What condition of truck to buy

I am more scared of a new truck payment every month than a blown engine or trans. I have survived both of the latter but never the former.

If you have more toolsxand mechanical skill than money, you buy a good ol truck. If you have more money than tools/skills you buy a good new warranty. If you have neither you stay a company driver or add to the O/O fail rate.

Newbs, you need money or you need to be a good mechanic. If you are neither, stay company driver and find the best boss/401k/medical that you can.

 

My theory is: if you can't turn a wrench, don't buy a truck. Not saying be capable of overhauling an engine or diff but if you need to run to the mechanic every time you need a tail light changed, ownership isn't for you.

 

So you can go broke waiting in the back of the line for your free repairs with a warranty,

Problem with the older cats is if your out somewhere away from your tool box it’s getting harder to find guys that know how to work on them, but it’s really hard to beat a n14 or a 5ek

 

Dunno what you mean by hard to find guys to work on CAT. Just nuts and bolts like every other engine.

 

When my ISX needed engine work. Weren't too many guys wanted to work on it. Specially that front cover.

But I was a mechanic once. I hated working on Fords.

 

I have seen times here where just getting a truck looked at, you are two weeks out, then ordering parts and getting the actual work done.
I have a friend right now that has been down for a month and a half under warranty because he needed a new rear end housing, so a guy never knows.
I see 3 and 4 year old trucks listed all the time cheaper than 10 year old trucks too, I suspect it is the emission issues some wee known for.
I am still waiting on the insurance co to find out mines fate, I am steady hopeing that I can buy it back. I would much rather sink even 30 grand or so in it, than look for something newer, that I don't know the condition of.

 

They predicted a long time ago that with the emission trucks that there was gonna be massive amounts of 3-4 year old available due to people not wanting to fool with replacing emission & high $$$ items on a $30,000 truck.

 

Seriously? I would have bought one myself and got the truck back on the road. Be money ahead.

 

I was looking at having a speed sensor replaced in ND. 6 week wait to get in to the shop.

Cheyenne KW replaced it on the spot.
No questions asked.

 

He would have to have gone with a used one apparently it took a while to get a new one in. lol