Tips for Hunters On Buying a Used Truck Whether Diesel or Gas

Photo by Simon Berger on Unsplash

So much of life is about making good decisions. Choosing where you want to live and who you want to live with are big ones. Choosing a career path is another biggie. 

For hunters -- North, South, East or West -- one of the decisions you'll be making is what kind of used truck you need and how to find it. I say used because it's doubtful that you want to be abusing a shiny new $70,000 pickup into the hardscrabble canyons or timber-strewn back woods to get your next buck. 

Last week, Outdoor Life published a useful article on this very topic titled "The Best Used Trucks For Hunters." The story by Scott Murdock carries an informative subhead that explains why this subject is important. "There is no hierarchy of brands in the truck market. Every auto manufacturer has made quality vehicles, clunkers, and everything in between." 

The problem emerges when you try to find a suitable, reliable vehicle in the used truck market. Whether pursuing a diesel or gas guzzler, Murdock believes the right truck for you is not impossible to find. First, however, you need to get a clear picture of what your looking for. 

PRIMARY CONSIDERATIONS

1. A truck that can go where other vehicles can't.
In response to this first point the author gets into a little breakdown of the difference between AWD and 4-wheel drive. The latter is stronger and more capable driving over obstacles.

2. Consider cargo room.
An SUV might be fine if you are hunting small game and have a dog or two. On the other hand, for deer or elk, a truck bed is pretty much a requirement. Easy to hose out afterwards, too.

3. Are you towing?
If you're bringing a boat, camper or trailer loaded with ATVs and gear, then you need to consider what you've got under the hood. Half-ton trucks will suffice in most situations, but for heavier loads you'll be best served by a heavy-duty truck with a diesel power plant.

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ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS

If you buy something small that doesn't work out, you can always use it as a doorstop. But if you buy a used truck that's a lemon, it's much more difficult to recycle. Here are some suggestions on how to find a good one, according to Outdoor Life.

1. Put brand loyalty aside.
Probably a hard one for some folks who might consider such a purchase to be almost like cheating. Murdock notes that every brand has both great vehicles and clunkers. Be open-minded, he suggests.

2. Only pay for features you want.
You're buying a hunting truck, not a Lexus. Four-wheel drive and towing capacity is all you really need. If you want more than that, upgrade your hunting shack.

3. Do your homework.
Avoid the temptation to buy on impulse. Make a list of wants and needs, then go looking. Murdock writes, "Your next step should be an online forum dedicated to the exact year, make, and model of the truck(s) that interest you." (NOTE: There is a list of diesel forums in the right hand column here at the Blue Flame Blog which can help you in your search.) Pay attention to the pros and cons from others' experiences.

4. Read the signs.
By this he means, look closely to see if the truck has been maintained. Ask for maintenance records as well, if available. If you find a truck that has been taken care of, it will probably take care of you, even if it has high mileage.

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This is a superb article with a lot more useful information. The next section goes into the matter of how much you should expect to spend on a suitable used truck. The following section discusses mileage matters and why lower miles isn't always better. From there he makes a case for four-wheel drive. After this he gives his opinion regarding gas or diesel. He gives a strong thumbs up to diesel power if your towing because of the torque these engines generate.

The last section gets brand specific. The author says the best half ton to look for is a 1990-2006 Chevrolet 1500 or GMC 1500. And the best diesel, in his view is the 1994-1998 Dodge Ram 2500 or 3500. If you're going midsize, he likes the 2015 to present Chevrolet Colorado ZR2. In the SUV category he directs readers to the 1997-2001 Jeep Cherokee. For Best Bargain, he suggests the 2000-2006 Toyota Tundra. And for Best Sport Truck, yes, it's the 2010-2014 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor.

