Which Pre-Owned Truck?

I've owned a 2003 Chevrolet 1500 with 5.3 engine since new. Mechanically, it's been great, but the electronic stuff has been a nightmare over the years. I finally have everything working as it should, but after owning for 14 years, and thousands spent on issues the past 3 years, I'm ready to buy a newer pre-owned truck. At this time I don't plan to buy another GM and wanted your personal experiences with Ford and Toyota. Thanks in advance!

Think either will do you fine.

GM sure has had a lot of issues with instrument clusters etc. over the years. I have rebuilt the instrument cluster in my old GM car and both my dad and brothers trucks.

Of those two, I'd personally go with Toyota. Neither is guaranteed to be trouble-free, but I think the Toyota gives you better odds than the Ford does. JMHO

I have a 10 year old Tundra I bought new that has never seen the inside of a repair shop. Just regular synthetic oil and filter, replace maintenance items as needed and good to go. I did replace the timing belt at 100K as a precaution. I will get another when I decide to pull the trigger.

Thanks for the comments so far.

I dont drive them myself, but our work fleet has over 20 F 150's in it, and they have been very very good and the guys really like them. I have not seen more than 5-6 repair invoices come thru on them in thae last five years. I cant speak for the Yota.

Toyota. I've had way too many electrical & mechanical issues with my past 2 Ford's. I will be a long time before I buy another Ford truck. Currently in a Ram 2500 and I'm shocked to admit that I like it and if feels better built that'll the Fords. Toyota however would be my go to truck for mid size and half tons trucks.

Would a Toyota Tacoma with 6 cyl pull my Z7 fine or do I need bigger? I've always pulled with the Chevy 5.3 engine.

Doubt it will do as well as the 5.3, but sure it will do the job. I would want the tow package/oil & transmission coolers on the Tacoma if I was going to tow regular with it.

It would be Toyota for sure for me. One of my son's has a Toy and the other has an eco-boost Ford. Both are good trucks but IMO the Tundra is head and shoulders a better truck. The only negative is fuel mileage.

I would want the package on any truck not just a Tacoma. Tacoma Gen2s have a top mounted oil filter with an oil cooler when you get tow pkg. Sure makes changing oil easy. I would be comfortable towing a bass boat up to 4000 lbs with my Tacoma. Now something with a higher profile or towing x country might be different. I am on year 8 towing my 18'Ranger with a Tacoma. Current one is a 4x4 but never had to engage on a ramp. If Tacoma definitely get DC not access cab. Resale value is great on DCs and extra space is nice.

It would pull it fine,larger half ton would do it better,If your are pricing a used second gen Tacoma, you will find the nice ones are very pricey which is good for those that are selling them.Mine that I have had were very good vehicles.

What year did the Toyota Tacoma 2nd gen come out?

I believe it was around 2005. Good luck finding a used one, though. People tend to hang on to them.

Meant to quote the question about when the second gen Tacoma came out...

2005. I bought it new and was one of the first second gens in my area. I'm still using it to tow an 18' Skeeter. It's never needed anything other than routine maintenance.

I figure I'll keep driving it for a while longer til my girls get bigger. I'll probably get a tundra one day once they finally update it.

OK, 2005 and newer are second gen, thanks! Whatever I buy will be a newer truck with less than 50k miles.

I would not buy a newer GM with the Ecotec engines, as I think they still have some issues that are plaguing them. As for F150 I would do 2015/2016 3.5 Ecoboost or with 5.0. If you need to go older F150 I would look at one of the last years of the 5.4 as those are really good strong engines.