What are year make model trucks to get started

[[email protected]]

Wife and I looking to purchase a quality truck that can haul a Rv

Im houseless and she is in govt housing with water damage.Would like to get out of this system

She has 63k in savings

I have 3k

We are both on ssdi receiving about 900/month

She will likely have two houses sold from her father's estate in Indiana divided amongst 4 family members end of summer

Perhaps this will be enough for a 30 ft RV

Are used f150 older models 2017 or less good
or perhaps better suggestions?

Thank You and good day

 

[bullfrog !]

Okay I was trying to stay out of this conversation because your situation is going to require some very difficult decisions with a lot of risk. From your questions you don’t seem to be very mechanically skilled which makes buying a used vehicle risky. Newer vehicles it will become evident quickly that are capable of towing a large heavy trailer are probably out of your price range. Naturally the first impulse is to do more with less which has proven in most cases to be disastrous in this lifestyle or at best cause the individuals to compromise more than they want. You need at least a 3/4 ton truck and would probably be better off with a 1 ton if you plan to pull an older 30’ trailer with everything you own inside. If only moving seasonally you can contract or rent a tow vehicle easier and cheaper. You are living off an income source that you get because you cannot work I am assuming so $1,800 has to cover all your expenses. If you are able to afford to buy one of the properties from the other family members in my opinion you will be possibly better off as you can possibly trade rent for work/repairs and park a trailer on a fixed pad with full hookups and not need a tow vehicle while you learn to simplify and live cheaply through barter and trade. Most RVs are not built well enough to stay dry for years without a lot of roof and sealing maintenance. Building out a cargo trailer is probably a better option for you as you have special needs such as a ramp, most cargo trailers already have a rear ramp door for example. Once you have a good trailer you can start to deal with getting a capable tow vehicle if you decide your health and finances are to a point you can travel. You can have a classic Chevy heavy duty gasoline 3/4 ton truck completely mechanically rebuilt/restored for less than $30,000 that will get around 10 mpg. Finding good used newer diesel is difficult because most are sold new to owners that plan to keep them till they are completely worn out. You most likely won’t be able to afford to replace expensive emissions components and computer controls as they wear out or malfunction. An older big block 3/4 ton Suburban has lots of room inside for larger people and is hard to beat for towing and comfort in my opinion.

 

[rruff]

I'll 2nd bullfrog... and add that trailers and RVs are usually built like crap, need to be maintained and repaired more than a typical house... and currently are expensive to buy, too. Most of us are in small rigs and camp on public land for free.

Where do you plan to park it? Will you travel around or stay in one spot?

 

[WanderingRose]

Davsey, this is your 4th thread in the past 2 months on this same subject, and you don’t seem to be getting what you feel you need here.

If you are determined to buy a truck and trailer, rather than asking for specific years, makes and models for trucks with which to begin your search, might be better to look in your area for 3/4 ton or 1 ton trucks, as suggested, in good condition and go from there.

And if you don’t have experience towing and maneuvering a trailer, in addition to living in and maintaining the trailer, itself, those are two learning curves you are facing.

Sanitizing tanks, dealing with holding tank chemicals, emptying holding tanks, etc., are going to expose you daily in a trailer to environmental irritants that may be toxic to you and your wife.

I am also concerned that once the savings and inheritance are spent on a truck and trailer, you and your wife won’t have adequate income to insure and maintain them, much less travel, pay for campsites, etc.

My two cents.

 

[tradesman]

You've mentioned in many of your previous posts thats you're allergic and sensitive to many chemical and environmemtal things.
Getting a slightly older rig could be good as the plastics have all had a chance to outgas, but there could also be many more contaminentsthat the previous owner used in the vehicle.

You mentioned the cleaner someone used on your car recently made you sick; I would suggest finding a used dealer that wont "spruce" the vehicle up prior to you viewing and purchasing.
Dealers love to armor-all the interiors and use heavy cleaners.
We traded in a car recently that was filthy inside. When we saw the photos on the dealer website it looked like a brand new interior! You don't get that from just a mild soap and water clean.

I think you and your wife (congratulations btw, I think previous threads you weren't married) should RENT several vehicles for a week at a time to determine what suits you. RV's, trailers, caravans, vans, trucks all drive differently and you may find that there is really only one type of vehicle that both you AND your wife feel comfortable driving.

