I'm thinking I'd like to replace my '97 with an '01-'04 Heritage in the next couple of years. I don't like the newer body style at all. I was thinking about going to a desert area while on vacation and driving home a used F-150. What major US citys have a rust free environment? I'm thinking San Antonio, Dallas, Phonenix, Las Vegas. Obviously, a cool dry climate would be best.

I had a buddy in the military who drove home a 15 year old Chevy K-1500 from New Mexico. You could still see the factory painted part number on the frame. That's always impressed me, since I live in the rust belt. I don't mind driving an older vehicle, and I figure I'll get a few extra years of service buying a truck from the desert.

Thank You

It's all about the Southwest. My F-250 is from Chicagoland. Didn't think about it when I bought it, but there are a few spots underneath the truck that need some POR undercoating...

You will probably find what you are looking for here in San Antonio bent6. This part of the state is crawling with late model and much older trucks in good shape. Vehicles don't rust period down here. The only thing you will run into is some paint fading from the sun but thats only on the ones that dont get a little TLC. Good luck in your search.

Traveling on biz to places in TX, NM, and AZ, I saw many old model vehicles in great shape. Consider the SW areas first if buying a used vehicle. Consider the snow belt last, lotsa salt up here. Even if the vehicle was sprayed underneath to withstand winters, dont jump on it first if it was owned in the Midwest. Unless it hasnt seen one of our winters yet or was garaged during the winter months. Buyer beware.

New Mexico or Arizona.

I'd say anywhere west of San Antonio, to within say 100 miles of the California coast line, and south of a line say from Sacramento, CA, low elevations, with what's mostly arid air, and no snow.

I say that because some cities use salt, and we know salt, moisture and metal don't get along well. Moisture and metal aren't that good of friends either.

Dallas is very humid, and although our crews don't use salt here when it snows or ices up (sand), I've seen a bunch of rusty clunkers in D/FW. So, if you buy here, make sure you or someone gives the body a good once over, before you fork over your hard-earned...

Thanks Guys. Sounds like I'm on the right track. San Antonio does have some things I'd like to see. + Plus I know Texas is loaded with trucks, I'll get to keep the license plates, but I'll have to save a few $$$ to get rid of the loud exhaust and big ugly rear bumper

I'm getting a list of cities together, and I'll check craigslist and ebay to see whats out there. It'll be part of a vacation, so it would be nice if there were some family type activites between there and home.

Damn straight Texas has lotsa trucks. Saw some fine ones in El Paso and McAllen on several trips there. Consider Autotrader as well. I usually peruse thru there to see what is available. Now why would you want to get RID of a loud exhaust? And that bumper keeps the ricers backed way the hell off!!

They last the longest on the dealership lot.

Maybe many places that is true, but around here in the winter time, plow trucks salt and plow, salt and plow, and dealership vehicles along the roads get the salt/snow combo slung up on them. Plow trucks around here can throw it up to two truck lengths back from the edge of the road.

When i left TX, i brought home a 81 Bronco with a 351W and a C6. It was in excellent shape and people couldn't believe how clean and rust free it was, until i told them it was from TX. I got rid of her when i bought my F150 and I still regret that i don't have it. It got it to use as a mudding/off roading truck and if i still had it it would be bad *** by now.

Anyway, most truck in TX are in good shape, just watch out for the farm/ranch ones that have been used hard.

I'm surrounded by 100 miles of empty nothing in each direction. So that means theoretically, vehicles last the longest here.

Vehicles last a long time all over in SW desert areas.

I had a 1987 MR2 in El Paso. Not a speck of rust -- and they're notorious for rusting out.

in tennessee....we are lucky to see an inch of snow...rust is uncommon

One thing to keep in mind about Texas is this - the F150 has been the best-selling vehicle here for like the last 20+ years, so the used market is very good. Tons of them that have never been used for anything other than commuting..

I drive for a living, on the road here in Austin all day, one of these days I'm gonna buy a click counter and count all the F150's I see on the road in one day. It's pretty freakin' high, I know that.

My '97 Ranger has spent its entire life in the State of Texas and there's not so much as a speck of rust anywhere on its body. As a native Minnesotan, I still can't believe you can have a 10+ year old vehicle that isn't rusted out halfway up the door skins by now......