Forgive my ignorance but can anyone elaborate on the "Oil the underside"? What exactly is used or how is it exactly done?
I'd look at an older truck if it's going to be used for work, put whatever money you need into it and have no monthly payments. Regardless get a 8 foot bed, it isn't a truck if it is less. But that is me..
Interested in an F-150? 2014 (last year of steel body) F-150 with 5.0L V8, 4x4, STX sport, supercab, black...26,500 miles. Tires have less than 1000 miles on them, has a tonneau cover, seat covers and weathertech mats....I'd let it go for a few grand less than your budget! With kids now I'm looking to get myself into a crew cab.
Picked up a certified pre owned Chevy Silverado double cab last year. I wanted the extra bed size but was concerned the double cab was too small. But it serves my purposes, I can fit all 3 of my kids in the back. Now they are small 7, 4, and a 6 month old but they all fit infant car seat and all. I wouldn't want to drive 8hrs in back like that but for bouncing around town or a trip here or there, we all fit just fine.
Around here you can get a new crew cab 2018 f150 for the mid 30k range. I'm seeing ones ( even 18 crew cab 5.0 10 spd 4x4) with only 2000-2500 miles for right near the 30k mark. Unfortunately the mileage you got from your 5.7 hemi is pretty good for those years. I know a guy that got literally 100k on his hemi in his Durango of that year. They've gotten better with the hemi in the last 10+ years, but that is one concern of mine with the ram, as well as the rust issues since the ram is all steel except the tailgate being alloy.
The frames on the Fords are heavier duty than the gm twins. The running gear is heavier duty as well on the Ford, which is why the 15-18 ford weighs the same as the 15-18 gm twins despite the lighter all alloy body. The new GM's will be less weight since they have all alloy doors, hood, and such. Gm claims 450 lbs less than last year's, and that's similar to what Fords lost when going all alloy in 15. Rams end up weighing the least after the rust lightens them up, front to back.
The body is sprayed with oil underneath and inside the body panels (oil made for the purpose) to act as "undercoat"...but it is much cheaper and works better than traditional undercoating products. Our local shop charges $40...some people DIY it with old motor oil, but there is no way I'm gonna go through that MESSY headache applying an inferior product just to save $40!
Not that it matters, but what did you do to the tires to have to replace them at 25000 miles? Unless of course you just went bigger??
I damaged the sidewall of one on a curb...not terrible but a big enough slice it couldn't be repaired, and instead of having 3 tires with 25k miles and 1 brand new tire I went and replaced all 4.
Thanks so much brenndatomu!! I will have to check around and see if some of my local shops do that. We don't get much snow and they stopped using salt, they use a brine in my area but I'd like to still get it done!
Thank you for the offer, really. However, I need a crew cab myself, as my kids are 12 and 14 and need the room in the backseat, and this will become our family vehicle for long trips as the CR-V my wife drives is a lease (so, miles limited).
One name I've heard a lot, reading through online forums, is Fluid Film. Supposed to be the best stuff out there.
My buddy just bought a low mile 2016 Silveraydoh to replace his 2007. He confessed that he liked the old one better, but was tired of working on it to keep it going down the road. His old truck has 215,000 and has done a LOT of towing for a 1500.
Fluid film is great! I've put it under my truck every year since buying it. It's easy to apply and covers very well, so far it seems to be working as I'm going into my 4th winter in NH and don't see a speck of rust anywhere.
Brine up here is calcium-chloride instead of sodium.. Think super melt.. Easily eats steel twice as fast. Wish I had a pic of my brother's plow truck, rock salt on one side and calcium chloride on the other. Calcium chloride ate through the bed of an F-150 in 2.5 years!!
