The garden is something relaxing and fun, in comparison to our sad and miserable interactions with Mabel, our diesel-powered nemesis. The latest truck debacle is that we need a $3,000 repair, because the fuel-injection pump has gone on the fritz. Naturally our expensive after-market warranty won't cover it, because it covers NOTHING. So we have a dilemma... We paid cash for that truck, a 2001 5.9 litre 24 valve Cummins diesel pickup truck that was supposed to carry us and our new trailer over mountains, valleys and wherever we chose to wander. We've also put money into a useless after-market warranty and a litany of repairs. So the question:
Do we have a lemon, or is this just a bizarre grouping of all the major repairs together in one fun-filled year? It's a fair question, because the body is rust-free, the paint looks great, and there's less than 200,000kms on it- it's a fresh young thing as far as diesels go. We're wrestling right now with whether to just trade it in on a new truck (great deals abound), or to make this huge repair, and hope it is the last for a long while.
My dad has decided that the '09 Ford F150 5.4 litre GAS engine would be a great choice for us, as you can equip it so that it will tow 13,000 lbs. That is serious towing capacity!! We would never inch agonizingly up a mountain-grade again. Fully equipped, and with 4x4 (umm, one Ontario winter in a two-wheel diesel pick-up was enough to convince me my next truck will be 4x4), it runs about $31,000. Ouch. Tempting, but ouch. I like our tiny footprint, tiny financial needs thing we have going on.
So we ponder. And when the sun comes out for any amount of time- we garden.
