the pickup dilemma

[70SWT]

I've had a pickup truck essentially my entire adult life (I'm 51). Until recently, I was a career military guy who moved a lot, and I've been a continuous homeowner and tinkerer into old Porsches. So, it's been pretty hard for me to live without a truck.

My current truck, an '11 Nissan Titan, has been nothing short of awesome. I bought it new, and since then, I've towed back and forth across the country with it, hauled more little loads than I can count, and used it as a regular driver in between. It's never given me trouble, and was long ago paid for, now just costing me maintenance, gas and insurance. Aside from getting 10 mpg (or less!) when towing a large enclosed trailer (which it otherwise happily did), it represents a seriously good value in my life.

I'm a car nut, so thanks to always having a few drivable vehicles to spread my mileage across (combined with lengthy stretches with the military when all my drivers sat unused), the Titan also only has about 60k miles. It does "only" have 2WD, and I would like to go back to a 4WD truck, now that I am in the Vegas area with so much awesome desert to explore. It would also be nice to have an HD truck with serious towing capacity (so I can make some really bad decisions on old car buys...)

So, ordinarily, I would have bought another truck by now. But, aside from the low miles on the Titan, one issue has caused me to hold onto this truck longer than any truck I've previously owned: the cost of new pickups today.

IMHO, it's really gotten ridiculous. Perusing various websites on old car prices, I believe my rose-colored memories are essentially correct: even really stout pickups used to be cheaper than, or at least no more than, cars. Today, a well-optioned pickup with good towing capacity can set you back $60k (or more if you go nuts with the luxo options). That kind of dough will get you a damn nice car.

Meanwhile, my fully-functional, nothing-really-wrong-with-it Titan might net me $14k on the private seller used market. As much as I would REALLY like a new truck, the math on selling or trading in just doesn't add up.

I know some of the counter-arguments: trucks are standard-optioned better than they used to be; they are bigger than they used to be, taking a lot of material to make; and, above all, if the market supports the prices, these must be the "right" prices.

But right now, I know several other guys who, like me, want to buy, but are holding onto their trucks for the same sorts of reasons I've voiced above. We aren't strapped for cash, just befuddled. Is it just us?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Then don’t buy new!

Trucks are crazy expensive but you can typically get 10-20% off of MSRP without even trying. Sacrifice some on the options and they get a lot cheaper too. Considering how many are out there though, there’s really no reason you can’t find a 2-3 year old truck in good condition with low miles for a huge discount over MSRP.

[MMiller]

If I were in your shoes I would be looking for a used 1 owner with around 50K on it. F150 4x4 with the 5.0 in it or the big eco-boost.

I have never been a big fan of buying new but I know a lot of folks are..

[sand_man]

Conversly...
I've been a "car guy" my whole life, mostly sports cars, at that. Now that I'm 49, my current plan is to keep the 993 and get myself a pre-owned truck that I can use for camping, pulling a boat, hauling stuff to and from our beach place, etc. Right now, a 2015-2016 GMC Sierra Denali (1500) is on my short list. I'm looking to stay in the $38K (+/-) range for something with 35,000 miles (+/-). And, yeah, I'm astonished at how much these things are new, off the lot!!!!

I likely won't pull the trigger until late 2019, so maybe prices for the pre-owned stuff will come down even further? But keeping the 993 ensures I'll always have a means to a "play" car, by having something to trade/sell for a different toy, should I tire of it.

[Tervuren]

One factor is that regulatory "loop holes" for trucks have been progressively closed.

Check out the pricing on a new car that isn't built to Global/California/US/Euroe standards sometime and compare.

Trucks used to be loosely regulated.

[billybek]

I hear you on the cost of new trucks.
My old 2004 GMC 3/4 ton hd doesn't have great power with the 6.0 gas engine.
It certainly doesn't get great fuel mileage especially when the camper is on the back.
It is bought and payed for and has around 60,000 miles on it since new. Low mileage due to me having a work vehicle most of the time I have owned it.
It has been very reliable and I will probably hold on to it considering how much I use it.
Sometimes I would like to have more power but with the cost associated with that, I am good with what I have.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Also don’t fall victim to buying too much truck. I tow about 9,000 lbs and 30 ft worth of boat and trailer about 200 miles round trip every weekend in the summer with an F150 Ecoboost. I always get a good laugh out of guys pulling 18’ fishing boats with a 3/4 ton diesel.

[devodave]

I replaced my 02 Sierra SLT with a new 16 Sierra SLT 18 months ago. Saved over $13,000 off MSRP, so deals are out there. Saw 497 miles at 21.1mpg at last fill-up, much better than the 02. Have not had any issue hauling the enclosed Boy Scout trailer or my 16 foot utility trailer (4500 pound Carrol-Jamieson lathe and 2200 pound Bridgeport mill). Deals at the time we’re on Double Cabs - I want to replace mine with a Crew Cab because there is not enough leg room for adults/older kids. Ownership has been trouble-free so far.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Also don’t fall victim to buying too much truck. I tow about 9,000 lbs and 30 ft worth of boat and trailer about 200 miles round trip every weekend in the summer with an F150 Ecoboost. I always get a good laugh out of guys pulling 18’ fishing boats with a 3/4 ton diesel.

