I have a 2008 GMC 2500HD Sierra SLE with 6.6L Duramax and Allison transmission and paid $32K for it used about three years ago and 68K miles and it now has about 115K miles. Originally, I bought it to pull travel trailer my wife and I wanted to get. However, after renting a travel trailer for two weeks and seeing all the crap that broke on a NEW trailer, we could not justify spending the money on it. I love having a truck, because I grew up on a farm and just like having one. I use it as my daily driver and to haul mulch and what not for the house. However, my oldest daughter starts college this coming fall and I need to get a car for my second daughter. I really hate the idea of going back to a car, but crap happens. Thoughts, recommendations?

Thanks!

My first vehicle was a truck, had 2 cars in a row, and then every vehicle the past 22 years has been a truck.

3 vehicles ago, my Dad switched from a truck to a SUV and has continued buying SUVs. 350+ days a year, it better fits his needs than a truck and the rare time it doesn't he has an inexpensive utility trailer. The utility trailer doesn't take up much space either as it folds in half and has rollers that let him roll it to the back garage wall and store it vertically.

I've been considering doing the same as Dad is getting at least 10 mpg better than me, his SUV rides better than my truck, and is easier to park than my truck. I'm pretty sure a SUV would fit my needs 350+ days a year.

The only things holding me back are:

there is nothing wrong with my '16 truck

I don't want to spend money right now on both a trailer and SUV

I don't want to reorganize my garage to have a free wall to store a trailer vertically

I have a locking truck bed cover and I haven't quite figured out how I'd solve the security issue with a SUV.

The reasons I posted were to share Dad's idea (replace truck with SUV plus folding trailer) as well as the things holding me back from implementing in hopes you would glean something from it.

For the first time in 30 years as of two weeks ago I am truck less. I have to say I'm going through withdraws. It needed to be done. I was using the truck more as a four door sedan than a truck.

It would be tough to give up my 2014 Tundra after owning a pickup since 2004.
Even more since it is paid for.
I rarely use the bed, but it is a godsend when I need it.
With my wife, I'll never know when I need until the moment of...

Well, your truck still has some value, though it is a bit much for a casual driver.

I like having a truck, I did drop down to a ‘1/2 ton’ a handful of years back. If you want to keep a truck, maybe drop down to a smaller, newer, fewer mile vehicle.

The average truck does cost more than a comparable car. Depending on where you live, a 2WD truck is an option too.

If you aren’t having problems with it and you aren’t still making payments on it, I’d say keep it.

I'm giving my '08 Subaru to my SIL next month, after one last road trip. Having that car kept 14k miles off my truck last year.

But I would not sell the truck to buy a car, not yet. My plan is to buy a car in two years and decide then whether to keep the truck or not.

I bought both the car and truck new off the lot, and hate especially letting the car go, as the new ones have smaller engines, CVT transmissions, and more electronic crap. And the truck is a 2013, the last production year model, the last of the 4.8L V8s in a pickup, and last before touch-screens.

So it is up to you, but I'd think about getting her an $8,000 used vehicle, and keeping the truck.

I will give up my truck when I become a snowbird. And there's a strong possibility that will never happen dammit.

Sounds like you just need a smaller truck. Downsize to 1/2 ton.

Keep the truck.

Get an Airstream if you want a trailer that will last a lifetime

quote:

Originally posted by walker77:
Keep the truck.

Get an Airstream if you want a trailer that will last a lifetime

This is where one has to look at the budget. He mentioned helping the daughter with a car too. One has to prioritize the needs, set the ‘wants’ aside sometimes.

Unless you’re gonna replace a truck with a TRUCK, don’t get rid of it.

That's a great truck and a very capable tow vehicle, but if you're not going to be towing big heavy trailers, it doesn't make sense for a daily driver and Home Dept errand vehicle. There's still a lot of miles left on it and it should bring a good price if you sell. So do what you need to do to take care of your daughters and maybe look at a smaller (1/2 ton etc) truck or SUV.

Lately I’ve been reconsidering my thinking of a new pickup.

If you DON’T need a traditional full-size pickup, with poor gas mileage, too big to fit in the garage, expensive costs, etc.... and not really utilizing the bed for carrying stuff... or towing a boat or RV...

I’m thinking a Honda Ridgeline.

Yeah, go ahead and flame me, that’s fine.

They ride nicely, fit in the garage easier, lots of lockable storage, good mileage, will haul a good amount for the suburbanite or city dweller.

If I need big pickup for a task I can just go rent one.


I’ll probably get a traditional full size pickup to tow a camper during my upcoming retirement, so that’s that.

But for many people a Ridgeline may be their best bet.

Happy Ridgeline owner here. Bought mine new in 2008 and have never kept a vehicle this long but there is still nothing I'd rather have as an everyday driver. I've towed aluminum boats and zero turn mowers and you don't know they are back there. My 19' Ranger boat is near max rec tow limit (5000lbs)and Ridgeline handled in fine at 65 mph. Very surefooted in snow and rain with the no brainer AWD. Just get in it and drive. After 12 years and 60k miles I could get back about half of what I've got in it.

quote:

Originally posted by jcsabolt2:
I have a 2008 GMC 2500HD Sierra SLE. I love having a truck. Thanks!

I found a lot of extra words in the OP and fixed it for ya.

Get a SUV and a utility trailer for times when you need more bulk storage capacity.

Financially speaking, you have a paid off truck that is at I'd say half its service life. Duramax + Allison is a 200k truck, easy. Especially if well taken care of.
It seems like you're putting mileage on the truck at about 15,600 miles per year. So pretty typical driving. What's your annual cost of ownership? Fuel, maintenance, insurance, repairs?
Fuel may seem like a big one but 15,600 miles at 15 mpg and $3.50 for a gallon of diesel is $3,640. Compare that to a sedan that gets 25 mpg at $2.50 for regular and you're looking at $1,560 so a savings of about $2100. Let's throw in another $2,000 for maintenance and repairs. Insurance is probably a wash between a new sedan and your truck. All in all, you're looking at an annual cost to operate your truck of under $5,000, not counting depreciation which for a truck that old is fairly low year to year.
Compare that to a new sedan that may be $30,000 new and worth $20,000 in two years, plus the cost of interest and it's basically a wash.

Conclusion? Getting a new car versus keeping your truck is probably a wash financially. If you want a small economy car to "save" your truck for the times you need it that's completely fair because the truck isn't losing much value or requiring much maintenance/gas sitting in your driveway. But unless the truck is giving you issues I wouldn't sell it.

quote:

Originally posted by caneau:
$3.50 for a gallon of diesel

Where are you buying your fuel from???

Diesel is $2.44 a gallon here

I would guess Virginia. Diesel around here is $2.81 while gas is $2.18. Plug the numbers for your area into his calculations. As always, YMMV.