[SvilleKid]

Last truck we purchased, first thing I did was sit in the back seat of each of the full sizes being offered. I'm 6'2". Ninja is at least 2 inches taller. Leg room was a must. Most legroom was Ford's super-crew cab. Next was Chevy's crew cab. Next was Dodge, followed closely by Toyota and Nissan. Dodge was barely acceptable, with my knees against the front seat. Toyota and Nissan were not in the running. No rear leg room.

When you are buying for towing, gas mileage becomes less of an issue. Full size, extended cab trucks with V-8's capable of safe towing will NOT get great gas mileage. Just can't combine heavy trucks, big engines and great gas mileage. Doesn't happen. Sorry. Knowing that, I look for other features, including legroom, dependability, and repair costs for down the road. While nothing is cheap to repair these days, it still remains that Nissan and Toyota and will cost more to have work done on them, and it will be harder to find mechanics and after market parts for them. Plus, you will pay more on the front end, because they have a reputation which I cannot see proof of, especially on the full size truck market, which they haven't been in long enough to warrant such a rep.

I have an F150 with 250,000 miles. I replaced the brake vacuum booster and the water pump in the last two months. No other major repairs, and that truck has spent it's life pulling loads from light to heavy, locally as well as across country! So it has had a full life of hard work. I have a buddy with a GMC that has over 350,000 miles, with a lot of that initially being long distances. I think the longevity of Fords, GMs and Dodges speaks for itself. Any of these will last for as long as you like if it is serviced regularly. Thus, I don't put any stock in buying Nissan or Toyota because of a perceived reputation, when I know from personal experiences that Fords and Chevys can last just as long, and cost much less initially and down the road.