I Gotta Ask...

[nlambert182]

I still can't help but go back to the initial question of why does it matter to anyone how anyone else uses a piece of mechanical equipment that they purchased with their own money? I grew up poor. Dirt poor. I kept my old junker cars that I could afford to buy as clean as my new one because it was all I had and I was appreciative to have it. I keep my vehicles clean now because I am still as appreciative today as I was back then.

But.... if you want to let yours turn into a petri dish inside or out (even though I am OCD about things being clean) I am all for you being able to do that and while I may not agree with it... I certainly won't question anyone about what you spend your hard earned money on.

 

[Docwagon1776]

Absolutely...it's a truck.

What's your thought process that "it's a truck" equates to don't wash/wax/maintain the outside?

I get it if you're an appliance driver. "It's just a car" for the same people who pick a vehicle like they pick a refrigerator and have as much care about it afterward. The fact you sign up for a forum based on the vehicle and post a bit would seem to indicate some level of vehicle enthusiast, though. So why *not* keep it nice?

 

[TotallyHucked]

OK, and? I sold my 23-year-old Silverado in March and other than the paint had just barely started to oxidize it was fine.

Well, had you bothered to maintain the outside, the paint still woulda been nice and not oxidized. Probably coulda gotten more money for it. I could say "OK, and?" to your whole thread. People can do what they want. You think it's dumb to have a fancy truck and to maintain it, I think it's dumb to not keep a vehicle looking nice at all times no matter the trim level or purpose. Everybody has an opinion, it's not my fault everyone else's is wrong

 

[TotallyHucked]

What's your thought process that "it's a truck" equates to don't wash/wax/maintain the outside?

I get it if you're an appliance driver. "It's just a car" for the same people who pick a vehicle like they pick a refrigerator and have as much care about it afterward. The fact you sign up for a forum based on the vehicle and post a bit would seem to indicate some level of vehicle enthusiast, though. So why *not* keep it nice?

Makes as much sense as a screen door on a submarine

 

[turkeybird56]

Makes as much sense as a screen door on a submarine

I thought they had screens on the port holes? LMAO.

 

[Tulecreeper]

What's your thought process that "it's a truck" equates to don't wash/wax/maintain the outside?

I get it if you're an appliance driver. "It's just a car" for the same people who pick a vehicle like they pick a refrigerator and have as much care about it afterward. The fact you sign up for a forum based on the vehicle and post a bit would seem to indicate some level of vehicle enthusiast, though. So why *not* keep it nice?

"It's a truck" equates to, "I don't have the time nor inclination to be washing/waxing a vehicle constantly. I bought it to use it a a hunting/fishing vehicle as well as my daily driver. If I had to wash the thing every time it gets dirt, mud, or blood on it, it would be never-ending because it always has dirt, mud, or blood on it. If I didn't participate in the outdoor activities that I do, I would have just spent $50k on a nice car instead. I have nothing against those who do, it's just not what I want to spend my time on."

And I wouldn't call myself a 'vehicle enthusiast'. I'm a fair-to-middlin shade tree mechanic (or I used to be until vehicles got so complicated that I don't know what I'm looking at under the hood anymore), but I will never add any kind of aftermarket lifting/lowering/lighting paraphernalia to my truck because what came with it stock is just fine by me. I did put in $200 floor mats to make the floor easier to clean, and I installed some $500 seat covers because the gray vinyl was boring.

I joined this forum to get information about all the extraneous, unwanted, unnecessary things that came on the vehicle that I didn't order, and wouldn't have even if I had had the option. And I have received good information and advice concerning many of my questions. Like for the majority of the electronics that do zero for me other than make me read a 500-page manual just so I can figure out how to see my odometer. Or why I have an electronic-only tailgate lock that will for sure leave me locked out one day when my fob battery dies. Or why I have a push-button ignition that needs a fob to start when I did not order a push-button ignition. That was a surprise all on its own. I do "keep it nice", I just don't go nuts over it.

 

[Tulecreeper]

Well, had you bothered to maintain the outside, the paint still woulda been nice and not oxidized. Probably coulda gotten more money for it. I could say "OK, and?" to your whole thread. People can do what they want. You think it's dumb to have a fancy truck and to maintain it, I think it's dumb to not keep a vehicle looking nice at all times no matter the trim level or purpose. Everybody has an opinion, it's not my fault everyone else's is wrong

I never said it was "dumb". I said it wasn't my thing and that I don't understand why someone would go to that kind of trouble that often.

 

[Tulecreeper]

Well, had you bothered to maintain the outside, the paint still woulda been nice and not oxidized. Probably coulda gotten more money for it. I could say "OK, and?" to your whole thread. People can do what they want. You think it's dumb to have a fancy truck and to maintain it, I think it's dumb to not keep a vehicle looking nice at all times no matter the trim level or purpose. Everybody has an opinion, it's not my fault everyone else's is wrong

I have zero interest in resale value. I buy a truck, drive it until the doors fall off or I think it might start nickle and diming me, then I sell it for what I can get for it and buy another one. But then, I keep a truck for 15 - 20 or more years so I think I'm getting my money's worth.

 

[Docwagon1776]

"It's a truck" equates to, "I don't have the time nor inclination to be washing/waxing a vehicle constantly. I bought it to use it a a hunting/fishing vehicle as well as my daily driver. If I had to wash the thing every time it gets dirt, mud, or blood on it, it would be never-ending because it always has dirt, mud, or blood on it. If I didn't participate in the outdoor activities that I do, I would have just spent $50k on a nice car instead. I have nothing against those who do, it's just not what I want to spend my time on."

