Curious... average age of tow vehicles and what triggers a trade in

[4kmprs]

My TV, a 2004 f150 4x4 5.4 l screw only has 68,000.

it has a lot of life left in , can tow my 233s, and has everything but an iphone integrated head unit and back up camera that i plan on installing in it very soon.

i have no plans to upgrade until "the wheels fall off".

what are your "rules" that you follow to determine when to upgrade, besides buying a bigger camper?

[Triguy]

Good question.

Well, my vehicles are family units first so I keep them as long as it works for us. My last TV (an F-150) ran well at 110,000 miles but the family of 5 plus dog didn't fit anymore. Hence the Sequoia. We'll keep this until it starts acting up (which means when my gut tells me it's unreliable). I guess that's my answer.

[Twisty]

I've only had 2 TV's.
I bought a 2006 Ranger late in 2006 because we bought our house and I needed it to haul stuff. A couple years later, we decided to buy a Popup and the Ranger worked very well for towing it.
During our last Popup trip in Aug of last year, we decided that we wanted to buy a TT and the little Ranger just wasn't going to be able to cut it.
Less than one month later I traded in the Ranger toward the F150 I have now.
We have the supercrew and we can put our dogs in a crate inside the cab instead of on Laurel's lap or in the bed.

[TURBS]

2005 silverado 2500 hd 6.0L 180,586 miles.
Pulls like a peterbilt and does not use one oz of oil.

It'll have to blow I'm not tradin.
Love this truck

[firedaniel]

06 F350 6.0 diesel 206k miles on her... It's nothing fancy but its paid for. It's a XL work truck perfect for kids and camping. I don't care if it gets dirty or scratch. I'll keep it at least 100-200k more miles.

[OldCoot]

2005 Silverado 1500 Ext. Cab Short Bed w/ 74,000 miles. Like f1100turbo, I love the truck. Even if the 5.3 blows, I will just get a GM Crate and go some more.

[backin15]

I get to drive a company vehicle so my '04 Dodge seldom gets used unless it is towing. It is almost due for its 36,000 mile spark plug change!

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by backin15

I get to drive a company vehicle so my '04 Dodge seldom gets used unless it is towing. It is almost due for its 36,000 mile spark plug change!

Doesn't that truck have iridium plugs?
There good for 100,000 easy!

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

Doesn't that truck have iridium plugs?
There good for 100,000 easy!

I changed the plugs in my 2000 Silverado at 99,9?? miles and just threw about $70 away. The plugs I finally got out looked just as good as the new iridium ones I put in. Two weeks later I traded for the 05. Remember when I changed plugs, points, condenser, rotor & cap every 10-12,000 miles. BIG improvement.

[Rsgtivr6]

As long as you maintain it, and keep it in top shape, it should last as long as you need it. Like Triguy said, keep it until it doesnt serve your needs anymore. The only reason I traded the 05 Trailblazer in was TT purchase.

I do plan on trading up to a 3/4 oil burner in the next few years, but that's just so we can get a 5er down the road hopefully.

[acadianbob]

Lots of variables in that question.

How handy are you.
What is your willingness to handle risk.
Where are you going (Middle of nowhere? 100 miles to a gas station?)
How much are you stressing it. (% of maximum load, mountains, heat)
How far are you going? (30 miles or 3,000 miles)
Are you OK with "old tech". Mechanically and electronically
Do you want to go to a bigger trailer
Does the vehicle suit your current family situation

I'm sure there are many more variables.

So, to me, it is unique to the individual and situation; therefore unanswerable.

[Sgt. Schultz]

Well the truck has ~420,000 km (~260,000 miles) bought used & I have put ~270,000 km (~ 170,000 miles)on my daily driver car. As long as the body, running gear / drive train are serviceable I see no reason to get rid of them

[4kmprs]

hopin mine will last till i move my two dd's into college, then it will be replaced.

can't wait to see what is available in 2020.

[OldCoot]

If she blows enroute, will camp and wait til it gets fixed and finish the trip where ever we were going. One of the perks of being retired, don't have to be anywhere on any schedule other than our own.

[jonnys_walkers]

Shopped for a year and a half to find the last year of the Cummin's 12 valve all mechanical. It is a quad cab 3500 dually. When it needs to be rebuilt that is what will happen.
I can do all the servicing myself and most of the repairs.

[frfan]

I had a 97 reg cab chevy half ton, and when I bought a 25' Salem, it as scary towing. As a result, I bought a new 08 F250 CC 6.4 Diesel. It was the difference between night and day. About 3 weeks ago, traded the Salem in for 35' Surveyor sv 301. The Ford pulls the new trailer with ease. Currently have 45,000 on the F250, and I plan on keeping it for a long time!

[GASPEDDLER]

2009 F350 Crew Cab 4x4 with the 6.4 Diesel and 22,000 miles. She's a beast!

[mike54]

plan to keep my 2005 Ram CTD 3500 with 87,000 for many years and miles even if we upgrade to a fifth wheel I see no reason to upgrade the truck.

[Namchief]

Originally Posted by 4kmprs

i have no plans to upgrade until "the wheels fall off".

For me that is exactly what almost happened... I had an accident in my 01 Chevy 1500 well before I went to Texas pulling my TT. About 5 weeks after I got home I heard a noise, I thought it was the brakes and needed a brake job had a friend take it to work and it needed a entire axle. So the wheels almost fell off. BTW the accident sheered off the front drivers side wheel. That is why I upgraded to a 09 with HD tow tranny cooler....etc....

[Rsgtivr6]

Originally Posted by mike54

plan to keep my 2005 Ram CTD 3500 with 87,000 for many years and miles even if we upgrade to a fifth wheel I see no reason to upgrade the truck.

With a 3500 CTD I would imagine there are only a few 5ers you couldn't tow, lol. Properly equipped 3k-5k lbs payload and 23,000lb GCWR it would take a 17,000lb monster to require an upgrade (basicaly a huge toy hauler 5er)
I would think you should be good for quite some time