TV Recommendations - What to Avoid

[itat]

I'm having some significant rust issues on the LH rear door and both rocker panels with my current 2009 F-150 and I'm going to have to decide soon if I need to shop for a replacement or spend a lot to fix it right.

I'm not staunchly brand loyal so I'm looking for recommendations on what to avoid. A new truck is not in the budget so I would have to look at something in the 2008 to 2011 model year range.

The F-150 with max. towing works well for my trailer but I had to beef it up somewhat, so I would consider upgrading to a 3/4 ton if I found the right deal. We'll be keeping this TT until I can retire in 6 years so I have no intentions of going to a 5er until at least then. I'd appreciate your opinions on both 1/2 tons and 3/4 tons...particularly the gas engines of that era. I doubt that I'll be considering a diesel since I don't and won't tow often enough or heavy enough to justify the extra cost.

Once I have an idea of what to look for I can price that out and decide whether or not to fix the F-150 or sell it and buy another truck.

Thanks.

[rsdata]

I have always found that fixing a car/truck that you have owned and taken care of and know the good and bad of and spending a few monthly car payments to keep running is always better than buying someone else's problems in a used vehicle...

[AquaMan]

If I was going to trade, I would trade up, and look more at the '12-14 range. Trading for something within a year or two may just put you in someone else's headache. You know your truck and how it performs. If that isn't in the realm of things, then I would fix the truck I had.

[trbomax]

If the doors are rotting out along the bottom pinch weld,dont waste $ trying to fix them.You can buy chinese KO door shells for much less that the repair cost. Hang the shells and change out all the hardware yourself,then have them painted to match.

[SaskCampers]

2011 F250 or 350 with a 6.2 and 4:30 gears will work very well. You can still find low mileage units out there. Mine gets very little use too so it really costs me $56.00 a year for the one oil change it gets and I have it done at the Ford dealer so it gets a full inspection done at the same time for no extra money.

The other 2 brand 3/4 tons would be a good bet as well with 4:10 gears. The Ford and GM twins have a much better transmission ratio wise than the Dodge units but those Hemi's make a lot of that back with how they deliver their power.

[m2kamp]

Newer the better if you can swing it. Trucks have improved leaps and bounds even just from the late 2000's era.

Avoid loaded up models, usually means low payload, especially for 1/2 tons.

If I were in your position, I'd try to find the newest base model truck (you can live with) with the right engine/gear combo.

[uhduh camping]

That much rusting is from road salts, but you know that. Vehicles will normally rust from the inside out. There is usually twice as much rust you can't see when compared to what you can see. I would really take a hard look at the inside of frame rails, cab mounting areas, radiator support. This will help you determine whether or not to fix it or forget it. My experience says forget it invest else where.

[itat]

Thanks for all the replies so far. I've had 2 shops give me an opinion on what I'm dealing with. Both have said the left rear door should be replaced because the paint is bubbling up and starting to peel off in the rear bottom corner. No holes yet and it's not flapping. They are talking about a (corner cap?) for the area immediately behind rear the door. On the rocker panels, the rust isn't visible until you look at the bottom and underneath. One shop says to cut them off and replace them (not sure what length), the other said its mostly just surface rust but a small area or two would need to be cut out and replaced.

I really like the truck and my preference would be to fix it if it's not going to be more than $5000. Much beyond that and I'll have to at least see what's on the market, to upgrade a couple model years. I've looked a bit on AutoTrader.ca and Kijiji (Canadian version of Craig's List) and there aren't many lower mileage 2011 F250s and even fewer F150s with the big towing mirrors that signifies the max. towing pkg.

[updhaul]

I have replaced vehicle parts with good ones of the same color from a salvage yard with very good results, On a vehicle I liked and was paid for. If you like your current truck it really reduces the bill not to repaint it.
Rocker panels are less costly and each truck has replacements available on a limited budget. How many trucks have added extensions around the wheels and chip guard rockers to extend the useful life,
Warranty terms have changed but some used have longer drivetrain warrantys if you replace with a newer truck.

[Kevinwak]

Originally Posted by itat

Thanks for all the replies so far. I've had 2 shops give me an opinion on what I'm dealing with. Both have said the left rear door should be replaced because the paint is bubbling up and starting to peel off in the rear bottom corner. No holes yet and it's not flapping. They are talking about a (corner cap?) for the area immediately behind rear the door. On the rocker panels, the rust isn't visible until you look at the bottom and underneath. One shop says to cut them off and replace them (not sure what length), the other said its mostly just surface rust but a small area or two would need to be cut out and replaced.

I really like the truck and my preference would be to fix it if it's not going to be more than $5000. Much beyond that and I'll have to at least see what's on the market, to upgrade a couple model years. I've looked a bit on AutoTrader.ca and Kijiji (Canadian version of Craig's List) and there aren't many lower mileage 2011 F250s and even fewer F150s with the big towing mirrors that signifies the max. towing pkg.

I think in the US the tow mirrors were only available on the max tow package, but on the Canadian order sheet you could order those mirrors with or without the max tow package. Just something to watch out for.

[DocGTO]

If you go Chevy/GMC 3/4 or 1 ton, they changed their frame, brakes, ect in MY 2011. Much more truck!!! 2011 and newer is the way to go there.

[Major Oz]

Originally Posted by m2kamp

Newer the better if you can swing it. Trucks have improved leaps and bounds even just from the late 2000's era.

Avoid loaded up models, usually means low payload, especially for 1/2 tons.

