[MikeChandler]

As the list keeps expanding of what I need to take care of on my Titan (and unfortunately after replacing my manifolds) my wife raises the $30K question:

Am I being stupid about this, pouring all this money into the truck, which is a huge bump all at once?

I can get a 2017 lease return (usually they are rental cars, which are well maintained) Ram SLT 1500 V8 hemi 4x4 for under $30K. If I get $6500 trade in on my Titan, I'd be under $300 a month on payments, and the car would be under factory warranty for another 12000 miles or 3 more years. Since it's a 2017 there are great breaks on financing.

I'd really love to have a dodge 4x4, and I think it would be perfect for my 3 horse trailer. With horses it's still under 10,000 lbs. And I think it would do better off road than my 4x2 2006 Titan.

Any advice or insight?

 

[AZPRO4X]

You'd be better off with a 3/4 ton or at least the Titan XD, those would be 10x more appropriate for towing a 3 horse trailer. That is a lot of weight that is shifting around constantly.
You start to get above the 5k range, 1/2 ton trucks show their weaknesses quickly. If you were towing the horses a few miles down the road every so often, that would be a different story.

 

[dubyam]

I'll second the thought of going 3/4 ton. That's a lot of weight to tow regularly. If you only tow it a couple of times a year, then no biggie, but if you're loading up the horses to go every month, a 3/4 ton will be a lot more sturdy.

To be sure, a 3.36 geared Titan will tow the heck out of 9000lbs, and with the right setup for truck and trailer, and good defensive driving, it will stop that weight, too.

I've owned a dodge ram, and all I can tell you is don't! You'll spend a ton of time and money fixing all the janky little nickel and dime stuff you won't have time to drive the thing or money to go anywhere. I did more repairs on my dodge in a year (any of the six years I owned it) than I've done on my Titan in over 6yrs. Just don't!

As for your current truck, figure the value if it's totaled, and compare that to what needs to be fixed. If you need $3500 in repairs and it's worth $7k, and you like the truck, it might be worth repairing. If you need $5k in repairs, and it's worth $4800, I'd think it's time to trade.

 

[jdmartin]

You can make a helluva lot of repairs for $30k. If the question is if it makes financial sense to trade, the answer is almost virtually always no. If you just want a newer truck that doesn't need any work, that's a question only you can answer.

 

[dubyam]

The only time it makes financial sense to trade is when one of two things happens. Either you are paying more to keep the vehicle you have running, or you are in need of more reliability and your current vehicle is simply in bad enough shape that it cannot be made reliable. I've experienced the first version of this, with a wore out vehicle while in college. Over the course of 9mo, I had to do several major repairs, and as such, it averaged out to a pretty high dollar amount per month. As I could see a couple more high dollar repairs (clutch, transmission synchros and bearings, valve job, etc.) In the near future, it made more sense to go buy a different vehicle, for which I paid less per month and got a warranty so no repairs. But that's rare.

 

[fsaintl]

I've owned a RAM as well. I had an 09 4x4 regular cab short bed. Basic utilitarian truck, manual crank windows, vinyl seats and rubber floors. I sold it after 6 years and 60,000 miles and it was basically trouble free. It was a half ton, with the coil spring suspension all the haters liked to hate, saying a truck really needs leaf springs, etc. Fact was, it rode better than any other truck I have driven, and I towed an 8 x 24 trailer weighing 7,000 pounds and it felt great.

That being said, if I was towing horses around I'd get a 3/4 ton, or at least a Titan XD which is probably more like a 5/8 ton, half way between a 1/2 and 3/4 .

I've seen new 2017 Titan XD crew cabs in the base S trim for $35K. Personally I'd go that way with the 5 year warranty versus saving a couple of grand and getting a one year warranty on a used truck.

But ultimately it is your money, and you are driving it. Figure out your needs versus your wants, then get the one you NEED. That is always going to be cheaper than getting the one you WANT!

 

[jdmartin]

Also: on the financial side, you have to consider the following (some/all may not apply to your state):

Sales tax - you are paying sales tax on the purchase price of the vehicle. Depending on the state that can be significant. In TN that would be almost 2 grand based on your numbers.
Personal property tax - higher on newer vehicles
Insurance - full coverage required
Registration - some states charge more for newer vehicles

So I would at least consider those things as well before you do anything. That leaves out any kind of "customization" you would need to do to the new vehicle, meaning trailer accessories, floor mats, trailer brakes, whatever. Things that have already probably been done on the truck you already own.