If that's all they bought the truck for, then yeah. But plenty of construction guys own 3/4 ton trucks for heavy loads and big trailers but hook up the fishing boat on a weekend to go somewhere.

[flatbutt]

My neighbor just sold his Tundra and bought a new Tacoma 6 cyl short bed with the TRD and tow package. It came in right around $40k. Nice looking truck but waaay too many e-gadgets. In fact he just brought it back to the dealer to have the 'puter redone so that the tranny would shift better.

[Seahawk]

First of all, thanks for having served.

A Titan with 60k? I’d hang on to it, 2x4 or not. You didn’t mention what your others car are, but the Titan would be my DD runaround regardless. Nice truck.

80% of 3/4 ton and above truck owners are delusional, as are 40% of 1/2 ton owners.

Look it up.

[Scott Douglas]

My brother has a 3500 GMC 6.5 turbo diesel crew cab dually that he is trying to sell but can't seem to find anyone genuinely interested. Now that he's used it twice since buying his Colorado, once to haul the Colorado home from the dealer and then just yesterday hauling a 944 home, he thinks he may keep it till the dust settles on his relocation. He sold his big steel tilt trailer and picked up a nice Featherlite for hauling his cars with the Colorado, so once moved I'm pretty sure the dually will find greener pastures. It is a real workhorse and gets pretty decent mileage for as big as it is, even hauling a big load. He mainly needed a more 'town compatible' vehicle, hence the Colorado.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by speeder

If that's all they bought the truck for, then yeah. But plenty of construction guys own 3/4 ton trucks for heavy loads and big trailers but hook up the fishing boat on a weekend to go somewhere.

True, but I'm sure we've both known the "you need a bigger truck" guy. I had pretty much every truck owning friend tell me that there's no way I could pull my new boat without a 3/4 ton diesel. So I did it every weekend this summer. I have the power to pull way more, but become cooling limited on a 100+ degree summer day at much more than 75 MPH when I pull through the Flint Hills (which yes, are actually hilly).

[sugarwood]

You can find lots of 100k mile trucks for like $7k

2005 CHEVY 1500 $8000
https://lasvegas.craigslist.org/ctd/d/2005-chevy-1500-regular-cab/6697199785.html

2004 Chevrolet Silverado $4900
https://lasvegas.craigslist.org/cto/d/2004-chevrolet-silverado-1500/6699355397.html

2007 chevy Silverado - $8500
https://lasvegas.craigslist.org/cto/d/2007-chevy-silverado/6697924694.html


Lots of F-150 also
https://lasvegas.craigslist.org/search/cta?query=f-150&max_price=14000&max_auto_miles=120000

[E38Driver]

I have a 3/4 ton diesel chevy and I use it to tow my 5th wheel trailer that fully loaded comes in at 16K lbs. I also use it to tow my 19' boat and my 18' aluminum tandem axle trailer.
around town it gets 18 MPG on the highway I can get 20 MPG. When I tow the 5th wheel it drops down to 11 MPG.


Dave

[Arizona_928]

The prices are outrageous right now. Especially anything with a 4x4, more then two doors, or a diesel.

That said the Chevy gassers are the best bang for your buck at the moment. Cheap to fix, good interiors, and the reliability of the 4.8, 5.3, and 6.0.
Diesels are an expensive buy in because everyone thinks they're sitting on a gold mine.
More maintenance, emissions crap to break... But they do haul very very well.

Want a diesel? Then buy it, just make sure you do your own due diligence as each brand had their shortcomings.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I have my favorites, but the reality is that all of the late model full sized trucks are pretty damn good. Practical and comfortable enough to drive daily but with towing ability akin to much heavier duty trucks from 10 years ago.

[ckelly78z]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a 5 year old truck that has 50,000 miles and is less than half the price of a new one. Some poor sap has already taken the raw bone on depreciation, and the truck still has a good 15 years, and 100,000 miles left.

I would buy a few year old F150 with the 5.0 or ecoboost.....unbeatable value.

[fintstone]

Not for everyone, but I got rid of my F150 (worst vehicle I ever owned except a used Chevy wagon in the 80s). The F150 was a dog and the engine on the very low mileage pig died. Replaced it with a used Cayenne Turbo and a trailer about the size of a pickup bed (about $2K). It is incredibly versatile, has a huge back seat, all wheel drive and can tow 7716 lbs. Have used it for everything from pulling up fence posts/tree stumps to hauling all sorts of equipment. Towed large trailers and cars cross country in comfort. Works especially well with my Trailex aluminum trailer to drag a 911 around. You can fold down the back seat and haul most stuff in the climate controlled back cargo area and not need the trailer...and not have to worry about rain...or theft if you have to stop somewhere. Everything is locked in an alarmed, relatively secured, weatherproof area. It doubles as a great, luxurious, family vehicle. It is easy to drive, easy to park and brakes and accelerates like a Porsche. I like mine so much that it has become my daily driver.

[regency]

I lucked out and found a, one owner, all stock / un modified 1992 Gen 1 Dodge w250 Cummins single cab truck with 115,000 miles on it. All records since new + the window sticker.....for $5,500.

Everywhere we go in the truck, dudes are asking me if i wanna sell her...My wife keeps asking me why everyone wants this truck.

Steve