this dilema has been talked about here many times, all with the same outcome....

Bottom line is you have a responsibility to do whats best for your family and kids, and if that means selling the truck, sell the truck..

 

Do what works best for you. I'm a firm believer in maintenance is cheaper than payments and $310 a month isn't bad but some folks feel pressure when they have bills hanging over them. You know what will make you more comfortable and like others have said, there are always trucks for sale.

 

12-15 years of age is about when a vehicle has run its economical course (this is why dealers, the chains and aftermarket dump parts and spares from inventory); the main reason is electrical system reliability.

I've had a number of old vehicles as my only transportation, but I was single. Therefore, having to spend the weekend repairing said vehicle wasn't such an issue. In fact, I went from an 18-yr old car to a 23 year old car as it was closer to what I wanted (Mopar beats Chevy any day).

After getting married (I was 40) and now with a wife and son I didn't have quite the time. I did a crash re-build of much of the car (brakes, suspension, trans & engine) to keep it rolling. Yes, my overall costs were low and the value of the vehicle was rising.

But I got tired of the amount of time, and the new son wasn't interested.

In the end the car -- or truck -- is just an appliance. A way from Point A to Point B.

Take your time, set boundaries, be ready to dump it and already KNOW what other vehicle will best work for you.

Personally, having driven enough of them, mini-vans are great to drive around town. Invisible to cops, to thieves, etc. Look into the value of "anonymity" for a family car. As your compromise.

(And, by stealth, start planning the garage you always wanted to build and equip)

 

Well the truck is posted on the free classifieds ad site in the Atlanta section and within five minutes I had two e-mails about it. I guess we will see what happens.

 

SideWork!!!!!!

 

Nope, been there and done that. Time with the family is precious and a truck isnt going to keep from it. Between deployments and babysitting one weekend a month, I take all the time I can at home with the family. If I get selected for Officer Candidate School and graduate, once Im done with all my training, then I will find myself another truck.

 

If you can't do Excel maybe a buddy can. All the variables can be plugged in and it becomes very impersonal when you make the choice. It also allows you to play "what if" so you can see what happens when you do something different.

The bottom line as the others have said make yourself as financially sound as possible. Debt is not a good thing and very hard to get out of. The truck may have to take a back seat.

My streetrod is sitting there needing about $4000 worth of parts to make it fully drivable. But with todays situation it may have to sit another year.

The second job is a bad thing but if you and your partner can sit down and talk about it every day, it will become a means to an end. Put away a few $$$ so y'all can go out and have a good time together occasionally. You are young enough to survive this but you need to be in it together.

 

I spend as much time as I can with my family too. But, if I get an offer to make $500+ on a Saturday or a Sunday, without working too hard, I jump on it. I get as much as I want with the line of work I'm in. I turn down much more than I accept...
As was said already, family comes first and you need to do what's best for you. There are plenty of trucks flooding the market so when you are ready to get another one you should be able to get one at a great price....

 

If I could make another $500 on a Saturday, believe me I would be all over it. Military doesnt pay more for Saturdays and I havent had a side job that I worked five evenings a week that paid me more than about $200 a week. Suggestions?

 

Seriously! I'm open to suggestions too!

Though, next weekend I'm hauling a tractor for a "friend" and my truck will finally have a chance to earn itself

 

I have tried to find odd hauling jobs to help my truck earn its keep but it is hard to come by if you dont do it all the time professionally. I have worked a second job two different times while in the military. Both times at the same home improvement store. They kept me late, treated me bad and I personally dont agree with some of the ethics involved with management/employee atmosphere in those types of stores. Anyhow, thats off topic.

 

You could check out the hauling schedule on www.ytmag.com

 

Well, I sell moving equipment to all the moving companies in the area. I was also a mover for many years before getting into my current job. I have a 26' enclosed trailer that is great for doing small household moves or, of course, hauling cars. Movers always book more than they can easily handle and I have a couple that will pay me do do some of their small short haul moves for them. The ones I go for are those where I may spend 2-3 hours loading, 2-3 hours driving to destination, 1-2 hours unloading, then 2-3 hours driving back home. The driving part pays as much as the actual work part so it ends up being an easy day and I usually pocket about $400-$500 after I pay my help and fuel.
I've hauled a couple cars in the past too. I do this under the authority of the mover and I am on their insurance whenever I do this. Works out great for me and also for them because I am a top notch mover even though I'm kind of spindly......

 

If I only owned a trailer!