Trucks

[Pipe Line]

Every now and then I do some checking around online and see if there's any "steals" when it comes to trucks, like when I got mine almost 3 years ago. Saw that Chevy Christmas commercial the other day, and just decided to do some looking. Found a 2014 Husker red Chevy 1500 on Cargurus with 100K miles on it and looks clean as can be. Has the 5.3 L V8 Flex Fuel engine in it. Anybody have that motor? Good reviews? Bad reviews? We all know Chevys are notorious for running for forever as long as they're taken care of.

 

[tman87]

I just noticed and rebooted the server. Let me know if that helps

Every now and then I do some checking around online and see if there's any "steals" when it comes to trucks, like when I got mine almost 3 years ago. Saw that Chevy Christmas commercial the other day, and just decided to do some looking. Found a 2014 Husker red Chevy 1500 on Cargurus with 100K miles on it and looks clean as can be. Has the 5.3 L V8 Flex Fuel engine in it. Anybody have that motor? Good reviews? Bad reviews? We all know Chevys are notorious for running for forever as long as they're taken care of.

I usually trade for new every 3 to 4 years. That is about when the mileage adds up enough and the wear and tear adds up enough, that it is time to trade for new. As a contractor/builder, I need a newer vehicle that is reliable and able to daily take what I need to put it through. That being said, I hope to be able to keep my current 23 GMC AT4X for at least 7 or 8 years this time around. The pricing on new vehicles is ridiculous anymore.

You didn't mention how much they were asking for the truck. It is about to be 12 years old, but 100K isn't bad at all for over a decade in on that truck, so likely used fairly lightly. I had a 2014 Sierra with that 5.3, no issues in almost 80K miles before I sold it. It's a decent enough engine. Nothing spectacular, but to my knowledge no major issues with it.

EDIT: No idea why Garrett's post was included in my quote of posts. Disregard that quoted post, lol.

 

[Pipe Line]

I usually trade for new every 3 to 4 years. That is about when the mileage adds up enough and the wear and tear adds up enough, that it is time to trade for new. As a contractor/builder, I need a newer vehicle that is reliable and able to daily take what I need to put it through. That being said, I hope to be able to keep my current 23 GMC AT4X for at least 7 or 8 years this time around. The pricing on new vehicles is ridiculous anymore.

You didn't mention how much they were asking for the truck. It is about to be 12 years old, but 100K isn't bad at all for over a decade in on that truck, so likely used fairly lightly. I had a 2014 Sierra with that 5.3, no issues in almost 80K miles before I sold it. It's a decent enough engine. Nothing spectacular, but to my knowledge no major issues with it.

EDIT: No idea why Garrett's post was included in my quote of posts. Disregard that quoted post, lol.

So they're asking $17,995 for the Chevy, which it's also included is about $1200 above market.





I probably don't need to screen shot each one lol but each picture looks pretty good, atleast to my standard, and my standards aren't very high admittedly. My current F150 is a 2013 King Ranch. Call it kind of an impulse first major 30 year old purchase when finally getting out of the diesel game. I like my F150, I don't love it, it's pretty cool. It's showing rust where it's natural to show rust, needs a brake job, needs new tires. My wife doesn't trust it because of the brakes. It very clearly vibrates, the whole cab, when I hit the brake, most of the time. I'm used to it, my wife hates it.


I would say my only real dilemma is the comparison between what it's worth according to KBB, is pretty close to what I owe left on it, so the light at the end of the tunnel is starting to show as far as paying it off. And if I were to get into something else, that obviously goes away. And, as any average dude would be happy about, the payment on the Chevy is cheaper than the payment on my Ford, so that would be cool.

I don't know, there's nothing major wrong with my F150, but the Chevy is a year newer, looks much cleaner on the outside, and has 40K miles less on it, and it's a Chevy, so historically that's a good formula. When I was a kid, my dad had a Suburban from like 92 that lasted something like 15-20 years. Looked horrible, started every time.

 

[tman87]

So they're asking $17,995 for the Chevy, which it's also included is about $1200 above market.

