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Decisions, Decisions....

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ObiRichKanobi

ObiRichKanobi

Jedi Knight
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My "toy puller and hauler" is a 91 Ford F250, and since it hasn't been needed too much in the past several years, it's fallen on sad times. With the "recommissioning" of my boat, I've found that it has needed some work, and still needs more. It's had a tuneup, new filters, and 2 new tires, along with getting some tube rewelded onto the cat. However, for the past couple years I've had an issue where sometimes when you step on the brakes, the truck literally shakes. Don't really feel pulsing in the pedal. Turned the drums, no difference (but did notice one of the rear bearing is starting to leak a little). Had a shop look at the front brakes, and it's new pads, rotors, and calipers according to them (about $850). Oh...and it will need 2 more new tires before winter, and the tranny sometimes shifts rough (automatic).

So the question is...do I continue to put money into this one to try and get it up to snuff, or do I cut my losses and get a new truck? However, it looks like there aren't too many trucks around that will fit my bill (3/4 ton, ext cab, 8' bed), and contrary to popular belief, it looks like Utah dealers aren't "highly motivated sellers." Unfortuantely, I don't think I can find a truck for much under $40K that will need the needs (has to haul a 9 1/2' self contained camper and pull a 17' boat). Oh, what to do....
 
Considering how much it would cost to get a new one verses rebuilding the old one, the old one wins in my book. $2 or 3,000 will go a loooooong way on a truck like that. $850 for brakes is steep. I would look around for more estimates, IMHO.
grin.gif
 
Cost to repair ='s how many payments on a $40k truck (plus down payment, increased insurance $'s)?
In with the old, out with the new. Just my opinion.
 
Here's something to think about:

C.A.F.E standards are going to be increasing 5% per year for the next 7 years. By 2016 <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-style: italic">trucks</span></span> will need to have a manufacturer fleet average of 30 mpg. The current C.A.F.E for trucks is 23.1. This has been increasing .3-.5 mpg per year since 2005. before that the truck C.A.F.E. standard hadn't changed for 10 years (20.7 mpg.).

In order to accomplish this, the big-engined, torque-monster trucks are going to become increasingly rare and <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-style: italic">increasingly</span></span> expensive. The manufacturers will not have the volume they used to to make a profit on these things and they will be forced to build less to keep under their C.A.F.E. limit. On top of that you'll have gas-guzzler taxes. Industry analysts expect that really good tow vehicles are going to be very limited in availability and so expensive that private ownership will be effectively eliminated. (<span style="font-style: italic">Of course by then [2016] gas is projected to cost $6-$7/gal., so the cost of the truck may be the least of the problems.</span>)

Hybrid technology will mitigate this somewhat, but not until current hybrid systems are improved in cooling capacity so that they don't damage the batteries while towing. Currently GM's hybrid trucks are rated about 2500 lbs less in towing capacity than conventional models using the same V8 engine, strictly out of concern for the hybrid system's cooling capacity.

<span style="text-decoration: underline">IF</span> you have enough need of a heavy tow vehicle to justify ownership, <span style="text-decoration: underline">NOW</span> is probably the time to buy one. If a lighter tow capacity is needed (say 5000 lbs or less), there likely isn't that much of a rush (but you will eventually be buying a hybrid). If you only need one a few times a year, it may soon be a better idea to rent one when needed. You can tow almost anything with a $99/day truck, without having to get 10 mpg every time you need a quart of milk from the Safeway.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]By 2016 trucks will need to have a manufacturer fleet average of 30 mpg. [/QUOTE]
BTW, I forgot to mention that this is the EPA figure for "light trucks", which includes SUVs and <span style="text-decoration: underline">all</span> pickups..
 
If you do buy new, are you also willing to turn it into a daily or near daily driver as well?? From what you said the current truck hasn't gotten regular use the last few years, and if you do the same thing to a new truck getting full value for your 40k+ investment may be problematic. If the body and frame and engine/transmission are good I'd personally repair the current one.
 
If you are going to tow, and the money is not a huge issue, and you will always have need for a heavy duty hauler, then new is the way to fly. They have some tremendous discounts down here, and other places besides Utah. I just dumped my old Tahoe because I was spending way more on repairs than it was worth.
 
Thanks for the inputs, and with all things considered, I found a brans spanking new Silverado 3500 LTZ, nicely decked out, crewcab and 8' bed, for a decent price. Got it for about $10K off sticker, and pick it up tomorrow.

Probably the main reason is that we're about 10 years from retirement, and if I didn't get a new one now, I'd be retired with a 30 year old Ford to haul the toys. Plus I need a vehicle that I can trust if I'm going to haul 3000# of camper and pull 3000# of boat up and down these Utah mountains.
 
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