Retail and office construction are in decline. Banks are playing Scrooge with new bailout bucks. For-sale signs line the street, and housing starts keep receding.These are tough times, when every dollar spent on capital equipment must be spent wisely. For working people in need of a new truck, that need translates into a pickup that not only leads in raw grunt but also fuel economy and utility. ENR evaluated two redesigned models, the 2009 Ford F-150 and 2009 Dodge Ram 1500, to determine which workhorse truly deserves a spot at the jobsite.
Starting at $22,170, the 2009 Dodge Ram’s trims range from the base ST to the luxed-out Laramie, and buyers can opt for the Regular, Quad or new Crew Cab style. Prices for the 2009 Ford F-150 start at $21,320. The lineup includes seven trims and Regular Cab, SuperCab, and SuperCrew models.