Most useful utility vehicle I ever owned was a 1970 Dodge B100 van, six cylinder, automatic. It would take a sheet of 4 by 8 plywood laying flat. Basically, if I could get it into the van and close the doors (or even almost close the doors), I could drive away. Bare bones, didn't even have A/C. Price was $2,300 brand new in 1970. Those days are over . . .
After some years, my needs changed and I realized I was only putting 500 miles a year on it - and paying insurance, license plates, tires, and and and. Sold it - whereupon the new owner wrecked it within a week.
Replaced it with a $250 4' by 8' Harbor Freight folding trailer and put a tow hitch on whatever car I decided to tow with. I've had that trailer almost 40 years (holy mackerel!), it costs nothing to feed other than a $20 plate every year and tires every seven years, and it does exactly what I need to do. No insurance needed, it is covered by whatever car is towing it.
Understand that while this works for me, I absolutely know that many (most?) of the people here on TBN would find this "solution" utterly inadequate and even downright laughable.
What I find interesting is that it is very difficult to buy a simple single cab pickup truck with an eight foot bed, wind-up windows, and even (gasp!) a manual transmission - a work truck. I will accept A/C and a radio.
Everyone around here wants four doors, 4WD, leather seats, 24 surround sound speakers, four zone air conditioning, GPS (12" minimum), a lift kit, and it gets 10 mpg - and they use it to go get four bags of mulch at Home Depot. Then they wonder why they are always broke . . .
(Help, I'm surrounded by Yuppies and Soccer Moms!)
Personally, I find myself much more comfortable with the mindset of if you've never gotten stuck on your tractor, you aren't working it hard enough. Or it isn't big enough.
Best Regards,
Mike/Florida
