The cruiser is getting old, 285K and its starting to feel it. The list of things to do is growing. I’ve done a lot and invested a lot but I’m starting to feel like the things that are going to start giving my troubles are going to be things that are difficult to make right. More troubling is a nagging feeling that I don’t trust it like I used to in the backcountry. I’m probably being paranoid but the maze dustup really shook me up in terms of taking an aging rig so deep into the backcountry. I don’t travel alone and so im not worried about my safety, but I don’t want to be the guy thats always causing trips to be cut short, or being stuck with an insane towing bill. I also found out how much I spent on maintenance last year in my credit card annual report and I am starting to wonder aloud a few things; is it time for something else? To be clear Im not ready to jump ship and I think there is at least a few good years left in her, but I find myself being hesitant pulling the trigger on things like an interior redo...something I’ve been cleared by my wife to do. So, here is what I am thinking.
Option 1 would be to stay the course, keep investing and see where she takes me.
Things that still need to be done in the short term -
- figure out the driveline shunt.
- rebuild starter (have the kit)
- rebuild steering box (too much play)
- Completely reupholster the 2 front seats (new seats are actually needed, the frames move around a ton)
- figure out why there is so much moly in my front diff (rebuild the axle...again?)
- figure out the mystery leak at the front of the engine. (including new rad hoses it seems)
- New tires
- New exhaust (leaking at the y pipe junction, leaking at the muffler, Cats are presumably pretty toast by now)
- rebuild the alternator...Im starting to wonder about its health.
- trim and lights (worn trim/seals, burnt out lights...not a huge deal right now.
This is all in addition to investments I would like to make in improvements and safety. Things like a roof rack, new electrical systems and drawers.
The trouble isn’t the mileage, its the age. Things are just getting brittle, and worn in the dry Utah air combined with the corrosive salt environment.
Option 2 would be to sell it and buy a hundo (or similar). Its still a good truck with lots of great things going for it, it just needs someone who isn’t as particular as I am about a smooth daily driver and doesn’t mind doing more of their own work. Buy something like a low(er) mile 100 series and start building from there. Ideally I would pay a little more for a build up 100 as a starting point. something like 15 grand budget. Bonus would be a little better gas mileage, and better trailer towing...something the 80 never was great at, even with the regear.
Option 3 is 3rd car. Buy a cheaper daily driver then use the cruiser only for O&E stuffs. Not sweat the small stuff and focus efforts on reliability and touring. It would be nice to commute with a little better mileage and not burn up massively expensive tires. I would be sad about not driving the cruiser around and getting my wife on board with this plan has proven very difficult. My father in law has offered to buy part ownership in the cruiser with me so he can take it where he would like...but I dislike this plan on account of the fact that I wouldn’t feel good about something breaking on him...since he doesn’t really get cars as well as he would need.