F150 // Siverado 1500, what to know.

[RightCoastBias]

Time for a second vehicle in our household, and I'm looking to get a truck. Want to go full size, 10k or under, under 175k miles and I prefer a crew or extended cab. I'd also like to stay 2000ish + regarding styling.

I would prefer a Silverado, but have expanded to F150s because in my parameters the Silverados are a bit more limited on Craigslist.

Use case for the truck would be occasional dump runs, dirt bike hauler and perhaps some weekend trips/camping. Likely the only time it would make my Alameda to SF commute would be if the bike is not working or I'm injured. I'd expect 5-7k miles a year max.

Seems like this puts me in the 2000-2008 range for what I'm willing to spend.

In that time frame, is there anything I should be looking out for? Failure points? Expensive services? Generally horrible/wonderful things for certain MYs/generations? Is the Ford vastly better than the Chevy, or vice versa, in a particular area?

I remember my pops had a 2007 1500, and it had the worst turning radius out of any truck ive ever driven. That being said, I don't care too much about turn radius for my use case.

Should I say "fuck it" and go drop 40k on a new Tacoma? Why?

 

[Junkie]

the Chevy V8s are great engines, the 1/2 ton transmissions not so much

 

[wazzuFreddo]

My '04 F150 is pushing 290k. Runs great, everything works, the front looks like it has 290k on it.

YMMV

 

[DTM74]

Cant offer much other than I had an '01 F-150. Sold it with 100k miles...only problem I had was the alternator went out. Dependable truck

 

[JesasaurusRex]

Ive had considerably less issues with my 17 ford than my 15 gm truck. Gm was a half ton, fords a diesel. Do what you do

 

[cencalballer]

4l60's like to break. 4l80's with some adjustments are great. Fuel pumps on the chevy's like to go. Non eco boost v-6's lose tappets.

 

[auntiebling]

For that minuscule mileage, dont buy anything new. Itll be sitting doing nothing depreciating like crazy.

 

[nbean16]

For that minuscule mileage, dont buy anything new. Itll be sitting doing nothing depreciating like crazy.

Don't think he will be able to find a new 2005 truck :laughing

 

[byke]

4l60's like to break. 4l80's with some adjustments are great. Fuel pumps on the chevy's like to go. Non eco boost v-6's lose tappets.

^^^Word.

Would be nice to find one with a rebuilt trans and new fuel pump, so you're in that bad area if you're looking at trucks with 150k that haven't had either replaced, you'd be expecting them to go real quick. The 4l60 on my '03 'burb went at ~120k and the fuel pump I think at ~140k. It has ~180k now and it's otherwise been a great vehicle for 'murican. Also have a '98 2wd f150 with ~180k it's only had a few minor issues with some hoses rotting and I did ball joints 10k ago. Pretty impressive reliability, but it's definitely not as refined as the 'burb and it's terrible in the rain.

 

[auntiebling]

Time for a second vehicle in our household, and I'm looking to get a truck. Want to go full size, 10k or under, under 175k miles and I prefer a crew or extended cab. I'd also like to stay 2000ish + regarding styling.

I would prefer a Silverado, but have expanded to F150s because in my parameters the Silverados are a bit more limited on Craigslist.

Use case for the truck would be occasional dump runs, dirt bike hauler and perhaps some weekend trips/camping. Likely the only time it would make my Alameda to SF commute would be if the bike is not working or I'm injured. I'd expect 5-7k miles a year max.

Seems like this puts me in the 2000-2008 range for what I'm willing to spend.

In that time frame, is there anything I should be looking out for? Failure points? Expensive services? Generally horrible/wonderful things for certain MYs/generations? Is the Ford vastly better than the Chevy, or vice versa, in a particular area?

I remember my pops had a 2007 1500, and it had the worst turning radius out of any truck ive ever driven. That being said, I don't care too much about turn radius for my use case.

