FF250 gets donated, need 1/2 ton replacement

[Blackplague]

Check the hours on the trucks that you look at. With key in the off position, hold trip odometer reset button until engine hours are displayed. Divide total miles by total hours to find the average speed over the life of the vehicle. I would stay away from any vehicle with an average speed under 30 MPH. These vehicles usually have extra wear and tear from being idled excessively and/or driven in city traffic.

Thats only on some 01 and up trucks..
Mostly average moving speed is 43...
30 is getting down there.. Thats the average for on the road trucks.. 35+ Could be a intown truck, my moving average is 47 and im nearly 90% highway.

 

[JakeBrake]

I won't advise you as to what truck you should buy, but I recently donated a pickup and a car to Kidney Kars. I will probably do it again the next time I need to get rid of a vehicle.

I drive my vehicles until the wheels fall off. I don't want the hassle of trading or selling or giving an unreliable vehicle to an individual.

The vehicles I donated were driveable, but Kidney Kars insisted on sending a tow truck to my home and hauling them away.

I believe the tax rule now is that you have to use the actual price the vehicle brought at auction, rather than the Blue Book value, for your tax deduction.

 

[_RaT_]

Thanks and I agree about running the vehicle into the ground. Out here our vehicles don't rust so it takes a long time to run them into the ground. I am now getting nickel and dime'd to death.

I won't advise you as to what truck you should buy, but I recently donated a pickup and a car to Kidney Kars. I will probably do it again the next time I need to get rid of a vehicle.

I drive my vehicles until the wheels fall off. I don't want the hassle of trading or selling or giving an unreliable vehicle to an individual.

The vehicles I donated were driveable, but Kidney Kars insisted on sending a tow truck to my home and hauling them away.

I believe the tax rule now is that you have to use the actual price the vehicle brought at auction, rather than the Blue Book value, for your tax deduction.

 

[schmism]

I
I was thinking of a Toyota Tacoma but after doing the Craigslist thing, the used car lot thing etc, they are just overpriced.

They just hold there value much better than the overpriced American full size trucks that depreciate 100% quicker.

there i fixed it for ya :thumbsup:

 

[om21braz]

In full size, GM is going to get as good of fuel mileage as any. If you're going to drive it into the ground and not tow, don't fret engine choice. If you ever plan to sell - get the 5.3, that's what most everyone wants.

 

[Diamondpilot]

The 5.3 is a little gutless but is know as a good engine that can go 175,000 mile no problem. I know a couple guys with high mileage ones that start to have issues at that point. No real tranny issues. Steering wheel shaft issues have been present on GM trucks for about a 10 year period. Its covered if under warranty The only other issue I see with them is they seem to have the cheapest interior of all the manufactures but thats about it.

I would look at the F-150 with a 5.4. I have owned 6 personally and my family another 8 or so with no major issues. I have also had GM, Dodge, and Nissan trucks in the last 10 years so I have a fair comparison and I feel the F-150 is by far the best TOTAL package.

Chris

 

[zene55]

I choose my F-150 on a couple of items.
1.) It got 1 mpg better than the chevy
2.) It has rear disc brakes and the chevy had drum
3.) Sync system
4.) Wife liked it better

 

[Blackplague]

I choose my F-150 on a couple of items.
1.) It got 1 mpg better than the chevy
2.) It has rear disc brakes and the chevy had drum
3.) Sync system
4.) Wife liked it better

According to all epa mpgs. The chevy beat the f150 5.4 and 4.6 by at least 2-3 mpg.. The f150s ive had got 14-16.5. Again 4.6 got worse than 5.4 but the 5.4 blew spark plugs out of the head for fun..
( ford has problem with this in the 5.4 and 6.8 engines due to only 4 threads in the hole.)
Btw, All 1998.5 up gm trucks have rear disk brakes...

 

[crashz]

I've got an 04 GMC 1/2 ton with the 5.3 and 3.73 gears. 147K miles and realitively trouble free. Just replaced the alternator last week with the higher amperage unit (155 amp). I have replaced three front wheel bearing, replaced the transfer case due to over torquing the drain plug and cracking the case (obviously my fault), the steering shaft bump (not fixed, just live with it), and emergency brake work. Brakes are a common maintenance issue, but not any worse than my previous Fords. I try to keep up with maintenance and frequent fluid changes.

Others have given good advise. MPG is usually between 16 and 20 mpg, based upon driving conditions, weather, speed, etc.

Build quality is better than previous generations and from experince with my fathers new 2011 HD, I personally feel that these trucks are builts better than the new ones. Generally I have driven my truck easily, but it has worked hard, towing heavy and plowing snow.

I plan on driving mine daily until 200K and then retiring it to a plow/farm truck. Its been a great truck and I don't plan on letting it go.

 

[zene55]

According to all epa mpgs. The chevy beat the f150 5.4 and 4.6 by at least 2-3 mpg.. The f150s ive had got 14-16.5. Again 4.6 got worse than 5.4 but the 5.4 blew spark plugs out of the head for fun..
( ford has problem with this in the 5.4 and 6.8 engines due to only 4 threads in the hole.)
Btw, All 1998.5 up gm trucks have rear disk brakes...

My research found the mpg were not that far apart. I test drove both trucks over a few days and found the f-150 got 1 mpg better.

You can look at the chevy web site and rear drums is still standard on the silverado

I put 160k plus miles on a 5.4 with no problems.

Daytime Running Lamps Standard Standard
Traction Control System Standard Standard
StabiliTrak Electronic Stability Control System Standard Standard
Front Disc/Rear Drum Brakes Standard Standard
4- Wheel ABS Standard Standard