Should I sell my dad's truck?

[TexasHusker]

My dad has middle stage alzheimer's. I had to move him to assisted living about 2 years ago. I should have sold all of his house/contents shortly thereafter but was in a modest state of denial emotionally until a few months ago.

His house sold yesterday at auction, and all of the contents will be sold as of Tuesday.

He has a 1994 Toyota SR5 4WD that is incredibly nice condition, and my 17 year old son has been begging me to "not sell grandad's truck." He is attached to it because of all of the memories that it holds from his childhood and his time with my dad fishing and camping etc.

Well, it's sitting in front of my house right now and it hasn't run in a month. If we are going to keep it, I've got to store it somewhere and that is going to cost money. And of course storage isn't good for cars - they break down etc. Plus, I've got to insure it, keep it inspected etc.

Is it wrong of me to sell it even though it would hurt my son? You hate to hurt your kids - if it was up to me I would sell it because it's just one more thing to look after. And it will be a number of years before my son has a place to put it, and he doesn't like it enough for it to be his daily car. It's a standard, not a lot of fancies, etc.

What should I do?

[disneysteve]

If we are going to keep it, I've got to store it somewhere and that is going to cost money. And of course storage isn't good for cars - they break down etc. Plus, I've got to insure it, keep it inspected etc.

I guess you need to think about how much it will cost you and if that's worth it. Can your son chip in at all? An after-school job maybe.

As for insurance and inspection, that's only if you keep it registered. If you just put it in storage, you just need to insure for fire and theft, which might not even be worth doing for a 1994 truck. How much is the thing worth?

I'd come up with a fair estimate of what keeping it would cost and then explain that to your son.

[TexasHusker]

I guess you need to think about how much it will cost you and if that's worth it. Can your son chip in at all? An after-school job maybe.

As for insurance and inspection, that's only if you keep it registered. If you just put it in storage, you just need to insure for fire and theft, which might not even be worth doing for a 1994 truck. How much is the thing worth?

I'd come up with a fair estimate of what keeping it would cost and then explain that to your son.

Because the thing is so darn nice it might be worth $6-7K. That sounds nuts for a 1994 but it is incredibly nice, and Toyota pickups have a cult following. Probably $100 a month to store it somewhere.

[disneysteve]

Because the thing is so darn nice it might be worth $6-7K. That sounds nuts for a 1994 but it is incredibly nice, and Toyota pickups have a cult following. Probably $100 a month to store it somewhere.

But is it worth the premiums to insure a 6K vehicle? And is it actually worth 6K for insurance purposes? Possibly not as they would base it on the blue book value, not the cult market value.

$100/month is surely something that a 17-year-old could earn with a little effort if keeping the truck is that important to him. You could always do the sly parent thing and take the money from him and set it aside and give it back to him in a couple of years.

[TexasHusker]

Good thoughts. My son is working hard on his grades and preparing to play college golf so him trying to earn a buck during the school year is a lot to ask.

This is another emotional decision for us - I am tempted to store it until we are both more emotionally ready to part with it.

[creditcardfree]

Would it really be that bad to keep the truck? If you have the money for storage, insurance and maintenance, the cost involved could be considered a wonderful gift to your son. Would your dad want him to have it if he had the capacity to offer?

[TexasHusker]

Would it really be that bad to keep the truck? If you have the money for storage, insurance and maintenance, the cost involved could be considered a wonderful gift to your son. Would your dad want him to have it if he had the capacity to offer?

My dad would absolutely want him to have it, as well as his guns and fly fishing gear, which we kept.

I suppose it doesn't change my world to pay $100 a month to store it. It's not a smart financial move, but neither are a lot of other things.

[Thrif-t]

Don't you have use for a truck? Hauling mulch? DIY projects? I'd love to have a little truck. Can't your son drive it a few days a week just to keep it going and maybe to keep the miles down on his car? I like having an extra car in case one breaks down or is in the shop a few days.

I'd keep it, but that's just me.

[disneysteve]

As long as the cost is affordable, it sounds like keeping it is the way to go.

[TexasHusker]

Don't you have use for a truck? Hauling mulch? DIY projects? I'd love to have a little truck. Can't your son drive it a few days a week just to keep it going and maybe to keep the miles down on his car? I like having an extra car in case one breaks down or is in the shop a few days.

I'd keep it, but that's just me.

Absolutely it would be great to have. The problem is I've just got a two car garage and we've already got 3 cars including my son's truck, so space is the issue.

[corn18]

Does your dad remember the truck? Would it be beneficial to him if you stopped by and gave him a ride in it? Maybe his health precludes that, but that might be a happy ride for him.

[disneysteve]

Absolutely it would be great to have. The problem is I've just got a two car garage and we've already got 3 cars including my son's truck, so space is the issue.

We've got 3 cars. Zero of them are stored in a garage. They all "live" in the driveway.

[bjl584]

I'd probably hang onto it for now and revisit this in 6 months or so.

[scfr]

How would you and your son feel about selling the truck and donating the proceeds in your father/grandfather's honor to Alzheimer's research or a cause that your father has supported?

[greenskeeper]

not sure your parking situation but I'd keep it and use it as a spare vehicle. Even if you drive it a few times per month and get it up to operating temperature it'll be fine.