Using the pandemic and a home remodel as excuses as to why you’re where you’re at are both weak excuses. You could have shopped in person and purchased any and every day since that happened. Or have you just realized that you shouldn’t have used that as excuses, now, since we’re not living in zombie land as some thought would happen?
Using inflation and availability as an excuse is also semi -weak as there was and still are ALOT of options out there that won’t break the bank.
If it’s because you HAVE to have brand new and a particular model, then that’s your issue too.
Remember cheap fast or good, pick 2.
For example, there’s what appear to be a very nice setup on CL here, turn key ready to go. 2013 loaded Duramax cc dually with 50k miles and a 2008 1150 Arctic Fox.
Overpriced? Yup. Half price of what a new combo would get ya in the wallet and likely only about a $10k hit from “good” prices? Yup
Still for sale? Yup
You literally could be camping tomorrow.
Or go cheap and get something to get you going for the next year or 2 that won’t tie up as much money or experience the same depreciation cost as new and get out there and tow your boat to the lake.
What I find interesting and somewhat enjoyable about all this is people “should” learn that they can’t have instant gratification and the ability to have that is a bit less when talking consumer goods currently. The notion that everything you want or need magically just happens, while you sleep (figuratively) and you wake up like it’s Christmas morning and everything you ever wanted is sitting right under the tree in pretty packages is not quite what it has been for quite some time.
It “should” serve to make people more resourceful, so be more resourceful...
