[dryflylarry]

My stinking truck is paid off! It's a good feeling. It is a 2003. When I purchased it, I think diesel was about $1.40 a gallon.... It was my retirement dream if you can imagine that! Now I feel guilty polluting the air, wish I had an electric rig that would go 400 miles per charge, and carry my camper! What a dream.... I have considered downsizing to a small wagon with a teardrop trailer. My Dodge has been a pleasure to cruise in going on long trips however. With that, and drawing my Social Security in 3 months, I'm livin and fly fishing until I die!

 

[Rick Todd]

Hi Larry-An electric car will need electricity, generated by either dams that have a negative affect on salmonids or coal or natural gas-all of which have negative effects on the environment. You have a diesel which should be running as long as you are running. It's paid for and with your camper on, you have a very economical way to travel and avoid hotels or sleeping in a small trailer. At this point it's paid for and you won't get much for it in trade and you will be back to car payments. Enjoy it and your retirement! Rick

 

[Gone]

Congrats, Larry- Your Cummins will outlast you and the chassis of your truck, so enjoy (I had a 2005 and cried the day I sold it). Life's too short to fret over everything: Change out all the bulbs in your house to compact fluorescenst, stop watering your lawn, start composting and run an occasional tank of vegetable oil in your truck if it will make you feel any better :clown:

 

[Timmy]

Congrats.....My Dodge is paid off this month too...

 

[ribka]

Enjoy your truck and do not forget electric cars have batteries that have to be replaced every 5-7 years. And battery efficiency goes way down as the temps drop. How do I know this? I live in a wind and solar powered home. Still years away from good battery technology.

Agree with Rick Do not buy into the hype; Diesel is much better.

Living the dream. Good for you!

 

[7919]

bio-diesel conversion?

sweet set up!

 

[7919]

Enjoy your truck and do not forget electric cars have batteries that have to be replaced every 5-7 years. And battery efficiency goes way down as the temps drop. How do I know this? I live in a wind and solar powered home. Still years away from good battery technology.

Agree with Rick Do not buy into the hype; Diesel is much better.

Living the dream. Good for you!

where in E WA is your home? I am very interested in sustainable building and would love to come see the place sometime!

 

[TYTLINZ]

yea, by saving stops at motels, burning diesel, not using up batteries every 5 to 7 years i would say your carbon footprint is lower with the truck. plus as its been said already you can always go bio. I just paid off my 2002 f150 i average 15mpg because of my tires plus im burning gas. I do camp however but shame on my footprint. Oh yea take a look at some of the hydrogen set ups for your truck, my buddy added a system that uses water and he is getting way better mileage.

 

[TYTLINZ]

www.hhokitstore.com/ hydrogen kits

 

[martyg]

Seven years to pay off a vehicle???? How much did that truck cost you overall? I'll never understand financing something that depreciates in value.

 

[ribka]

Sorry for the highjack. Can pm for the specs on my solar/wind system. I live over by Ellensburg

Here is a good web site and are great folks. Very happy to help out with questions and company is located in Idaho. Just an FYI. Solar initial start-up costs are not cheap and constant maintenence is required. (Just spent $800 repairing my propane back-up generator) Expect to replace batteries every 5-7 years. Neighbors just spent over $3,000 replacing their batteries. A basic background in electrical problems is nice too when dealing with the inverter. All appliances are propane and have low energy computer, tv, radios etc. Have to plan ahead when you vacuum, run microwave, run washer and dryers.

Living on solar and wind power in Northern climes is not easy. Especially in December when it is -10 and no sun for weeks on end. I think a lot of people who tout how wonderful it is and live in the city have no clue that it takes a lot of work, sacrifice to live this way but it is rewarding. I do the composting thing, grow some of my food, have chickens, raise a free range cow for meat at neighbors. I spent the past 25 years living in big cities in Europe and on east coast. Thought I would do something different

http://www.backwoodssolar.com/

 

[Skilly]

I'll just keep my 2005 until they put me in the ground. I have ahd other Dodge and Fords and this is by far the best of the lot.

Skilly

 

[Be Jofus G]

Seven years to pay off a vehicle???? How much did that truck cost you overall? I'll never understand financing something that depreciates in value.

If you can pull a higer investment interest rate for the total price of the truck than the interest rate on your loan, it makes perfect sense.

 

[Guest]

Fly fish till you die you luck dog.

 

[fredaevans]

Welcome to the world of 'Old Dog's Rule.'** Having gone on SS and returns on my investments (interest/dividends) you'll soon learn how to watch your pennies. Keep the truck, unless something really major happens it's a heck of a lot cheaper to keep an old one running than making the payments on a new one. My guess is you'll have a Grand Child driving that bucket loooong after your gone.

fae

**"Age and treachery will always over come youth and vigor."
"Growning old is not for Sissies" - Gloria Swanson

 

[Gary Thompson]

Right on Larry.
I have a 95 Ford diesel, been paid for for many years. Love it!!!
Your diesel will run on bio, or what ever oil you put in it, no need for conversions.
Happy retirement to you.

 

[dryflylarry]

Thanks for the nice comments. I retired in 2002 as a lowly bureaucrat county government worker. I was age 53-1/2. I didn't work for a couple of years, then did some part-time work at 2 or 3 days a week to help my son get thru college (I didn't save any money for that back in the day... He is now in the Peace Corps in Moldova). Yeah, it took me 6-7 years to pay the truck off (I didn't carry an extra $33,000 around in my pocket..ha!) I got the loan at something like 4.3% I think, plus a good down payment. I did take a class on making my own biodiesel from "BIO LYLE" in Seattle. I just haven't bit the bullet to do it, yet anyway. So since retiring in 2002, I guess I have been living the dream and fly fishing my heart out. I have been "cruising" to Oregon, Idaho, and Montana every year for like 2-3 week trips in September usually, but that is not enough!! Anyway, thanks again for the nice words. See you on the stream, along the salt beaches, and wherever the fish are rising! Now I need another 4 wt since the truck is paid!

 

[Old Man]

When I first retired I used to get out and fish when ever the mood struck me. Now I try to still get out, but even if I'm in the mood my body isn't willing. And yes on the SS. You learn what you can buy and what you don't think you need. I've been drawing SS and my Boeing pension for 11 years now. I also know for sure that I have gotten back way more that I paid into SS. And I'm loving every minute of it. I just hope I'm around for another ten years.

 

[13223]

Buy a Hybrid.

Larry needs your fuel.

 

[Old Man]

Diesel is a lot cheaper here in Montana that Washington. So move here.