How do you determine how much to spend on a truck?

The old fashion way....my dad always said, a week's take home pay for a house payment, a week's pay for a vehicle payment, a week's pay for food and a week's pay for other things. Seems like I had more making the minimum wage of 1.25 an hour than I do now.

Then, when you loose your spouse, 1/2 of the income goes out the window...

Good Luck to your friend.