Truck quandary -- buy another or fix up the old

kaiser715

kaiser715

Doing hard time
Joined
Jun 1, 2006
Location
7, Pocket, NC
I've got a 2006 F250, crew cab, short bed. Only 140k miles on it. I've been wanting to trade it out, but waited until the house was finished, but right now the time really isn't right to put a pile of money into a new-er-ish truck. Went shopping this weekend just to try and see what an average 20-25k used truck looked like, and also see how much $$ a new work type truck would run me. I was tempted, but really shouldn't put that kind of money in something I don't drive or need every day.

The 20-25k trucks I looked at, around 2015's with 100k miles, weren't as nice as I thought I might have found. They all had their issues, but mostly cosmetic.

My 06 is mostly OK but needs some help and upgrades. Might be worth 4k on a trade. Maybe 8 on a private sale. It is a Lariat, has aluminum wheels, etc. Some stuff can't be fixed (cheaply)...it has the 5.4, it's a shortbed and I really need a long. It does need tires, badly (cracking between the treads, brought to my attention Friday when I noticed a couple of lugs had torn off). Steers ok, but at 140k miles, probably needs attention to ball joints, etc. Brakes are soft and don't stop it good. Pads are good, so something else going on. Have a CEL lit now, runs OK, but probably bad COP again (code is a misfire). Busted the face of the aftermarket radio a few weeks ago with a piece of pipe.

So...do I put 5,000 or so into a 12 year old truck, and ride it out for 3 or 4 more years, or trade it out for a '14 or '15 used truck (that'll tow a lot better with the 6.2). At least I have a known thing with my current truck, vs. a pig-in-a-poke with a used?

tl;dr put money into fixing up older truck, or buy a newer used with possible unknown problems and lower trim level/accessories
 
Sounds like it's already in work truck sorta condition.....fix, use, repeat. Unless major components go out it is still a much smaller investment for something that would receive the same use.

Of course if a man could have his "caddy" pickup and a work truck it would be the best of both worlds. I will only accomplish this if my personal business could make it so......until then my 2006 Dodge will continue to be the swiss army knife of trucks.

From what I have saw in actual service trucks of the similar Ford build......250k isn't a far fetched millage potential. Use it.
 
Every vehicle I've had, I have made it to 225-250k... 99 F250, '90 Grand Wagoneer, '85 GMC 1500 most recent.

I only drive the F250 about 5k miles a year now, mostly around town. Hard to justify much $$ to just sit there. But...I need it to be dependable. Might not need it for a month, then might make a 1500 mile round trip. It still looks good from 50'...few dings and dents.

I do have a concern on the transmission...last winter, when it was cold, it would shudder on a cold start off...OK once it warmed up. Pulled the trailer a bunch all spring and summer, never had a problem. Fluid looks good. A risk, but who knows....
 
My personal rule of thumb for vehicles I rely on, whether work or DD...the odo hits 200k, I start looking for something new(er) and have something before i hit 250k. Sure, you sunk $5k into this critical component or that one...but what about the rest of the stuff you didn’t replace that has the same wear and tear on it. That said, At only 140k and 5k/yr...I’d sink the money in to it. Based on my criteria, you’d get another decade of use out of it.
 
Something to consider is driving your truck more often if for anything than to keep everything lubed and happy. Same thing goes for military equipment. Sits in the motorpool for X amount of time then all of a sudden we need it for a month straight and it’s shit cause it doesn’t get used. Down here we drive the holy hell out of our HMMWVs and they run like tops and are great. Using them regularly keeps them in better shape if that makes sense. As to the original question I say tune up what you have and use it. Regularly.
 
Fix it, drive it. When it’s time, pick up another $6k-$8k truck and go another round. Even with repairs you’re way ahead of going into debt for a $25k truck that will need similar repairs by the time it’s paid for.
I’m a bit biased, I hate payments, and drive older paid for vehicles. One being a 524k mile Chevy, that I’m pretty much willing to put a new motor in when needed and keep on keepin on.
Just fix it and keep it.
 
A couple of you guys mentioned going in to debt. I didn't see him mention taking out a loan. Kaiser715 is retired/semi-retired. I am guessing he is going to pay cash for the next truck.

If you drive 1,500 mile round trips occasionally, then I would buy a newer truck, but would take my time to find a nice low mileage unit. Having said that, I am still driving my 01 Ram with 240k that also needs a few things fixed, LOL. It too sits for a month or so some times, and is probably only driven 1,000-2,000 miles/yr. I also struggle with the thought of spending $25-35k on a newer truck to only have it sit most of the time. I guess I could drive it more often, but my van suits my lifestyle better right now.
 
drkelly said:
A couple of you guys mentioned going in to debt. I didn't see him mention taking out a loan. Kaiser715 is retired/semi-retired. I am guessing he is going to pay cash for the next truck.

