Rebuilding a rig instead of buying new

[LCH]

Not really a true rebuild, but I bought my current hunting truck from a government auction. It needed a cam/lifter job.




I had a shop swap in a Jasper rebuild with MDS delete. It also needed a fuel pump. I put a small lift on it, along with a topper from another government auction.





It’s been holding strong for a few years now.

 

[mtmuley]

Not really a true rebuild, but I bought my current hunting truck from a government auction. It needed a cam/lifter job.

View attachment 364213


I had a shop swap in a Jasper rebuild with MDS delete. It also needed a fuel pump. I put a small lift on it, along with a topper from another government auction.

View attachment 364216



It’s been holding strong for a few years now.

Government trucks are great. My current truck is a former Idaho F&G truck. Just stay away if the truck was used by a warden. mtmuley

 

[hank4elk]

Government trucks are great. My current truck is a former Idaho F&G truck. Just stay away if the truck was used by a warden. mtmuley

I had a Navy F-250 4x4,4 door. 1965 ,very rare crew cab. It only ran around Port Hueneme before the auction. 95k miles. $1200 1978 high bid.
I put 556k on it and sold it and regret it still.

 

[Chama Grande]

Wholeheartedly agree. These new trucks work off a ton of expensive and very temperamental circuit boards. Why? Cause the dealers gouge your eyeballs out when they go bad. And the manufacturers set this all up with their "Gee wiz" advertising. The simpler the better. I'm holding on to my 2011 Sierra 2500HD for quite a while.

The amount of excess circuitry in cars and appliances these days has gone off the rails and definitely part of why I'm looking at this route. A bad touchscreen interface and the fact that I can warm one buttcheek to a different temperature than the other doesn't justify 60 grand in my book

 

[Mallardsx2]

I looked into replacing the LED screen (not even necessary) on my Honda 4-wheeler. It was going to be $500....lol

This example, like vehicle parts prices, are the manufacturers attempt at practically forcing users to buy new.

 

[homestead]

Please elaborate on these government auctions. I’m interested.

 

[Straight Arrow]

My 2005 Dodge Ram 3500 recently turned 200k miles, so priced a new one with my added features of the 2005 Ram. The new Ram price was over twice what we paid for a house and 6 1/2 acres on the river in 1975!!! So invested $8k in front end and replaced a few worn parts myself. Now even happier with my old Ram.

 

[Chama Grande]

My 2005 Dodge Ram 3500 recently turned 200k miles, so priced a new one with my added features of the 2005 Ram. The new Ram price was over twice what we paid for a house and 6 1/2 acres on the river in 1975!!! So invested $8k in front end and replaced a few worn parts myself. Now even happier with my old Ram.

You could even get it fully detailed and painted for that new truck feel and still come out ahead

 

[mtmuley]

Please elaborate on these government auctions. I’m interested.

There's websites that deal with Government auctions. The one I used listed vehicles by the State they were in. I ended up buying my truck from a dealer that bought a lot of Government vehicles. mtmuley

 

[Cornbread]

I predict that these car companies are going to be filing for bankruptcy in the next year or so. They blew a ton of money on the electric vehicle scam, a huge stupid bet, and then to get even a decent return to the stockholders, they jacked up prices on their inventory and production of gas vehicles thinking the "suckers" would pay anything. If Im not mistaken, inventory is piling up on both electric and gas vehicles. And unions jacked up the cost of labor last summer. I dont see a way out of it. Mary Barrie should be axed, along with the board. Theyre all totally lame. Oh, and they prevented everything for do it yourselfers to fix their vehicles. Its a race to the bottom, just like the home appliances market.

 

[Chama Grande]

I predict that these car companies are going to be filing for bankruptcy in the next year or so. They blew a ton of money on the electric vehicle scam, a huge stupid bet, and then to get even a decent return to the stockholders, they jacked up prices on their inventory and production of gas vehicles thinking the "suckers" would pay anything. If Im not mistaken, inventory is piling up on both electric and gas vehicles. And unions jacked up the cost of labor last summer. I dont see a way out of it. Mary Barrie should be axed, along with the board. Theyre all totally lame. Oh, and they prevented everything for do it yourselfers to fix their vehicles. Its a race to the bottom, just like the home appliances market.

