MSRP $54,005

The 2011 Dodge Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn Mega Cab Pickup is almost as heavy duty as its name is long.  It is Dodge’s biggest pickup with its biggest cab.  The Longhorn, which has a special Texas edition called the “Lone Star Longhorn,”  is almost like a luxury car on the inside, but full of power under the hood, and endowed with high payload and towing capacity.

The Longhorn has a Cummins turbocharged 6.7 liter, inline 6 diesel engine that produces 350 horsepower, and 650 pound-feet of torque.  It comes with 17-inch polished alloy wheels, rear wheel drive, and a 6-speed automatic transmission.  It doesn’t have an EPA mileage rating.  It can be upgraded to 4-wheel drive and can tow up to 17,600 pounds, and carry up to 5,130 pounds in the back.

The Longhorn is a mega-cab, which is like a very large crew cab.  This does come at the expense of the bed, though, pairing off with the shorter of the two beds that normally come with the 3500.  It comes with a list of features that is too long to cover here, but the highlights are these: full power accessories, power driver seat with driver memory, leather upholstery, cruise control, a leather-wrapped, tilting steering wheel, leather seats, power adjustable pedals, 2-zone climate control, and a lot more.  The surround sound system has 9 speakers, CD/MP3 player, audio jack, USB/iPod input, Bluetooth, and satellite radio.

The Longhorn doesn’t have electronic stability control or traction control, but compensates for them with the suspension and with an exhaust brake that is much like the one on a commercial hauler like a Peterbilt.  In addition, it does have anti-lock brakes and side curtain airbags.  When you are in a 3500, though, you are in a very safe vehicle, just from being bigger than almost anyone else on the road.  Safety is definitely not an issue here.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

In the US, the “Big Three” pride themselves on their full size trucks.  They pride themselves on their 350 or 3500 series, and pull out all the stops to make theirs the biggest and the best.  All of the Big Three’s large trucks are great products.  They are all heavy-duty and built for prolonged, sustained professional use.

The Longhorn is definitely the most luxurious of the Big Three’s big trucks.   The interior is very posh, and the rear seat is very roomy.  The Longhorn, hands down, has the best interior in its class.  The steering is responsive and the suspension doesn’t give nearly as much pitch or body roll as one would expect out of a large truck.  As for the ride, you definitely know you are in a truck, but it is still very comfortable.

The only negative is that the competition has more towing power.  For the needs of 95 percent of the truck buying public, though, the Longhorn has more than enough.

The verdict: highly recommended.

MSRP $18,240

The 2011 GMC Canyon is GMC’s version of the compact pickup.  It has a lot of good attributes, but has polarized industry experts.  Some feel that it is a great tweener truck, while others feel that GMC tries to do a little of everything at the expense of doing anything really well.

The GMC Canyon SLE is the higher of two trim levels, and costs only $1,195 more than the base model.  It comes with a 2.9 liter, 4-cylinder engine that creates 184 horsepower.  It has 16-inch aluminum wheels, rear wheel drive, and a manual 5-speed transmission.  It is rated at 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway.

The SLE is equipped with cruise control, standard air conditioning, a 60-40 split front bench seat, foglights, and a bedliner.  The audio system has a CD/MP3 player, satellite radio, and bluetooth.

The Canyon has anti-lock brakes, stability control, traction control, and head curtain airbags.  It also has the OnStar Emergency system.  In government testing, the regular cab Canyon got scores of 4 stars all the way around.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

Basically, the Canyon does a lot of things right, but it polarizes people.  If you are a person who doesn’t need a heavy duty truck, or a “car person” who likes the idea of having a truck for occasional dalliances at hauling or off-road adventures, you will probably love this truck.  On the other hand, if you are a “truck person” who wants something down, dirty, and heavy duty, you will probably hate this truck.

The interior is plain and non-pretentious.  The dash and dials are functional and very easy to negotiate.  The bed and suspension are good for light to medium cargo loads.  You can use it for light duty towing, like a light boat or trailer, but for anything heavier you will want to upgrade to the V89 engine.

Mileage is excellent for a truck of this size, but it comes at the expense of power.  There is enough power for light to medium duty work and it accelerates OK, but for the most part, it is designed more for a patient driver.  It handles well.  The steering has average response, and there is some body roll, and the suspension is tweaked more toward passenger comfort while still allowing a little bit of offroad performance.

