It's Decision Time
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 884
Likes: 0
From: Rockport, IN
The RV won't be driven as a daily driver. See, the idea was to get this truck, sell my Chevy 4x4, and use this truck as my daily driver and get a pull behind camper for visiting family, etc. Everything was going fine until we started looking into how much a truck/camper combo would cost vs the cost of getting an old 70s or 80s model RV. From that point forward the discussion has centered around how much more getting this truck would cost us overall. I knew this truck would use quite a bit of fuel but I was hoping to convince her that getting it would be the best route to take. I was doing pretty good until the &*^%$$@ utility bill came in the mail and turned out to be the highest one we've ever had. Now she just wants to get an RV cause getting one would cost less than the truck/camper combo and we won't have to dish out so much for weekly gasoline expenses. I got hit by a double whammy.
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 884
Likes: 0
From: Rockport, IN
Rico,if you had it planned to drive the truck empty/as a daily driver,to and from work during the week,i think you made a wise decision.
trucks are too expensive to just hop in and drive like a car now.
now,had you a little car that gets around 30 mpg's avg to go along with this truck,and use the truck only when you really needed it,then that will work without draining all your $ in fuel.
but if you think the only time the truck would be used(as a truck) was only when hooked up to a camper,then yeah.i think you have a wise wife for keeping you grounded.
you may just want to look into RV rentals as well.you may find it much cheaper to simply rent an RV when you need one.
of course all costs of rental fee's vs ownership insurance,tags,etc must be compared.
imho,gone are the days where you drive a truck around like a car.
unless of course your made of $,or just don't want or need other things in life.
i have a small car for going places that require just me.
a dually crew cab pickup,even getting 17-18 mpg avg SUCKS compared to what little cars can get.
you can save so much $ year after year its not funny.
be thankful for the wise wife ya got there.even though sometimes it's hard to let go of things we want.it's nice to be reminded of priorities and where $ is better used.
latter on down the road,i might suggest these things for you in a pickup;
3.55 gearing.
SRW.
diesel.
E40D or Zf5 trans.
turbo
this combo,could push you into the high teens avg in your location for your daily driving/commute to work im sure.
it sounds like you may have been after the incorrect rig for 95% of your use anyway.
trucks are too expensive to just hop in and drive like a car now.
now,had you a little car that gets around 30 mpg's avg to go along with this truck,and use the truck only when you really needed it,then that will work without draining all your $ in fuel.
but if you think the only time the truck would be used(as a truck) was only when hooked up to a camper,then yeah.i think you have a wise wife for keeping you grounded.
you may just want to look into RV rentals as well.you may find it much cheaper to simply rent an RV when you need one.
of course all costs of rental fee's vs ownership insurance,tags,etc must be compared.
imho,gone are the days where you drive a truck around like a car.
unless of course your made of $,or just don't want or need other things in life.
i have a small car for going places that require just me.
a dually crew cab pickup,even getting 17-18 mpg avg SUCKS compared to what little cars can get.
you can save so much $ year after year its not funny.
be thankful for the wise wife ya got there.even though sometimes it's hard to let go of things we want.it's nice to be reminded of priorities and where $ is better used.
latter on down the road,i might suggest these things for you in a pickup;
3.55 gearing.
SRW.
diesel.
E40D or Zf5 trans.
turbo
this combo,could push you into the high teens avg in your location for your daily driving/commute to work im sure.
it sounds like you may have been after the incorrect rig for 95% of your use anyway.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 884
Likes: 0
From: Rockport, IN
RV rentals are ridiculaslly expensive!
Best thing to do is rent a U-Haul truck, and take some home furniture and turn it into a weekend camper!
Might sound crazy, but when you think about it, it's acually really smart, if you wanna get away for some time without spending a ton of money!
I've met a family that did that couple years ago, sure it ain't as nice as a real RV, but hey when money is tight, or like me, cheap you find a way!
Best thing to do is rent a U-Haul truck, and take some home furniture and turn it into a weekend camper!
Might sound crazy, but when you think about it, it's acually really smart, if you wanna get away for some time without spending a ton of money!
