New vs Old Diesel Truck

I was looking for a used diesel pickup in 2011 and the Ford, Ram, and GM diesel trucks all had their share of expensive repair problems up until 2010 when all three improved dramatically. So for me it was the choice between a used 2010 or a new 2011. Today it would be the choice between a used 2010-2012 or a new 2014 truck.

When I was looking I wanted a diesel that still had some of the warranty left and had at most 60K miles on the odometer. At that time it was clear that the owners had paid too much for the trucks new and so all owed the bank $35,000 and that was what they needed to get for their used trucks regardless of condition.

I found a new 2011 that was fully loaded for under $42,000 so went that route. For RV type use I wanted something that would not break down in the middle of a trip out in some little town far from a dealer's shop.

I bought the 2011 some 3 months after the 2012 trucks started to appear on dealers' lots and so I was in a position to deal. My neighbor paid more for his 2012 truck with the gas engine than I did for my 2011 with the diesel engine and Allison transmission and I got the dealer to include $1800 in extras in the form of tow mirrors, bed liner, chrome side steps, and other goodies.

I also paid cash which made it easier to negotiate with the dealer. With cash and no trade-in there was less to negotiate and it was a much cleaner deal and that always is a better deal.

After a lot of searching I found an older gentleman that was retiring his well kept 2001 f350 7.3L dually. I faced the same dilemma. Did I want to haul a 40 foot trailer and my family cross country in a 13 year old truck? To me, it boiled down to my experience and trust of the 7.3L platform. I figure that I saved around $40k buying used. With all that extra money I was easily able to afford the tow truck that hauled us back from Washington a few weeks ago. Hmmm. What???

Look for new leftovers (last years model) and you can save a bundle. I found a dealer last year that had 3 leftover F250 on his lot and he came down $14,000 standing in the parking lot. That basically made them the same price as most 2 year old used trucks.

I have looked extensively over the years. If buying used, the 04 and up Duramaxes seem to be pretty good. I dislike GM for personal reasons, but, apparently, others like them. The Rams are great from 03-07 if a quad cab will satisfy you. If you need a crew cab, a new 13 and up will be great. I just bought my third Ram and this one is the best truck I have ever driven. Not sure about reliability yet, only have 1200 miles on it. I had a 91, 97 and now the 13. Would have kept the 97 if it had more room. If you are handy with wrenches and have a shop, get a diesel a few years older from an RVer. They tend to be a little more picky about modifications and maintenance. I would avoid early model emission diesels as they get pretty bad mileage due to frequent regenerations. I wanted a crew with the DEF from Ram, so I bought new. I would have bought an 06 but a quad just didn't offer an improvement in room enough to justify cost. Good luck. Get an exhaust brake and that will solve that white knuckle feeling on downhills.

smcrea wrote:
Just FYI.. we've been pulling our trailer for about 4 years now with our GMC Yukon 1500, from San Diego up into the Canadian Rockies, all the way up the west coast, last year we did Colorado. She's always been under powered and every hill is a white knuckle event both up and down. Last year she gave us trouble in Colorado and over heated half way up that nightmare pass.. I can't remember the name.

Bottom line:
We have 3 young kids and go to some pretty challenging places

This is why I'm asking the question New or Used Diesel :-)

If we were just towing a couple of hours down the road then we wouldn't even be considering a different vehicle and would use the Yukon till it died totally.

Thanks.

Please pardon me for deviating off the subject a bit.

It sounds as though you have a special, few-in-a-lifetime, vacation planned this year.

As the patriarch, we feel the legitimate responsibilty to do best by our families. Is the money better spent for a new truck or the many other things that every family needs? From a practical standpoint, I don't blame you for a little hand-wringing.

Maybe the bold type above is your key. It sounds perhaps as though you are not fully committed to spending the family finances on the cost of a new truck. Yet, of course, you have the natural concern for the well-being of your family if you don't "buy in".

Can the trusty Yukon be "gone over" to better the odds of a trouble-free trip? Remember, even new vehicles occasionally fail, so we are talking odds here. Unless it is a basket case, upgrading the present TV will likely cost less than a new truck. Regardless, either way the best plan includes a well-padded, quick-access, emergency slush fund for mechanical failure.

Why did the Yukon overheat? Maybe the cooling system needs flushing, a new cap or the truck simply needs a larger radiator and HD fan for doing maximum work.

Hows the tranny? Did it get new fluid after once getting hot in colorado? Oil does wear out, if overheated. It gets thicker and can cause sluggish, less crisp operation. For instance, my Excursion log requires new tranny fluid every 30K miles, and new coolant every three years to prevent the build-up of scum, scale and corrosion. This is especially true while towing.

