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Buying a truck from up north??

wowens79
Explorer III
Explorer III
Got a question for you folks from up north. I'm starting to look for a slightly used truck. I can't seem to find one in the southeast. I've always heard about the road salt up north rusting cars out. I can also see it making getting rusty bolts loose a real pain.

Would a truck that is a less than 2 years old with 20-30k miles affected to bad??

Not I've decided I want a Ram 2500 Big Horn with the 6.4 gaser, it is the lowest trim level that has the 60/40 split seat. I need that so I can put my 2 kids and a Golden Retriever in the back seat ๐Ÿ™‚ I'd be fine with a Tradesman if it wasn't for the back seat. I'm not sure why, but I see very few of this configuration.
2022 Ford F-350 7.3l
2002 Chevy Silverado 1500HD 6.0l 268k miles (retired)
2016 Heritage Glen 29BH
2003 Flagstaff 228D Pop Up
33 REPLIES 33

alexleblanc
Explorer
Explorer
my previous 2013 F250 had been undercoated with Riust check from new and had no rust issues whatsoever even at 4 years old. Look for one that's been cared for an you'll be fine.
TV - 2017 F350 CCSB SRW Platinum 6.7 + 5er - 2021 Grand Design Reflection 311 BHS + B&W Companion
On Order - 2022 F350 CCSB SRW Platinum 6.7

Beaker
Explorer
Explorer
Having lived in NE PA, I would never buy a used vehicle from "up north".
2008 Silverado 2500HD Duramax
2010 Cruiser 26RK

1stgenfarmboy
Explorer
Explorer
last month I went just north of Atlanta to buy a truck, the other cars we have bought were from, Ark, Tn, 3 from TX, CT, WV, KY, I havent bought a truck in IL in 25 years.

With that said I have a habbit of making a list of options and style, color, miles and when I find it I go get it, I will not fudge from even the color, why buy something you will not like.

to some folks a car is a way to get from point A to B, and if it runs all is good, thats not me.


heck I went to Boston to pick up a motorcycle, thats a long way from So ILL.



And it's a good reason to take a trip. :B
1993 Dodge W350 Cummins with all the goodies
2014 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn 2wd 395hp
2017 Forest River Surveyor 243 RBS
2001 Super Sherpa & 2012 DL650A go along also

Me Again wrote:
wowens79 wrote:
Thanks for all the replies, I think I'm going to limit my search to the inland southeast. I'm not in a hurry, my truck is only a 2002, and I'm planning on giving it to my son when he turns 16 in about a year, and get me something a year or two old.


Do not overlook the deals you can get at the year end model close out on a new truck. The asking price for used trucks is very close to this number. Financing is at a lower rate for a new truck also. Full Warranty.


My bro in law picked up a 2017 F-250 with 10,000 miles.. It was in serviced for 5 months as a rental...
It was taken out of rental, slapped a CERTIFIED USED label on it which gets you an extra 1 year and 12k miles warranty.. and the powertrain warranty jumps to 7 year/ 10k miles..

so he has bumper to bumper to 2021 and powertrain till 2027... he paid 30k
Me-Her-the kids
2020 Ford F350 SD 6.7
2020 Redwood 3991RD Garnet

Me_Again
Explorer II
Explorer II
wowens79 wrote:
Thanks for all the replies, I think I'm going to limit my search to the inland southeast. I'm not in a hurry, my truck is only a 2002, and I'm planning on giving it to my son when he turns 16 in about a year, and get me something a year or two old.


Do not overlook the deals you can get at the year end model close out on a new truck. The asking price for used trucks is very close to this number. Financing is at a lower rate for a new truck also. Full Warranty.
2021 F150 2.7 Ecoboost - Summer Home 2017 Bighorn 3575el. Can Am Spyder RT-L Chrome, Kawasaki KRX1000. Retired and enjoying it! RIP DW 07-05-2021

2012Coleman
Explorer II
Explorer II
I recently was in the same boat. My advice is to download the following apps on your phone - CarGurus, CarMax, AutoTrader, Cars.com. CarMax is a little on the high side but they guarantee that the cars they sell have not been flooded or had frame damage. I grew up in Michigan, and yes cars rusted because of the salt used on the roads. Now, they are built much better - body panels are sealed, undercoatings are much better. I wouldn't be worried about something 2 years old. Someone said cars/trucks selling in central Florida were cheap - made me laugh. I just spent months looking for something used - bought a new 2017 Ram they were dying to get rid of for less that some of the used ones I had on my list. Bighorn is a great trim level - gives you the nice console, fog lights, backup camera, Bluetooth, nav, etc. I just couldn't get over the cheap material used on the seats of lower trim levels. Good luck finding one.
Experience without good judgment is worthless; good judgment without experience is still good judgment!

