I’m only 44 years old but these new truck prices have me sou

May 26

I’m only 44 years old but these new truck prices have me sounding like a bitter old man right now. Mother Nature has reclaimed both my personal truck and my shop service/plow truck at the same time so I have to go shopping. It has gotten officially impossible to buy a 4wd heavy duty truck for less than $50k now. Look at this window sticker. You can’t get much more of a stripped down, basic truck than this. I don’t get it.

If not for the fact that I know it would biodegrade in one year’s worth of salt, I’d go out and find the best ‘77 F250 highboy with a 4 speed that I could and run that instead….and it would get just as bad fuel economy.

May 26, 2026

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Replies (58)

· May 26

You just explained why I bought a 2014 F150 XL with 61k miles for 21k. I was thinking about a thread showing me touching up the rust spots with POR15. It is convenient my truck is silver and POR15 comes in silver.

· May 27

@alsancle Are the rust spots in the typical place, about an inch or so up from the bottom edge of the wheel arch? If so, it’s most likely coming from between the wheelhouse and outer bedside and the POR might not help much. It’s what is happening on the backside of the panel that you have to worry about.

· May 27

@Hupp31 All it helps with is saving me embarrassment until it fully pokes through. I might need to buy a rust free bed from Arizona and have you paint it for me. For 2k this one is already painted for me.

· May 27

@alsancle Finding a western bed isn’t a bad option. It’s a bit more difficult in a half ton, but there may be a new takeoff bed that was pulled to install a utility body. Much easier to find in a heavy duty though. My plow truck is an ‘05 F150 which we had shipped up from FL in 2015. It was totally rust free. Now it’s scrap. The struggle is real.

· May 27

@Hupp31 our 2008 F150 with 270k is still running like new thanks to regular maintenance and our dry climate. At some point I plan to replace it with a F250 with the Godzilla motor. Not looking forward to the cost to replace place our F150

· May 27

@Chandler-Six I can’t really justify the extra $1500 for the Godzilla. The 6.8 mini-Godzilla is still 405hp, which is more than I’ll probably ever need. Now you can get the 6.8 in higher trim levels too.

· May 27

@Hupp31 agreed they are both great engines but the truck I’ll be looking for will be used so I don’t have to take the big cut when I drive it off the lot

· May 27

@Chandler-Six I can’t blame you for going used if you’re able to make them last as long as you have. For us out here, I feel like the initial depreciation is a trade off for a few good years before parts start falling off. Probably all comes out in the wash in the end.

· May 28

@Hupp31 I continue to use my formula of finding an off lease whatever. 2019 - $36k, 4,000 miles gosh it's been 4 years already. I like the selection at Litchfield Ford - lots of big boys thar gentleman farmers buy and use lightly...

· May 28

@SteveMackCT The trick with finding a used truck is finding one that isn’t some loaded up cowboy Cadillac. I want a “truk”, the C is superfluous. Regular cab, longbed, rubber floor mat….

· May 28

@Hupp31 Travis, those no longer exist. 95% are crew cab and maybe over 50% are Lariat or above trim in the F150.

· May 28

@SteveMackCT This is not a bad plan. If the extended cab is good enough you will save money over a crew and get the longer bed if you need it. Have you had trouble with the 10R80 transmission? I have to different buddies who had to replace them under 100k.

· May 28

@alsancle My local dealer has an XL regular cab on the lot that I stopped to look at in the rain last week, hoping that no salesmen would bother me. No luck, they smelled blood in the water and came out anyhow. Just by the fact that I was actually looking at a base truck, he assumed that I was looking to get a fleet bid going. Nobody buys a real truck for personal use anymore.

· May 28

@Hupp31 Do you need a 4x4? 10% of the cars.com inventory is stanard cab. I was suprised by that.

· May 28

@alsancle Yes, definitely 4x4, it’ll be a plow truck.

· May 28

@alsancle It seems like you hear about all trucks having transmission problems. I know the GMs we’re having problems. I’ve always been of the opinion that there are two types of automatic transmission: One that will fail, and one that already has failed.

· May 28

@Hupp31 Part of the reason I went all the way back to 2014. That and I'm cheap and that was the truck that "fell" in my lap. The 6R80 6 speed has a great reputation and I have had zero issues in 300k miles between 2 trucks.

