Help me decide, 3 trucks I need to pick 1 from.

[Torvy]

Either truck will do the job. If they are selling the Ram as new the warranty won't start until it is registered to the owner. With only 300 miles I would give it a close look. I know it is crazy but I looked at a 2016 Impala that had 40 thousand miles on it.

In most states and with most lenders, "new" requires previously untitled and no more that 6k miles. Many have even stricter rules. Some states just require that it is disclosed. No difference to some states if new/used. Lenders care because of longevity of the asset.

I'm guessing you either paid cash or had a used car rate (or the dealer fudge info to the lender).

I spent about 7 years investigating shady dealers. Some will do anything for a sale.

 

[mike5511]

I would stay with whatever is pre-emissions. Or keep it under a warranty.

 

[charlessenf]

2023 Ram Bighorn with 6.7L Diesel < 300 miles ~53K
Warranty mostly used up sitting on the lot
2024 Ford F250 XL w/ 6.7 0 miles full warranty ~56K
2025 Ford F250 XL w/ 6.7 0 miles full warranty ~60K

Well, for five trips per year over a six year period, your 56K would earn: "For example, if you invest $1,000, the calculation would be A = 1000(1 + 0.04/1)^(1*6), which equals approximately $1,265.33. This means you would earn about $265.33 in interest over 6 years."

So 6 times $256.33 or $14,858 - your minimum 'opportunity cost.' You might well do better (maybe earning 24K in six years) buying 56K worth of Home Depot in a DRIP with Etrade.

But, then, what do you drive to Mississippi and back to Ole Virginity?

Well, if you're carrying cargo on one leg and dead heading on the other you rent a one-way vehicle to suite the load on each leg. Some ridiculously fuel efficient tiny car to carry the driver(s) one way, and a suitably capacious Penske to haul the load and driver(s) in the other direction.

If, on the other hand, you're loaded in each direction, I would recommend booking two one way Penske's hoping to find trucks that had moved household furniture to Virginia for your trip south and booking one in Ole Miss that had just brought some family's furnishings down from the Ohio Valley or similar.

Since it's about a 12 hour run, you might need a two-day rental - but, if you're a couple hundred miles less . . . maybe you could pull it off in one day?

Your fuel costs will be about the same (less if you are only loaded on one leg, of course). But you won't have paid liability and collision and on and on for the 360 days the $56K pick was (in the weather?) gathering dust. You did not mention what it would cost to insure the 2024 250 - did you check? You did not indicate that you didn't have the purchase price on-hand in cash - were you planning on financing this truck?

If you finance the truck and do the calculations (including financing fees, and the required comprehensive , you may well discover the $56K truck will cost you way more than may moons of necessary rentals. There is no such thing as a Zero Interest Loans or free lunches. If you are convinced there are, forget the forgoing and best o'luck with the fancy PUT

 

[Blue Mule]

Background:I'm retired. I've been going through the process of trying to determine what truck to add to my fleet. The truck will be used in Virginia and Mississippi. It's prime purpose will be to gather dust and suck up parking space. Occasionally, maybe 5 times a year I'll drive it from Va. to Ms. towing a 10K trailer down I81, I40, I75 and getting to northeast Ms. and then after a month or three, drive back. It will carry 2 passengers, me and my wife.
I've been making this trip with about this frequency since 2011 mostly with a 2002 Ford F350 7.3, CC, dually and it's crazy I know.
But the dually is getting "long in the tooth" and I'm concerned about it breaking down.
I missed out on the deals last January and the Tariff threat kicked in and prices jacked up. But now they have come back down slightly.
Also I looked at 5L F150's and they cost almost as much.

So I've narrowed my choices down to 3 vehicles.
2023 Ram Bighorn with /edit- 6.7L
diesel < 300 miles ~53K
/EDIT -- THAT IS < 300 MILES, NOT TO MEAN 300K MILES
Warranty mostly used up sitting on the lot
2024 Ford F250 XL w/ 6.7 0 miles full warranty ~56K
2025 Ford F250 XL w/ 6.7 0 miles full warranty ~60K

To me the 2024 is the sweet spot.
/edit - what would you pick?

