p220sigman wrote:
Personally, if I were looking to get another truck in a year and half regardless, I'd put a cover/shell on the truck to solve the storage out of the elements problem and keep the existing truck provided it has been maintained well. If you check your local listings, you can probably find a good used one that is relatively inexpensive. If it is in good shape, no real reason it wouldn't make the trip just fine.
I hear you but the shell would cost some $$ that I would not ever recover when I sell it, especially on high mileage truck. The more important reason I leaning towards a new tow vehicle is the reliability factor. Water pumps, fuel pumps, oil pumps, and starters are known to have a finite life a I don't want to spoil part of a bucket list vacation over a mechanical failure. Sure, an engine repair could present itself with a new van. But its much less likely.
Finally, as stated before, the kids will be a year old next summer. A year older is a year taller/bigger. And, with the dog, it's beginning to become a little tight in the 2nd row. The van eliminates that obstacle. This is a welcomed plus.
With the price I'd be buying the van for, even after putting on the miles and based on today's market residuals, resale would be just a few thousand dollars less than my purchase price. These vans are a niche, especially when equipped with to carry 15 passengers and be a "more than adequate" tow vehicle. I doubt I'll have any problem selling it.
