Used Ford F-150 vs Used Ram 1500: Which Is Better for MN Buyers? | Jay Malone Ford

If you’re shopping for a used full-size truck in central Minnesota, you’re almost certainly cross-shopping the Ford F-150 against the Ram 1500. They’re the two most popular used trucks in the country and the two most popular used trucks on our lot. Most dealerships will tell you whichever one they sell is the better truck. We can’t do that — we sell both.

Jay Malone Motors is one dealership with two new-vehicle franchises: Ford and Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Same family, same building on Hwy 7 W in Hutchinson, same service department. That means when you ask us “which truck should I buy?” we can give you the honest answer instead of the brand-loyal one. This is that honest answer — from the Ford-leaning side of our showroom, with credit given where Ram wins.

What Our Actual Sales Data Tells Us

We sold 15 used F-150s and 8 used Ram 1500s in the first four months of 2026. That’s a real number, not a marketing claim, and it tells you what central Minnesota truck buyers actually choose when both options are on the same lot. F-150 wins almost 2:1 in our showroom.

But the gap is narrower than the national split would suggest, and the buyers who choose Ram are choosing it deliberately — not as a consolation prize. We see consistent reasons buyers pick one over the other, and those reasons hold up across the comparison. Let’s walk through them.

Engine Options Head-to-Head

This is where the F-150 has the clearest advantage on paper. Across the 2015-2024 used range, Ford offered up to five engine choices including the unique PowerBoost Hybrid. Ram offered three or four.

Category	Ford F-150	Ram 1500
Base V6	3.3L V6 (290 hp)	3.6L Pentastar V6 (305 hp)
Turbo V6	2.7L & 3.5L EcoBoost V6	None (2015-2024)
V8	5.0L Coyote V8 (385-400 hp)	5.7L HEMI V8 (395 hp)
Diesel	3.0L Power Stroke (2018-2021)	3.0L EcoDiesel (2014-2023)
Hybrid	3.5L PowerBoost (2021+, 430 hp)	None (eTorque is mild-hybrid only)
Top performance	Raptor (450 hp 3.5L EcoBoost)	TRX (702 hp supercharged V8)

Where F-150 wins: Pure variety. The EcoBoost lineup is genuinely good — the 2.7L is the surprisingly capable everyday choice, the 3.5L is a serious tow rig. The PowerBoost Hybrid is unmatched in the segment for anyone who wants V8-class power with strong fuel economy and the Pro Power Onboard generator (up to 7.2 kW) for jobsite or backup power.

Where Ram wins: The 5.7L HEMI is one of the most-loved truck V8s ever built. Naturally aspirated, simple architecture, instantly recognizable sound, and it’s available across nearly every Ram trim. If you want a V8 in your truck for V8 reasons — the sound, the feel, the simplicity — the HEMI is a stronger emotional case than the 5.0L Coyote. And the TRX is in its own category at 702 hp; the Raptor doesn’t play in that league until you get to the V8 Raptor R, which is far more expensive.

Edge: Ford on overall variety and the PowerBoost. Edge: Ram if you specifically want a HEMI V8 or you’re shopping the TRX.

Towing & Payload Capability

F-150 has held the half-ton tow crown for most of the 2015-2024 era. Ram closed the gap significantly with the DT generation (2019+) but didn’t fully catch up.

Era	F-150 Max Tow	Ram 1500 Max Tow
2015-2018	12,200 lbs (3.5L EcoBoost)	10,640 lbs (HEMI V8)
2019-2020	13,200 lbs (3.5L EcoBoost)	12,750 lbs (HEMI eTorque)
2021-2024	14,000 lbs (3.5L EcoBoost)	12,750 lbs (HEMI eTorque)

F-150 wins towing across the board with the 3.5L EcoBoost and Max Trailer Tow Package — 14,000 lbs is genuinely class-leading. The 5.0L V8 with Max Tow also outpulls a comparably-equipped HEMI V8 from 2021+.

Where Ram wins: Payload on the V6 eTorque models is actually higher than the F-150 V6 base configurations. Real-world ride quality when towing also favors Ram because of the multi-link coil rear suspension (DT gen) and available air suspension — both ride better unloaded *and* sag less under load than a leaf-spring rear, which is what most F-150s still use.

For central MN towing — pontoons, bass boats, livestock trailers, small to mid campers — both trucks handle the job well above the actual loads our customers tow. The towing-spec sheet favors Ford. The towing *experience* often favors Ram. Pick your priority.

Edge: Ford on max numbers. Edge: Ram on ride quality while towing.

Interior, Technology & Daily Comfort

Here’s where this comparison gets uncomfortable for Ford people: most reviewers and most Ram owners will tell you the DT-generation Ram (2019+) has a better interior than the 14th-gen F-150 (2021+). And honestly, they have a point.

