Truck looking frustration

[ShenValSteve]

I sold my 98 F150 last weekend and am now looking for a new(er) truck. I'd like to stick with a Ford, preferably a regular cab f250, but they are virtually nonexistent here in the Valley, at least models less than 10 years old. I've seen a few and have talked to a dealer who has one I really like in the Binghamton area of NY, but the thought of traveling 6 and a half hours and pretty much having to decide right then and there what to do is one I'm struggling with. Suggestions and advice appreciated.

Just FYI for the GM fans out there, just for the heck of it, I've done the same web searches for Chevys and GMCs and they're no more common than Ford regular cabs.

 

[ironpony]

patience and a lot of looking to find a good truck these days. People that have them want them and if they decide to part with them they want to much for them. regular cabs are rare, extended cabs are nice for hauling extras inside. 4 doors getting big and long

 

[Corey]

I hear ya - I've looked for some 'rare' vehicles and done a couple of extended trips / decide on the spot. Not the ideal way to try and negotiate 'on site' so to speak, but it does give you somewhat of an advantage if you try to negotiate 'remotely'.

Assuming it's a reputable dealer, I'd ask for any/all detailed photos they can supply, car fax, etc. Ideally, the photos would be nice, clean, clear shots of all the detail areas. If you can make a general decision from those, try to negotiate a price on the phone. I've always been crystal clear with them...'I'm making a long trip to come see the vehicle, very interested based on the photos, would like to have the 'best price' you can give to compel me to come look, if it's as good in person as in the photos, I'd be a buyer at that price and take it home today.'

The negotiation can sort of go either way... the dealer doesn't have you 'on the hook' so to speak, so they may not be willing to deal. But likewise, you don't have any skin in the game...only a few phone calls/emails so it's pretty easy to walk away with no loss if they don't deal.

Another issue may be if the trucks are so rare because nobody wants/has them? or because everyone is snapping them up at first sight? If it's the former, I'd say the remote dealing could work in your favor...the dealer may be looking to dump the truck on the first sucker...ur ah...customer to show interest. If it's the latter, probably not much luck as they will hold out for deep pockets coming through the front door!

The key is to have the price / guarantee in hand. (partly where the 'reputable dealer' comes in) - ie don't make the trip thinking 'if I can only get them down a couple more thousand' - as they know you're on the hook then. Likewise, get a list of any/all fees and what the 'bottom dollar' is up front as you don't want to show up and find there are hundreds or thousands in extra fees.

Either way, good luck!

 

[missedbass]

lot of salt in Bing. beware

 

[Flying Dutchman]

I am also super frustrated with looking for a truck. I had 4 older 4wd trucks and a Ranger fail BIG TIME on me all rust related. I ended up hauling wood and scrap etc for years with a 1997 Jeep TJ and a crappy trailer. Now the frame rusted out on that and i'm afraid to tug trailers with it anymore. For me the Jeep was cheap but you cant touch another Wrangler for under 5K either I went HARD after a couple trucks and the dealers would not move more than $500 off of their list price.

I'm tempted to become Amish, move down south, or just blow my brains out but I can't afford bullets, buggies or moving.

 

[Mt Bob]

Try keystone ford in chambersburg pa and hagerstown ford.dad back in clear spring,md has had excellent luck with both.

 

[ShenValSteve]

Thanks for the replies. The salt thing is probably an issue I can't escape, since the vast majority of this type of truck I've found online is to my north and/or northwest. I'll just have to check them all out. I think I'm just running into the result of changes in the market since the last time I bought a truck, which was early 2002, and the vast majority sold in that time period have been either extended cabs or crew cabs.

 

[Flying Dutchman]

So are you just looking for a single cab truck period? What price range? What spec?

I like the 05-07 Fords with the 5R100 instead of the older 4R100. Its a big improvement. I like the 3 valve V10 engine that comes in those years too, if you are looking for one get the 4.30 gears (or low as possible). The V10's at least get the same fuel economy at 4000 rpm as they do at 2000. The low gears get you fantastic neck breaking power to boot.

If you are a diesel fan... avoid the 6.0 unless it has reciepts for bulletproofing activities like ARP head studs, head gaskets, EGR delete, coolant filter, turbo upgrade (the VGT can be problematic, the ring that actuates the vanes will rust up in one position)

Have you tried Craigslist?

 

[flyingcow]

A plane ticket can be fairly cheap if you find one in salt free areas. money well invested IMO. I flew from maine and ended up around Culpepper to buy a 2006. no great deal, but no rust.

 

[NCFord]

I second looking somewhere without salt. It makes a massive difference. I have an '07 f-250 here in NC without salt and my cousin in buffalo has the same truck same year. When you look under his it looks like it's at least 20 years old and stuff rusting out
where as mine still has "shinny" metal even on the exhaust system. As least start clean with a new "used" truck.

 

[Stegman]

A plane ticket can be fairly cheap if you find one in salt free areas. money well invested IMO. I flew from maine and ended up around Culpepper to buy a 2006. no great deal, but no rust.

I've always wondered about the logistics of this. Say you fly somewhere and decide to buy the vehicle. How do you get it home without a plate/registration/insurance? I assume driving it home is the only way to make it work financially, because having it shipped back and paying for a return plane ticket would eat up any savings.

