Just curious to know when one may decides to stop adding parts and time to their truck ?

New trucks are so expensive, but maintaining a truck getting old can be also very expensive, so ? when are you pulling the trigger for trading your vehicule ?

 

When I have to drive it like Fred Flintstone.

 

I've decided that I am at a point in my life that working on vehicles so it's dependable to drive to work in the morning is something I no longer MUST do. I can fix stuff but definitely not as good at it as I once was. I was never great, but I can figure things out. Mostly with mechanical stuff, hard parts.
I was raised to 'learn how to fix something until you can afford to have somebody else fix it for you".
So now, unless I find it fun, I'll 'pay the man' because a lot of that time I make up the repair costs in over time, or at least it can help (depends on the cost for sure). And it requires less time for them to do the work than I would and it's possible I can work (my job) for same or less time and be even.

With that said, if a vehicle begins to cost too much to maintain due to age/maintenance, I personally will throw in the towel before the vehicle loses value. Not worth a sale for cheap, or low trade in, if I held on to it for so long that it's not got a value. I waited 2 years longer than I wanted and my trade was not very good in November when I finally made the decision. However, the vehicle was 99% maintenance free for the 9 years I owned it (15 year old vehicle). So I got less to trade but didn't put money into it for repairs.

If I had a passion for working on vehicles I'd change my mind. I realize that it is sometimes enjoyable, but it's not my passion. If I must work on a vehicle in order to make it reliable to get to work tomorrow, I'd do it (even if it wasn't my passion) .

My dad and I rebuilt the motor in my first car when the head gasket let go. We had rebuilt 2 of our family cars before that. He took on a rebuild of his cousins motor and we did a job for a coworker on some engine work required some level of tear down (can't remember now).
I know my way around a garage and have a bunch of tools, but I'm at a different place in my life than the 18 year old me.

I had my first 'new' vehicle for 16? years. Never thought I'd get rid of it, best truck ever. Well that was until the 1st day of the replacement vehicle. That day I learned I'll never drive a vehicle into the ground again, as long as I am capable of that. Next vehicle was 8 years and following was 9 years (both were already about 4 years old).
Current truck is 4 years old and I had it for 6 months.

 

I haven't always done this, but I've found 10 years and/or about 150,000 miles to be a good place. Most trucks that have not been abused will bring pretty close to 50% of what they actually sold for new at that point. Not sticker, but the actual drive it home price the original owner paid. If I bought it new I'll make payments for 5 years, and have no payment for 5 years. If I'm smart I'll keep making a partial payment during that 2nd 5 years into a fund for the next truck. It would be extremely rare for a truck to need any major repairs before 150,000 miles.

Even if I bought it used I'd still try to let it go at that point. I will have less in it than I would if I'd bought it new, but get to keep it less time too. In my experience you come out about the same buying new vs used if you keep one until it is 10 years old. It is the guys who trade every 3-5 years that lose the most money. Doesn't matter if they buy new or used.

After 10 years I get 1/2 of my money back as a down payment on the next one and would be quite unlucky if I'd had to spend any money on major repairs. The guy who buys the 10 year old truck has as much money in it as I did, and he gets to pay for the repairs.

If you go much past 10 years/150,000 then you may be just as well off to keep it until the wheels fall off. Most experts advise that when you reach the point that it will take 1/2 the vehicles value to repair it that it is best to just let it go. As scrap if nothing else. If you've got a $3000 truck and throw $3000 at it to keep it running it is still only worth $3000 to the insurance company if someone rear ends you at a traffic light.

 

I have always taken excellent care of my vehicles. I wrecked my 2003 Ranger which had almost 300k miles on it.
The dude picked it up for the insurance CO was shocked it didn't have 60k miles on it. Only repairs i had to do was ac compressor and rear end rebuild, though it was due for chains/tensionors.

My Tremor is 6 years old, with 100k miles and you would swear it is new outside of the tires that need replaced and a few rock chips.I buy a vehicle to keep it. Would still have the Ranger if not wrecked.

 

I recognize myself a lot in your post :-) Like you I was enjoying a lot playing with my vehicle, but now... not that much, first Im getting older, spending an afternoon on my knees and not knowing all I need to know under a hood is kind of frustrating. I am still doing the small job like brakes, plug etc this afternoon actually ill replace my throttle body but outside of that I wont touch much.... But in the meantime I really hate to pay a guy big bucks when I know I can do the job , my truck is still in great conditon ,a 2014 with only 55000 miles so I should be good to go for another 4 years, throwing parts can become expensive but no payments is a good incentive to keep working a bit on the truck :-)

 

I drive them until they need work every month or so. It might only be $50 sensors and 10 minutes of my time on a weekend, but once they hit that point of needing regular work I'm done with them. For me that's come at around 10 years/200k miles. And I don't "trade" them because you lose your butt. The last two I sold I took to couple dealerships where I was looking at trucks and one went to Carmax too. Best offer on one was $2,800, I sold it on Craigslist later for $5800. Best offer on the other was $3500, I sold it on Craigslist later for $7000.

 

big difference on trade in. Did you find the private sales to be a hassle?

 

I get a headache selling household items on the private market....can't imagine a vehicle.

 

I went through the same thinking with my 2005 Jeep. It has over 230K miles.
Overall it’s been very reliable but as the miles ticked up each repair became more and more expensive.
I do all my own work but it was often down for weeks while waiting for parts and time to complete the repair.
Six months ago it had another major repair and once it was all completed I decided I’m not spending any more money on it.
Thats when I started looking for a F150.

I know that once l list the Jeep for sale I won’t get much for it. It’s worth more in parts than as a whole.