Know anything about TRUCKS? (calling all greasemonkeys!)

[AlecBGreen]

Im looking into buying a truck for both business and personal use. I live on a small farm in West Virginia and I will be opening it for business within a year. My first move is to invest in a truck but Id like to get your opinions first.

Should I buy new or used? Im inclined to go used ($$$ is an issue) but nowadays the big auto dealers are giving major incentives to buy new.

Ford? Chevy? Dodge? GMC? Foreign? (yes, I know its hard to classify foreign and domestic autos these days...) My family owns a Ford F-250 and its turned out to be a pretty s****y truck.

Diesel or gas? I am leaning towards diesel for several reasons. Most importantly, I can generate my own fuel on the farm.

Advice, links, personal stories, you name it, ANY info you can give would be greatly appreciated. Thanks DU!

-Alec

p.s. also...could someone be a pal and post a poll for me? I want to see what DU'ers think is the best brand of truck. I would do it myself but Im not a donor (I love DU but its hard to donate when you live abroad and have no credit cards or bank accounts ;) )

[Kali]

1. *in Lurch's voice* Uhhhhoooo

Dodge - expensive POS, parts cost more, don't last any longer

Ford - fix or repair daily - its true. Not too bad on the parts but you ALWAYS have to buy a special freaking tool

Chevy- parts cheaper, always in stock - do break easier

I have no experience with diesel, but know it can be more difficult to find. Neighbors store their own in 500 gal tank. (Ranch)

I would look into a Japanese truck if I were able to.

I would be happy to do the poll if someone hasn't already done it.

[Kali]

2. did the poll

it's here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x4377501

[AlecBGreen]

4. gracias

:woohoo:

[GOPisEvil]

3. I say go with a Ford Power Stroke Diesel.

Might as well get a Dually, if you're going to be hauling heavy stuff. Ford diesels last forever.

[A HERETIC I AM]

5. Buy used - less than 2 years. That way the original owner has paid

the factory profit and the dealer margin and you are getting a truck closer to it's actual value. Plus, a 2 year old truck with less than 30,000 miles on it is basically still new if it has been looked after.

Buying from a private owner as opposed to a dealer has advantages and disadvantages. A private party can't offer a warranty but a dealer is going to mark it up higher.

[GrpCaptMandrake]

6. I'm confused by the avatar, but

Welcome To Wild, Wonderful, Brother.

Go diesel in a p/u truck not only for the mileage, but for the longeviry of the engine. Beyond that, she'll have the off-road torque you need for farm work (not to mention hooking up PTOs and the like).

For my money, you can't beat Dodge's Cummins turbo-diesel. It's the envy of the American power diesel community.

And finally, as the farm day comes to a close, maybe you might like to listen to a little shameless liberal political talk from inside the Mountain State. www.headonradio.com Click "On Air" between 7 and 10 at night and join the fray.

"Oh, the hills . . . the beautiful hills . . . how I love the West Virginia hills . . ."

[AlecBGreen]

7. yeah, the flag

I was born and raised in Winchester, VA. Its my Dad's hometown, my parents work there, me and my brother went to school there, our church is there, our friends are there. Basically Im a Virginian.

The other side of the story is that my grandfather bought a farm just across the border near Ridgeway, WV in Berkely County. When he died he left it to my father. I was raised there with my brother and so when I think of "home" I think of the farm. 160 acres of hills, creeks, fields and forests. It really is "almost heaven." When I go back to the states (Im living abroad right now) I will live/work in Winchester but Ill also get the farm started back in WV. They are only a 20-minute drive apart.

Thanks for the good advice. Im leaning towards a Dodge 1500 with an extended bed. Diesel of course ;) I think its small enough for praticality's sake but its tough enough to handle work around the farm. Would you agree?

[GrpCaptMandrake]

10. Most definitely

That truck's good for a half-million miles.

[Magrittes Pipe]

8. Get a new 2005 F-150.

Between Ford's Simple Plan pricing and the $5000 rebate on '05s, you can get a brand new F-150 XLT super cab in the neighborhood of $25-$27K. Hell, even the '06s have a $3500 rebate.

If you need more towing/hauling capacity than the F-150 will get you, and if your heart is set on diesel, the F-250 Super Duty with the Power Stroke diesel engine is gold. We're not having a lot of problems with models from the last couple years, they look great, and they'll run forever.








Disclaimer: I sell Fords.

[DrDan]

11. I've got a '98 F-150 with nearly 100K miles

looked at the new ones, but having a hard time justifying buying a new one.

no problems at all since I have had it - except for some brake-sticking issue which was relatively minor.

Not sure why these are being bad-mouthed, but I would certainly buy another

[Syncronaut Seven]

9. Go Used, Small Diesel for fuel economy and flexibility but in Vermont

You will have to cut home made bio diesel with kerosene (#1 diesel) in the winter, park it in the garage.

To my knowledge, no one in the US makes or imports small diesels except VW, and only as passenger cars. Maybe this will change as low sulfur diesel fuel is phased in.

Good luck!

[jmowreader]

12. I don't recommend a pickup at all

It's because of the bed.

I recommend you look very closely at getting a one-ton anything with a diesel in it (although if you get a GM product and it doesn't contain the Duramax diesel, keep walkin', brother. The pre-Duramax GM diesel was a converted Oldsmobile gasoline engine and a worse piece of crap you will never find. Duramax engines, OTOH, are very good.) and at least an 8-foot stake bed.