Who is your typical new HD truck buyer

[fastfredracing]

Ill be needing to replace my trusty old 2500 hd in the next season or 2 . IF I keep running at my current pace, I will be over 250k this time next year . It is starting to show its age.
I have started to keep my eye out for my next purchase, and am kind of shocked at what used 2500 pickups are bringing ,
Just for the heck of it, I speced out a brandy new 2500 Hd. Just LS options, and cloth seats, I was at 62k before blinking an eye.
As much as I would like to be that guy at Home Depot with the shiny new rig, there is no way on gods green earth, I am scratching that check every month for the next 5-6 years.
Thing is , I see them everywhere .Most of them are not hauling anything either . My question is . Who is the typical buyer of a 70k dollar HD pick up truck? You gotta shingle a lot of roofs, replace a lot of water heaters, or haul a lot of hay to justify that kind of expense .
Just seems like it is out of reach to your average contractor/working class guy ( the kind of guy who would need it )

[ckelly78z]

Most of the guys who buy these trucks don't need the capacity that the truck is capable of, but they want to look the part, and impress their freinds ?

I haul multiple loads of firewood, hay, driveway stone, heavy equipment, and scrap steel every year, plus pull a 34' camper all over 3 states. Somehow I get all of this done with a 2004 diesel Excursion, and a 1996 I6 F150 with no payments on either.

Go to a campground, or a boat dock and see new equipment everywhere...it just makes me shake my head, but happy they are spending money keeping the economy going for guys like me.

[KFC911]

It's too early....HD ...Harley....

Nevermind

[Eric 951]

Fred,

I am with you, I lament the loss of a "basic" HD. 2 months ago I purchased a new F250 XL SD--our needs are always the same 3/4 ton diesel 4x4, super cab with 8' bed and tow package. I don't care which trim package it has, I don't care about colors, interior, FX4 package chrome package, plow package, audio package, etc. etc. It took (1) month to even locate a suitable candidate--the local dealer lots were empty--our scout would locate a couple candidates, but as soon as we would call, they were gone. Finally found one in Ohio--which had about $3,000 worth of additional crap we didn't need or want (full 360 camera), Fifth wheel package with in-bed LEDs, spray in bed liner, plow package, etc. but we needed the truck-- came to right around 60K for a truck which will get worked hard. I do miss the old days of cheap work trucks-- anymore it is just a cost of doing business.

[rfuerst911sc]

In my opinion there are two types of truck owners , those that use them as intended and those that are posers . That doesn't mean you have to haul a full load of gravel in the bed every day to be a user but on the other hand buying a 1 ton and having it jacked up to the sky just for the looks is a poser . Just like in real estate banks and credit unions have no problem loaning $$$ to someone who can't afford it . So you have some people that are car/truck poor but they look good

Ever been in a fancy house that was bare bones on the inside ? That's house poor , people bought " high end " to impress someone but can't afford to buy furniture ........ yeah I'm impressed But I digress , Fred I agree with you new trucks today are stupid expensive and some of that is they are loaded to the max with a lot of crap not needed by the average Joe . Sounds like you don't need a truck right away so you have time to shop around for a good used one . Even 1 - 4 year old trucks come at a premium so there is sticker shock there also . Don't be afraid to look in the south or the west to get one rust free . I plan to keep my 2001 GMC diesel dually going as long as it is economical to do so . I have seen 4x4 diesel duallies on dealers lots for $100K !!!!!

[CurtEgerer]

Who is your typical new HD truck buyer? Somebody who can't afford to buy the truck, but has convinced themselves they can afford 'da monthly'.

Why anyone would buy new is another topic entirely.

[asphaltgambler]

Interesting subject, which got me thinking. How do today's new truck prices / vs working class annual wages compare to say......1970 for example? Are today's trucks really that expensive ?

Anyone care to analyze this?

[Instrument 41]

Most of those trucks are paid for by the company the driver works for. Car allowance, etc....Down here it crazy how many 3/4 ton 4wd loaded to the max trucks you see. Most are paid for that way. OR someone is driving a $900 monthly note.

[Baz]

Last night I just made an online purchase for 2 new front hub assemblies for my '02 Silverado 1500.

They were only about $100 each but are an investment for the future.

A future that does NOT include getting a new truck - or a 'new to me' truck.

We're at 218K on the clock but my girl has plenty of years left in her.

I don't even like the looks of the new trucks - way too much chrome!

[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by Baz

Last night I just made an online purchase for 2 new front hub assemblies for my '02 Silverado 1500.

They were only about $100 each but are an investment for the future.

A future that does NOT include getting a new truck - or a 'new to me' truck.