I have a 2019 F-250 XLT CC 4x4 with the 6.7L diesel. It's at 105,000 miles now. It's had a rash of issues such as the common upper oil pan leaks, BCM replacement, steering wheel button replacement, steering intermediate shaft replacement, intercooler hose replacement, etc. I've gotten it to the point now where I really trust it BUT I had to pay a lot of $$$ to get rid of the DPF/SCR/EGR/CCV systems to get it here because that is the next stuff that fails on modern diesels and that stuff is PRICEY. So I went ahead and removed all that stuff. I also had a "disaster prevention kit" installed which prevents you from a $15k repair if the high pressure fuel pump fails.

Having said all that, the Powerstroke is probably the most dependable of the big 3 options. Cummins has had fits with the new roller rockers and EGR heating grids. The Duramax trucks (even in 2025) are getting full engine tear-downs at a higher rate than they should. So, while NONE of the modern diesels are super reliable, the Ford Powerstroke is the best.

Now... that brings me to my main point. 95% of guys would be much better served by avoiding diesel engines altogether. If you buy a 2023+ Ford Super Duty with the 7.3L gas engine and the 4.30 axle ratio it will pull anything the diesel will pull, maintenance will be far less expensive, and you won't have any $5k to $15k repairs coming up in the future. That is my suggestion... find a good Ram 6.4L truck with 4.10 axle or Ford 7.3L truck with 4.30 axle. You will be happy you did. AND your payload rating and usable GVWR will be greater for your trailer.

 

[not2old]

If you finance the truck and do the calculations (including financing fees, and the required comprehensive , you may well discover the $56K truck will cost you way more than may moons of necessary rentals. There is no such thing as a Zero Interest Loans or free lunches. If you are convinced there are, forget the forgoing and best o'luck with the fancy PUT

When I got the quote for my truck last fall, it was made clear to me that there would be a $5000.00 discount if I did not take the cheap financing and paid cash.

 

[4570Man]

If your original 2002 is in good shape bodywise, you would be a fool to trade DOWN to a newer truck. The money you are going to spend on a new one would be more wisely invested in your old one with money to spare. The 7.3 is tried and true. All the new diesels are garbage!! If you do not believe me, approach an engine rebuild shop and ask them if they would even bother rebuilding ANY of these newer diesels. All garbage, especially once the warranty is gone. Better the devil you know than........

Have you ever driven a truck that’s even less than a decade old? Because a 6.7 either one of them blows away a 7.3.

 

[Sid Post]

Sort of in the same position as the OP of this thread.

I will be in a Ford with the Godzilla gas engine. I'm not waiting for an EV or turbo V-6 or whatever the next big thing will be.

With the Ford gas engine, I don't have to worry about DEF and other emissions problems. I also won't have to find a diesel mechanic to fix anything that breaks, or wait a month for my turn in the shop.

 

[Hay Dude]

If your original 2002 is in good shape bodywise, you would be a fool to trade DOWN to a newer truck. The money you are going to spend on a new one would be more wisely invested in your old one with money to spare. The 7.3 is tried and true. All the new diesels are garbage!! If you do not believe me, approach an engine rebuild shop and ask them if they would even bother rebuilding ANY of these newer diesels. All garbage, especially once the warranty is gone. Better the devil you know than........

Are you serious?
Garbage?
No.

 

[ranchito]

I guess my point; what is the specific concern with the 02? Is it comfort, moderness, is it mechanically got issues?

Suspension, there are a ton of air bag, and upgraded kits

Modern, whole drop in Infotainment centers are $500; add $250 for install.

I just did this on a recently purchased 2000 GMC with a sick radio. Bought a package from Crutchfield including the dash panel for under $500 and with their excellent support, installed it myself. Head unit was plug and play. Only PITA was the wiring for the backup camera. Now with Carplay and SIRI on board, my 25 year old truck has an up to date infocenter. Put maybe $3k into this beautiful truck and it looks and rides like new.

 

[JRH02]

The wife and I were just talking about this yesterday. If a 2WD is all you need for towing on pavement she says a GM is about all one can buy off a lot, esp new. I don't know for sure but she says that if you look at a Dodge or Ford pickup in 2WD it will be a special order. If on hard top in that part of the country and you can stomach a GM that may be the hot setup.

I remember driving a 2WD Chevy 3/4T long box dually in the winter, in snow. That was one of the worst experiences in winter driving I can recall.