I found this truck at a Surrey dealership. Its a 2007 GMC (Isuzu) diesel with automatic transmission and a Gross Vehicle Weight of 6,500kg (14,300lb). The odometer reading, 369,943km. Overall body looks good, no damage, the deck needs paint, however the wood is solid, no rotten or broken boards.
Dealerships pick up these trucks at auction for cheap. They are detailed, repaired and sold for profit. I purchased a Freightliner Canpar step van from the same dealership in April 2021.
The truck had just arrived and I bought it as is for $10,000. I picked it up a week later. I checked the oil before leaving and discovered the head gasket was blown. An expensive repair. The dealer gave me two options moving forward. They offered a full refund or $4,000 cash back to cover the cost of repairs.
I chose to keep the truck. I consulted with my mechanic and the total cost of the truck, taxes and repairs will be under $20,000. Better to build a devil I know than to purchase an alternative devil I don’t know. I looked at several trucks in this class and they were all $20,000 and up. Many were older with higher millage.
WASN’T PREPARED
Normally I keep cash reserves for such unexpected events. All my monies are invested in the Primary Residence Vehicle project, buying components on sale and hoping to avoid inflated prices expected in the near future. I work with cash and avoid financing and credit. I bought the truck I can afford with cash money. The goal is to have the Isuzu running and insured before May 2022. Vanna could be loaded onto it on a long weekend.
I’m gambling that Vanna will keep running till that can happen. Vanna don’t sound so good.
In the meantime I can detail and prep the Isuzu as well.
CRAZY PLAN
Yes it is.
All other options negatively impact my budget and consequently my goal. Renting a place for myself or a campground spot for me and Vanna is expensive. Purchasing a commuter vehicle adds more expense. Commuting for hours to and from job sites daily is costly as well. Not commuting, staying near the job site, not consuming fuel means more investment in my hobby job on daily basis.
As is, I only have one day a week on average to work on the PRV. The current situation means I won’t be making progress on the PRV till May. I would like to move into the PRV by the end of the year. That’s optimistic and not likely to happen.
In the future the Isuzu can be sold with or without Vanna on deck. It should sell for what I have invested in it. I could also keep it as a back up situation. That would cost a thousand dollars a year to do.
MOMENTUM
This plan keeps things moving forward, if it works.
There are many unknowns. Well see what happens.