The Pickup

Why is it that I can work in the garden all day, even when it’s 100+ degrees outside or stand in the kitchen canning all day but things like we did today, even though it was only a few hours, just completely wear me out?

You know that Chad hit a deer in his old (2001) pickup on August 9. He didn’t have full coverage insurance and the damages were enough that the truck wasn’t worth fixing . . except Chad loves that truck. We took our S-10 up for him to drive til he could get it figured out – find a decent used pickup or find used parts to maybe fix his. No matter what he was going to do, he needed something to drive to get back and forth to work and it was nice that we have a third vehicle that we could loan him.

Vince found a pickup that Chad might be interested in. There’s a mechanic shop here where we get our oil changed, car inspections done and small type repairs. Vince went to talk to them to see if they knew of anyone wanting to sell an older pickup. Used pickups . . used vehicles of all types I guess . . have gotten outrageously expensive. The shop owner said he had a pickup he would sell. He had bought it at an auction and was told the transmission was slipping so he got it for a great price. He planned to use the motor in another vehicle but he drove it for a week or so and he said he tried everything and the transmission was not slipping. Chad came down and drove it and he could get the transmission to slip. The mechanic said when he got it, the brake was sticking and he thinks that’s what they were feeling. He fixed the brake issues. He changed the fluid in it and everything seemed fine. The driver’s seat had a good size rip so he replaced the driver’s seat. He changed all the fluids, did all the routine maintenance and gave Chad a warranty on the transmission just in case it has a problem in the near future.

It’s a 2013 GMC Sierra, 4 door, 4 wheel drive and Chad is so excited to get it.

That particular year of GMC vehicles, especially white ones, seemed to have a real hard time with the paint not sticking. You can see a spot on the front right fender. There’s a huge spot just above the windshield. There’s a good sized strip at the top of the tail gate. The shop guy said he had a body man that he would take it to and see what he says. His price was reasonable so Chad wants to get the spots fixed.

I don’t remember the mileage but I think it’s about 140,000, which is WAY less than Chad has on his wrecked truck.

Vince found this truck probably about August 12 and we thought it would be a quick transfer but one thing happened and then another – nothing serious but it’s kind of been dragging on and on and Vince gets impatient. Chad kept assuring Vince it would all work out and he really, really wanted THIS truck.

As these things go, Chad is in Louisiana working after the hurricane and the truck was ready to be picked up. I talked to Chad about it all, he called his insurance guy and got insurance on the pickup; I had them email me a copy of the insurance card. Vince and I went down to the mechanic’s shop this afternoon, paid for the truck (how convenient for Chad, huh??), then we took the truck to the body shop and left it. I’m pretty sure Chad will be home before the truck is ready. The body guy is going on vacation towards the end of next week and will be gone the next week. He said he’d get the small spots touched up before he leaves and then tackle the fender, roof and tail gate when he gets back.

In the meantime, Chad found a wrecked pickup that still had the front fender and hood that he needed for his pickup so he bought the wrecked truck. The guys who are working on his old truck came and picked it up earlier this week. He needs a radiator and a power steering pump for sure – I don’t know what else but I guess by the time everything is said and done, he’ll have his old pickup back (though it may have a black fender and black hood on the green truck for a while) so he’ll have a backup vehicle. He seems to be a bit emotionally attached to that truck. I’m thinking after he drives the new to him truck for a while, he may decide he doesn’t really want the older truck . . but that’s his choice, not mine.

Just as we were about to leave the body shop, we noticed there was a garage door opener on the visor, which we were certain belonged to the mechanic since he had been driving the truck for a few days. We ran back by the shop to return that. I told Vince . . I’m exhausted. He was tired too so we ran by the hospital for dinner.

Chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy for $5. That was a yummy and inexpensive dinner. Now I’m home and ready to stitch for a while.