Thinking about buying a "newer" truck - any advice?

ESP I've been driving Ford, Chevy, Dodge and Toyota through your town (Antioch to Lake Tahoe) for many years, never had a problem with any one of these, for me it comes down to the following: Toyota Tundra overpriced, reliable and terrible gas mileage (V8): Ford F150 well priced, reliable and decent gas mileage: Dodge Ram (5.7) well priced, reliable and good gas mileage (not the 4.7 good motor but I got better mileage with hemi that turns into 4 cyl): Dodge Dakota well priced, reliable and decent gas mileage (best buy is the V8): Chevy well priced, reliable and good mileage, just as ugly as a truck could possibly get (getting better looking). If you need to carry people in the back the Tundra, F150, Chevy and Dakota Quad Cab is your best bet if you get the full size doors, a full size back door Ram is very expensive and gas mileage usually drops significantly. If back seat passenger comfort is not important I recommend the Ram Quad Cab with the Hemi (I believe 2004 is when the V8 dropped to a V4 under light to medium load. If you want a diesel I'd go for the Ram, if money is a big factor a pre 2004 Ram Diesel can be had for fantastic deals. Test them all and have fun, you'll find something that makes you happy!