Should I sell my truck or keep it?

[Scarpozzi]

I've got a 2009 F150 that I bought in 2012. I got it used with about 20k miles on it...now it only has 32k. I've been using it as a work truck on my construction projects on the house/garage build I've been doing. I paid like $16k for the truck....F150 STX regular cab, 4.6L V8 with 18" alloys, Ford Sync, 6.5' box, nerf bars....truck is in really good shape overall, but has a few small issues.

I'm just thinking I won't use it much after I finish bringing in drywall and can get a S-Crew in a few years if I save up.

 

[mindless1]

I can't answer that for you but it seems odd to think in terms of getting rid of it because you won't use it much, in order to save up and spend even more on one that presumably you won't use much. Then again it does seem more fitting to have length taken up by cab instead of bed once you have no need for 8' cargo.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I can't answer that for you but it seems odd to think in terms of getting rid of it because you won't use it much, in order to save up and spend even more on one that presumably you won't use much. Then again it does seem more fitting to have length taken up by cab instead of bed once you have no need for 8' cargo.

That's a good argument. I've used my truck to pull a few trees down, pull bushes out of the ground in front of my house with a logging chain....I've hauled a lot of materials with it and I don't worry about buying big items from most stores because I can always use the truck to haul stuff. I've driven it to Florida a few times because it cruises well on the highway even...

I just can't use it as my daily driver because I have 2 kids and they're in car seats/boosters. I would need a 4 door. I bought the used regular cab because it was $10-18k less than a used-new S-Crew. I've got a 2011 4Runner with about 53k miles on it... I'll probably be ready to sell/trade it in another 4-5 years. That's when I was going to possibly change up to a 4 door pickup. My other real issue is that with the construction projects on-going, I'm accruing some short-term debt. It would be nice to equalize some of that quickly

 

[mindless1]

In that case I would sell it, unless that leaves you with only the 4Runner. I don't like depending on only one vehicle. Part of that is I DIY most repairs and more often than not, mail order parts so there's that extra downtime and when I get free time to DIY.

 

[Scarpozzi]

In that case I would sell it, unless that leaves you with only the 4Runner. I don't like depending on only one vehicle. Part of that is I DIY most repairs and more often than not, mail order parts so there's that extra downtime and when I get free time to DIY.

I know what you mean. I'm the same way. I don't like paying a mechanic $50/hour to swap parts sold to me at full retail based on how many hours a book tells him it's going to take to do the job.

We've got a 2016 Honda Odyssey, 2011 4Runner, and the 2009 F150. My wife and I work about 4 miles apart and no more than 4 miles from home. We could limp along with one vehicle without too much trouble.

I'm going to see what use I get out of hauling drywall in the next month or so...then try to decide what to do.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I know what you mean. I'm the same way. I don't like paying a mechanic $50/hour to swap parts sold to me at full retail based on how many hours a book tells him it's going to take to do the job.

Where the heck do you find a mechanic that only charges $50/hr.?

 

[Yuriman]

Get a trailer. I move refrigerators and mattresses with my 2 door hybrid.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Get a trailer. I move refrigerators and mattresses with my 2 door hybrid.

+1 for creativity.

A kayak doesn't fit in the trunk of an Acura TL, per se, but with a couple strategically positioned ropes, you can get it home.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Where the heck do you find a mechanic that only charges $50/hr.?

I'm making the assumption they charge $50/hour and then just charge you for more hours than it actually takes them to complete the work...I've never hired a mechanic. I take that back... I did once and the guy was an idiot that ended up screwing up my car about 25 years ago....so I don't mess with them anymore.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I'm making the assumption they charge $50/hour and then just charge you for more hours than it actually takes them to complete the work...I've never hired a mechanic. I take that back... I did once and the guy was an idiot that ended up screwing up my car about 25 years ago....so I don't mess with them anymore.

Nah, you got it backwards. $90-$150 is normal. But to hear them gripe, the book time for a given repair is almost always at least 15 minutes less than the time it actually takes to do it right, so there's that at least.

 

[WackyDan]

Get a trailer. I move refrigerators and mattresses with my 2 door hybrid.

This... he already has 4-runner so a trailer really is the best compromise. Gets to sell the truck, use some of the funds to buy a decent used trailer and put the rest against the debt.

Don't get me wrong, I love my F-150 Super Crew, but I use it like a truck and tow a 7000 pound camper all over creation with it... Doesn't sound like he needs a truck full time, but that is his choice.

 

[PricklyPete]

This... he already has 4-runner so a trailer really is the best compromise. Gets to sell the truck, use some of the funds to buy a decent used trailer and put the rest against the debt.

Don't get me wrong, I love my F-150 Super Crew, but I use it like a truck and tow a 7000 pound camper all over creation with it... Doesn't sound like he needs a truck full time, but that is his choice.

This.

I have a brother-in-law who bought a Cadillac STX and has decided he doesn't like it anymore "because it lost so much value so quickly" and he needs a truck to haul stuff. I told him to buy a trailer...problem solved. His solution...buy a GMC Sierra Denali. It became clear to me that his "gripes" were just the BS he was feeding my sister-in-law because he wanted a new truck.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/20...eat-american-towing-conspiracy-lives-edition/

 

[mizzou]

If you don't mind paying insurance on it, AND, you have a garage where it can sit unused for months, I would sell it. I was in a situation where I kept a truck and had it outside, it's amazing how badly they deteriorate while you do not drive them.

 

[WackyDan]

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/20...eat-american-towing-conspiracy-lives-edition/

As people have pointed out... Their trailers (caravans) tend to be smaller for starters. Even with their smaller size the tongue weights tend to be less a % than here in the US and they tow at lower speeds and for less distances.

So there is no myth. I can tell you right now that nothing less than a 1/2 ton is going to tow my trailer reliably. Sure I could tow it with something far less, but it would be sagging on the rear springs, and likely wouldn't live long doing so. Last year I towed about 4000 miles, this year I towed about 2000 so far. Try that with something small and get back to me as to how it turns out.

 

[Mandres]

I've got a 2009 F150 that I bought in 2012. I got it used with about 20k miles on it...now it only has 32k. I've been using it as a work truck on my construction projects on the house/garage build I've been doing. I paid like $16k for the truck....F150 STX regular cab, 4.6L V8 with 18" alloys, Ford Sync, 6.5' box, nerf bars....truck is in really good shape overall, but has a few small issues.

I'm just thinking I won't use it much after I finish bringing in drywall and can get a S-Crew in a few years if I save up.

Sell it to me! I've been considering an F150. Where do you live?