Dye Autos Denver Area Truck and Automotive Blog
It’s Summer, the kids are out of school, and the open road is calling. Summer is the ideal time for an old-fashioned American road trip. We’ve compiled a list of the best Colorado Summer road trips in a pickup truck.
At Dye Autos, we’ve sold thousands of pickup trucks from light duty, to mid-size, to heavy duty…and everything in between. A lot of our customers are repeat buyers. They come back to us because they know we listen and we deliver. We’ve heard each customer’s reasons they buy… and one of the most common is, “I just want to have fun family vacations in my pickup truck!”
Colorado has so much to offer.
It’s difficult to narrow down the best Colorado Summer road trips in a pickup truck. After careful consideration, we decided to highlight three outings – short, medium and extended – that begin from the Denver area.
Today’s pickup trucks are versatile but choosing the right one for your trip can be overwhelming. We’ve created a pickup truck size comparison article to help you choose what’s right for you >>here<<.
Short Excursion to Eldorado State Park
When you are hiking in the solitude-filled Eldorado Canyon State Park, it’s hard to believe you are just 45 minutes from Denver.
A magnet for climbers from around the world, Eldorado features jaw-dropping cliffs that soar into the blue sky. As you gaze at the walls above you, you’ll start to spot tiny, bright-colored figures climbing the park’s 500-plus climbing routes.
Bring a picnic here [two grocery stores are 6 miles away, Lucky’s Market and King Soopers] and sit alongside South Boulder Creek to gaze up at the climbers. Or cast your line in the creek in search of brown and rainbow trout.
Explore the trails: Fowler Trail is an easy hike, while the more moderate Rattlesnake Gulch Trail starts in the canyon before climbing 1.4 miles up 800 feet to give you spectacular views.
Stop in the visitor center to buy a fishing license and get hiking information. The best time to visit Eldorado is during a weekday. If you go on a weekend, arrive early as the park often reaches capacity during Summer months.
Mid-Size Trek to State Forest State Park
Escape the crowds at Rocky Mountain State Park and head to State Forest State Park in Walden, a nice 3 hour drive from Denver. You’ll find peaks that reach to the sky, alpine lakes, and a mixture of camping, yurt and cabin rentals to match your family’s desires.
Take a hike less than a mile to Lake Agnes, an alpine lake filled with stunning turquoise waters. There’s actually an island in the middle of it.
Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for moose. The North Park area, where the park is located, is considered Colorado’s “moose capital” with more than 600 of the large animals living here. Stop at the Moose Visitor Center for maps, information and to view interpretive displays.
Full-Size Voyage to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is one of America’s most breathtaking scenic treasures. Its narrow canyon walls stretch 2,700 feet high from the canyon bottom up to the sky. Five hours from Denver makes this trip perfect for a 2-3 or more day break.
Aside from its scenic splendor, the Black Canyon plays host to an amazing variety of outdoor adventures. In Summer, the park offers plentiful options for hiking, biking, rafting, kayaking, and expert-level rock climbing.
Reconnect with friends during an overnight stay in the rustic camping area on the canyon rim, fish the Gold Medal waters of the Gunnison River in the canyon’s depths, and marvel at the celestial display in the night sky.
An International Dark Sky Park, the Black (as locals fondly refer to the canyon) offers not only a unique mosaic of beauty during the day, but paints a surreal lightscape at night.
Which trip sounds good to you?
Maybe all three of these places are calling your name. After all, what’s better than Colorado Summer road trips in a pickup truck?
Are you ready to go but need to consider replacing your current truck…or even getting into a pickup truck that would take you and your family on these trips…and so much more?
Regardless of the expedition you’re dreaming of, Dye Autos has a pickup truck to match. Contact us today via our website >>here<< or call us at (303) 286-1665.
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How do you choose the best pickup truck for your needs? Answer the following seven questions and you’ll be much better equipped to decide when it comes time to buy.
1. Do you prefer a specific brand?
Is there a manufacturer that you’re partial to? Start with that brand.
If you haven’t shopped in awhile, keep your options open because your favorite brand many have changed specs and another brand might be a better option.
2. What do you plan on carrying or hauling?
How you plan to use the pickup truck will steer you through many of the choices and help you narrow the field.
- Towing a boat or Jet Ski? You might need four-wheel drive to gain traction on slippery boat ramps.
- Pulling a very large mobile home, you might need a “dually” (two rear wheels per side) for towing stability.
