A truck can last decades, long after the monthly payment. Buying a used truck means payments for less years. Customize it and make it part of the family. My 1970 Chevy C10 is mechanically sound; it just needs some new paint and a little sheet metal. An average truck passes through many owners. Sometimes they are passed down for generations. You can build your collection faster with used trucks.
2016 GMC Sierra HD and 2002 Chevrolet Silverado HD
As with everything, knowledge or lack of knowledge can influence your truck purchase. One thing a lot of folks don’t understand is the Consumer Protection Act, which gives you three days to think over the new mortgage on your house, or a loan on the new Kirby vacuum that was just demonstrated on your carpet. If you leave your home and go to a dealership, you don’t have three days to change your mind on the purchase contract. The law was designed to keep consumers from being pressured on important loans or being talked into buying something by the traveling salesman coming to your home. But leave the house and you’re committed when you sign on the dotted line.
FIRST YEAR MODEL
TRUCK BLUES
The year 2003 has turned out to be a dramatic example of “first year blues.” The Ford 6.0L Power Stroke trucks I drove for two years were great, and I thought ’03 would be a great year for Ford. But that’s the underlying risk of the first year of dramatic change. Ford Super Duties for 2003 had a new diesel engine. Engineers and developers created a new engine, and then the corporation accountants (bean counters) got hold of it and slashed part of the component of the engine system to save money. I’ve driven and pulled with ones that are great and ones with problems. When Sturman Industries designed the G2 injector for the 6.0L Power Stroke and the International VT365, it was great. It had a pre-shot (pilot injection), two compression shots, and post shot. And then the accountants started deleting components to lower the cost. I’ve interviewed Blue Diamond engineers (Ford and International) who made the Ford F650 and F750 Mexico and International manufactured 6.0L Power Stroke. They knew the problems were coming with the 6.0L. The engine was well-made, but problems occurred with EGR coolers, head gaskets, injectors, the control module, and the list goes on. This relates to first year blues on new models with several new components.
On the other hand, Dodge in ’03 changed the diesel, transmission, frame, axles, transfer case, suspension, steering, etc. That many changes created a risk of the first year blues, but they came out a champion with few problems. The year 2003 was surprising. This is back when Daimler owned Dodge. Hemi was reintroduced in the Dodge 1500 and their trucks did well. So the first year blues didn’t apply to the Dodge trucks in 2003.
More recent first year trucks include: the 2015 Ford F150, 2017 Ford Super Duty, 2017 Honda Ridgeline, 2016 Titan XD, 2016 Toyota Tacoma, and 2015 Colorado and Canyon. Do your research.
I know you’ve heard it before, but we all give into our emotions. The new model looks so cool, you just have to have it! I’ve seen, bought, and sold first year models. As hard as the manufacturers try to get the bugs out, trucks are very complicated products. It sometimes takes thousands of vehicles in use to find the weak links. Sure, they give recalls when most things are discovered, but how many trips to the shop do you have time for? The press releases and reviews you see before and at the introduction of a new truck are usually from the manufacturers, and do you think they are objective? You’re the one stuck with the payments and downtime, don’t be the guinea pig, too. GM’s first year Duramax diesel had problems, but 2002 was much better. So on a used truck, do your research, Google “first year” for the truck you’re looking at, and check the truck forums to see what owners are saying about their first year model trucks.
GAS VS. DIESEL
I like new diesels; used diesels can mean a hefty repair bill. If you are a mechanic, buy anything you want. But for instance, injectors on a GM Duramax can cost thousands after the warranty runs out. Usually after 130,000 miles, injectors can go. Diesel transmissions can be an unbelievable expense. New diesel trucks generally have a five year 100,000 mile drivetrain warranty. Gas trucks may only have a three year 36,000 mile warranty. Diesel mechanics charge more per hour. Oil changes cost more. We cover the rest of the story in Chapter 7.
If you are looking at a gas engine, there are very little differences in price between half-tons and HD three-quarter tons, but you get more choices with transmissions and axle ratio’s in HD three-quarter ton trucks. HD three-quarter ton trucks have a full floating axle, with twice as many bearings in the rear axle, and are designed to be loaded all the time with heavier springs, frames, shocks, tire ratings, etc. Even the way they ride has changed dramatically in the last five years. In the old days, a three-quarter ton truck rode like a basketball and needed some weight in the bed to ride better.
With used trucks, be careful with the light-duty three-quarter tons, because there are half-tons with more wheel bolts, and it’s not easy to tell them apart. If you want a diesel, then there are more factors to consider. Trucks can be confusing, and most people end up asking their truck salesperson important questions. Often the salesperson does not know the answers because they just started selling yesterday or last week. So they just make something up and “TO” (turn you over to a manager who will smoothly tell you anything you want to hear).
Very few managers in the auto business know anything about trucks; they just know how to smile and manipulate you with, “What can I do to earn your business today?” and, “Sure that truck will pull your trailer, my brother-in-law pulls his with that exact truck.”
I suggest you get an owner’s manual after you buy your used truck to know what the recommended service schedules are. Helm is a good place to order your manual. It’s where dealers order theirs.
Truck Brands
When it comes to recommending the best truck, everyone has their opinion and few of us humans let facts get in our way. When I was growing up, my dad had a model 92 Massey combine and my uncle had a John Deere model 95. And of course we thought the Massey had to be the best combine around. Then a funny thing happened. I ended up helping my uncle harvest wheat one summer. I couldn’t believe how easy the John Deere was to grease and work on. Everything you worked on was on the outside where you could get to it. The Massey had everything buried on the inside. Since you always have to work on combines, I was impressed. But you know, I never could convince my dad to buy a John Deere! That’s how trucks are. If your grandpa has a Dodge truck, your dad, your brother and your cousins all have Dodge trucks, not much chance you’ll buy a Ford. This is why Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan have so much trouble capturing market share. Brand loyalty is a powerful force. We become brand-blind.
Truck brands keep improving, and if you get the latest model (after their first year), you will like it much better than your old model. Do yourself a favor: when you need a truck, look at all the brands. I did an article for Turbo Diesel Register magazine. They are the big Dodge/Ram diesel magazine. My assignment was to write an article on “why you don’t want to buy a Dodge Diesel truck.” The editor wanted readers to look at options and not be brand-blind.
I like competition in diesel trucks and it’s closer than it has ever been, with GM and Ford improving their diesels and Dodge improving its body and transmission. So all three are very close; actually, the closest these brands have ever been. Ram Heavy-duty just passed GM in sales numbers on diesels after GM passed Ram a few years ago with the Duramax. But Ford, which has out-sold Dodge and GM diesels combined for over a decade, is still #1 in sales by a wide margin. This means you find more used Ford trucks. If you think you need the best truck every other year, get a two year lease and keep switching brands.
We cover more on this in Chapter 7, but it’s important when deciding between used and new trucks. I’ve updated the time it takes to pay for a diesel engine option with fuel savings from 80,000 miles to 150,000 miles. Calculate how long it takes to pay for the extra $8,000 to $11,000 for the diesel option with fuel savings. It’s easy to get addicted to the