I've met a family that did that couple years ago, sure it ain't as nice as a real RV, but hey when money is tight, or like me, cheap you find a way!
A country boy can survive!
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,005
Likes: 7
From: Ottawa, Ontario
70's-80's camper is the best thing to do for starters, cheaper to buy/maintain and they re-sell some times quicker than newer more expensive ones. And you don't loose as much value as fast with an older one as opposed to a new one.
My 1987 Ford Class C Diesel motorhome is my first motorhome, bought it at the end of season in 2000. Before that from 1995-2000 I had a slide in camper and my 1990 Diesel F250 that carried that. Was a big full size 12ft. slide-in but we needed a little bit bigger.
My 1987 Ford Class C Diesel motorhome is my first motorhome, bought it at the end of season in 2000. Before that from 1995-2000 I had a slide in camper and my 1990 Diesel F250 that carried that. Was a big full size 12ft. slide-in but we needed a little bit bigger.
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 884
Likes: 0
From: Rockport, IN
Wait a minute! Shazzam! I just got a brainstorm! I don't know why I didn't think of this before! We could get the diesel and sell the van instead of the Chevy!! I was so focused on getting back into a Ford truck and getting rid of this Chevy that it never dawned on me that we could keep the Chevy and get rid of the van! The diesel would get about the same mpg and I could find convenient excuses for why I was taking the big Ford instead of the Chevy!!! Yes, it would be a little sneaky and I couldn't do it every day, but I could definitely find a way to justify taking the diesel at least one, maybe two days a week!! Wish me luck, fellas! I am going to run this past my wife later on tonight when she gets home from work.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 20,381
Likes: 845
From: Mi'kma'ki
yeah! well the whole reason for the "crew cab" i figured,would be to get rid of the van for the family trips?
i wouldn't go without a 4wd truck.hang onto that.
you should look into a gear vendors for this truck tho imho if your really set on it.
your could also run SRW rims on the back for increased fuel economy when not hauling a 5ver around.this would bump ya up some as well.though it may look kinda funny inside the dually flares,but i wouldn't care if i made wallet happier.
i wouldn't go without a 4wd truck.hang onto that.
you should look into a gear vendors for this truck tho imho if your really set on it.
your could also run SRW rims on the back for increased fuel economy when not hauling a 5ver around.this would bump ya up some as well.though it may look kinda funny inside the dually flares,but i wouldn't care if i made wallet happier.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 884
Likes: 0
From: Rockport, IN
yeah! well the whole reason for the "crew cab" i figured,would be to get rid of the van for the family trips?
i wouldn't go without a 4wd truck.hang onto that.
you should look into a gear vendors for this truck tho imho if your really set on it.
your could also run SRW rims on the back for increased fuel economy when not hauling a 5ver around.this would bump ya up some as well.though it may look kinda funny inside the dually flares,but i wouldn't care if i made wallet happier.
i wouldn't go without a 4wd truck.hang onto that.
you should look into a gear vendors for this truck tho imho if your really set on it.
your could also run SRW rims on the back for increased fuel economy when not hauling a 5ver around.this would bump ya up some as well.though it may look kinda funny inside the dually flares,but i wouldn't care if i made wallet happier.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 20,381
Likes: 845
From: Mi'kma'ki
well.don't forget its very easy to find a better deal than that old 3 speed dually for how much 3k i think?
look around a bit.
look at this for example.its another dually,but she sports an overdrive trans:
Ford F-350 Diesel (1992) Extended Cab
Ford F-350 Diesel 1992
1994 F250 DIESEL
1990 F-250 RWD DIESEL
93 f350 dually diesel ext cab
2wd trucks are cheap and easy to find.
here's a 4wd for less even:
1993 F0rf F250 4X4
here's one like mine for less by 200$ i think:
1993 F250 4X4 Diesel
id say keep looking around for a truck with an overdrive trans and SRW already.
you can find 'em in your area for less than 3200$
that truck seems overpriced for IN. now that i look around for a bit.
i see no reason to pay more,for the incorrect truck for your needs and try to modify it costing even more.
don't make any hasty decisions.take your time and just find the right truck.
