What you ask? To find a decent, not perfect, 2nd gen truck!!!

So I sold my '06 to help with expenses for college, son and wife, and I am looking for a 2nd gen truck, 12 or 24 v. I can't believe the junk that's out there for sale and what the sellers are asking for it. I fully expect for what I want to spend that the trucks will not be in perfect condition. Some dings and faded paint will be the norm for a 10-15 year truck. But doesn't anyone care about there vehicles at all? Oil and dirt caked from front to back of the bottom of the engine, is this normal for these? I had 180k on my '06 and it was clean underneath, not perfect, but clean. Is this just a standard characteristic of these years?

It seems this endeavor is going to be a little more difficult than I anticipated. Maybe I have unrealistic expectations. I am looking to spend 7-11k for the truck. 7k for one that hasn't had injector pump replaced and like items, 11k for one that has. I am not looking for a truck that is in perfect exterior condition as I know they would be worth more, but mechanically its imperative that it is in good condition.

I would just like to find a truck that doesn't look like it was left in the middle of war zone.

 

Where are you?

 

Colorado

 

Just picked up a '95 reg. cab in NY for 6700. Pretty much stock with 110 k on it and some minor rust issues. Replaced the steering gear and waiting to put on a new exhaust because the PO cut it of under the cab. Took a couple of months to find and had to travel 350 miles one way to get it, but I think we'll be happy with it. Most around me were overpriced and in a lot worse condition. Check out autotrader and like sites and be willing to travel. There are still some hidden gems out there, just not around every corner.

 

TF-Congrats on your find. I am getting anxious, I haven't been without a truck in 18 yrs. I work out of a truck and am currently borrowing a friends 1990 accord. Fuel mileage is great but can only carry about 33% of my equipment!.

 

I guess keep waiting for the "deal" I shopped a few months before I bought what I wanted. Of course I spent more than what I planned on spending but I like my truck. there's no rust/dings/clean inside and out, low miles.
Ones I checked out at 6-7K had missing engine bay components, gauges didn't work, all the check engine lights were lit up, including ABS and trucks had upwards of 300K miles!

 

Resale value is good on these trucks. I'm thinking about selling mine but getting 19-21+mpg makes it hard to go back to 16-18mpg.

 

Yes it is and I understand why. Great mileage for a heavy truck, longevity of engine and very few produced compared to Ford and Chevy. I just can't figure out why they are so beat up!

BTW, keep it and fix it. A lot cheaper than a new truck. I have had 5 new trucks over the last 15 years and ouch, a waste of a lot of money.

 

Just so you know, oil and dirt caked on the bottom of a 24v engine from front to back is entirely normal. It's because of the miserable design of the crankcase vent. By routing it into a catch bottle right at the front by the fan, they virtually guaranteed that oil vapor would be distributed all over the front of the engine, and naturally over time more and more dirt sticks to it.

On top of that you'll also find that crudded up radiators are the norm as well, for the same reason.

 

Sorry, Lack of prudent maintaince is the word. Puke bottle issue is well known and anyone that cares has taken care off. Mine is not caked underneath at all. No drips in driveway either.

 

Well I pulled the trigger on a '99 QCLB Dually, 4wd, Auto with 95k miles. Paid a little more than I wanted, 10.5k, but it was by far in the best condition of all the trucks I have looked at thus far. Not perfect but no boulder sized dents either. Steering is sloppy and it needs tires. Had to get back in the game though. Thanks for all of your replies gents.

 

I agree with you that it really boils down to lack of maintenance, but you have to realize that the vast majority of 24v owners in this country have never even heard of sites like this one and have no clue about the puke bottle and its side effects. They simply change the oil and filter like they have on every other vehicle they've ever owned.