What options for your truck do you think you’re going to need

[MtCamper]

I tow a fifth wheel. If I was ordering a new truck it would be nice to have a bed view camera when hitching and the add on TPMS sensors for the trailer. Beyond that I am at the point of my life where I do like the creature comforts.

[varmonter]

I recently went from an 07 duramax xlt 2500
To a 17 tradesman dually g56 tranny. 18 was
The last year the 6 speed manual was offered.
This truck has more tech than the 07 for sure.
But i guess i could do without any of it.
Point in case our car (prius prime) has
The active cruise. We recently got a stone chip
That spread overnight. The winshield has a camera
That has to be recalibrated all part of the" active"slam
on the brakes if your not paying attn doohicky
thats in these cars..Triples the cost of a simple
Winsheild replacement. I think for the most part
Vehicles are much more reliable today than
50 yrs ago when i started driving 10 yr old cars.
But i learned to fix those 10 yr old cars myself.
Today not so much. Technology is a double edged
Sword..
And yes the difference in price between a tradesman
Level and the High end bells and whistles Ram is about 30k. That tech costs a bundle for expensive repairs
And a gloat to ones friends.

[Marine359]

With age comes the need for comfort while driving. So comfortable firm seats is number one on my list. Nice to haves are added 12v and usb outlets for charging a power station and powering a second camera, Apple play, Sirius/XM and heated seats.

[Mudfrog]

Originally Posted by corn18

A little extra? I priced out a 2022 Ford F350 XLT 4x4 SRW CC LB with the 7.3L gas motor for $63k. Exact truck I would want. A fully loaded limited is $94k.

Exactly,,, and what does a person get when they pay that extra $31k,,, a bunch of stuff, a lot of it fluff, that does little to make life better. But again, I've become more practical in my older age in that I focus on and buy things that actually help me complete the tasks at hand. It does not bother me a bit that I have to manually adjust the hvac temperature in my vehicle.

[Kid Gloves]

Originally Posted by Pslif

Just wondering what options you think you need or want for a new truck, an example may be heated seats automatic back up etc.?

Will this truck be towing something?

New trucks are quite comfortable and loaded with gizmos and widgets. If it isn’t up to the task at hand, however, it’s somewhat useless. I’d look at engine, transmission, gear ratio, payload, GCWR, etc, before all the shiny objects.

[Country Road]

Originally Posted by Pslif

Just wondering what options you think you need or want for a new truck, an example may be heated seats automatic back up etc.?

I personally like the gadgets but as someone has said, they will become expensive to repair for someone. Problem is, the way dealers outfit vehicles nowadays, your kind of stuck unless you special order. For me, I like the dual temp setups and the auto lights, wipers and seat adjustment controls.

[Ldubs]

Originally Posted by SailorSam

Towing on the highway, I appreciate the adaptive cruise control. I tend to find a semi going the speed I prefer, pull in behind it and engage cruise. Significantly reduces the stress and keeps me at a safe and legal speed.


On longer drive days, I've come to really appreciate the "active motion" seats from Ford. Gets the kinks out of my back and legs.

I would like having that. Wish I had it on my current truck.

Vertical takeoff anti gravity drive would be nice too, but I guess we are a few years away from that.

[DKRITTER]

I bought a F150 a couple of years ago when we traded from a 5W to a MH. The F150 has several cameras on it and I can't tell you how much I like them. The backup is by far the best and then the front is second. Probably won't buy another vehicle unless it has them.

[JHinman]

Heated steering wheel. I use mine from September into June - sure feels good for these old hands!

[Dutch Star Don]

Originally Posted by Mudfrog

Exactly,,, and what does a person get when they pay that extra $31k,,, a bunch of stuff, a lot of it fluff, that does little to make life better. But again, I've become more practical in my older age in that I focus on and buy things that actually help me complete the tasks at hand. It does not bother me a bit that I have to manually adjust the hvac temperature in my vehicle.

Let's see.......
-a bigger engine
-better trans
-larger tank
-crew cab
-nicer interior
-adaptive cruise control
-automatic climate control
-birdseye cameras
-better stereo
-4x4
-nicer tires and rims
-nicer paint
-adaptive shocks
-more functional tailgate
-built in and adjustable bed hold downs
-better lighting
-better mirrors

Ordering a truck is no different than ordering/buying a motor home. Some go basic and some want more amenities.

Just because you don't want those things, doesn't mean that others aren't willing to pay for them. Otherwise, there would only be one style of truck. Not everyone wants a stripped down model.

[corn18]

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

Let's see.......
-a bigger engine
-better trans
-larger tank
-crew cab
-nicer interior
-adaptive cruise control
-automatic climate control
-birdseye cameras
-better stereo
-4x4
-nicer tires and rims
-nicer paint
-adaptive shocks
-more functional tailgate
-built in and adjustable bed hold downs
-better lighting
-better mirrors

Ordering a truck is no different than ordering/buying a motor home. Some go basic and some want more amenities.

Just because you don't want those things, doesn't mean that others aren't willing to pay for them. Otherwise, there would only be one style of truck. Not everyone wants a stripped down model.

But you can't say that it's paying a little extra. C'mon. 50% more is not a little extra. That's a Honda Civic Si.

[Mudfrog]

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

Let's see.......
-a bigger engine
-better trans
-larger tank
-crew cab
-nicer interior
-adaptive cruise control
-automatic climate control
-birdseye cameras
-better stereo
-4x4
-nicer tires and rims
-nicer paint
-adaptive shocks
-more functional tailgate
-built in and adjustable bed hold downs
-better lighting
-better mirrors

Ordering a truck is no different than ordering/buying a motor home. Some go basic and some want more amenities.

Just because you don't want those things, doesn't mean that others aren't willing to pay for them. Otherwise, there would only be one style of truck. Not everyone wants a stripped down model.

I agree, there aren't many out there who want a stripped down vehicle. I don't. But at the same time, I'll never pay an additional $1200 just to move up from a 7 inch infotainment display to an 8 inch display. I'll never opt for a $1k plus built in navigation system. Things like these are worth it to many people but I myself am not interested.

Our differences, it's what makes the world go round!

[trikebubble]

As someone who has pretty much always chosen the "utilitarian" or "basic" vehicle in my past 35 years of driving, I now find myself sitting behind the wheel of a 2020 F350 Powerstroke Limited and absolutely love everything about it. It has more bells and whistles than I could ever have imagined, and options I never would have thought I found beneficial until now. We like to take long trips, and plan on taking many more over the next decade or more. The creature comforts in this truck (the heated, ventilated, and massaging seats being my favorite) make longer drives so much more comfortable for me personally. Do I need these options to get from one place to another? No, of course not... but everyone here could be driving a $500 Civic and a camping in a $50 tent.... and yet none of us seem to be anymore. Personally I've reached a point in my life where I feel I've earned the ability to finally drive a nice vehicle, yeah maybe to spoil myself a bit, while still having a truck that has the capability to do the work required, albiet in a comfy way.

[Atlee]

For me, heated are a necessity, because my wife wants heated seats.