You are right your use case doesn't really require a truck and especially one with that kind of power, but I do think the Ford 3.5L Ecoboost is probably the most proven over time along with their 2.7L. It has been out the longest and it seems they have (maybe) finally fixed the cam phaser issues. Obviously with any of these vehicles they might end up a hot mess on the side of the road, but in reality they all have the same crappy electronics and sensors.

The 26 Tundras seem to be OK so far, but given the 2025s have had quite a few spun main bearings, I just wouldn't want to chance it there.

I like the ZF in Rams as they just don't seem to have issues in any of the vehicles they have been in for years, I'm guessing with regular fluid and filter changes they will be very solid. I liked the F150s I drove as well when I was searching for my Ram.

The F150 10 speed seems to have fewer issues than the GM, but that could be due to Ford just doing a better job of having valve bodies on hand to keep people on the road. Upgrading to the NextGen valve body is probably a good idea if you plan to keep it long term, maybe do that after break in so you can also get the benefit of flushing some of the fluid early on.

I personally bought the Ram with Hurricane, but it hasn't been proven as long as the 3.5L Ecoboost, part of why I bought it for the channel as people like seeing new vehicles. I think an Inline 6 with forged components is a great engine setup paired with the ZF.

I would suggest you go drive them all, spend a day and sit in them, feel them, see if any really stands out to you. You'd be surprised at the difference in seating position, vision, suspension, throttle response, cabin noise and various other things that many overlook when doing the spec sheet shopping.

Good luck!

@TheCarGuy, thank you for the thoughtful reply.

I definitely agree that you don't get the whole story from the spec sheet, and I'm glad you pointed that out. Sometimes I don't think about that part enough. Of the range of vehicles I'm looking at, I've driven a 13th Gen F-150 w/3.5, and a late 2nd Gen Tundra w/5.7. I liked both of those, though there was some level of numbness I think I was feeling from the Tundra when I was test driving it. Although I said I wasn't really interested in the V8s, I could potentially be swayed by a 2nd Gen Tundra if the price was right, but they seem to be nearly impossible to find, and the few that I do see for sale cost more than a truck that's 3-4 years newer with half the miles. Maybe it's worth it though, I know it's not an accident that they're holding their value like that.

I've ridden as a passenger in a 2019 RAM 1500 Classic Warlock, and in a 2020 RAM 1500 Laramie. The V8 sounded great on both, and it seemed like they both rode fine. That silly knob shifter on it really bugs me though. I know I shouldn't care, because it works just fine, but I see it, and it just seems dumb to me, just like some of the push button gear selectors. Shifter on the column or on the floor just feels more natural to me. But at the same time, the modern trucks all have a knob or button 4WD selector, and yet that doesn't really bother me. I have no idea why one bothers me and the other doesn't.

Since I'm looking at a lot of trucks that are around +/- 5 years old. I'm just kind of expecting to have to do engine/transmission work on them as they already have a pretty decent amount of miles on them, and whatever truck it is, I'm hoping to keep it for as many years as possible. I'm not planning to trade it in after 3-5 years. I could probably get over the silly knob shifter on the RAM if it meant that the transmission would hold up better, and still be reasonably cost effective to repair. Hearing Next Gen Nate's comments about the ZF transmission in the RAM that It would likely have less problems, but when it does have problems, less parts of it can be repaired and often it has to be replaced, kinda puts me off of the RAM because I'm looking at used trucks, and in my lifetime of ownership of the truck, I feel like I'll be more likely to be in the category of when it breaks, and not if it breaks.

I wish I could be more interested in a GMC Sierra Denali, as I do like so many things about those, and I had always been a Chevy/GM guy most of my life, but it just seems like GM's more recent offerings are a lot of disasters just waiting to happen. But maybe all the modern trucks are just disasters waiting to happen.

I do think the GM 6.0L or 6.2L (before 2020ish) were decent V8s, but the 6.2L might still require top end work with valves/DFM. Pre 2021ish, they weren't spinning main bearings frequently.

Hemis were OK, but the hemi tick is always something to look out for.

The Tundra 5.7L paired with the 6 speed is usually very reliable compared to most but you already know that, the prices are almost unjustified at this point. If buying high mileage used 5.7L I always look for coolant flushes/diff/transfer case/trans fluid swaps on carfax or ask the seller if it's private, but given the years you are looking at you should be fine even without flushes. The Toyota 5.7 is the most trouble free/reliable 1/2 ton ever made IMO, but you pay for it.