Our trucks good investment?

[redneckroot]

Is it just me or does it seem like our trucks are becoming worth more every year. I remember 7 years ago when I bought my 93 (that I never should have sold) that the highest ones on ebay might get close to 9k now when I see some of the nice ones going to and past 20k it makes me wonder if I should be buying them and storing them in a barn somewhere.

[1STGENFARMBOY]

Richie is setting on a retirement egg at his place.

[BILTIT]

It does seem they are asking more and more, atleast around here. I paid 7k for mine last year, i cant find a comparable truck for less than 9k now.

[ahale2772]

many guys are getting sacred of all the newer electronic trucks, the 93 I just redid is a 1owner truck that the owner was thinking about selling, the only other trucks in his pricerange was 6.0 fords and 24v/cr Dodges. they all have their own problems and he didnt want to spend 10-14 grand on a truck that might puke its guts.

we put 5grand back into his truck and its like new. no reason it should not run for another trouble free 15 years with some regular mainenence.

the 1st gen/early ppump trucks are getting bought up fast around here, prices are going up visably and CL is full of VP44 trucks, 6-leaker fords and 6.7 powerjokes ....good luck trying to find a nice first gen that dosnt get scooped up in 3 days

[Richie O]

Richie is setting on a retirement egg at his place.

All mine together are not worth 15 grand. My 93 is a bondo buggy, and the 92 is at the end of its sheetmetal life. My 89 needs a paint job, but is solid and rust free. I would say my 89 is worth the most. I have owned my 89 since 1998 and there are still people mad at me because I bought it before they did.

[The_Head]

I don't think they are a good investment. Most of them are all used up already.

[dazedandconfused]

They are getting rare/hard to find in areas and that is driving up the price. I rarely see them around here anymore.

[Richie O]

What you need to do is get a drivetrain from here, and put it in a salt free body with a worn out driveline. My 93 was totally rusted out, but had only 125k on it.

[ahale2772]

Used up? At what point does one get used up? Dont see many firstgens on the side of the road with drivers complaining about them just being used up...

[Mark Nixon]

I'd sell ALL of my 1st gen related stuff for ONE '02 Dually E/C, 6 speed, 4wd.
That is ALL of it minus a VE conversion for the '02.
It won't happen, because people know this old stuff is worthless unless it's all one pretty color and assembled.

I'm ready to send it all to the shredder, since 2nd gen stuff has really gotten cheaper, lately.

Mark.

[redneckroot]

As much as I love 1st gens. I was talking only from an investment stand point. Like I said I love 1st gens but there is no way that I would ever pay anything close to 20k for one I don't care if it was forgotten about in some dodge warehouse all these years. If I'm talking truck for truck there are things about all the cummins generations that I like. I hate having things over complicated, but it is nice in a cr to push a button and gain or loose 150hp while driving down the road. The only thing I would want from a 98.5-2002 dodge would be the nv5600 other then that I could care about the pump or the motor. I like ppumps for the really cheap hp you can get and the dana 80 rears, but the front end steering was a cap design. 1st gens I like the most mainly because they to me atleast look like a truck that can do real work without fixing crap all the time.

[BobS]

I'd call it a poor investment.
1. You need a storage place that is weather tight and rodent free. A shed or barn won't work. So you need a 2 truck storage garage to keep them in. Average for a cheap metal enclosed 2 car garage is at least $6000 minimal + $1000 for a concrete slab. This does NOT include running utilities, heating, climate controls - AC or a dehumidifier, etc.

2. Now that you increased your real estate value your property taxes and property insurance go up. If you want to insure your investment on both trucks factor in truck insurance on 2 vehicles at full DECLARED LOSS value. Figure on at least $500 per vehicle per year.

3. In 10 years time you will need to replace all the tires due to the average shelf life of the tires being a recommended 5 years. Other rubber items may also deteriorate depending on your climate and environment & need replaced. Vehicles deteriorate even when stored under the best conditions. Mother nature is the worlds best recycler.

4. With the exception of around year 2008, inflation will eat up an additional 3 - 5% per year of your buying power and increase your above costs proportionately.

5. Then when you "cash in" your investments the state will take 3.5% of your gain [in PA] and the Feds will grab 28% - 33% of your capital gain & that's providing you can actually convince somebody that what you have for sale is worth the asking price.

6. Your property taxes will not get reduced by any large amount even if you remove the garage. Once your on the tax roll at an increased value you will generally be stuck at an increased rate FOREVER.



Been here and done that...

[redneckroot]

You looked at it closer then I did. Many good points though. I just think its very interesting on how the value on these lately seems to keep on climbing.

[Mark Nixon]

....I just think its very interesting on how the value on these lately seems to keep on climbing.

In general and if you have a nice, "jump in and drive", pristine example, yes, nice ones have definitely increased in value.

One has to consider, though, is the odometer readings on some of these "low mile" units really that low?
Gotta' remember, these things, from '90 on, were puking odometers on a regular basis and I have personally pulled some with 35,000 miles on them that DID NOT WORK.

A well maintained 1st gen, even with 350,000 on it can be preserved and look like it only has 50,000 miles on it.
Covers over the seats, meticulous weekly cleanings, even washing down the engine and undercarrriage goes a long way to preserving the look of the truck, in fact, a careful washdown actually helps keep engine seals from cracking.
The best tip off on higher mileage?
On a 4wd that has "50,000 miles" on it, there should be no flat springs, or ANY sort of bushing wear or cracking.
The suspension should still be OEM parts, maybe loose, though.
Why would springs be flat, or bushings cracked, if it was kept garaged all the time and never worked?

Maybe I'm obsessing, but if I'm going to pay $15,000 plus for a "Nice, low miles ORIGINAL" truck, as one member here put it:
"It better not have been so much as farted in".

Mark.

[BobS]

FWIW, my observations from a 52,000 mile engine that was garage kept & driven year round in Pennsylvania.

A 6BT Dodge with 52,000 miles will still have some black paint remaining on the ends of the exhaust manifold. All of the attaching manifold bolts will still be smooth and rust free. The exhaust manifold will still look like new but will be slightly rusted without any heavy pitting. The valve covers will still have all of their original paint. The paint on the front of the engine block and head will have a few signs of bubbling which is rust just starting under the paint which is probably caused by the blasting effect of the engine fan. The paint on the front lifting ear will have a tiny bit of rust in the area of the thermostat gasket. The fan pulley and the alternator upper bracket will have 95% 0f the original finish. The pulley to fan hub mounting bolts will be rust free. The engine side mounting brackets will have a slight amount of rust starting on the flat surfaces of the castings. It's also interesting to note that only half of the front expansion plug is painted and was not rusty. It had some writing on it which could have had something to do with the assembly process.