Should I get a smaller truck?

[ArlyA]

We just got a tacoma with access cab (extra space behind seats) and love the darn thing. Now our dated F150 is going up FS. What can I say?

 

[piaffepony]

Thanks for backing me up guys! To the guy asking about width and length, the 4500 and 5500 front ends are max width of 80" and as wide as the duals. The width and the length has been an issue for most lifts.

I guess I was a little concerned with it being at the end of its warranty at 5 years but still low miles. While I love my Dodge, I haven't had the best luck with them in the past trucks I've owned. It seems like I get a recall notice at least once a year on it. While I am learning, I'm still a very novice diesel mechanic. After having to do the 1000 hour maintenance on my skid steer mostly by myself, working on the truck (with lots of computer crap) scares me.. the skid was bad enough.

I guess I was just wondering if there were any new advancements in the 3500s that would be worth trading for... I know you men tend to keep up with that kinda thing.

Since several of you mentioned Walmart parking lots, I will post a picture of my last trip to Walmart... For a brief moment, I felt like a girl again not having the biggest truck in the lot..

 

[scott_vt]

.. For a brief moment, I felt like a girl again not having the biggest truck in the View attachment 520335lot..

Good Afternoon piaffepony,
That was good ! Keep that truck !

 

[kcflhrc]

All I have to say besides keep the truck is your ex husband may have not been the wisest person on this earth. :thumbsup: Chicks and trucks, gotta love it. My wife would rather drive our 2016 GMC Crew Cab truck than her Mercedes SUV.

 

[3Ts]

I've got an F250 Super Duty and it's tires are about $300 so you're not going to save much there. Size wise, I don't fit in many parking spots either so I park out away from the building, take 2 spots and walk. I don't think you're going to be any better off by getting a smaller truck. I'm with the others that say to keep the truck and get a small car to run errands.

 

[RobertN]

I would keep the truck, and get a second commuter car or small pickup. For what you indicate you tow, that is the truck for the job.

The price on tires is not out of line. Last set of Goodyear Duratrac I bought on my Ram2500 are going for $300+ right now installed.

 

[dmccarty]

I have a F350 crew cab, SRW, and 8' bed. It can be a bit of a pain to park in the city but in most parking lots I park way out to have turning room so it is not too bad too often. However, at work, I back the truck into a space and if I had duellies, I suspect driving out of the parking spot might be a problem from time to time. With an SRW I am ok.

My Load Range E tires are running around $250-300 each.

Since you need a big truck, I think you are stuck with a big truck and you just have to deal with the big truck downsides.

In the past, TBNers have complained about the cost of a full size truck, especially when fuel prices were really high. I did the math back then and the math said it was cheaper to drive my truck rather than keep it and buy a more fuel efficient vehicle.

My truck is 16 years old, has 230,000ish miles, and things are starting to wear out. Still cheaper than a new truck especially with these to the moon new truck prices. I need to get an alignment and have the same problem in finding a place as you. Given the age of my truck, I have been wondering about a new vehicle. Having a truck is just sooooo danged useful and I really do not want to be without one but the prices of trucks is outrageous. Looking at a small SUV as a possible replacement but the price is still high, the MPG is the same or worse than my truck, and it is an SUV that can't haul anything. What to do? :confused3: Tis a PITA and I will keep the F350 for as long as I can.

Later,
Dan

 

[piaffepony]

All I have to say besides keep the truck is your ex husband may have not been the wisest person on this earth. :thumbsup: Chicks and trucks, gotta love it. My wife would rather drive our 2016 GMC Crew Cab truck than her Mercedes SUV.

View attachment 520341

Yeah my ex got the Jetta...among other things.

You know most guys think it would be sooo awesome to have a woman that plays with big boy toys until they realize they have to do their own laundry and make their own **** sammiches because I'm sure as **** no Betty Crocker. Not to mention, the epic butthurt when the boyfriend tried to tell me the fuel pump on the skid was the in-line filter and I proved him wrong. BOOOYA! It was like I crossed a line... oops.

In all honestly though, after my divorce, I was forced to learn how to do everything he did and he did A LOT. Yeah I ran the business, did the horses and could operate all the equipment but he built and maintained everything. I had to buy my own tools and have been teaching myself how to fix fences, plumbing, electrical, welding.. how to fix the welder..tires, tractors, skid steers, chainsaws, mowers.. and now trucks. It's overwhelming! If I would've learned how to do more sooner... maybe he wouldn't have gone crazy. I know if I didn't hear his voice in the back of my head saying "You could never do it without me" egging my on.. I would've given up by now.

With that being said, be careful what you wish for! I now drive my boyfriend, dad, brother, ace hardware employees and new Holland mechanics crazy with questions because with all the tools at my disposal, my creative and ambitious side is running wild. It's the main reason I stalk this forum.. because you guys invent some coool stuff. Ya'll are my kind of people and the answer to my prayers!

****sorry for the long winded posts. I'm sitting in the dealership for forever waiting on them to do my alignment.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I'd be more inclined to get another vehicle that doesn't suck to drive and keep that truck.

Always cheaper to keep an old rig running.

 

[Gary Fowler]

It has been over 40 years since I had only one vehicle. I have almost always had one pickup and one car or SUV except for a few years when I had a company truck and had two cars.
An extra vehicle whether it be another small truck or a car/SUV is best so that when one needs service, you still have something to drive.
If you can get financing (I know how tough it is after a divorce), I would actually go for a NEW small car or SUV with no frills so that it would be under $20K. A lease return might be a good value also, I have no experience with pricing on them though.
Trucks are at an all time high right now, so for basic transport, go with a cheap no frills car. I know you can get some of those for just a tad over $10K, at least they are advertised as such.