I learned at an early age what would and has driven me in my vehicle purchases; everything is a compromise, thus buy what you want, but buy what you can afford. By compromising one or the other, one will end up spending more in the long run, or be disappointed.
All but one of my last 5 trucks (1 Chevy, 1 GMC, 3 Fords) have been ordered new, except for one that was sourced from another out of state dealership. All of my Ford vehicles, passenger and trucks, have been purchased from one dealership; Phil Long Ford, of Denver. I never dealt with a Car Sales person, but always walked in with a punch list to the Fleet Sales office. Seeking their input I put together a list “I needed” not what they wanted to sell me. With that, I faxed/email surrounding dealers my RFP (request for proposal). I always ended up with the best deal at Phil Long and purchased my last truck, an F550 with extended frame and gearing. With this purchase, I qualified for another $14,000 worth of rebates, before the RFP quote was factored in.
With any purchase, one must decide what they really need. For us Truck Campers, it is often a more of a specific use need. A truck needs to be purchased this way, or have the ability to be upgraded. Just like in a Mustang, they handle so much greater with race tires, suspension upgrades, all the seats, sound deadeners, radio and air-conditioning removed. But Ford would never sell enough of these vehicles to make it worth manufacturing. So they find a middle ground, that appeals to the majority of their target customer. Sort of the Goldilocks approach, not too stiff, not too soft, but just right. In following many threads here in this forum, you see many go through the “Goldilocks” of a truck purchase. While some go on and on about fuel mileage, they won’t be able to carry a load, like mine, with the gearing of my Mustang. With that, you won’t get the mileage either. Compromise.
What are YOU willing to compromise? Start with the TC you wish to carry and then find the truck and options that best compliment that combination. How do you wish to use the truck? Will it be a sole use for the TC? Will it be used in varied terrain? Will it be used in 1 season? 2 Seasons or 4? You will never find the perfect truck. While I consider my truck pretty darn near perfect for me. There is that thing about the fuel mileage, but I do like being able to climb up the % grade to the Eisenhower Tunnel, repetitively. But like the earlier poster, I would not want a Pink truck, either.
There will always be something bigger and better coming down the production line. Do you want to just sit alongside the side of the road, or be someone that wants to get going and go on down the road? It is not a matter of settling, it is a matter of when you want to get going and not waiting for the perfect truck or the next bigger or better truck. Like some of us that got married, we married “Up.” Do the same with your truck purchase.
b
