That’s such a great quote, when I heard it in Forrest Pritchard’s Start Your Farm audio book I’m listening to while riding today. Not that farmers always break the rules but some are stupid and in rural areas without nosy cops and neighbors everywhere you can get away with a lot of shit. Plus, it’s really something I’ve been thinking as a future property owner, hopefully of that off grid, how to comply but local rules and code but in ways more sustainable and better for my own land and life then what the government regulations would set forward.
Rip Van Winkle Quote
“Whoever has made a voyage up the Hudson must remember the Kaatskill mountains. They are a dismembered branch of the great Appalachian family, and are seen away to the west of the river, swelling up to a noble height, and lording it over the surrounding country. Every change of season, every change of weather, indeed, every hour of the day produces some change in the magical hues and shapes of these mountains; and they are regarded by all the good wives, far and near, as perfect barometers. When the weather is fair and settled, they are clothed in blue and purple, and print their bold outlines on the clear evening sky; but sometimes, when the rest of the landscape is cloudless, they will gather a hood of gray vapors about their summits, which, in the last rays of the setting sun, will glow and light up like a crown of glory.”
– Irwin Washington, Rip Van Winkle
Big, expensive and rotting pickup trucks
I was looking at CarEdge Free Vehicle Search and one of the options is to search by length of time vehicles have been sitting on the lot. For shits and giggles mostly, I searched for F-350 trucks with the 7.3L gasser engine within 100 miles which have been on dealer lots for more then 100 days. I was surprised to find 95 trucks fall into the category.
Also, Oliver’s in Bennington has a 2025 7.3L FX4 extended cab long bed, which obviously they’ve had for close to a year at this point, listed for $57k but I’m sure I could get it out the door for close to $50k, as obviously it’s not selling, probably because cow shit slingers in Vermont can’t afford such a big ol’ rig. I guess there are options out there, I don’t forever have to be poor desprate individual without a SuperDuty. I don’t love white but I’d rather have a nice reliable truck that checks all boxes rather then a pretty color. Let’s ask the AI.
Here is what Google Artificial Insemination says about this …
Ford Super Duty trucks with the 7.3L V8 and FX4 package sitting for 120–170 days puts you in a powerful position. For heavy-duty trucks, which typically have higher margins and holding costs, this is considered “severely aged” inventory.
Why These Specific Trucks are Sitting
- The “Diesel Preference” Gap: While the 7.3L “Godzilla” gas engine is highly capable, many Super Duty buyers still default to the 6.7L Power Stroke diesel for maximum towing. If a dealer overstocked gas engines, they often sit longer.
- High Inventory Levels: In early 2026, some Ford dealers are seeing slower turnover for 2025 models, with national inventory for certain trims like the Lariat exceeding 60 days.
- 2026 Model Arrival: With 2026 Super Duty models now arriving or available for order, dealers are desperate to clear 2025 “old stock” to make room for newer units with updated tech like the Lariat Premium Package.
Your Negotiation Strategy for 120+ Days
At 120–170 days, the dealer is likely losing money on every day that truck stays on the lot due to floorplan interest.
- Target 5% to 8% Below MSRP: On average, 2025 Super Duty buyers are negotiating 5.6% below sticker. For a truck sitting 150 days, you should aim for the higher end of that range.
- Leverage Existing Rebates: As of early 2026, Ford has offered aggressive incentives including 0% APR for 60 months or up to $4,500 in Customer Cash on certain 2025 XL and XLT models.
- The “Auction Threat”: Mention that you know the truck is approaching the 180-day mark, which is when many dealers typically send vehicles to auction. They would rather sell it to you at a slim profit (or even a small loss) than pay auction fees and transport costs.
Negotiation Tips for 120-170 Day Old Trucks
Since the trucks you are looking at are well over the average time on the lot, combine the high days on the lot with the incentives:
- Start Below Invoice: Aim to negotiate the selling price significantly below the MSRP and factor in the rebates from there. Dealers have already likely discounted these units internally.