If I were in your position, I'd try to find the newest base model truck (you can live with) with the right engine/gear combo.

I disagree.

Creature comforts....heated seats, noise insulation, etc. are near the top of my list of TV requirements. Newer trucks can all "do the job"....I need to be comfortable while the TRUCK does the work.

[m2kamp]

Originally Posted by Major Oz

I disagree.

Creature comforts....heated seats, noise insulation, etc. are near the top of my list of TV requirements. Newer trucks can all "do the job"....I need to be comfortable while the TRUCK does the work.

Today's "base" trucks typically include A/C, automatic, power windows, locks, cruise, insulation, usually keyless entry and of course every bit of all the safety equipment that the top line ones have.

Gone are the days of crank windows, manual transmissions, AM only radio, and "45 mph A/C".

I can see the need for heated seats for those in cold climates/with back problems etc.

Just helping the OP to note that options take away from payload and some "Limited", "King Ranch", "Longhorn", "Platinum", "High Sierra" trim 1/2 tons can have less payload than a passenger car, 3/4 tons with 1/2 ton payload

[bfhammer]

My trucks are always "free". I put a snow plow on it and make 5-15k a year which covers the truck payments and makes it a write off. Lacking that buy as much truck as you can afford because it's always better to have extra than not enough. Why not get the truck that can handle the 5th wheel in a few years?

[itat]

Originally Posted by m2kamp

Newer the better if you can swing it. Trucks have improved leaps and bounds even just from the late 2000's era.

Avoid loaded up models, usually means low payload, especially for 1/2 tons.

If I were in your position, I'd try to find the newest base model truck (you can live with) with the right engine/gear combo.

Originally Posted by Major Oz

I disagree.

Creature comforts....heated seats, noise insulation, etc. are near the top of my list of TV requirements. Newer trucks can all "do the job"....I need to be comfortable while the TRUCK does the work.

Thanks for the comments. Although my truck is a daily driver, it is not a luxury vehicle. I only know Ford trim levels... XLT is a minimum, XTR maybe if budget allows, but Platinum and King Ranch are way too extravagant. I've never understood the desire for a luxury pickup. It's supposed to be a truck, not a Caddie.

Originally Posted by bfhammer

Why not get the truck that can handle the 5th wheel in a few years?

Because it'll be at least 5-6 years before I can consider an upgrade to a 5er and there's no guarantee I'd even want to. It would be a waste to get a 4-5 year old truck that's overkill for my current TT just so I can maybe upgrade the camper in 5-6 years when the replacement truck will be 9-10 years old.

[MCTroy]

When we needed to upgrade our TV , we searched a couple of lots but couldn't find anything we liked, and could tow our camper. An eager goung sales man took it upon himself to find what we needed. When someone he knew traded in a 2011 3/4 ton Ram, he hid it in the back lot until we could look at it. Even then there were 2 other people wanting to test drive it when we got there! We test drove it to our garage to make sure it would fit then signed the papers. Love that truck! Get someone to watch for a good trade in for you. I tried patching up old cars before. They all became money pits in the end.

[itat]

Thanks, MCTroy. I may have to do that. The only used trucks I can find online are being sold by used vehicle dealers that I'm not inclined to trust. There aren't many used F150s around with the big towing mirrors that are an absolute must have, so if I have to replace mine I'll likely have go with a 250/2500 gasser. The gasser will have a lot more payload than a diesel and like I've said I don't tow heavy enough or often enough or in any mountains to justify the diesel.

[Canadiancrew]

Originally Posted by itat

Thanks, MCTroy. I may have to do that. The only used trucks I can find online are being sold by used vehicle dealers that I'm not inclined to trust. There aren't many used F150s around with the big towing mirrors that are an absolute must have, so if I have to replace mine I'll likely have go with a 250/2500 gasser. The 250/2500 will have a lot more payload than a diesel and like I've said I don't tow heavy enough or often enough to justify the diesel.

Good used trucks like you are looking for are hard to find right now in Ontario. The low Canadian dollar has inflated the price and dealers are getting a good buck exporting them to the US right now.

[Skyliner]

Some of us have "luxury" trucks because some of us have wives but in my case I prefer the heated and cooled seats, heated leather rear seats, heated steering wheel, navigation, touch screen controls, and moonroof too!

Some can't understand this and that's ok; I'm still trying to figure out why people spend thousands on a new camper only to go to a campground where there are other campers with loud kids/dogs/people to the right and left of them or even better, go camping but want to know if a campground has WIFI, Cell service, etc..etc.. :-)

[itat]

Just thought I'd post an update on this thread. I was able to get the rust on the F-150 repaired for a reasonable price so I figured I'm good .... Until I took the setup with my DW and all 3 DSs (16, 18 and 21) to a CAT scale on the way to a recent camping trip. I was 600# over GVWR and 220# over on the rear axle.

The boys won't be camping with us much longer but I figure we're still going to be over GVWR with just DW and me onboard. So, I'm looking to find a decent used 3/4 ton pickup. I've been happy with the Ford so based on the number of times I tow (6-8 times per year) and no mountains, my preference will be an F-250 with the 6.2L gas engine. Based on previous experience with GM and Chrysler minivans I put GM in second and Dodge a distant third but maybe there isn't so much difference with their bread and butter pickups?

I've read here that folks are getting 8-10 mpg towing with the 6.2L gas engine but what do you get as a daily driver when not towing?

I take it from previous comments that I should be looking at 2011 or newer trucks? Any helpful comments would be appreciated.