Brag about, or dog, your truck!

[aigheadish]

Well shucks, for better or worse, I just bought a truck on the  internet. https://www.carvana.com/vehicle/3697547

No sunroof, I overlooked that, as I flipped through the pictures 7 hundred times. No long bed, but you guys convinced me otherwise (so I blame you!). I'll be looking at the bed extenders and the cage thing you can get for when the tailgate is open. The back window is probably more important to me than the sunroof, and it has that. Nice bed cover and liner. It's a pretty blue, rather than all the black ones I see out there. I hope I live it. Welcome to the future. I bought my house on the internet but I had the chance to look at it a few times first...

Edit! Nope! I'm dumb! I thought they were all 4 wheel drive and I missed that too! Stupid internet! Trying to cancel and readjust! Jimony Christmas! Canceled!

Ok! Different truck not as good a color but less miles, sunroof, 4wd,some different options that are better! Shows up Friday. http://carvana.com/vehicle/3663062

[tule peak timber]

Any comments on the Ranger Raptor trucks? Out here there is a 10k markup over list making them pretty expensive. I'm personally uneasy about all of the software driven functions, sensors, wiring in general that don't seem to shout decades of reliability. Even Toyota has resorted to too many monkey motions in the drivetrain and they used to be a reliability standard. I'll pass on the hybrids.
 Seriously considering just keeping the old 94 F250 with the 7.3 international at 250k miles. It has hauled fish, logs, and now a camper without a hiccup for years. Maybe a new interior, some other upgrades, and just keep on going. No matter what I spend on the truck short term is still better than hefty long-term payments and registration fees here on the left coast. New paint is relatively cheap.

[21incher]

Any comments on the Ranger Raptor trucks? Out here there is a 10k markup over list making them pretty expensive. I'm personally uneasy about all of the software driven functions, sensors, wiring in general that don't seem to shout decades of reliability. Even Toyota has resorted to too many monkey motions in the drivetrain and they used to be a reliability standard. I'll pass on the hybrids.
 Seriously considering just keeping the old 94 F250 with the 7.3 international at 250k miles. It has hauled fish, logs, and now a camper without a hiccup for years. Maybe a new interior, some other upgrades, and just keep on going. No matter what I spend on the truck short term is still better than hefty long-term payments and registration fees here on the left coast. New paint is relatively cheap.

You may want to check out Ranger forums as they seem to be solid.  I bought a new Ranger Lariat in 22 and so far it has been great. Comfortable ride, about 22.5 mpg average and 7500 pound towing capacity.  In 1999 I bought a F250 light duty Lariat and my Ranger is about the same size and capability.  The markups on the new Ranger Raptors have disappeared here but with limited production could return.  Guess you're stuck buying  in California with the additional pollution requirements but do a search  on the Ford site for available vehicles that may not have markups. So far the only worry was the wet timing belt and 2 turbos on the 2.7 engine, but the timing belt seems to be debunked as the 5 liter has been using that for years and haven't seen turbo problems. I would recommend you drive one to see if it works for you. It is proving to be a very solid off road machine without  requiring modifications. Others like the ride of the standard Rangers better. My little 2.3 really surprised me by how good it tows but it sucks gas towing heavy loads and has a small gas tank.

[Larry]

Rob, same situation and how I solved it.

I had a 97 F-350 srw PSD. It was getting close to time to spend some maintenance dollars. Tires, brakes, and two batteries. The alignment and suspension probably needed attention as I had never touched those things. Flush the cooling system and replace hoses. It could have used a new seat but the body and paint were still in good condition. I'm the original owner and kept it garaged its entire life. It did have one major problem. One fuel tank had stuff flaking off on the inside and the other was suspect. I was keeping it running by changing the fuel filter frequently with a heavy shot of Seafoam to clean the injectors. I dropped the tanks about 8 or 9 years ago and flushed them out. If I kept it I would have replaced both tanks. After doing those things it probably would have been good for another 200,000 miles with normal maintenance. It had 230,000 on it.

I started thinking about a new truck. Some of my thoughts. My advancing age, new safety features, comfort, lower maintenance cost, diesel costing 30-50 cents more per gallon, better mileage, and a 3 year bumper to bumper warranty. The mid size Toyota and Ford Ranger rose to the top of my list. Finally pulled the trigger and got a 25 Ford Ranger.

I did look at the Ford Raptor Ranger. Wow! What a truck. What turned me off is the Raptor has a towing capacity of 5,510 pounds while the standard Ranger has a rated capacity of 7,500 pounds. Don't quite understand, as the Raptor has a ton more horsepower.

I've had the new truck about a month now and just now starting to feel like I made the right decision. It took me three weeks to figure out all the new electronic controls. The electronics are one reason I wanted that new truck warranty. I've towed my 4,000 pound RV camping trailer twice. In the Ozark mountains and it was amazing with the little 2.3 four banger. It is just passable towing on the interstates, especially with wind. 

