Kenetrek Boots

Rebuilding a rig instead of buying new

I miss my 2005 tundra but holy shit my 2024 f150 powerboost is nice! I've never bought a vehicle with less than 132,000 miles on it until now. Probably won't take it on the same roads I would have taken the tundra, but I don't feel the call to drive shitty roads as much anymore.

The first scratch was painful :sneaky:
 
It may be cheaper to fix up an older vehicle, but I don't think it's going to be "better"

Agreed based on one’s goals. If you want a cruiser today’s vehicles are leaps beyond model year 2000s. If you want a brute without emissions or traction control nannies then pre 2000 is significantly better. I have both and while I really like the burb for what I built it for, my 2023 Silverado is my vehicle of choice for 90% of what we do.
 
im rebuilding a 2002 4 door shortbed chevy 2500, built a iron block 6.2 ls, rebuilt the 4l80, rebuilt and istalling a floor shift 241transfercase, aluminum rear drivshaft,
all brakes, suspension, cv axles front and rear wheelbearings ect, long tube headers, exhaust, ect, paid 5000 for the truck with 180,000 miles on it, because it was extremely clean body
im in it about 13500 total,
new comparable truck is 50,000,

wife has a 2021 silverado trailboss, 4000 miles out of powertrain warranty it ate a roller lifter, stupid afm/dod crap
pulled the motor, new bearings, freshened heads with valve job, springs seals. new cam,, lifters, pushrods, oil pump, water pump, belts , hoses ect,
3300 in parts pieces, 900 to have computer unlocked and retuned without the afm/dod
its a real nice truck but resell is terrible, so i guess were stuck with it

the numbers of newer chevy and dodge gas trucks with cam lifter failures is absurd,
i was gonna have deaker just put new motor in her truck, 13500.00 but 4 months of waiting gm still had no inventory of the newest 5.3, so i had to do it myself,,,

live and learn
 
All about expectations and use of the vehicle. I expect to be able to chain the front end and engage the transfer case with a lever. I don't want a bunch of electronics or a TV screen on my dash. I will keep my older rigs going. mtmuley
 
A lot depends about how far you drive to hunt. If you drive 12 to 20 hours from home to where you hunt the newer trucks are very comfortable. Especially if towing. Almost better to drive a newer truck and use a SxS or ATV to run the bad roads where you hunt.
Hunting close to home I would prefer any truck from the 70’s. Simple and easy to work on.
 
No doubt that new vehicles have a lot more comfort and features. But, you pay an awful lot for the features. You can do a lot with 50K-100K in fuel or make a lot of money in your 401K or other investments.

And ... unless you trade frequently and lose on each trade, I'd be worried about the features failing and the cost to repair them. Of course, not all older vehicles are equal. You need to do your research to find which years/models are, but that is why I suggested Lexus GX and LX. Lexus generally focuses on reliability above lots of features. The bonus is that most are well maintained because the people buying them aren't as concerned with regular maintenance prices.

YMMV.
 
If I rebuild a pick-up truck, it'll be a rust-free one from the 50's or 60's on a 70's 4x4 chassis. When my Tundra dies that is. It doesn't want to co-operate though.
 
Unless something changes, I plan on keeping the one I have until they plant/burn me. I will never be able to get the platform I have now again and I like it. Having gotten a great deal I am well to the good end for a loooooong time.
 
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