I will start with some facts to help with opinions... Bear with me!

Current truck- 08 Silverado LT ECSB, 5.3, 4l60, 4x4. Front windows tinted to match factory rears, 2" leveling kit, NEW tires, intake, exhaust, tune, some other cosmetic things and just did a bunch of maint. and fixed anything that needed it... Truck is VERY clean, was always maintained BUT has 140k on it. Title in hand.

Job security isn't an issue, I normally get 40+ hrs/wk, make decent money and if we ever have a real slow week I am allowed to file for compensation. I would like to start saving for a house though and the extra money would def. speed up that process...

Here is my issue where I could use y'all help.. I am entertaining the idea of getting rid of this truck while I can still get some kind of money for it and getting a Cummins (FINALLY) My truck is worth now roughly what a clean 2nd gen is going for, meaning I wont have to finance much if any at all. (I have cash to help prevent financing) I'm not very fond of going to a truck that many years older then what I have now for reasons of not knowing how the truck was treated by P/O, rust, decent mileage, and the fact that it will be at least 6 years older then my current 5 year old truck... I would like to go with an 04-06 (best fits my budget) but not to sure if I want to take on truck payments again..

So my question is, what would you do? Keep the current truck until its dead, go 2nd gen and have an older truck with a very reliable engine and no payments or a newer one with same reliability and finance the difference?

Sorry for the kinda long post and Thanks!!

Here is my truck, has different tires and a billet grille now...

 

For me, it would depend on what I was going to be doing with it.
I bought my CTD intending to use it primarily for towing a travel trailer long distances.
Its just me, but if I was only going to be commuting shorter distances I would not get a diesel.
If you have taken pretty good care of your current truck I would keep it. Set aside some money every month to get your running gear and stuff overhauled when the time comes and drive it until it drops.
As I said earlier though, it really depends on how you use the truck.

 

I use it mostly for work which is why it has such high miles for being an 08 (esp. for my area), which is part of the reason I am looking into a diesel. Also the truck does tow some, nothing too heavy on a trailer but has been over loaded a few times with product for work as well as firewood and such that was in the bed. A 3/4 ton truck would be good for what I use my truck for. Plus work pays for 90% of my fuel so the cost of diesel isn't really a factor for me..

What I am afraid of is even with taking care of it like I have been, I have a feeling that everything is going to start going all at once and its going to hit the bank real hard and will leave me with extended down time which I cant have because of work. Without a vehicle I cant get to work, I have 1 co-worker that would be able to pick me up but that would only be when we are working together which is becoming less and less common...

 

You will be wasting your time buying a diesel. Honestly stick with what you have and run the wheels off of it. It looks really clean, if you maintained it as you stated then it should go double the mileage your already at no problem. Just keep servicing it.

 

First of all, thanks for yall replies and they are definitely being considered...

Second, as of right now the truck is doing fine but the factory rear locker isn't working as it should/used to and the engine does have some blow by. (Should have mentioned this prior) My intake is getting gummed up via the breather and it uses about a quart of oil between changes (5k miles) and it doesn't leak a drop. Everything is bone dry underneath outside of where the trans cooler line is seeping.

I'm just torn as far as fix what I have keep a few thousand off to the side for repairs and keep using it like I am or go with a new to me cummins (my preference but if not practical then its not practical)

Mind you I'm not going to jump on the first truck I like, I have no issue waiting around for a deal to come up and I'm not the kinda guy that needs a bunch of options in a vehicle. PW/PDL and cruise and I'm happy haha.

 

Yeah, you do need to be careful. You could wind up buying a truck that needs new injectors or other costly items.
Unfortunately people are not always honest when selling used vehicles.

 

I'd say if you want a new truck, go for it. The one you've got might go another 140k, a new one might not, and vice versa. Only reason I'm not in a 3rd gen right now is payments, and I love my 98! I had a 98 with a 318 gasser, and I thought that truck was good until I bought this one. FWIW.

My experience is after 150k it's all the same *as long as the major stuff holds together* for maintenance/fixing the broken. It's always a gamble. Depreciation is a big consideration at your mileage too....

Good luck.

 

Bark I have thought of that as well, get rid of this get a new to me truck that ends up needing a bunch of work and be 2 steps back from where I'm at now...

I think what I'm gonna end up doing is holding on to what I have and just wait and see if a good deal comes around... Everything is for sale for the right price so if someone offers me an amount I can't refuse then I'll go from there.

Just wish these trucks were a little more common around my area and not always so rusted/ beat up...

Thanks everyone for your replies, feel free to chime back in if anything to add.

 

I live in the rust belt also. Bought my truck in Seattle.

 

I did what you are talking about doing. I now own a 2006 4x4 quad cab Dodge. I got rid of a 94 f150
4x4 with 168000 miles. Worse mistake I ever made. The dodge has turned out to be a piece of crap. 77000 babied miles and I just replaced u joints, ball joints, hub bearings and the steering linkage is shot also. On top of that the fuel mileage is terrible and I can't get more than 25000 miles out of tires. The drivers seat is shot, the lumbar support broke some time ago. The water pump was replaced and the pinion seal leaks. The truck has had numerous "glitches" and codes that can't be explained by the dealer. I keep my trucks a50000 miles plus before replacing By far the Dodge is the worse truck I have ever owned. The cummins engine is the only half way desent thing about the truck and even that has been problamatic. The body and front end are garbage. Keep what you have if you are happy with it.