Looking for opinion/advice.

[CBari]

My 04 has 230k miles on it and is mechanically sound. I would get in it and go anywhere that roads can take me. It has for some time had some body damage, needs front bumper, clear coat is coming off on roof and top of bed rails, and has numerous rock pecks behind the wheels. All this was pretty fitting for a 15 year old truck. This week though one of my horses thought the truck looked like a hay bale I guess as took its teeth to the front quarter panels and the hood all the way down to the metal. My questions are as follows.

1.) Do I paint it and replace the bumper and make it look like new on the outside. Cost is about $5000-6000 on this.

2.) Buy a new 2500 and sell this one as it is.

If I sell it what is it really worth. The interior is really good for the age. Only real wear is the seats show cracking in the color but not the leather. Truck has been maintained really well.

Thanks

 

[jgillott]

If it is doing everything that you need it to do, fix what is needed and keep it around. If it no longer serves your purpose, then get rid of it for something else.

These things are what they are......no emissions controls, extremely simple as compared to what rolls off the line today, and frankly they take pretty much everything that you can throw at them.

 

[Wayne M.]

At a certain point, when I’m able, I intend to do a full restoration of my 04. It’s been such an incredible vehicle, I’d like to get another 10 or more years out of it.
I’m just not seeing the new trucks as able to repeat what this ones done already.

 

[Shiner]

My 04 has 230k miles on it and is mechanically sound. I would get in it and go anywhere that roads can take me. It has for some time had some body damage, needs front bumper, clear coat is coming off on roof and top of bed rails, and has numerous rock pecks behind the wheels. All this was pretty fitting for a 15 year old truck. This week though one of my horses thought the truck looked like a hay bale I guess as took its teeth to the front quarter panels and the hood all the way down to the metal. My questions are as follows.

1.) Do I paint it and replace the bumper and make it look like new on the outside. Cost is about $5000-6000 on this.

2.) Buy a new 2500 and sell this one as it is.

If I sell it what is it really worth. The interior is really good for the age. Only real wear is the seats show cracking in the color but not the leather. Truck has been maintained really well.

Thanks

Do what it needs and keep if it still makes you happy. I wouldn't try to make "new" , but presentable. I would think a mayco(spelling?) would be able to do a bit more reasonable. If you do this, that first ding or scratch is not quite as painful.

 

[TFucili]

As pointed out, I'd say if you are not facing an endless battle with rust, I would think it pays to spiff her up. Also, do you have a vo-tech school that might take on the body and paint project???

 

[Wayne M.]

The Macco by me does some great work. I see old cars getting shot when I go by. They ran a $99 “bumper special” so I got a new bumper for my ‘98 from Sherman, and they did a great color match!

 

[Shiner]

The Macco by me does some great work. I see old cars getting shot when I go by. They ran a $99 “bumper special” so I got a new bumper for my ‘98 from Sherman, and they did a great color match!

We had a car done by Earl Schibes in the 80's for 99 bucks. My buddy from AZ still talks about that to this day. Painted it with 140k and drove it to 500k commuting back and forth to the Phelps Dodge copper mine. Said looked good yet when sold.

 

[sag2]

I just had the 91 Dakota painted by a local shop here in town. $2800 including repairing the dings and removing one dent in the fender. I had Miracle give me an estimate and for the best paint job they wanted $2300 from the stripes up with no body work. A cheap paint job will look like a cheap paint job. I removed the trim, windows, and door handles because I figured I would be way more careful than they would.

Before

During

Almost done, bed is in the booth

Done but not reassembled

 

[Shiner]

In my younger days, I painted a few of my beaters with tractor enamel. (that was some pretty tough paint)Looked a lot better than the multiple primers they had before. A person can spend a bunch, a little, or somewhere in the middle. Bottom line, if it makes you happy, do it. A friend of mine has a brother who paid just at 11k for paint job on his 72 Chevelle, looks fantastic...….but it's 11k paint on a plain jane Chevelle. Makes him happy. Point being, how many think their new trucks have a 11k paint job on them? Again, do what makes you happy and enjoy your decision.