Keep in mind that if you know what you're doing and know how to handle both the salesman and the financial guy you can get a real good price.  It takes some negotiating skills and arming yourself with the right strategy, but it can be done, even better if you shop during the right times of year. I paid way less for my truck than their sticker price, way less, and that truck is loaded with more features than I really need.  I'm not boasting here and I'm not going to be specific about the price I paid either, but let me put it this way - 7 month later the dealership is still sending me offers trying their best to make back the money they lost on that truck.

As far as the Nissan Titans go - they are an alternative to the traditional big 3 makers offerings.  My wifes aunt owns one and likes it a lot.  They seem like a nice truck and though Japanese owned, the Titans are actually built here.  Can't say the same about the a few of the so-called Americans trucks, for example - Ram 2500 or 3500 trucks (Hecho en Mexico).  My Ford F150 was built or assembled at Fords Kansas City Assembly Plant in Missouri.

As already stated, everyone has their favorite truck for different reasons.  I have owned Fords, Chevys, and then stopped looking when I bought my Dodge.  I have owned five dodge trucks over the past twelve years.  Engines have been the 318, 360, V10, and my current daily driver has the 5.7L Hemi.  The 318 was a Dodge Dakota 4WD; great small truck, just not a work truck.  V10, which I still have, is a Ram 3500 Dually, 2WD used as a work truck but mostly used now to haul my 5th wheel camper.  The rest were and is 3/4 ton trucks that were worked.  The older two (both 4WD with 360 engines) were used to haul trailerable boats (25 - 30 foot) up and down the east coast as well as for my daily driver at the time.  They never missed a beat.  My current truck, the Hemi, is a 4WD that I use in my commercial fishing business.  It also has been equipped with a 9.5 foot V-plow for snow removal.   I bought this truck last October, and so far I am more than impressed with how it has performed.  It is the Quad cab and has adequate leg room in the back for passengers.  Without the plow and not in 4WD, I average 15 MPG according to the onboard computer.  Out on the highway, when a constant speed can be achieved, the engine will drop 4 cylinders and will get around 18 MPG.  I have not pulled anything with this truck yet, but have no doubt after plowing all the snow we have had here on the Maine coast this winter, that it will pull my trap trailer without ever knowing it is hooked up. 

If you are thinking about a diesel, make sure you do your research regarding the diesel particulate filter in the exhaust system.  I know that unless you constantly drive at highway speeds, they will cause you nothing but trouble.  I know of one Ford truck that gets about 12 MPG because it is only used locally.  The dealer has told the owner he needs to drive it over 50 MPH for an extended period to clean the exhaust filter.  It can't be done in this area, so he is left holding the dirty end of the stick.  These filters are on all diesel trucks from 2008 to present. 

Good luck with your new truck search. 

I currently drive a Toyota 4-runner, and I will continue to do so until I drive it into the ground.  It's been one of the most reliable vehicles I have owned.

However, I do not know if it will handle an elk or a moose.

If it's an elk or a moose you want to be able to carry, you should get one of these, in my opinion.

Preview	Attachment	Size
	elk.jpg	19.64 KB

I've got a 2006 F-150 crew cab and love it.  I've had it up the Haul Road above the Arctic Circle, all the way down to Virginia.  I've run it in temps from -60 to +107 without a hiccup.  The only problems I've had were a clogged fuel injector and a blown power steering line right after I got it.  The line wasn't the truck's fault, though...it still had stock power steering fluid in it, which thickens to snot-like consistency and blows lines when it gets below -35 or so.  After changing the line, replacing the fluid with aviation-grade solved the problem for good.  I've slept in it, hosed bear blood out of it, and no matter what, it just keeps on keepin' on.

As for GM...I won't buy anything from that company as long as it's owned by the government.  I also haven't been that impressed with build quality.  Also, the lower stance is by design.  I looked at a Suburban a couple years ago and they told me that it's to keep the truck from climbing over little eco-friendly sedans in a collision.  In fact, the front of each frame rail has a structural "cow catcher" on it that's designed to push the front end down in a collision to increase safety for little cars.

Something about that just rubbed me the wrong way.  It's sort of like Obama's foreign policy...IMO a company sacrifices a lot of its credibility when it designs a truck as a rolling apology for its existence.

And by the way, groovy mike...you can fit a moose in a sedan.  Here's proof:

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/r/8087682/detail.html

If your looking for a smaller capable truck with a lower price tag consider a Toyota Tacoma.  Their smaller lighter body coupled with a V6 engine is capable for elk hunting.  They are also one of the only trucks in stock form that come with excellent ground clearance.  I have a buddy who hunts with us occasionally who drives one and it performs well.  It does have it's space limitations, but overall it's a great sportsmans vehicle.  If I were to buy a smaller sized pick-up I consider a Tacoma first over a Ford Ranger (Mazda), or Dodge Dakota (Mitsubishi).  I only recommend staying away from a 6 cylinder in a full sized pick-up.  In a smaller pick-up a V6 will provide enough capability. 

Not to sidetrack into discussion of socialism, but the idea of the government owning GM horrifies me.  For one thing, history has proven again and again that when government owns industry, eventually there's a tendency to run it like government...with decisions being increasingly based on political agendas, rather than economic or marketing ones.  This is why government operations are notoriously high cost and low efficiency.

For another, I have a serious problem with one of the Big 3 being owned by someone who has the ability to employ the powers of the federal government against its competitors.  It's no different than if a CEO corrupted half of Congress and used them to pass legislation favorable to his business and unfavorable to his competition.  I may grumble about a bailout, but it worked for Chrysler years ago.  But nationalization?  That's another matter entirely.

I have always drove Chevys and loved them.  Had a bunch of GM stock that my grandmother left me and I was a happy GM owner.  Then GM took the "Buy Out" or should I say cop out.  Not only did the largest automobile company in the world ask the gvt for a bail out, they still reorginized so my stock became worthless.  Then the let go the working class workers and kept the entire board of directors and CEO that led then down the path (great mgt!).

Ford on the other hand said we don't need the hand out and remained a family owned business.  I am sure that Dodges are a fine truck and last i knew they were the only truck still made with solid axels?  Still last spring I sold my old Chevy 1500 4X4 and bought a 2010 Ford F 150 4X4.  Has the extended cab and a six and a half ft box.  Has been a great truck the only pain is the 17inch wheels (not a standard size).  Just seems to me that Ford still has the American values that built this country, so now I am a Ford guy.

My 2 cents