New truck advice

familytree

familytree

Location
Haddonfield, nj
I'm looking to possibly upgrade my pick up truck from a chevy silverado crew cab diesel to a 3500. I love my chevy to death but the asking price for my truck actually increased in value since I purchased it (I bought it for 28,000$ and now trucks with my mileage are selling for 36-38,000 around these parts, don't ask me why)

Anyway, I'm also considering buying a dodge or possibly a dreaded ford. I'm looking for 2010 or better for either model. Anyone have any experience with either of these trucks? I know that Fords need to have the body actually removed from the chasie in order to work on the rear part of the motor. That sucks. I've also heard that ford has yet to figure out a proper DPF system. Dodge makes a great truck but I know their automatic trans used to suck it big time and I'm weary of the new 6 cylinder engine.

Any help and advice is much appreciated.

Love you.
 
As an "old" arborist, may I inject some advice? Sell the truck for the inflated used market value- purchase a nice, used, good condition, southern "rust free" truck, oh 2001 or 2002 model for $7-$8k- and put the rest IN THE BANK. With this one "smart" decision you could take care of your retirement funding (if invested wisely) and be "way ahead of the ball game"!
 
my previous employer used a 3500. he had a dump bed and made a box. it pulled a bandit model 65. we had no issues with it. it was also an automatic. 3500's are great trucks imo. my new company i work for has a ford f250 and 2 f150's. were looking at buying a ford f350 super duty diesel. our new chipper is too big for our F150's. it is a bandit model 250xp
 
Good advice, wheelloader. It's really all about retirement funding. As for what truck... I have a 05' Dodge quadcab with the v8 hemi and love it. I purchased it new in 05' and never had an issue with the trans... I think that is an old mith as with any truck.
 
Why get rid of your truck period. is it worn out? Is it causing you problems? If you need an upgrade so be it, The best one ton truck out there is the chevy/ gmc with the duramax and allison trans. Ford is a decent truck but for the past several years have had several problems. I have always noticed anything except the engine can go wrong with a dodge, i.e. turn on the radio and the tailgate falls off. But seriously many hub/ caliper problems and rear end, as well as cheaply made body parts. I am sure the dodge and ford guys can post problems with GM but more on the subject no matter what the books say about your truck you have got to find someone willing to buy it. Also what will it cost you to replace it? If your truck is paid for why do you want a payment, and can you afford it? If your payment is $600 a month can you handle $800 a maonth and do you need too. will a bigger truck help you twice a week or twice a year? sorry been snowed in with the kids all week just trying to help.
 
I was told to stay away from the dodges the new exhaust system with emissions makes the truck have no power and it clogs up all the time. The person that told me this was running a new Dodge 3500 dualie pulling a chipper. He got rid of it and bought an 07'.
 
I have a 2002 F350 crew cab with 110k miles. Never had a problem and plan on driving it untill it dies. I figure that in 5 years it will start to be 'old' and I will keep it @ the shop for a wood hauling truck, i.e. - not trust it to drive long distances.
I will get myself a F150 to do estimates in, and drive the kids to school...
 
I don't have any experience on any new trucks. So, you can choose to read further or not.
smirk.gif


But, the next paragraph is my experience with a Ford.

I have nearly put $6k into a 2000 F350. I purchased it for $14k used 3 years ago, this Valentines day. I only bought it because I could not find a GMC Duramax & Alli tranny nearby with the features I wanted. I was impatient and bought the Ford.

As a business owner and family guy. There is nothing I hate more than unexpected bills on repairing a vehicle. And I hate working on a truck (or paying someone to fix it) when I'd rather be with the family or making money at tree work.

So, if a new truck convinces you that you will not have any unexpected repairs, I totally understand.
 
I believe in Buying new and buying the warranty. One, you know where it has been. two, it is new so unexpected repairs "SHOuld" be irrelevant. With that being said, he is just starting on his own with a new baby. The tires on my 07 are like $268 each. they arent covered under warranty. not to mention if he can save $200 a month that is a couple of doctors visits and antibiotics along with a few extra diapers because anitbiotics makes babies poop. If he needs a new truck don;t wrestle with a tool that can't do the job, but don;t trade the truck because the ashtray is full either.
 
