By Mike Roche

There are few things which serve as a common denominator for hunters and fishermen better than a pickup truck. This writer’s first pickup was a 1974 Chevrolet and, with the exception of a Chevy C10 Blazer when the girls were young, there has been a Chevy pickup in the driveway for the past 50 years. A lot has changed over that time, but the pickup truck remains the vehicle of choice for many outdoorsmen and other folks who appreciate the many things a pickup can do for you.

This column came to mind as the thought of upgrading the 2016 Silverado—which is the present “go-to” vehicle—has been going on for the past few weeks. The idea of getting a new or “new to me” pickup is primarily inspired by the fact that the truck now has 86,000 miles. A little over 50,000 of those are mine. The truck was an off-lease vehicle purchased in December of 2019. That followed considerable research on my part into off-lease pickup trucks. Most leases were for three years and usually written to allow 12,000 miles per year. The result was a well-maintained vehicle (leases require regular maintenance) with low mileage. The process involved (of course) internet searches and an email sent to all Chevrolet dealerships within 40 miles. That did not yield any promising prospects. However, a visit to Town Line Motors in Orange did result in the identification of some pickups that seemed to fit my wish list. After my 2011 Silverado with 123,000 miles was appraised and a value established, it was time to see what the bottom line would be to trade trucks.

The number was within my budget as my priority was to pay cash and not have to take out a loan. The truck selected was a trim level that provided me with my comfort requirements and a deal was made. That 2016 LT has provided excellent service and great economy, over 19 miles per gallon over the 50,000 miles of different driving. It rides well and is comfortable on trips including regular five-hour jaunts to New York and the trip last March to Illinois to pick up French Brittany Tessie from Sur le Delavan Kennel in Illinois—a drive of 1,100 miles taking 16 hours over two days. There have been zero mechanical issues and both front and rear brakes were just replaced.

So why trade now? After 100,000 miles, vehicle value takes a sharp dip. Equipped with a 5.3-liter V-8 active fuel management system that deactivates four cylinders to conserve fuel, it gets excellent gas mileage while having plenty of power to pull my boat.

So the question is, what will a new or new to me truck have that this one does not? There was a visit to a Chevrolet dealership and a similar truck would have a suggested retail price over $60,000. That is a lot of money for a retired educator on a fixed income. There were not any incentives like 0% interest or huge rebates to make a deal within my desired budget, so it was back to Town Line Motors.

Trucks that meet my 30,000-mile target come up regularly at auction. A new variable from GM is the 2.7-liter turbo-charged four-cylinder engine that has been out for a few years. That required some research on economy and trailering performance and complicated my desire for an “apples for apples” transition. It seems like the question is “How much is this writer willing to pay for a heated seat, heated steering wheel, and a bigger screen with updated synched electronics?”

An added complication is the fact that a Decked drawer system was added to the bed. It has been a really convenient addition, easily storing guns, clothes and so much gear that once cluttered up the back seat of the truck. GM recently redesigned the truck beds and made them wider. That means the Decked drawers would have to either be modified, as the new bed is wider, or sold. That is a lot to think about as the Decked system retails for $1,300 and, although selling it and buying a new one is not out of the question, it will require some additional time and expense. So, we will see what will happen as the truck will probably hit 100,000 miles at some point and then all bets are off. There is nothing wrong with driving the 2016 for another 100,000 miles, and it probably makes financial sense. But we all know how a new vehicle, even a used one, can lift one’s spirits!

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With deer season behind us, it is time to refocus our outdoor energy. Ice is still not happening so ice fishing, even up north, is not an option. Maybe it is time to dig out the predator hunting gear and try calling coyotes, foxes and bobcats. They certainly outfoxed (sorry about the obvious play on words) me before but it will get me out of the house. Clearly the best option is taking the dogs to Hedgerow Hunt Club in Royalston. That will get the juices flowing and the training of young Tessie can move to the next level. Hoping for the best of everything everyone in 2024!

Mike Roche is a retired teacher who has been involved in conservation and wildlife issues his entire life. He has written the Sportsman’s Corner since 1984 and has served as advisor to the MaharFish’N Game Club, counselor and director of the Massachusetts Conservation Camp, former Connecticut Valley District representative on the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board, has been a Massachusetts Hunter Education Instructor and is a licensed New York hunting guide. He can be reached at mikeroche3@msn.com.