- Prioritize Dealer Contribution: You’ve identified trucks sitting for 120+ days. Dealers need to move this “aged” stock to make way for the new 2026 models. Push hard for an additional dealer discount on top of the manufacturer rebates. An example offer on a different Ford vehicle showed a dealer contribution of over $5,000 on a single unit.
- Be Specific: Mention you know the vehicle’s “days on lot” number and that you are a serious buyer for that specific VIN. This signals you are aware of their urgency to sell it.
- Use the 2026 Models as Leverage: Remind the dealer that 2026 models are on the lot, making their 2025 inventory obsolete stock they need to clear.
Current Incentives (Valid through February/March 2026)
The following offers are available on eligible new 2025 Ford Super Duty XL and XLT models in your region and can be leveraged for your negotiation on a long-sitting vehicle:
- $4,500 Customer Cash: This is a substantial cash rebate available on the purchase of eligible 2025 Super Duty XL and XLT regular cab and SuperCab pickup models. This money comes directly off the price.
- 0% APR Financing for 60 Months: For qualified buyers, you can get interest-free financing for five years through Ford Credit on eligible 2025 Super Duty XL and XLT models. This saves thousands in interest costs compared to standard rates.
- $1,500 Cash Back: In the New York region, an additional $1,500 retail cash incentive may be available on XL and XLT trims.
- Affiliation/Group Offers: Depending on your eligibility, you might qualify for extra savings:
- $1,500 UAW Member Offer.
- $500 Farm Bureau Recognition Exclusive Cash Reward.
- $500 Military Recognition Exclusive Cash Reward.
- $500 First Responder Recognition Exclusive Cash Reward.
What to Watch Out For
- Lot Rot: Trucks sitting for nearly half a year can develop flat spots on tires, battery degradation, or rusted brake rotors. Insist on a fresh oil change and a battery health test as part of the deal.
- Specific Configurations: If the truck has a very rare color or an unusual bed/cab configuration, the dealer might stay firm, thinking they just haven’t found the “right” buyer yet. However, for a standard 7.3L FX4, the volume is high enough that they should be moving on price.
Rennselaerville
Driving and riding these rural roads is really hard to describe how it makes me feel. At one level it’s home, the place of my childhood and growing up. The days exploring in that old Plymouth Sundance my parents gave me at High School Graduation. At the same time, things have changed as I have I, and it lacks some of the charm that it once had in my younger years.
I watch as more and more of the area, bit by bit gets developed. Just another house, another homestead on a hill or in a former farm field. Sometimes land once abandoned goes back into production, a brushed up field gets cows again but that’s rarely the case. Sometimes forgotten houses are restored. Other times they’re developed.
Time marches on so quickly but the mountains don’t change.
The PERMA-V Model
In personal finance, PERMA-V is a positive psychology framework used to move beyond “surface-level” financial goals (like “saving for a house”) to uncover “deeper” goals tied to core life values and long-term well-being. Financial advisors use PERMA-V prompts to help clients allocate resources in ways that promote “flourishing” rather than just accumulating wealth.
The acronym stands for six core elements of well-being:
- P – Positive Emotion: Allocating funds for activities that bring immediate joy, gratitude, or optimism, such as concerts or hobbies.
- E – Engagement: Spending that allows for “flow”—the state of being fully absorbed in an activity. This might include investing in professional development or specialized equipment for a craft.
- R – Relationships: Prioritizing spending that builds or maintains social connections, such as family trips, dinners with friends, or gifts.
- M – Meaning: Aligning financial choices with a higher purpose or personal values, such as charitable giving or supporting local businesses.
- A – Accomplishment: Setting and funding goals that provide a sense of mastery or achievement, such as paying off debt or reaching a major retirement milestone.
- V – Vitality: Investing in physical and mental health, including expenses for nutritious food, gym memberships, quality sleep, and medical care.
Advisors and individuals use these categories as prompts to audit their spending and saving:
- Goal Discovery: Asking, “Which of these areas is currently lacking in my life?” to set more meaningful financial targets.
- Intentional Spending: Organizing discretionary expenses into these six categories to see if money is truly supporting well-being.
