(serious..ish) What's with everyone buying a truck, spending 20k in mods, and selling a month later?

Very true. A small group of about 6-7 of us were talking at a movie theater once prior to a show..I knew one of the gentlemen somewhat and maybe one other casually at best. How it came up I forget but I started talking about my truck and things I had moved with it. One lady said "oh you must have a big truck", giggled and said "you know what that means when guys buy big trucks". I was polite enough and explained it's just a single cab 2wd so far from big. Her tune changed and she was curious to know how big a trailer I had to move things like my snowblower. I said "no trailer..I'll show you the truck right now, doesn't even have a trailer hitch..and I've moved my garden tractor dozens of times with just that". She was somewhat impressed and said it is nice to see someone use a truck like a truck.

I remember Bobby Heenan saying that too..

This, or people who get tired of passing everything but the fuel station.

I ended up doing stuff my house needed such as a new metal roof and saving aggressively in 2020 for that, managed to just pay cash for it without tapping home equity or credit cards etc. Then it was shoestring life to replenish funds and save for my wife's surgery and recovery last year..trust me that hit me a lot of ways. I did buy a couple of project bikes but already had some parts kicking around or traded for things. Really needed to do a lot of work on the truck but between her surgery/rehab and not having my truck for 3 months, life kinda happened.

 

Same as bikes, Touring skis, campers, boats and everything else that sounds fun or cool. People want a new hobby or a new "lifestyle" then go out and buy an expensive toy. If they find out they don't like it or don't use it, then they move on to the next hobby. The used bike and ski market is going to be awesome over the next couple of years as people unload their COVID quarantine toys. Campers too.

Also changing needs ... people move and don't want a truck anymore, have some kids and need a minivan, need a bigger truck, etc. To each their own.

I picked up my lightly modified 2020 to replace a lightly modified RAM 1500 because I wasn't towing a big trailer and didn't want a full sized diesel anymore. I was happy to find it built up the way I like on this forum for about the same $ as I could have done it myself, but without having to wait months or more for a truck and the various components in the current retail environment. I do plan to keep it for a long time though. The guy I bought it from clearly loved the truck but needed a heavy duty for work.

Some of the modded truck are a bit over-the-top if they are not being used as intended. Most people really don't need massive remote reservoir shocks and big tires unless they are really pounding the desert on the regular. Same as the $10'000 mountain bike that gets ridden a few times a year on dirt roads.

 

I'll concede that some of my bikes are not used often and did cost thousands but they are vintage, that's what it costs to acquire them.

 

I know quite few folk whose significant other had way more than 20k in mods before they left. They got zero return on that investment, and in fact are still paying even though they don't get to drive her anymore.

 

I'm currently saving & paying off my truck very quickly. I have 10k left on my USAA loan & 3k in savings atm. Next payday, im thrown'n 4k at it

 

Dave Ramsey would be proud, but I'd build up that emergency fund first (at least 6 months of living expenses) before paying down the truck loan. Reason being, if you have a major repair expense, lose your job, ect, and you've dumped 4k into paying off the loan you'll be in debt again to pay off the repair or support yourself.

https://www.ramseysolutions.com/dave-ramsey-7-baby-steps

You do what works for you though. I agree that debt sucks.

A lot of fire sales popped up on "toys" after the 2008 crash.

 

Vintage bikes are different. Might not be a good investment, but at least you knew what you were buying into.

 

I think there are a few speculators who assume they can dump a few parts on their truck and make a profit on it. If they can sell, good for them. For the most part though, I think most classifieds that are fair will sell. This forum can smell a rat and will call it out.

Who knows where the market will go. My family had a 1989 VW Synchro Westfalia that they sold for about $5000 in 2004. We had no idea that would be a $100,000 vehicle (in good condition) today.

 

Kinda like new car dealers adding a spacer lift, wheels, and tires and marking the truck up 7k.
I had to google that VW to figure out what it was. I didn't realize VW made so many different vehicles. I kinda like the Meyers Manx buggies the best.

 

True, though Covid tax has really hit that hobby. Prices have at least doubled for older stuff. Now some of it was expensive AF in the first place because in the 80s who thought about collector value down the road on most anything..

 

Not sure why you would buy it....then dump a bunch of money in it just to sell?? I plan to keep....Not selling. The more I look at the new stuff...the more I like the old.

 

I had a passing thought today of buying a Pro, towing it off the lot, finding somewhere to store it, draining the tank and prepping for long term storage w cover and fuel stabilizer, and then forgetting about it for 20-25 years.

I do wonder what the resale would be. Effectively a pre-planned barn find. If almost everything is electric by then, would it be worth more or less? Really hard to know or predict.

 

Make sure it's MGM... my 401k would cover your troubles

 

In the early 1990s I found an ad for a 1967 Chevelle SS that had been a stored/planned find. Guy was asking 90K. Said he was seriously mulling an 85K offer.

 

Ouch!

Originally being from Texas, I had no idea what a Westfalia was until moving up to Seattle. Then my buddy back in Texas bought one from an older hippy lady in Idaho that me and my other buddy drove for him back down to Texas.

It was horribly uncomfortable for someone over 6 feet tall like myself, slow as shit, noisy, and terrifying going down mountain passes, but man I fell in love with them after that trip. They're so cool.

Considered getting one but couldn't get my wife to agree to no bathroom (plus tear down/put up anytime you need to leave the campsite) so we went with a travel trailer.

 

Yeah listen to Dave Ramsey pay your debt first and then your emergency fund followed by a savings and then do what ever it is you like except getting into debt. I currently have about 80k sitting in the bank and debt free and I still think I don’t have enough money I wish I had at least a quarter of million like my sibling but I’m still making ends meet my goal is to buy a house cash no mortgage even if takes me another 5 years but along the way I’m buying parts for my truck little by little to keep me motivated

 

Unless the price of the house you want doubles in that 5 years, in which case you’re still renting (paying someone else’s mortgage.)

 

Be proud of yourself and your accomplishments. Don't measure your success or compare yourself by what others have. Do what works for you. There's more to life than money although it does help every now and then.

 

Wow, aren't those like 200k at Barrett Jackson these days? Big show in Scottsdale this weekend.