Anyone who why older trucks are costing soo much?

Problem with a warranty is that you still need to get in line, wait times can be two to three weeks or longer. Then the issue with the techs, these are not mechanics, they are parts changers. They lack the critical thinking skills in many instances and or are just there for the paycheck. A real mechanic is a rare breed, one that can properly diagnose and fix the problem. I think we have all been there if you have been out here for several years. Go in for coolant loss, the book says replace the $2500 EGR Cooler, when all that was really needed was a $10 hose clamp.

If you choose to own one of these trucks, you better know how to work on them, unless you want to be a slave to a bank or finance company.

 

The issues with these new trucks is still very alive and well. They are still nowhere near as reliable as many think. Spend some time at a stealership.

 

Ever since I started driving dealerships have never had a lack of trucks in them being worked on. You make it sound like the days before emissions these places were empty.

I will only buy new. The last thing I want to do when I get home is work on a truck that I have spent the entire week driving. I have the knowledge to work on most things on a truck, as well as the shop and tools to do so. And I used to only have older stuff, and worked on it plenty. It’s just not the way I want to spend my time anymore.

 

They didn't have to hunt through 7 miles of wiring harness and 108 different sensors trying to find a problem then, that's what most people's issues seem to be.

 

If the O/O who work on their own trucks would calcute their time into the running costs off those old trucks,those old trucks would become a lot more expensive.

 

How much working on our trucks do you think we do? An older truck will not cost what a new one does if you work on it yourself even if you calculate your time at the same rate as a dealer they have a lot less problems period.

 

I'm fairly certain most calculate the time into it. The thing is, its almost always a shorter amount of time for me to do the repair than wait for a shop to get it in. And even when they can get me right in, i still have to take the time to drive the truck to the shop and wait for them to do the repair then drive it back home, is not like they are gonna come pick it up then drop it back of after its done.

 

I don't count my time fixing it myself versus somebody else because it's not like they're gonna give you a loaner truck, so you're sitting around not earning with it anyway.

 

I take time into consideration. If a shop can get it done right the first time and significantly faster I'm taking it to a shop. unfortunately that is rarely the case.

 

I don’t think so. I have never heard anyone mention any type of estimated cost regarding their own labor.

I have a friend that owns two trucks. Spends most of his weekend at the shop working on one or both. Says he’s better off that way than with new trucks. One is a 2005 with a Cat, the other is a 2015 glider with a Cat. The glider is costing him on average $800 month in maintenance. The 05 is eating oil like it’s free, and getting worse. You know that’s going to be a big bill. The axle housings on his 05 are needing replaced because of rust. Granted, that is something that could have been prevented. But, that’s not going to be cheap to do either. Assuming the trans holds out, that truck will be in the shop in a couple of months getting another inframe, or a replacement engine, and new rears. That leaves a truck with a rusty frame, some corrosion on the body and a trans with 2 million miles on it, as well as a bunch of wiring that is getting old and brittle. He runs his ### into the ground trying to keep ahead of these trucks and put a little money in the bank. But is always broke. If you ask me, that is the definition of insanity.

The only thing I do with mine is change oil, drive it, and put it in the shed when I get home. I’ll gladly make a payment and not have to work like that and have money in the bank to go do whatever I please when I want to.