If you drive 1,500 mile round trips occasionally, then I would buy a newer truck, but would take my time to find a nice low mileage unit. Having said that, I am still driving my 01 Ram with 240k that also needs a few things fixed, LOL. It too sits for a month or so some times, and is probably only driven 1,000-2,000 miles/yr. I also struggle with the thought of spending $25-35k on a newer truck to only have it sit most of the time. I guess I could drive it more often, but my van suits my lifestyle better right now.
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If you’d just modify that engine a little you could have yourself a hot rod for fun drives!:burnout:

:flipoff2: I know what you want to say;):lol:
 
I vote for keeping the older truck, I've been living with 200k trucks for 15 years now, fix what's needed, deal with what's annoying. My latest is a 2002 Chevy, got it with 204,000, it's like "new" to me, I did have to spend some money on it to get it going.
 
if you can stroke a check for a $25k truck, I’d keep that money in the bank and fix the one you have, or buy one of those really good priced trucks off that guy on here @cass92lx50. Fix what’s needed as you go and keep on stacking your money. Do other things with that money, or just save it.
Eventually fuel will spike and truck prices will plunge again. Then you can really get a deal. Until then, keep your money.
 
Gonna fix it up, dependent on getting the brakes to what I feel is right, then take care of the other issues. The brakes work, but are soft and don't seem to have the stopping power they should (especially after having driven some other (albeit newer) F250/F350 recently. Takes a lot of pedal effort, more than it should. A buddy bought my '99, and I drove it not too long ago, and it had noticeably better feeling brakes than my '06.

I was reading online today about the ABS module being a culprit on the stupordoodies, as a possible cause of slow/soft braking. So, tonight, I took the truck out to the paved road, got it up to 20, and stood on the brakes. No ABS buzz. 25 mph, then 30, then 35. Then 45...get up to speed, slam on the brakes. No ABS, no skid, except the front left would lock for a bit. Finally on about the 6th run, the ABS kicked in. Now, ABS works 25, 30, 40, etc....every subsequent try. And the brakes do feel better. Stuck valving, maybe????

From the webz (under symptoms of a bad ABS module):

Increased Effort w/ Brake Pedal – You may be in a situation where the brake pedal of your vehicle works, but it requires a lot more pressure on your part just to perform a simple braking function. A brake pedal should not require this much pressure. You should be able to just lightly press your foot down on the brake pedal for the braking to work. If you have to increase your effort just to do this, then your ABS control module is bad.
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I'll do a little bit more diagnosing and testing by light of day tomorrow...
 
Im in the keep the old boat. overall its still cheaper when you consider taxes, insurance etc.
 
Personally I think something like this is hard to beat:
2011 Ford Super Duty F-250 SRW 4WD Crew Cab 156 Lariat with Over
High miles but newer truck so all the plastic and rubber is still fresh. With that kinda mileage it's all highway, so the main wear is on the drivetrain, which will last a few hundred thousand miles on the highway. It's the short trips and stop-go that wear out a vehicle. Mines a 2012 with 247k miles and people often think it's a new truck .
 
IMO it comes down to the time-money tradeoff. I know you've been busy w/ the house build, but now that its (more or less) over, if you got nothing else on your plate, then fix and keep. But if you're busy, or just want to enjoy retirement.... replace it and enjoy the time you just bought yourself.
 
77GreenMachine said:
if you can stroke a check for a $25k truck, I’d keep that money in the bank and fix the one you have, or buy one of those really good priced trucks off that guy on here @cass92lx50. Fix what’s needed as you go and keep on stacking your money. Do other things with that money, or just save it.
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My thoughts exactly! I bought a "loaded WORK truck" ('04 F-350 SC C&C 4x4 w/ 105K) from Chad (cass92lx50) and while it's needed a few repairs, has cost me 1/3 of anything of comparable capacity or mileage.
 
jeepinmatt said:
Personally I think something like this is hard to beat:
2011 Ford Super Duty F-250 SRW 4WD Crew Cab 156 Lariat with Over
High miles but newer truck so all the plastic and rubber is still fresh. With that kinda mileage it's all highway, so the main wear is on the drivetrain, which will last a few hundred thousand miles on the highway. It's the short trips and stop-go that wear out a vehicle. Mines a 2012 with 247k miles and people often think it's a new truck .
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2011 Ford F350 6.7
 
5.4 isnt too bad. I have towed 10k all over the southeast. Worse part of it is hauling up Black Mountain at 35mph. But I only do that once a year or two, so can stand it ok.

My old truck did have 410s vs the 373s of this truck, that made a world of difference.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 
My FIL has a F250 with the 5.4 with something north of 300k miles on it. Granted he did have to rebuild the motor and it is now currently parked with a locked up motor from the oil pump going out.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk
 
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kaiser715 said:
5.4 isnt too bad. I have towed 10k all over the southeast. Worse part of it is hauling up Black Mountain at 35mph. But I only do that once a year or two, so can stand it ok.

My old truck did have 410s vs the 373s of this truck, that made a world of difference.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
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Yeah...I hauled 10k lb trailers daily with 5.4’s in the landscaping trucks for a decade before buying the first diesel. By 250k they were all trash, but managed to do the job just fine until that point. New enough I didn’t really have to wrench on them and about half the price of diesels.
 
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I justified buying my Ram 2500 new back in 2015 for the following reasons:
1- I was able to afford a payment
2- I use the truck to tow for camping, wheeling and it's our traveling vehicle
3- Referring to #2. When doing so, I want to make sure I can get where we're going without worry
4- Comparing the cost of newer used trucks vs new trucks, the choice was clear for me

This ain't a dress rehearsal. You want the truck? Buy it. Want the cupcake? Eat it.
 
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