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IMHO, old tech is the best tech. I researched the diesels and found a pristine 2000 F 250 7.3 4wd with manual tranny. Exactly what I wanted and immaculate. 340,000 miles and $15,000. No kidding. You simply CAN NOT find decent powerstroke trucks from the 99 to 2003 era (the best) that are not beat to h€££. If you get lucky and find one, buy it. I wish I had a 4wd but really dont need it and was lucky to find a very nice 2000 2wd 7.3 that had been well cared for. Sent the $$$ to the dealer that day before I had ever sat in it. The farm truck is an old beat up F150 and works hard. No tags on it, lots of dents & rust. "Mister Majestic" material.
Bottom line, tough trucks with a few scrapes and dents ARE highly valued for work. Like shaking hands with a older dude whose hands have callouses and scars . . badges of honor.
IMHO, old tech is the best tech. I researched the diesels and found a pristine 2000 F 250 7.3 4wd with manual tranny. Exactly what I wanted and immaculate. 340,000 miles and $15,000. No kidding. You simply CAN NOT find decent powerstroke trucks from the 99 to 2003 era (the best) that are not beat to h€££. If you get lucky and find one, buy it. I wish I had a 4wd but really dont need it and was lucky to find a very nice 2000 2wd 7.3 that had been well cared for. Sent the $$$ to the dealer that day before I had ever sat in it. The farm truck is an old beat up F150 and works hard. No tags on it, lots of dents & rust. "Mister Majestic" material.
Bottom line, tough trucks with a few scrapes and dents ARE highly valued for work. Like shaking hands with a older dude whose hands have callouses and scars . . badges of honor.
Can always do a 4x4 swap, but you can't wish a pristine 24 year old truck into existence.
Same here. Even when I got my first job out of college I had the same psyche my Dad did, and he was just a humble computer programmer. Never slung a bail of hay in his life . . yet we ALWAYS had a truck in our family, and it was a Ford. I have never owned anything but Ford trucks. A man who has a truck, a motorcycle, a dog, and a good woman tends to also have a smile.
So true. It was a few years back but there I was with my 2x F250 on an obscure boat ramp attempting to haul my 4k lb boat up a fairly steep concrete ramp but because the tide had ebbed, most of the ramp was slick with alge. I was slipping and sliding and thankful I did not slide into the water. Two little pixy college gals in a jeep towing their jet skis rescued us. They hooked onto the front bumper hooks and that tipped the balance. Only time I really needed a 4x4.
Same here. Even when I got my first job out of college I had the same psyche my Dad did, and he was just a humble computer programmer. Never slung a bail of hay in his life . . yet we ALWAYS had a truck in our family, and it was a Ford. I have never owned anything but Ford trucks. A man who has a truck, a motorcycle, a dog, and a good woman tends to also have a smile.
7 Ford trucks, 2 motorcycles, 2 dogs and one Great woman and I always have a smile
I priced out a new 250 last Feb. Same spec as my ‘06. Lariat, diesel, 4x4, matching cap, etc. 5 yr payment plan. All said and done, paid for, parked in my driveway = $140k Cdn.
They’ve lost touch with reality. Count me out. I’ll keep rebuilding my current trucks, and go south a drag home 20+ yr old trucks.
Thats crazy. Was any of that price tariff/import fees? Cant help but think that people who are in the market for a new truck will be doing the same thing or going elsewhere.
This past summer I had a local arborist stop by and ask me if I would build up a pair of OBS crew cabs for him. They haul around lots of equipment with crews, and tow 9-10k chippers and trailers with them daily, year round in the winter and salt so the trucks won’t last for decades. He said he has dealt with newer truck emissions issues too many times as well.
He was replacing two trucks, and buying two new basic cc diesels were going to cost him a minimum of $250k… For a pair of trucks that will only last him 10yrs, maybe.
I suggested he go south, and probably be able to bring two good, rust free, work trucks home for $50k.
I saw something interesting this summer. Rail road truck. Typically in the past they are all 1 ton and larger. The one I saw was a Ranger. For your typical user I suspect a lot of people would be very happy with one of those new small Mavericks. Or what ever Honda, Toyota, etc make now for small shop trucks.
Not too long ago about one million "truckkies" here in the USA were lusting after Ford's new international ranger diesel. Not allowed in.
Toyota has a solution . . . https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2...mobility-show/
Rebuilding older trucks is something ive been looking into more and more. Right now ive got 13 active trucks and I wont even mention how much my three newest 2024 bottom of the barrel work trucks ran me. Not only are they expensive but they also have so much electrical mumbo jumbo thats way too complicated and a nightmare to isolate and troubleshoot when the guaranteed to have issues rear up.
Been looking at southern 2013-2016 model F250s through F550s to purchase and rebuild as needed instead of buying new. I get about 12-15 years out of a body here in CT. Gave up plowing and lay off the crew for January and February now so the trucks hardly see any road salt, sand, stones, and water. Winter keeps getting shorter here so thats a plus for rotting trucks.