We're at 218K on the clock but my girl has plenty of years left in her.

I don't even like the looks of the new trucks - way too much chrome!

Totally agree . I am thinking about searching out, and finding a really clean 05/06, and paying a premium for it . For all the money they want for the new stuff, I don't like the exterior styling, or the interiors . I think our trucks are like the last of an era .
This has been the best vehicle I have ever owned .
Unfortunately, this one is suffering from a life in the rust belt. I can replace the rocker panels, but rust is starting to creep in everywhere .

[Baz]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

Totally agree . I am thinking about searching out, and finding a really clean 05/06, and paying a premium for it . For all the money they want for the new stuff, I don't like the exterior styling, or the interiors . I think our trucks are like the last of an era .
This has been the best vehicle I have ever owned .
Unfortunately, this one is suffering from a life in the rust belt. I can replace the rocker panels, but rust is starting to creep in everywhere .

That sounds like a good plan and what I would do if I were you, Fred.

Maybe get one from out west somewhere or at least down south.

Mine came from Georgia back in '05 and already had 90K on the clock but was in really nice condition and ended up at $9K out the door, including a small trade in of my old work truck ('93 WT1500).

I have a little body work to do on mine as well - both back cab corners are rotted for one. I bet your truck has some serious corrosion though.

[nota]

a full size 79 chevy base pickup was 3500 striped new
6 stick on the tree no power nothing

I asked the sale manager of the local toy shop
if he had any basic striped trucks in stock no extra cab no power ect like a gov fleet unit

his reply was we can get them from central america as none are shipped here anymore

[GH85Carrera]

One of my friends is a professional welder. He owns his own company and he builds custom trailers. He has to haul the trailer to the equipment manufacturer and of course a giant welder on occasion. He has a F350 Ford. He paid some crazy money for it, but it is his office from away from home, and he does have a big boat to haul to the lake.

[widebody911]

There was some handyman at my work yesterday, in a beat-up late-model truck that was lowered, with 24" wheels.

Why?

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

Totally agree . I am thinking about searching out, and finding a really clean 05/06, and paying a premium for it . For all the money they want for the new stuff, I don't like the exterior styling, or the interiors . I think our trucks are like the last of an era .
This has been the best vehicle I have ever owned .
Unfortunately, this one is suffering from a life in the rust belt. I can replace the rocker panels, but rust is starting to creep in everywhere .

Fred, this except look for one in Va or south. Its only 5 hrs from where I am to where you are. I found a rust free f350 supercrew (04) with a bulletproofed 6.0 and a King Ranch interior here for 12k. I'll drive it one up there for ya if you'll buy me a ticket home.
Caveat, not ALL are rust free here but most are.

[cabmandone]

I went to a F250 with a 6.2 gasser due to the cost of diesel trucks. I could have bought a brand new F250 crew cab, XL with XLT appearance package, power package, sync package for 35K 2 years ago but opted to buy a used 32000 mile F250 XLT for 28K. The price for diesel trucks is just nuts. Unless you're pulling all day everyday you don't need a diesel.
FWIW, I'll pull a 14K gvw trailer with a 9500 lb skid loader anywhere I would have pulled the same with my old 7.3 psd... It's just that I have to stop a bit more often because I'm only getting about 7-8 mpg rather than 9 or 10. I'll roll 70-75 mph and the only thing I can't pass on the highway is a gas station.

[URY914]

I have a '08 Ford F150 single cab short bed with a V-6. It has really never failed me. If it too long to fit in the 6'-6" bed I have a trailer. It ain't new and ain't pretty but it gets the job done. I'll replace it when someone hits me.

[URY914]

We have a VP that drives a jacked up F-250 diesel. I bet he's never had anything but a couch in the bed of that thing. Poser. But he sure is proud of it.

[Seahawk]

I would love to have a 3/4 ton diesel truck...I could sorta justify one but the price difference between what I paid for my Tacoma new and even a used 3/4 ton is insane.

Last year I rented a 3/4 ton from Enterprise because I was taking a trailer at near the towing capacity of my Tundra thought the Smokies. I wanted the extra margin. Business trip so my company paid for it.

https://www.enterprisetrucks.com/truckrental/en_US/vehicles/pickup-trucks/ThreeQuarterTon4WDPickupTruck-business.html

I honestly don't know why more people don't do that rather than grossly over truck.

Most of my towing (dump trailer, 18 ft flat bed, horse trailer) is local so I just make an extra trip if need be.

[herr_oberst]

I didn't realize they were such rare birds, because it seems like I see quite a few on the roads around here.

One, (ONE!) on PDX craigslist for sale.

https://portland.craigslist.org/search/sso?query=f350+supercrew&sort=rel