Doing the MPG math on a new(er) truck

[mbloof]

Greetings,

Recently I was getting the 'itch' for getting a newer truck. My old Ford 1997 F250HD has served us well. We bought it in 2001 for $12K with ~92K miles on it and now it has ~124K miles.

While admittedly there were some 'dark years' where we did not venture out much we are mostly weekend campers and live in Oregon where there are plenty of year around campgrounds not all that far from us.

Recently we've gotten back into the habit of one trip per month - rain, shine or snow we'll be out camping at least once a month.

I should mention that one of our 'house rules' is that we have to spend MORE time where ever we go than the time it takes to get there and back.

For weekend campers like us the above rule limits how far we go on any given weekend. While our lifetime yearly average on the truck is ~3000 miles per year at most we'll rack up 5000 miles a year with the short trips we do.

One of the obvious (and often used) arguments for upgrading a truck is the possible fuel savings. However in our case the argument that the upgrade will "pay for itself" won't fly in the short (or reasonable length time) term because of the low miles we put on the truck.

Here's a chart I came up with in attempts to justify a purchase to the OH:



Our old 351W averages ~6-10MPG per trip (depending on if we have headwinds going and coming home). I highlighted 8 and 16MPG as possible "targets" for MPG savings. Sadly (for me at least) in our case even with 100% improvement (likely not get) in fuel mileage we'd only see a savings of ~$1250.00 a year.

In our case the cost of newer truck/fuel savings per year = to many years to realize a return on our investment.

[free_radical]

WyoTraveler wrote:
MPG calculations stresses me. Buy a new truck, throw the chart away and just enjoy your RVing. When I get fuel DW asks if I want her to calculate MPG. NOPE!!!! We just pay the bill. When the money runs out we'll park it.:B

That's my way of thinking also! 🙂

Drove an old car until I saved enough cash to buy a new truck..

Mind you I was quite happy with old vehicles as I only buy Chevys..and RWD with a V8 At that..those are built tough to last forever..

[bighatnohorse]

You're on the right track - thanks for charting the numbers.

Buy a used truck if you don't do many miles.

"NEW" covers bumper-to-bumper dealer repairs for 36,000 miles or 3-years.
You pay for that - and in order to justify it then you need to drive at least 12,000 miles per year.

If you're a low mileage driver then it makes more financial sense to buy a used truck.

A common theme is for one to buy a new truck when they retire and then hit the road for years.

[fatmanobx]

I have always gone along with the thinking of if you have to worry about what it's going to cost for fuel, you don't need to have a camper. With what you have invested in a truck and what ever kind of rv fuel is the least of the worries to me..JMHO

[tonymull]

Don't need the power of a diesel for a truck camper. Takes longer for the mpg and longer life of the engine to pay off than I need. Don't like the noise, don't like the smell. Reliability is similar for the first 80-100K and then I'll want a new truck anyway. Sticking with gas.

[Area13]

Thinking about selling my Diesel because of all of the "Maintenance" costs. It's killing me doing the $50 oil change 1-2 times a year. Other than the reliability, twice the mileage of my V10 gasser and paying $.40 more per gallon for fuel, i'm trying to talk myself out of it because I love the power. But yeah, "Maintenance" is killing me on this ultra reliable pig!:R

[tonymull]

Getting 12mpg on my new Silverado 3500 empty, 11 with the camper. But the camper is only 2500 loaded to go. Hoping to get a bit better mileage once it's broken in.

[mbloof]

SugarHillCTD wrote:
OK,

How much are we talking about? $20-30 more per fill-up gas vs. diesel and 10 vs. 13 mpg. And buying a diesel in my area would have been $8000 more.

The math doesn't add up.

But the diesel engine mob will be by shortly to rationalize their amazing mpg and their excellent pulling power plus angels will be singing their oil burning song.:@

Seriously....when we are in the truck with the TC loaded I am NOT counting pennys. I am on vacation.

Exactly.

While the current truck+camper are paid for I carry full coverage insurance on both - this would go up if I replaced the truck.

Every so often I'll calculate MPG but for the most part try to ignore how much it costs at the pump. Lets face it - no truck is going to get the mileage I get out of my 2012 TDI Golf!

"Newer" not always is "Better".

[SugarHillCTD]

OK,

How much are we talking about? $20-30 more per fill-up gas vs. diesel and 10 vs. 13 mpg. And buying a diesel in my area would have been $8000 more.

The math doesn't add up.

But the diesel engine mob will be by shortly to rationalize their amazing mpg and their excellent pulling power plus angels will be singing their oil burning song.:@

Seriously....when we are in the truck with the TC loaded I am NOT counting pennys. I am on vacation.

[jimh406]

Its cheaper to use a tent or stay home, but there's a lot room between a '97 and new to improve. It will cost money. I don't think mpg is going to be a major factor compared to other costs.

[Farmerjon]

mbloof wrote:
We were considering going to a 2WD (lower) F350 and maybe switching fuel.

Sure, while newer and fancier does have its merits the cost of 'newer' can pay for quite a few trips and repairs on the current (very reliable)rig.

We may still 'upgrade' once the daily drivers are paid off. In my mind you can't put a price on easier to get in/out of and more comfortable. I just wanted to share my math (and reasoning) with others.

In the meantime I added AAA "Platinum+RV" this year. We may never use it but I can't put a price on 'peace of mind' ether. 🙂

Good thinking,absolutely right.

[mbloof]

We were considering going to a 2WD (lower) F350 and maybe switching fuel.

Sure, while newer and fancier does have its merits the cost of 'newer' can pay for quite a few trips and repairs on the current (very reliable)rig.

We may still 'upgrade' once the daily drivers are paid off. In my mind you can't put a price on easier to get in/out of and more comfortable. I just wanted to share my math (and reasoning) with others.

In the meantime I added AAA "Platinum+RV" this year. We may never use it but I can't put a price on 'peace of mind' ether. 🙂

[Grit_dog]

If you're thinking about going to a new F250 V8 gasser, your mileage won't really improve. If you're averaging 8 mpg now, you may see 10 avg but even that is a stretch.
Had a '13 F250 6.2 and it got 8.5 towing a 3 place loaded snow machine trailer and 11-11.5 empty commuting.
Didn't haul the AF camper on it but the weight and frontal area would put me in the same range as pulling that little trailer. Guaranteed sub 10mpg.
Not sure why that truck was such a gas pig. My 5.0 2011f150 before it got good mileage comparatively. It was the first real jump in gasser mileage I'd seen out of a dose of more F series gassers over the last 15 years.

[twodownzero]

A new truck comes with more benefits than just fuel savings. A new truck will have a nicer interior, more modern features, a higher GVWR, and a bunch of other technological improvements that ought to be worth something to you. If not, keep your older truck.

[woodhog]

Around here to replace our truck would equate to buying a modest home, around 85,000 dollars, for something that depreciates at a fast rate.


A lot of that is just thrown out the window for sales tax, also if it is diesel( once a nice simple engine design) just more expensive downtime headaches.

Better to live with the devil you know, and use the interest on a new truck loan for fuel in the old one.