A direction I need go

I can see scrapping is not a passing faze for me . Problem is it's defining me also year after year
all I have are crap looking trucks . It's artful that I can pick trucks for $500 or $150 and off I go . But there are draw backs,
one in particular is how far will I risk driving from home base . In truth you gotta take an old truck with a grain of salt
& have to carefully decide how much your budget is to fix .
I really like my $150 Ranger good MPG and I scrap with it I will not get rid of that .
But my Dodge might be on the chopping block - first what is nice ( sarcastic ) is a vice grip for the trans shifter
the gas MPG, the look, the brakes, non 4 X 4 working a driver door that does not work Yet what a great old truck .
it will never let you down -- NEVER !!
I have an opportunity to get a clean like new Toyota Tacoma 2008 4 door $300 per month for 4 years . I could really go out many miles from home I want a nice truck & for some reason beyond all logic I want this pickup . It's towing capacity is 6500 and
I want to capitalize on that , I know some one who is selling a trailer, The Tacoma has a trailer package also .
A nice truck and scrapping off the trailer has always been in the back of my mind ( you know what I mean rite ? the truck gets no scrap except some copper brass .. but the trailer is where all the action is )
Further more, Once and for all I need a dependable auto to drive out far from
home base . My current trucks can make it , but for sure the Cops 100 or 200 miles from home will not over look me as the local police who are used to me . Any way , am I lost or do you think I can make a go of it .
Why the Tacoma ?????? I just want it for me , just for me .
My Girls get $800 dresses - X boxes , the games , Phones . When do I get NICE !!
A plus is I can start selling off my computer stuff as I could drive the 200 mile trips to sell to particular yards
I just wont chance it now cause my current trucks have no inspection and need $$$$$ to deal with that
a ticket from police 200 miles from home will kill off profits fast .
I could also take on the small paint jobs & handy man projects as I find my current trucks you just can't use for job estimates
No way those trucks can pull up to a home and say Howdy

Pay as much down cash as you can and then pay it off as quickly as possible

Copperhead:
The Toyota will last you a LONG time. I think it will be worth the investment!
With steel prices rising, gold pricing rising etc. I think the payoff will come sooner than later.

When I started having issues with being able to haul materials for my contracting business, I started looking at a van. It was a sprinter no-less. But I knew when I put the money into it as an investment- that it would pay off.
Now I can haul those 30 sheets of drywall in a pouring rain without fear
I can work a 11 hour day- close the pass-through door and not worry about my tools being seen or a temptation to others.
And I can literally haul pallets of scrap- or pack that sucker with computers, servers- pretty much anything.
Mine has paid for itself quickly.
Look at it from the perspective of: This is a NEED- not a "WANT" and from what you are saying- a reliable vehicle each and every day is a NEED, not a "WANT."

As far as your handyman side- I will assure you that you are 100% correct. When I pull up in my clean, tidy van. I am much more likely to be taken seriously than with a beater pick-up truck. In this business a lot of times you have to earn trust of the client to hand you a key to their property to do work. It stinks- but perception is reality!

No one needs an $800 dress and xbox or a phone unless they work or have kids. Further parents are not obligated to go into debt to pay for college for their children. This sounds tough to some. When you retire are you going to be prepared?? Will you be able to pay for your rent or food with the old xbox or dresses, of course not. Will your children pay for you retirement? No they will not.

You don't need a nice truck you're just trying to convince yourself its needed. You need a plan to follow and I think you have been looking for one for a long time. I have and will continue to recommend listening to Dave Ramsey. He has a web site with pod cast type recordings. He is correct in what he teaches and I would be so very happy if you sign up for a local class. If you are serious about it contact me via pm and I will consider sponsoring you.

I'm 63 and have made plenty of errors in my life. I can't change my history but I can speak direct and without the niceties others might prefer but it is my aim to get your attention. I hope I have. 73, Mike

Not to be the "devil's advocate" here.. but none of us know his financial situation.
He could have been saving $ for just this opportunity!

When I bought my van- I had a plan. I had a budget set on what I could/would spend.

I took a loan on the van, I had my Silverado and my Car hauler up for sale- Once each of them sold- I took all those funds and plunked them down on the loan amount. Within 4 months the van was completely paid off and title in hand.
Prior to my van purchase- I wanted the Silverado. I put my Dakota up for sale, paid a decent price for the Silverado and after the Dakota Sold, I had the Silverado paid off before it's first payment was due.

Needless to say- None of us knows what he may have put back or what he may consider selling to put a dent in his investment.

Is there a reason not to get a v6 full size?

Originally Posted by ryanw

Sledge - He said $300 payments per month for 4 years to get the truck, so yes I am assuming it will be bought with credit.

My advice is just because I like to be frugal. I could have a brand new f150, but I don't have a need for one. I can add newer technology items to it if I feel I need them.

I hear you. I buy used.. I bought the Dakota new- my first, last and only vehicle I've ever done that with.
As I said though- maybe he has $5000 worth of Ceramic chips he is sitting on that he could convert to cash and make a nice dent in the overall total.
Just saying not to crucify the guy for wanting to do better for himself.
I hated taking out any "loan" to buy the Silverado or the Sprinter- but to me it was a "temporary loan" I had enough cash to buy both- but instead of taking that much out of my reserves- when I knew I had a solid plan.. the interest I paid for both vehicles was minimal.

The Silverado I paid $13 in interest total on the loan.
The Sprinter was at 1.5% interest for 4 months, and that was with me knocking out thousands at a time once a piece of equipment sold.