 

[musicmanmk2004]

All brands will have some bad seeds out there. My brother has had several Rams and rarely has any major problems and he is constantly over loading it with his trailers. He inst dumb about it but the truck definitely gets put to the test.

As others have said, depending on how much u are having to put into your Titan it might not be worth it to keep it or vise versa. If you plan to tow often, a 3/4 ton is the winner all day long but if only occasionally the Titan "Big Tow" can be a great tow vehicle. My father in-law bought a 2015 silverado 2500 with the gas 6.0 and 4x4 with under 30,000 miles on it for right at 30k with a factory warranty still in tact last year, thats a whole lot more truck than the Dodge or the Titan 1/2 ton.

One last thing, not saying you're wrong but normally when you rent a truck they are not fully loaded with 4x4 and a hemi so it might not have been a rental and if it was a rental consider this, Every time I or someone I know gets in a rental we drive it like we stole it. lol

 

[Wellshuxxx]

“Who rammed you in the @$$ when you bought that pos”

 

[drpeeb]

You can make a helluva lot of repairs for $30k. If the question is if it makes financial sense to trade, the answer is almost virtually always no. If you just want a newer truck that doesn't need any work, that's a question only you can answer.

Perfectly stated.

 

[MikeChandler]

“Who rammed you in the @$$ when you bought that pos”

Who or what are you referring to? My 2006 titan le bigtow? It's not a piece of ****. I bought it brand new in 2006, and other than the 7 miles it had on it, when I pulled out for the test drive, I put every singular mile of 165,000 miles on it.

You have no idea what you are talking about. And judging by your post count, I don't think you're a credible member anyway. Just saying.

Nissan Titans are incredible vehicles. I never thought I'd get what I got out of it. I did trade it in two days ago and even needing shocks, tie rods, bushings, new intake housing, and having electrical problems (that I didn't care since they were convenience items like the radio, one of the power windows, etc) I still got $5,000.00 for it.

At the end of the day, I wanted a 4x4 and there's a Ram dealer nearby, and the nearest Nissan dealer (for service, etc) is 150 miles away, and then there's the MOPAR lifetime warranty.

So all said and done I bought the 2016 Ram with factory warrant for another 12K and pre-owned certified 7years/100K miles powertrain, for $27,000.

This is my vehicle's sticker last year when it was leased out by the dealer:

https://www.chrysler.com/hostd/windowsticker/getWindowStickerPdf.do?vin=3C6RR7LT6GG371446

Neither car qualifies as a POS.

There were a lot of variables, and this worked for me.

My total trailer weight including horses is about 6200 lbs. I know because I just tested it

I think I am going to be just fine. Thanks so much, and thanks for all the support. My Titan stands tall as the best car I ever owned.

 

[drpeeb]

... there's a Ram dealer nearby, and the nearest Nissan dealer (for service, etc) is 150 miles away ...

Yeah, I've noticed there are WAAAAY more Dodge/RAM dealers than Nissan. Example: Chiefland FL ... RAM dealer but no Nissan.

 

[Wellshuxxx]

Lolllll
Who RAMmed you in the a$$ when you bought that piece of $hit!!!
Rams are absolutely trash as with any Mopar product. Fiat Chrysler put out the cheapest made vehicles by far.
Enjoy your ram, hope ur anus heals properly

 

[jdmartin]

Lolllll
Who RAMmed you in the a$$ when you bought that piece of $hit!!!
Rams are absolutely trash as with any Mopar product. Fiat Chrysler put out the cheapest made vehicles by far.
Enjoy your ram, hope ur anus heals properly

Hey man, that's not cool. Some truck boards may be like that but I like to think we have a little more class than that around here. Mike's been cool since he's been here and owned the truck straight out of the gate so why not try to be decent.

 

[Wellshuxxx]

I’m just saying holy sh^t relax!!!
It’s a JOKE just like
Found On Road Dead
Etc.
Rams and fiat Chrysler not my cup of tea
Decent looking trucks cool rear air bags I wouldn’t buy one.
Hope it does you well I don’t mean any personal negative wishes

 

[Wellshuxxx]

That sticker looks very nice. Much more equipped than my 16 Silverado for almost the same price-42

 

[drpeeb]

Hey man, that's not cool. Some truck boards may be like that but I like to think we have a little more class than that around here. Mike's been cool since he's been here and owned the truck straight out of the gate so why not try to be decent.

HAHAHAHAHAH that is hilarious!!!