Deeper Dives into SuperDuty Trucks

I’ve started to do a deep diver into individual dealership websites, and realized there are a lot of SuperDuty trucks out there with the extended cab and the FX4 off-road package. Almost every Ford dealer has at a least a few of them. Especially if I’m willing to consider either the XL base trim or with STX appearance package, the 3/4 ton or 1 ton axle (F-250 vs F-350), long bed versus short bed, and the 6.8L vs 7.3L. I have slight preferences on all of those things, like I think the 7.3L is slightly more reliable, the F-350 probably has better resale value, and the STX appearance package is nice, but also price and availability are considerations too. I really don’t want dog dish hub cabs, and fleet white, but also not a lariat trim. That said, if I have to spend several days doing phone calls, and driving a day to pickup the truck I really want and will serve me good through my estimated retirement around 2040 – and potentially save a few thousand bucks, then it’s definitely worth it. I keep studying dealer strategy videos. I will do it, get the truck I want. Just like I will have that off-grid cabin, land out in country, with goats and cattle, a trash burner, and lot more guns, eventually.

People say you should spend no more then 10% of your monthly income on a car, but I am not planning to buy on finance or at least not finance for more then a month before retiring the note to get dealer incentives. The thing is I am frugal on so many parts of my life, like riding my bike and taking the bus to work, living in a blighted apartment at County Welfare rate, cooking my own simpe food, keeping the heat at 50 degrees or lower, and my truck is a big part of my leisure and adventures in the wilderness. And certainly I can keep it below 10% of my income if I annualize a $60k the cost over 6-years, and let’s be honest, those low-spec SuperDuty trucks have long-established naturally-aspirated engines and simple solid axles that are likely to at least 15-years if I keep up on the maintenance. My new truck will be smelling like a sheep farm before next winter! I’m at mid-career, and a buying SuperDuty isn’t going to change my savings and investment plans at all, as I had the cash earmarked for this purpose for 5-years now. That said, I do feel guilty about it all, I know 2040 or whenever I get rid of such a nice truck will come sooner then I want it to. But then I’ll get another truck. It’s not like the stock market keeps rising, and paper valuation fly to greater heights each day.