Getting back in the game

Well, I found a truck I'm thinking about looking at. Decent truck for the price, my only hangup is the rear ratios. It has an 18 with 3.70. I would rather have 3.55 however it is used and you get what you get. Obviously when it comes time to redo the rears I can put whatever I want in. Until then though, you get what you get. It has a n14 celect plus in it. Do you think 3.70s are too much, going to eat to much fuel? I live in Idaho and run west, but it's not all mountains.

 

It's not about trying to get awesome mpg. It's about getting the best I can with what I got. Just because it's a pete or kw doesn't mean one has to settle for 4mpg. Why rob yourself.....that's just stupid.

 

Well, I'm flying down to elpaso in the morning to look at a w900, which is what I wanted to begin with. This guy has come up with paperwork and the other guy still hasn't. So, hopefully all goes well. This one has an emodel with an 18 and 3.55

 

Well, I've officially flown all over the country this week. Just got back last night. Started out at the house in Idaho and flew out of spokane to Phoenix to elpaso to Chicago to Cleveland to Chicago to Sioux falls. Holy crap what a week. I couldn't tell you how many trucks I've looked at. All of them where down right horrible. One was so bad I didn't even get in the truck. It wreaked of dog urine so bad I barely got the door open before I about lost my lunch. I got a tip from the dealer I was buying the trailer from that his buddy had 2 trucks for sale. So I went and looked at them. By far the best trucks I've seen the whole trip. Both mechanically and esthetically. Looked showroom new on inside and 85% of which on outside. Guy had a small fleet and took very good care of them. Guy was just an all around good guy. He is fixing a few small things for me before I pick up the truck and trailer up in two weeks. Gotta go back to work for hopefully just one more hitch. Ended up with a 1999 pete 379 stand-up. Engine and rears are less than 100k and has a literal brand new 13 speed trans, flywheel and clutch. Now just have to buy all my tie down needs. I can't believe what a decent headache rack just cost me. I almost cried!

 

And there is the rub. The prices of good used pre-eld trucks is insane right now. I paid $55k for that 99 and I think it was fair. However, I kid you not, I looked at over 100 trucks this week.....no joke. That is what it took to find a decent one in the bunch! If a person can stomach the eld thing, new is the way to go. Keep it for 3 or 4 years then trade it off on another new one. To be honest, the fuel savings alone would prolly pay for it. Not to mention no wrenching on it on the weekends within that time span. However, I wouldn't keep a new one past 3or 4 years. Because that's when the gremlins start to show their faces.