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The article is packed with details in every one of these sections. He makes a strong defense of his selections in the latter portion when naming names. It's a well constructed argument for buying used, and loaded with insights. We recommend you bookmark this page, even if you aren't a hunter:

Buying Used Trucks for Hunting

Motor Trend's 10 Best Diesel Trucks Ever

These are the kinds of stories that start arguments. Write a story about the ten best of anything and you'll have readers checking it out, then arguing, "What wasn't this on the the list?" It could be the 10 best Beatles songs of all time, the ten best rock groups, the ten best movies of all time... two beers and you've got a fight started. 

Dodge Ram: Kickin' up dirt and spoiling for a fight.

So KJ Jones has dished up a treat for gear heads. The 10 Best Diesel Pickup Trucks of All Time. Who's in and who's out? Let's rumble.

Jones sets a few parameters up front. First, he knows that there are some readers who are so enamored their Rams that they believe "If it doesn't have a Cummins, it can't be on the list." All bias aside, there are other criteria beside sheer muscle. For this reason he writes:

The trucks we've selected range from first-generation Dodge Rams of the late 1980s, to present-day Ford, GM and Ram rigs that tow upwards of 35,000 pounds, while getting almost 30 mpg in fuel economy. So, if you're in the market for a brand-new, or new-to-you, (older) diesel truck, consider the ten rigs that are cited in this rundown.

And indeed, the first truck unveiled is that first generation Dodge Ram: 1989-1993 Ram D-250 and D-350. His moniker for this truck is Timeless Diesel. Each photo is accompanied by a paragraph of text that underscores the features that make this selection significant.

The second photo is what Jones calls the Best Used Diesel Value: 2003-2008 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 HD. Third-gen Dodge Heavy Duty diesels are also held in high regard, Jones writes. In part, this is due tothe facelift as well as increased cargo and cockpit space. This is a big man's truck.

Truck #3 he labels the Most Capable Diesel, and yes, it is a Dodge Ram as well, a 2010-2013 Ram 2500 Heavy Duty. This puppy has a 6.7-liter Cummins I-6 diesel engine that produces real horsepower and mountains of torque in what Jones calls "a fairly simple package."

At this point you have to be wondering when the Fords and Chevs will get mentions. The answer, when you turn the pages is "not yet." Truck #4 is the First 1,000 lb-ft Diesel. It, too, is a Ram. Specifically, it's a 202 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty. This was a Motor Trend Truck of the Year when it appeared, and it's got a lot going for it, not the least of which is its 35,100-pound towing capability and 7,680-pound payload.

Rather than spill all the beans here, I'm just going list the rest of the categories Jones pigeon-holed his selections into. Three Ford and three GM offerings get selected. 

Fords were chosen for these categories: Best Budget Diesel and Best Diesel to Modify and Best Diesel for Towing.

GM trucks got gold stars for these categories: Best Pre-Emissions Diesel, Best Hot-Rod Diesel and Best Diesel Drivetrain.

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Go check out the story and tell us what you think.

https://www.motortrend.com/features-collections/best-diesel-pickup-trucks-ever/ 

The Big Red Flatbed as Featured in Diesel Tech

The November issue of Diesel Tech had a nice story titled "The Big Red Flatbed" that appeared in its online  edition in December. The article by Colin Peterson focuses on a 2000 Dodge RAM 3500 powered by a 24-valve 5.9L Cummins engine. The vehicle is a labor of love for Alejandro "Alex" Ramos, a California teen from Camino, California.

The truck, which started as a stock dually, is a long ways from home, its original home being 3000 miles across the country in North Carolina. Today, the truck is in the midst of a complete makeover "with tractor-trailer-like rims" and beefed up performance. 

There's no question that Alex loves his truck. The article has lots of photos of this beautiful big red beast, but also includes an Instagram link where you can see even more. Alex is proud of what he has and of what he's been doing. It's a work in progress, and a work truck at the same time that he uses to pull excavators and other equipment around on winding roads.

The most aggressive upgrades have been under the hood, Peterson notes. Here's a partial list of what's taken place beneath the surface:

--195-horsepower BD Diesel Performance injectors

--BD Diesel high-performance VP44 injection pump

--Banks Power High-RAM air intake elbow

--Holset HX40 Super 40 turbo. 