Why is the Yukon white knuckle both uphill and downhill? Is the uphill problem a matter of speed and/or overheating? Occasional low speed can be lived with, but other than maintenance, beating heat requires one of two plans:
1) upgrade tranny and engine cooling
2) drive slower uphill in a lower gear or at least less throttle

Is the downhill white knuckle because of instability? I bought a fancy used full-size Hensley linkage hitch from a guy who towed with a Tahoe. When going downhill without it, the normal change in tongue load was enough that he swayed, went out of control and crashed. The Hensley cured that tendency until he retired and went to a 5th wheel. He got half his money back when he sold the Hensley to me, so the cost for interim safety was not the total new price. I expect even less depreciation when I sell it. Pro-Pride also makes this unusual type linkage hitch. They operate differently than any other hitches.

If downhill has a brake problem, just making sure the RV and TV brakes are up to snuff should solve that. Another consideration is the trailer brake controller. Is it effective? Some work better than others. It, and the associated wiring, has to be able to provide full voltage to the electric trailer brakes when required.

Extra tires are handy if one can carry them. Some items like tire pressure monitors for the camper can save a blow-out and the ugly surprise damage that is done to the fender area. Other related items are a truly suitable jack and tools. I carried a jack for a while that did not actually fit under my low-tire axle when I tried it. Lucky I was at home. While we are talking suspension, sometimes vehicle overload springs or air bags produce a better loaded ride in the vehicle.

No matter if one has an expensive new truck or not, besides fuses, oil and fresh coolant, some things like a belt, water pump and fuel pump used to be good items to have on hand in case of remote breakdown. Every vehicle has its favorite iffy part. What would one take on a remote trek across Siberia? Some holidays and week-ends in rural populated areas may be just as desolate service-wise.

Forgive me for the sidetrack, but you did hint that a cross country trip seems more intimidating, and safety and reliability are everything. I know these are all things that you may have already thought of, but I guess it doesn't hurt to review them.

You may not need a new truck. I think you just need to feel that you and your family will feel safe and have a good time because you thoroughly thought things through. And I think you are doing that. Good luck.

Wes
...

FishOnOne wrote:

larry barnhart wrote:
If I was selling our 05 chev dually tomorrow somebody would be getting an awesone truck BUT no way would I be that silly.


chevman

They probably would get a good truck... Having said that if they were doing some internet research, it would tell them to either stay away or lowball the price on your truck since that model year is known for overheating issues. :W

We recently unloaded our low mileage 05 Dodge cummins w/manual tranny to a local who snatched it up. Heck he didn't even care that the front drivers seat didn't match the rest of the seats in the truck. We listed the problems with the truck and priced it accordingly so it was a fair price.

Lucky for me because our truck has never come close to overheating but I know the story about them. Plus we paid in the low $30,000.00 so selling price doesn't have to be that great.

chevman

larry barnhart wrote:
If I was selling our 05 chev dually tomorrow somebody would be getting an awesone truck BUT no way would I be that silly.


chevman

They probably would get a good truck... Having said that if they were doing some internet research, it would tell them to either stay away or lowball the price on your truck since that model year is known for overheating issues. :W

We recently unloaded our low mileage 05 Dodge cummins w/manual tranny to a local who snatched it up. Heck he didn't even care that the front drivers seat didn't match the rest of the seats in the truck. We listed the problems with the truck and priced it accordingly so it was a fair price.

I've done both high milage used and new diesels. Also shopped for low milage used in like new shape with no luck and ended up buying new. I'll buy new again if the time comes as my current 09 has been rock solid reliable and a joy to tow with. If reliability is key pick a brand known for that and buy new. You can't do better than that.

If I was selling our 05 chev dually tomorrow somebody would be getting an awesone truck BUT no way would I be that silly.


chevman

Just FYI.. we've been pulling our trailer for about 4 years now with our GMC Yukon 1500, from San Diego up into the Canadian Rockies, all the way up the west coast, last year we did Colorado. She's always been under powered and every hill is a white knuckle event both up and down. Last year she gave us trouble in Colorado and over heated half way up that nightmare pass.. I can't remember the name.

Bottom line:
We have 3 young kids and go to some pretty challenging places

This is why I'm asking the question New or Used Diesel :-)

If we were just towing a couple of hours down the road then we wouldn't even be considering a different vehicle and would use the Yukon till it died totally.

Thanks.