It’s time for TFLtruck to purchase the next long-term test truck. Here are just some of the requirements that we have for a new pickup.
It has to be something all-new with features that have not been thoroughly tested over the long haul yet. It has to have a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of over 6,000 lbs and be purchased this year in order to provide a tax benefit for the business.
We considered every pickup truck currently on sale.
We saw the great deals currently available for the 2018 Ram Power Wagon, but this truck is at the end of its lifecycle and has been TFLtruck-tested over the long term already. Ram is updating the HD trucks for 2019 which will be available in the spring of 2019.
There are all-new 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks available now, but we want a significantly new powertrain such as the 2.7L turbocharged four-cylinder or a 3.0L straight-six turbo-diesel. These are not available for sale quiet yet, especially with the Trail Boss or AT4 off-road packages.
The Ford F-150 is not updated for 2019 with the exception of the 2019 F-150 Limited and the Raptor which get new shocks and crawl control.
The Toyota Tundra and the Nissan Titan are significantly updated for 2019, although we are still looking forward to testing the 2019 Tundra TRD Pro.
The Toyota Tacoma has a GVWR that is less than 6,000 lbs, and the new 2019 Ford Ranger is not yet on sale.
The Chevy Colorado ZR2 is a truck we really like, but we have tested it thoroughly already and it was TFLtruck’s 2018 Truck of the Year.
2019 Ram Rebel
OK, you have already guess it. Indeed, we purchased a 2019 Ram 1500. Specifically, it is a 2019 Ram Rebel crew cab with the 5.7L HEMI V8 and eTorque mild-hybrid system. We are looking forward to putting the truck through an extensive testing regimen over the next year or longer. It will including towing trailers, off-roading, and more.
Check out the purchase in the video below.
