This post is more frustration than actual useful information or commentary fodder. Just finished getting rid of second used work truck for our masonry business in favor of a warrantied new one. 2015 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 double cab long bed gasser. Can't afford Duramax and sure not any repairs on two if needed. Necessary spray in bed liner in, wheel to wheel Nerf bar with steps for short legged DH and seat covers. I'm absolutely cringing thinking about this shiny new truck going to work with the guys! I suggested moving the camper from the 04 that spent the first 11 years of its life on the job with scars to prove it to the new truck. After considering it for all of two seconds DH said no way. Stays where it is. Our camper isn't super heavy but looking at the springs and distance from overloads to contact points super springs, Stabil loads, and all the other stuff that would be needed to insure safe handling the cost and hassle does seem a bit much. So things will not change here, however it still pains me greatly to think of all that shiny new truck inevitably getting beat up, sooner than later with the guys he has helping him. The fact that now he HAS to keep working to pay for this thing pains me even more, but no work no travel, work then need truck for said work. Catch 22. Sucks to be our age and have to deal. Then I think of the many folks who can't work, can't travel, can't even get out of bed independently, and are just waiting to die and things sure lookin much,much better for us. A big dose of be very thankful and grateful for what we are able to have and do and less worry about what we don't. Life's perspectives. OK,I'm done. Thanks for the place to vent. Back to work.

Well said, Granny (the last part...about being grateful)Maybe you should just take it and ding it up a bit right off the bat and get the pain over with? I work across from a minor league baseball park and all I get out of the little dents in my car are the stray baseballs for the grandkids now and then. At least this truck will be a cash cow to pay for the camping.Work - Smurk...it's Friday!

We old farts sure do have our ways don't we... I got a somewhat newer Jeep one time way back then and they had apparently just replaced the flywheel/clutch in it. It was not a smooth clutch operation at all - bucked and jumped everytime...So I nosed it up against a big tree and set there for a good five minutes slipping and burning my clutch and really had some smoke going..As luck would have it the local sheriff guy drives up and asks what the heck are you doing haha... He didn't take too well with my comment I was trying to push the four feet diameter tree over... He finally liked my other comment about the grabbing clutch... He did ask me if I was on meds or something however...You would probably go to jail doing that today...My Jeep ran smooth as silk after burning in the clutch alittle bit...Roy ken

I'm a 72yo retiree from teaching. Don't have a lot of dough in retirement but like you I'm grateful for my health and what I do have. You've stated it very well, thanks. Joe

Have fun with the new truck! Just wondering why not by a 3500 pickup IF you planned on loading it up with bricks or a slide in camper? Or a heavy trailer? That extra GVWR would come in handy when hauling heavy loads.Fred.

Congratulations on your new truck Cheryl. I feel your pain watching it get dinged up by your husband's crew at work. I hope it's still in good shape when we see you and Jim next month. Get to work and clean that barn out again for us, ha-ha.

