3/4 ton vs. 1 ton

[Complete Turf Care]

Wow! Lots of great answers!! This is the kind of discussion I was looking for. Thanks for all replies.

I'll try to answer a few questions and some of my observations.

As for the $9000 difference, I was thinking I would offer $8000. The truck has about half the miles mine has, and that has some value. And it is a heavier duty truck which has some value. And, I've priced CM beds in the past, and they are about $6000, so that adds some value.

The CARFAX report says this truck was owned by a rental company in Texas. The Dodge dealer that has it now bought it at auction about 2 months ago.

The salesman said it is a 'Certified Used Vehicle'. Not sure what that means but it sounds good. It's also very rare to find this type of truck with only 37k miles.

Here are a few pics.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Here are a couple pics of what I haul sometimes. This is my old trailer. My new trailer is similar but 4' longer. I just feel that a dually would be better for hauling this kind of load.

 

[rustyshakelford]

I personally would hold off. I don't love the truck (granted I don't have a dog in the fight) but your paying a premium for a base truck. The cm bed wouldn't be anywhere near 6k. It's not skirted and is their base bed with bolt on boxes. A higher end bed would have the trough for the gn, skirted beds and built in boxes along with LED lights. The truck was owned by a rental company so I'm sure it's been used and abused. It had a fire extinguisher on the bed so I'd bet it had commercial registration and pulled heavy.

Keep shopping and find a nice dually with a higher end bed. If your going to spend the money might as well get something that's loaded. I haven't priced trucks lately but I'd put the C&C at about 30-32k.

Good luck

Brett

 

[rustyshakelford]

You have a really nice setup. Rusty

Thanks. It's taken me a bunch of trucks to finally find one I love.

Brett

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I personally would hold off. I don't love the truck (granted I don't have a dog in the fight) but your paying a premium for a base truck. The cm bed wouldn't be anywhere near 6k. It's not skirted and is their base bed with bolt on boxes. A higher end bed would have the trough for the gn, skirted beds and built in boxes along with LED lights. The truck was owned by a rental company so I'm sure it's been used and abused. It had a fire extinguisher on the bed so I'd bet it had commercial registration and pulled heavy.

Keep shopping and find a nice dually with a higher end bed. If your going to spend the money might as well get something that's loaded. I haven't priced trucks lately but I'd put the C&C at about 30-32k.

Good luck

Brett

You are right about the CM bed. It's hard to find a price on the internet, but it looks like they are about $3000 new (plus installation) for the RD model. I'm going to check with my insurance agent tomorrow.

 

[scaredychicken]

history as a rental vehicle raises my eyebrows. that is a game-changer. here in BC rentals (commercial) are categorized the same as TAXIs and EMERGENCY Vehicles. This reflects poorly when you later try and insure a vehicle with that history - whether or not it was maintained. the value is therefore lost.

with that new info you provided, I would walk away from that one, and keep looking...

that, or REALLY lowball an offer.

how long has it been at the dealership ? The dealership bought it at an AUCTION 2 months ago - that is another reason to lowball it (normally such a vehicle would have been a great trade-in on a better vehicle.

"too good to be true" rings in my ears...

 

[truckdiagnostics]

I think the addition of the DPF fluid is going to add maintenance costs. In fact i know it is, so I don't see where you will be gaining. Personally, if your looking for additional rear axle weight I would look at medium duty cab chassis truck and loose the pick up cab. Issue there would be the four door cab. If you need the crew on the job site pick up style cab makes sense if not.... Two door cab chassis slap a fifth wheel on it then run a cost effective 4 door pick up. just a thought.:2cents:

 

[rustyshakelford]

I think the addition of the DPF fluid is going to add maintenance costs. In fact i know it is, so I don't see where you will be gaining. Personally, if your looking for additional rear axle weight I would look at medium duty cab chassis truck and loose the pick up cab. Issue there would be the four door cab. If you need the crew on the job site pick up style cab makes sense if not.... Two door cab chassis slap a fifth wheel on it then run a cost effective 4 door pick up. just a thought.:2cents:

After having a def equipped truck I'll say the cost is negligible. You only have to add it every couple thousand miles. It's not a big deal. Mainly people with trucks that have it make it more than it is. Kinda like adding washer fluid.

I wouldn't recommend a mdt truck for your needs. Your on the right track upgrading to a dually...just hopefully not this one

Brett

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Thanks again for all the input. This one just caught my eye since it has been at the dealer for a couple weeks and I've been by there a few times.

And, it is really close to what I have been considering. Crew cab, 4 wheel drive, diesel, auto transmission, white color, power windows and locks, etc. And the biggest thing that I like about it is the LOW miles for a truck this age.

Even though it was in a rental, the low miles still means that it wasn't used much. Most other trucks equipped like this and this age have well over 100k miles on them.

I looked at the KBB trade in value of my current truck and it's about $25,000. Retail value is about $28,000. KBB doesn't give values of the 3500's but looking at truck selling web sites, the price they have on of about $33,000 is within the range of similar trucks for sale on the web.

Still not sure what I'm going to do. And I do appreciate all the feedback.

