.
I think, maybe, you need to grow up driving pick ups to "appreciate" (or overlook) their driving dynamics.
They do drive like crap, especially in comparison to cars. But even my wife's MDX feels like a sports car in comparison to my truck. High ride height, soft suspensions, and BOF design are things you can only overcome by so much.
Once the kids are out of the house I'll have something else alongside my pickup. I simply don't want another vehicle in the driveway to deal with. So it'll be a pickup until then.
My wife's GX and especially my moms RX both ride, drive, and handle infinitely better than any truck I've owned. I've tried the Ram SRT and the old, proper, Ford Lightning, they do handle better, but you can still feel the lumber wagon underpinnings.
Never understood commuting in a big full sized pickup, it's definitely a significant compromise on maneuverability, highway ride and fuel economy if you don't need it. That said, there are plenty of situations where a full-size truck is really the only viable option for the job. $75K+ in just insane though, I'll never be able to get my head around that.
I thought I was going to buy a full sizer when we moved down here, I had access to them all the time back home through the press stuff, or the CT branded Ram I had when I was there. However, even down south used prices on a decent full size truck are pretty high, and we've gotten by just fine with the Escalade & utility trailer or Sonoma...So I haven't really searched hard.
If I found a decent pre 2019 GM 3/4 ton with the 6.0L, or a pre 07 Duramax I'd grab it for a reasonable price I'd grab it, just to have around. I'd even do a Ram, but would need to be the right spec. My thought process is that the Escalade can do just about anything a 1/2 ton could, so might as well do a 3/4 ton and add some additional capability to the fleet.
Quote from: Blizzard on Aug 03, 2026, 09:30 AMAs someone who's not a truck person at all, why do so many plumbers/electricians/other tradespeople have pickup trucks with a cap on the back? I just don't understand the utility of those things. A van would be cheaper to own and operate probably, have way more capacity, and you could set up permanent storage inside like fixed racks and bins. I'd 10 times out of 10 rather have a van that I can actually get into and have everything organized, than some truck where the bed is 3 feet off the ground, pain in the ass to climb into, stuff gets jammed at the back and you can't see it...
A lot of the "tradies" around here have pickups and tow an enclosed trailer rather than have a van. I guess they unhook the trailer and use their pickup as their personal vehicle, so in this sense I guess it makes a little sense. Often times if they are at the same job site for more than a day they'll leave their trailer...well they used to until all the degens feel the need to not only break into the trailer but just take the whole goddamn thing in one go, trailer and all.
Quote from: Firm on Aug 04, 2026, 04:09 PMNever understood commuting in a big full sized pickup,
You like what you like. Some people like trucks.
Review is finally out: https://www.autohebdo.net/editorial/essai-routier/ram/1500/ram-1500-black-express-2026-essai-routier/ (https://www.autohebdo.net/editorial/essai-routier/ram/1500/ram-1500-black-express-2026-essai-routier/)
(https://cms-assets.autoscout24.com/uaddx06iwzdz/5dQbewGjayqlcufIpjHGmG/36056baf44ddb8d5ed1e7624ac7962ec/2026_Ram_1500_-_TD_-_VA_-_260810_-_8.jpg?fm=webp&w=1100)
Extended cab in cargo mode:
(https://cms-assets.autoscout24.com/uaddx06iwzdz/6DXGYcv4b2pIlqIFE6filE/75e391e5ac69065858ddcb11bfa86fbd/2026_Ram_1500_-_TD_-_VA_-_260810_-_53.jpg?fm=webp&w=1100)