Trucks, or why my husband is driving me crazy

[Sheryl]

Okay, after much deliberation several months ago we decided to keep the minivan for my regular driving vehicle and buy an older truck that is really just for towing and hauling. This decision was made because I insist on a 3/4Ton to haul safely and I don't think they are ideal vehicles for most parking lots and hauling kids around. Hubby thinks I should tow with a 1/2 ton, but this is a case where I have done the research and now that in the hilly Pacific Northwest, a 3/4 ton is much safer for even a 2 horse. ;D

Anyhoo, I could have been talked into buying a new truck, but going "used" was the decision, and for good reasons. I finally have my trailer and now hubby is being a pain about the truck. All of the used ones are somehow unsatisfactory to him. One case, he wouldn't even test drive because he didn't like the looks of the lot. Today, I found a great truck, but he doesn't think I should get it because it is a 5speed, not an automatic. It is a diesel and I am told that diesel automatics are a formula for needing a new tranny so I am actually pretty happy with the stick idea. This truck is also turbo, which is nice for going over the pass in a diesel. Anyway, since none of the well used trucks are satisfactory, he is talking about new again. I wanna scream because I just want my darn truck! My feeling is that if we decide that we are towing alot, we can trade in and buy new next year.

Okay, vent over.
Sheryl

[Chrisnstar]

Oh, I can sympathize Sheryl. We couldn't replace my Dodge Dakota until it had 250,000 miles on it and the driver's side door was falling off and so many things were failing it would cost more to fix it than buy another truck.

However, i was lucky. I suggested one day when we drove past a car dealership that we look to see if there were any suitable trucks on the lot.

We found a truck that day. My DH loved it, it was big and had a big rumble from a custom exhaust... and we bought it that day. It's my Dodge Ram, V-10, 4wd. Horrible gas mileage, but it can pull anything!

chris

[linda]

Sheryl,
I pull my heavy 3-horse with a 3/4 ton 1968 Chevy. It is a heavy old truck, made with real metal. Now, I didn't say that it hasn't had a lot of work and a rebuilt engine and transmission, but new isn't necessarily better. This thing has the weight to pull anything, as well as the power. I get 16 MPG or maybe a little more empty and between 12-14 pulling a loaded trailer. It is a 4 -speed manual transmission. The truck just got a set of 4 brand-new tires for Christmas.

If you get an older truck, it has been our experience that you will pay about $600 a year in maintenance. But, if you aren't paying that each and every month for payments.

I would go used. Those new trucks lose a huge percentage of their value the moment you drive them off the lot. With gas prices going up, there should be some great used trucks out there.
Linda

[noblesseoblige]

from a not married and not relationship experienced 25 year old.
Assuming you are a working woman, why do you need a husbands permission to buy a truck that is your truck and not his transportiation. Me thinks he is pulling your chain - BAD BOY!

[Chrisnstar]

Val, from the land of married people, I'm assuming that Sheryl would need a loan to buy the truck. In most states, one married person cannot take out a subtantial loan without approval from the other one.

And, if she's paying cash, I'm sure DH would want to be consulted on the spending of multithousands of dollars!

Dang, trying to keep married life harmonious does become a problem sometimes... but the lack of harmony is even worse!

chris

[noblesseoblige]

Looks like I will be single for a looooooong time.
I have a lot to learn.
My parents never having had a car payment does not give me much readiness for the real world either.
My parents have a car fund they pay in every month and when they have enough they go out and buy a new car. 4 years ago theyt bought a new SUV but dad figured she needed a new truck.
Her old truck was 17 years old but she got a new one for her 60th B-day.

[Chrisnstar]

Your parents have a very good plan!

chris

[noblesseoblige]

but the people with car payments always have those new good smelling cars. My parents gave me Mom's old Mercedes it had 180.000 miles on it and was just humming right along. I felt like I was in grade school all over again. She had driven me to school and picked me up in this car every day for years.
Had I not been in an accident I would most likely still drive it.

[Sheryl]

Well I do pay cash for vehicles and other depreciating assets and I don't NEED anyones permission to buy. (I personally think that there are only two good reasons for debt - college education and home mortgage.) We do however have a mutually respectful relationship where we share major purchasing or any other decisions or actions that have an impact on our life. I can't imagine living in a marriage any other way.