View attachment 64533



I probably don't need to screen shot each one lol but each picture looks pretty good, atleast to my standard, and my standards aren't very high admittedly. My current F150 is a 2013 King Ranch. Call it kind of an impulse first major 30 year old purchase when finally getting out of the diesel game. I like my F150, I don't love it, it's pretty cool. It's showing rust where it's natural to show rust, needs a brake job, needs new tires. My wife doesn't trust it because of the brakes. It very clearly vibrates, the whole cab, when I hit the brake, most of the time. I'm used to it, my wife hates it.


I would say my only real dilemma is the comparison between what it's worth according to KBB, is pretty close to what I owe left on it, so the light at the end of the tunnel is starting to show as far as paying it off. And if I were to get into something else, that obviously goes away. And, as any average dude would be happy about, the payment on the Chevy is cheaper than the payment on my Ford, so that would be cool.

I don't know, there's nothing major wrong with my F150, but the Chevy is a year newer, looks much cleaner on the outside, and has 40K miles less on it, and it's a Chevy, so historically that's a good formula. When I was a kid, my dad had a Suburban from like 92 that lasted something like 15-20 years. Looked horrible, started every time.

Sounds like your Ford needs some $ put in to it if you keep it. However, if you sell or trade it, the things it may need work on may lower it's value.

I get wanting lower payments. I am tired of continual truck payments. But I have tried at least 3 times over the years to get a it older truck, with more miles/etc, and try to make that work as my work truck (I gave up having a 2nd vehicle years ago as two sets of insurance, license/registration etc is not worth it IMO). Every time I tried to go with a bit older and more miles, it didn't work as those trucks just weren't up to holding up to what I need them to do for my construction business. Major enough issues started happening where it made more sense to trade them in on a new vehicle instead of continually dumping money in to an older truck.

Rates on used are higher and rates are higher now in general, so keep that in mind.

 

[Pipe Line]

Sounds like your Ford needs some $ put in to it if you keep it. However, if you sell or trade it, the things it may need work on may lower it's value.

I get wanting lower payments. I am tired of continual truck payments. But I have tried at least 3 times over the years to get a it older truck, with more miles/etc, and try to make that work as my work truck (I gave up having a 2nd vehicle years ago as two sets of insurance, license/registration etc is not worth it IMO). Every time I tried to go with a bit older and more miles, it didn't work as those trucks just weren't up to holding up to what I need them to do for my construction business. Major enough issues started happening where it made more sense to trade them in on a new vehicle instead of continually dumping money in to an older truck.

Rates on used are higher and rates are higher now in general, so keep that in mind.

So here’s mine. As long as the math works, Chevy monthly payment would actually be less. As of today, Chevy body is nicer (in photos), and 40K less miles on the Chevy. I have always been a Ford guy, but everyone close to me has always been Chevy people lol. I’d say only legit thing holding me up from 100% is mine is somewhat closing to being paid off. But yes, my Ford needs a brake job and needs 4 new tires.

 

[Boondock_St_Sker]

The Chevy looks good, some rust on the frame in pics 22-25, but that’s to be expected in a vehicle in Omaha I guess. Wonder how it looks mechanically.

I bought a ‘24 AT4X HD new and love it! Will drive until it dies

 

[Boondock_St_Sker]

If you can get the Chevy for less monthly and are okay with a longer term loan…go for it but I’d make sure you “fine tooth comb” that red beast. Also, Chevy is a double cab (think old school extended cab) and it looks like your Ford is a crew cab?

 

[huskin1]

I’d put a little money in your current truck and run it another 80k if it suits you at the moment

 

[Pipe Line]

If you can get the Chevy for less monthly and are okay with a longer term loan…go for it but I’d make sure you “fine tooth comb” that red beast. Also, Chevy is a double cab (think old school extended cab) and it looks like your Ford is a crew cab?

Yeah I need to go look at it still. Only reason I didn’t today is cause I’m out of town for today. It says 4 door description and it looks 4
Door, but I did text the contact at the dealer and they did say the Chevy is a “double cab” so, maybe. I do need the 4 door so we’ll see.

