What the heck should I do. Buy new or restore.

You guys helped A LOT! I ultimately know the right thing to do here. Fix the mechanical and drive it. Maybe a mid life crisis. My dad bought a 60k corvette. Im deciding if I should jazz up the old tundra work truck. The conservative approach has been my life and it’s paid off. Ocassionally you feel bad for yourself and say I deserve this to get around the foolish decision. That’s exactly what it is, foolish.

 

Yes and no. Like a woman in high heels. Dumbest thing invented but they look good.

 

Exactly!

 

Overall mechanically it’s in great shape. The brakes are gone. 50% of the rotors are rust. Air in the abs. Optima battery has nearly exploded with the top pushed out. Small exhaust leak, rims are beyond cleanable anymore, needs tires. I did upgrade these and when new or even 50% tread they look great. The interior is shot.

 

With the racks and toolbox a tonneau cover isn’t an option so i made this. It’s not fully sealed which is sort of the point. I can still slide in material. It does slide and flip up to have a bigger opening and also fits perfectly on top of my toolbox if it’s not needed. It’s 95% watertight below the aluminum. Which is good enough for a table saw and chop saw.

The best part is the sides rest in the trac rak slides which is a channel that diverts the water away. Hope you guys enjoy this. It’s a fairly cheap and beautiful upgrade

 

Do whatever makes you happy. Yolo

 

Seat covers is a necessity even if I sell it. I think what’s kept me away is the quality of them. Paying a few hundred for a wrinkled bed sheet. I need something regardless. Are you happy with them? Any ugly wrinkles to worry about?

 

What about a little of both? Keep the old one as a work truck, then buy a used, but newer one as your daily / weekend driver?
You’re saying there’s a 35k difference. You can probably get a Tundra that’s only a couple of years old for 35k. Hell, I think the blue book on mine is around that. It’s only two years old with 40k miles.

 

Then guys like you come across. Haha. That’s the other part. YOLO. I’m doing 90 hour weeks and have been for the past 2.5years. Always put in 60 building but now with a recent new biz it’s gone up at least 30.

 

I wouldn’t have upgraded to mine if my daughter hadn’t needed a vehicle. It gave me an excuse to get a new one by giving her my 2011. If not for that I’d still be driving it.

As for the Voodoo Blue, I was way too close to trading mine in for one a couple of months ago. I don’t usually make the smart choice in situations like that.

 

If you can afford it, and it makes you happy, then go for it.

 

You needed more than a wrinkle bed seat to fix that seat

 

I sold my Taco to get my Tundra. But, I was very happy with them had them a few years and never any issues, no wrinkles, and looked factory. I think the Katzkin leather is way better than the factory limited leather. Your seat bolster is pretty much shot, but that could be repaired by any capable upholstery shop pretty easy.

I have a new Tundra, it's nice, but it's not the holy grail of trucks and certainly not perfect. I was fortunate enough to put a lot down on my Tundra when I bought it and it is now paid off. I will probably keep this truck a very long time. Like you, I don't want anymore payments.

 

Only ½ ton and above, mid size truck don’t work, best way is to ask a tax agent

 

Vehicles with GVWR less than 6,000 lbs will have certain limitations on how much you can deduct. The Tundra has a higher GVWR so you can technically deduct more by buying a Tundra. But if you work with a tax professional, it's best to ask for their advice.

 

So 13k to upgrade current? And you have this? Then wouldn't it be 23k off of 45k? Trade plus down. Since newer one won't need upgrades. So 22k for brand new, that doesn't seem bad. Plus business write off. Plus is there wiggle room on new truck? Get them down to 42k?

 

Never in my life have I had any interest in buying new until my recent Tundra purchase and I’ll explain why.

My last truck (I do still have it) is a really clean 07 Tacoma. I bought it with 90k and put an additional 100k on it in 4 years. I put $9-10k into it in just maintenance (clutch, engine work, wheel bearings etc. huge list).

I thought about buying a used Tundra for around $25k but figured I could potentially put another $5-10k into it over 4 years- being $35k into a 10+ year old truck. SO I decided to just spend $40k and get an 8 year 120k warranty, ding and dent protection and wheel and tire protection for 5 years. The peace of mind I already have with that is indescribable.

 

Thank you for that. I’m ordering this weekend. I can fudge the bolster I’m sure. Got to be better than this when I’m done.

I got an update too. The trucks in Florida and I’m in rhode island. I recently bought a Lexus gx470 from my mother in law. 06 with 70k and show room. The dealer said he’d give me 12,500 for it. If I throw 15 down ( around the cost of upgrading my truck) that drops the purchase price significantly. 20k basically and no headache of doing the work.

 

Yes

Now I have a truck that’s worth around 10 K, it will need around 13 K to make it nice. The pictures do the truck well. It’s pretty beat up. I’m very grateful though. I bought the Lexus as a nice round town vehicle and to use to drop myKids off at school. I won’t need it with a new truck. If I take the 10k (trucks value)+13 (upgrade) +12.5 Lexus trade I’d be around 10k and no headaches. Just have to unload the tundra
.

 

Buy the truck, it will make you stand taller, motivate you to do better.

 

I don’t see it in your collection, but I have the caulking gun from Milwaukee. It’s bad a$$

 

Ideally I'd avoid the payment at all costs, it's not like you require a new truck, the old one seems fine. Of course life is short and new trucks make us smile. Just don't count on getting the value of the truck on trade. A dealer is going to sell it for what it's worth, and offer you 2-3 less on trade, they have to have a profit margin also

 

I don’t have a before picture but my seat looked like that, I bought a seat bottom foam and lower seat cover. Fixed it right up. Also did the back while I was at it but not totally necessary. Truck had 205000 miles in this picture.

 

I’m going to have to grab one. They really suck you in don’t they? I have a few dozen more Milwaukee tools that don’t fit in the daily use storage box.

The most important tool on the east coast is the heat gun. It warms the extremities if needed. Also works well to heat up lunch.
A 9.0ah battery will toast the bread and melt the cheese in a single charge lol.

 

Lol, you tell that to people that have never worked construction all you get is
You did what to lunch! Lol.

 

I hope you have a separate insurance policy for your tools in your truck.

 

I say no payments and give ole reliable a facelift.

 

When you work from a desk chair you reward yourself with massages and fancy coffees. When you work hard for your money it’s a lot easier to take pride in the fancy tool collection. Milwaukee has been my bonus for the past year. Pat myself in the back and buy a new drill lol. What’s impressive is my makita collection. Face value would pay for the new truck alone.