Time is money. If you have to do all that to repair or stop rust couldn’t you spent that on getting a better truck ? At some point there has to be a trade off. Guess depends on if you’re broke or just like projects

We could stop taking them outside but
there are daily trap checks, work,
calcium treated roads, etc.

Run honest numbers. Including 1 to 4 k a year in matanance cost on old trucks full coverage insurance in new trucks. All new trucks seem to have some reliability issues. Few examples are toyotas spending rods bearings, Chevy transitions and on and on.

Its at least 40k savings driving old trucks. And for me I like they are less complex so have less to go wrong. I prefer the simplicity of the old 4.6 in my new old truck vs the complexity of the small higher compression dull turbos with a lot more electronics on the new stuff.

Generally after market parts are available and established and they are easy to work on. If you take them to a shop any independent shop can fix them where newer trucks are likely to require going to a dealer and dealer parts.


Green county. How large of an air tank on your compressor will I need to run that spray gun? Will a small pancake compressor get the job done? One leg of my powere from the house to the barn has gone bad so my 220 compressor wont function and I have not bought the new wire or rented the equipment to run a new underground line in.

Low mileage used is the way to go. That's all I'd buy. These new ones have too many buttons to push that do stuff I don't care about or even know what they do.

New ones are garbage. Planned obsolescence. Many older higher milage trucks are still reliable and have many of the common repairs already made. If you know what your doing when checking out older vehicles.

40k savings?

Probably more trapdog. I was figuring only 50k for a new teuck most cost more. Dont believe it run the math.

I needed a new vehicle for my wife in 2020. She priced a new suburban, $80,000. Got a 2010 Yukon xl for $13000. 250,000 miles on it now. Ball joints, tires , brakes, oil pressure sensor, rusted evap lines, and a couple other small parts im forgetting. Still going.

Bought my 1995 f150 with roughly 150k for 3500 bucks. 4x4 longbed, yea its rusty but has heat and ac. Have 167k on it now with just an alternator replaced. I would say im well ahead vs a new/newer truck.

Your math and mine aren't going to be the same. Nor will anybody else's. Too many variables. Everybody do what works for you.

I bought my first new vehicle in 2000 for $18,000, a 3/4 ton GMC Cargo Van. I drove it for work for 22 years and almost 200,000 miles. The only repairs were a distributor and an air sensor. It finally wouldn't pass inspection due to the frame being rusted out.

I bought my second new vehicle in 2008 for $24,000, a Toyota Tundra. I drove it for 16 years and around 150,000 miles. No repairs just the usual maintenance and expendables (tires, brakes, etc.). A tree fell on it in 2024. The insurance company gave me $18,000 for it.

Those are the only two new vehicles I've owned. I'd guess that I'm ahead financially over however many used vehicles I'd have had over those years plus the associated repairs to rack up 350,000 miles of driving.

PF....does the AC still work in that 22 year old Turd ??

My wife and I both last 4 vehicles have been new .(business vehicles excluded) We both drove a used vehicle most of our lives until we didn't have to. Each time we traded we got what we wanted. Not just any old beater will do when you have back issues. Exactly why do you work? Invest? To leave it for someone else to spend? Your guys money and time. Spend it on what you want. But we are debt free. Got money invested and stuck away we will never use. Own or buy anything we want. Not going to spend a minute looking on line for after market parts. Not going worry about getting broke down somewhere and if we do all i have to do is push a button on the overhead console and help will come .Only used it for directions in 25 years. It was activated when some kid hit me in my 2011 silverado. Don't want to pay tickets for being pulled over in some POS in the middle of the night.

Tell you what . Drive /ride to the coast from Ky in a new GMC yukon and tell me it's not worth every penny IF YOU HAVE it.

the AC is still working in my 28 year old turd and the heat works fantastic cook you out in short order on high.



it is still working in the 2000 expedition I sold a friend , the heat doesn't work as well in the expedition. but the AC blasts , he uses it for his egg route.

Yes the ac works, and its a pretty good looking truck. Spent a little time cleaning the interior yesterday after work. Basic vacuum and wiping it down. Interior will look new after cleaning a few spots on the seat.

Im not a fan of the tool box it came with in the bed. Its a silver cheap TSC box. The lid sticks up a bit higher than I like since im short at 5'8" and it blocks checking the blind spit on the pasanger side just a little . I will probably take it out. I dont know if my black weather gard will fit in it is deeper and wider so may hit the wheel wells. If it will fit it sits with a lower profile closer to the bed so should not block the view.

Its a 4x4 truck with 81k and solid motor and crank windows. Its a tool to be used. Nothing more nothing less. Infact I will make enough money using it to pay for it on the farm and off farm work. Im sure not going to worry about driving it up through the woods, driving it down gravel, geting in it with muddy boots, or getting a door ding in a parking lot like I see guys act when they have those high dollar trucks. They can keep their statis symbol I will drive old trucks and spend my cash buying appreciating cash flowing assets instead.

Sure I can make the payments on a 100k new truck. But that will be robbing my future wealth. And to be honest if I was given a new one I would just sell it and buy an older more reliable truck without all the technology.

Some people want a status symbol and shiny things. Im not one that's impressed with them. Infact if I decide to address the rust thats starting and cut it our and put in patch panels instead of painting it I will probably have the entire truck line x. It would be flat not shiny will add strength to the body and sticks rubbing down the side wont leave scratches in the clear coat. And I suspect it would be cheaper since I can cut out the bad and weld the new in Myself and line x should cover any imperfections or waves a 2 stage pain job would highlight.

But more than likey I will just drive it for a few years doing nothing but fluid film green county recommended

If the AC works....it's all good !!!

Plus..life is too short ,to drive a rotted out clam .

Not a thing wrong with buying new if you are paying cash or geting near 0% and can afford it. Nothing at all of its what you want. I hear you on the back . Tha bench seat in my ranger i was sitting on pillows on due to the dip and it had no arm rest on the right side in the middle. I used my cooler/lunch box for an arm rest . It was not a comfortable truck on my 127 mile drive to work. The bulging disk would let me know at times. The new truck is light years ahead in comfort and it's not new. But I understand what your saying .

You seem to think everyone is at your stage of life when you think about finances. Im 45, still in building phases trying to play catch up.I kick myself all the time for poor choices when I was younger and the new truck are included in that. . I also have a progressive debilitating condition that's currently and will continue to negatively affect my future earning potential. That has been the driving force on all the overtime the last several years. Get debt free and enough cash flowing assets they cover my basic living expenses have been the goal. Its not like in sitting on millions and want more just to have more. I do honestly hope to have money I never spend not only leaving it for my wife after im gone but also kids and future grand kids.

And yes I do expect to die first and probably early. Years of overtime and shift work are said to reduce life expectancy as well as Google saying MS knocks off 7 to 10 years. That leaves my wife needing taken care of for an additional 20 plus years after im gone.