my experience is that it costs money to trade trucks .
when i get a new truck i buy a new snug top canopy , running boards , upgrade the stereo , get better floormats , get a bedliner , upgrade the wheels and tires .
because my 2002 duramax ( bought new ) has big brakes and upgraded tires it goes one and a half times as far on these consumeable parts as a half ton .
my oil changes cost me under sixty bucks locally which is about fifteen bucks more than a half ton .
So fuel is my major additional expense over a half ton .
i get about 13 mpg driving around our little town and i live on a hill which overlooks the city and is a 400 foot elevation climb for every trip i make .
i get about 19 mpg when i get out of town with the absolute best 19.9876 mpg .
i pay cheap insurance for the one duramax .
the duramax will last forever because it is only turning 1800 rpm at highway speeds and is built strong .
from an expense standpoint the cheapest solution is to drive and maintain the one you own .
if not , then get one of the many high mpg alternatives that are everywhere such as a prius , corolla , civic , etc .
i have a sportscar as a 3rd vehicle .
for fun a mini cooper , or one of the myriad small hotrods can help justify the additional insurance expense of the 3rd car .
for myself i would not downgrade to a half ton because when i go camping i load the kitchen sink and prefer a HEAVY tongue weight and 4 big disk brakes that the 3 /4 ton provides .
