May 31, 2021

Truck Update

I've spent much of the last four months trying to sell my current truck and buy a bigger one.

Through a coworker's spouse, I have the ultimate hookup for discount codes on new GMCs (you know it's good when the dealer looks at your code, looks at you, raises an eyebrow and asks who you know in order to get that code), so with the used market being nuts right now (one year old 3/4 tons with 3,000 miles on them are going for $10-15k MORE than new here!), I placed an order for a new 3/4 ton in early April. And waited. And waited.

What I ordered

 

All the while, I was dreaming of the 2H LQ trailer I would buy, or the truck bed camper I'd get to pair with my 1H slant. During the pandemic and now that I'm traveling more places to show with my GP trainer, staying on-site at shows started to sound really good.

Unfortunately, due to the chip shortage, they were unable to place my order before the deadline for ordering 2021s came and went, and my discount code is not valid on 2022s. GM can't even sell enough full price trucks to meet demand right now because of the chip shortage, discounts are going to be hard to come by for a while.

I sorta stopped washing the half ton assuming I was getting rid of it and Mary noticed. I still hate black vehicles but beggars can't be choosers

As disappointed as I was to let my LQ dreams go, I was also relieved when I got my deposit back, because some things have changed since I placed that order. 

First, virtual lessons are working out so well, I'm not sure it makes financial sense to go to Wellington with GP trainer next winter.

Second, if I do decide I want to be warm next winter, my eventer aunt just bought a 10 acre farm in an equestrian community in Ocala and has already extended an invitation for me and Connor to stay with her.

My aunt's backyard. Excuse me while I pick my jaw off the ground.

Third, GP trainer is willing to do virtual warmups with me at shows she doesn't attend, so I could conceivably show closer to home and still have her warm me up.

And fourth, I'm now fully vaccinated and willing to stay in hotels or with the friends and family I have conveniently located near a surprising number of show facilities.

So while I'm a little disappointed, I have to admit that even if I have to replace the entire front differential on my truck at some point in the future out of pocket (not likely, since I'll just make GM keep fixing it if it keeps happening, but still), that's still cheaper than buying a new truck and trailer would've been. This used truck market is NUTS, y'all. My current truck has APPRECIATED by $7,000 since I bought it and put 20,000 miles on it!

Disco hanging out with his whip
 

As a consolation prize, I used my tax return money to pay off what little was left on this truck's loan, and then took my deposit money from the 3/4 ton and went on a, uh, small shopping spree lol. I'm going to have some interesting review posts coming up in the next few weeks!

25 comments:

  1. Oh wow, that's a crazy! I didn't realize trucks were selling like homes these days. The world sure has gotten weird. Excited to read about your purchases!

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    1. Yeah, the truck market is nuts, and likely won't get back to normal for 1-2 years.

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  2. Ugh too bad about the truck discount not working but it seems like you have a great plan! Also, can we convince your aunt that I am also her niece? Even though I'm likely the same age as her?

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    1. Right? Haha. She's a step-aunt by marriage, but who's counting.

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  3. ooooof. Trucks are so hard right now. We are needing a new one, and want to get a bigger one, husband wants new. The only thing the dealerships have up here are 100k+ versions ! Its ridiculous !

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    1. Yes! Same here. I couldn't even find a 3/4 ton to test drive, I had to drive the manager's personal truck. They can't get them to put on the lot either.

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    2. Oh no! We managed to find a couple of trucks to test drive but that was after 3 dealerships! Hopefully things change here soon and we can both get into new trucks.

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  4. Your aunt's farm is absolutely gorgeous!!! Very cool to have so many different options, seems like you can't go wrong.

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  5. What a truck rollercoaster - discounts, new truck, no new truck, no truck chips...boo. Either way, sounds like things are working out - looking forward to hearing aobut your purchases! And very cool about your aunt's farm...I need an aunt with a farm in Florida! lol

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  6. We're due for a new truck too and I just can't right now. My GMC is slightly too small to safely take my trailer loaded through the mountains, our Ford can easily handle it, but the seemingly unsolvable off and on front end problems make me nervous. I've kind of decided like you I'll just stick closer to home and do what I can remotely until trucks aren't such a hot commodity. Note to self...I need to find an aunt in Florida :) Sounds like you've got tons of fun things planned!

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    1. Ugh, that's terrible. I'm really not limited by my current truck the way I was with my last one (a 2005) so that's good at least, but it would have been nice to have LQ! Oh well.

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  7. Trucks, houses, horses... it's crazy what the markets are doing right now!!

    You should for sure visit your aunt in Ocala next winter... I'm about an hour and 20 mins south of Ocala and I would love to come meet you guys in person!!! Also WEC!

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    1. Yes! I definitely thought of you when I heard she was moving down there, we will for sure meet up if I do it.

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    2. Yay!! You would be my first in real life blogger meet up!

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  8. I am sorry you lost out on your truck. That is a bummer. When you return to the market, perhaps consider the Chev Silverado 1500 with the 3.0 diesel engine. We have had ours for a couple months and love it! The fuel mileage is amazing and has actually cut my husband's fuel bill in half. Considering we pay $1.25 per litre for diesel, and $1.28 per litre for gas currently.

    On the other hand, it seems like everything is coming together virtual wise for the support you may need for lessons & showing. Add in the bonus of having access to your Aunt's place in Ocala during the winter - I think you have actually come out ahead! :-)

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    1. That's great you're happy with the diesel! That wouldn't solve much for me unfortunately, I already have a 1500 now, and since I have no commute and drive so little, gas mileage doesn't matter to me the way it does most people. If I get something else, it will be to get something larger that can safely tow a gooseneck.

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  9. We have bought a new home and a new to us truck in the past few months. Both markets are absolutely insane. We had a limited budget for a truck and really wanted a 3/4 ton, but we couldn't find one that fit all of our specs within our budget. We ended up just getting a newer half ton than what we had, but it really wasn't much easier to find.

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    1. Ughhhhh I feel for you, that's brutal. The housing market is truly crazy. I thought about doing the same thing with a half ton that you did, but it seemed like more effort than it was worth. Maybe I'll regret that in a few years, I don't know.

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  10. The horse market, housing market and vehicle market are all CRAZY! Goodness gracious. It may be a good time to sell but not a great time to buy for sure. I'm glad your current truck is worth keeping even if you weren't able to get a gorgeous new truck.

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  11. Man it's wild out there. My plan was to trade my SUV in for a truck this year, but it's seriously not looking like an option at this point. I hate the idea of waiting another two years for a truck because I'm waiting to buy a trailer until I have one, but I also hate the idea of spending so much extra just because of the market at the moment.

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    1. Yeah, everything I'm reading says it's gonna take 18-24 months for the supply chain on chips to settle out. I'm less of an expert on the other materials that are having shortages, so the truck shortage may last longer than that. It does suck. I'm a bargain hunter on vehicles especially, and there are just none to be found right now.

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  12. Yay for shopping sprees!! Can't wait to see what you got :D

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  13. Well there were some major silver linings that I think you still came out way ahead! Sorry they couldn't give you your dream truck tho!

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