I have considered taking the money and running but I would still need a truck to operate my business.

I was thinking chip truck and chipper as well, get out from under this payment and place myself right back in the same payment but at least I'll have a chip truck and chipper and won't have to rent a chipper any more or load the brush by hand (thank god for my 12 ton easy dump)

Also, my father inlaw is a mechanic and he owns his own shop so fixing things only cost me the parts. Problem with the fords are that any engine after the 7.3 requires the whole body to come off the chasie in order to work on the rear part of the motor, something my father in law won't be able to do after the warranty is up. Also, now that I think of it, a dually won't fit in his garage bay so he'd have to creep under it rain or shine or freezing weather (dudes tough as nails but even that will earn me a punch in the wiener)

Looks like a total trade in is worth the while. I had a dealership give me an official offer of 28,500$. I paid 28,000 for the thing and drove it for a year and a half. Amazing how much this truck has retained it's value!! Hahahaha. Figure the dealer will just wash it and detail it then sell it for 34,000$, I'll probably try to sell it independent for 32,000 and see what happens, either way I'm making out pretty well.

Now if someone would step up and sell me a nice chip truck and 9-10" chipper I'll be on my way
 
For around 30 grand, even 25, you could get a decent used chip truck, chipper and standard pickup. A tree truck and chipper will pay for itself in no time. I paid about 13 grand for my first truck and chipper together about 10 years ago. I still have them and they run as good or even better than when I bought them. Go used and stay out of major debt. Craigs list.
 
I currently owe 18,000 on the truck.

The truck now does everything from grocery getter to towing my trailer. The original plan was to eventually buy a small chipper to keep in the back of my trailer and unload it at the jobsite. A switch blade secret weapon tree company. "oh look at that truck towing that trailer". BAM! Chipper is unloaded and now I'm a preservation machine

Currently all of my bills are paid by my full time job as lead climber and foreman for another company, truck payment and insurance, along with my GL insurance. When work comes in I hoard the money, don't take a draw from the company at all and pay for things like my truck payment, or I advertise or buy new saws. My company's first purchase was a crappy trailer, then I used that to make money to purchase the dump trailer. I don't have a lot of work but plan on doing a big splash soon advertising wise to help generate business. Probably around March.
 
I realize you probably won't take my advice, but I promise you I wouldn't "steer you wrong".
OK, you think you could sell the truck for maybe $32,000. After paying off the loan, that would leave you with $14,000. You say you are looking for a small chipper. Would a Vermeer 935 or a Bandit 90 work (perhaps a Vermeer 1000). As for the truck, a relatively small Ford F350/F450 with a 9' chip box/tool boxes could fulfill your needs for a "grocery getter" and a chip truck/tool truck. With patience and using your father in law to perform the needed repairs, you could probably purchase both for the $14,000. Having been in this game for a long time, and having been both in a LOT OF DEBT for equipment and DEBT FREE with equipment. I can promise you DEBT FREE is a much better path and much more condusive to "SUCCESS"! It will create much more NET PROFIT and greatly reduces your stress level!
 
I'm not comfortable with debt and believe me I'm seriously considering your advice but to find a chip truck and chipper for 14-16000 dollars around here is tough. If you do find something it won't lash long until it blows up and I have to put a new engine in it.

Unless of course you know something that I dont, which is probably the case
 
My boss where I work part time has an older, well maintained Brush Bandit model 100 sitting inside at the shop with a Ford straight 6. Looks decent covered in dust, I'm sure a tune up and a few small odds and ends from sitting and you'd be off. Don't think he's looking for a lot from it.

PM me if your interested i can get you his cell.
 
Through the years, I have cultivated quite a number of sources to obtain good, used equipment. If you determine the direction you'd like to take, I'd be happy to help you any way I can. As far as buying something and then it needing an engine- keep this in mind when purchasing. You can go completely through the engine compartment of a "gas burner" for about a third of the cost of a diesel. If you bought something with an "old" 454 or 460 gas (although not so fuel efficient) you will have more than enough power and they are very affordable to repair. plus just about any shop can work on them. Also remember, the diesel engines of today of not the engines they used to be. They are ridiculously burdened with excessive electronics and emmisions related hardware- making them less reliable than they once were and much more expensive to maintain/repair.
 
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