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Putting 25-30k miles on a truck per year?

Imcrazy

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Bobber Enthusiast

Bobber

Posted
Posted

Lots of good opinions and suggestions above... But, I'll chime in here as another high-mileage driver....

 

I've got 107k+ on my 2014 since Dec 2013... and just broke 2500 engine hours this weekend (avg speed for life of vehicle =42.97..., call it 43mph). I'm in the 28k+/year avg group, so I'm in the ballpark of what you are talking about with yours. And I would fully recommend using it if you can afford it.

 

I'm not talking about whether you would break-even, or make out on the plus side from a pure "cost of driving one over the other"... you've already defined that. I'm talking about what the real cost of ownership "lost savings/net savings" (by driving the truck instead of something cheaper) means to the rest of your living situation. And when you consider "lost savings" remember that there are all of those other expenses for an additional vehicle besides the purchase price... (insurance, license, extra parking/garage space, car washes for two instead of one, etc), that will affect the "net savings" of driving something better on fuel than your truck. The decision will always be yours to make though, no one knows your situation any better than you.

 

You are right, it's nice being up above most traffic, and it rides really nice. I have no real complaints, except what you might find in my other posts... but notably and related to your concern based on higher miles and wear here is my only detractor:

 

I've towed my 7x16 (x7' tall) v-nose enclosed trailer with my Polaris Ranger (gross trailer weight probably near 4-4.5k pounds) a handful of times each year since 2015. A couple of those times I was bucking some pretty big headwinds. Since the last real hard haul (300miles each way against the wind over a weekend -- gotta love the changing weather in Wisconsin!) a year ago, I've noticed a little drop in engine performance:

  • it transitions to V4 mode less; even slight grades on my normal commute to work which it used to take in V4 mode now see it staying in V8 mode.
  • a little lower fuel economy overall - was getting (21-22mpg on 25mile avg) regularly, now struggle to get 20mps - (400mile avg is down from 20.8 to 18.9 when the last 500(+) miles are without trailer).
  • the transmission seems a little less certain to me... hunts for which gear to be in a little more than it always did,

Did I work it too hard? Maybe so. Did I make a mistake on axle ratio selection when I bought the truck, Absolutely! (I've got a thread/post about this).

 

If I weren't hauling as big of a wind-breaking trailer, would I buy the same truck to drive, knowing (as I did before buying the current one) that I would be putting these kinds of total miles on it? Again, ABSOLUTELY! With no changes and no regrets!

 

If I were to buy the same truck today knowing that I have this trailer, I'd select a truck with the std axle ratio. I knew I'd be over 25k miles per year, regardless of the trailer.

 

If you are never going to be pulling anything hard with it, I wouldn't worry about the miles or wear and tear... Heck, even with the trailer towing I've done... well, you should check out my posts re:brake pads and rotors. I'd still be on OE pads and rotors if it weren't for a couple of necessary hard braking events on the highway!

 

Good luck on your decision!

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Knightfall Enthusiast

Knightfall

Posted
Posted

I put 30k a year on my truck, mixed everything from 2000+ mile interstate trips to forest roads. It doesn't bother me as, just with any other vehicle I've been involved with, I intend on keeping the oil changed. My dad put 250k on a PT Cruiser from heavy commuting and that car ran like a champ from basic maintenance.

 

I just figure if you get a vehicle, get your money's worth out of it and drive it.

lew-e Enthusiast

lew-e

Posted
Posted

 

I'm not really worried about the gas. I traded a 2017 Subaru WRX for this truck. The car got great gas mileage. I've got a motorcycle too, but I only ride that to work 2 days a week max. The goal is find a job closer to where I live lol.

I traded my evo in on the truck haha. So I know exactly what you mean except I MAYBE got 23 with the evo tuned

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Knotsure Enthusiast

Knotsure

Posted
Posted

I drive Over 80 miles a day, 22,000+ a year. I am self employed and don't have someone else paying most of the payment along with the gas. Seems like you would come out ahead with a mostly paid for high mileage truck. My 06 Sierra with 4.8 had 187,000 when I traded it in and it ran beautifully. Hope my L83 and tranny can do the same or better.

 

 

2014 Chevy silverado Z71 DCSB w/Bilstein 5100 level

Northman Enthusiast

Northman

Posted
Posted

I drive Over 80 miles a day, 22,000+ a year. I am self employed and don't have someone else paying most of the payment along with the gas. Seems like you would come out ahead with a mostly paid for high mileage truck. My 06 Sierra with 4.8 had 187,000 when I traded it in and it ran beautifully. Hope my L83 and tranny can do the same or better.

 

 

2014 Chevy silverado Z71 DCSB w/Bilstein 5100 level

I agree. You bought the truck to use it didn't you? The $475 more than offsets the additional depreciation and the 20 cents will cover the gas so why not just drive it. Remember your truck continues to depreciate whether its being driven or not (roughly $3500 per year or about $300 per month) so the only the additional depreciation (extra mileage) should be considered as the cost for driving yours verses buying a beater to drive instead. buying a gas sipper to use instead ot the perfectly good truck you have sitting in the garage is if after all the additional variable costs plus the purchase price less the residual value of the beater is less than the additional depreciation and gas expense for using your existing truck. I doubt if it ever pencils out.

Imcrazy Senior Enthusiast

Imcrazy

Posted
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Posted

Thx for the replies guys. I am just gonna stick with the truck.

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