Hey guys just gonna share a little bit about my recent search for a new/ used second truck. This was a painful process, so many requirements and such a small budget. Requirements 1. 8 foot bed.. This is a big deal! 2. Gray to match our original design.. not such a big deal Macco $500.00 turns it gray. 3. RELIABLE when working with little capital you have to be sure its gonna get A to B for at least 1 season. 4. My budget was under $10,000.  oh yea 5. 3/4 Ton 

I started my search on GOV deals after seeing what Ray got at SOFTWASHPOLOZA, Found some awesome trucks but I couldnt win a bid always lost in that last minute, was unsure as well most of the trucks I would have been buying blind so I was not willing to put a ton of money on em, plus I needed air or train tickets to go and get the vehicle. As the season approaches quickly( not soon enough!) I had to start looking everywhere. The biggest obstacle was the 8' bed seems as if most trucks have 6.5 or smaller, plenty of those out there but 8 footers were sparce. Then I'd find one, here is how the typical listing read. 2001 FORD, DODGE GMC or CHEVY with low miles. (115,000+ not LOW in my eyes) clean runs well ONLY $16,500 OBO SAY WHAT! this has to be a misprint Ill call. No thats the price and its FIRM we have 2 or 3 interested buyers you better make up your mind quickley, Man you gotta be kidding....

Lessons learned. Go to a dealership on the last day of the month on a miserable weather day when few people are there... and it didnt hurt that I had drove for 2 hrs to get there. The truck I went to see was a 2000 Dodge  wit 30,000 original miles one owner truck (local school district) asking price ( hold on $19,900.00) Understand at this point I have looked at countless trucks in the 80-150 thousand miles range all 12-15 thousand dollars. I wanted to see something with LOW miles. I made the drive , drove the truck for 45 minutes ( advice from mechanic drive till its up to running temperatures then put it through the paces. try 4x4 try reverse with foot on brake dodges are notorious for losing reverse, try uphill acceleration try braking at high speed etc...) This truck was like driving a new one! Got back to the dealership and told them NO this is not the truck for me! WHY?  well its over priced it 13 years old it has some rust on the undercarridge and  the tail gate is tweaked, oh and the split back window dosnt lock. I cant see spending 19 thousand dollars on this truck my wife would FREAK OUT! Ok Matt what do you see spending... hesitate I cant go over 13 K and thats with tax title and registration. and if I did I would have to finance a portion of it.. I dont think banks are financing this year truck.. He looked at me and Laughed, ya your right I dont think this is gonna work for either of us, 13K is for trucks with far more miles this is LOW miles... sorry! and yes I left.. I got about 10 minutes down the road stopped to get some coffee and the phone rings Its the dealerships GM what can I do to make you say WOW you drove all this way I dont want to see you go home unhappy. ( understand this is a dealership in the middle of amish country they have prayers and other religious statements everywhere it not typical car sales people)

Long story short he made the deal happen! $7000.00 dollars under asking price with $4000 out of pocket freeing up money to spray in bed liner and wrap! I can promise you this truck will be paid off by the last week of July! ( make sure your loan is simple interest and NO early payment penalty) There is no such thing as the perfect used truck but sometimes things do turn out to be as you wanted! Oh and just to sweetn the deal he gave me a 6 mo bumper to bumper warranty ( not limited) so I had peace of mind!

 WATCH IT TRANSFORM INTO A SWS AUTHORIZED RIG OVER THE NEXT 30-45 DAYS. I am picking it up this Thursday or Friday( they are fixing the tailgate and sliding window)