Forum Discussion

Turtle_n_Peeps's avatar
Mar 26, 2015

How long do you keep your truck?

Seems to me most people around this site think that 100,000 miles and 10 years is an old truck.

Just wanted to get a feel if that is correct or not?

I'll start.

First truck I owned was a 1969 Chevy. I bought it off of my dad in 1996 who ordered it brand new. I sold it in 1999 with around 275,000 on it. It looked and preformed great when I sold it. I sold it for half of what my dad bought it for brand new. :E We kept it for 30 years.

Next was a 1934 Chevy. Bought it around 1989 or so. Needs total restoration and I will put a 12 valve or a 4BT in it when the time comes. :)

Next was a 1993 6.5 diesel. I inherited it from my dad when he pass away. He bought it used with 60K on it. It now has 175,000 on it. Still have it and love to drive it. It gets killer mileage and runs like brand new after band-aiding up the junky engine. I can also burn anything I want in it because it's a mechanical diesel. I LOVE this truck for driving around. We have owned it for 20 years. It will more than likely have my name on the pink slip when they put me in the ground. :)

Next is an LBZ DMax. Also inherited it. Dad bought it brand new in 06. Nice truck; but I still like driving the 93 better. A crew, long bed is kind of like driving around in a school bus. A school bus with a lot of power, but a school bus none the less. It has 85,000 on it right now. 9 years old and drives like new. Even better with Bilstiens on it! Unless I hit the lotto I think this will be my last "new" truck.

So I keep my trucks around 30+ years. What about you?
  • I never buy new, I buy them when you guys think they are too old.
    I have four 7.3 Powerstrokes and just fix the little things that people are afraid to touch ;)

    I paid four thousand for this F350 DRW with 148000 miles that need a torque converter.
    The black 96 pulling it was sold to me from FORD dealer as non running engine in 2006 for under five thousand. It now has years left in her after simple repairs

  • That's were we look to purchase. 100k and 10yrs still has 100k and 10yrs left but instead of $60k, they are $6k.
  • I run them until I find something I like more!! My first truck was a 2wd Dakota, traded it in because I wanted a 4wd, got a ext cab f150. Traded the ford in on a dodge 1500 quad cab because i wanted true 4 doors. Now I traded that truck in on a ram 3500 because I wanted a diesel. So I really have no factors of when a vehicle "must go" but as my needs change so do my vehicles...
  • My oldest is a 2000 V-10 F-250 and newest a 2007 Diesel F-350. No plans to trade any time soon.

    Got tired of paying taxes on new vehicles. Kansas has personal property tax you have to pay every year on top of 8.5% sale tax at purchase.

    I will spend the money on fuel and travel.
  • See my sig...what isn't there are the non-trucks

    Dislike auto payments, but will buy new again...some day if one strikes my fancy
    Currently noodling a Flying Spur and a Huracan (but already have a 2 seater...my
    first brand new vehicle...it is in the garage waiting for time/budget/resources
    to restore)

    The Willy's was when 15 and Peter Boyko and I approached his dad & uncle if we
    could work on it. Was in his uncles back yard, covered with a tarp and layers of
    leaves). We finished it that year and his dad liked it so much, he 'thanked us
    for the good work' and took the keys...I never drove it

    Then made a hot rod Dune Buggy from a VW. Wheelies anytime I wanted. Didn't work
    out skiing, so sold it. Heard it crashed in the salt flats of Utah and burned

    Then the Toyota 1970 FJ40. Kept it a while till decided to marry...she didn't
    like it, nor wanted to learn HOW2 drive a manual (shoulda kept it and dumped her)
    Whould still own it otherwise. Full roll cage, Warn Winch, Cepek tires,
    2 inch lift in the rear (first air shocks and found out the hard way
    why a bad thing for permeate lift)

    Then the K5 Blazer. Kept that about 15 years and needed more room for the two
    girls

    Now the Suburban and will keep it till the wheels fall off or don't want to
    fix it anymore.

    The 'ex' got the S550 and LS400...good riddance!!!!...should'a kept
    the FJ40...

    The 1980 Silverado. After about a years worth arguing with dad to get a pickup
    and stop using the family station wagon (Buick Estate with a 401, or was it a
    403). He only wanted a 'half ton'...his best buddy Uncle Bill only bought 3/4
    or 1 ton for his sheetmetal shops and I both argued until Uncle Bill said just
    order the 'Big Ten'...it is a heavy half ton (today's 'HD')

    That has been in the family since new (Jan 1980) till now. SMOG almost made it
    undrivable...Grocery store...sister owned it for a couple years, went back to
    the grocer store...brother owned for a few years...then to me. Both daughters
    first daily ride and had put in a 'built' 350/4 bolt/Edelbrock High Raise/dual
    plane intake manifold/Edelbrock performer 4 barrel, 280 Cam, Head work (ported,
    matched, CC'd, polished, SS valves, special valve springs)...used to catch the
    younger daughter out on the local boulevard beating up 5.0 Mustangs...

    My 2 seater is a 1969 Datsun 240Z. The 3.1L is on an engine stand ready. 2.8L
    junk yard block, E31 head (the works), Diesel crank, Cam etc, etc. Engine builder
    says good for about 350HP for a 2,400 lb (with me in it) vehicle. Found a still
    in the factory box 180mm diff and looking for a locker of some sort. Side draft
    SU's are bored, polished, special tapered needles and can't now find the velocity
    stacks I used to read about. Maybe make my own, like will have to for the headers
    They don't have many parts anymore. I met an old guy back in the 70's after
    a couple of failures with the headers available back then. Everyone told me to
    go and talk to this old guy named Sanderson. He taught a ton on exhaust flow...and
    found out the 'Sanderson Box' was named after him... This Z is #3 on
    the Zcar registry of original owners

    Had a 1964 MGB, my first car (Z was my first 'new' car) and had
    reworked just about everything...the only two cars I couldn't beat
    was a 911S and that bug eye with that very tall blond...never caught
    her... Why I don't want a Porsche...had over $20K in the bank and
    walked in the Porsche dealership...just wanted to shoot the breeze
    while waiting for the sales person I wanted to buy from...a older
    guy came over and I asked him how much (knew...$12.5K) and he said
    'kid if you have to ask...you can't afford it'...never thought anyone
    would ever say that to me...

    Back on the Suburban...now at +163K miles and getting tired (both the 7.4L and
    the 4L80E), a 'gosh darn' just have to rebuild them. Now noodling what to do
    and must keep it smog'able...