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Lost all interest in the K5

garlicbreath

garlicbreath

1/2 ton status
Joined
May 17, 2003
Posts
1,136
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3
Location
Denver
Guys, I am at a complete standstill and almost ready to do drastic things to my truck. In a bad way.

For starters there is not a decent place to wheel that isn't a 300+ mile ONE WAY drive for me.

I don't have a tow rig, or a trailer, or the room to put said truck and trailer.

I live downtown on .11 acres which is probably 80% consumed by the house.

I love my blazer and fought tooth and nail for it during the divorce, I have a huge part of my heart, blood, sweat, money, passion, and downright love into it.

But right now I just keep thinking I should do something else,
 
I thought about parting mine out a few years ago when the engine blew, gas prices were first hitting $3, and my old company pretty much tanked, leaving me with no job. So, I left the K5 sitting around for a few months, eventually decided that plopping a new engine in there was more cost-effective (and fun) than getting a small, efficient, less capable offroad toy. I knew I'd come around eventually, so i halted the insurance and just blew off inspection (no engine means zero emissions, though :haha:) and registration. once i got a new job, put my new engine in and renewed the official stuff, it was like it was brand new to me again. I'd say do what i did and give it time to smooth out.
 
I am too established to move just to wheel more.

NY just plain sucks for recreational wheeling! There is plenty of land for it, but everyone is lawsuit weary.

Some of the parks won't even let you ride a bicycle!
 
[wilson voice on] You know gralicbreath, it is at these times when I'm reminded of what wise men have shared with me, "if it ain't costing you no money just sitten there then leave it".[wilson voice off] Try relocating if possible.

It seems that your hear all the time how guys had this one killer ride they loved and kick themselves for letting it go. I'd say make long weekends your time to use it. Stay over and camp. Good luck with your decision.
 
oh, i forgot to mention that i know your distance pain. my closest wheeling is 200+ miles away (which is nothing in Texas, but crappy MPG hurts anywhere). Whenever we do a wheeling daytrip, i just grit my teeth, dump a billion dollars into my gas tank and have a good time, and i'm about the cheapest person in the world.

edit: and i always run into old dudes (50s) that lust after my k5 and tell me how much they hate their wives for making them get rid of theirs when they started popping kids out. don't be that guy!
 
Save the cash and at least go once a year. Thats better than not having your rig and not wheeling at all.
 
I have to drive 2 hours to wheel also...
So I just use it as my DD.But I dont have ANYwhere to go..so I save on gas haha .No job to where to wheel so its MY truck to go farting around in.And the old lady got the S-10 ,hehe, for work and what ever women need to go do....
 
Snowman1000 said:
Dont do it just let it sit for a while and think about it.
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It's been doing that for a year now, didn't drive it once this summer, and I just have no where to put it. It's rusting away and that in itself bugs the hell out of me. The cheapest indoor storage I can find is 50 a month too.
 
Dafey said:
I have to drive 2 hours to wheel also...
So I just use it as my DD.But I dont have ANYwhere to go..so I save on gas haha .No job to where to wheel so its MY truck to go farting around in.....
Click to expand...

He's an Alien :doah:

garlicbreath said:
It's been doing that for a year now, didn't drive it once this summer, and I just have no where to put it. It's rusting away and that in itself bugs the hell out of me. The cheapest indoor storage I can find is 50 a month too.
Click to expand...

Dude That is cheap for indoor It would cost me $125 a month I pay $32 a month for outside storage on gravel. :(
 
garlicbreath said:
It's been doing that for a year now, didn't drive it once this summer, and I just have no where to put it. It's rusting away and that in itself bugs the hell out of me. The cheapest indoor storage I can find is 50 a month too.
Click to expand...

I know the feeling myne sat just about all summer and most of the fall before I pulled it into the garage and decided to tear the floorboards out.
 
