Author Topic: Pick-up Truck  (Read 6887 times)

Elisabeth

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Pick-up Truck
« on: October 01, 2014, 05:27:29 AM »
It is ok, in any situation unrelated to farm ownership, to own a pick-up truck?

Hold your punches. This is a $ question, not an ethics question.

My husband loves hunting. It's been his passion for 35+ years. Most seasons involve regular driving through fields, off road, etc. This is a truck that has scratches in the bed, not a pretty truck with shiny rims. It usually smells like cows. It's a 2006, paid off. I have a 2013 Altima, paid in cash. When we drive anywhere we take my car unless we are moving furniture or something. We are moving in the next few months to a location where we can both work near the new house and bike to work, so we won't have to drive even my car except for legit reasons. And hunting.

So, is it still expensive to keep the truck that isn't often driven except for hunting trips? It's a dodge something, not a tiny truck but not the biggest engine. Is there an alternative to a pick-up that I am missing?

Grateful Stache

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Re: Pick-up Truck
« Reply #1 on: October 01, 2014, 05:48:20 AM »
I've owned old pickup trucks in the past for the same reasons: they are very useful to have around!

However, mine was much older. I purchased a 1986 Chevrolet 4x4 for $500, and sold it three years later for the same price. A 2006 truck could be worth a lot of money, and he could use some of that money to purchase an older truck. This is especially true if you only use it a few times per year. 

Just my two cents.

wtjbatman

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Re: Pick-up Truck
« Reply #2 on: October 01, 2014, 06:56:20 AM »
+1 what GS said. If you really only use the truck for hunting and occasionally moving furniture, a 2006 might be a bit newer than he needs. That said, it is almost ten years old... so you could just stick with it and drive it into the ground. If you maintain it that truck could last a long time.

BTW, there are plenty of situations where it is OK to own a truck that don't involve farm work. I wonder how well Mr MM could plow a drive way or city road with a bicycle with a plow attached? Just one of a hundred situations where a truck may be useful to have :)

alsoknownasDean

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Re: Pick-up Truck
« Reply #3 on: October 01, 2014, 08:14:47 AM »
If it's an older, plain-Jane pickup truck, without any finance on it, that isn't driven an awful lot of kilometres (eg: a long clown commute), it isn't terrible. Of course, thinking of it as a luxury rather than a need helps there too.

It's not like it's a fancy new model with shiny wheels, leather interior, the biggest engine and a set of balls hanging off the tow bar, financed for seven years and driven 60 miles each way to work.

HawkeyeNFO

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Re: Pick-up Truck
« Reply #4 on: October 01, 2014, 08:21:46 AM »
First car I bought after college was a brand new '96 Chevy S-10.  Still have it today, and it's my daily driver.  Very reliable and practical, especially if you own a house or 2 and do a lot of home improvement projects.  Too bad that small trucks aren't sold by the big-3 anymore.

Elisabeth

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Re: Pick-up Truck
« Reply #5 on: October 01, 2014, 08:41:28 AM »
Oh, good. Thanks all of you. It is not a fancy truck, and we own it outright, so probably makes sense to stick with it. It would be possible to trade in, but it is driven off road mostly and between various hunting seasons that is Sept-April here. Probably going to stick with it.

Maybe I'll even convince him to clean up all the dog hair, goose feathers, and blood!

guitar_stitch

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Re: Pick-up Truck
« Reply #6 on: October 01, 2014, 09:15:24 AM »
I own a 1984 Dodge D150 for the purpose of towing a trailer full of musical equipment.  I can't think of a better vehicle to tow with in this situation.  Vans would be inefficient and cost a fortune in registration/insurance.  Cars... not likely to pull a heavy trailer.  SUVs.... uh, nope.

Exflyboy

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Re: Pick-up Truck
« Reply #7 on: October 01, 2014, 09:58:32 AM »
Same here, We have an F250 to pull the Wife's horse trailer to the barn, about 6 miles a week during the winter.

Also very handy for hauling heavy trailers with rental excavators etc.

Frank

eil

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Re: Pick-up Truck
« Reply #8 on: October 01, 2014, 10:29:49 AM »
Are you paying insurance on it? If it's seasonal-use only, call up your insurance company and either halt the insurance when you're not using it or switch to some kind of dirt-cheap storage-only insurance. If the insurance company won't deal with you, find one that will.

guitar_stitch

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Re: Pick-up Truck
« Reply #9 on: October 01, 2014, 12:15:16 PM »
Are you paying insurance on it? If it's seasonal-use only, call up your insurance company and either halt the insurance when you're not using it or switch to some kind of dirt-cheap storage-only insurance. If the insurance company won't deal with you, find one that will.