Where Ram wins:

• The available 12-inch vertical Uconnect touchscreen on Laramie+ is one of the best-looking infotainment displays in the segment
• Material quality on Laramie, Limited, and Limited Longhorn trims is genuinely luxury-grade — the Longhorn’s real-wood interior is something you don’t see in this price class
• The available Active-Level Air Suspension delivers a notably smoother ride than the F-150’s leaf-spring setup
• Multi-function split-fold tailgate is more useful than Ford’s offerings for most buyers

Where F-150 wins:

• SYNC 4 with 12-inch screen (Lariat+, 14th gen) is at least competitive with Uconnect 5 — some users prefer Ford’s simpler menu structure
• BlueCruise hands-free highway driving (2022+) is a genuinely impressive system that Ram doesn’t match with anything in this year range
• The work-surface tailgate is more useful than Ram’s tailgate for actual jobsite use
• Pro Power Onboard 7.2 kW generator (PowerBoost) is unmatched in the segment

Edge: Ram on pure interior luxury and ride quality. Edge: Ford on tech features that do work (BlueCruise, Pro Power Onboard).

Reliability & Long-Term Ownership

Both trucks have well-documented issues. Neither is bulletproof. Here’s the honest summary:

F-150 known items:

• 2018+ 5.0L V8 cam phaser noise (Ford issued a service campaign)
• Early 10-speed transmission calibration (2017+) — mostly addressed via TSB updates
• Aluminum body repair requires specialized training (we have it; many shops don’t)
• Pre-2017 3.5L EcoBoost intercooler condensation in cold weather (mostly a non-issue on 2017+)

Ram 1500 known items:

• HEMI lifter tick on higher-mileage trucks (mild on most, severe on a few)
• HEMI MDS cylinder deactivation occasional issues
• Air suspension bag leaks with age on equipped trucks
• 2014-2016 EcoDiesel emissions update from Stellantis settlement (verify on any specific truck)

Neither truck has a fatal flaw. Both can easily reach 200,000+ miles with proper maintenance. Both have factory-trained service available at our dealership. The F-150’s aluminum body is a real advantage in Minnesota road-salt conditions because aluminum doesn’t rust like steel — that’s a genuine long-term ownership benefit you don’t see in spec sheets.

Edge: Ford slightly — primarily because the aluminum body delivers measurably better long-term corrosion resistance in Minnesota conditions.

Used Market Value & Pricing

F-150 and Ram 1500 hold their value differently. On the used market in central MN:

• F-150 holds value better. At 3-5 years old, a comparable F-150 typically commands $1,500-$3,500 more than a comparable Ram 1500. That’s good if you’re selling later; less good if you’re buying now.
• Ram 1500 is often the better value at purchase. If you find a comparable Big Horn vs XLT at similar trim and mileage, the Ram is usually $1,500-$3,000 cheaper. That gap closes on Laramie vs Lariat (both luxury trims hold value).
• Diesel and TRX/Raptor are their own market. These hold value strongly on both sides and command significant premiums.

Edge: Ford on resale. Edge: Ram on initial purchase price. Which one matters depends on how long you plan to keep the truck.

Which Is Better for Minnesota Winters?

Both trucks are fully capable winter trucks. We sell both into the same Minnesota winters every year and the field performance is comparable. A few specifics worth knowing:

F-150 winter advantages:

• Aluminum body resists road-salt corrosion better than steel — a 10-year-old F-150 typically shows less body rot than a 10-year-old steel-body truck
• 4x4 system is reliable and easy to use across all trims
• Remote Start widely available across the lineup

Ram 1500 winter advantages:

• Active-Level Air Suspension (when equipped) can lower the truck for easier entry/exit when snow piles up around doors
• Coil-spring rear suspension delivers a noticeably softer ride on frost-heaved rural roads
• Slightly better cold-weather start times reported by owners on the HEMI V8

Edge: Ford for long-term durability in MN salt conditions. Edge: Ram for ride comfort on rough rural roads.

Bottom Line: How to Choose

If you’ve read this far you’ve already noticed: this comparison isn’t a one-truck blowout. Both are excellent. Here’s how we’d frame the decision for a central Minnesota buyer:

Our honest take from this side of the showroom: F-150 is the better all-around truck for most central Minnesota buyers. The towing capability, resale value, hybrid option, and aluminum body durability add up. The variety alone — five engines, broad trim hierarchy, the Raptor — means we can almost always match a buyer to the right F-150 configuration.

That said, the Ram 1500 is the right call for a meaningful share of our customers. If you’ve fallen in love with the HEMI, want the nicest interior in the segment, or are budget-focused on the purchase price, the Ram is a genuinely strong truck and we’ll happily sell you one from the other side of our lot.

One dealership, two new-vehicle franchises — we sell both Ford and Ram, so we can give you the honest comparison.

Want the Full Picture on Either Truck?

This article gives you the head-to-head. For deep dives on either truck — engines, trims, common issues by year, towing tables, and exactly what to inspect — we’ve published complete buyer’s guides for both: