I'm in the market for a used truck. Budget up to 30k. It would be kind of an all purpose truck. I only drive to work about 4 times a month, so it's not a daily commuter. It would be used to tow and normal utility use, out and about.
I'm not a fan of Dodge, and from my initial research it seems Chevrolet is a sliiight step up from GMC. So I'd say Ford or Chev.
I just haven't followed the truck market in well, ever. It seems like it has normalized a bit post covid.
My number 1 desire is reliability. I don't put a ton of value in features, I just want it to do what a truck is supposed to do.
Is buying a F150 for 25k with 175000km on it a terrible idea? Any sort of "stay away from this" tips are greatly appreciated
I'm coming from Toyota's so I'm used to reliability way into the 300km
Chev and GMC are the same, just a different badge and slightly different styling cues. If choosing between them, just go for whichever you think looks nicer
What engine does that F-150 have? What year?
If you love Toyota's, maybe go for a Tundra, they're great
Alright, to add on a bit more. And speaking strictly about full size, gas trucks;
You already covered the most important one, avoid Dodge/Ram. Unless you're going back to the '94 to '03, those were solid. '06 and newer, avoid.
GM:
-Pre '06 models are fantastic.
-'16 and newer is solid
-Everything in between ranges from meh to terrible. First few years of the active fuel management system had the same problems as the Dodge's
Ford:
-1997 to 2003, ugly but solid.
-2004 to '2010, AVOID! Terrible engines
-2011 to 2014.... meh. First few years of the EcoBoost were problematic. Transmission issues overall
-2015 and newer, solid
Nissan:
-'03 to '15 Titan was bad
-'16 and newer are fine
Toyota:
-Avoid early to mid 2000 Tundras, had some rust issues. Everything else is good
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I’ve had a few buddies have some issues with rust in the bodies of GM/Chevs, so do some checks around the rear wheel wells and under the doors. I have a 2006 GMC that has incredible rust for a vehicle that age.
I believe the 3.5L F150s start to depreciate after 125K kms due to the twin turbo set ups. Personally, I love the V8 engine in the F150s, but they are becoming very difficult to find.
As folks above mentioned, avoid Dodge. I used to do some fleet analysis for a company with very deep pockets. They had one rule for what their field techs could choose as a company vehicle; absolutely no Dodge trucks. We literally had every other brand and model in the fleet…haha.
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I could really go on here having worked in both sales (recently) and service (currently). You will quickly find that your $30k is not going to go as far as you hope. The market has slacked off but used truck prices are still quite high. Realistically if you’re in the market for a Crew Cab you’re . looking at something 7 years old in the 200,000km range.
As mentioned, avoid the Rams for many reasons… Also avoid any trucks with wheel flares, cheapest and easiest way to hide rust (which commonly starts around the wheel wells. Also avoid and Chevy/ GMC with an 8 spd transmission, these were in the higher end trims in ‘17- ‘18 and fairly common in the 2019’s and 20’s, garbage transmission. I’m a fan of the Ford 5.0 and the 5.3L from General Motors.
Some other things to keep in mind, do you need a crew cab (4 full doors). As Double cabs (GM), Super Cabs (Ford) and Quad cabs (Ram) are all less expensive, yet often less desirable as they have smaller second row space. The ford Crew cabs have by far the most cab space if that is important to you.
My ideal truck would be a 2016- 2018 GMC/ Chevy with the 5.3L and 6 spd transmission, sub 100000km. These trucks have a good amount of newer technology and are still fairly simple.
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Last edited by Derek Sutton; 06-05-2024 at 09:49 PM.
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I could really go on here having worked in both sales (recently) and service (currently). You will quickly find that your $30k is not going to go as far as you hope. The market has slacked off but used truck prices are still quite high. Realistically if you’re in the market for a Crew Cab you’re . looking at something 7 years old in the 200,000km range.
As mentioned, avoid the Rams for many reasons… Also avoid any trucks with wheel flares, cheapest and easiest way to hide rust (which commonly starts around the wheel wells. Also avoid and Chevy/ GMC with an 8 spd transmission, these were in the higher end trims in ‘17- ‘18 and fairly common in the 2019’s and 20’s, garbage transmission. I’m a fan of the Ford 5.0 and the 5.3L from General Motors.
Some other things to keep in mind, do you need a crew cab (4 full doors). As Double cabs (GM), Super Cabs (Ford) and Quad cabs (Ram) are all less expensive, yet often less desirable as they have smaller second row space. The ford Crew cabs have by far the most cab space if that is important to you.
My ideal truck would be a 2016- 2018 GMC/ Chevy with the 5.3L and 6 spd transmission, sub 100000km. These trucks have a good amount of newer technology and are still fairly simple.
I'm reading quite a bit about transmission issues in that 2017-2018 era or Chev, are those mainly with the 8speed transmissions? Or is it both?