I'm going to put you in the rebuild category then, thanks

 

[INMT]

There's websites that deal with Government auctions. The one I used listed vehicles by the State they were in. I ended up buying my truck from a dealer that bought a lot of Government vehicles. mtmuley

Please elaborate on these government auctions. I’m interested.

Same. I drive a 2007 Ram I bought 10 years ago that was a former government rig. Depending on where you live, you can find used car dealers that specialize in government auction rigs.

 

[Pucky Freak]

Body and frame are the 2 most important components to be in good shape. Beyond that, research cost of the big parts like engine and transmission to know what you’re getting into.

A year ago I bought an ‘08 taco w/ 225k miles for $8k and since have put about $4.5k in for a full makeover. 4 door, extended bed, 4wd, tow package to begin with, so everything I wanted for a hunting rig.

Added:
Steering rack
Upgraded Tires
Rebuilt suspension w/ upgraded components, incl. lift
Hub assemblies
Exact match topper
Seat covers and upgraded floor mats
Full set tire chains

I did the work myself to make it economical. Everything runs and works like new. Lots of hours invested, but if I wanted to buy an equivalent off the lot it would cost over twice as much.

 

[Chama Grande]

Body and frame are the 2 most important components to be in good shape. Beyond that, research cost of the big parts like engine and transmission to know what you’re getting into.

A year ago I bought an ‘08 taco w/ 225k miles for $8k and since have put about $4.5k in for a full makeover. 4 door, extended bed, 4wd, tow package to begin with, so everything I wanted for a hunting rig.

Added:
Steering rack
Upgraded Tires
Rebuilt suspension w/ upgraded components, incl. lift
Hub assemblies
Exact match topper
Seat covers and upgraded floor mats
Full set tire chains

I did the work myself to make it economical. Everything runs and works like new. Lots of hours invested, but if I wanted to buy an equivalent off the lot it would cost over twice as much.

Are you saying you added all of those things for under 5k?

 

[hank4elk]

Are you saying you added all of those things for under 5k?

I have more than that in my Tacoma rebuild. Like twice.

 

[Southern Elk]

This thread needs more pictures.

 

[Redmt]

That seems really high for an engine replacement. I just Googled 5.3 crate engines and they weren't badly priced. mtmuley

I've done a couple swaps for guys and at the time Summit Racing had some pretty decent prices. I couldn't build one at the prices they were selling for.

 

[Redmt]

I'm a devout Ford guy. I would do a nose to tail rebuild on either of my Powerstrokes before making a 80-90-100k purchase of a new one. My '96 f250 has pretty much been gone through except engine and paint. It's at 328k and runs like new. The paint has rubbed off in quite a few places. My 2000 f350 has 280k ,it needs paint but there's no way I'd trade it off. Rebuild, rebuild, rebuild! Screw the warranty. I could do 3-4 rebuilds for the cost of a new one.

 

[Pucky Freak]

Are you saying you added all of those things for under 5k?

Yessir. I forgot rock sliders too.

Rock sliders were over 50% off like new, topper involved a buy and a trade for a $700 net cost. Chains I converted from another tire size. Premium (Bilstein) front and rear shocks. 6-ply Cooper tires, OEM hub assemblies. Otherwise, lots of perusing FB marketplace, and mfg. sales and deals to keep costs low.

 

[hank4elk]

1998 Tacoma 346k miles
Original engine & tranny. Wheels.
New suspension/ 5100 Bilstein 2" front , u-joints, front drive parts, Rebent rear springs & 1" spring added ,4600 Bilsteins.
New front & back bumpers. New lights on bumper.
Q&D paint job on top.
New rotors & brakes.