2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission My 1996 2500--if it were you...

[DragonflyDriver]

All,

I will be making a significant move as soon as I can sell my house, and pretty much everything else I own. I could take my immaculate 2500 (no rust), with 58K miles that I've owned since 1996, to a salty-air location for about $1,100 (Hawaii) or sell it here in the deep south. The truck has been garaged for the better part of its life and its appearance is pretty close to "new" (hardly a scratch on it). Book values on the internet are at most around $5K, even in Hawaii. Can't see giving it away for that but might have to. Of my possessions, this is the hardest to part with. In HI, it won't fit in the garage so I'd have to use a cover on it in the driveway for UV. I guess there's nothing I can do about the rust potential there. It will be driven a little more than I drive it now but far from a daily driver. Fuel isn't cheap there. I'm guessing the consensus will be to sell it. It's 2W drive and probably not as in demand there as a 4W drive and I probably wouldn't make the $1,100 back. Other than locking myself in a room lined with padding, what would you recommend I do?

 

[DBroadhead]

Sell it to me it will live with my 97 that only has about four hundred thousand miles

 

[moparguy]

I vote sell. Hawaii to me (haven't been there yet) would be the perfect place for a nice old CJ7 Jeep or one of the newer reincarnations like a TJ with ac. Small, open air 4X4 is what I'd be looking at.

I bet you'd be surprised at what your truck would bring on Ebay. Give it a super detail job, top, bottom, inside,,,everything, then take Lots of high quality pictures, emphasize the interior, underneath, the scratch free bed,,,,,again everything. Play up the fact it's a 12V that runs forever with very few electrons required and has lived in a garage all it's life.

The fact that's it's not a 4x4 will hurt but I'd expect north of 10k if it looks as good as I imagine.

added in edit; found this recent sale on ebay,,this truck brought a premium, it is a 4x4 which is a huge help but the point is the ad is well done, only thing I'd have done different is include shots of the clean undercarriage.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GRAN...rs_Trucks&hash=item257f119050#ht_29028wt_1165

Good Luck, RR

 

[leaky gasket]

View attachment 85720 This jeep is on the big Island
I think i would sale her,She would slowly decay in front of you. Also as you already know Hawaii freeways are only in the big towns. the rest of the islands speed limits are 25, 35 and 45 MPH. You will be on a two land road surrounded by nothing but jungle and the speed limit is 25 to the next town. Your truck will spend most of its time idling down the road.

 

[budnate]

I go to hawaii all the time, a diesel just dont work there very well unless its a bus, most trips are 10 mins or less in the rig... . get yourself some small CHEAP gas car or truck with A/C and ship it over... . rust will kill it long before it wears out, taking a clean rig and paying the 1100 shipping is the best way to go.

 

[HDR]

I lived there for 4 years and can tell you that everything will rust apart sooner or latter.