Pickup Decisions...

[ruthiebaby88]

When buying a heavy beasty pickup, are you more concerned about it's age or it's mileage?

Would you prefer a 95 with 75,000 miles over a 2004 with 130,000?

Useful life for gas vs. diesel? For me useful life means it has no more than the occasional problem crop up and things are not falling off when I touch them (like in my old Honda). It means I don't have to think about my vehicle too much besides getting the routine maintenance and listening for things that go bump. I'm ok with checking fluids once a day - but don't mant to have to add oil frequently or pour water in the radiator or things like that.

How much would you sacrifice to get a diesel over a gas engine?

[DougE]

The cures for the 6.0 Ford are expensive. Stay away from them. I wouldn't go more than 6 years old regardless of mileage. Deterioration will be setting in then and you'll be spending the difference on repairs. 130k on a diesel or 100k on a gas is a reasonably good buy then. Look to Kelley's Blue Book for appropriate pricing.

[twodownzero]

I would pick a newer pickup. The advancements between 1995 and 2005 were pretty extensive. Trucks now have higher payload, stiffer frames, better suspension, and are more durable than ever. The fuel injection systems for both gas and diesel are worlds apart.

[yosemiteford]

I live in CA and most 350/3500''s are used to tow heavy Toy Haulers. I went to the state of trucks to buy my F350......Texas and saved about 20%. I ended buying a certified preowned.- that way I still had the manufacture warranty. We took our time driving It back home and had a great drive home.

[fla-gypsy]

The difference in reliability of a 95 vs. an 04 to me is night and day with the impprovements made over the last 20 years.

[Dakota98]

Actually, you should start another thread titled "Gas pickup verses Diesel"?
You'll get more Attention that way.

Also, when looking at trucks you may want to ask if the tires are filled with Nitrogen or air. There is a current running thread on that topic.

[jimh406]

As always, it depends. In the Northwest, there is generally very little rust. I look for one or two owner vehicles from the Northwest without wrecks reported by looking at Carfax and Autochek. There is no guarantee, but I can afford to buy used and gamble that I can do a lot of work for 30k or more that I save.

I used to always buy new. Like others here, I've traded perfectly good vehicles in the past that I bought new just because my needs changed. Essentially, you are looking for one of our tradeins.

Modern engines of gasoline or diesel should last hundreds of thousands of miles. Buy what has enough power. I bought diesel last time to have enough power for a large fifth wheel in the future. I'm sure I could get by with gasoline to just haul my tc.

[DutchmenSport]

I'll never buy another vehicle used. Done that pretty much all my life. In the last 10 years, we bit the bullet and purchased new (both cars and trucks). Since then, we've traded cars twice (perfectly good ones at that). Finally traded the old diesel dully (we purchased used) for a new one too this year. The peace of mind, the warranties, the new car smell, ... well ... there's nothing like it. I've had my belly full of purchasing other people's problem. Never again.

I'll never buy a use camper either.

[coolmom42]

If a truck has been for sale for too long, it's quite likely overpriced.

In general, I would prefer a newer vehicle with higher miles over an older one with lower miles. There are a lot of components that just deteriorate with age, regardless of miles. Plus newer trucks generally have better safety and convenience features, and nicer interiors.

[ruthiebaby88]

Do you feel suspicious of trucks that have been for sale for a while?

How long do you think is too long?

[ruthiebaby88]

Thank you for all your help! I would love a diesel for the mileage, but the only ones I see in my price range are 6.0 Ford Powerstrokes and it seems like they have a pretty bad rep!

I did find a Chevy 6.5L with only 120k miles, but it's a 95.

[ruthiebaby88]

I can't afford a vehicle that new, I have a daily driver so this will be a play vehicle for weekends.

I'll probably be getting something in the 100k range. People say the trucks 200k miles so that should last us a long time.

[ruthiebaby88]

Interesting, watch a video that said to look for a worn brake peddle indicating that they driver had done a lot of stop & go driving which is harder on the vehicle.

I guess that is in line with your comment about hrs vs. miles. You can spend a lot of hours in a commuter vehicle. Though it seems to me that would be preferable to a vehicle that has been used to tow a 5th wheel for example?

Should I avoid cars with trailer brakes and 5th wheel rails in the back? It seems people are always trying to tow more than they should!

[Reality_Check]

My first thought: there's no such thing as a 'beasty pick up'.

Mileage is only part of the story. Hours in combination with mileage will tell you more.

I've got two trucks that are the same year; one is 140k with 6000 + hrs, the other 199k with just over 3000 hrs. There's more to the story than just an engine. Something to think about.

[tonymull]

Unless you are towing a house gas is fine as far as power. Diesel's can rack up twice the mileage if cared for...but you give up some payload because the engine is heavier. So assuming both have been well maintained a gasser with 75000 and a diesel with 130K are pretty comparable. For me 25K is the most miles I'm willing to bite on. I go into some places where no one else is likely to come along for a week or two, and walking out 20+ miles is not on my bucket list, so reliability is paramount. The problem with used vehicles is that you never truly know how they have been treated and maintained, not for sure.