Should I say "fuck it" and go drop 40k on a new Tacoma? Why?

Don't think he will be able to find a new 2005 truck :laughing

....

 

[RightCoastBias]

For that minuscule mileage, dont buy anything new. Itll be sitting doing nothing depreciating like crazy.

Pretty much my thoughts exactly. I could go out and buy a fancy new truck, just seems like a total waste of my money. The 10k was determined by watching the 1/2 ton market for a few months and finding that I that range, I can get what I want/need. It also taught me the price of Tacomas is offensive. Having been in many Tacos, I've no desire to own one at the prices they demand.

But, the modern Tacomas are really fucking nice.

 

[295566]

Pretty much my thoughts exactly. I could go out and buy a fancy new truck, just seems like a total waste of my money. The 10k was determined by watching the 1/2 ton market for a few months and finding that I that range, I can get what I want/need. It also taught me the price of Tacomas is offensive. Having been in many Tacos, I've no desire to own one at the prices they demand.

But, the modern Tacomas are really fucking nice.

You can thank Top Gear for the prices of Tacos sitting at Subaru levels of insanity. :laughing

 

[auntiebling]

Pretty much my thoughts exactly. I could go out and buy a fancy new truck, just seems like a total waste of my money. The 10k was determined by watching the 1/2 ton market for a few months and finding that I that range, I can get what I want/need. It also taught me the price of Tacomas is offensive. Having been in many Tacos, I've no desire to own one at the prices they demand.

But, the modern Tacomas are really fucking nice.

expand your search to all of california and oregon , nevada, if you haven't already. trucks have crazy resale value around here (everywhere really to some extent)

new vehicles in general are crazy expensive IMO. recent used all the way. even if the previous owner never did an oil change it'll probably still give you another 100k miles

 

[rt rider]

My 2001 F150 had 300k when I sold it. I’m hoping to get at least that out of my 2003 F250 V10 which is currently at 225k. I replaced the fuel pump at 215k and a coil.

With the Triton motors the spark plugs often break when removing them so if you buy used try to find one that recently had them replaced.

The only reason I would consider a new truck is if it was a daily driver and I needed the higher gas mileage available on some of the newer trucks. The F150 got about 14 mpg and the f250 is at 11 mpg. In your situation I agree new doesn’t make sense.

 

[Yakoo752]

I don't know if new doesn't make sense.

I do 7000 miles a year. If my goal is to hit 200k it'll take me 28.5 years to do so. Why wouldn't I enjoy some newness and get some latest and greatest? At least it will keep me current-ish for the entry life of my truck.

Unless you plan on buying again in the coming years.

 

[RightCoastBias]

I don't know if new doesn't make sense.

I do 7000 miles a year. If my goal is to hit 200k it'll take me 28.5 years to do so. Why wouldn't I enjoy some newness and get some latest and greatest? At least it will keep me current-ish for the entry life of my truck.

Unless you plan on buying again in the coming years.

Having a payment for a new truck doesn't interest me. For 10k, I can buy a truck outright. In the price range I'm looking at, the amenities and comfort are fine for me.

I sat in some new trucks and they're quite nice, just not worth the cost for me.

 

[Sharky]

My folks have a circa 2000 F150 with almost 300K. Starts-stops and goes fine. I replaced all of the front suspension bushings/ball joints and shocks for less that $250 in parts.

My 01' Dodge 1500 has been trouble free except for the cracked dash.

 

[CockyRooster]

The 07-13 Silverados are built pretty well. As mentioned, stay away from the 4l80 trans. The 6l80 works pretty well though.

 

[Junkie]

The 07-13 Silverados are built pretty well. As mentioned, stay away from the 4l80 trans. The 6l80 works pretty well though.

the 4L80 is a great transmission. it's the 4L60 that has problems.

 

[CockyRooster]

the 4L80 is a great transmission. it's the 4L60 that has problems.

I stand corrected. :thumbup