Buying a truck in this crazy market?

[Pickettpuncher]

The 4.6 has seemed to be problematic in the f150s, but I assume you have been running used engines?

Correct, these were not remans. Just used ones I’m guessing pulled out of junk vehicles.

 

[Pickettpuncher]

Yeah I got the 5.4 because my Ford mechanics said that's been their most reliable engine they have seen. Besides spark plugs.

I don’t remember which, but the 4.6 and 5.4 share I believe the same bottom end of the motor, but could but the upper. The spark plugs breaking in the 5.4 has been it’s downfall, but mine had issues getting moisture around the spark plug and shorting a coil out.

 

[southLA]

I have a 4.6 in a Ford with 275,000 miles. Just burns about a quart per 5k miles otherwise, zero issues in 22 years.

 

[wapitibob]

So how do you explain the 11,000lb towing capacity of the half tons?

Marketing BS, you can pull almost anything across a parking lot.
I own one of those 11K capacity f-150's, towed a 6000lb trailer thousands of miles, and towing 11K with an f-150 that weighs 5800lb soaking wet isn't something I put in the "great idea" category.

 

[LIK2HNT]

Almost in the same situation as you. Thinking about retiring in a year and would like to replace my ‘02 3/4 ton crew cab Duramax w/ over 300k miles. Prices are crazy and I really don’t want DEF. Might have to wait a few years.

 

[DanimalW]

You could lease a truck for a few years and see if things get any better then. I don’t think they’ll get any cheaper, but they might actually have some deals again by then.

 

[TheWhitetailNut]

Get a vehicle appropriate for the task. A 1/2 ton has no business being anywhere near an 8000# trailer.

Way too big of truck?

 

[tdhanses]

Marketing BS, you can pull almost anything across a parking lot.
I own one of those 11K capacity f-150's, towed a 6000lb trailer thousands of miles, and towing 11K with an f-150 that weighs 5800lb soaking wet isn't something I put in the "great idea" category.

But yet a 8500lb truck is good with 15k?

 

[SCHUNTER73]

I’ve been looking as well, but am in a position with my current truck to wait until the market corrects and hopefully get a better buy. Who knows when that might be…

 

[Billinsd]

So how do you explain the 11,000lb towing capacity of the half tons?

The max payload capacity, which is about 10% of the towed vehicle is the critical factor. Many 1/2 Tons have about 1,300 payload capacity. Figure 10% of 11,000 is 1,100 lbs. That means, you can't load anything else in your truck, like a shell, gear, etc.

 

[TheWhitetailNut]

Don’t tell that to my F150 that’s hooked to a dump trailer with an 7200lb excavator in it! It’s been hooked to that same trailer basically since I bought it 37,000 miles ago.

For the record it replaced a 2017 F250 with the 6.2L. The f150 with the 3.5 has more power, gets better fuel economy and rides way better than the 3/4 ton. Unless my little side gig needs a bigger excavator or skid steer I won’t own another “HD” truck. This coming from a guy that’s only owned HD trucks, until the last two only owned diesels.


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You can't use fact and experience when discussing things like trucks. I went from a F-250 7.3L PSD to a 3.5L Ecoboost F-150 for towing a 10K+ trailer for my business in 2015. The F-150 accelerated better, costs far less to operate, was more comfortable, stopped better, etc, etc. etc. Then I bought a 17.5K dump trailer for hunting property management and bigger Travel trailer so I got another F-250 Diesel, friggin hate it, what a waste of fuel and cash. This hunting season will be at least $5000 in diesel fuel for nothing I couldn't do with the F-150. Someone was kind enough to relieve me of the Big Tex, so if I could I'd sell the Superduty and get another F-150 it would be done.

Not sure why dudes think you need a a 20,000# capacity to do 8000# of work.

 

[z987k]

The max payload capacity, which is about 10% of the towed vehicle is the critical factor. Many 1/2 Tons have about 1,300 payload capacity. Figure 10% of 11,000 is 1,100 lbs. That means, you can't load anything else in your truck, like a shell, gear, etc.

I'm aware. I've towed with my F150 at it's max. It'd have sucked if I was towing on the freeway in Kansas, but on the 2 lane roads it actually sees, it's not a big deal. I don't have to go everywhere at 80.
I pulled a 8000lb trailer up the alcan in the winter, which with the age of the F150 at the time wasn't terribly under it's max load. It was a non-issue unless you're in some super rush, which would put you in the ditch with any truck.
I guess it'd be a big issue if you didn't hook up the trailer brakes.

 

[grfox92]

I have a 4.6 in a Ford with 275,000 miles. Just burns about a quart per 5k miles otherwise, zero issues in 22 years.