Yes a bank loan due to dealer incentive - But there is one other aspect --- I had Sprint phone billing situation in collection and the the loan covers the sprint bill
The auto dealer is paying it so I get the loan ( by bumping the auto price ) So yes $14,400 with Tax Tag sprint paid off . I drove the truck and it feels perfect
looks new . The blue book is higher then I'm paying .
I looked around and found I could pay way more for similar priced trucks @ 20 % interest .
I gave dealer my 1099 as proof of Job , a copy of my pay check & showed him some scrap receipts .
Id rather have a bigger Chevy or Ford with 4 doors and V-6 but 20% interest yet no need to pay off sprint .
I believe this is me rebuilding a part of my life , it's time to get away a little from the look still I have the Ranger
it's got the look

Originally Posted by EDC76

Copperhead, Is that Tacoma an auto or a stick?

It has a 4 speed auto with typical 2H - 4 H - 4L & has 2L unique ? got the off road package .
The main reality is this It's a ver clean truck that reintroduces me back to the world at large
just another hum drum dude in a clean truck But I am committed to ONE fact - I have to get a trailer
I will not load this truck like my Dodge or Ranger , I have to have a trailer for the nasty stuff
(self explanatory ) The clean truck can only be used for item's in buckets - the good stuff . Copper Brass , motors
No water heaters , fridges , So thats why this is such a decision cause it will require me to get real
I know of a car trailer for $1000 . even an old horse trailer
I have to do this it's crunch time . OR IT'S TIME TO STOP SCRAPPING
Trailer - Trailer - Trailer - Trailer - Trailer - Trailer This is all I need asking $600

Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper

I'd have a hard time sinking nearly 15 grand into a truck. I like cheap and I run them into the ground. Just ask FreonJoe!

I did get a 2005 Ford F350 crew cab with the 6.0 diesel. Nice truck, but again I have a hard time driving nicer vehicles because I'm so hard on them. I intend to get it flipped here soon. Hopefully won't take 87 years like the bus. Shut it Joe! :P

That ford is kick ass nice - That's living . Like they say Thats the SHI T

My perspective is a little different than most. I would be more concerned about personal appearance than the vehicle driven. An older vehicle shows you are willing to sacrifice to provide for your family. This still means something to those with values and morals. A persons word and integrity are more important than what they drive. I drive a 75 Chevy 1/2 ton 4x4 or an 85 Ford 1/2 ton 4x4 on all of my business deals. I dress in a nice shirt and Wranglers. The trucks are clean but beat to heck. It shows my hard work.

I understand the need for a reliable vehicle, but this one seems to be over priced in my opinion. Many say that you should only buy used, but others say you will only be buying some one else's headache.

In my IMHO I would work with what you have and if not confident in your abilities, hire a mechanic. Then invest in the trailer and when your profit and the right opportunity coincide, pull the trigger.

Good advice Patriot76 But lets get a clear picture of my Dodge - 1998 1500 with 318 ci ,
painted flat black , the body who cares but the truck looks like a Axe murder truck ( kinda fun a real red neck look )
OK back to reality .
Driver door clasp shot so I keep it shut and don't use cause sooner or later I wont be able to jimmy rig shut .
Soooo thats a cool look always using passenger door or I climb out window .if I have passengers .
starts perfect but shifter is broken so Vice grip works but you have to juggle it to hit neutral to start
also you have to make sure it hits park or she will roll away ( oh yes it can )
Now lets drive the old girl , go slow and keep huge distance from other cars cause it only has 1/2 inch of brake pressure maybe 2 wheels sorta work
BTW there is no emergency brake cable . Naturally it's all over the road and that adds tons of fun but I'm used to the old Dodge feel . The trans works but shifts out of first early so it's kinda slow at low end but with no Brakes it's a good thing .
Does the heater work ? not really just a little heat .
Fuel up the old girl , trip to yard . Come home take kids to Wall-mart , one kid I take to friend . take another to Target lets go home . Really I have to pick WHO up ? ok back into truck to pick up daughter at other friends home stop off to get Milk. $35 in fuel for a family Saturday & still empty - Can't wait for Sunday and yes 4 days use to go to and from work $40 -
$15 gas on Fri day off - this is typical week after week
This was my daily driver ( I paid my Dues ) I forced truck to earn it's keep
by canning and scrapping . But it's not hard to spend $90 per 7 day week on fuel or average $350 per month
and still have a bone empty fuel tank . Fact is the 318 CI cause me to cringe with the cost of fuel & that becomes the focus
any body who asks " Dad can I go here or there ? my response , some time's - - Nope thats a $20 drive .
if fuel ever goes back to $4.50 forget it , but fuel has been low for a wile , still Fuel cost on the brain becomes the obsession
None the less do I love that old flapping Dodge , I sure do .
I'd load it up , bang it up with metal , the 1998 Dodge is strong .
when I found a $150 Ranger with heat and working 4X4 - & decedent MPG - I said
Praise the Lord you have come to rescue me
The ranger runs OK , well she runs well when she's in the mood , but runs .
When she's in a bad mood the range is a cranky old gal
Hell has no fury as a nasty ford 4.0
Still I have heat - 4x4 - good mpg - nice radio
it's an nice old truck & needs work on Evap or EGR , needs some thing.
But heck the winter hit & it has saved my ass Rangers are great in snow .
been using it as my Daily driver fuel cost way down . & can't fit all my kids .
I'm in my late 50's , it's enough already - I own death traps .
My kids deserve a memory - like yeah Dad has a nice truck.