tell me about your truck...

[Smay]

bradford, I'm with ya on the Ford diesel dually....with the 7.3L engine prior to 03! We heard all the same when we were looking for one of those. We actually found one, too, just loaded up to the max but the 150,000 miles on it scared us off. Of course, all the mechanics told us that 150,000 on a diesel is 'just broke in!" hahaha

[bradford]

150,000 isn't bad with those diesels, if they've been treated right they are truthfully 'just broke in' but if you don't know the previous owner its hard to judge and take the risk! I've seen quite a few with less than a 100,000, of course they want a fortune for them!

[welkin]

I'm bringing this thread back up to life! So recently I acquired my parent's old Isuzu Trooper. So now I have to sell my little car and it got me thinking....what if I sold both and get a truck....I don't *need* one this year, but next year I think I'll need to start hauling on my own (trailer friend is possibly moving after graduation).

So, lots of trucks within my price range that would suite my needs...but holy CRAP! The milage on these vehicles are astounding. Is it normal for trucks to have much higher milage? I'm looking in the sub $10k range, and at this point I'm wondering if maybe I should just get a Brenderup for the same cost and haul it with the Trooper or other smaller vehicle in the years to come. I know nothing about cars in general, I'm a little milage/sticker shocked lol.

[Unbound]

My 2001 Chevy 3/4 ton HD has 110k+ miles & I wouldn't sell it for 10k, because I couldn't replace it for that cost. LOL. We do wayyyy too much with it. :-)

A good truck is worth it's weight in gold. :-)

[welkin]

So milage isn't as huge of a concern? What is considered typical??

[Smay]

Your mileage will be high and your MPG will be low if you trade your little Kia for a used truck, so I hope your commute is short. Or you ride the bus. But GENERALLY people do put a lot of miles on trucks and in that price range you'll find high miles. They say that a diesel engine racks up mileage more gracefully than a gas engine--lasts longer. If you find a truck in decent shape and have it CHECKED OUT by a mechanic first, you should be OK buying a half ton truck that can safely pull a two-horse trailer, with one horse in it! Get one set up with a good brake controller, good safe frame hitch and maybe stabilizer bars for your trailer and you should be in good position to pull you horse around!

[Unbound]

Yeah, as long as it's been serviced regularly and you have it checked out, you should be okay with a higher mileage truck. Smay is right that the diesels tend to last a bit longer, but a well-maintained gas engine does well, too.

And bigger IS better when it comes to trucks and hauling. I'd rather spend a bit more & get a bigger truck (a 3/4 ton over a 1/2 ton, and heavy duty if you can find it) than regret not buying "enough" truck when I find that I need more power. It's not the hauling that I'm concerned with so much as the stability and the STOPPING ability. We have a lot of ridges & hills in TN, though, so I like the ability of being able to stop a problem trailer even on the hills we have around here if needed.

[welkin]

Well the Trooper I drive now has about 160,000 miles on it, but it's been maintained and worked on a lot recently, gas milage on it is pretty poopy too but not as bad as a full size truck. The Kia can drive circles around it all day on about an ounce of gas lol.....*tear*

I don't plan on getting anything until next year, but I'm one of those people that need to investigate everything for months before making a decision lol.

[Unbound]

Hehe - hauling, we get *maybe* 12 MPG in the truck? That's a 16' steel stock trailer, loaded with either 60+ bales of hay or 2 horses with tack & such. We'd probably get better if we had an aluminum trailer or were just hauling one horse.

[elizabeth_h]

I ended up getting a 2012 Toyota Tundra TRD 5.7L V8. I got a very good deal on a demo model, and love it! My trailer is a 1999 2H Bison, bumper pull, only 2300 pounds. I have no problems hauling with 2 horses, but the truck is rated to 10,000 pounds I think. I can absolutely understand why people say do not plan to tow near the limit if you can avoid it, and to get all the power you can afford. I did look at a lot of older trucks but was very nervous able getting an old vehicle and then towing alone with it.

[Smay]

Elizabeth, you have the identical set up as me, right down to the Toyota Tundra model and the same Bison trailer! he he I love my set up although i really could use a weekender package and a gooseneck--to do eventing. Hotels are nice but they sure are expensive!