Should I buy a new truck??

[offcamber]

I currently own a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 it only had 79K miles on it but the rust is really taking its toll. Just had 3 brake lines blow out do to corrosion and the mechanic said one of the control arm looks like its getting a little thin.

I just put $700 in new parts into it which isn't bad but I just don't have a lot of faith in it for long trips.

I primarily use it for towing my camper and plowing my driveway. It is a spare vehicle as my wife has a 2007 Jeep Patriot and besides the motorcycles I have a 2011 Ford Fiesta.

So I'm thinking....

Sell the Dodge for what I can get for it...,hoping 5Kish
and trade the Jeep or the Ford in on a new half ton truck with a plow. Probably a Toyota Tundra.

I don't want a payment but it seem inevitable. I have 2 years left on the Ford, its in perfect shape with low miles so I should get good trade in value.

I'm hoping if I get a base model truck, trade the car and use what I sell the truck for as a down payment I can keep the loan amount in the low 20K mark.


Thoughts??

 

[BravoBravo]

Take a look at Nissan as well. If you want a Tundra-sized truck, the Titan is a close competitor, and I have the slightly smaller Nissan pick-up, the Frontier. I love it. Great vehicle, trouble free, and I sincerely hope it will never turn into a Dodge. ::003:: I have found Nissan dealers a litle more flexible on price than Toyota, which are great vehicles, but a little more expensive.
-Bruce

 

[offcamber]

Thanks, my problem is also limited dealership.....

The NIssan, GMC, Cheverolet dealers in my area are douche bags.....I wouldn't buy a matchbox car from them.

I had a 2000 Frontier...it was ok but didn't wow me, underpowered for a v6 IMO.
So that leaves Ford, Toyota or Dodge

I don't like the Fords Ecoboost engine....and I don't want another Dodge....my current one was a good truck its only down fall was rust winch was the winters and my lack of undercoating it fault.

So I'm pretty much stuck with Toyota or used....for what used trucks go for I will just buy new. Assuming I buy anything at all...

This weekend will be the test...if my trip goes well with no break downs I'll probably keep it till next spring.

 

[coastie]

If been driving a Toyota for years. I just don't think you can match their build quality. I'd look for a used Tundra with about 50k miles. You will get a like new vehicle that will easily last you another 8-10 years at a 20% discount.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[TommyBwell]

I have a Ford with the 5.0 V8 and I love it but they are completely redoing the truck for 2015 so I would at least wait and see what the new one is like. If you don't like it you should be able to steal a 2014.

 

[Big Blu]

Those harsh winters up there take their toll on all vehicles. Coastie put a idea on the table that will make it easier on your wallet and that always deserves consideration.

Paul

 

[XtreemLee]

Thoughts??

There only is one truck to buy Ford F150 Ecoboost ::024::

 

[AVGeek]

On good thing about new trucks is they are all 4x4 meaning a 4ft by 4ft bed. New trucks are generally pretty useless as trucks go. You can buy a new car with truck styling though pretty easily. They all fall into the same catagory, 4x4, 4 door. What happened to a 8ft truck? Camper manufacturers scampering to build 4ft long campers to accommodate modern trucks.

Oh, you can still find a long bed truck. That's the nice thing about living in the desert southwest, used cars and trucks tend to not have body rot issues. I picked up a 2005 Ford F-250, 4x4 Diesel, Supercab with longbed (I intend to use a truck camper with this truck, so looked for the longbed specifically) a few weeks ago. Now it does have 181K miles, but with the diesel motor and our arid climate, I don't see 500K and another 10 years as out of the question...

 

[Arrowsigns]

In my business we run gas trucks to 200 + K before they are retired from everyday work. Diesels to 400-500 K
Currently have a Duramax with 458,000 , a Dodge Cummins with 270,000, a Ford gas V6 1/2 ton with 220,000
I know my Dodge is going to need a tranny rebuild every 110,00 , my older Chevys will need injectors 90-120,00.
Regardless of total miles maintenance is consistant and I count on replacing brakes, oil changes , replacing transmission, fuel filters, injectors ect...

I do purchase new trucks and use the tax write off but not having a payment IMHO is the best option.

 

[offcamber]

In my business we run gas trucks to 200 + K before they are retired from everyday work. Diesels to 400-500 K
Currently have a Duramax with 458,000 , a Dodge Cummins with 270,000, a Ford gas V6 1/2 ton with 220,000
I know my Dodge is going to need a tranny rebuild every 110,00 , my older Chevys will need injectors 90-120,00.
Regardless of total miles maintenance is consistant and I count on replacing brakes, oil changes , replacing transmission, fuel filters, injectors ect...

I do purchase new trucks and use the tax write off but not having a payment IMHO is the best option.

you can get that kind of milage becuase you are not in the rust belt ans I imagine you put those miles on in a short period of time.

Took me 11 years to put 80K on my Dodge...

Anyway....I ended up buy a new truck this past weekend.

2014 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 SLE Z71 Double cab, 6 ft bed.
So far I love this truck.....super comfortable super quiet and tows better than my Ram 2500 ever did.
So much techy bling in the cab you could launch the space shuttle from it.

Thanks for the input...

I think I'm gonna keep the dodge for plowing....it excels at that.

 

[coastie]

Congratulations on the new wheels...Enjoy! ::012::

 

[Checkswrecks]

It looks great and you look happy. I'm in the market and frustrated.


We have an old GMC Canyon extended cab super-basic work truck that we pass around for home renovations, weekly kayaking, motorcycles, me to commute in bad weather, and leaving at the airport while I travel. It drives like the manual-everything vinyl interior P.O.S. work truck that it is, keeps hitting me with surprising bills for the miles it gets, and my lady won't drive stick. That last part means I am stranded if I am with a broken bike and need her to bring it to bail me out. I'm about 18 months from retiring so while a payment is do-able I don't want a big one.



Ruled out the Dodge and Nissan offerings, largely on personal preferences.


I like the short-bed F150 and if I had to buy today would get one. Almost exact same length as the Canyon and a LOT more comfy. Not quite as good in the gas mileage and the existing F150 prices will plummet as soon as the aluminum F150 comes out at the end of the year. The new Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon also won't arrive till the end of the year. So I'm currently just hanging in there till these new models come out, then will probably buy the existing F150 at discount.


If I had to choose today, I might also pick up a low mileage Tacoma and have driven a number of them. We like Toyotas in general but I feel cramped in the Taco's cab. It's in it's 9th(!!!) year of production and a redesign is expected next year. So like the F150, prices should come down then. I got curious enough to rent a Tundra and found it to be too big.

Sure wish Ford would bring the new T6 Ranger into the US, as they are already in production and having seen them overseas, for me it would be perfect. Like so many bikes, it is forbidden fruit to us.


Like I wrote - frustrating to be a buyer, money in hand, and not see what I want.
Anybody else in a similar boat, or have other ideas?

 

[Arrowsigns]

Congratulations truck looks great.