· May 27

Back in Sept of 2018 I almost bought this truck. It was a Ram 2500 with the Diesel 6 speed stick. Sticker was like 54k but they were happy to give it to me for 51k. Probably smart I passed. That ended up being the last year of the stick.

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· May 27

@alsancle My daily driver Nissan is one of the last years that you could still get the 6 speed. I’m going to miss that truck. Best vehicle I’ve ever owned. The fact that I’ll never be able to get another stick makes it worse.

· May 28

@Hupp31 Travis, last time I was trying to find a truck for my youngest we looked at a couple of Nissan Frontiers. Lowest trim level but with the stick. Harder to find than the Tacoma. Ended up with this one. You can see my son's white 2003 in the background. We had really good luck with these trucks. My son had his for 6 years, put 60k miles on it and got rear ended. Insurance payout was 75% of what I paid for it.

· May 28

@alsancle The Frontiers were hard to find with the 6 speed. I actually special ordered mine so I could get the off road package and stick. I waited four months for it but I’m glad I did.

The book values on used Toyota trucks is just plain stupid. I see so many of them come in wrecked that are rusted and beat to hell and it’s always funny what the book says they’re worth. And then when they total, the owners are always all mad about it. They never understand that they just got a huge gift.

· May 28

@Hupp31 Travis, you are so right! if I remember the math on that truck correctly it was a 2002 Tacoma extended cab 4 banger stick 4x4. I paid 14,5 with 80k miles. It had the new frame. My kid drove it 2 years of HS, 4 years of college and then 2 more years before he got hit so 8 total and it had about 145k miles on it. He got a check for 11,500. Only issue he had was he cooked the clutch. They are great little trucks assuming you get one with a new frame.

· May 28

@alsancle That Doge has a great look to it!

· May 28

@alsancle Stick is fun for occasional driving but if you were manually shifting 24/7 it would probably lose the appeal. It is probably for the better you did not buy that truck. It does look cool though with no running boards.

· May 29

Those Cummins trucks with the stick weren’t all that fun to drive anyhow. They’re very much a truck transmission. As much of a manual transmission proponent as I am, I don’t think I could have gotten used to one.

· May 27

Truck prices are insane. Even for the lower trim levels you are talking 50k plus for a 1/2 ton truck.

· May 27

I had an F150 for years and the frame was rusting at an alarming rate. I used it to tow my Wells Cargo 20 ft enclosed trailer and put boats in and out of the water. I am currently without a truck. We are leaving Illinois this year to move to AZ but will seasonally be in Indiana. I want to get a new F250/350 for towing and other occasional use. I see it being a 5K mile a year vehicle for me. At age 61, I think I'll buy new with the plan/justification that it could be my last truck.

· May 27

@JohnBloom Be glad it was a Ford frame. I see the frames on GM trucks vaporizing a lot faster around here. But yes, in AZ hopefully it will be a one and done purchase for you. I hear people say that “last truck” thing all the time in CT and I figure they’re either fooling themselves or they don’t plan on being around much longer.

· May 28

@JohnBloom John, what year was the truck? I've seen nasty rust issues on the 2009 and earlier trucks but Ford did better with the later ones.

· May 28

@Hupp31 Travis a couple years ago I had to take my late dad's keys due to advancing dementia. 97 F-150 in service to Summer of 24. Light duty yes but used 24/7/365. It actually didn't look bad and ran OK but couldn't justify keeping it with my 19 that I absolutely love. The truck is a parts runner for a small garage so still in use.

· May 28

That’s impressive that truck lasted as long as it did. Not many of those 97-04 trucks have escaped the rust.

· May 29

2004, I bought it new and the salt of northern illinois turned the frame into swiss cheese.

· May 29

I've been painting my truck in POR15. Travis is shuddering. I might do a post about it. I'm slightly embarrassed by the rust stains so even though the POR15 is probably just a cosmetic fix the truck looks much better.

· May 29

I need that laugh emoji. You could always do what everyone else does around here and put a set of giant Bushwacker flares on to cover up the rust. It’s a great look with stock size tires. 😂

· May 31

This happens every time I decide to go car shopping. The current vehicle gets spiteful. I just got done hauling a truckload of firewood, towing my fishing boat to and from the lake, and hauling home a 1000 pound garden tractor. Then I notice that the bed is bouncing quite a bit when I stand on the tailgate. Well there’s your problem, frame’s broken in half. Died with its boots on though.

