Which Full-Size Truck To Buy? F-150 vs. Silverado vs. RAM

People get passionate when it comes to their favorite domestic full-size truck brand. Sometimes they get downright fanatical about it. If you ask almost any American pickup truck owner about their choice, there’s a great chance they won’t mince words. But…what if you’re in the market for a low-mileage used full-size truck and you don’t have hardcore tribal loyalty to one brand? Getting just the facts on domestic full-size pickups without the spin can be tough. To really compare the F150 vs Silverado vs RAM, we have to know what’s special about each.

Major World helps you decide on your next half-ton full-size pickup truck with some simple pros & cons:

Ford F-150

The F-150 has been America’s best-selling vehicle for more than 20 years now, and it’s not hard to see why. Ford never rests on its laurels, improving their bread and butter full-size truck with every revision. The main advantages of the Ford F-150 are the widest selection of engines (5 of them!) and transmissions. 

In the F-150 you have a choice of everything from the base model’s tried and true naturally aspirated V6 (3.7, 3.5, or 3.3 liters, depending on the year) to the ripsnorting, 450 horsepower twin-turbo Ecoboost V6 with 510 lb-ft of twist. 

In between those two, you’ve got a smaller 2.7 liter twin-turbo V6 making 325 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque, the popular 5.0 liter 395 horsepower Coyote V8 and a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 with a prodigious 440 lb-ft of torque and 29 mpg highway. 

Ford F-150 PROS:

• FIVE engines to choose from, including 2 twin-turbo V6s and a turbodiesel.
• Turbocharged engines offer more low-end torque than n/a competitors.
• Smooth and sophisticated 10-speed automatic transmission offered. 

Ford F-150 CONS:

• If you don’t like or trust turbochargers, it will leave a lot of F-150s off the table for you.
• The 3.0 V6 diesel is rarer than hen’s teeth because it was dropped after just 4 years.
• Higher trim levels get pricey very quickly. 

Check out Major World’s current selection of Ford F-150s right here. 

Chevy Silverado 1500

The Chevy Silverado and it’s nearly-identical stablemate, the GMC Sierra have had a faithful following since their debut in 1999. Of course, GM’s been making full-size trucks way longer than that — but that’s when they started naming them. GM was slower to adopt turbocharging than Ford, and that’s an advantage for some people. 

If you prefer a naturally aspirated engine, then Chevy’s got you covered. Starting with the trusty 4.3-liter EcoTec V6 with 285 horsepower, they also offer a 5.3-liter V8 with 355 horsepower, and at the top of the stack, is a 6.2-liter V8 with a healthy 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. 

Chevy also offered a 3.0-liter turbodiesel in their half-ton pickup, but like Ford, they got on the half-ton diesel bandwagon late (beginning in 2019) so they can be hard to find, but they get 31 mpg highway (4×2) so it’s worth trying to find one if MPG is a priority.

Chevy Silverado 1500 PROS:

• Lots of trim levels and appearance differences between Chevy & GMC models.
• Two different naturally aspirated V8s to choose from, more than Ford or RAM. 
• The largest displacement base engine (4.3-liter V6)

Chevy Silverado 1500 CONS:

• No turbocharged gas engines offered (except 2.7T 4 cylinder in 2022+ models) 
• 3.0 turbodiesel is hard to find (but they get 31 mpg highway so worth a try).
• No 10-speed automatic is offered yet. 

Check out Major World’s current selection of Chevy Silverados right here.

RAM 1500

The RAM 1500 is in third place sales-wise among domestic full-size pickup trucks, but RAM fans swear by them and they’ve had a rich history in the US just like Ford and Chevy trucks have had. They dropped “Dodge” from the name in 2009, so it’s just “RAM” now if you didn’t already know. Widely considered to have the best ride quality among full-size trucks and the adoption of coil springs instead of the usual leaf springs on the rear axle (since 2009) is probably the biggest reason why. 

If you drive around with an empty bed most of the time like most people and ride quality is important, you should at least test drive a RAM 1500. 

A lot of people say the RAM 1500 has the plushest interior among full-size trucks too, but that’s pretty subjective and a lot depends on year and trim level. The last key advantage of the RAM 1500 worth mentioning is the outstanding 3.0-liter Ecodiesel engine options. RAM was the first full-size pickup maker to offer a diesel in their half-ton back in 2014. 

RAM 1500 PROS:

• Best-in-class ride quality
• Nicest, most luxurious interior (depending on trim level)
• Widely available with a diesel engine since 2014. 

RAM 1500 CONS:

• Not as popular as Ford and Chevy, so slightly smaller aftermarket for parts.
• Lacks the cool bed steps and handles offered on some F-150s and Silverados. 
• Gasoline models trail the competition on fuel economy. 

Check out Major World’s current selection of  RAM 1500s right here. 

Final Thoughts on Choosing an F150 vs Silverado vs RAM: Which Full Size Truck is For You?

The truth is there is no clear winner in the full-size pickup space (no matter what your Cousin Darryl says). It’s a super-competitive segment, so every manufacturer is bringing their A-game. We also didn’t get into which is better at towing since there are so many variables, but we will cover towing in another article before long. 

So listen, here’s what we recommend:  Make a list of your top 3-5 priorities, then scan our article again and see what jumps out at you. After that, just get yourself down to Major World and test drive some trucks. A test drive is the only way to be sure what’s going to fit you best. You know this isn’t the kind of decision that can be settled without putting your butt in some seats. 

Major World Has Your Full-Size Pickup Truck

Check out our entire inventory through our online search portal. Get pre-qualified for financing right now, right here. Don’t settle for less than the very best used truck dealership near the NYC Metro Area. You deserve the Major World standard of customer care. 

Give us a call now at (866) 614-2884 and let’s find your truck.