Maybe spend several hundred on a nice waterproof cover and put it in the "corner" of your driveway and let sit. Like others said, You may regret it later. Or, depending on how nice it is and the money you have put into it maybe sell it and get another blazer when the time is right. I look at it like pizza. If I ate pizza everyday for 2 weeks I would begin to hate pizza, it would get old fast. If I eat pizza several times a month and don't ware it out then I love to eat it everytime. If it's nice and you have money into it keep it, if not maybe sell. Just my $.02.
Hoby
 
Garlic,
It is a hard decision to make, but I can almost guarantee that you will kick yourself in the ass for it later if you get rid of it. Mine has been broken ever since I got married and I have pondered the idea of selling it. My wife has tried to get me to get rid of it a few times, but I stall by telling her that we could get more for it running. It's been over 3 years now, but like you I don't have any wheeling close by so it doesn't hurt that bad. I own it, don't have insurance on it, so it doesn't cost me a thing to let it set until things come together. I get to work on it occasionally, but not enough to keep interested, so it just sits.

as far as a tow rig and a trailer, trailers are cheap. Save up and get one. Tow rigs are a plenty. Get one and use it as your DD. Gas prices suck for everyone, so don't let that be a deal breaker on keeping it, just drive less. I don't know your financial/job situation, nor do I want to, but moving is always an option. I've moved plenty throughout my life and I have learned that one thing is common everywhere. There's jobs. Generally speaking, if you move someplace where the wheeling is better, the cost of living is lower and the pay is the same. One has nothing to do with the other, but I've noticed that in my travels. By cost of living I mean housing. A gallon of milk costs the same everywhere. Moving is always an option.
 
Keep it! Mine has been sitting for over a year now....been dragging it across Texas to three different cities....broken into twice....attempted theft once....i live dowtown Dallas so no offoroad for miles.....and many times ive said forget it im selling it! But then i get on this site and see how awesome everyones trucks are and what it can look and perform like and it puts the spirit right back in me. Like others are saying, youll kick yourself when its gone.
 
I sold and now I'm buying...you will regret, it took me three times to get the point. Don't sell even if you just have to hold for years.
 
Ill buy it...all I got is like 3 bucks right now, heh. Seriously though, do what you can to keep it, bro. You don't want to be like me and still kick yourself in the ass for selling something 5 years down the road.
 
I have four "project" vehicles now.

I haven't done anything with my heep since I pulled the engine in '99 or '00. Shipped it cross country twice in that time.

I haven't done much to my Fairlane since '99 or '00 also except putting an exhaust system on it. It doesn't really run, I drive it around the block twice a year or so, but the tranny and brakes are messed up. It just sits in the rain an rusts ('till I get get my blazers out of the garage). Also shipped cross country twice in that time.

I have only ever driven my parts blazer (not the project one yet :( ). And only a few times prior to my DD dying on me last week.

I just keep telling myself someday......someday - and that small ray of hope is just enough to keep me going.


That and not being able to bear loosing all that money if I were to sell.
 
For what it worth here's my outlook.
I have built and sold many many nice vehicles. Never regretted any vehicle I sold except one. A 64 Chevelle Malibu SS. The only reason I would still want it is, that it is worth a fortune now. I got 8 grand back in 1983 for it. It is worth 3 or 4 times that now. I would like to have the money but I really dont miss the car.
That being said... If I did not drive my k5 in a year it would be gone. Unless it is a project i am working on regularly. I really dont like old vehicles I dont use or drive cluttering up the place taking up space and rusting away. Rather put a for sale sign on it cash or trade it out to get something I would use, need, or want.
Your k5 is a very nice truck. BUT. It is heavly modded. It will never be worth what a pristene 71 k5 would be worth. It wont go up in value like a clean stock condition 35 year old truck will. With todays high gas prices, a lifted gas sucking truck on 1 tons isn't high on most peoples priority list.. Cept for some around here:D. It is not an investment if you hold on to it..
So if you are not going to use it. Why keep it If you have better use for the cash or need the space? If you find yourself wanting another 4x4 later in life when you have the time,money and space you can always buy another one. Older trucks are a dime a dozen and getting cheaper as they age. You can always build another.
But that is just the way I look at things. Material stuff isn't all that important to me I dont really form attachments to hunks of iron. I cried when my dog died. But have alwys smiled when I sold a vehicle.
But think about it. Ask your self how important 4 wheeling is to you and if your K5 is necessary to your well being. You will know the right answer.
 
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