If you just like the idea of driving a pickup truck and don’t really plan on hauling anything major, a midsize truck such as the Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado or Ford Ranger would be suitable considerations.
3. Compact, midsize or full size pickup truck?
Compact pickup trucks are smaller in scale than their larger size counterparts. They can usually tow up to about 3,000 pounds, a weight that accommodates many trailers and handles most boat towing tasks.
If you have heavier towing needs, move up to a mid-size or full-size truck.
Keep in mind that trucks considered ‘small’ in the past have grown in size and towing capability over the last decade.
Mid-size pickups can be closer in size and abilities to either a compact or to a full-size truck. Comparing models on dealer lots is the best way to understand how they actually look when placed side by side.
Dye Autos sells lots of pickup trucks and we can help you compare. Check out our post on pickup truck comparisons >>here<< and get in touch with us >>here<<
4. Standard, extended or crew cab?
How many people need to ride with you? Most manufacturers offer three cab sizes:
- Standard cab is the classic work truck with a single row of seating and limited space between the seats.
- Extended cab has jump seats or a bench seat behind the front seats. ProTip: Be sure to sit in the back while someone else drives the vehicle so that you have a feel for how it feels to ride in the back. Most extended cab seats are utilitarian and not intended for comfort during a long ride.
- Crew-cab trucks have four full-size doors and a generous backseat roomy enough for cross-country travel. Crew cabs are gaining in popularity now that many drivers use pickup trucks as their primary vehicle.
5. Standard or long bed?
The bed sizes vary slightly by manufacturer but are approximately 5.5 feet, 6.5 feet and 8 feet. Though it’s nice to have lots of room for cargo, combining a crew cab with an 8-foot bed might mean you can’t put the truck in your garage.
6. Planning on towing a trailer?
How much weight do you need to pull? Check the towing capacity of the pickup trucks you’re considering to make sure each one meets your needs.
You’ll need to find out the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of what you’re going to tow.
You’ll find this on the trailer “VIN plate” (Vehicle Identification Number) or by contacting the trailer manufacturer. The GVWR is the dry weight of the trailer (empty weight) plus the maximum allowed payload.
- Your trailer may be as little as a 12-ft pop-up camper with a GVWR of under 3,000 lbs.
- Perhaps, it’s a behemoth conventional camping trailer that is 40-ft long and approaching 14,000 lbs GVWR.
- How about a triple-axle 43-ft long 5th-wheel toy hauler that is pushing a total weight rating of 20,000 lbs?
- It may be a large boat, a cargo trailer, or a horse trailer.
Figure out the GVWR of the trailer, as well as the loaded weight of your specific setup.
7. What’s your budget?
Pickup truck prices vary greatly. Knowing what you can spend is the first step.
It’s important to understand your budget and match it with the kind of truck you want. There are many options to choose from it’s crucial to set your expectations. While the most expensive pickup trucks can make you salivate, their price tag won’t.
At Dye Autos, we’ve got many pickup trucks under $20,000. We’re ready to help you determine which used pickup truck works for your lifestyle and your financial needs.
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With the value and options available today, just about everyone can enjoy the benefits of a pickup truck. Whether your an outdoors type, a suburbanite, or somewhere in between, you can enjoy the toughness, power and utility of these marvels of modern automotive engineering.
With pickup trucks claiming three spots out of ten on the list of top selling vehicles in 2017, there’s no question that trucks are hot.
Here’s a list of our top 10 reasons to buy a pickup truck.
1. Truck are no longer “penalty boxes.”
Today’s trucks ride like sedans.
Gone are the days when trucks had just a front seat and the ride was so bumpy you thought you might lose a kidney.
A super-smooth ride, roomy back seats, and four doors are standard now, as are many of the amenities on most sedans, including heated seats and keyless entry. The ride is comfortable and quiet (but ready to take on the world).
2. Trucks are the perfect weekend adventure vehicle.
Even though they’re a bit softer on the inside, pickup trucks are still designed to conquer difficult terrain. No matter what the road conditions, a modern pickup truck can push through and get you to your destination.
Whether you need to traverse an off-road trail to get to your favorite remote campsite or pound snowdrifts into submission to get to the ski resort, a good, properly equipped pickup can get you there.
