Keep current truck forever or try to afford a new one every 5-10 years?

[etpm]

My wife wants me to get a new truck. Well, new to me at least. But I don't use mine that much and don't want to spend the money on another truck. We are retired and have no debt so if I do get another truck I will be buying it outright in order to keep the debt free status. What I am going to do is figure out how much it would cost to fix up my truck and replace a few things that might fail soon and compare that to what a replacement, newer truck would cost.
Eric

 

[Torvy]

What doesn't she like...fix that first.

 

[2manyrocks]

The price of any new real truck has gotten to the point that many are keeping what they have running. It's probably less expensive to buy a small errand vehicle and keep the miles off your 1 ton unless you have money to burn and want to burn it.

 

[stumblinhorse]

I have a 2001 that I bought new on 2000 Dodge 2500 Cummins 6sp. with 350k miles that I will not get rid of ever. I got worried about my wife hauling horses any distance with the truck when it hit 300k so I got a 2016 1 ton that I call “her” truck. I figure I will keep those 2 forever now. I have a 69 dodge d100 that is also “her” truck.

So I think that I get an errand vehicle and sell the 69…. Ouch.

 

[Jstpssng]

Thngs are going to change in the next year or so. Rather than a shortage of new and used, dealers are starting to see a glut of vehicles on their lot. I have 3 payments left on my Colorado. When that's done I am going to put 1/2 of that savings into my 401K, and the rest toward paying off what debt I have left. I would like to find a clean older 3/4 ton or light ton truck, with or for a dump body and plow. It would only get a few thousand miles/year though so I don't want to pay the prices I am seeing now.

 

[Jstpssng]

I have a 2001 that I bought new on 2000 Dodge 2500 Cummins 6sp. with 350k miles that I will not get rid of ever. I got worried about my wife hauling horses any distance with the truck when it hit 300k so I got a 2016 1 ton that I call “her” truck. I figure I will keep those 2 forever now. I have a 69 dodge d100 that is also “her” truck.

So I think that I get an errand vehicle and sell the 69…. Ouch.

As I read the end of your first paragraph I thought "Wouldn't it be nice to have the '69." Then read the last line...
I would love to buy it but it's worth more than I could afford.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

If you don't mind the existing truck and you're only using it as "farm truck" check the mileage and age and go from there. My "new" truck is a 2010 Ram with 180,000 miles on it. It used to be a road truck and it did make it from WA to So CA and back in 2021. I have a 1969 F100 that still runs fine but I need to replace the fuel tank. I'm 77 and don't see another truck in this lifetime - another car is iffy.

69, tank in the cab? I love them 67-72 trucks. Really up to 79. I don't know if anyone sells an in cab tank. I have a few good ones. 19 gal tank? I still drive them things too. I have a 1976 F250 licensed. I t needs a set of springs, many leaves broke on rear. Next up I have a 1970 F250 4x4 that runs, had it since 1992. It will be my next road truck. I have a newer transfer case and front end to put in it. I have over 50 67-79 Ford trucks. No cars. I take that back. I have two 1964 galaxies that were last tagged in1972,. Both have 4bbl engines, Y code 390 or 406, and I have had one in a truck with 3 2bbl carbs. Just got the cars for the engines.

Why do you need a new fuel tank? Ive never seen a bad one. I would imagine you could braze any holes, if it has any. If it's rusty, pea gravel and a shop vac in these modern times.

 

[ponytug]

So what are you all thinking about the cost of new trucks? I am thinking that I am going to buy “disposable” vehicle. Something used that I don’t mind putting miles on that I can replace with something else if it gets to expensive to repair. I would only drive my 1 ton Cummins Ram for hauling etc. No trips to the store or running to the city. Try to keep my current truck literally forever. Since it seems that the replacement of a similar truck is $75k+ today, and probably more in future. The current truck will always suit my needs.

Probably a wash in the long run for cost. But I am not sure when I see new truck costs.

What is everyone else thinking on this?

I have a 2001 that I bought new on 2000 Dodge 2500 Cummins 6sp. with 350k miles that I will not get rid of ever. I got worried about my wife hauling horses any distance with the truck when it hit 300k so I got a 2016 1 ton that I call “her” truck. I figure I will keep those 2 forever now. I have a 69 dodge d100 that is also “her” truck.

So I think that I get an errand vehicle and sell the 69…. Ouch.

I guess that I have two conflicting thoughts. I would get a disposable vehicle if you want newer safety features like airbags and anti-skid.

If the '69 is in reasonable condition, especially body condition, I suspect that it will be cheaper to keep that one in good running condition compared to the cost of an errand vehicle, especially as you have several other vehicles if '69 needs to be down for a week due to parts.

All the best,

Peter

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

I have an 01 7.3 F350 4x4 dually with 97 k that I'm gonna sell. It's running behind me, I just cranked it to let it run. It's reg cab, auto, flat bed. Haven't been on the road in years. It needs to go, I don't need it.

 

[Thomas]

Weighting in all my factors...my age,2015 wd with plow,62,357 miles in good+ condition,living in winter region,most of all new price of pickup I keep having up keeps done.