I have owned 4 or 5 3.5's...I was excited when they were first announced and got a 2nd year and have had 2 with 10 speeds...I don't keep stuff long enough to have problems so I can't speak to that but that 3.5 will stomp a new hole in anything that is naturally aspirated. If you don't want the maintenance of a diesel then it's the answer in my opinion...to be fair, my blood starts blue before it turns red. So yes, I'm biased.

If they are young, keep the mortgage as is, take that money and invest it in an S&P index fund, and call it a “new truck account”, and when you really need a new truck you will have the cash for it.

Every one should do this really. Monthly truck payments (cost) never goes away, it’s call depreciation. The only difference in this approach is you are making monthly payments to yourself, and not the bank.

I normally charge for my financial consultation, but for you guys no charge.

I have no news today, so don’t know where the truck issue stands. I think I’ll wait til one of them talks about it.

The whole problem is the new travel trailer. He got bigger and bigger ones until he got one that’s just a bit too big. He would not listen to logic from me.

Is this the SIL that doesn’t do poop dumps?

Considering this is t a big TT what were they pulling the other ones with a Subaru

Yup! No poop dumps. I don’t know why he won’t even consider it. As for TT size and vehicle, he has a 4Runner. Put a rooftop tent camper on top at first. Got rid of that quickly. Got a real small teardrop and used it a few times. Sold that and got a small teardrop style TT he could stand up in, and it towed fine. Then he started sniffing around for a small TT/toy hauler. It isn’t very big or very heavy, but seems to be too much TT. I told him that if he went any bigger, he’d need a truck. Turned out that the 4Runner (V6) really struggles with this trailer, so he decided he did need a truck. His wife (our oldest daughter) has put up with all the travel trailers, and let him do what he wanted. She has finally put her stiletto heeled foot down.

He’s a great guy, and asks lots of questions and seeks advice, but he does not listen to any of the advice. If he can’t get a truck, he needs to downsize and go back to a slightly smaller TT. But I am staying out of this. Not suggesting a dang thing from here on.

But, if the truck turns out to be a ‘go’, I’ll pass along the info you guys have provided. I think he really wanted the 2.7 engine.

Sometimes they have to learn by making their own mistakes.

No turbo for me

The 3.5 T has 400 hp/500 ft. lbs.

The 5.0 has 400 hp/410 ft. lbs.

I just bought an F-150 and went with the 5.0 due to better gas mileage.

The little 2.7L has 325HP, and 400 ft lbs of torque, and it's like 250 lbs lighter. That's more power than 2004 5.4 V8, on half the displacement.

We run nothing but the 5.0 on our work truck fleet. I'd recommend that.

Last year my 2014 3.5 crapped out at 250,000 miles. AVG mgp according to the truck was about 18mpg. I went with the 5.0 V8 in my new truck. Gas mileage is a little better around 19.7 but can definitely notice less low end torque when pulling the boat. Not a big deal to me, plus it sounds better.

My little brother has a 2015 2.7 4x4. Been a great motor and gets 21-22mpg avg mpg. He doesn't tow anything though.


V6 Forerunner should pull a small teardrop or popup pretty good.

I don’t know anyone with justified major complaint about any of them.

Also… with how little the average American knows about their vehicle I don’t trust almost anything I hear. My FIL had a loaner Chevy he was bragging on the V-8 power. I went out and looked at it, popped the hood and ruined his day it was the 2.7 4-cylinder.

Those little turbos hurt a lot of V8 feelings.

It appears to threaten a few people’s manhood to suggest they drive a V-6. Even though it’s been around 14 years and made more power than the V-8 every year while getting better gas mileage.

Smaller engines with direct injection and turbo(s) do make good power. Judging by the GM vehicles I see all day plus the D**** and F*** vehicles that go through reconditioning straight across from me, smaller engines with turbos walk a much thinner line of reliability ... or at least they did. Seems to be getting better with development although becoming more complex.

I am no F*** expert but one of those has a class action lawsuit against it and I know for a fact our sister store (F***) has mountains of issues with the 3.5L leaking oil and turbo failures... or at least did. Not sure if that was already solved. I know no one around here recommends an eco-boost but like I said, the issues were likely resolved in production like with all makes. We in the industry obviously have a different exposure than the public. It's comedic when someone posts "I had one of those and it was fine" implying they all are when we see lots of failures ... like the 3.0 Duramax. We are around them all the time so we see the real carnage.


I own six vehicles because of four kids and I haven't had a car/truck payment in 11 years when I bought my truck from my dad in one year of payments. Not sure I get your gist.


Unsure about F*** but with GM it's the MASSIVE drop in trade value most don't want to swallow. Buy a truck and keep it ten years and it matters not. Drive it for three and trade and you'll take a bath on a non-V8. There's a reason the smaller engines are often discounted.

The turbo should be given credit for the low-end power, but the 5.0 doesn't really get in the power band until mid to high rpms.

You say the smaller ones are often discounted and others on similar recent posts say they sell at a premium…. That’s a good reason to look for yourself.

the 5.4's were pretty gutless.


I don't know anyone who tows with a 2.7 but the guys I know who own them, like them for runabout trucks.

It has been REAL quiet since the big truck fight, and we haven’t heard from either the daughter or the SiL.

SIL may be trying on the pants.

For someone who cannot empty the grey and black water tanks, the big boy pants are not going to fit.

If he has to call and ask what truck to buy, not going to fit.

True.