Who am I saving it for ?

[Casco1]

I 'd like to know other opinions on this.
I took this quote from another thread about installing a cup holder.

Nice slick designs both of them. I like the idea of not having to drill any holes.....

Vic

Vic, I'm not singling you out for any reason, it's just that your statement is one I've made for many years. I wouldn't add stuff to my vehicles that required drilling holes in the dash or body because I didn't want to.... I don't know why.

About five years ago I finally asked myself " Who am I saving it for ?"

I still want my vehicles to look nice, I want my attachments to be installed as profesionally as I'm capable.

My current truck has and Ipod base/holder ( I enjoy MY music when I'm on the road) in the dashboard, my GPS is installed where is is convenient for me not where it will leave no holes. My tool boxes are drilled and bolted where I want them. My tractor is full of things to make my work easier and more comfortable.

What's you're opinion of customizing your vehicles/tractors. Are they set for your use or do you tend to save them for the next owner like I used to do ?

 

[Kendall69]

I bought a mercedes 450SL years ago at a firesale price, but it needed some work. Everyone said Ishould fix it up and paint it rightbefore I sell it so it looks nice.
HUH!!! Looks nice for who? I want it to look nice for me, so I fixed it up the next day, and drove it "looking nice" FOR ME.

Same with my tractor, people said don't do this or that - screw it, it's mine and I want it to fit MY needs, not the next guy. I drill holes and all things as needed to all my stuff the day I get it now.

Stealing a line from "Stauart Smiley" ( Sat. night live )
"I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me!.....I Deserve it "

 

[bx23barry]

While I don't think I'll take a hole saw to the side of my truck (lightening holes do look kool), I’m sure not afraid to mount accessories or customize my stuff for how I want/need it. I don’t worry about all the “warranty issues” modifying stuff either. If it ain’t the way I want/need it don’t make a lot of sense having. At least in my mind.

 

[JoeinTX]

I am a "save it for the next person" type on many things...

One in particular is my daily driving vehicle, or my "good pickup." It never has and very likely never will have be touched in any way....they always stay nearly 100% like I bought them.


Now, with work vehicles and equipment I am a little less so but any changes made are done with the absolute least alterations necessary.

Yeah, yeah.....and I almost always wash them when I get through with them and store them undercover and so on.


Funny, they always seem to stay looking new for long time doing things this way.

 

[BTDT]

Same with my tractor, people said don't do this or that - screw it, it's mine and I want it to fit MY needs, not the next guy. I drill holes and all things as needed to all my stuff the day I get it now.


I'm with you on this. As long as I'm the one paying for it, I'll fix it to suit me.

 

[Thomas]

If it makes your life easier than do it...go w/your gut feelings....sure would be boring world if we all worn and did the same.

 

[MarkV]

Tractors often are around for 20 or more years. If I am around in 20 or more years I don’t think I’ll give a hoot what anyone thinks of my added extras.

MarkV

 

[jinman]

If I need to drill it, I drill it. However, I'm a lot more likely to drill in metal than fiberglass. Maybe that's because I know what a bad drill bit can do to fiberglass. I use a lot of u-bolts to mount stuff when possible, but I'm not afraid to drill if needed.

 

[BXRICK]

I'm probably in between the two extremes.
I tend to drill the hole where I need to, but I'm not one to just go and drill holes any old place for no good reason.

Over the years I've found that another criteria is that I will, eventually, get a new "something".
And, a lot of what I have added to the old "something", I will want to move to the new "something".
So, it makes sense to make the moving somewhat straightfoward, within reason.
The service life of the "something" can affect these decisions.

On my truck, I have a custom built ladder-rack rail guard assembly that came on a used truck I bought years ago. It's now been on 3 of my trucks. It holds a crossover toolbox, and backup lights. By having all this stuff mounted to the ladder rack, it's that much easier to remove and re-mount. And, any holes I drill, I only have to drill once.

The tractor will last a lot longer than the trucks (I hope), so that's even less of an issue. It didn't take very long after I had the BX to add lights, and when I did so, I wired them quite permanently. But, I haven't done much else to the tractor yet.

I'm not a warranty person. Voiding the warranty seldom stops me.
I don't think "trade-in/resale value" either.
I've also found that if you keep something long enough, minor stuff you've changed doesn't affect trade-in or resale value much anyway.

 

[scott_vt]

I 'd like to know other opinions on this.
I took this quote from another thread about installing a cup holder.