On the other side of the coin, serious truck people like more power, and the Canyon doesn’t have nearly enough power or suspension for them.  Instead of sugarcoating it, I’ll just be blunt here: a person used to heavy duty trucks is going to call the Canyon a “sissy truck.”  In Texas, they would call it “all hat and no cattle.”  In the country, they would say the Canyon is what a city slicker would buy to think he is driving a truck.

The verdict: for those who aren’t serious about trucks, the Canyon is a nice truck.

The Toyota Tundra is Toyota’s entry into the full-size pickup market.  It is made in Texas, and is more like an American pickup than a Japanese one.  It has been around for a long time, and hasn’t been redesigned since 2007 other than minor tweaks.  Is it still a viable competitor in the market?

The Tundra’s base model is the equivalent to full-size trucks numbered “150” or “1500” by American companies.  It has a 4.0 liter V6 engine that produces 270 horsepower.  It is rated at 16 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway.  It has rear wheel drive, 18-inch steel wheels, and a 5-speed automatic transmission.  Upgrades to 4 wheel drive and a 4.6 liter V8 engine that puts out 310 horsepower.

The Tundra comes with a tilt steering wheel, a 40-20-40 split bench seat, and 2-zone air conditioning.  The sound system has 4 speakers, AM/FM radio, a CD/MP3 player, and an audio input jack.

Though the base model is sparse, there are plenty of upgrades available.  Though most are for extended or crew cabs, you can still get a tilt-telescope steering wheel, bucket seats, and a nicely upgraded stereo as upgrades.

The Tundra has anti-lock brakes with hill assist, stability control, traction control, trailer sway control, front side airbags, side curtain airbags, and driver’s knee airbags.  In government tests under the 2010 standards, the Tundra got 4 stars for driver protection and 5 stars for passenger protection.  The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave it their highest score of “good” in all tests.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

For a base model, the Tundra gives a few extras.  Some base “work truck” models don’t even give air conditioning or a sound system, while the Tundra gives both.  The seats are comfortable, and the cab is roomy.  There is plenty of legroom and headroom for both passenger and driver, and there is also ample indoor cargo space.

The steering is a little lighter than most trucks, and the suspension is passable.  It gives a bit of a jolt, but is capable of heavy duty work, so that is part of the package.  The V6 engine is OK for medium duty work, but you may consider going with the V8 if you are really going to max this truck out.

This leads us to the negatives.  The competition has been getting better while the Tundra has been resting on its laurels.  The Tundra used to be a leader, now it is lagging a bit behind its American counterparts.  They haven’t improved their suspension in four years.  That is a lifetime in a competitive market like the full-size truck.  The smaller engine isn’t really appropriate for heavy-duty work, either.

Toyota does almost everything well.  Everything they make is near the top of its class, all the way up to small trucks.  But Toyota has been surpassed by its competition in the full-size truck market.

The verdict:  check out the competition.

MSRP $20,850

The GMC Sierra is pretty much a Chevy Silverado with a label from its sister company on it.  Luckily for GMC, that is a positive.   GMC has been making the Sierra since 1992, and last revamped it in 2007, but they have still tweaked it just enough that an “all new Sierra” isn’t really necessary quite yet.

The GMC Sierra 1500 Work Truck is the base trim level of their half-ton full-size pickup.  The base engine is a 4.3 liter V6 that produces 195 horsepower, but an upgrade to the 4.8 liter V8 that supplies 302 horsepower is highly recommended.  The Sierra 1500 Work Truck comes with 17-inch wheels and a 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive.  It is rated at 15 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway, and the upgraded engine only loses 1 mpg in each instance for 14 mpg in the city and  19 mpg on the highway.

The Work Truck comes with standard air conditioning, a tilt steering wheel, vinyl upholstery, a 40/20/40 split front bench seat, and a trip computer.  It also comes with a sound system that isn’t nearly as “bare bones” as those of most work trucks.  It has a CD/MP3 player, satellite radio, and an audio jack.

The Sierra has anti-lock brakes with brake-assist, stability control, traction control, side front airbags, and side curtain airbags.  In both government and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing, the Sierra got perfect scores for front impacts, but was only “acceptable” in IIHS side-impact tests.  One large factor in the favor of every GM vehicle, though, is its OnStar emergency system.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

Although the Sierra Work Truck has a few more amenities than some base pickups do, its interior is quite plain and unpretentious.  It’s pretty much devoid of distinguishing characteristics.  This is OK for a work truck, though.  The ride is a little nicer than one would expect from a truck.  The steering is accurate and even a little light, while the ride is quite smooth and quiet.  The seats are comfortable and there is plenty of room, too.