3. Trucks tow your stuff.
Whether you’re taking the boat to Sloan’s Lake or Cherry Creek, the snowmobile to Steamboat Springs or Breckenridge, or your kids’ furniture to that first apartment, a pickup truck gives you the power to tow whatever you need. Many popular pickups can tow up to 12,000 pounds while the larger, heavy-duty models can pull up to 22,500 pounds or higher.
4. Trucks are affordable.
Used pickup truck models are especially affordable and often retain their value. At Dye Autos, we’ve got a large inventory of affordable pickup trucks for every budget.
Not sure what you can afford? Call us at (303) 286-1665.
5. Trucks grab attention.
In Denver, few vehicles command the same kind of attention as pickup trucks. For the type of person who demands that their vehicle “go big or go home” you can’t beat a pickup truck. Remember, being noticed is better than being ignored.
6. Trucks make you the hero of the neighborhood.
Your pickup truck can help score a few extra Good Samaritan credits by providing the grunt to give neighbors a tow when their cars get stuck in the snow. A pickup truck also makes it easier to help haul saplings — plus a jungle gym for the children — to the local park.
7. Trucks are safe.
First, you’re sitting high, so you can see better.
Today’s trucks also have the same safety features drivers look for in cars — four-wheel drive, electronic stability control system, air bags, dynamic braking, blind zone alerts, and so on. In addition, some have advanced safety features.
The high-strength steel body of some trucks is preferred by safety-conscious drivers over aluminum for a light but strong truck body.
8. Trucks are the ultimate tool box.
Trucks are now so common, it’s easy to overlook how important they are. But as they build and maintain the infrastructure that keeps society moving, their importance and usefulness as the ultimate tool just can’t be denied.
If there’s one tool that rules over all, it is the pickup truck. It’s both the ultimate tool and the ultimate toolbox; it can haul lumber, clear land and then serve as a repository for the tools needed to build a home.
9. Trucks are made for snow.
Winter tires on a sedan or a small hatchback will only get you so far. If the snow is deep enough, you can literally high-center a car once it gets packed underneath.
With the additional ground clearance afforded by a pickup, traversing 10 inches of fresh plow is no problem.
10. Trucks support ALL your activities.
Pickup trucks help you work hard and when it’s time to relax, they help you do that too!
Load your pickup truck bed with anything from lumber to furniture to camping equipment, and drive anywhere — even on the roughest terrain. You can even us your truck as a substitute family room while camping. Watch Netflix under the stars in your truck bed!
Did we give you enough reasons to buy a pickup truck?
You may even have some more reasons of your own but remember this: when it’s time to buy, you’d better call Dye!
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Many of our customers tell us that shopping for a bad credit car loan is just as challenging as shopping for a car. We’ve compiled a list of 9 steps to help you navigate the waters of car and truck loans when your credit is not as good as you’d hoped.
A low credit score is generally defined as a FICO score under 629. You can have a lower score for a variety of reasons, including a history of making late payments, identity theft or simply not having enough years of credit history. Your credit score dictates what type of interest you’ll end up paying on your car loan, and a low score means a higher interest rate.
1. Work on your credit before you start shopping.
Check your credit report as soon as you start thinking about buying a car or truck, even if it’s months or years in advance.
By cleaning up your credit before applying for a loan, you improve your chances of being approved with decent terms. Cleaning up your credit will include paying off past due accounts, disputing credit report errors, and adding positive information to your credit report.
2. Don’t assume the worst.
Never take someone else’s word that your credit is bad. Check for yourself by obtaining your credit report and credit score.
You are entitled to a free credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) once every 12 months. You can request all three reports at once, or space them out throughout the year.
3. Shop around.
When you’ve got bad credit, “you’re likely to agree with just about anything a lender offers you. But you shouldn’t just take the first offer you get,” warns Chris Kukla, senior vice president at the nonprofit Center for Responsible Lending.
Look for ways to save money on a car loan:
- Shorter term
- Factor in all the costs (insurance, gas, parking fees, etc)
- Get 2-3 quotes
- Make additional payments if you can
4. Start close to home.
Even if you don’t think you can get a loan, go to your bank or your credit union first. Apply at the bank where you have a checking account or your credit union. And see if your employer or insurance company offers auto financing.
Lenders who know you may provide better rates and terms.
5. Seek out a trustworthy dealer.
Believe it or not, car dealers have pretty great car loan options. They work with banks every single day and can often match or have better rates than what you’ve found in your search.