Mines at 247k and runs like brand new. My coworker is at 260k and runs the same. Sometimes there are some lemons out there but overall a great engine.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

 

[Like2hunt]

I’d wait if you can. The market will have to come down at some point. I got dang lucky and got my truck for a way good deal. 96 F-150 with 143k, 5 brand new tires, new brakes and rotors, the dif fluid changed out all for 4K. I could sell it for a lot more then I paid for it. Only bad thing about it is that it has the 5.8 and she chugs down the gas. If you can wait and watch for a deal then that would be your best option. If you need one now then it’s all up to you on if you want to/can spend the money for a new one, or if you want to get a cheaper older one.
Mine has pulled anything I’ve hooked to it. Not anything crazy big or on the freeway though, but it does good for its job of being the DD. If I need something to pull a bigger trailer or for a longer distance then I’ll use one of the diesels. You usually can’t beat a diesel for towing.

 

[jayhawk]

I just bought a used truck (not my choice, but had no other option). If you have the money, look into baseline models matching your criteria. It makes more sense to buy new right now than used once you include a warranty, services, etc. That is, if you can stand the waiting period . . .

Also don't be afraid to look around on craigslist and FB marketplace. Run the VIN through carfax, insurance database, etc. and check it out thoroughly and that'll give you a good idea of what you're looking at.

 

[chapman8523]

Those ford 3.5 eco boost trucks seem to be really holding up for themselves. Was told the new Toyota Tundra trucks with the turbo were really impressive, but the reliability is unknown at this point. I wouldn’t hesitate with the ford. I do agree that the ones that deactivate cylinders are to stay away from. No way I’d buy a used one without knowledge of whether or not they used that option or not.

Like you, in the next year I plan on buying a new to me truck. My needs are bit different as I’m gonna get a 3/4 ton. But the prices are nuts. And I’ll probably work out of it most of the time so throwin $60k at a new one is a bit sickening.

I had a horrible experience with a 2018 Ford F150 Ecoboost. Wouldn't recommend to anyone.

 

[Gutshot007]

I always get a kick out of the "payload " thing. I always thought it was when you couldn't possibly put one more piece of firewood in the bed. I had a 95 Tacoma that broke 2 leaf springs and a 96 Chevy 3/4 ton with a broken leaf spring I had to replace. Huh .. there must be something to it !

 

[Cowbell]

The people saying wait are not very plugged in to the auto market. This is the new way of doing business. This is more an issue of supply and demand than inflation. Every day that goes buy, auto factories are getting further behind on orders. Many of the new vehicles are arriving at lots short of necessary chips to run all functions and so will be upgraded by the dealer once chips arrive.
We are living in a time where people do not want to work and labor costs will steadily rise. Eventuality there will be few left to actually put vehicles together. You would be better off ordering one today while you still can. I have a one ton on the way that I ordered three months ago. Prices have gone up since I ordered. Believe it or not, I could flip it in the used market for 5-10k over my msrp cost once I drive it off the lot. I would be even further ahead had I bought one a year ago when everybody said wait. I'm tempted to order another one just to flip once I get it in my name.

 

[bojangles808]

The people saying wait are not very plugged in to the auto market. This is the new way of doing business. This is more an issue of supply and demand than inflation. Every day that goes buy, auto factories are getting further behind on orders. Many of the new vehicles are arriving at lots short of necessary chips to run all functions and so will be upgraded by the dealer once chips arrive.

X2. I'd get on auto trader or cars.com, find what I'd want and find some dealerrs doing no markup and be prepared to drive or even fly to do a deal.

 

[z987k]

We are living in a time where people do not want to work and labor costs will steadily rise.

People keep saying this, but it's just not the case. The unemployment rate is lower than it was before the pandemic. It's the lowest it's been save a single month in 2019 for 50 years. It has nothing to do with not wanting to work. It's purely demographics and skill mismatch.

First, more boomers are retiring than Gen X and Millennials exist. The 18-22 year olds coming into the job market do not replace the people retiring. This will continue to happen for the next 15 years. Effective unemployment will be 0%, there will not be enough labor to meet the demand for labor. Look at any demographic chart and this is very obvious. The Boomers didn't have enough kids and the GenXers really didn't.

What is being confused with an unwillingness to work, is that for the first time in 50 years, the workers have the supply demand curve on their side. And they are leveraging that for a better job with someone that will pay them more or offer something else better that they want. The job market is so hot, you can just walk off a job, tell your employer to F off and be employed again in days to hours. With no repercussions, you'll probably end up better off for it.
Something else that has changed is younger workers have no loyalty to their employer. They watched their parents get screwed endlessly in the 80s-2010s an it was "just business". They took it to heart.

Skilled people don't even have to look. They have people begging them to come work for them instead of where they're at.
I get a 5k bonus per person I can recruit to work at my company, if they stay 4 months. OT rates at 500+%, because there's not enough people in the whole US with the requisite credentials to legally do what we do to cover need with the retirement rate we've had since 2020. We're also sponsoring visas to anyone that has the US certs that doesn't have the right to work.

The skilled labor shortage will continue for a very long time looking at the demographic charts, baring automation or mass skilled immigration.