Anyone purchase a new tow rig lately?

D

doc

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We are thinking that this is either a really bad time to buy a truck or maybe a really good time. There are some pretty decent incentives on new trucks lately that bring many prices for new down to the level of late model used. Anyone have a feel for just how much more a dealer might negotiate beyond the standard incentive packages? Anyone make a great score lately?
 
OK, this is a friend of a coworker story, so I can't really vouch for the truth value. I was talking about this subject with a fellow I work with earlier this week, although I was talking about used SUV's. He told me a friend of his at church had just purchased a new Ford F-150, crew cab, King Ranch Edition (which is the height of pickup fashion here in Texas) from one of the dealers in the northwest Houston suburbs. The sticker was $43K and change. and he bought it for $23K. I'm personally not into fancy trucks, but that sounded pretty good to me. Houston (well really Harris County, Texas) is the pickup truck center of the universe based on vehicle registrations. If they're dealing here, I'd think they must be just giving them away elsewhere.

Mike
 
I've heard the same stories here in NC/SC.
I'll add that although I was 8 months too early to get the good deals, I'm not very happy with my 08 F250 gas engined truck. It's a good truck, but my F150 will run rings around it, the 5 speed auto drives me nuts, and it doesn't tow my CD22 as well as the 01 F150.
 
I got a follow up call from a Ford salesman today regarding an F150. Currently, they have the "employee discount" going which brings a 41K Lariat down to about 31K. He said that was the absolute lowest they would go. Not too bad but I don't exactly have an overwhelming urge to rush down and buy one. He's got my phone number.
 
If it was me I would look for a well taken care of Dodge w/cummins turbo diesel. Something in the 2002/2004 range. There are a lot of them out there and a lot of the retired folks used them lightly and took good care of them. I bought a 2002 and was amazed at what a good and strong truck it is. I have about 120,000 miles on mine and so far just oil and filter changes. I just took it to the dealer this week to get everything gone over. All differentials, transmission service, serpentine belt, the works. Still the original brakes and they are still good. I was never a Dodge fan in the past but this truck is really a good one. I expect it will run me for the rest of the time that I will need it.
 
Sales have absolutely tanked on SUV's and Trucks and now would definitely be the time to buy.

In either case, you should never pay invoice price for any vehicle. I buy my new vehicles at least $100 below dealer invoice price as found on Edmunds.com or other sites. "Employee discount price" you see advertisied is usually higher than the invoice price. If a dealer will not offer a vehicle below invoice keep looking - you will find one who will.
 
I have to speak up for my trusty rig.
I love driving my Silverado with the Duramax/Allison combo.

Great mileage, great power and torque, very comfortable interior.

Most people go with what they know, and my father was a diesel mechanic and a GM man. Just saying consider the source.

None of them are cheap, so drive them all.

I have heard that Fords are going through some issues, but the internet is great at spreading rumors like that one.
 
I've got and older Ford diesel 96 model and it has been great except for transmissions. At 168,000 miles I'm on my third one but I pulled a 14,000 pound 5th wheel with it for many miles. If I were looking for a tow vehicle and I expected to tow for any distance I wouldn't consider anything but a diesel. Deals on these used diesels are few and far between as most people who have them buy them for a specific purpose and usually don't part with them until they are worn out.
 
Hello,
I wondered what a 2500 (3/4 ton) GMC or Chevy with a Duramax diesel and and allison transmission is worth these days moderately equipped with air heat and music. No dead animal seats needed. What kind of mileage do they get towing a 25' cruiser? Thank You
D.D.
 
The price you pay can depend on the delearship. Somtimes delearships will shift factory incentives to other vehicles that are not moving in order to get them off their lot. It could be that the dealer in Texas is doing that to the pickups. Anyway, if buying from a dealer I highly recommend talking directly with their fleet manager (internet sales guy). They usually shoot a little straighter than the showroom floor guys.
 
I agree with Marvin, I looked all over the northwest to find my '03 Silverado, and found 3 of them that fit my criteria. This, despite seeing them all over the place.
I get 18 or 19 mpg with no load.
 
I highly recommend the Banks Ottominder computer system for those who are looking for better towing mileage from their diesel trucks. After you've finished playing with the increased power you can get out of the truck and you turn the tuning dial down to "Economy", you'll notice a pretty impressive increase in mileage.

There are other tuner computer systems out there that promise more and cost less, but the Banks system seems pretty well designed with safe guards. The PDA device that you place on the dash can give you all sorts of info on temps, codes etc. Being able to monitor temps such as the transmission and exhaust gas while pulling a hill takes a lot of the guess work and worries out of pulling a load.

No, I don't have anything to do with Banks, but it was one of those rare "hop-up" purchases that actually worked better that advertised.
 
Dodge gas rigs come with a lifetime warranty on all parts lubricated. That's what made up my mind when I got rid of the FFH (Ford From Hell). They've also got some deal going (don't know if the Dodge trucks are included) with $2.99 gas for 12k miles, 1 year for I think 3 years. THAT's a haul these days!

Caty
 
The Dodge fuel deal at $5.00 per gallon for diesel for 12,000 miles a year comes to about 2K per year fuel rebate for 3 years if the price remains steady. With a price incentive or rebate on top, that might be a pretty good deal. Still, I haven't exactly had anyone knocking down my door to sell me a truck yet.
 
If anyone is interested, my son has a 1997 Ford F350 Diesel with a 5 speed, extended cab, 4 door pickup in excellent condition...that he wants to sell...he dosen't have a C-Dory yet (I am stiill kicking)...it would be great for towing a 25 or larger and gets excellent fuel mileage.... (for a diesel),...even with the outrageous fuel prices it is a fair deal at $10k ....looks good, good tires, nothing wrong.....I would not feel bad selling it to one of you guys...

Joel
SEA3PO
 
I just purchased a new '08 Tundra 5.7L V8 for $22,900, 4WD with most of the options I needed. It was cheaper than what I saw used on Craigs for '07's! It rides and tows very nice, plus I added a front hitch so driving it into tight spaces is easy now. The highway mileage w/o towing is about 18mpg if you stay at 65mph.

Hope this helps.

Vern
 
I purchased an '05 F-250 Super Duty 4X4, 6.0 liter diesel, crew cab short bed, w/tow package, 37K miles, one owner in nice shape. $25K. Gets a solid 18-19 on the freeway with no load.
 
Does anyone have more info about the new Ram 1500 with the 4 cylinder diesel (3litre) from fiat ? 220 hp over 400 lb torgue maybe a good tow vehicle ? I think they say in Sept. ? I wonder what the tow package will be like ? I still like my 07 Toyota sequoia but gas mileage is not the best 11mpg towing a cc-23 and about 15-16 mpg around town 18-19 hwy It would be nice to have more diesel options for towing 6000lb and lower .
 
The new 1500 Dodge will have a v-6 turbo. 240 h.p., 420ft.lbs of torque. 8 speed automatic. 18mpg city, 28mpg highway. Not sure what it can tow. But it is available in September.
 
For the 22 and 23 the new Dodge 240 hp/425 Ft Lb diesel should be sweet. But if I was pulling a 25 or Tom Cat I would want to go with the cummins 6.7 and 850 ft lbs torque.

The mileage estimates for that small V6 is impressive. But I have heard some pretty good numbers from the Cummins also with overdrive.
 
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