Hi guys,
I feel a bit silly asking this question since I work at a car dealer... But we sell Toyota's! I'm looking at replacing my 2005 2500HD Reg cab truck with a new or newer 1 ton. I've been poking around and used work trucks in NH are ridiculously over-priced, and then I started looking at new but a lot of them are all loaded up with options.
I'm looking for a one ton truck, regular cab, 4x4, prefer dual wheels, no frills (I don't care about leather, or power windows). The only thing I'd like it to have is what they used to call the "snow plow prep package" (dual battery's, heated tow mirrors, limited slip rear diff). Heck, I don't care if it's cab & chassis, dump body, flat bed, dump stake side...
Sorry for the rant, I guess I'm just going a bit crazy when I look at prices and think of what they were not that long ago... Not sure if anybody's knows of "the place" to buy work trucks? It might be a magically place, like Oz, that don't really exist
Montana rubber mats crank windows and a manual . a lot have high miles but zero rust .
I bought my dodge Megacam 1 ton from Dave Smith Motors in Kellog Idaho back in 2007. They were $14,000 less than the best deal I could find locally. I figured it had to be a scam, but I;d heard great things, so I made the deal on the phone, hopped a Horizon air flight to Spokane, and their shuttle van came to pick me up for the 1 1/2 hour drive to Kellog. The truck was exactly as advertised, and ready to go. They insisted I do a test drive before signing the paperwork. 5 or 10 minutes after that I was done, ready to go, and headed back to PDX. It was a great experience.
Last year when I was deathly ill, my wife wanted a new SUV to be sure she wouldn't get stuck getting me to and from dialysis, or miss the call for a transplant, so I called them up again and put together a deal for a brand new Chevy Traverse. Still priced better than the local dealers by almost $9k. I was too sick to go get it, so I paid a car hauler $550 to load it up and bring it back to PDX for me. Took a week or so from my order, but again, a simple no hassle transaction.
I have no idea how they can offer such great prices, but the entire town of Kellog is almost 1 big car dealership operated by Dave Smith motors. I'll probably never buy another vehicle elsewhere.
Even though you're across the country it might be worth checking them out. The reduced price typically offsets the shipping cost, and then some. Shipping vehicles around the country is easy.
I know everybody wants a diesel, but they're pricey. If you can live without one (powerwise I think the gassers have enough for all but the super heavy loads) fuel economy is bad, sure, but that diesel option adds alot of coin to the price tag. Most of the gas V8 options now are over 400hp.
My 2 cents, look for a gasser and save a few thousand....
I'd agree with celliot, a diesel is getting hard to justify unless it is actually towing all the time. In the long run, a GM 6.0 would probably be a lot cheaper, and especially if it's not loaded all the time. I love my diesel except that it's just change leaking out of my pocket 90% of the time.
i was in the same situation last year. i have had diesels since the early 80's but the sticker on the new models were nearly 11,000 more than gas engines and the gas mileage is not much different than the diesel unless heavy towing, and here on the eastern seaboard the price difference between gas and diesel averages about 60 cents more. for myself i could not justify the price difference. best of luck to you.
I just priced out a Ford F350 on their website (not often very similar to dealers prices FWIW) 6.2 V8, snow plow prep package, dual wheels, single cab 8' bed, 4x4 for $39k. The 6.7 diesel adds another $9000. I'm sure the cummins engine over the hemi (ram has two gas V8 options I believe) and the duramax over the GM gas V8 is a similar price jump.
Around my area I've seen some good deals on the ram cab and chassis trucks more than the Ford and GM's. Don't know if you're brand loyal or just looking for the best deal.
Lot of fleets gave up on diesels.
The provincial ambulance fleet went gas, they are leased to the province and then returned and reconditioned for resale. They can put a new gas engine in cheaper than fixing/maintaining the diesel.
well ya every one wants to give a dodge away soon the dealers will be paying people to take them (I say this because I have one and never will get another ill walk first rant over :D) ford so far has the best price around here I got a 16 f250 6.2 with 12k on it for 28grand they had the diesels with 15- 20k on them but they where a full 4 door with 8ft bed for 32-36 grand I looked at gm same year 20-50k on them for 33-38 grand I could not see paying that much for a truck with that many miles
Ram is the only one to offer a manual trans. If that's what you want. A couple years ago I was looking for a new f550. Diesel 4x4 was about 50 k.they are way more truck than any 1 ton. I haunt had a gas motor in a pickup in well over 20 years. Some like them some don't. And for the gm guys the Allison is built by gm under licence from Allison and that agreement ends soon. I tried a ram it was ok. Not as refined as Ford and the price was higher. If you want a truck to work there is only one
Make sure you drive all the makes.