 

[ironpony]

I've always wondered about the logistics of this. Say you fly somewhere and decide to buy the vehicle. How do you get it home without a plate/registration/insurance? I assume driving it home is the only way to make it work financially, because having it shipped back and paying for a return plane ticket would eat up any savings.

you can operate for 30 days on your existing insurance policy and most states have some sort of grace for this type of situation.

 

[Jp16]

I've always wondered about the logistics of this. Say you fly somewhere and decide to buy the vehicle. How do you get it home without a plate/registration/insurance? I assume driving it home is the only way to make it work financially, because having it shipped back and paying for a return plane ticket would eat up any savings.

Depends on the state you are in. I see you are in MA, me too. If you travel with the intention of buying a truck, bring your plate. All you need to do is attach the plate, assuming that you sold or are no longer in possesion the vehicle that the plate was on <wink, wink>. Have the title that was transfered to you and a bill of sale with you at all times. Also if it is a purchase from a dealer, bring a blank RMV1 form for them to fill out. Call your insurance agent as soon as you have bought the vehicle. You should be all set. Since MA does not have temporary plates you technicaly cannot use out of state temp plates. Get to the registry as soon as you can and then you have 5 days to have it inspected.

 

[MofoG23]

Took me almost a year to find my truck (95% rust free)...then I had to drive nearly 6 hours to pick it up. I chalked it up as being good road test getting home....fortunately it passed.

Good luck!

 

[Zuni]

I live in the high desert of New Mexico and currently own an 86 F-250 with the 6.9. Truck is rust free and under it looks like a truck a year old. If you guys really want a rust free truck, I would be happy to look for what you are looking for, just let me know. Trucks here are common, so the prices are not bad. That said....even though it may have no rust, it will be just as worn out as the miles say it is. But I have always found it's easier to fix normal wear and tear but rust is not so easy. Paid a 1000 for the F-250 4x4 with 118000 miles. I'm 58 and it will last the rest of my life. Oh an buy a Ford. Chevy's are cars with a truck body. The Ford is a real truck....lol

 

[MDFisherman]

All I can say is autotrader. My last truck was totaled after another Ram 1500 smashed into me. I waited about 2 months until I found the one I wanted at Heritage Dodge near Baltimore. Its a 2012 Ram 2500 4x4 reg cab long bed. If you want an 8ft bed they are much more common on the 3/4 ton trucks.

 

[flyingcow]

I've always wondered about the logistics of this. Say you fly somewhere and decide to buy the vehicle. How do you get it home without a plate/registration/insurance? I assume driving it home is the only way to make it work financially, because having it shipped back and paying for a return plane ticket would eat up any savings.

I bought it in Va from a dealer, had a 30 day plate. I drove it 900 miles to get home. I pretty much had it bought via phone internet. It was a 2006 crew cab duramax, 8ft bed.

 

[ShenValSteve]

I've been checking autotrader and cars.com daily. I've seen a few that are possiblities, but have been somewhat limited by my work schedule the last couple of weeks. I'm not interested in a diesel, but yeah, I've heard the horror stories about the Ford 6.0 too. I think if I was going with a diesel, I'd have to break with my past and go with a Chevy or GMC (and buy a whole new wardrobe, at least of hats!).

 

[Halligan]

I sold a truck via the internet. Picked up the buyer at the airport and took him too the bank where the note was held which he paid it off. I tossed him the key's and he drove off into the sunset.

Funny thing was he came from down south up to RI for the truck. Although the truck was newer and had no rust.

Wish I had that truck back now. It would be an awesome wood hauler. 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins 4X4 with the regular cab and long bed.

 

[flyingcow]

C

I've been checking autotrader and cars.com daily. I've seen a few that are possiblities, but have been somewhat limited by my work schedule the last couple of weeks. I'm not interested in a diesel, but yeah, I've heard the horror stories about the Ford 6.0 too. I think if I was going with a diesel, I'd have to break with my past and go with a Chevy or GMC (and buy a whole new wardrobe, at least of hats!).

carfax is a good tool, that weeded out a few Craigs list knuckleheads. I used one carfax report and called a DMV to track mileage reports. But, keep in mind any body/drivetrain repairs that aren't reported, carfax will not show it.

 

[ShenValSteve]

Zuni, I just checked some vehicles in the desert SW and hmm. I'm quite a disliker of flying, but maybe with the right tranquilizers...

I had an '86 F150 4x4 with the 300 six cylinder. Made a mistake when I let that one go fifteen years ago.

 

[flhpi]

Whatever you do, don't compromise. Setup auto trader with your specs and it will send you alerts. I drove 7 hrs with a rental car so I could get the truck I wanted. There were trucks that were closer but the mileage, color, options were not what I wanted.

Plus a road trip makes it an adventure.

 

[NE WOOD BURNER]

post your specs here on this thread. Worth a shot with such a large audience. For me most deals come from simple conversation.

 

[flyingcow]

Zuni, I just checked some vehicles in the desert SW and hmm. I'm quite a disliker of flying, but maybe with the right tranquilizers...

I had an '86 F150 4x4 with the 300 six cylinder. Made a mistake when I let that one go fifteen years ago.

That was a hell of a pickup. Bullet proof.

 

[ShenValSteve]

That was a hell of a pickup. Bullet proof.

I had to replace the clutch and belts, that was it. My best friend bought an '87 just like it last summer, but it met an unfortunate end at the wrong side of a large oak tree.

I think I may found my truck, more details as things develop.