There are some negatives here.  The steering radius could stand to be smaller.  There isn’t a lot of cargo space inside the truck.  Also, the base engine could probably be more powerful, but you are getting a full-size American pickup for just over $20,000.  The base engine is good for light to medium duty, but you will want to get the V8 engine if you want to max this truck out on a regular basis, or if you just want a little bit of punch while navigating traffic.

When you put it all together, the Sierra Work Truck is very good, but the higher trim levels are great, and possibly the best in their class.

The verdict: you really can’t go wrong with the higher trim levels and bigger engines, but the V6 is not quite enough.

MSRP $35,630

If you are serious about your trucks, you will love the Silverado 3500HD.  In all trucks, the 3500 series means “this is a big truck.”  The HD stands for “heavy duty.”  This is the Chevy Truck that is meant for people who need a lot of capacity for towing, cargo, or both.  We chose the LT trim, which is the middle of three trim levels, because it combines a capacity to do a lot of work with a lot of interior convenience and comfort.

The Silverado 3500HD LT has a 6.0 liter V8 engine that produces 360 horsepower.  It has 18-inch alloy wheels, rear wheel drive, and a 6-speed automatic transmission with a manual override.  Apparently, the EPA mileage is one of the world’s best kept secrets, because neither Chevy nor any of the standard resources list it on their websites.

It comes with a tilting, leather-wrapped steering wheel, keyless entry, full power accessories, cruise control, tinted windows, cloth seats, carpeted floor coverings, lumbar adjustable driver seat, heated mirrors, standard air conditioning, an 8-foot bed, and a trip computer.  The sound system has 4 speakers, AM/FM radio, CD/MP3 player, and satellite radio.

The Silverado 3500 HD has standard anti-lock brakes, stability control, traction control, and hill assist.  There are also options for side front and side curtain airbags.  It also has the unparallelled GM OnStar communications system.

Like the EPA ratings, the crash test ratings are MIA.  Normally, that would be a problem, but Chevy Trucks are among the safest on the road, so the Silverado 3500HD should be no different.  Besides, when you are the biggest vehicle on the road, and the bigger vehicle in any crash, you usually sustain a lot less damage than the “other guy.”

Conclusions and driver feedback:

The interior of the Silverado 3500HD is ordinary, but that is in keeping with being a heavy duty truck.  99 percent of the time, people don’t buy any pickup model numbered 350 or 3500 from any manufacturer to use as a family sedan.  This truck is made for people who use a pickup as an integral part of their job.  Chevy even put the pedals farther apart than in a standard truck to allow for work boots.

The front seats are very comfortable and supportive.  Someone using this for hauling or towing probably won’t have a backache when he gets home.  Chevy has pulled off a European-style “magic trick” with the suspension.  They have made it very heavy duty and stiff, while making the ride feel almost smooth.

The steering is precise and the steering radius is smaller than those of its two main US competitors.    The engine is powerful and equally comfortable doing heavy duty work or simply commuting.

As for negatives,  there are none.  Period.

If you want a toy or a trophy truck, go away.  But if you want a great heavy duty truck, the Silverado 3500HD may be America’s best.

MSRP  $26,680

The 2011 Dodge Dakota BigHorn is a Midsize Pickup with a Crew Cab and a 5.3 foot bed.  Midsize pickups, especially with extra seating, are good for dual use as both a family car and a work truck.  The Bighorn is a light duty truck that leans more toward the “truck” side than the “family car” side.

The BigHorn has a 3.7 liter V6 engine that produces 210 horsepower.  It has 17-inch alloy wheels and a 4-speed, rear-wheel drive, automatic transmission.  It is rated at 15 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway.

There is also an optional upgrade to a 4.7 liter V8 engine that gets 302 horsepower and has a 5-speed automatic transmission.  If you stay with rear-wheel drive, the mileage only drops a mile, to 14 mpg in the city and 19 on the highway.  4-wheel drive is also optional.

The Dakota BigHorn is lagging in safety features, but has gotten slightly better this year.  It has anti-lock brakes and front side airbags.  However, there is no traction control, stability control, or side curtain airbags.  The BigHorn depends on its size, suspension, and driving habits of its owners to keep the driver safe.

Despite its lack of modern safety features, the Bighorn got a top rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and 4-star ratings from government testing under last year’s standards.

