I just aired up my tires higher to try and pad the MPG a bit-- even if it makes the tire cost/mile go up a bit.

Looking at my numbers in the OP, I think I have some room to work with on the MPG and sacrifice a little tire life to do so.

JMO

 

That seems like a lot. I'm at about $.11 per mile. I used to live in Spring Hill TN and my insurance there was 1/2 of what it is up here in MN. Plus my truck license was about 1/2 too. $105 out the door here

I have 500 ded collision and my renters discount.

Statefarm.

 

But you forgot the last value to complete the equation...............
Blah, blah......
Blah, blah......
blah, blah.....
.......knowng you can out tow any other truck (besides a semi)......
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> PRICELESS!!!!!!!!

 

What do you mean you can't out pull a Semi?? I can
Besides fuel my biggest expense was tires. About $1200 a year with the 22.5's I have gone over a year and the tires almost look like new. Definately worth the money!!

 

The dealer I bought my dually from offers free tires for the life of the truck if all service is done at that shop . Not a bad deal because I checked around and all their rates are lower than other dealerships and tire shops . The only catch is they will only replace 4 tires , not 6 .

 

Everybody is forgetting one of the biggest expenses to driving a vehicle, if it's purchased new that is. Depreciation. I haven't spent the time calculating it out, the adhd won't let me. However, even spending more money on options aswell as the diesel helps the truck retain value. Look at what you can buy a base model gasser for used. You can buy a gasser for next to nothing even with options slightly used. This is one of the ways I justify the diesel expense. We all need all the help we can get with depreciation of our American products. I'm not sure but it does seem like the value gap between diesel and gas is getting closer though. I think maybe the fuel cost has something to do with that. That would make an interesting new thread.

 

I have depreciation as well as the loan figures built into my spread sheet. I adjust the truck value every few months according to blue book and posted prices.

Yes it is a big factor especially a new or 1-2 year old truck.

I actually keep 2 cost of operation values one with every thing one without financing and depreciation.

 

I remember , that someone posted that the Fed. says about .55 per mile , I did not see a break down of that , I would assume it was an average car .
I have tried to figure , or see some numbers to be able to come up with a fare price when helping to move / tow something for somebody , I seen in towing posts between $1.25 - 2.35 .
I have never bought a new car / truck [ one new motor cycle ] I can not accept the cost of new [ overpriced ] and the loss , leaving the dealers parking lot [ around 20 % ] .
One thing I have not seen here yet is , replacement included , but that will vary a lot depending on new / used , how good a shopper , how its equipt.

 

Well, yeah, when I'm loaded i can also out pull a semi. But what I meant was I KNOW I can't haul 80,000 lbs........ like the Freight"shakers" here at work do on a daily basis.

 

That was me, and yes, it assumes an average car.

 

The tax guy told me $.51 per mile just a week ago. Doesn't matter car or truck, that's what you are allowed to take as expense unless you can keep extremely accurate records. It is supposed to cover everything. If you drive a lot of miles and you can keep good records you may be able to claim more operating expense but you should talk to the tax man. Keep in mind it is a cost per mile so everything is dealt with in terms of how much of an item is used per mile. A $50 oil change every 5000 miles is only $.01 per mile. $800 worth of tires used in 40k miles is only $.02 per mile. 15 mpg at $3.50 per gallon is $.23 per mile. Fuel is a very big driver on cost per mile.

 

One thing that has helped me alot is buying baldwin fuel and oil filters in cases.....they come out to under 5 bucks a peice and i always have one when the time comes

 

i agree with not wanting to know.

between my tool addiction, playstation 3, and snowboarding i don't want to know.

 

Hohn,

I think maybe you forgot some of the factors in your calcs. I know it's interesting to figure the actual, out of pocket costs, but what about the piece of mind of owning such a capable vehicle, the oportunity to carry your own load somewhere instead of hiring it done or asking for help, the safety factor of not being cutoff in traffic like happens with my Passat and the chance to go places when you want to, instead of when weather permits. How much will I save building my house with my truck instead of having to pay for deliveries? The Dynatrac kit may save some fuel that is hard to justify over the life of the truck, but my axle U joints were also bad from constant turning and the system was less efficient.

For me, and I might be a bit of an idealist, I don't care about the long term economics so much as the nagging constant costs. I have always been a pickup guy, but the cost of driving a gasser V8 pickup with lousy power and smog checks and tune-ups and low mileage numbers just drives me nuts. Since I already know I'm going to be driving a truck, I choose the Dodge/Cummins as the best I can do and then quit worrying about it.

About twenty years ago I decided to build a sailboat. I didn't have the money and decided to not figure out how much it would cost (of course any estimates would have been wild speculation anyway) and just barged right in. Well, I lived on that 42' Ketch for 18 years and sailed it many thousands of miles, including a fine trip to Mexico and back. If I would have been driven by a cost analysis up front I'd still be living in an apartment and dreaming.

At some point we have to face the true cost of things, but once you have a plan and are doing the best you can, the details don't mean so much.

So, it's fun to know, but don't let it carry too much influence. I might get 39 MPG with my Passat on my normal commute, but most of the time I take the Dodge. More wear on those big Toyos just running down the highway and more fuel used. Economically silly, but perfectly sensible.


John

 

Very well said!

I'll specify that they should load in my 1911, my KTM, my Cummins, the Harley and my tools. Spread my ashes in the high desert during a raging thunderstorm. Put me on the south side of the hill facing the sun. Crank up the music and break out the Single Barrel! See ya.

John