"He keeps all of that running strong with Hot Shot’s Secret products. Behind the flywheel and before the NV4500 transmission is a South Bend Clutch dual-disk clutch, plenty well-designed to handle all the amped up performance that the engine puts out. With this setup that provides enhanced fuel flow, airflow and boost, the flatbed western hauler definitely gets the performance it deserves, and Alex has no problems with his heavy towing or hauling."

As noted earlier, it's a work in progress by a young man with big dreams. Dreamers peer into the future and make things happen. The world could use more young dreamers.  

READ THE FULL STORY HERE
https://www.dieseltechmag.com/2020/12/the-big-red-flatbed

'93 Dodge Ram with 5.9L Cummins Sells for Twice What It Did When New

This is what happens when you take care of what you own rather than run it into the ground. Yesterday, Auto Evolution published a story by Daniel Patrascu about a 1993 Dodge Power Ram 250 Club Cab in such mint condition that it fetched $50,000 at auction. The two-tone pickup came with a camper shell that no doubt added to its mystique. 

The original price in late 1992 on the diesel-powered pickup was $15K which would be $26K today, adjusted for inflation. So $50K shows how much value is added when you take care of what you own.

Over the course of its lifetime the truck had only accumulated 33,000 original miles, which Patrascu calculated to being about 1200 miles a year. Obviously the vehicle's single owner wasn't using it as a commuter vehicle, nor for annual summer vacations around the country.

Under the hood you'll find a Cummins inline-six diesel engine linked with to a four-speed transmission and a dual-range transfer case. According to Patrascu, "the 5.9-liter unit was originally rated at 160 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque." He suspects that most of that power is still there in the box.

The vehicle, which sold on Monday this week, had spent its life in Utah where dry weather conditions are favorable and kind, unlike regions of the country where humidity is a bane. Other features of the Ram include 16" wheels, bucket seats, air conditioning, cruise control and power windows.

It's noteworthy that in addition to all the original sales documentation, manufacturer's literature, clean title and Carfax report, the late owner kept meticulous service records, which enhances the value of used cars and trucks much the same as your medical records have a bearing on life insurance.

You can read Daniel Patrascu's Auto Evolution story here:
https://www.autoevolution.com/news/camper-shelled-1993-dodge-ram-goes-for-50k-double-what-it-sold-for-new-153707.html# 

For an excellent example of how to sell your own used truck, this listing at the Bring A Trailer auction site is a superb template showing how to present your used equipment so as to get the most buck for your banger:
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-dodge-power-ram-250-turbodiesel-4x4/

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Are These the Best Special Edition Pickup Trucks Ever?

2004-2006 International MXT 4x4

On Christmas Day most of us are getting stuffed with goodies, reading one of the books we got from Santa or playing games with the kids (or grandkids, depending on your age.) Caleb Jacobs offered this present to truck enthusiasts: an article in The Drive about "the Best Special Edition Pickup Trucks Ever Made." 

He doesn't actually declare these the best. Rather, he suggests they are among the best by asking readers the question, Are These the Best Special Edition Pickups? He then produces a set of suggestions for consideration, just the kind of thing truck enthusiasts love to debate over a lengthy, leisurely after-dinner conversation, favorite libations in hand. Here are the trucks he cites, but I'll make you jump to The Drive for the details as regards why they're special.

He begins with that nostalgic fave, the 1978-79 Dodge Ram Li'l Red Express/Midnite Express. Jacobs dives into the key differences between the Li' Red and the Midnite. Whereas there were ample Li' Reds, there were only about 200 Midnites produced, making them rare though not forgotten. The reputation Li'l Red garnered for itself was based on being the first "hot rod pickup" and who doesn't like that notion?

The second truck he cites is the 1989 Dodge Shelby Dakota,  a truck with several special editions, one of them being a convertible. It, too, was quick though not a Li'l Red Express.

The 1991 GMC Syclone comes in with a whirlwind introduction. Supposedly there are some who would suggest that there's nothing left to say after the Syclone. GMC only made 3000 of them, all black except the Marlboro edition.

