I'm a tool guy. I'm an amateur mechanic who enjoys restoring and maintaining a small collection of vintage Italian motorcycles and automobiles. I was raised by a father who was first a crew chief on AT-6 Texans in the Air Force, and then an airline mechanic, and who taught me from an early age to buy quality tools, treat them with respect, and to fix things properly when they're broken. I have tools that have been handed down to me from him, and his father, and tools I've purchased myself over the decades. I try, whenever possible to do my own work, on all of our vehicles. In time, those tools gain a nice patina, like the SK open end wrench that has a burn mark and divot on it from the time I accidentally crossed it between ground and a starter solenoid on my old MGB.

Trucks are built to be tools. Contractors use them to make money, homeowners use them to haul materials, ranchers use them to maintain their cattle, motorcycle and car racers use them to haul and town their track weapons. Using our trucks as tools inevitably results in them acquiring a patina like an old leather jacket, or well worn pair of jeans. And yet, we're loathe to let our beautiful (not to mention expensive) trucks get damaged. My 2000 F150 suffered numerous damage episodes during the 19 years we owned her, including two separate incidents of trees falling on her. Other damage was caused through normal wear and tear, or occasional poor judgement on the part of the guy behind the wheel.

So it goes that within one month of me bringing Roxy home, she took a stone chip to her windshield, which resulted in a crack. I had that replaced. Hauling Atticus, our St. Bernard to the vet for a check up ended up with some scratches on the rear interior door panels. Someone took a screw driver to her one night and stabbed two dings in her side. And then just last week, working on our property I damaged the front grille and the AC condenser. I wanted to replace the grill with something with more attitude than the OE "chrome gate" but I found only one option that preserved the front facing camera, and I wasn't crazy about it.

My point is, as our trucks age, they acquire dings, dents, and damage, both big and small. It's impossible to keep them looking like the day they left the factory, if you're actually using them for their intended purpose. Even if you just drive yours daily to work, or to get groceries, time will take it's toll.

How do you balance your desire to keep your truck looking good, while still using it for its intended purpose?

-tj in the Cruz Mtns

 

Im grateful to be able to own trucks as nice as these and I do not take it for granted. While not the cream of the crop, I do my best to keep it nice. After all, as you mentioned. Take care of your things & theyll take care of you.
Wash, Rinse, Repeat.

 

The key for me with all my vehicles is the maintenance on them. I try to do my own whenever possible, if I have to replace parts I ensure I buy quality parts and I change my oil every 7500 miles. I recently installed a heavy duty set of cross drilled slotted brake rotors & pads and with all my vehicles, (we own 5 total) they're kept inside and get hand washed at least twice a month. Oh yeah and the first thing I buy after I get a new or used vehicle is a bottle of touch up paint. The better you maintain it the better it's value will be if you decide to sell it later on.

 

Those that have these trucks and buy the more upgraded ones tend not to use them as trucks in the fashion you speak of but, there are always exceptions to this, or course. They are used more for towing and hauling camping gear, bikes and ATV's and the like. At least, that is the impression I get from the numerous post put up on similar subjects. I'm somewhere in between, using it upon occasion to haul things to the dump, metal recycling places and yard debris places. I never considered buying a more expensive model because I don't need the extra bells and whistles the more spendy ones have. However, I like keeping my truck looking good so, I try not to put it in precarious positions and I do like a few creature comforts that may be an option or added.

If I were to use a truck mainly for work type duties, it would be of the most basic variety with good load capacity and towing capability with a powertrain that's adequate to that need. However, I would not go with the most basic engine so, it would be a 5.0 or the new diesel for this type of truck.

 

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Are you still cleaning snow off your roof the old fashioned way?

You can buy one of these...

Or make your own like I did. An extending swimming pool cleaning pole, a couple nice long crazy carpets from the store, some aluminum, rivets and a bracket.

 

Patina is what it’s called.

 

This truck is the nicest vehicle I've ever owned...but, that isn't going to stop me from using it for what I bought it for. Just have to be careful! I'm definitely thankful for the spray in bedliner and plastic bedrails in that area.

 

Agreed....I've never been able to let necessary repairs or maintenance go. Like you I do my own work whenever possible.

-tj in the Cruz Mtns

 

Hell yeah! Usin' her for what she's made for. I have a spray in liner too....I didn't do it on my first truck and always regretted it.

It looks like your truck has the pull out step ladder for the bed. Great idea but I find that when I'm hauling stuff sometimes things get caught on it...like the Pilates equipment I brought home for my wife last week. It caught on the cover and broke it. It's not the best designed part on the truck.

-tj