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GScott423 · 10-04-2018, 02:58 PM

Looking at getting a bigger pickup so when I move up from our 5,500 lb trailer I would have enough truck to tow. Sadly I am working with a $30,000 budget so looking at used trucks. The question is age vs miles. I am looking at a 2017 with 75,000 miles vs a 2015 with 50,000 miles. If otherwise about the same would you choose older lower miles or new high miles? The high mile truck is a single that had a long commute to pile up the miles.

tuffr2 · 10-04-2018, 03:02 PM

What are the trucks? GM, Ram or Ford? Ford redesigned the 2017 F-250/350/450 so I would say a higher milage Ford 2017 F-250 vs a 2015 F-250 I would pick the 2017 which will be built with a much better frame.

On the other trucks I would go with the lower miles.

GScott423 · 10-04-2018, 03:06 PM

These two trucks are 6.4 gas Dodge 1 tons

Jshopes81 · 10-04-2018, 03:30 PM

Depends. All things being equal like maintenance records, options, history report, id go with miles. Im guessing theyre both out of warranty?

tuffr2 · 10-04-2018, 03:33 PM

It would buy the fewer miles. The Ram 3500 with the 6.4 liter hemi is a very nice truck. Fewer miles IMHO is always better.

Jshopes81 · 10-04-2018, 03:34 PM

I just thought about this, my 17 ram work truck has 68k on it and its always on the go. I put a ton of miles on it.

Unicorn Driver · 10-04-2018, 04:11 PM

Depends what mileage you are going to put on it.
I recently traded in a 2010 Toyota 4 runner with 90k on it for a 2010 Toyota Sequoia with 127k. I will drive less than 10k a year on this (drive MH and other car a lot). If I sell it at 13 years old it will have less than 180k at an average of 14k a year.

Cumminsfan · 10-04-2018, 04:47 PM

No way would I pay $30K for a 17 3500 6.4 with 75,000 on it. I just paid 38K for a 2018 2500 6.4 4.10 5th prep, spray in bed liner Tradesman 5 months ago. MSRP was a little over 46K. If not for trading in on it I probably could've got it for less no doubt.
I got 28K for my 12 2500 CTD with 59,000 on it.
FWIW I could've got a 3500 6.4 4.10 Tradesman for very little more. Just didn't need the 3500.

GScott423 · 10-04-2018, 04:51 PM

Both are out of warranty. So when you say you would go with the miles does that mean you would choose the newer truck with higher mileage?

Jshopes81 · 10-04-2018, 05:07 PM

I would go with the one with the mileage in its favor is what i meant. The 2015.

Airmech · 10-04-2018, 07:32 PM

Go with the less miles. If you could stretch your budget a little and don't care about options, take a look at the new gassers. Just might be able to get a brand new truck for the same payment as the used. Just a thought.

Parks · 10-04-2018, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cumminsfan

No way would I pay $30K for a 17 3500 6.4 with 75,000 on it. I just paid 38K for a 2018 2500 6.4 4.10 5th prep, spray in bed liner Tradesman 5 months ago. MSRP was a little over 46K. If not for trading in on it I probably could've got it for less no doubt.
I got 28K for my 12 2500 CTD with 59,000 on it.
FWIW I could've got a 3500 6.4 4.10 Tradesman for very little more. Just didn't need the 3500.

Was your $38K a good deal. The Tradesman is about the lowest trim level you can get in a Ram. I have been looking for a good used 3/4 ton for my son and the prices the OP is talking about are about the going rate for the trucks he mentioned that are in the SLT and Big Horn trim levels with similar miles the OP is stating.

OP, the truck with the lower miles may be eligible for an extended warranty. You may even be able to purchase the Maxcare Lifetime Warranty. I'd check it out if I were you . And to answer your original question; If all things being equal, I'd probably go with the lower miles unit. As a few others have said, you should at least get a full quote from a dealer like Dennis Dillon Chrysler on a new ordered truck. An ordered truck is the only way to go, IMO. You pay for what options you want and don't pay for those you don't.

vsheetz · 10-05-2018, 01:28 AM

When buying used, you are buying unused miles - the miles remaining in the vehicle.

Varago · 10-05-2018, 11:26 AM

For about 40 years of my life I was an EE (electrical engineer) but my given profession was automotive

My father & mother ran an Auto parts store with a very good machine shop. I worked in both areas and picked up a bit of knowledge of how a car/truck really works. I had to give this history for a base to what I say next.

I found it very interesting to take a bit of extra time on a tear down of a engine to be rebuilt. The thing that impressed me the most was how clean some engines were even with over 60k miles (thats a lot for the 60's). I talked to the owners and every time the answer was the same "maintenance". So from my view point its not mileage or year but how well the rig was maintained.