Some states, like Florida, don't allow seasonal insurance without canceling the registration.  If you cancel insurance and don't turn in the tag within 90 days, they can suspend your license. 

Louis the Cat

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Re: Pick-up Truck
« Reply #10 on: October 01, 2014, 12:18:31 PM »
I'm just going to pile on. My dad bought a 1993 F150 in 1994 after a repo. He used it to commute about 40 miles roundtrip, 7 days a week for 6 or so years (yes, I know), then I drove it in high school. Now it's my mom's work truck for their real estate empire with over 210k miles and still going (mostly) strong. The thing has survived everything: a teenager learning to drive, that hellacious commute, three members of the family running it into various things (a concrete pillar and a dump truck come to mind), even getting stuck in the mud up to the hubcaps 6 miles from a paved road with a dozen or so hikers relying on it to get back to civilization. Mom wants a new truck but the thing won't die! I think for your circumstances, it's absolutely worth it but I agree with looking into lowering the insurance as much as possible. I know our insurance has an option for occasional use or hobby vehicles and it seems like the truck would qualify under those parameters.

*In defense of my parents: they are classic millionaires next door.

DarinC

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Re: Pick-up Truck
« Reply #11 on: October 01, 2014, 07:07:18 PM »
I have an 82 Toyota pick-up with a stakebed that my family gave to me. It's the best thing since sliced bread IMO, and when I'm not using it I just take the insurance off of it.

Spartana

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Re: Pick-up Truck
« Reply #12 on: October 01, 2014, 08:58:46 PM »
I have a 14 year old pick up that I bought used in 2007. It's a V-6 Ford Ranger extra cab with a shell and roof racks. have used it to travel and camp in a very large amount of time over the years, to haul my bikes, kayak, etc... as well as to haul household items. When in town, to reduce fuel costs because it only gets 18 mpg or so, I ride my bike almost exclusively. So it's been a great help to me and something I am glad I had.

I recently bought a new small 4 cylinder SUV (FACE PUNCH!! - hey I paid cash) to replace the truck with it's 200K miles for my long camping road trips. It does get better gas mileage but still has room enough to bring all my stuff and sleep in. I also still have the truck which sits on my driveway as a decoy car to make it look like someone (warning: sexist stereotype ahead!) -a guy - is at home while I'm gone for several weeks or longer. The small SUV suits my needs better than the truck, but not as good as a van, so I'm OK with owning it just as I was with the truck.

That said, if the OP really doesn't use the truck much, then getting rid of it and just renting one might be better when needed. Or if it's paid off and you don't need the money, I think it would be OK to keep. This is my situation (and I do still use the truck) and my insurance and registration costs are only about $600/year. I will be selling the truck soon though as I really don't need it.
« Last Edit: October 01, 2014, 09:56:33 PM by Spartana »

Jack

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Re: Pick-up Truck
« Reply #13 on: October 02, 2014, 03:44:08 PM »
I have a 1996 Ford Ranger that I bought maybe 2 years ago with 180K or so already on it. It's temporarily my daily driver (since my other car is out-of-service). It's a 2.3L I-4 and gets low-20s MPG -- it was literally the most efficient 4x4 pickup I could find -- so it's not that bad.

Too bad that small trucks aren't sold by the big-3 anymore.

Hear, hear!

enigmaT120

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Re: Pick-up Truck
« Reply #14 on: October 02, 2014, 03:53:30 PM »
Suburu used to make a tiny pickup called a Brat.  Recently I have seen a much newer version, and of course larger, but I don't know the model name.  It looks like what the Australians call a Ute.  I just wish Suburus got decent miles per gallon. 

My '81 Toyota 4WD is paid for, insurance is only about $175/6 months, and it is mostly used to haul horse manure, wood chips, and firewood, or when there's too much snow for my motorcycle or new to me 2004 Insight. 

Self-employed-swami

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Re: Pick-up Truck
« Reply #15 on: October 02, 2014, 04:04:20 PM »
I would keep it around, lest he has to take your car, and drive around with assorted deer tied to it ;)

Elisabeth

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Re: Pick-up Truck
« Reply #16 on: October 03, 2014, 06:25:29 AM »
No deer allowed in my car! That's a big fear of mine... that we're driving and I hit something and he wants to bring it home in my trunk - in pieces.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!