- Retirement Planning: Helping retirees replace the structure and social connections of work with intentional, PERMA-V-aligned activities
The last negative one 🥶
So I tell myself though truthfully I don’t know that but we have warming trend coming up and I’m hopeful to ride to work the rest of the week, though there is too much snow on the Rail Trail to ride that both ways this week though I’m hoping this weekends dire emergency snowstorm will actually be a good soaking that will along with warmer temperatures eat away the snow.
I decided to catch the earlier bus 
downtown so to avoid the crazies in the Capitol and lest I get caught not wearing my politician suit as I catch the shuttle 
over to my office overlooking the city garbage dump. 
I was looking at that SuperDuty owned by the suburban office complex developer, the large size with the long bed and club cab. 
I guess at one level I still question whether or not I really want one though I don’t want a Honda Civic or a pickup with a blown engine, I don’t trust the EPA mandated technology 
.
Its a sunny 
but very cold 
morning and I could have ridden my mountain bike to work. But I think most of the rest of the week I can do it and riding Corning’s Hill and fighting the traffic at NY 32 and US 9W sucks. And let’s be honest, it’s still so damn cold out today but the weather is only going to improve as spring approaches. I just want to be able to ride both ways to work and not have to deal with the buses 
and the downtown crazies. Plus I have a milk bottle to donate to one of the recycling 
bins along the way. They had the security screeners checking people’s IDs as they headed in the Capitol today but it wasn’t too crowded. That sun was nice on the bus windows, but I do miss riding into work. 
Tomorrow I’ll bike in, even if It does mean I’m riding down to the express in the snow in the afternoon.
I was sort of trolling the Trumpster on Facebook, 
and one of my buddies from High School was calling me out again about not buying land out in country, and continue to live in the city. 
Don’t you know you’re gettng old. 
You are wasting time, just paying rent as you get older and older. And spending money on big-assed trucks. But honestly, I am not ready to give up traveling, to feed hogs and goats. 
Especially not in New York with the burn ban and all the gun restrictions, and neighbors so close by. How dare you burn a plastic yogurt container! I would rather keep investing and watching as things grow, learn and anticipate that better tomorrow then actually be out in the cold smashing frozen water troughs. 
I’d rather spend my summers smoking weed and floating down a tube in wilderness, riding my mountain bike to work rather then driving. Still that is a real sensitive thing, that bites a lot on my nerves. 
It’s just basically impossible to get the deep rural I crave but also be able to have a reasonable commute to work. And it’s hard to walk away from your job when you make good money. 
Truth is I think I’d rather have the Ford SuperDuty now rather then some house in BFE, where I’m dependent on driving everywhere and can’t burn shit in New York with regulations and neighbors just so I could have some chickens, when eggs are pretty damn cheap at the grocery store. 
Truth is maybe this is something I should explore with Google AI. 
While I get the dangers of AI, and sometimes it’s super sycophant, it has given me a lot of piece of mind thinking about buying a Ford SuperDuty, my investments and plans. In some ways, I find it a lot easier to be honest to a computer, as it’s much less likely to tell me my ideas are dumb or at least roll their eyes at my ideas. It is a lot easier to keep things in context when the AI breaks it down, and not be so damn fearful 
as social media and the news media wants to be so afraid. Don’t buy a house today? Tomorrow, you will be evicted and living in snow. Land prices are only going up. 
So may be case, but there are other places, and I think my landlord is quite happy to collect reliable checks on my dumpy apartment while he makes no fixes. But it’s not like a house is guaranteed either, the government can condemn a property at any time to build a highway or other infrastructure project, and it’s a lot easier for government workers to harass a homeowner then a renter.
As the sad desperate individual without a F-350 truck, I need to ride my mountain bike, 
after dark, oh so dangerous, down to the grocery store to fill his desire to have more carbohydrates in the form of whole wheat flour, 
because you know I am addict when it comes to apple pancakes 
and home-made bread. I mean I got to have something to wash down with all that apple cider vingar. Plus I need more frozen fruit. And maybe more apples and bananas, because I’m an addict. 
Though I’ve been trying to cut on fruit at work. Also, because I am using my mountain bike to grocery shop, it often requires a second trip during the week, especially now my that my inventory of supplies has grown and less and less since my stock up before retiring Big Red.