 

[Boondock_St_Sker]

Yeah I need to go look at it still. Only reason I didn’t today is cause I’m out of town for today. It says 4 door description and it looks 4
Door, but I did text the contact at the dealer and they did say the Chevy is a “double cab” so, maybe. I do need the 4 door so we’ll see.

Oh, it’s 4 doors but the back doors are not full door width.

 

[Ironwardog]

That generation of Chevy you had to worry more about the transmission than you did the engine. We had a 2013 6.2L with the - at the time brand new- 8 speed transmission. From the first day we brought it home it had a thunk in it occasionally. Found out later it was a sticky solenoid that you cured by having a transmission fluid flush and a different oil put in it. If you didn’t do the flush it would take your transmission out around 100k miles, we traded it off around 95k miles. At that time I don’t THINK they put that 8 speed transmission in with the 5.3L but I could be wrong. That’s something I would look into though to make sure on that truck.

 

[Dr.DrakeRamoray]

I’d put a little money in your current truck and run it another 80k if it suits you at the moment

This. You have more life in that truck

 

[tman87]

So here’s mine. As long as the math works, Chevy monthly payment would actually be less. As of today, Chevy body is nicer (in photos), and 40K less miles on the Chevy. I have always been a Ford guy, but everyone close to me has always been Chevy people lol. I’d say only legit thing holding me up from 100% is mine is somewhat closing to being paid off. But yes, my Ford needs a brake job and needs 4 new tires.

So 140 K miles on your Ford? Besides brakes (is it only pads or do the rotars need work) and tires, your truck has no major issues.

Are you going to trade in your Ford, or sell it outright? If trading it in, what trade in value will you accept to get in to the Chevy?

I had Fords for my first 3 trucks (starting late 90's), then a couple POS Ram's, then went Chevy/GMC after that. Well, except for a 2013 Ram Sport I bought because my wife wanted me to sell my 2014 Sierra (was a nice looking truck - mild lift, 35" tires, custom wheels) because I could still get 30K for it outright (it had about 75K miles on it), and because I was able to buy that 2013 Ram for 17K and it only had 100 K miles on it. So pocket 13K, buy a truck 1 year older and 25K more miles, and supposedly smile about it.

Less than a year later, the Ram got the Ram lifter issue, and I had to trade it back in when I bought my 2020 AT4 3.0 diesel. Funny that a year later (it was April 2020 and Covid lockdowns in full bloom), the same dealer I bought the 2013 Ram from for 17K, gave me 17K trade on it and 10K off the new AT4. The Ram had 20K more miles on it by then, had a very loud lifter/knock issue with the engine, and I had backed into a big light pole on a jobsite and ruined the rear bumper. They still gave me 17K, same as I paid a year earlier, despite all of that. Dealerships were desperaate to move inventory at the time. I also got sub 3% rate on the 2020 AT4.

Anyway, for me I only trade up when it makes sense financially and/or it is simply time to get into a newer truck that can handle the workload I put on them. Which honestly isn't all that bad, but living above 6100 ft in Montana on a very rough road to my house the last few miles - those conditions do a number on a truck.

 

[huskin1]

So 140 K miles on your Ford? Besides brakes (is it only pads or do the rotars need work) and tires, your truck has no major issues.

Are you going to trade in your Ford, or sell it outright? If trading it in, what trade in value will you accept to get in to the Chevy?

I had Fords for my first 3 trucks (starting late 90's), then a couple POS Ram's, then went Chevy/GMC after that. Well, except for a 2013 Ram Sport I bought because my wife wanted me to sell my 2014 Sierra (was a nice looking truck - mild lift, 35" tires, custom wheels) because I could still get 30K for it outright (it had about 75K miles on it), and because I was able to buy that 2013 Ram for 17K and it only had 100 K miles on it. So pocket 13K, buy a truck 1 year older and 25K more miles, and supposedly smile about it.