And I wouldn't call myself a 'vehicle enthusiast'.

Fair enough. I've got a pressure washer set up so it takes me less time to wash the truck than it does to ***** about not washing the truck. Wax it every 4-6 months and dirt comes off pretty easy anyway. If I get blood on it, something's gone wrong for someone (and I was out of carpet rolls and tarps, apparently).

I find it similar to splitting wood or reloading pistol ammo. Meditation in movement, something I can do while having just enough brain engaged to keep me out of the darker recesses of my mind but not enough to be tiresome.

I have a car as well, I find myself driving the truck more often.

 

[mikeru]

I have zero interest in resale value. I buy a truck, drive it until the doors fall off or I think it might start nickle and diming me, then I sell it for what I can get for it and buy another one. But then, I keep a truck for 15 - 20 or more years so I think I'm getting my money's worth.

You and people like you (those who keep vehicles forever) are becoming the exception rather than the rule. It's now clear why you neglect the outside of your truck. You don't care what it looks like and you don't care how much it's worth when you decide to upgrade. It seems like the majority of people now tend to keep their vehicles 2 to 4 years then trade up to something newer. I'm one of those people too. Which would also explain why the total condition of the vehicle (mechanical, interior, exterior) is more important to many of us. There's also people like me who actually enjoys taking time to wash and detail our vehicles. For me it's therapeutic, and in winter I go through withdrawals because the weather doesn't allow me to and do that stuff.

 

[KalboKalbs]

Beautiful thing about what is left of, Freedom, in America. A personal choice, decision...what we buy. No need to splain or justify, W H Y.

- Whatever reason one bought a truck, car, ATV...it is what they wanted. OP doesn't have to understand. Nor would OP agree with why I purchased my truck. OP is welcome to his perspective, that fits "OP world".

 

[TotallyHucked]

I never said it was "dumb". I said it wasn't my thing and that I don't understand why someone would go to that kind of trouble that often.

Yeah, we're all saying the same thing. You don't understand why I'd take the time to keep my truck in tip top shape on the outside, I don't understand why you wouldn't. Everybody has their reasons

 

[Tulecreeper]

You and people like you (those who keep vehicles forever) are becoming the exception rather than the rule. It's now clear why you neglect the outside of your truck. You don't care what it looks like and you don't care how much it's worth when you decide to upgrade. It seems like the majority of people now tend to keep their vehicles 2 to 4 years then trade up to something newer. I'm one of those people too. Which would also explain why the total condition of the vehicle (mechanical, interior, exterior) is more important to many of us. There's also people like me who actually enjoys taking time to wash and detail our vehicles. For me it's therapeutic, and in winter I go through withdrawals because the weather doesn't allow me to and do that stuff.

I understand, and I've noticed that over the years. I had a friend, may he R.I.P., who kept his truck immaculate, even though he got it really dirty like I do hunting and driving dirt roads all the time. He would buy a truck, finance it for 3 or 4 years, then the year after he paid it off he would sell it and buy another one. I asked him one time, years ago, "Don't you ever want to be out from under a vehicle payment for more than a year at a time?" He said, "I don't care. I can afford it, so why not?" I thought that was kind of silly, but it's not my money so...

I've always liked putting 50%+ down, then paying mine off as fast as I can because I know I'm going to be keeping it for years and it's really nice going for a decade or more not have a payment.

 

[TotallyHucked]

I have zero interest in resale value. I buy a truck, drive it until the doors fall off or I think it might start nickle and diming me, then I sell it for what I can get for it and buy another one. But then, I keep a truck for 15 - 20 or more years so I think I'm getting my money's worth.

I've never kept anything more than ~3 years cuz I buy, build/hotrod, get bored, sell and start again. This truck will be different, it needs to stay around for a long time, so I will keep it detailed to within an inch of it's life to make sure it does. Especially considering how expensive paint is, it's alot cheaper to just maintain the factory stuff.

 

[yrraljguthrie]

The last I checked there were people with different wants and needs. This means there is no best or only reason to own a pickup.

 

[LugsLeadOut84]

The last I checked there were people with different wants and needs. This means there is no best or only reason to own a pickup.

Good answer and great place to stop beating the dead horse....(are we still allowed to say that these days, or is it insensitive to horses?)

 

[rule18]

Yeah, 'cause threads containing unbeaten horses are all over the place around here.

 

[KalboKalbs]

Good answer and great place to stop beating the dead horse....(are we still allowed to say that these days, or is it insensitive to horses?)

Might be against unwritten rules.

The "smiles" gizmo, with lots of various smiles, funny signs, )) etc., used to have some character swinging a dead horse.

Always thought it was funny. Today, appropriate follow up to your post, invoking a dead horse. Sadly, IT IS GONE.
I STAND CORRECTED... Beating a dead horse lives on...

 

[woojyee]

Mine is a pavement princess. It has an $8k custom audio system in it. I attend SQ car audio shows so sometime haul stuff in bed and when I haul stuff in the bed it has layers of padded moving blankets to protect the finish. Has a custom exhaust and rolled 5" tips. I think my BTS Edition Ram looks great and want to keep it nice for many years to come. I am also big and tall so I like the room it affords me. This, is my show car.

 

[Docwagon1776]

Yeah, 'cause threads containing unbeaten horses are all over the place around here.

Kind of makes me want to start a V6 vs V8 thread. Or a hemi tick thread. Or an oil thread. Or a mpg thread. We don't have any of those yet, right?

Say, would you happen to know what tires will fit under my truck and who has the best lowering/lift/leveling kit for it?

Long time listener first time caller, I'll take my answer off the air.