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?

[Dakota98]

tonymull wrote:
There is no difference in a Chevy and a GMC all parts are interchangeable. Believe me, I looked and looked, test drove them all, "and compared stickers".

YEP, 🙂

[tonymull]

There is no difference in a Chevy and a GMC all parts are interchangeable. Payload difference is in the tires, weight of options, or engines (gas or diesel). For current models Chevy and GMC have higher payload ratings than either Ford or RAM, at least for 3500HD SRW. Believe me, I looked and looked, test drove them all, and compared stickers.

[jimh406]

Chevy's are strong than a Ford & especially a GMC? There must be a typo somewhere. 🙂 Aren't the GMCs and Chevys the same? What do you mean by stronger?

[Dakota98]

ruthiebaby88 wrote:
Chevy lists theirs at 3381# are they really built that much stronger?

IMHO, Chevy's are much stronger than a Ford & especially a GMC.

You do have choices. Carry 175# less or 406# more.

What about Dodge / Ram ? That's another question ?

[nomadictxn]

No, there are a lot of variables. The Chevy may have a camper pkg. or it may have less options. A base work truck will have more payload capacity than a optioned up model. And as you have been informed a gasoline engine is much lighter than a diesel. That payload number is pretty good on the Chevy. A much better place to start with than the other two.

[Buzzcut1]

ruthiebaby88 wrote:
Chevy Silverado 3/4 ton in the era I am searching lists a 500# greater payload than Ford F250 or GMC Sierra.

It seems crazy that those other 2 heavy duty 3/4 ton trucks could not handle carrying this small Bigfoot camper in the bed. The camper dry is 1725 - but I was adding 1250# for tanks, people and stuff to come up with a payload goal of 2975.

The Ford and GMC with extended cab and 4x4 are listing their payloads at under 2800-2850!

It's the tires that they come with that get maxed, not the truck itself

[dadwolf2]

Depending on brand I would go with the newer model with higher mileage. If it's a 2004 Ford 6.0...I would pass.

[ruthiebaby88]

Chevy lists theirs at 3381# are they really built that much stronger?

[ruthiebaby88]

Chevy Silverado 3/4 ton in the era I am searching lists a 500# greater payload than Ford F250 or GMC Sierra.

It seems crazy that those other 2 heavy duty 3/4 ton trucks could not handle carrying this small Bigfoot camper in the bed. The camper dry is 1725 - but I was adding 1250# for tanks, people and stuff to come up with a payload goal of 2975.

The Ford and GMC with extended cab and 4x4 are listing their payloads at under 2800-2850!

[tonymull]

After 30 years I got tired of the headaches that go with used vehicles and bought a new Tacoma in 2004, in 2008 I got a good trade and $8500 in incentives toward a new Tundra. I traded that Tundra a couple of weeks ago for $3000 less than I paid for it 6 years earlier. That's $41 a month to drive a new truck. You have to bite the bullet on the first one, but after that if you shop smart and take advantage of incentives driving new is not expensive.

[Bedlam]

My 2005 Ford showed engine hours and my 2015 Ram also shows idle hours. I don't know how many years back this counter was offered.

[deltabravo]

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

VERY TRUE

When I was looking at 06 and 07 Duramax equipped trucks, I saw one that looked tempting. It had about 66,000 miles on it, but the hours were up over 6000 hours. That meant it had sat idling a LOT. I found out it came from Alaska and was a "fleet" truck.

When I go truck shopping for used trucks, I always look at the hours too. I know GM trucks from 99 and newer show engine hours, but I don't know if Ford / Dodge (RAM) trucks do.

[Bedlam]

I just sold my original owner 2005 Ford diesel with 110K miles that was maintained by the same dealer since new and was already outfitted for hauling a TC. I'm sure the new owners will get many more miles out of it pulling their trailer. Deals are out there if you are not in a rush to buy.

[Reddog1]

For me, a new car, truck, or TC is not something I am willing to do. I have had only one new car, and a couple only a couple of years old. I found them to be a money pit, and no more reliable than an old car with low miles. My last vehicle payment was in 1968 or 69.

I bought my 1996 Dodge 2500 Diesel in 2001. It had 75,000 miles, most were pulling a 5er. I paid $14000. I now have 260,000 miles, most hauling my TC. Since buying the truck, I have added about $17,000 (included $12,000 on transmissions) in toys and repairs which includes a new custom built transmission and torque converter two months ago. So, that is about $31,000 for 195,000 miles of use. That is less than $190 per month, plus $42 for insurance and license. The total is $232 per month. What does a new truck cost you per month? I paid cash along the way. I refuse to work just to pay for a vehicle.

I paid $1000 for my 1988 Bigfoot TC in 2004. Since then, in repairs and upgrades I spent an additional $9000. Total spent was $10000 within about three years. I have everything in upgrades I want, and got to choose the components I wanted. My upgrades include a Stable Lift, solar, AGM battery, smart charger, A/C, Honda 2000, TV, Wave3 and a lot of other stuff.

If my truck would break down 1000 miles from home, I could have it towed home for what I think most new trucks cost in one month (payment, insurance license). The repair would be far less. Did I mention my truck is Smog inspection exempt?

With the exception of my house, I have been debt free since 1970. I am a retired teacher, and wife only worked at a paying job for a few of years.

The photo is about 3 years old.

Wayne

[sky_free]

To me it's all about the test drive. You'll know right away if the truck is worth getting. I won't buy anything over 75K miles though. Once it gets over that the effort of maintaining it to near original condition starts to go up too much. As far as gas vs. diesel engine life, when I was shopping I drove a 2005 F350 6.0 that was previously in a rental fleet and it was done at 100K miles vs. an F350 V10 of the same vintage with over 300,000 miles on it in much better shape. This is admittedly an extreme example comparing a really bad diesel with a really good gas engine, but I don't think engine life is really worth worrying about in either case these days.