Vic, I'm not singling you out for any reason, it's just that your statement is one I've made for many years. I wouldn't add stuff to my vehicles that required drilling holes in the dash or body because I didn't want to.... I don't know why.

About five years ago I finally asked myself " Who am I saving it for ?"

I still want my vehicles to look nice, I want my attachments to be installed as profesionally as I'm capable.

My current truck has and Ipod base/holder ( I enjoy MY music when I'm on the road) in the dashboard, my GPS is installed where is is convenient for me not where it will leave no holes. My tool boxes are drilled and bolted where I want them. My tractor is full of things to make my work easier and more comfortable.

What's you're opinion of customizing your vehicles/tractors. Are they set for your use or do you tend to save them for the next owner like I used to do ?

Mornin Casco,
Im with the others, no problem at all drilling my 21 year old work tractor, but wouldnt start drilling holes in my restored antiques !

My youngest son who is now 24 was famous for drilling holes in his dash and console to install switches for a multitude of reasons ! I a;lways told him that wont help your resale too much ! He finally figured it out on his latest new vehicle, of course this is his fourth vehicle !

 

[RobS]

When I make mods, it's not so much to preserve resale or anything, but I like any mod to look like it belongs there. That usually means matching the attachment scheme of other things present. On today's cars/light trucks, that normally means no visible fasteners. The brake controller in my pickup sits in a nice little cubby with screws driven from below, into the top of the cubby. Can't see 'em and the wiring goes out the back of the cubby, not visible either.

If the bracket were simply face mounted with the wiring dangling, it would work the same but to me looks like a "hack job" and really stands out. It's just aesthetics, but when I see some of these "hack jobs" running around they strike me as poor workmanship which then makes me question the integrity of the actual installation.

Now, the giant dent in the side of my truck may not look factory, but...

 

[pat32rf]

When I first got to the point where I could afford to buy a new car the dealer advised me to get 4dr,auto,power this and that so that the car would have a higher resale value. (I even went out and put seat covers on those new seats!) Then when marriage loomed I went and ordered the car I wanted, 2dr,4spd,hipo this and that...Best car I ever owned, the new wife even liked to drive it.
Now I am smart enough to realize that I am better off financially finding a used vehicle that I like and keeping it as long as possible so as soon as I get it, I make the last few changes/additions to make it perfect. When it is no longer viable then it won't owe me anything and can get parked behind the barn until some collector wants it, (even if it is just the scrap collector).

 

[mboulais]

I will make any changes I want to mine, I figure it won't outlast me by too much. I just welded a brushguard to my loader frame, complete with my initials.

 

[bncsauve]

I have to agree with the majority. Use it and modify like you own it. It reminds me of growing up and my parents would keep the plastic seat covers on a new car seat and even replace them if they wore out. The only butt that got to feel the real seat was the butt of the second owner. It didn't make a lot of sense to me then or now.

 

[dillo99]

I figure that I am the one adding all the scratches and dents so what's wrong with adding a few drilled holes as well?

 

[mfrost]

Same with my tractor, people said don't do this or that - screw it, it's mine and I want it to fit MY needs, not the next guy. I drill holes and all things as needed to all my stuff the day I get it now.


I'm with you on this. As long as I'm the one paying for it, I'll fix it to suit me.

DITTO on that. The pictures are self explanatory. It all makes life a little bit easier.

 

[Stampeder]

Kendall, I love your quote:

Stealing a line from "Stauart Smiley" ( Sat. night live )
"I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me!.....I Deserve it "

However, I would add on more thing to it at the end"

And besides I PAID FOR IT!!"

"Here's to the holes where you want them".

Cheers.
Glenn.

 

[RobertN]

Well, if you go with the Chalkey cup, this is not an issue. IF, you go that route, you could hook a chain to your cup, place the cup on the tractor, and winch the tractor clean off the ground

We went through all this about 8 years ago

Seriously though, Mark Chalkey did have one serious Cup setup. I think HARV did a bang up job on his too.

I 'd like to know other opinions on this.
I took this quote from another thread about installing a cup holder.


Vic, I'm not singling you out for any reason, it's just that your statement is one I've made for many years. I wouldn't add stuff to my vehicles that required drilling holes in the dash or body because I didn't want to.... I don't know why.

 

[BTDT]

I like the adjustable ROPS. I don't know why they can't make them like that, for some folks, a few inches lower and they wouldn't have any problems with garage doors, etc. Did you customize or did you buy it that way?

 

[bncsauve]

DITTO on that. The pictures are self explanatory. It all makes life a little bit easier.

Great mods and pictures! Thanks