Short version
3 vehicle
2 motorcycles
1 trailer
Thinking about ways of reducing the numbers
Long version
I’m thinking of ways do reduce the number of vehicles in the family fleet. Currently we have 2 drivers, 2 young children, and 1 choco lab. The current fleet includes the following and their mileage
- 1942 Willy’s MBT
- 1976 Porsche 911 (221k)
- 1999 Ducati 750ss project (23k)
- 2000 Toyota Land cruiser (233k)
- 2005 Suzuki Vstrom (56k)
- 2008 Mazda 3 wagon 5spd (160k)
The 911 stays, let’s just get that out of the way, it currently gets used sparingly, and has an agreed upon value insurance policy consistent with the current market. It needs rear tires, rear seatbelts to haul the whole family, and some general maintenance.
The Willy’s is an old army trailer that gets used for hauling stuff (light loads as it’s tiny) and camping gear.
The Ducati is the most recent acquisition and has turned out to be a project my 7 year old is interested in and is helping me on. Not registered or titled yet, but I have the paperwork to do so.
Land Cruiser is the current family hauler, trailer puller, 4wd and also gets used when my wife needs extra room for picking up friends etc. There are times when we need 5 seats, but not one where we have needed all 7 seats. However, the back seat does fit 3 car seats across the back. After a recent brake module replacement it should be good to go. Ugly but no rust and runs strong. I also use it sparingly as a DD on super nasty rainy days.
Vstrom is my DD, hence the mileage, I ride even in the cold but not on massive monsoon rain days.
Mazda is my wife’s DD, and we’ve owned since new. Clutch is starting to wear, will need tires soon, bumps and bruises from a 10 year old car.
Now, I should mention all vehicles are paid for, in fact we haven’t had a car payment in about 4 years. Everything runs good (minus the Duc) and the issues I stated above. We also have no state vehicle taxes, so basically the whole fleet cost us insurance and the tags fees ($150) Vstrom, Cruiser, and Mazda a year.
However, number one I think we have too much. And number two I’m also starting to worry about the mileage on the Mazda and Cruiser. Number three is time constraints for maintenance and repairs. The possible clutch being a prime example, I’m sure I could do it, but how long would it take? Lastly the trailer while great behind my old Jeeps, and super cool, has proven to be to small, can’t use it to haul stuff due to payload and it’s too short to assist with carrying our canoe/kayak.
I was thinking we could get down to a car hauler for her and I just have the bikes and 911, but my wife is concerned that she would need me to pick up the kids when she can’t. And rightfully so there are a few times when we need two vehicles, aka kids and school and I go on a hunting trip. We also travel off road some for camping trips, but regularly go to NC mountains in winter and need 4wd/AWD.
None of my friends are car/motorcycle project guys so I’m bringing it here.
Thoughts? Ideas? Constructive criticism? Or am I just being weird/worrisome?