Less than a year later, the Ram got the Ram lifter issue, and I had to trade it back in when I bought my 2020 AT4 3.0 diesel. Funny that a year later (it was April 2020 and Covid lockdowns in full bloom), the same dealer I bought the 2013 Ram from for 17K, gave me 17K trade on it and 10K off the new AT4. The Ram had 20K more miles on it by then, had a very loud lifter/knock issue with the engine, and I had backed into a big light pole on a jobsite and ruined the rear bumper. They still gave me 17K, same as I paid a year earlier, despite all of that. Dealerships were desperaate to move inventory at the time. I also got sub 3% rate on the 2020 AT4.

Anyway, for me I only trade up when it makes sense financially and/or it is simply time to get into a newer truck that can handle the workload I put on them. Which honestly isn't all that bad, but living above 6100 ft in Montana on a very rough road to my house the last few miles - those conditions do a number on a truck.

Not doubting you at all so don’t take it that way cuz seems like you know your vehicles. On the ram, most people think it’s lifters and it’s the exhaust manifold gasket where the bolts break off and cause a tick that will go away after it warms up. However some of the older ones did have some lifter issues. Only mentioning for op in case he looks that route even though doesn’t sound like it

 

[tman87]

Not doubting you at all so don’t take it that way cuz seems like you know your vehicles. On the ram, most people think it’s lifters and it’s the exhaust manifold gasket where the bolts break off and cause a tick that will go away after it warms up. However some of the older ones did have some lifter issues. Only mentioning for op in case he looks that route even though doesn’t sound like it

You may know more details on it than me. I just know it was a common issue with that Ram engine. It's been almost 6 years since I had the truck so going off of memory, but I remember googling what it was doing and finding out it was a very common issue/defect with that 5.7. Whatever it was, I did not want to dump money in to trying to fix it.

 

[huskin1]

You may know more details on it than me. I just know it was a common issue with that Ram engine. It's been almost 6 years since I had the truck so going off of memory, but I remember googling what it was doing and finding out it was a very common issue/defect with that 5.7. Whatever it was, I did not want to dump money in to trying to fix it.

I’ve owned a couple and it’s a 350 dollar fix, in fact I just did my hemi 2 years ago and it’s already doing it again lol. Don’t blame you at all I used to be in the car business so know a decent amount about issues with certain vehicles. Only reason I wanted to say something!

 

[tman87]

I’ve owned a couple and it’s a 350 dollar fix, in fact I just did my hemi 2 years ago and it’s already doing it again lol. Don’t blame you at all I used to be in the car business so know a decent amount about issues with certain vehicles. Only reason I wanted to say something!

Hey man, I appreciate it!

Now tell me about the GM 6.2 issues they have been having... because my 23 AT4X with the 6.2 has suddenly gotten a real bad lifter knock sound the last couple of weeks... probably their shitty AFM issue. But that engine for about 4 years of production has had large recal issues as you probably know. My truck goes in to the dealer tuesday. From what they told me over the phone, it may need a new engine. And I was leaving Jan 1st to make the 1000 mile drive back to my parents place in Nebraska. Well... not in that truck right now.

Also I know it is not just lifter/cam/afm issues on those 6.2's. Crank issues too, I believe. They call them "covid engines" as supposedly they were using subpar parts due to covid shutdown parts shortages. I dunno, just what the common thought is I read about on a GMC forum. I have had my 23 AT4X in for their engine recall in late August - they told me it was fine. But it is not fine, now.

 

[huskin1]

Hey man, I appreciate it!

Now tell me about the GM 6.2 issues they have been having... because my 23 AT4X with the 6.2 has suddenly gotten a real bad lifter knock sound the last couple of weeks... probably their shitty AFM issue. But that engine for about 4 years of production has had large recal issues as you probably know. My truck goes in to the dealer tuesday. From what they told me over the phone, it may need a new engine. And I was leaving Jan 1st to make the 1000 mile drive back to my parents place in Nebraska. Well... not in that truck right now.

Also I know it is not just lifter/cam/afm issues on those 6.2's. Crank issues too, I believe. They call them "covid engines" as supposedly they were using subpar parts due to covid shutdown parts shortages. I dunno, just what the common thought is I read about on a GMC forum. I have had my 23 AT4X in for their engine recall in late August - they told me it was fine. But it is not fine, now.