New truck, old fart | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

Boatycall
Explorer
Sep 01, 2015
I'm not sure I count as an 'old fart' quite yet, but I am pushing near 50... For me, my truck has been babied since new... always garaged, regular service, top shelf parts when needed.
But I did always treat the bed as 'it's a truck', but never the outside--I've even had it professionally detailed twice over the years. The bed was looking pretty bad last year, so I finally stepped up and got a spray-in liner to hide all the sins in the bed.
It was an expensive truck back in the day, and OMG, it sure is an expensive truck to replace today.
DWeikert
Explorer II
Sep 01, 2015
I recall my very first truck purchase and the similar feelings as it picked up the first dings and scratches from either hauling lumber or taking me back brush crowded roads to a fishing spot. But from the beginning I came at it with one thought in mind. "It's a truck." This is what it's meant to do. Think of each scratch and dent is a badge of honor showing the work that truck has done for you.
trailgranny50
Explorer
Sep 01, 2015
We're nothing special, just regular folks who've worked all our lives. Don't know how to take the harness off. Every day were thankful we're still above ground and for the most part know who we are, where we are, where we've been and where were going. Well most of the time we kinda know where we're going. We see folks in lots harder situations than we've ever had to deal with so feel very blessed. We're good as long as we can keep moving and going some. It's been a good life with my old fart for 47 years and hopefully we have many more to go. Would really feel blessed to make it 50 years and still be healthy enough to enjoy it. Time will tell. In the mean time is work, camp, work, travel, work, hunt, work, fish, etc.
Vinsil
Explorer
Sep 01, 2015
It is tough, but lots of respect coming from me for working and living the way you do. Kudos!
trailgranny50
Explorer
Sep 01, 2015
Wish dogs were the only occupants as they seem to make less mess and don't dent doors and fenders or spill spit cups, soft drinks or sit in seats with screwdrivers in their pockets. LOL He's fussing about needing floor mats on a rubber floor with no carpet, it's A WORK truck. I'm over it now. Turned it over to him after all necessary add ons Saturday and took my FJ Cruiser back and got her all cleaned up again, not too much the worse for wear. He had a friend bricklayer that bought a new truck and the first morning he climbed into the bed and dented it all up with a small sledge hammer and told the guys "OK, let's go to work now, I've done the first damages so no one will die over a dent". Seriously.
K_Mac
Explorer
Sep 01, 2015
I feel for ya buddy, my labs always seemed to think it was better to load over the side than from the rear.
trailgranny50
Explorer
Aug 28, 2015
The reason we got a 2500 instead of a 3500 was $$$$$$. This truck was a fleet purchase $7,000 less than if you purchased one exactly like it that wasn't. Oil field overstock at the dealer. With discounts added, gooseneck hitch included, the trade in of the F350 diesel we had to put new injector in just to trade, and 100,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty that leaves us with $20,000 to pay off on a $47,000+ truck. If we'd diped deeper into the savings we've accumulated it would be less but then no traveling and that's the while point in working. No deal available anywhere near that on a dually. Like I said, a catch 22. If we're very careful and lucky, don't take too many long trips, we should get it paid off in about 2 years. If we did nothing and stayed home, 1 year, but that's the big reason we still work, funds to travel on. Being self employed all our lives and raising 5 kids and helping them get started in life we have no retirement account except for SS. You do the math, not a pretty picture unless we work at least part time till we drop. Like I said tho, at least we are healthy and can continue working and after 50 years in business we have good word of mouth advertising and reputation. Around here my husband is know as "Jim Nelson the bricklayer" and everyone in town knows him, if someone doesn't know him a friend does. Others in our situation are far less fortunate so we are truly thankful. Sorry for being so long winded, been a hectic week. TGIF
fpoole
Explorer
Aug 28, 2015
Yah, boy I hear that message.

I keep figuring I'm just "Running outta time" and need to get out there.
68yr retired and figure it's a "Last Chapter" in this run.

Like an episode in the old Walt Disney show, "Spin & Marty" one got a new pair of Jeans out on the ranch, but kept 'Dancing' around the mud holes/dirt and was afraid of getting them dirty.

The other one told him to change, and then threw the new jeans in the dirt, water trough, dirt, knotted up, mud and generally put the jean through a "Break in" period.

Then gave them back and they were good to go. not afraid of getting them dirty, heheh, and able to function again with work chores...

So? Character Scars... show's it's been around the campus a little...
Have fun, I figure I owe it to those that can't.

fun..
exhaustipated
Explorer
Aug 28, 2015
Congratulations on your new truck Cheryl. I feel your pain watching it get dinged up by your husband's crew at work. I hope it's still in good shape when we see you and Jim next month. Get to work and clean that barn out again for us, ha-ha.
Golden_HVAC
Explorer
Aug 28, 2015
Have fun with the new truck!

Just wondering why not by a 3500 pickup IF you planned on loading it up with bricks or a slide in camper? Or a heavy trailer? That extra GVWR would come in handy when hauling heavy loads.

Fred.