Is a New Work Truck Good Value?

[VanForNow]

I am thinking of buying a pickup for my truck camper. A new truck is attractive because of its warranty and lower likelihood of mechanical problems than an older vehicle.

But a new "sporty" pickup truck designed for consumer-oriented folks, with its chrome, luxury upholstery, fancy hubcaps, heated seats, etc., is expensive. Instead I am considering a barebones work truck, with minimal amenities designed for commercial use by repairmen and trailer haulers. But I know almost nothing about work trucks.

Does a work truck retain its value fairly well when it is eventually resold? I don't need fancy upholstery, etc., but it would be nice to have a few comforts such as A/C, a radio, cigarette chargers for cell phones, etc.

Any opinions from folks familiar with the pros and cons of work trucks would be appreciated.

 

[masterplumber]

Well I've bought a few work trucks in my day, including my current 2012 Ram 2500. Whether they are a good value probably depend upon the area you live and your timing. My previous truck - a '95 Ford F350 I bought used, because when I was looking I was able to find it for about $10k less than new with only 42,000 miles on it doing nothing but towing a horse trailer. It was super clean and served me well for many years. That is the way I prefer to buy them - barely used and maybe not a steel, but a decent price.

I bought my current truck - a 2012 Ram 2500 with a diesel and and 6 speed manual new. It's a 4 door crew cab, but it is a stripped down work truck other than that - rubber floor mats and all. I had certain criteria - had to be a 4 door crew cab, diesel, preferably manual trans but would have gone auto if need be, 4 wheel drive, log bed, and approximately 9400 lb GVWR. Other than that, I was open to brand, color, etc... In my area, and by that I mean I checked most of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Northern Texas via Craig's List, Ebay, etc... I only found 1 lower mileage Ford at the time - 84,000 miles - For under $40,000.00. And it was $32,000. Even trucks in the same shape as what I had - over 200,000 miles and over 10 years old, were $10,000 or more. Because it was the end of September 2012 I was able to get $10,000 off of my brand new truck, but it was still $36,000. Now it would be even more. While not great and I hated having to pay that much, it was a good value compared to what was available to me at the time, within the time frame I needed it.

To put this in perspective, I drive about 25,000 miles per year, need my truck to do everything from hauling heavy trailers to hauling the family cross country, all while being fully loaded with tools. So I don't have time and can't afford to drive an older truck full time due to repair downtime and costs. If I could my '79 CJ would get driven much more often. If I only put say 10,000 mile per year on my truck, and didn't have to be on a job site every day when I say I'll be there, I would probably be driving something like a '78 Ford. But I can work on those older trucks myself, so it would mainly be the downtime that I'd have to deal with. The older trucks just don't hold up to the miles and use I currently put on my truck. Your mileage may vary.

 

[ZoNiE]

Rubber floor instead of carpet rocks. My 14 year old sport trac has no icky smell. No carpet.

 

[ArtW]

Chevy used to make a 1500 W/T (work truck)
it's hard to tell on value retention, because while a bare bones truck is less costly, it's also less in demand
Supply and demand rule when it comes to resale

 

[muddy]

I've been looking for a little bit and I have to say the barebones work trucks are pretty attractive to me to haul around the camper. Since vehicles depreciate so quickly, used is generally better value.

If you are buying a truck new, you will probably have the options to get most upgrades you want. I don't think you can buy a new truck without radio, A/C or 12v plug. I'd definitely spring for power door locks.

 

[wagoneer]

Number one is get at least a 3/4 ton. mid 90's on up I got lucky with my Dodge ram 2500, under 99k at 7,000 dollars but had been looking for quite some time, camper fit right in it was a no brainer for me sold the Van to a member on this forum everyone was happy.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I believe all work trucks now come with AC and every one will come with a radio and Charging port. I think they are a great way to go as they are considerably cheaper. Our local dealer often offers 10k off MSRP on them at years end. I've seen some reg cab 3/4 tons with 4x4 in the low 20's.

 

[kaBLOOnie Boonster]

The original poster has good timing. In September you might see last year's model of work truck sitting on the lot, looking unloved and neglected by all the suburban cowboys. It might be $20,000. There are a lot of expensive and gimmickey luxuries missing on work trucks. Each of those luxuries is a $500-1500 repair job that you will never suffer.

BUT, they tend to have the V6 "entry level" engine. They are usually 2WD (rear wheel drive) and have the 8 foot "long box." Don't know if that is what you want.

It might be hard to find one with the G80 locking differential (GM) or the selectable Eaton electric locker (at Ford). But maybe the original poster wants to order one new.

It seems like each state has a work van/truck specialty car dealership. Phoenix has one. In New Mexico it is Mountain West Motors in Albuquerque.

I hope the original poster keeps this thread up, because I want to learn his tricks of the trade, and follow in his footsteps. There is something about the work truck that exudes "moral integrity", in contrast to the depravity of most pickup trucks these days.

 

[ArtW]

I personally prefer no gimic bare bones vehicles, and for a 'dweller, a longbed might be better
However, I have seen 4 door short bed work trucks, too

 

[kaBLOOnie Boonster]

Had a conversation with another camper that might bear on the original poster's question of whether a new work truck is a good value. The fellow's truck was a regular cab pickup, but it had the RAM Hemi engine and four wheel drive. So it wasn't a "work truck" exactly, if by that term you mean entry level everything.

But he had to order it new because you can't find a truck on lot without crew cabs, eight speaker stereos, infotainment systems, and "fine Corinthian leather." He said the dealer fought him every step of the way! In other words, the dealer wanted to clear his inventory of gigantically long crew cab trucks (at $50,000 plus) , whereas this fellow wanted a less luxurious and shorter truck that could get turned around on forest roads.

Another inference is that regular cab, semi-work-truck trim levels are low profit models for the automobile industry.

 

[bullfrog]

Bench seats are great for the driver but not always the passenger, a little more power is sometimes useful, as you get joint problems an automatic transmission makes sense, cruise control helps on long runs, and finding out ten years later that manual window crank mechanisms are not to be had cause lack of demand but electric window mechanisms abound, oh yeah and intermitent wipers don't wear out wiper switches near as fast.