How much are you towing? Make sure you get a truck that can handle the loads you'll be towing.
We borrowed the in-law's truck and 5th wheel RV a couple times per year for several years. When it came time for them to stop camping we bought it off of them. Within a year I had to upgrade the truck because it was a RAM1500 that could tow a max of 8800 lbs but the 5th wheel's max weight was 9500 lbs. We were told "don't fill it full and drive slow" but it's hard not to fill it full when you are a family of 5. I had to repair a few things that are related to towing too much weight. My mechanic made bank on me for the 1st year I had it.
I bought an F250 because it seems that 5 out of 4 RAM trucks are rusted out (yes I know my fractions). Overkill for daily driving but now that my two oldest have their licenses I'm paying insurance on 4 vehicles and it's too convenient for them to drive daily so I'm driving a 3/4 tonne truck daily. SUPER costly on gas!
Gas vs Diesel. You have to fill up more with gas but if repairs are needed on a diesel it feels like you're buying 1/4 of the truck again! So pick your poison.
Maybe someone with more knowledge on this can speak to it better than me, but if you’re going with a 2015 or newer F150 I’d stay away from any of the ecoboost engines, especially with higher mileage. They had issues with their timing chains and 3 guys I work with all had to replace them and the repair was in the thousands.
Stick with the 5.0L
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oilboimcdavid
Eakins wasn't a bad coach, the team just had 2 bad years, they should've been more patient.
Maybe someone with more knowledge on this can speak to it better than me, but if you’re going with a 2015 or newer F150 I’d stay away from any of the ecoboost engines, especially with higher mileage. They had issues with their timing chains and 3 guys I work with all had to replace them and the repair was in the thousands.
Stick with the 5.0L
I think the 3.5s have had issues, but not the 2.7s.
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It doesn't tow well but it doesn't feel less powerful just driving normally. Great engine, I'm surprised it's not more popular given how few people actually do any hauling
It's not wimpy at all. You have to drive it to believe it, but it's absolutely an awesome engine.
That’s actually way better than I would have guessed. I’m in a f150 5.0L myself and it’s been a great truck for me. Only issue I had was a seized outboard bearing in my front passenger axle. $800 fix for an 8 year old truck aside from regular maintenance. It’s been the best and most reliable vehicle I’ve ever owned.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oilboimcdavid
Eakins wasn't a bad coach, the team just had 2 bad years, they should've been more patient.
I have a 2021 F-150 for sale with transferrable 0.99% financing right now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by btimbit
Alright, to add on a bit more. And speaking strictly about full size, gas trucks;
You already covered the most important one, avoid Dodge/Ram. Unless you're going back to the '94 to '03, those were solid. '06 and newer, avoid.
GM:
-Pre '06 models are fantastic.
-'16 and newer is solid
-Everything in between ranges from meh to terrible. First few years of the active fuel management system had the same problems as the Dodge's
Ford:
-1997 to 2003, ugly but solid.
-2004 to '2010, AVOID! Terrible engines
-2011 to 2014.... meh. First few years of the EcoBoost were problematic. Transmission issues overall
-2015 and newer, solid
Nissan:
-'03 to '15 Titan was bad
-'16 and newer are fine
Toyota:
-Avoid early to mid 2000 Tundras, had some rust issues. Everything else is good
It doesn't tow well but it doesn't feel less powerful just driving normally. Great engine, I'm surprised it's not more popular given how few people actually do any hauling
I mean, I guess it depends on your trailer.
I towed a 5000 lbs 18' RV with mine for five years and I sht you not, it's like it wasn't even there. Zero struggle ever. Did over 12,000 kms with it...primarily through the mountains.
That’s actually way better than I would have guessed. I’m in a f150 5.0L myself and it’s been a great truck for me. Only issue I had was a seized outboard bearing in my front passenger axle. $800 fix for an 8 year old truck aside from regular maintenance. It’s been the best and most reliable vehicle I’ve ever owned.
Yeah, it is pretty good. Depends on what you're towing, but at that less than 6,000 pound mark, it's really perfect.
I have 125,000 kms on my 2016 2.7 ecoboost right now. I have always leased for my business, but when 2020 rolled around it still felt like my truck was new and prices went crazy, so there was no point in getting a newer truck. I bought out the lease.
Now I'm thinking I'll just wait until the next generation of F-150 before upgrading the truck as this one continues to be trouble free for me (until now of course since I just jinxed it).
Not one single rattle, no problems. This, too, is the best vehicle I've ever owned. Just sold my Mercedes last year with fewer kms on it and it had rattles galore and way more problems.
Honestly, F-150s are almost too good for Ford hah. Makes it hard to get a new one when your current one is great 8 years on and over 100,000 kms on the clock.
Tell me about the used truck market
