1/2 ton or 3/4 ton?

[Diamondpilot]

For 10k or less your best bet is a high milage 6.0L 2500 GM gas truck. They go cheap and are pretty capable. Kinda match today's high capacity 1/2 tons.

Chris

 

[aczlan]

For 10k or less your best bet is a high milage 6.0L 2500 GM gas truck. They go cheap and are pretty capable. Kinda match today's high capacity 1/2 tons.

I'll get a Dodge before I get a GM :stirthepot:. The shop I use also goes to the auctions to get some decent trucks to resell, so I am having them keep an eye out.

Aaron Z

 

[JimRB]

Your 10K pricing is challenging where I live. Trucks down here are solid as can be at 10 years with no salt. I would probably want a 10 year old truck from Atlanta over a 5 year old truck from some salt belts. 2004 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 5.7L HEMI

 

[EMB5530]

Less than 10K!!!
Yea, thats what I was looking for too. Something 4x4 extended cab 3/4 ton and it is impossible unless you want something more worn out than good. So I still have the old '84 F-250 reg cab flat bed and the wife and I strap the carseat in the pass side and my wife has to deal w/ the shifter getting thrown around in front of her.:confused3:

 

[aczlan]

Your 10K pricing is challenging where I live. Trucks down here are solid as can be at 10 years with no salt. I would probably want a 10 year old truck from Atlanta over a 5 year old truck from some salt belts. 2004 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 5.7L HEMI

I agree, but thats what the budget is, so I have to work with that. I lived in ATL for a few years, so it is in my list. I also have a couple of friends in NC/SC who I would trust to 3rd base a truck for me. If either of them said that it was good, I wouldn't have a problem hopping on a plane with a 1 way ticket...

Aaron Z

 

[Diamondpilot]

I'll get a Dodge before I get a GM :stirthepot:. The shop I use also goes to the auctions to get some decent trucks to resell, so I am having them keep an eye out.

Aaron Z

Trust me, I hate GM more than anyone. But the gas 2500 trucks used around here are a good buy often going for 50% less than a same year/mileage 1/2 ton.

Chris

 

[ovrszd]

I bought my truck off Craigslist four years ago. It's a 2000 SuperDuty 7.3L Diesel Lariat extended cab shortbed. Bought from original owner at 9 years old with 100K miles and all service records. Very straight with new brakes and almost new tires with flip down gooseneck ball setup. Paid $12K. I'm still driving it 80K miles later and only put tires and brakes on it. Shop patiently. Go heavy duty. A gasser in that range can be bought significantly cheaper.

 

[jack707]

If it was me I would get a 25003/4 ton Dodge diesel 4x4 gas trucks are cheaper but they have to work hard at pulling and the diesel gives you more torque and HP.

 

[aczlan]

If it was me I would get a 25003/4 ton Dodge diesel 4x4 gas trucks are cheaper but they have to work hard at pulling and the diesel gives you more torque and HP.

Thats great and if we did much more towing I would go that route, but we MIGHT drive 5k miles per year of which 20-30 miles are pulling more than 3000# (those 20-30 miles are generally going less than 15MPH as we are pulling a loaded haywagon) and diesels don't generally like sitting around doing nothing, so unless we get a screaming deal, we will be getting a gas truck.

Aaron Z

 

[ovrszd]

If it was me I would get a 25003/4 ton Dodge diesel 4x4 gas trucks are cheaper but they have to work hard at pulling and the diesel gives you more torque and HP.

A friend of mine drove a DuraMax for 4 years, 100K miles. When he bought a new truck he went with the 6.0L( I believe) gasser. Last Summer he hauled his old Blazer back here to Missouri from Colorado where he lives. After he'd returned home with it, again pulling the trailer and Blazer, I was talking to him on the phone. Asked him how his trip was. Said good,,,,,, but I'm trading my truck for another Diesel. I asked why. He answered he got tired of listening to the gasser turn 4K rpms to do what the diesel would have done at 2K rpms.

If I was buying a used Dodge I'd go for an early '04 or older to stay away from the smog stuff on the Cummins. You can find them around here with 100K miles and very straight for $10K - $12K depending on how equipped.