I’ve been away from the business a few years so know more about the 2020 and below but we have a 19 Yukon with a 6.2 with no problems and have a couple coworkers with newer 6.2’s that needed new engines and basically what you explained is what they relayed to me. Lot of engines getting replaced and I know the 3.0 diesel was an issue for a few years as well but that goes for any brand that makes changes drastically it seems like engine wise. That’s the weird part with the earlier 6.2’s being better than the newer ones. Same goes for the six cylinder dodge put in for last year, I’d never buy it because first year of production but then they went right back to the hemi this year. Those atx4’s are awesome looking trucks so hopefully they get you figured out! Let me know what happens because that’s probably my next truck once the issues are figured out

 

[tman87]

I’ve been away from the business a few years so know more about the 2020 and below but we have a 19 Yukon with a 6.2 with no problems and have a couple coworkers with newer 6.2’s that needed new engines and basically what you explained is what they relayed to me. Lot of engines getting replaced and I know the 3.0 diesel was an issue for a few years as well but that goes for any brand that makes changes drastically it seems like engine wise. That’s the weird part with the earlier 6.2’s being better than the newer ones. Same goes for the six cylinder dodge put in for last year, I’d never buy it because first year of production but then they went right back to the hemi this year. Those atx4’s are awesome looking trucks so hopefully they get you figured out! Let me know what happens because that’s probably my next truck once the issues are figured out

You are completely right about buying a vehicle with a new engine - I would give it a year or two to let them work the kinks out.

As far as my 23 AT4X, it was built just before the "cutoff" of when they were using better parts from the subpar parts. I know because GM has had to list this stuff online and mine literally was built a month or two before the 6.2's were using better parts again.

I hate AFM/cylinder deactivation anyway, and think it is just some gimmick that GM uses to pass to up the on-paper fuel mileage for these trucks. But AFM comes with a shitload of problems. Shut down 4 or 6 of the cylinders is just not a good idea IMO.

I hope they just drop a new engine in for me, but i hear that more often now they rebuilding. I asked my local dealer and they have two 6.2 engines in stock right now, I hope that is what they give me.

As far as the truck overall, it is the nicest truck I have ever owned. I never leave my trucks bone-stock, but also don't go crazy on lift/wheels/tires, either. I want it to look like a truck and also have tires that can handle the conditions here in Montana. I like this 23 AT4X better than my 2020 AT4. Mostly the upgraded dash and seats are just way nicer. It also looks a bit nicer on the exterior, too. Since it has softer off-road suspension, I use adjustable airbags in the rear as I pull job trailers a lot. It has plenty of power for what I need.

And I really liked my 2020 AT4 3.0 diesel, would still have it, but 3 years ago I was back in Nebraska a lot building houses for my Dad, and I got stranded a month in Nebraska because the complicated diesel emmissions system put me into severe limp mode. The dealership never could get it fixed, and at that point they had it over a month. This was when there was still a major shortage of new vehicles due to Covid, so I couldn't even find anything at any dealers close enough to trade up for. Finally on Jan 5th of 23, I went to the dealer and told them they HAVE to either get my truck fixed, or just let me take a loaner back to Montana until they got mine fixed, then figure out how to get me my truck back and they get their loaner back. As I was talking to the manager, a semi with a bunch of new vehicles pulled in, and my current 23 AT4X was on it. The dealer and I both saw it, he looked at me and said, would that one work for you? I knew what it was even while it was still on the semi, and I told him if he gave me a good deal on the AT4X and high trade value for my 2020 AT4, then it would work. He did both (5K off the new truck, when new vehicles were often going for over MSRP) and 45K for my 2020 AT4 (I paid 50 K for it not quite 3 years earlier). So I bought this 23 AT4X and drove my wife and i home in it the next day.

I did like the 3.0 diesel - real quick, good power and quiet for a diesel. I did not like having to use DEF, and that truck burned up DEF quickly (maybe what was wrong with the emissions system). But the emissions systems on modern diesels sucks ass - too complicated, too many things that can go wrong and limp-mode your expensive truck.