Bob Baker Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram

Words by Mark Williams, Photos by Ian Merritt

Warning: This is not the usual PickupTrucks.com comparison test.

You know the drill. We work for months with manufacturers, asking for specific, equally matched and equally equipped vehicles to bring you a true apples-to-apples comparison test. You don�¢����t have to be a genius to know that just a few key mechanical differences from one truck to another can be enough to make some results questionable. But this is a different test.

We went to the half-ton manufacturers and forced each one to answer the question: What�¢����s your best truck for $30,000? We allowed them to equip the pickups any way they wanted, knowing that PickupTrucks.com values function over form and steak over sizzle. (The $30,000 figure does not include destination charges.)

Maybe not so surprisingly, most of the five trucks in this test were similarly equipped, just like you�¢����d expect in one of the most competitive automotive segments. Here are the competitors and you can download the specs as tested here:

• 2011 Chevy Silverado 1500 Extended Cab
• 2011 Ford F-150 Regular Cab
• 2011 Nissan Titan King Cab
• 2011 Ram 1500 Quad Cab
• 2011 Toyota Tundra Double Cab

Our four days of testing were done in and around Detroit in the first week of August, with temperatures never exceeding 80 degrees. In a word, the truck-testing weather was perfect.

We started our five-truck test with walk-arounds, spec analysis and short-course back-to-back driving. Day two was at Milan Dragway, south of Ann Arbor, for quarter-mile testing. Day three had us running a diverse 169-mile fuel economy route. And we finished with a very long day at Ford�¢����s Michigan Proving Ground near Romeo.

As we�¢����ve said, this test is a little different because these vehicles have significant differences among them. Regardless, our objective remains the same: find the truck that offers the most value for your dollar, just as if you or I walked in to a dealer with a firm $30,000 budget.

No doubt, this test will spark debates and maybe even offer a few surprises. No matter what, we think this is the perfect time to shine a spotlight on a road-test comparison that finds the best-bang-for-your-buck pickup. So here we go.

The Players

2011 Chevy Silverado 1500 Extended Cab  [Download Monroney]
Chevy sent us a two-wheel-drive Silverado extended cab half-ton with a base price of $25,395. The Silverado was the most �¢����bare bones�¢���� model of our competition but did provide seating for six.

It�¢����s worth noting the rear reverse-swing-out doors pivot almost 180 degrees for easy rear access. Also, our Chevy was the only vehicle with rubber floormats, crank windows, manual door locks and side mirrors, and without a key fob.

The $495 LS package comes standard with 3.42:1 gears, but a few cosmetic extras gave us chrome wheel caps, grille surrounds and front bumper accents. The most expensive option, at $1,745, was the Vortec LMG 5.3-liter V-8 (with Active Fuel Management cylinder shutoff for improved steady-state driving fuel economy) and six-speed transmission. Other options included 17-inch all-terrain tires, XM radio, an upgraded stereo with six months of OnStar and the heavy-duty tow package. The final tally was $29,320.

2011 Ford F-150 Regular Cab [Download Monroney]
Our two-wheel-drive Ford truck came to us fairly well dressed with the midrange XLT trim package �¢���� Ford�¢����s sales volume leader �¢���� which meant its standard vehicle price was $27,250. If the Silverado was the most stripped truck of the competition, our F-150 regular cab had the most creature comforts, but it had only two doors �¢���� two fewer than every other truck we tested.

The most expensive option was the $1,000 5.0-liter V-8 engine option and six-speed automatic transmission. The XLT Plus and Convenience packages gave us adjustable pedals, Ford�¢����s Sync multimedia system, power heated mirrors, a sliding rear window and a reverse sensing system, all for $1,249. Other options included the Trailer Tow Package, tailgate step, integrated trailer-brake controller, 3.55:1 gears, rearview camera and six months of XM satellite radio. Also, helping with the bottom line, Ford happened to be running two big XLT discount promotions for an extra savings of $1,500, giving the big blue oval a grand total of $29,920.

2011 Nissan Titan King Cab [Download Monroney]
Nissan�¢����s King Cab just squeaked into our competition by offering a well-equipped two-wheel-drive Galaxy Black SV with the standard 5.6-liter V-8 engine �¢���� the only engine available for the Titan �¢���� for $29,410.

As many might recall, Nissan was the first in the segment to offer the fully extending, wide-open rear set of doors that give easy entry to the second row for passengers and easy access to cargo in its extended-cab model.

Our test unit came fairly well equipped with the SV trim package, which included power windows and door locks, six-speaker stereo, seven-gauge instrument panel and key fob. The other options on our test unit included splash guards ($120), floormats ($150) and the tow package ($290). However, while all the other trucks had satellite radio, the Titan only offered an AM/FM head unit. Total price: $29,970.

2011 Ram 1500 Quad Cab [Download Monroney]
Our Ram Quad Cab �¢���� with smallish, conventional rear doors �¢���� came to us with a two-wheel-drive powertrain and a base ST trim package, priced at $25,240.

The most expensive option on this truck was, as you might imagine, the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 engine upgrade from the base 3.7-liter V-6. It�¢����s an extra $2,295 and includes a heavy-duty oil cooler and radiator to help with towing. Options included the $770 ST Popular Equipment Group that adds Sirius satellite radio, a 40/20/40-split front seat, cruise control and front and rear floormats, and the $495 chrome package gave us shiny rims and accents on the front and rear bumpers. Add to that the $450 factory spray-in bedliner and the $335 receiver hitch, and the final price came in at $29,660.

2011 Toyota Tundra Double Cab [Download Monroney]
Toyota sent us the two-wheel-drive Double Cab that offers (like the Ram) conventional-opening rear doors and a powerful 5.7-liter V-8, for a base price of $27,665.

Additional options included an upgraded stereo with an iPod USB port, XM satellite radio and Bluetooth capability for $510, the $160 Cold Weather Package that gave us a bigger battery and starter, and mudflaps. Finally, Toyota ordered a pretty serious Tow Package for $660 that includes a brake-controller prewire, 4.30:1 gears, a transmission cooler and gauge, 7-pin connector and heavy-duty alternator. Other assorted extras �¢���� like heated mirrors, 18-inch wheels, daytime running lights, floormats and a drop-in bedliner �¢���� round out our test unit to a total of $29,698.