 

[[email protected]]

I appreciate the input guys and gals,

What I forgot to mention is that in addition to the 63k in savings my wife will have 2 of her father's estate sold by the end of the summer in Indiana which her sister is working on

Im not good at math but divided amongst 4 people this may amount to an additional 20-80k if the property or properties were sold

Appreciate it guys and gals

 

[[email protected]]

Okay I was trying to stay out of this conversation because your situation is going to require some very difficult decisions with a lot of risk. From your questions you don’t seem to be very mechanically skilled which makes buying a used vehicle risky. Newer vehicles it will become evident quickly that are capable of towing a large heavy trailer are probably out of your price range. Naturally the first impulse is to do more with less which has proven in most cases to be disastrous in this lifestyle or at best cause the individuals to compromise more than they want. You need at least a 3/4 ton truck and would probably be better off with a 1 ton if you plan to pull an older 30’ trailer with everything you own inside. If only moving seasonally you can contract or rent a tow vehicle easier and cheaper. You are living off an income source that you get because you cannot work I am assuming so $1,800 has to cover all your expenses. If you are able to afford to buy one of the properties from the other family members in my opinion you will be possibly better off as you can possibly trade rent for work/repairs and park a trailer on a fixed pad with full hookups and not need a tow vehicle while you learn to simplify and live cheaply through barter and trade. Most RVs are not built well enough to stay dry for years without a lot of roof and sealing maintenance. Building out a cargo trailer is probably a better option for you as you have special needs such as a ramp, most cargo trailers already have a rear ramp door for example. Once you have a good trailer you can start to deal with getting a capable tow vehicle if you decide your health and finances are to a point you can travel. You can have a classic Chevy heavy duty gasoline 3/4 ton truck completely mechanically rebuilt/restored for less than $30,000 that will get around 10 mpg. Finding good used newer diesel is difficult because most are sold new to owners that plan to keep them till they are completely worn out. You most likely won’t be able to afford to replace expensive emissions components and computer controls as they wear out or malfunction. An older big block 3/4 ton Suburban has lots of room inside for larger people and is hard to beat for towing and comfort in my opinion.

Appreciate It Bullfrog,

Essentially my wife will likely have 2 homes being sold from her dad's inheritance in Indiana

To maybe add on to her 63k by end of summer

She says she's willing to pay 45k cash for a truck now

And also concerned it wouldn't leave us with much cushion though likely the two estates will be sold

In meantime she needs to stay in phx area for doctor appointments

I need to be in a little cooler air in a vehicle

I'm renting a uhaul cargo van for a week until my California title cms

Options thinking to buy
1)New truck first in the 40-49k rang.Looking at 2021 f150 for 45k on weds
2)Used truck from auction,private owner,dealer in the 25k range or cheaper to save money would be my idea.Under 100k miles.Good carfax and mechanic looks at it first
3)Buy 30ft rv first and park it somewhere

Open to other suggestions

Problem with option 3

Got in wreck with my crv a couple weeks ago

Hit by a driver and geico took my car to collision and declared it total loss.

My wife cannot tolerate the Ac in my jacked CRV.
Geico offered me 8,700 payment if I gave it to a 3rd party ccoparts or something like that

I told my wife I need a backup vehicle to have as a personal space for me[although she would like money to go towards a truck

i can't put all of what I would get from geico into a truck as I had the vehicle prior to meeting her and need a backup vehicle for myself as it's a different energy having a family truck and one for oneself

I like that she helped me out with 3k in repairs and could set this aside for her in case of repairs/down-payment.

We would like to visit her family out east in in indiana and possibly Ga,Fl but it's too cold to park an RV in indiana[if it's legal]

Except for 1 of the siblings,my wife,sister want the estate sold,stepmother on the fence I think

Whether repairing a used vehicle or building out a cargo,we would likely have to hire someone to do it with our cognitive problems


Appreciate it bullfrog

 

[Camper]

Best wishes

 

[afblangley]

So to summarize: you're coming into a windfall, and you're going to blow it on buying toys. And what you're seeking advice on is what kind of toys to buy.

 

[LargeMarge]

a)
* Truck -- 1994-1998 12-valve Dodge Cummins in 3/4t or 1t (or stouter if you prefer).
* Trailer -- aluminum gooseneck horse-trailer (they can be had with living quarters (aka 'LQ'), cooler, and genset).
.
This combination solves your mobility.
This combination solves your allergies.
This combination fits your budget with plenty left for fussing and playing.
.
Your proposed half-ton nearly-new anything with a factory RecreateVehicle would be our 'NOT' choice [emphasis added].
.
b)
How are you with other choices?
Decisions about meals or leaving the house, for example.

 

[Gr8ful]

I agree with the 12 valve Cummins. They have a Million mile club & now a 2 Million mile w/o ever having to open up the engine. You can also double the power by a day of mechanical tuning but beef up the tranny before you do this as Dodge could have spent $1000 more for a tranny as good as the engine but cheaped out & detuned the engine. I had 2 & loved them. Last year I sold a 1 ton dually with 118,000 miles for $5k getting a little rust on the rockers. An easy fix if you can do it. It was the last month of the 12 valve. I'd stay away from the 24 valve & if you do get one make sure the block wasn't made in Brazil as they had issues. Many RV haulers 40 miles south of here are in the million mile club. There's a real cult following for the Cummins 12V 5.9l.