The Rivalry That Never Dies
Walk into any truck stop in America and mention you're thinking about buying a new truck. Within 30 seconds, you'll have three guys arguing about whether you should get a Ford, Chevy, or Ram. By minute two, voices are raised. By minute three, someone's bringing up a model year from 1987 to prove a point.
I get it. I used to be that guy.
Then I did something crazy – I actually owned both. A 2017 Chevy Silverado 1500 for three years, then traded it for a 2020 Ford F-150 that I still drive today. Put over 100,000 miles on each.
Here's what I learned: the internet arguments are mostly BS. What matters is way more practical than anyone wants to admit.
My Background (So You Know I'm Not Biased)
I'm not a journalist. I don't get free trucks from manufacturers. I'm a contractor who beats the hell out of trucks for a living. Lumber, tools, trailers, muddy job sites – the whole deal.
The Silverado was my first new truck. Bought it in 2017, work spec with the 5.3L V8. Crew cab, 6.5-foot bed, nothing fancy. Daily drove it for work, put 115,000 miles on it before trading up.
The F-150 is my current ride. 2020 with the 3.5L EcoBoost. Same config – crew cab, 6.5-foot bed. Currently sitting at 98,000 miles and counting.
Both trucks were worked hard. Neither was babied. Here's what actually matters after real-world use.
Engine: The Heart of The Debate
Silverado 5.3L V8
Classic pushrod V8. Sounds great, feels powerful, gets terrible gas mileage. I averaged 14 mpg combined – mostly city driving with some highway.
The Good:
- Simple to work on
- Sounds like a real truck should
- Tons of low-end torque
- Reliable as a hammer
The Bad:
- Drinks gas like it's going out of style
- AFM (Active Fuel Management) system caused issues around 80k miles
- Feels outdated compared to modern engines
F-150 3.5L EcoBoost
Twin-turbo V6. Controversial when it came out, now it's everywhere. I was skeptical. Now I'm a believer.
The Good:
- 17 mpg combined (same driving style as the Silverado)
- 400+ horsepower when you need it
- Tows like a diesel
- Feels modern and responsive
The Bad:
- Doesn't sound as cool
- Turbos add complexity (though I haven't had issues)
- Premium gas recommended (I run 87 and it's fine)
The Verdict: EcoBoost wins on everything except nostalgia. That 3 mpg difference saves me about $1,500/year in gas. That pays for a lot of maintenance.
Interior: Where You Actually Spend Your Time
Silverado Interior
Felt cheaper than I expected. Lots of hard plastic, basic controls. Not bad, just... basic.
What I Liked:
- Simple HVAC controls (big knobs, not touchscreen)
- Decent seat comfort
- Good visibility
What Annoyed Me:
- Cheap feeling materials
- Small infotainment screen
- Weak door speakers
F-150 Interior
Noticeably nicer. Softer materials, better layout, more thought put into it.
What I Like:
- SYNC 3 system actually works well
- Better seat support for long drives
- More storage cubbies
- Much better speakers
What Annoys Me:
- Touch-sensitive HVAC controls (give me buttons!)
- Too many menu options
- The bed lighting switch location is stupid
The Verdict: F-150 wins, but it's closer than Ford fanboys want to admit. Both are fine for work trucks.
Ride Quality: The Daily Driver Test
This is huge and nobody talks about it enough.
Silverado
Rides like a truck. Stiff, bouncy when empty, solid when loaded. The leaf spring rear suspension does its job but isn't comfortable.
F-150
Coil spring rear suspension makes a MASSIVE difference. Empty or loaded, it rides smoother. My back thanks me every day.
The Verdict: F-150 by a mile. If you daily drive your truck, this matters more than anything else.
Towing & Hauling: The Actual Work
Both trucks tow great. Both haul great. Honestly, for 95% of people, there's no real difference.
The EcoBoost has more power, but the Silverado's V8 had plenty. I regularly towed 7,000-8,000 pound trailers with both – neither struggled.
Hauling materials in the bed? Same deal. Both handled 2,000 pounds of lumber without issue.
The Verdict: Tie. They're both trucks. They both truck.
Reliability: The $10,000 Question
Silverado Issues (115k miles)
- AFM lifters went bad at 82k miles ($1,200 fix)
- Transmission shifted rough occasionally
- Brake rotors warped twice
- Air conditioning compressor died at 95k ($800)
F-150 Issues (98k miles so far)
- Turbo wastegate rattle (warranty fix)
- Rear window defroster stopped working (still haven't fixed it)
- That's it
Now, the Silverado had 17k more miles, so it's not a perfect comparison. But the F-150 has been noticeably more reliable.
The Verdict: F-150, but ask me again at 150k miles.
The Real Differences Nobody Talks About
Forget the spec sheets. Here's what actually matters:
Ford's Tailgate Step: Sounds gimmicky. It's actually awesome. I use it daily.
Chevy's Bigger Cab: The Silverado felt roomier inside. Not by much, but it's noticeable.
Ford's Trailer Backup Assist: Makes backing up trailers stupid easy. Total game changer.
Chevy's Simpler Everything: Fewer electronics means less stuff to break. There's value in that.
So Which One Should You Buy?
Get the Silverado if:
- You want a traditional V8
- You prefer simpler trucks
- You're loyal to GM (no judgment)
- You got a better deal
Get the F-150 if:
- You want better fuel economy
- You daily drive your truck
- You tow regularly
- You want more tech features
Real Talk: They're both great trucks. You can't go wrong with either. The internet arguments are dumb.
I chose the F-150 because the EcoBoost's fuel economy saves me real money, and the ride quality makes my daily commute bearable. But I wouldn't talk anyone out of a Silverado.
The Bottom Line
After 200,000+ miles split between both trucks, here's my honest take: buy the one you can get the better deal on.
Seriously. The differences are smaller than anyone wants to admit. Both will haul your stuff, tow your trailer, and last 200,000 miles if you maintain them.
The F-150 is my current choice because it fits my needs better right now. But would I buy another Silverado? Absolutely.
The real enemy isn't Ford vs Chevy. It's the guy who never uses his truck bed and complains about gas mileage. Don't be that guy.
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