The interior is no-nonsense and nothing to really engage a typical car buyer.  Unlike, say, a crossover SUV, the BigHorn looks and feels like a truck.  The materials are hard, less-than-expensive plastic.  The upside is that the Bighorn is laid out in a way that “gets the job done” very well.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t some modern features, though.  It has cruise control, full power accessories, keyless entry, a tilt steering wheel, rear folding seats, front bucket seats, and cloth upholstery.  The stereo is an 4-speaker system with a CD/MP3 player and an audio jack.

Conclusions and Driver Feedback:

Midsize pickups with extended cabs usually try to be all things to all people.  They can be a family car, a work truck, or a trophy for urban cowboys and urban cowgirls to drive to country music shows.  The Dakota BigHorn is a work truck first and a family or trophy truck second.  It has a towing capacity of 7,250 pounds, which is the best in its class.

The BigHorn is definitely a truck and drives like a truck.  The suspension is “truck stiff.”  The upside is that it is the best truck in its class for light duty towing and hauling.  The downside is that the competition is killing them when it comes to making a family car disguised as a truck.

The verdict: if you want a midsize work truck that outperforms most of its class, the Dodge Dakota BigHorn is the right choice.  If you want a family car that looks like a truck, check out the competition.

MSRP  $46,005

The 2011 Chevy Avalanche LTZ is a crew cab pickup.  It combines the attributes of an SUV with those of a pickup.  Basically, this is a 6-passenger SUV with a pickup bed.  Unlike other pickup/SUV blends, the Avalanche has a one-piece body with a mid-gate separating the passenger cabin from the bed.

The LTZ has a 5.3 liter, V8 flex-fuel engine that gets 320 horsepower.  It has a 6-speed, 4-wheel drive, automatic transmission and 20-inch polished alloy wheels.  It is rated at 15 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway.

The LTZ has a very nice interior: much nicer than that of a standard pickup.  It has leather upholstery, power accessories, 2-zone air conditioning, front bucket seats, power driver seat, and a rear seat that can fold to create extra cargo space.  When used for passengers, the rear seat is very roomy.

The LTZ also comes with a Bose surround-sound system with a CD/MP3 player, satellite radio, an audio jack, and iPod input.  It is also wired for bluetooth and has a navigation system.

The standard safety features are there, enhanced by the GM OnStar emergency system.  The LTZ has anti-lock brakes, traction control, stability control, side front airbags, side curtain airbags, and a rollover sensor.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

Sometimes, when a manufacturer tries to combine two different styles, it ends up getting the worst of both worlds.  The Avalanche manages, for the most part, to get the best of both the SUV and the pickup.

The interior is pleasant and roomy, giving an enjoyable ride for driver and passengers alike.  The bed is functional, and can be expanded if there are no passengers in the back.  There is an three-piece bed cover that can totally enclose the vehicle and its cargo if preferred.  The mid-gate allows you to configure the Avalanche like a pickup if you want.

The Avalanche drives and handles well.  The suspension is typical Chevy truck, and it has a towing capacity of up to 8,100 pounds.  The cabin is as comfortable as any SUV, and the surround-sound system is a nice touch.

There is some negative feedback, but it is minimal.  The Avalanche is large, and it isn’t as maneuverable as some would like.  There are also big blind spots to the rear and to the side.  Some take issue with the price tag, especially in the higher trims like the LTZ.

All in all, though, you are getting  what you pay for here: a loaded, solid, and dependable Chevy truck that combines the best attributes of both an SUV and a pickup.  It’s almost like you are getting two vehicles for the price of one (or maybe one and a half).

Ultimately, GM has accomplished everything it set out to do with the Avalanche LTZ.  It has combined an SUV with a pickup and provided the best of both.

The verdict: the Avalanche LTZ is a great vehicle if you can handle the price.

MSRP: 26,810

The 2011 Chevy Silverado LT is the highest of two trim levels. It has a lot of add-ons that the lower trim, the Work Truck, doesn’t. The Silverado LT is a nice combination of power, durability, and enough features to keep those who want it for more than work satisfied.

The Silverado LT features a 4.8 liter, V8 flex-fuel engine that puts out 302 horsepower. It has 18-inch aluminum wheels and a rear-wheel drive, 6-speed automatic transmission. It is rated at 14 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the road. Upgrades include 20-inch alloy wheels, a larger engine, and 4-wheel drive.

The LT comes with a lot of interior options that you won’t find in the basic Work Truck. It has keyless entry, cruise control, power accessories, adjustable lumbar support, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The sound system is a Bose with rear speaker controls and a 6-CD changer with am MP3 player, satellite radio, with an optional iPod input and bluetooth.

There are plenty of safety features here. The Silverado LT has anti-lock brakes, front side airbags, side curtain airbags, traction control, and stability control. It got 5-star safety ratings and only took 120 feet to stop from 60 mph. The Silverado also has the GM OnStar system and a trip computer.

Conclusions and driver feedback:

There is plenty to like about the Silverado. It competes well with other trucks in its class. The V8 engine provides plenty of power, both for acceleration and towing. A variety of suspension and towing packages are available as upgrades.

Drivers like the Silverado both for work performance and for more conventional travel. The seats and cabin are very comfortable on long trips, and the truck steers and drives very smoothly. The ride is also smooth and quiet. User reviews are almost off the charts. Everything from the look to the ride to dependability are cited as being pluses.

There isn’t really a lot of negative feedback. Some feel the interior is a bit boring. Some don’t like the turning radius, which is a little bit wide. Some would prefer higher gas mileage. But really, when it comes to the main reasons people buy trucks, most of the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

Versatility seems to be a trend in the feedback. Buyers use this truck for commuting, hauling, or towing, and all are satisfied. While the Silverado doesn’t do anything really better than anyone else, it does almost everything as well as everyone else. Minor quibbles about its appearance aside, the Silverado has no major flaws. Better yet, there are so many upgrades and packages available that it would be really difficult for anyone to not be satisfied with this truck.

So, whether you want a work truck that looks good enough to take out on Saturday night, or you just want to commute, the Silverado is a great choice.

The verdict: the Silverado LT holds its own with any truck in its class.

MSRP $22,415

The F-150 XL is Ford’s entry-level pickup. While Ford has made plenty of fine cars over the years, any multi-line mechanic will tell you that their trucks have traditionally been their flagship product. The public apparently agrees with their mechanics, because the F-series has been the best-selling truck line in America for over 20 years.

The F-150 XL comes with a 3.7L V-6 Flex-fuel engine. It is rated at 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway, and produces 302 horsepower. The F-150 XL is, of course, a 4-wheel drive truck, and comes with an automatic transmission and 17-inch steel wheels.

It provides more power and better fuel mileage than last year’s model. The F-150 XL is a great basic pickup; it can do heavy-duty work but doesn’t carry a heavy-duty pricetag. The F-150 XL, as an entry-level model, is very basic and doesn’t come with a lot of frills. It is geared toward people who need a pickup for hauling rather than “suburban cowboys” who want to drive a truck around.

The basic model comes with an AM/FM radio, air conditioning, and vinyl seats. If you want bells and whistles with your truck, they will cost a little extra. There are options for an upgraded stereo system with a CD/MP3 player with an audio jack and iPod input. Bluetooth technology can also be added as an extra.

The F-150 XL has the basic safety features. It has anti-lock brakes, stability control, traction control, side-front airbags, and side curtain airbags. The navigation system isn’t included, though, unless you upgrade. It also earned 5-star ratings in crash tests.

As most heavy-duty pickup drivers already know, though, one of the best ways to be safe in a collision is to be bigger than the other guy. An F-150 is usually going to be bigger and more solid than 95 percent of the other vehicles on the road. That is a great way to get a 5-star rating.

The exterior is what you would expect from a Ford truck. The F-150 XL has a regular cab and a 6.5-foot bed. Everything is basic, though there are many upgrades available.

There are a total of five trim levels with upgrades in power, tires, cab, sound system, and navigation systems available as you go up the “food chain.”

Conclusions and driver feedback:

Basically, the Ford F-150 XL is a “what you see is what you get” truck. It is solid and dependable, and is priced very low for those who need a work truck and don’t care about frills. It has plenty of power and gets decent gas mileage. It handles great and doesn’t make a lot of noise. As for negative feedback: there isn’t much.

The verdict is in: if you want a basic work truck, or if you like the feel and safety of a truck without having to sacrifice very much fuel mileage, the F-150 XL is a great choice.

Advertised Asking price – $988

Miles: 180,078

This cheap 2 door Silverado is white in color, has a cloth interior and is an 8 cylinder diesel turbo, this truck is a rear wheel 2WD.

Installed options include ABS brakes, AM/FM radio, chrome bumpers, front bench seat, reading lights, tachometer.  For more information on this truck potential buyers will need to make contact with the dealer.

Dealer contact information – Jumbo Auto & Truck Plaza PH:1-888-375-9379 1640 S State Road 7 Hollywood, FL 33023

Photo – 1995 Chevrolet Silverado