I was set to go Ford until a Ram fell in my lap.
I love the 6.7 Cummins with the Asin transmission. Very Quiet ,exhaust brake with tow haul mode.
You actually have to use your brakes going uphill. 8)
I bought a dodge 3500 diesel crew cab and chassis last year and put an aluminum flat bed on it. rubber floors, HD VINYL seats (love for the sawdust factor, didn't even know that was an option anymore) power windows, automatic tranny, yadayadayada. I half ways looked at chevy and not really at fords at all (hate the idea of manual 4 wheel engaging if stuck). but from what I saw dodge was the cheapest and if I recall getting a cab and chassis and putting a flat bed on it (even an aluminum one) was cheaper than buying a normal pickup. for me I love the flatbed. the new trucks are so tall you cant get over the side of em without a step ladder and a flatbed is lower and has way more room in it. I have tool boxes down both sides also. lots of safe dry secure storage. I like the truck so far but it only has 60,000 miles on it. I have always been a chevy guy though. if I wasn't pulling a trailer all the time I would get the big (6.4 I think) gas motor. I think the cummins was either a $7500 or $8,000 dollar option. I always have a trailer on the back so I about had to. PLENTY of power. I may chip it when the warranty is up
I totally get going 'new', but for myself, it's old, used, and affordable. I drive early 90's 1 ton crewcab 4x4 diesel. It's been a good truck, and what I saved in payments, and interest on a new truck, I've been able to update, and 'supe' it up quite a bit.
In NH check out the Gm dealer ship in Newport
They have many work trucks and lots of one tons
Bruno
There ain't but one truck out there anyway. F O R D when only the best will do. ;D
I haven't truck shopped since 2013 but then I thought Ram had the best engine, GM had the best transmission, and Ford had the best seats. I wanted to pull the RV coast to coast so my butt won and I got a F450.
Few years back I was looking for a used 4x4. Ridiculous what they were wanting for a used one. All had one thing in common. A trip to the tire shop before using. Anyway, I waited and put the word out I was looking. Family member needed a larger pickup to pull their camper and sold me there old one for a good price.
I was very fortunate to find a low miles (30k) 2001 F450 4wd with a 7.3. It is WAAAY more truck than I was looking for and more truck than I need. But......I was able to get it dirt cheap and I don't have to worry about what I pull and more importantly I don't have to worry about stopping with whatever I'm pulling. Even though I was able to get it at a low cost, I want it to be as efficient as possible. It will be my primary every day driver. I keep hearing about chips and tuners. This was mentioned earlier in this thread and caught my attention. What guidance can you give? Most of what I would haul on the truck would be small log loads, 5 or 6 at a haul and I stay away from the really big stuff. Pulling would max out at 8 to 9k. Would a chip/tuner help in fuel efficiency?
Quote from: hopm on December 24, 2017, 12:55:21 AM
I was very fortunate to find a low miles (30k) 2001 F450 4wd with a 7.3. It is WAAAY more truck than I was looking for and more truck than I need. But......I was able to get it dirt cheap and I don't have to worry about what I pull and more importantly I don't have to worry about stopping with whatever I'm pulling. Even though I was able to get it at a low cost, I want it to be as efficient as possible. It will be my primary every day driver. I keep hearing about chips and tuners. This was mentioned earlier in this thread and caught my attention. What guidance can you give? Most of what I would haul on the truck would be small log loads, 5 or 6 at a haul and I stay away from the really big stuff. Pulling would max out at 8 to 9k. Would a chip/tuner help in fuel efficiency?
forget you ever heard the word chip or tuner. if you want it to live leave it alone
Quote from: snowstorm on December 24, 2017, 04:22:42 AM
forget you ever heard the word chip or tuner. if you want it to live leave it alone
My 7.3 has a chip with a tuner stacked on top, 252k miles on the clock and never missed a beat. Watch the egts, boost, and fuel pressure and drive it like i stole it.
My 96 has an Edge programmer on it with 266k mi on it, runs like new.
I hate to sound like advertisement but Chevy is currently offering employee discount pricing to everyone. I've been seeing adds stating 20 - 25% off MSRP.