The 1991 Chevrolet 454 SS gets the next citation. This was another truck with "a menacing black scheme." To establish its reputation they replaced the small block 350 cu. in. engine with a 454 big block with monster oomph.

There's actually an EV here on the list, the 1997-98 Chevrolet S-10 Electric. The battery-powered pickup was targeted at fleet operators who needed highly efficient vehicles for around-town driving. For what it's worth, this fellow was front-wheel drive.

Other vehicles on Jacobs' list include the 1999-2004 Ford Lightning, the 2004-2006 Dodge Ram SRT-10,  the 2019-20 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison, and (my favorite) the 2006-2008 International MXT 4x4. Of this latter, he points out that International hasn't produced pickup trucks since the 70's, being known for its medium- and heavy-duty trucks, which are reliable workhorses in our economy. 

"Clearly, the MXT rides higher than most factory pickups," Jacobs notes. "That's partially because it rides on 40-inch Pro Comp tires that are also 13.5 inches wide. Its 6.0-liter DT365 turbodiesel engine has no problems turning those, though, as it produces 300 hp and 530 pound-feet of torque." 

Just reading the names of these trucks makes your heart beat faster. What's your favorite?

Here's the link to the full Christmas story:
https://www.thedrive.com/news/38367/these-are-the-best-special-edition-pickup-trucks-ever-made

Ram Power Wagon Celebrates 75th Anniversary

One of the great things about having a long history is that it affords you an opportunity to celebrate the anniversaries of milestones. The history of Dodge is one such story with many anniversaries.

The Dodge brothers got their start as manufacturers of parts for other automakers back in the first days of the automobile. In 2014 they celebrated the 100th anniversary of their decision to become automakers themselves. Horace and John called their new business the Dodge Brothers Company.

Within a relatively short time Dodge was the #2 automobile in America in terms of sales. Sadly, in 1920 both of the brothers died prematurely--John from pneumonia and Horace later in the year from cirrhosis. Without their energy and innovation the company wasn't the same and in 1925 the widows sold it for 146 million dollars, the largest cash transaction in history at that point in time. Three years later the brand was acquired by Chrysler.

IN 1934 Dodge began devoting itself to building four-wheel drive trucks for the Army, both half-ton and full-ton. They were built to be rugged, reliable and unbreakable. It was basic but masterful engineering, easy to drive and durable. Soldiers who experienced these machines returned from the war with a desire to own trucks of their own, and Dodge went to work coming up with a civilian version of their four-wheel drive "carry alls."

As everyone who's ever been involved in naming a product knows, you really want to get it right.  Eventually, after trying out a variety of names before the launch, they called it the Power Wagon. Great name, and this year is the 75th anniversary of its introduction. How appropriate that I saw this story Wednesday on Veteran's Day. A big salute to Dodge for the 226,700 trucks they built for our armed forces during the war, and for staying with it afterwards.

Other names they originally considered included the Farm Utility Truck, the WDX General Purpose Truck, and the One Ton Truck. When they appeared on the showroom floor they were Power Wagons.  

The story that triggered this nostalgic trip through history was this one: 

2021 Ram Power Wagon 75th Anniversary Edition
First Mass-production 4x4 Pickup Truck Celebrates 75 Years of Service

Ahead of Nov. 11 Veterans Day observances, Ram is commemorating the 75th anniversary of Power Wagon with a special acknowledgment of Power Wagon's heritage, which stretches back to World War II. The 2021 Ram Power Wagon 75th Anniversary Edition is loaded with unique features and celebrates the rich history of the most iconic model in the heavy-duty pickup segment. 

The truck is available in 11 colors, two of them new and unique: Anvil Grey and Molten Orange. It also features a unique grille, 75th Anniversary badging, 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels and premium leather interior. In short, this is no longer a basic, durable army truck. It's a behemoth with wow. 

You can read the full story here.

Some of the other info on this blog post came from Origins of the Dodge Power Wagon, published at AllPar.com.