[noblesseoblige]

or as Mom would say, I need to chew on it.
But it does make a lot if sense, I want my marriage to be based on respect too.
Maybe you can negotiate with him? Isn't there anything he wants? Bake cookies once a week for a trme set by you or him, something, or cook his favorite meals more often then not.
But being a smart married lady I am sure you already do this.
Last resort - PRAYER!!!!!!
Jeremiah 33:3

[Mary Ann]

It isn't always necessary to get the spouse's permission.

I have a friend who decided to buy some property in Colorado. She is a working woman with a good job that pays well. She consulted her husband, who said he thought the guy selling the property (actually, part of a development for horses) was a shyster and a con man. She bought it anyway, well into six figures.

Their marriage lasted just a few more months.

Now, for the past two years, she's been trying to unload that property. She decided she'd never live there after all, and the developers keep socking her with exorbitant monthly 'maintenance' fees. Nobody else wants it, either; not even at a loss.

Sometimes, the virtue of consulting one's partner is to gain insight and perspective. She passed on that, and now she loses big time.

I always talk to my hubby, not just because it's his money too, but because I respect his judgment. He's pretty sharp. But Valerie, that is an important question. There's a wide line between getting another opinion from someone you respect, and asking for permission like an aging child. Your mama raised you right.

[noblesseoblige]

did reap what she sowed

BTW, Valerie has great potential because she uses her head first and has always been open to listen and learn from people that have been down the road of life a little bit longer.

[denise]

as I drove through Centralia or was it Chehalis and saw the dealer on the side of I-5 with all of his trucks, wondering if you had found one yet.

I have a 2000 F250 quadcab diesel. We bought it brand new. I would not trade it for anything! I have it serviced every spring at Sno-Country Ford because when it comes to dealing with a woman driving a truck, they are the only one's who will listen to you. I got so tired of hearing, "well honey, you aren't used to driving a truck, etc...." from Bellevue Ford and Evergreen Ford - took my business elsewhere. I have 105k on it and tranny wise, seems to be doing just fine but I have it serviced as recommended. I wanted diesel vs. gas because diesel engines are known to go 250-300k before needing to be replaced, gas engines are 100-150k. I bought to keep for minimum 10 years so paying extra for diesel was worth it in my book. Just took some convincing for my DH.

The only thing with a diesel is that you have to change the oil at least every 4,000 miles, keep a clean air filter in it and make sure the fuel filter is changed every 15,000 miles. Also should use fuel injector cleaner every 10,000 miles. That is my dad, the diesel mechanic talking.

My neighbor hauls with a F250 1988 diesel, that includes a 8 foot camper and 2h straight load. Her truck is still going with no real problems and she has never had tranny work done on it. I think her most expensive work was new glow plugs and that was probably because the original owner didn't wait to start it. She bought it when it was 4 yo and had 88,000 miles on it. When we drive over the pass together, my turbo diesel leaves her non-turbo in the dust but she does arrive.

If you get a turbo the key to longevity is to let it idle upon arrival for at least 5 minutes or so to allow the turbo to cool before shutting it down. My dad gave me a long lecture about the turbo.

GL your truck will find you!

[noblesseoblige]

I am getting ( any day now ) a new Ford 250 Turbo Diesel.
I had heard from a friend of ours to let the truck idle before driving off and before turning it off when I park. Now I was wondering, 5 minutes is a long time. Do I wait 5 minutes when I lets say, leave the house drive for 20 minutes, stop at the market. Let it idle at the market before I turn it off ?? Then when I come back half an hour later, do I wait again and let it idle before I start?
I have another question, in 'the olden days' when I was young I always heard that one has to break a new truck in before one can haul a big load.
When we went to the NFR last December we sat with some people from Wyoming and the guy used to sell Trucks. He told me I should wait about 5000 miles before I haul.
Our trailer is a 3 horse Aluminium with LQ and weighs 7.300 dry weight.
I asked our Ford dealer last week and he said, "nahh, you don't have to break it in".....they are made to pull heavy loads right away. People come here, pick up their trucks and haul their boat that weekend."
Is that true?
Between us and the keyboard, I trust your dad more then my car dealer........

[PaulaM]

This is my trailer hauling vehicle:



We got it back in August and it now has 2,600 km's on it. It is only the equivalant of a 1/2 ton and it hauls my 2 horse bumper pull with no problems. Of course, Alberta is a pretty flat province so I don't have to worry about to many hills.

I actually enjoy hauling my trailer with this unit.