Hey guys, just joined up. Currently in the middle of deciding which route to move forward with on my truck. I've got a 13 Limited 4WD in White Tri-Coat with 96,000 miles. It's due for some love at this point. The cab corners are starting to show a bit of rust, the bumpers could use repainted, I'd like to install the red and black badging along with paint matching the handles, installing Raptor style flares, and it could use a new windshield too (cracked). It's been paid for for about 2 years now, so it really doesn't cost me much to upkeep, especially since it's no longer my daily driver and I only put about 3000 miles on it a year (if that).

The idea at this point is to make it more of a "truck" since I don't have to drive it every day and have a car that I drive instead. I was thinking of turning it more into something like an "overland" truck and doing a modular topper, 4" lift with 35's, some LED off road lighting, adding an auxiliary electrical setup (2nd battery, inverter, solar panel, etc.), and a few other things just to make it so it can do more than just haul the quad and trash. It already has a Rancho quickLIFT front and rear setup with the RAS in the back, 20" wheels with 33" M/T's, Spyder headlights and tail lights, Morimoto LED fogs, a BedRug, Extang tri-fold cover, and some other misc. accessories.

I really do love the truck, it's just to the point where I need to decide if I should dump 10,000 into it for the lift, wheels, tires, aux electrical setup, rust repair and paint work, etc. I know that potentially a Raptor would be a better choice for this, but I really like the Limited red interior and the AWD transfer case along with the White Tri-Coat, plus a Raptor still goes for about 10,000 dollars more than what my truck is probably worth. I've also thought about going to a 2018+ for the 10 speed automatic, but I also feel like that's a lot to spend on something that rarely gets driven and will continue to depreciated.

What are your thoughts?

 

I vote keep. 96K on it? You can take it to 200k+, easy with proper maintenance and assuming no big failures. Just do a little at a time, I'd start with the cab corners, then bumpers. Before you do the lift, though, see if you like it as-is. I've seen a few overland builds that are only leveled that do just fine.

Enjoy not having a payment for as long as you can and use it to buy or save elsewhere!

 

I wouldn't dump $10K into it. You'll never get a dime of that back. It'll be worth the same, or more, as it is down the road. If you want to keep it, keep it. Repair/replace stuff that needs to be taken care of and drive it. If I were going to dump $10K into one I'd put money that toward a new/newer truck.

I'm at about the same point. My 2014 has 94,000 miles on it. I've already put good 33" tires and a winch on it. The winch and mount I have less than $500 in. It needed tires anyway so there was no extra cost. I just ordered the parts to do a 2" level and 2" block in the rear. I'll have under $300 in that and will consider the truck near perfect.

The other option for me was to upgrade to a 2017 or newer F250 gasser. The newer F250 4X4's come lifted from the factory, have 33" tires from the factory, 3.73 gears and an engine that will easily handle up to 35" tires with no modifications to the truck. By the time my F150 is lifted and bigger tires are added the fuel mileage is going to be virtually the same and the F250 is much more capable.

With my trucks trade value I could add $10K and get a 2-3 year old F250 set up from the factory the way I want it. My truck + $20-$22K will buy me a new 2020 F250 set up the way I want it from the factory. I just don't want to trade right now. I'd like to keep my truck another 2-3 years then trade. If I were to throw $10K at it right now I'd lose it. But I'm willing to put $300 in it for now.

 

I don't want an F-250 though, I have zero use for one. I already only put 3000 miles a year on what I have, and have never run into a situation where my truck didn't do what I need it to do. If I get an F-250 I'll still be doing a lift, wheels, and tires on it, plus spending another 10k to get into it. My truck is paid for, the new truck wouldn't be, and registration cost and insurance would go up quite a bit too. I can't easily take a super crew F-250 anywhere like I can my F-150.

 

To get into the truck I "want" would be a 2018 Lariat Sport, which are still 40k, meaning I'd be getting back into a payment again, and to be honest, it would get the same little use the truck I have now does, but depreciate. My truck now is at a point where it's not really losing value since it's a Limited and the miles aren't going up. I'm fairly happy with how it is, but I'd like to go to a 4" with 35's and be done instead of the 2" with 33's. I do enjoy not having any debt or payment, and that's why I can consider putting 10k into it.

 

I’ll play devils advocate. So don’t take this personal.

Financially speaking, dumping 10k into vehicle mods is dumb. Are you good on money? Going to have a good retirement and money set aside for uh oh moments? Kids on the way to take your money and time away?

youd have to put a price on what you want. What good is a nice overland build if you never use it? Is that worth 10k to look at an overland truck in the driveway? As is, your truck sounds like it just sits a lot. Are you really going to off the grid places to warrant the additional off-road capability you want?

If it were me, I’d likely get the repairs done, whatever camping utilities you want on it, and put some nice AT tires on the stock rims. You could look into 2.5 level with some blocks in the rear. This look may not be far off of what you want and much cheaper(especially if done yourself).

 

I say 10k, but that maybe not end up what everything I want to do costs. That would be the cab corner rust repair, repainting both bumpers, painted door handles, lift, wheels, tires, windshield, topper, etc. etc. etc. that may actually end up being like 6-7k. The idea is that doing all that would mean keeping the truck instead of getting one that doesn't have rust issues and is newer. The truck does sit a lot, which is why I'd like to turn it into more of a "truck" rather than just normal transportation. It already has a 2.5" level with RAS in the back and 33" with M/T's, so if I do anything it'll be going bigger. Money isn't an issue, plus this will be a write off.

 

Well, if you're deadset on spending the money, I have 2 thoughts. 1) do everything except the lift and tires, ride around on the level and 33s for a bit longer, you may change your mind and then you save some cash, write-off or not. And 2) if you're absolutely determined to lift and put on 35s, at least wait until you need new tires.

 

It's ready for new tires to be honest. The level and 33's have been on there for almost 5 years now, and the tires are starting to dry rot.

 

You'll probably get peanuts for a trad-in with your '13 truck if you go the route of a '18 Lariat if bought at a dealership.
If you have the time, money and mechanical know how might want to keep that '13 as a hobby truck to trick out and buy the '18 Lariat.
A hobby toy always needs a backup.

I did the same with my old Jeep XJ, tricked it out at my leisure whenever the money was available to do so.
The absolute right decision for me.
But at that time i had 3 other vehicles as backup.

Only you can make the ultimate decision.