[Bert]

I have the F150 Raptor. Its alot of fun for a production off-road truck. Smile every time I push the right pedal. I would imagine the ranger Raptors and bronco raptors are the same. Well thought out machines. Adaptive cruise is pretty great on long trips or crowded interstates. The reason for the reduced towing is the softer suspension since its meant to go off road. They dont mind going airborne.

[Tom K]

For bed jigs I'm thinking just frames that I could stick over the wheel bumps (maybe for setting a pallet on, I don't know the distance between the bumps)  or to raise up over the top of the cab to lean things without messing up the top of the truck.

Since you are getting a full size 1/2 ton, you should have 49" between the fender wells (wheel bumps). You should not have any issue fitting any pallet between the fenders, at least I never have. If you really want something at the front of the bed look into headache racks, or cab protectors.

That's nice looking truck. Living it's life in PA it may or may not have any rust starting underneath. I don't follow the light duty line very much, but I believe that series of 6.2L is pretty solid (the newer ones are currently having some issues.)

[aigheadish]

Ha! Fender wells! I couldn't think of the name for them. Good to know on the space, thanks. 

Let's hope the rust isn't there. I have 7 days to give the truck back if I don't like something, it looks pretty clean otherwise, from pictures. 

I do have to admit that it's bonkers to buy a vehicle unseen. I've been in this kind of truck before and it seemed real nice, so we'll see. It does seem to be a pretty boy truck, which is not really how I plan to use it.

[gspren]

When buying from Carvana or any used vehicle that you don't personally know the history of get it up on a lift and scrutinize everything right away.

[tule peak timber]

I just had to post this. Check out the price!!!

[21incher]

My dealer  has one that hasn't been messed with you could get for under 90k. All the dealers around  here are giving  discounts  now.

[Resonator]

Not a bad idea to put a vehicle up on the lift when you buy it. I made sure to do that with the car I drive now before I left the dealer. (My previous car was basically totaled because of rust underneath).

Technically dealerships are required by law to inspect all used cars for sale, and disclose any known issues. Still, having a 3rd party trusted mechanic check it is good practice.

[John Mc]

I went a little older with my truck. I wanted something with a little "character". I ended up with a 1951 Dodge M37 made for the military during the Korean War. (I'm fortunate to have a good friend just a few miles down the road who specializes in old Dodge Trucks.

It may be old and slow, but at least it's ugly.

[aigheadish]

Oh boy! I love that thing!

[gspren]

I went a little older with my truck. I wanted something with a little "character". I ended up with a 1951 Dodge M37 made for the military during the Korean War. (I'm fortunate to have a good friend just a few miles down the road who specializes in old Dodge Trucks.

It may be old and slow, but at least it's ugly.

I'd like to find a 1951 military Jeep that's already been restored mechanically, don't mind a little ugly. I'm a 1951 model myself and also fit the old, slow, and ugly description.

[barbender]

Something that amazes me on used vehicles up here, is different people's definition of "clean", "rust free", and "no rust". I absolutely hate shopping for used vehicles, because 75% don't warrant any consideration just because of rust issues. I'm getting to the point where I'll be taking a plane to other parts of the country to find clean older vehicles. 

I have a friend in Oregon, I almost have to wear a drool bib when he shows me absolutely clean 80's and 90's vehicles he's found for his kids out there. 

I'm usually pretty decent at negotiating prices, and finding hidden issues on used rigs. I don't know if I've had too much on my plate, my mind is going or what. But I've made some beginner mistakes on the last few deals. The one, an 02 GMC 3500 Duramax I bought after I crashed my other dually. Usually, a GM truck of that age up here won't have any rocker panels or cab corners left. This one looked good, I must've got distracted because the owner was pretty yappy. I never even crawled underneath it, if I had I would've seen right away that it wasn't nearly as clean as it appeared. Once I got it home and started looking more closely the next day, it was clear that there had been rust repair body work done on it. Not a big deal if the guy had disclosed that. The problem is that the underbody has "normal" MN rust and corrosion, which is why for example I've had to change out a 4x4 shift linkage, tranny shift cable, fuel lines that got pinholes in them (that was fun, my hair still smells like diesel a week later) and now I have a ujoint that failed. All corrosion issues.

I just share this as an example of the pitfalls of used vehicles if you let your guard down at all. I probably would've still bought this truck, just not for nearly as much money. More than anything, it got me that the seller pulled one over on me. He was specifically advertising how clean it was, passing off the body work as original. I could've easily found the tape lines where they had painted the new parts, had I looked. Shame on me🤷 It says in Proverbs that a fool and his money are soon parted, that was me that day😂

[aigheadish]

The GMC is being returned. It rolled off their delivery truck with a nasty squeak that didn't go away. It also had flakey running boards. I called and had words with them yesterday after they were not willing to fix the squeak (squeek?) and they made it partially right by extending my return period another 5 days.

I'd thought about it and found a 2022 f150 xlt, that is nice and less electrical. A few less comfy features but also a third less expensive. And better on gas.

I think it'll be a good move.