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High Mileage Trucks

bowhunter1023

bowhunter1023

Owner/Operator
Staff member
49,821
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Appalachia
I know there will be a wide range of opinions on this, but I always like to hear what people think and why.

I've driven a company vehicle for the last decade. I did have a spare vehicle, but essentially quit driving it (hard not to use free gas) and I sold it to buy a bedroom set for my daughter when we found out my wife was pregnant. That was 3 years ago and while I've contemplated getting another vehicle, I never pulled the trigger. Now that I'm without a vehicle, I need to do something soon. That said, I'm not buying something I can't use, so a car is out of the question. I need to be able to work out of it and a truck or SUV best suit that need. I'm leaning toward a truck for the simple fact that I like have a bed for hauling firewood, lumber, dead animals, etc.

That said, I have $10K (plus a little) to spend on a vehicle. I found a 2005 F-150 XLT with 113K on it in Cambridge that I liked. I'm more of a Ford guy than I am anything else, but really just want something I can trust for a few years.

If you were in my shoes, what would you look to purchase? SUV suggestions are welcome too.
 
The F150 are a nice truck. At work (And we thrash them) they are getting about 280,000 out of them. Most everything they buy is the 5.4 motor.
 
This has the 5.4. My last truck before the Silverado I just had was a 5.4 F-150 and there was no comparison between the trucks IMO. The Ford was the better truck hands down. At least from a work truck, oil field standpoint. The Chevy has a quite cab and smoother ride, but it ain't built Ford tough! lmao
 
If I didn't need a truck truck, I'd be driving a Tacoma. If I wanted a fullsize I'd probably try and find an EcoBoost or a 5.3 GM. They all have problems...
 
I suppose you could go with a ford if you want to listen to the damn valves ticking 24\7. If you hadn't guessed... I'm a Chevy man, my vote goes to chevy\gmc. As Rick said they all have problems but the newer 5.3 motors have come a long way, better HP and fuel economy in the past couple of years, my 6L is a damned guzzler even with a chip on it, jumped me from about 12-13 mpg to around 16 on average
 
I sold a 2002 f150 last year with 218000 miles on it... it was a 5.4 4wd. Be aware i only got about 14 mpg in it but the thing was my favorite truck to date. I currently have a 03 f350 and drive a 06 3500 Silverado for work and hands down my ford is a better truck if you are going to use it
 
You can't deny what you do like and I respect that. But with GM having so many recalls.... I like my fords even better. Plus, they are the only auto makers NOT on welfare.
 
Both the Ford 5.4 and the GM 5.3 vortec motor are great motors in my opinion. With a diligent maintance record any truck with those motors will outlast the body any day. It is crazy though how expensive trucks are!! I'm in the market for one and have about 13 to spend and have just had a hard time finding something that doesn't have a bunch of miles on it and I'm good condition for that price. I'll keep my eye out for you though.
 
Have you looked around on Craigslist? You can probly find an 08 or 09 with higher miles in your price range. The way I see it, if it's got alot of miles, most the shit that's gonna go wrong with it already has lol.
 
If it's room you're after...buy a mega cab. You can find the 4x4 1500HD pretty cheap. Sure they will have a hemi and drink fuel...but those motors run a long time. Plenty of fleet trucks going 300,000+. I love my mega... 3 kids and my 110 lb lab fit with no problem.

That brings up another point about your future dog... Mines getting old and can't jump into the back of this 3500 dodge anymore.
 
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