Well... bet that title got your attention. I just thought I'd give my TBN community my decision process since there were so many of your posts gave information to me that assisted me in my decision. This is my pickup purchase path.
I have a gas F35O that is 20 years old, manual transmission which no longer does what I need.. I fear another breakdown, AC and heater don't work, it's been beat up as a ranch truck. It's time has come.
Everybody says that vehicle prices, new and used, are REALLY down at present. I can confirm that... read on.
I studied hard on a 08 Tundra (4x4, double cab, standard bed, 5.7L, 6 speed auto, cloth bucket seats, cold kit, power heated mirrors, tow package, carpets, skid plate, step assist, etc.) and fell in love with it because of its 401 ft lbs of torque and reported actual mileage of 19 or so on the road.
Six super reliable Toyota vehicles in the family over the years, 4 still in service (one my son rolled, the other my MIL took to 300,000 mi.), have won me brand loyalty. Towing capacity of 10,300 lbs bumper hitch and about 13,000 for a gooseneck was reported by many of you as realistic. There are even numerous reports of folks admittedly overloading the vehicle either in the bed or via trailer, and it behaving reasonably under those conditions. No current Tundra owner indicated they were unhappy with their vehicle, but rather the opposite.
Using the net, I found I became just as expert as a salesman at locating appropriately equipped vehicles. Sending emails to the internet salesmen actually worked superbly... my search ranged from Dallas thru Austin and down to Corpus Christi. These internet folks WILL deal over the net and phone... much more pleasant experience than taking time at the dealership, once you have kicked the tires and given a test drive.
I found a vehicle with the features I needed (above) and a minimum of add ons. MSRP was $32,500 - 5000 Toyota discount - 2000 business discount (need tax id, or business card and proof of being in business) - 2500 dealer discount = $23,000 + TTL. And, this was without further negotiations. So, REAL discounts are available at this moment in time.
So, that would get me into a sweet TUNDRA . Then I took a hard look at my actual NEEDS for a vehicle:
..tow a heavy gooseneck maybe 15 days a year
..5 round bale hay trailer ( 5 x 1500 = 7500 lbs + trailer)
..24 foot cattle trailer (max 12 cows x 1200 lbs = 14400 lbs + trailer)
..20 foot hydraulic dump trailer (20,000 capacity with dirt/rock)
..use bed of pickup to haul feed, equipment, supplies
..driver + one passenger at most for trailer hauls
I could load fewer cattle or less rock and the TUNDRA would handle it, but that means more trips and time and fuel.
My other transportation needs are fully met with other family vehicles: Camry station wagon (30+mpg), 4 Runner (18 mpg), Dodge grand caravan (14 mpg), so need for low mileage or carrying multiple people in comfort is met.
Many posts on TBN and elsewhere on the net about the reliability of diesels and current pricing led me to check out Craig's list. Good that I did. I found the following:
1997 Ford CC F350 XLT Dually 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel w/5speed std. trans, lots of power and COLD A/C. Shows 324xxx on the odo but does not show or run like it. I change the oil every 3500 miles and the previous owner did same. Pwr Windows and Door Locks, Pwr Lumbar, Tinted Windows, Recent New Windshield, New Tires, Cold Air Intake, Large Free-flowing Exhaust, Recent Front Pads, Rotors and Wheelbearings, New Shocks, Pioneer CD MP3 Player w/ Aux In for Ipod etc, Bed Liner, Gooseneck Hitch, New Aluminum Tool Box, New Aluminum Bed Rails and Tailgate Protector, Chrome Drop Bumper, Bug Deflector, Interior is in excellent condition, 90 Gallon Diesel Transfer Tank w/ Electric Pump. This truck is in excellent condition: $5000 cash.
AND, it was about 1 mile away! I drove it and had my mechanic look it over. This truck had been babied and in nearly perfect cosmetic shape. Absolutely no findable mechanical concerns. Huge numbers of you TBN folks claim that the Navistar 7.3 has extreme reliability... never having owned a diesel, I hope so, and you better be right... because:
I bought it
The final straw was the 90 gal diesel transfer tank.. which I actually need so I can easily obtain and transport off road diesel for my tractor. You knew that somehow this whole story had a tractor connection, didn't you
So, now, I can fuel my tractor, tow whenever I need to, few truck hauls will keep truck fuel costs down and at a buy in price I can live with.
Hope this ramble is useful to someone.... clearly, it is not intended to cause animated discussion of diesel vs gas, or 1/2 ton vs a real truck, but to explain my decision path... your path may differ
Anybody need a beat up 20 year old crew cab gasser
