2004 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT

This is Dodge's full-size pickup, the one that competes with the F-150 and Silverado for half-ton duty. The Ram 1500 rides on a coil-spring rear suspension, which gives it a noticeably smoother ride than most other trucks of its era. The cabin is roomy and straightforward, with a tall seating position and controls that are easy to reach. You get a proper truck bed and a choice of cab sizes, so it can handle both work duty and family hauling. A cloth interior and the standard steel wheels mark the SLT as the mid-range trim, sitting between the basic ST and the high-performance SRT-10. The 5.7L V8 makes 240 horsepower and works with a five-speed automatic and four-wheel drive, so it's a capable work truck that also handles snow and mud well. You can expect 14 mpg combined from the big V8, which is typical for a full-size truck of this era.