Need a new(er) truck.... Maybe?

[Oaktree]

It does sound like a compact car would be good for a college student doing a lot of driving.

Probably a lot easier to fit in a parking space on campus too. Plus it gets him out of helping friends move.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Looks like I have a side gig thanks to my new truck. I'm delivering a new ride to the buyer about 550 miles away. I'm also bringing back his trade.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

So it turns out it was a dealer trade. Brought this guy back with us. 900 miles total and averaged 12mpg. I really like the truck. So much power, it was always under 2,000 rpm, even accelerating up hill on the interstate. Pulled this thing so well I forgot it was back there several times.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Check engine light... Just picked it back up from the shop. They replaced a Particulate Matter Sensor on the exhaust. Fixed for free.

 

[Jstpssng]

I got one of these roll up vinyl bed covers for the new truck. I've had it on for several weeks now. I really like it! It's handy and rolls up out of the way really easily. Gives a little cover and protection for small items or feed that doesn't need to get wet. It doesn't make the bed totally waterproof but my paper feed sacks stayed dry in the rain!

Amazon.com

View attachment 864274

My Colorado came with one. It's great for keeping things dry. This time of year it has all of my gardening tools including a bucket of fertilizer. No need to put them back in the shed every time I get done, I can just drive out to the garden the next evening.

 

[Yander]

Looks like I have a side gig thanks to my new truck. I'm delivering a new ride to the buyer about 550 miles away. I'm also bringing back his trade.

View attachment 865785

This makes me think, do you guys calculate costs of the useful life that a job takes from your equipment in order to know what your overhead costs are on a job?

I've been starting to do this. It helps me estimate if a job is worth doing.

I divide hours to do job/useful life of said equipment to get the percentage of the useful life the job will take. Once I have that percentage, I multiply it by the cost of the equipment.

I would use mileage for a car and hours for a tractor.

Probably a better way but at least it's something.

The rate I have to have to do a job is $75 an hour and $150 minimum. It keeps me from being called for a $60 garden job. That's the goal, someone else can do those jobs. Its been working

 

[Hay Dude]

I started structuring my calculations for field cutting jobs like that.
Although I don’t give customers my hourly price, I do calculations on paper in my office hourly to estimate costs.
My first hour is now $250 for the trouble of transportation and ruining my tractor tires driving from my shop to your location.
Every hour of mowing after that is $175.

Those are my “new world prices” adjusted for new world costs (inflation)

”No joke folks”.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

My neighbor down the street is retired and hauls for some lots around us. I may make a run or two a month. It will pay my truck payment and give me and my wife a little time together to see the sights. Me making a couple runs helps my neighbor out and it gives us a little pocket money.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Another hauling job. I'll clear around $1/mile on this one. Not a huge amount of money but it's easy.

 

[bigtiller]

Another hauling job. I'll clear around $1/mile on this one. Not a huge amount of money but it's easy. View attachment 872069

You made me laugh at myself.
I thought the right front tire was dangerously close the the edge of the trailer.
Then I zoomed in to see the spare tire.

 

[deserteagle71]

Another hauling job. I'll clear around $1/mile on this one. Not a huge amount of money but it's easy. View attachment 872069

A set of airbags under the back of that Duramax would help keep things on the level...........

 

[Mej13579]

I just bought a new 2500hd custom with the 6.6 gas engine and the 10 speed transmission. I think for my purposes it’s perfect. I can haul my tractor or anything else I have with it. For the 10k more price tag and dealing with def I think it just fine.

 

[dieselscout80]

I just bought a new 2500hd custom with the 6.6 gas engine and the 10 speed transmission. I think for my purposes it’s perfect. I can haul my tractor or anything else I have with it. For the 10k more price tag and dealing with def I think it just fine.

Nice

How do you like the gas 6.6Land 10 speed? Also, what kind of gas mileage are you getting?

 

[Mej13579]

I really like it. I’m getting about 13 mpg. I really haven’t driven it much yet and really check it. It’s a custom but has enough comfort features for me. It has the gooseneck ready in the bed with the spray in bed liner. Z71. Rides great got it for less than 60k.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

A set of airbags under the back of that Duramax would help keep things on the level...........

It wasn't as bad as the picture made it look. But.... you are right. Also the truck I was hauling did not have reverse, I would have liked to pull it back another foot or so and it would have been better.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

You made me laugh at myself.
I thought the right front tire was dangerously close the the edge of the trailer.
Then I zoomed in to see the spare tire.

Yeah it looks funny!

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I really like it. I’m getting about 13 mpg. I really haven’t driven it much yet and really check it. It’s a custom but has enough comfort features for me. It has the gooseneck ready in the bed with the spray in bed liner. Z71. Rides great got it for less than 60k.

Nice! I like it! I was looking for a gas one but happened on this one for a really good deal. It pulled that 1 ton like butter. Got a little over 12 mpg over 600 miles. Half with just the 2800# trailer and half with the truck also.

 

[Hay Dude]

A set of airbags under the back of that Duramax would help keep things on the level...........

You can even get a set of helper springs or 3500 springs pretty cheap but they reduce ride quality.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Another one this weekend. Atlanta has terrible traffic. 1,200 miles give or take.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

So it "fits" in the garage... Just maybe not as well as it does in the shop....