And I will disagree with most peoples responses that a Deuce is not that expensive.
It is.
I don't think so-see my comparisons below
No argument there, except most people don't drive their deuces enough to do more than one oil change a year, whereas my $30 oil changes in my F-150 are happening 6 times a year.
10 tires to replace....not just tires, but tubes as well.
I just bought 4 new Michelin LT tires for my D250 and it cost more than 10 new NDT 9:00x20's w/tubes and flaps I bought for my dumper. Would have been even worse if I had a dually.
And they are split-rim so unless you have balls of steel, you'll want a truck shop to change them for you.
Not sure I have balls of steel, but I bought a tire cage for $20, built a clip on chuck inflation gauge and some used tire tools off craigslist. At roughly $30 a pop to have shops break down tires, it paid off really quick. The most you might have invested in tire tools is $600, if you buy one of the super nifty hydraulic bead breakers. If you have more than one split ring equipped 6x6, it will pay off pretty quick, especially for as fast as tires wire out on these.
Just bought a brand new short style on eBay for $152.50. Brand spanking new with the tag still on it from 2009. I am pretty sure if the power brake booster on my D250 or F150 goes it will be more than $152.50.
Only thing that wears out really is the hydraulic head and those are on ebay for $150-$250
The only thing I have seen that goes bad on these is pinion bearings and seals, which can both be had on the cheap on ebay.
brake shoes (remember, you have 3 axles...not just 2)
Most I have ever paid for 12 NOS shoes (complete-not just the linings) was $170 shipped. I bought another complete 12 shoe set for $140-shipped. I did brakes on my F-150 right before the Ga Rally last year and the pads from my local dealer were almost $300.
clutch replacement is around $300 for everything (minus flywheel resurfacing).
Last clutch I bought for my Road Runner was $360.
Centerforce DF269739 - Centerforce Dual Friction Clutches - Overview - SummitRacing.com
Buy oil and gear oil by the 5-gallon bucket.
No argument. Bit again, the low mileage we accrue on our trucks allows far more infrequent fluid changes.
I would also like to make some comparisons. Last instrument cluster I had rebuilt for one of my Mopars was a '69 Road Runner cluster and it was a stripper-no tach, no oil pressure gauge, no clock, etc. Just a speedo, water temp, amps and fuel level. It cost me $900. I bought ALL new gauges for my deuce for less than $400.
Last set of 440 heads I bought cost me $1500. I've bought running deuces for less than that and driven them home from GL.
Last (Mopar passenger car) Dana60 I had, I sold for over $2200.
The paint job on my Hemi Road Runner cost me over $10K and that was several years ago and I took it to them more or less ready to paint (already stripped, metalwork 90% done, etc).
So when you say it's an expensive vehicle to own, I say, in comparison to what? A schwinn? Heck, even golf carts are more expensive.
Now, it's definitely a lot more expensive than it used to be. People used to be able to buy running deuces from DRMO for $400. A lot of new people in the hobby and a lot of guys who simply don't know when to stop bidding (that goes for GL and ebay).
Not trying to be argumentative, just putting a different outlook out there.