Another truck thread anyone? Looking to buy

[BroncoAZ]

I purchased a new Tacoma this year, the TRD Offroad model with the rear locker. It’s a great little truck, tows my boat well, does what I need offroad, etc. In this market I wouldn’t buy used, too expensive for junk. You’ll pay more for new, but at least it’s new and under full warranty if there are any problems.

 

[satchamo]

So, I've been waiting for a while and finally have a job that gives me some extra change. I'm still very budget conscious so am looking for the "best bang for the buck". Here are the boxes to check-long term reliable, daily driver, 4wd (almost certainly want rear locker), room for carseat in back (one rear facing for another year, one forward), would like the possibility of towing a small travel trailer.
Things I don't care about (but don't hate) technology, comfort, style.
I basically settled on a frontier pro 4x,(found a 2017 for like 27k) unless I can get lucky and find a titan pro 4x for less than 40ish.
Whatdya think, am I on the right track?

With your list I would 100% go full size. Mid sized trucks are nice but they’re mid sized. I have 2 car seats myself and wouldn’t trade the back seat of my f150 crew for the world. It’s sooooo nice with kids.

I have a 2021 f150 stx - 5.0 crew 4wd with a rear locker. I got it for 42k brand new with fords Xplan. I’ve been pretty happy with it. I just put it through its paces last week in northern new Mexico and southern colorado. If you can forgo some of the niceties - the STX is a really nice trim package for the price.

 

[Beendare]

Yeah, I just bought a new Ram 2500 Tradesman crew cab today with the 6.7 cummins for my foreman, $58k before tax and lic. We need the heavy duty 20,000 towing for heavy equipment. The only reason it made any sense for me is I can write it off in my business.…and get way over market for his existing truck.

If you can wait- I would.

Its bad timing for sure as I couldn’t find a dealer that would sell me a truck at MSRP, so for the first time in my life I paid up $3000 over msrp. Sucks.
They know these vehicles are extremely limited and trucks are just trickling out of the factory- if at all due to the chip shortage. When Dave Smith motors in Idaho doesn’t even call you back you know there is a lot of demand for these vehicles.

FWIW, this truck drives like a dump truck. I doubt I could drink my morning coffee in it without spilling. It’s night and day different from the way my Ram 1500 limited with the air ride drives.

.

 

[BroncoAZ]

I bought two trucks for work today, one was $1750 under MSRP from a new dealer I haven’t purchased from before, the other was a regular deal for me at invoice minus fleet incentives. Before leaving the dealership I ordered seven more trucks, my fleet sales guy seemed confident on the 1500 and 2500, but wasn’t as optimistic about the five special color Colorados. It’s a rough market, fortunately I have built strong relationships that are paying dividends.

 

[kfili]

Well you guys have echoed what Ive heard but was trying to avoid listening to- just go full sized. So thats the new plan. Now comes the waiting game of trying to find an appropriately priced one that has the features I want...fingers crossed- Ive been scouring facebook, craigslist, and a few dealers that have good prices. Any other resources I should be checking out? Forums, ect?

 

[dtrkyman]

I may drive my current vehicle until she just flat falls apart! But on the other hand new vehicles are not going to get cheaper!

I saw at the jeep dealer recently a nice little 5k mark up on an index card under the window sticker, said added for market value.

Wife bought a new car and that dealer was part of a group that was not gouging and there was even a 1500 factory rebate.

 

[satchamo]

Well you guys have echoed what Ive heard but was trying to avoid listening to- just go full sized. So thats the new plan. Now comes the waiting game of trying to find an appropriately priced one that has the features I want...fingers crossed- Ive been scouring facebook, craigslist, and a few dealers that have good prices. Any other resources I should be checking out? Forums, ect?

I think it’s a wise choice - full size is so nice with kids. I was in your boat a few months ago and finally decided I didn’t want to wait as things didn’t seem to be easing up.

When I bought my f150 - I rolled off the truck THAT day. They had 2 other 21’s on the lot. I was able to utilize Xplan pricing which got me 3k off of MSRP which is pretty well inline with a “good deal”. This was in June but I didn0 haggling. At that time, I paid the same amount brand new as all the used 2-3 year old models with 30-40k miles on it so it was a no brainer.

But anyone can get Ford Xplan if you sign up for a club or something. Just google it. The problem is some dealers won’t accept it with their inventory issues.

Not sure if you’re considering new but food for thought!

 

[Broomd]

So, I've been waiting for a while and finally have a job that gives me some extra change. I'm still very budget conscious so am looking for the "best bang for the buck". Here are the boxes to check-long term reliable, daily driver, 4wd (almost certainly want rear locker), room for carseat in back (one rear facing for another year, one forward), would like the possibility of towing a small travel trailer.
Things I don't care about (but don't hate) technology, comfort, style.
I basically settled on a frontier pro 4x,(found a 2017 for like 27k) unless I can get lucky and find a titan pro 4x for less than 40ish.
Whatdya think, am I on the right track?

I haven't read all of this thread, but if it hasn't been mentioned already the all-new 2022 Nissan Frontier is a world class mid-sized truck. The reviews are stellar and even many devoted Tacoma fanboys are raving about the job Nissan did with this one.
The Pro-4x is a beast.....completely redesigned. If I didn't need a 4' bed for my slide-in camper I'd own one.

 

[kfili]

That's what kicked off my search in earnest. The 2022 frontier looks awesome, but now that I'm going full sized I almost certainly have to go used, can't spend $55k+, (although the frontiers aren't that far off from that!) So the search for the right full sized truck at the right price begins..