Exit Lane: Tom Locke

Tom Locke
Licensed Insolvency Trustee
Locke Consulting Inc.

2015 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel 4×4
3.0-litre turbocharged diesel V6, 240 HP
130,000 kilometres

THIS IS MY first pickup truck. I was driving a Honda CRV before this. The Ram was recommended to me by a friend and colleague who uses his for work and to tow his boat.

I KEEP HORSES, and occasionally I need to haul them for trail riding and eventing. So the truck really does serve a dual purpose: it’s big and roomy and comfortable, which is nice for driving around for business, and it’s great for handling the weekend towing duties.

BECAUSE I SPEND a fair amount of time on the road—in addition to London, we have offices in Woodstock, Chatham, Sarnia and I occasionally go to Windsor—I needed something that was economical on fuel, which is why I went with the diesel engine. They claim you can get mileage as high as eight litres per 100 kilometres, but to do that you would probably have to do only highway driving, and right at the speed limit. That said, I have achieved around nine [per 100 kilometres], which is pretty impressive when you consider the size and weight of the truck and its towing capabilities. It’s very similar to the mileage I got with the CRV.

I’VE REALLY GROWN to like the height of a truck and the better view of the road. The downside, of course, is ­parking in urban areas. The size and wheelbase length can make it pretty tough. You just have to get used to parking further away… and being prepared to walk.

I’M NOT ONE of those people that pays a lot of attention to vehicle technology and bells and whistles. That said, it does have some good features. The eight-speed transmission is excellent, and I particularly appreciate the four-wheel-drive in the wintertime. It’s nice to be able to kick that in gear to keep things moving.

BECAUSE IT’S A diesel, you have to plug it in in the wintertime to keep the engine warm overnight, which can be a bit of a nuisance.

I HAVEN’T REALLY decided how long I’m going to keep it. For sure another year at least, maybe another two, and then I’ll look at something new. I don’t want to keep it until the kilometres get too high, but because it’s a diesel engine, that factor doesn’t play into the resale value as much.

WILL MY NEXT vehicle be another pickup truck? For sure.