That is a marketing scam, MSRP is all over the map depending on the dealer. A fleet lease return can be a good buy, I bought one that was like new and gave me years of reliable service. Bought my current truck, a 2005 Ram ctd, in 2010 and could not be more pleased with it. The lot wanted it gone, it is 2wd, a near base build and a non descript color but ideal for towing my small fifth wheel. Keep your eyes and ears open, there are good deals out there.
Thanks everyone, plenty of ideas! I'll check out the dealer in Idaho for sure! I'll defiantly check out Newport too, since it's in state.
I'm not brand specific, they all break, just don't want to buy a truck that's priced at a 1/3 of what it took to build my house!
The search continues, Merry Christmas
I'd concur with others that suggest looking into a 450 or 550 cab/chassis. Sometimes they are priced way more reasonably than a one ton. It seems most of the newer one tons are trimmed out for Rex Tillerson to drive to his ranch from the airport, that's not what I need for a work truck. I like power windows and locks, and a/c, but as for the rest I prefer it pretty basic. I'd take a vinyl floor over carpet any day.
A friend bought a GMC W4500 (an older one) which is actually an Isuzu with a small 4 cylinder diesel and duals. It isn't fast but it will hauls a nice load.
Haven't pulled a trailer with it yet.
What the truck going to be used For? Some tend to over load a one ton. A 450 or 550has real truck tires. 19.5. A 550 is geared low. 4.88 rear for the diesel and 5.13 gas. The diesel trans since 2011 has 2 over drives. The 550 I have weights more than one might think.with the plow and wing gear and m g side dump sander body. It's 13200 with out the plows. Then put 5 yds. of winter sand in it around 25000
I don't know the laws in your state. Is anything bigger than an F-350 going to require commercial tags and insurance?
Quote from: sawguy21 on December 24, 2017, 11:31:01 PM
I don't know the laws in your state. Is anything bigger than an F-350 going to require commercial tags and insurance?
I know in my case I was looking at a f550 to replace my 250 and my insurance company said I needed commercial insurance even if the truck had farm plates. When I found out how much it was going to cost I figured I would just stick with the f250 I had because for the savings in insurance alone I can take lots of extra trips hauling things.
Well it's good to see I'm not the only person that's been down this road! Thanks to Bruno, I've got my eye on a 15, single rear wheel AND 3500. It's gonna be used for hauling my dump trailer, plowing (couple driveways, farm, some field s for winter manure drops), and an equipment trailer. It fits my budget, and somebody else paid the NEW truck price ;D. Still looking around, but they'll get a call for sure.
Was looking on govdeals.com the other night, if it's any interest they had a '12 F450 diesel that was an ambulance, now just cab/chassis. Nice looking rig, I believe it has 112k miles and the bid was at 7800 or so then, I believe tomorrow is ending date for the sale. It had a long frame with air ride on the rear axle, I don't know if that means it would have air brakes as well? Description said no known issues taken out of service do to age. DRW but only 2WD.
My neighbor was a diesel guy for a long time but recently went back to gas. He said that unless your drive over 25k a year, it aint worth the price difference. He is probably right unless you just have to have the towing.
One thing you might look at is those overcab trucks or medium duty trucks. they are usually no frills and Ive seen some good deals. I have an old f-600 that every time I think of getting rid of another use comes up and I know Ill never overload it.
Dave
Big thanks to Bruno for pointing me in a Northern direction! Ended up at Newport Chevrolet right here in NH.
I ended up with a 2015 GMC 3500 single rear wheel. I really wanted duals BUT my budget didn't! They were more than fair on my trade in and I got a pretty good deal on the new rig (it helps that it has a Sent in a cab corner!). It's got a date at my buddy's body shop to fix the cab corner and I'll get the new Fisher plow ordered on Tues when I'm back at work (9.6 v so when I get a dually it'll fit that too). Fingers crossed I get 10 years out of this rig, just like the last one! MY oil Undercoat as soon as the weather is nice too!
I have an 2011 F350 diesel, crew cab, 8' bed, 4x4 with single rears, so far I like it (I've only had it since June). Others are correct, a diesel is only a good option if you haul a trailer a lot, which is what I got mine for. I pd $17500 for mine and it had 178,000M on it. It was an Oklahoma truck until 8 months before I got it, so it had no rust like NY trucks of that age do. I used to be all gas, until my previous truck, it was a 7.3 diesel. I had such good luck with that so I wanted another diesel. My BIL is a great diesel mechanic if I need one.