The dealer now has it listed with pics on their website. Used 2012 Ram 3500 SLT For Sale | Lafayette LA

 

[newbury]

<snip>
The CARFAX report says this truck was owned by a rental company in Texas. The Dodge dealer that has it now bought it at auction about 2 months ago.

The salesman said it is a 'Certified Used Vehicle'. Not sure what that means but it sounds good. It's also very rare to find this type of truck with only 37k miles.
<snip>

37K miles is sort of low for a rental. But being a DIESEL rental I always would wonder how much gasoline had been put thru it. "Certified used" could mean that the salesman guarantees it's not new.

history as a rental vehicle raises my eyebrows. that is a game-changer. here in BC rentals (commercial) are categorized the same as TAXIs and EMERGENCY Vehicles. This reflects poorly when you later try and insure a vehicle with that history - whether or not it was maintained. the value is therefore lost.

with that new info you provided, I would walk away from that one, and keep looking...

that, or REALLY lowball an offer.

how long has it been at the dealership ? The dealership bought it at an AUCTION 2 months ago - that is another reason to lowball it (normally such a vehicle would have been a great trade-in on a better vehicle.

"too good to be true" rings in my ears...

I'd have to agree with that, rental, bought at auction, no telling what happened to it. Good luck.

 

[dodge man]

It was owned by a rental company that rented the truck out or it was owned by a rental company that used it to tow rental machines to customers? Either way I wouldn't be turned off to the truck. Just make sure you know what to look for in terms of problem areas. I know some of the problems with the older Cummins but I'm not really up to date on the newer 6.7 stuff. I'm with you, it seems any Cummins thats more than a year old has 100,000 mile on it.

Certified pre owned? I'd think that would mean some kind of warranty.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Just got back from my insurance agent and the insurance will cost $119.00 more per year. So, that's not an issue.

And I got a call from the salesman. He gave the the 'go ahead' to start mowing his lawn, so now he is a customer of mine. Not that that makes any difference.

I'll probably go take another look at it tomorrow and see how much I can get them down on the deal again.

 

[rustyshakelford]

Be sure to drive it a bunch and make sure the loss of power is ok with you. My 12 has 4.10 gears and whatever your current truck has for power. It pulled great. Just don't be suprised if you think the dually is a dog

Brett

 

[scaredychicken]

And I got a call from the salesman. He gave the the 'go ahead' to start mowing his lawn, so now he is a customer of mine. Not that that makes any difference.

-ugh, that muddies the water a bit in my mind. wait till the ink is dry before the grass is cut. I really hope this all works out for you, looks like a nice truck though. you know what your needs are better than the rest of us. blessings.

 

[aczlan]

And, it is really close to what I have been considering. Crew cab, 4 wheel drive, diesel, auto transmission, white color, power windows and locks, etc. And the biggest thing that I like about it is the LOW miles for a truck this age.

Even though it was in a rental, the low miles still means that it wasn't used much. Most other trucks equipped like this and this age have well over 100k miles on them.

Check the engine hours on the new truck and divide them by the mileage to compare them to your current truck and you can figure out its lifetime average speed (miles/hours)
That will give you how an idea much time the truck has spent sitting (in traffic, or idling) vs running down the road.

Aaron Z

 

[Diamondpilot]

Check the engine hours on the new truck and divide them by the mileage to compare them to your current truck and you can figure out its lifetime average speed (miles/hours)
That will give you how an idea much time the truck has spent sitting (in traffic, or idling) vs running down the road.

Aaron Z

Good point. Our 3 vehicles and every other one I have owned has averaged 35 to 40 mph.

Chris

 

[aczlan]

Good point. Our 3 vehicles and every other one I have owned has averaged 35 to 40 mph.

Our Yukon is somewhere between 33 and 34 MPH (~122k miles, ~3600 hours last time I remember looking).
Much below 30 and I would be leery of it having spent all day sitting idling vs working.
See Measuring Hours vs. Miles in Medium-Duty Truck Performance - Chatty Chassis - Work Truck for a little more on the subject.

Aaron Z

 

[BrinkME]

looks like they gave the flatbed a rattle can touch up (overspray on the DOT tape on the rub rails) but that doesn't really raise any concerns in my book. The paint was probably just chipped/scuffed from chaining/strapping a load to the bed . . . as to be expected.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Check the engine hours on the new truck and divide them by the mileage to compare them to your current truck and you can figure out its lifetime average speed (miles/hours)
That will give you how an idea much time the truck has spent sitting (in traffic, or idling) vs running down the road.

Aaron Z

Good idea. I'll check it if I get a chance to go look at it again. I did check it on my current truck, and it's at 35.33 mph.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I haven't had a chance to go look at it again, but I did see it still out front at the dealer yesterday.

I took some time to read the Dodge Cummins forum and I'm getting a little hesitant about buying a Cab/chassis truck.

I had never heard of them being 'detuned' until some of you guys mentioned it here. It seems to be a big issue. And I know that my brother (a John Deere Mechanic) drives a 2012 C&C 3500 as his work truck, and he complained that he had trouble crossing the Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge with it even though he never pulls a load with it.

And my truck (2012 Dodge 2500) has no problem climbing the bridge with a fully loaded trailer in tow.

I still want to go drive it, but just don't know when I'll get time. I wonder if the dealer would let me tow my trailer with it for a test drive?