most agreed it was priced too high.looking around your state for trucks,its clear $3200 does in fact buy more with just a quick 5-10 min search,not even trying really.
look around a bit.
look at this for example.its another dually,but she sports an overdrive trans:
Ford F-350 Diesel (1992) Extended Cab
Ford F-350 Diesel 1992
1994 F250 DIESEL
1990 F-250 RWD DIESEL
93 f350 dually diesel ext cab
2wd trucks are cheap and easy to find.
here's a 4wd for less even:
1993 F0rf F250 4X4
here's one like mine for less by 200$ i think:
1993 F250 4X4 Diesel
id say keep looking around for a truck with an overdrive trans and SRW already.
you can find 'em in your area for less than 3200$
that truck seems overpriced for IN. now that i look around for a bit.
i see no reason to pay more,for the incorrect truck for your needs and try to modify it costing even more.
don't make any hasty decisions.take your time and just find the right truck.
most agreed it was priced too high.looking around your state for trucks,its clear $3200 does in fact buy more with just a quick 5-10 min search,not even trying really.
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Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 884
Likes: 0
From: Rockport, IN
well.don't forget its very easy to find a better deal than that old 3 speed dually for how much 3k i think?
look around a bit.
look at this for example.its another dually,but she sports an overdrive trans:
Ford F-350 Diesel (1992) Extended Cab
Ford F-350 Diesel 1992
1994 F250 DIESEL
1990 F-250 RWD DIESEL
93 f350 dually diesel ext cab
2wd trucks are cheap and easy to find.
here's a 4wd for less even:
1993 F0rf F250 4X4
here's one like mine for less by 200$ i think:
1993 F250 4X4 Diesel
id say keep looking around for a truck with an overdrive trans and SRW already.
you can find 'em in your area for less than 3200$
that truck seems overpriced for IN. now that i look around for a bit.
i see no reason to pay more,for the incorrect truck for your needs and try to modify it costing even more.
don't make any hasty decisions.take your time and just find the right truck.
most agreed it was priced too high.looking around your state for trucks,its clear $3200 does in fact buy more with just a quick 5-10 min search,not even trying really.
look around a bit.
look at this for example.its another dually,but she sports an overdrive trans:
Ford F-350 Diesel (1992) Extended Cab
Ford F-350 Diesel 1992
1994 F250 DIESEL
1990 F-250 RWD DIESEL
93 f350 dually diesel ext cab
2wd trucks are cheap and easy to find.
here's a 4wd for less even:
1993 F0rf F250 4X4
here's one like mine for less by 200$ i think:
1993 F250 4X4 Diesel
id say keep looking around for a truck with an overdrive trans and SRW already.
you can find 'em in your area for less than 3200$
that truck seems overpriced for IN. now that i look around for a bit.
i see no reason to pay more,for the incorrect truck for your needs and try to modify it costing even more.
don't make any hasty decisions.take your time and just find the right truck.
most agreed it was priced too high.looking around your state for trucks,its clear $3200 does in fact buy more with just a quick 5-10 min search,not even trying really.
The wife still doesn't want to get it, so I guess I am going to have to accept that I am not going to get this truck. I could put my foot down and get it anyway, but why go through the trouble? She's right and y'all are right that this isn't exactly the truck we need.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 4
From: Victor, MT
SRW is key to having more mpg, I have my first diesel, (84 F-250 6.9l) and i get IF i dont drive like i stole it, i will get anywhere from 18-20 mpg, idk why....but i do. I went from Missoula to Harlowton MT on 15 gallons of fuel. thats 260 miles on 15 gallons and i pushed it up the pass between the two towns and there were hills all over the place. not flat like where your at. 260/15 is about 17. SRW and not using a lead foot like i like to 
. And with no 4x4. it will easily get 19 on the highway if your careful. Find a truck with these specs and your set. I personally paid 2800 because it was newly rebuilt, and it had two sets of tires and some other extras.
. And with no 4x4. it will easily get 19 on the highway if your careful. Find a truck with these specs and your set. I personally paid 2800 because it was newly rebuilt, and it had two sets of tires and some other extras.
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