2018 RAM 3500 Big Horn CTD
2018 Grand Design Reflection 303RLS

patperry2766
Explorer II
Explorer II
wowens79 wrote:
George3037 wrote:
I guess it depends on how far north you mean. I live in a State that uses lots of salt and it does a number on all vehicles in just a few years. On the other hand I wouldn't buy a southern truck that has been in a flood so it works both ways. As mentioned, there are lots of northern States that don't use a lot of salt so they may a good place to buy a used truck.


I heard that, I found 2 in central Florida, that I crossed off because of the hurricane. Texas/Louisiana is also off the list ๐Ÿ™‚


We didn't get a drop of rain from the hurricane in the DFW area, and really anything north of Austin should be safe.

All you have to do is have them provide you with registration records to show that it was a local truck. Any reputable dealer will not want a "problem child" on their lot. You're excluding thousand of trucks based on flooding in a relative small part of the state.
Courage is the feeling you have right before you fully understand the situation

4x4ord
Explorer III
Explorer III
Up here in Alberta there are certain winters where salt is used quite a bit. My 2016 F350 looks absolutely like new regardless of whether you look at the body, the interior or the underside of the truck. I sold my 5 year old King Ranch to a fellow from North Carolina and he was quite concerned about salt. After having me photograph the underside of the truck from multiple different angles he came up and bought it.....I think he was very impressed when he saw it. We have a 1992 Honda Accord that we have had in the family since new. It is starting to get a little rusty now but I think the only thing that has been replaced on this car are tries, brakes, battery and a muffler.
2023 F350 SRW Platinum short box 4x4.
B&W Companion
2008 Citation Platinum XL 34.5

Grit_dog
Navigator
Navigator
To the original question, year or 2 old I wouldn't turn down a good deal because it was from the salt belt if it was a clean truck, but not much older.
Grew up in the upper Midwest. Didn't know a vehicle could last longer than 10 years til I moved away! Lol
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5โ€ turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

Grit_dog
Navigator
Navigator
Bedlam wrote:
Durb wrote:
As far as I know neither Oregon nor Washington salt their roads. Almost 14 year old truck and 10 year old trailer - no rust. Hope to keep both another 7-8 years. Doubt that the lack of rust would be worth the cross country drive home though.

WA has gone full hog on the chemical deicer and their mountain passes are getting even heavier doses - It ruined my desire to drive the ranges during snow.


But the beauty of it is it gets a fresh water undercarriage wash every day of the winter on the wet side here.

Agree, no need to drive X country for a newer used truck. I'm sure there's one in the SE with his name on it.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5โ€ turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

coolmom42
Explorer II
Explorer II
Central Texas, Louisiana, and Alabama are good places to look for trucks. Don't be afraid of a Texas or Florida vehicle---just take a really hard look at it. There is lots of info online on how to look for flood damage.
Single empty-nester in Middle TN, sometimes with a friend or grandchild on board

1stgenfarmboy
Explorer
Explorer
For what it's worth, I live as far south in ILL as you can get and if the forcast is calling for a possibility of freezing rain they spray liquid salt water on the roads just in case, I bought a 4 year old truck in Chicago and in a couple years I had replaced the entire ABS system and a trans due to the computer having bad conections from salt.


After a flood or storm where there a lot of cars with water damage in a few weeks they can be spread all over the country, you just really need to look at it before you buy.
1993 Dodge W350 Cummins with all the goodies
2014 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn 2wd 395hp
2017 Forest River Surveyor 243 RBS
2001 Super Sherpa & 2012 DL650A go along also

Michelle_S
Explorer III
Explorer III
Personally, right now after Hurricanes and Floods, I'm not sure I would want to be buying a used car or truck. Once those water logged vehicles are traded in and sent to auction, who knows where they might end up. Early reports said many of those were headed North.
2018 Chevy 3500HD High Country Crew Cab DRW, D/A, 2016 Redwood 39MB, Dual AC, Fireplace, Sleep #Bed, Auto Sat Dish, Stack Washer/Dryer, Auto Level Sys, Disk Brakes, Onan Gen, 17.5" "H" tires, MORryde Pin & IS, Comfort Ride, Dual Awnings, Full Body Paint

dodge_guy
Explorer II
Explorer II
Youโ€™ll be ok with a 2 year old truck. Anything more thN 5 years old then you need to start looking at it closely. 10 years old I wouldnโ€™t touch it.
Wife Kim
Son Brandon 17yrs
Daughter Marissa 16yrs
Dog Bailey

12 Forest River Georgetown 350TS Hellwig sway bars, BlueOx TrueCenter stabilizer

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