Hotshot trucks are different things to different people. My 2500 is a work truck. It goes on holidays with me carrying a truck camper and goes to work with and for me when I labor. I wonder if anyone considers the economics here in owning a truck. I see many people have brand new spotless trucks they would not dare take off road for fear of getting it scratched. Lots of them types here in Canuckistan. Fine with me. My truck has bangs and dings in it, but is kept in top shape mechanically which is important for me. Recently spent a few grand for new front end with all joints having grease fittings. New tires, four wheel alignment, etc
It has 300,000 kilometers on it and runs great. Here are my thoughts. I bought it new in 2008 for $32000.00 Put ten grand down and paid it off in five years with a low interest loan from Chrysler financing. It is loaded and was ordered with a 5.7 Hemi and 8 speed standard. I use it for drawing wood, towing heavy trailers loaded with logs, drawing a mini skid steer and looking after me on trips to the USA, mainly the Colorado Rockies though I have travelled a 12000 MILE jog from Thousand Islands area to across the border east 400 miles at Sarnia Ontario/Port Huron Michigan and up and along the USA Canada border to Montana, up to Red Deer Alberta and north to Prince George B.C. and down to cross at Blaine Washington to follow the Pacific West coast to LA. Then up at LA and across to Death Valley, through Nevada to Kingman Arizona and to Tombstone and up through New Mexico and Colorado to Nebraska I-80 and east to re-cross again at Port Huron Michigan and then east in Canuckistan 400 miles on the 401 back home. Point? My truck has never let me down though I have gone through two serpentines, a set of O2 sensors, a set each of snow and summer tires, an alternator, a battery, one headlight, a rear bumper, and umpteen oli changes and filters.
So now I have owned it 11 years this May and that is 132 months. Average cost per month of the purchase price is $244.00 I intend on a major body job when the paint fades and body panel replacement before the fact. New rear custom bumper, and a pile of things that will make it look new again. I intend on keeping this truck another 10 years at which time the average cost of purchase will work out to $122.00 a month over 20 years.
I am sure many of you have been chased by salesmen to trade in your truck after a three year period as I have but I refused. Why would I want to get rid of a truck I trust, that serves me faithfully, and which will be a classic after the coming rejuvenation? As a business purchase I was refunded the 13% DST (damned sales tax) and maintenance has been regular and follows a regimen of preventive status/planning.
This truck runs good, works good, plays good, and I am used to it. It is a regular cab model and I will never understand why people trade for new ones every three years. Maybe they are millionaires, but even f I had a pile of green, once I get used to a vehicle I keep it. I see no reason to replace something that works good for an unknown entity. My son has a 1976 X army truck used all the time. The only thing original is the frame. Four speed small block 400 cu in with an articulated crane installed for logs, rear duals, and 4WD. Cab rotted and we bought another one in Phoenix ten years ago and it was installed by him and a friend who is a professional auto body worker. New one ton axles are on it. There is also a Blazer as old as the truck ready for a new body that also came from Arizona, and an old Jeep being restored.
Hotshot trucks? That would be a good handle for anyone who trades every three years, washes it every day, never uses the 4WD and then complains that the workings seize, and who votes for the lying Libbie loons up here in Canuckistan, most recently a grade 4 ASSistant drama teacher who lies, is a criminal, a bigot and as useful as a screen door on a submarine. If you want to see a loser, come to Canuckistan. President Trump would make a snack out of this nerd!
One more thing, the USA is the greatest nation on the face of this wretched planet and that has been, and will always be the case. Wish I could somehow trade this wimp here for President Trump, I would do it in a moment!
Not for me.