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· Jun 1

"Died with its boots on" !!!!

My wife's infinity is up to 150k miles and I've slowly started looking for a replacement. This weekend my son is in town for a wedding and while parked on the street in Boston it was hit and run in the rear quarter. Car is drivable but I'm sure its totaled. I told her to take the collision off the car 5 years ago and she kept pushing back. I'm hoping she ignored me this time.

· Jun 1

Ouch. Yeah, hopefully you still have coverage on it.

· Jun 1

15 year old car with 150k miles should not have collision on it unless it is a Duesenberg. Book is probably 4500. The good news is she hates all the technology in the newer cars so a 10 year old one will work perfectly. I'm trying to force her in to a Tesla but that is not going well.

· Jun 1

In the past, I would have agreed, but I’ve started to change my opinion on that. I see way too many hit and run or uninsured motorist situations now. I’ve seen $20k cars destroyed with no coverage. Whether you can afford to replace it or not, that’s a good chunk of change. No sense having to pay it if you’ve been paying for insurance all that time. I’ll keep my Tesla opinions to myself, however.

· Jun 7

Finally found one with just the options (or lack thereof) that I wanted. I was downright frivolous and stepped up to the STX package that brings carpet and…gasp…cloth seats. Still broke $50k, which still blows my mind. Now to see how long it takes the salt to eat this frame. Step one will be rustproofing the snot out of the chassis.

(edited)

· Jun 7

I didn't catch that you wanted a 3/4 ton. That pumps the price at least 10k?

· Jun 7

Yes, just about. Even with the base engine.

· Jun 7

For 50k I'm thinking it is gas?

· Jun 8

Oh god yeah. The base diesel is an $11,500 option. To buy a diesel if you’re not towing heavy every day is just silly.

· Jun 8

I don't think the diesel engines last like they used to either. Plus you need to add the diesel exhaust fluid. On the plus side my. buddies 3/4 ton chevy gets 22 miles to the gallon when not towing vs the 16 I get in my F150 1/2 ton.

· Jun 8

Yes, all of the diesels have their issues now. It’s not a question of if you’ll have a problem, but when.

· Jun 9

That truck has a nice stance to it. I like the blue color too. It has become almost impossible to buy new vehicles these days. Congratulations on finding one.

· Jun 10

I like its stance and color too but I absolutely loathe the all black wheels that come with that particular package. If they bother me too much, I have a spray gun and I’m not afraid to use it. Ironically, I have two vehicles with black wheels but they need a machined or polished lip to look right. This all black trend drives me nuts.

· Jun 10

blackout is a thing for the guys under 40.

· Jun 10

Yeah, I must officially be over the hill, cause I don’t get it.

· Jun 10

I didn't know it was a thing until about 10 years ago when I was working with a guy in his 30s that bought a new 1 ton to pull his fifth wheel trailer. First thing he did was spray paint all the chrome.

· Jun 10

I have to give auto makers credit, they've figured out how to charge their buyer MORE for not having chrome.

(edited)

· Jun 11

It was brilliant!

· Jun 12

Now that I have the truck home, the work starts. Already pulled the fugly 8” bumper deflector and now I need to turn my attention to taking steps to get this thing to last 12-14 years in New England. Bedliner, ceramic coating, and rustproofing….lot’s of rustproofing. Even with the aluminum bodies there are areas than can use some corrosion protection. I’ll start another thread about all of that. There’s nothing better than a brand new chassis, is there?

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· Jun 12

Travis, how much extra are you going to spend on it? Putting a bed cover on it?

· Jun 12

Well, I have connections with my regular vendors for the spray-in liner and ceramic coating, so probably about $1k. Most of the rustproofing I can do myself but I’m considering having the heavy oil based coating put on every fall.

And NO bed cover. I don’t believe in them. They just render your bed useless.

(edited)

· Jun 12

Not one that folds away completely like tri-fold. Those fiberglass full size ones seem useless. I don't have one on this truck and I seem to be managing but I can't throw my hockey stuff in the bed if its going to rain.

· Jun 12

Eh, it seems like I’m always hauling bulky stuff that’s above the bedsides so the covers are just in the way for me. Plus it’s nice to be able to climb in the bed over the bedside when I have to launch my boat by myself.