Trust is important and many dealers will work hard to keep yours. If you’ve done business with a dealer before or someone has recommended one (even through Yelp or Google reviews), include a call to your dealer in your purchase process.
6. Don’t go it alone.
Ask a friend or relative to go with you. It’s always better to have a separate pair of eyes and ears when making big decisions.
7. Pay attention to loan terms, not monthly payments.
Look for the lowest annual percentage rate (APR) over the shortest period of time. Write everything down.
If the terms are beyond your means, then consider a different vehicle at a lower price.
Focusing on monthly payments could cause you to pay more much more in financing costs.
8. Be aware of “extras.”
The Center for Responsible Lending advises that car buyers should never allow the loan to be contingent on purchasing any add-on, such as extended warranties, after-market services and even insurance.
9. Get Pre-Approved.
This fast and easy process lets you choose how much you want to borrow based on the type of vehicle you’re looking for. You’ll know ahead of time what to expect…and that means less anxiety and more peace of mind.
Let Dye Autos put our experience to work for you. Pre-approved car and truck financing with DYE Autos is just a click away. Visit this link >>>here<<<!.
One of our helpful finance specialists will contact you to discuss available financing options, including the amount you’re qualified to finance.
“If it’s a truck you wanna buy, you’d better call DYE!”
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You’ve decided to get a new car (or “new to you” car) and deciding what to do with your old car can be tricky. Nearly every person at sometime in their life has been faced with the challenge of “Should I trade in my car or sell privately?”
Many buyers prefer the simplicity of trading in their current vehicle at the dealership even though they may not get as much money for it. Others choose to do the legwork, find an appropriate buyer and try to get a better price. Here are the Pro’s and Con’s to help you make the decision.
Trading In Your Car
The pros of trading in your car.
One of the major advantages to trading in over selling privately is convenience. Dealers will handle all the paperwork and all you’ll have to do is sign your name.
If your car has any minor defects, you won’t have to worry about getting them repaired before trading in. Minor defects such as small dents, scratches or moderately worn tires won’t make a difference in the offer a dealer will give you. Dealers typically handle fixing minor issues before reselling the vehicle.
If you’ve kept your car in good condition, you can also use it as a down payment. Cash can be a very helpful factor in reducing the overall cost of your new car.
If you’re “upside down” in your car loan (you owe more than it’s worth), the dealer can often roll the difference into the new car loan. Word of caution: you’ll be paying a higher payment and lender approval depends on creditworthiness.
The cons of trading in your car.
There’s really only one main disadvantage to trading in your car: you won’t get the price you would if you were selling it to a private party.
Dealers will offer you wholesale price, not its retail value. This means that while you may have determined your car’s market value, expect the dealership to offer you a price that’s less than what you’d get if you sold it privately.
Selling Your Vehicle to a Private Buyer
The pros of selling to a private buyer.
The most basic benefit to selling a car to a private party is the cash.
You are more likely to get close to your ideal asking price when you sell your car yourself. You’ll have more flexibility to negotiate with a private buyer, and you can hold out until you get an offer you’re happy with.
The cash can be used as the down payment on your new car loan, thereby lowering your payment.
- If you have bad credit, the extra cash can help you get a better loan. Lenders like to see larger down payments.
- If you have good credit, and don’t need to lower your new car’s payment, you can spend the cash in some other way. You can probably find a million ways to do that, right?
The cons of selling to a private buyer.
The biggest disadvantages of selling your car vs. trading it in are time and paperwork.
When selling your car yourself, you’re at the mercy of the buying market, and you’ll need to wait as long as it takes for buyers to come calling. While there are plenty of ways to promote your vehicle for sale, you’ll need patience to find the right offer.
Selling privately means all the paperwork duties for the sale fall on you. Make sure you take every step needed, otherwise, you could put yourself in a position of liability if things aren’t handled correctly.
Selling to a private buyer requires considerable effort, including placing ads, taking phone calls, dealing with strangers, and giving test drives.
One last thing: If you want to use the cash from your sale, you’ll need to sell your car before you buy the new car. This means you’ll need to coordinate the purchase of your new car to fit with the sale of your old car.
At Dye Autos, we’ve taken in hundreds of trade-ins and even outright purchased cars from customers in the Denver / Wheat Ridge area who want to work with a trustworthy dealer. We can help you too! Call us at (303) 286-1665 or simply use our contact form >>here<<.
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