First the bad news, then the good

[Camping Coxes]

Two weeks ago, some, ahem, "person" (I'm trying to be nice here) who apparently felt they needed Paul's '82 Toyota mini truck more than he did decided to steal it during the wee hours of the night.  Paul got up for work, walked out to warm up the Suburban for David to leave for the gym at 5:00 AM, came back in, and walked back out and only then noticed there wasn't another car parked at the curb!  
 
So now we're down our economical little truck, and Paul's driving a rental car until the insurance pays us.  The heater switches had broken and Paul had just fixed them that same weekend -- awfully nice of him to do that for the thief.  Fortunately he hadn't done a brake job he was planning to do, nor installed a new stereo he was also planning to do.
 
Last weekend a friend's step-grandfather sent out an E-mail that he had a car too many in his garage and if any family member wanted it, it's free; otherwise he's donating it.  The friend asked his family, and when it appeared no one was going to claim the free car, he told step-grandpa what happened to us and asked if we could buy it.  
 
The wonderful gentleman refused to let us buy it and gave us a 1987 Ford Bronco II, Eddie Bauer edition.  Paul is tickled pink.  The car was always garaged and he has every record of anything he ever had done to it, even has the original sale brochure he picked up when he was shopping for it!  We have to do some maintenance on it (brake job, still has the original shocks, needs tires), but that's okay!  Good thing Paul's a gearhead!  
 
Now I'm waiting for David to decide he wants to drive that instead of the Suburban!  We feel so blessed.  We lost the truck (and don't have the heart to tell Paul's uncle, who gave it to him about two years ago), but gained a great little family car that's in great shape and is safer and more comfortable than the truck was.

[cjpoppin]

Bad news about the truck and the Jerk who took it (hope those breaks fail and he takes a drive off a cliff ) ...........However does this story ever have a silver lining......Thank goodness for our family and friends and the blessing's from above.......Let's hope things go much better for the family now........cw

[DK&3kids]

Hey Trina - what a happy ending to a BUMMER of a situation.  That's just awesome!

[Dee4j]

Bad news about the truck and the Jerk who took it (hope those breaks fail and he takes a drive off a cliff ) ...........However does this story ever have a silver lining......Thank goodness for our family and friends and the blessing's from above.......Let's hope things go much better for the family now........cw

DITTO!!  hey now you'll have 2 vehicles that can tow the trailer :-()

[wavery]

Be sure to notify DMV that the truck was stolen and file a release of ownership. You can bet that you will be getting parking tickets in the mail for the next 2 years. If you haven't filed, you may be responsible. Even if you do file, you will still get the tickets in the mail but you won't be liable IF you have filed a release. You will have to mail off a copy of the release each time that you receive a ticket.

I've been through this. I received 13 parking tickets and a red light violation that I had to respond to.

[Dee4j]

Be sure to notify DMV that the truck was stolen and file a release of ownership. You can bet that you will be getting parking tickets in the mail for the next 2 years. If you haven't filed, you may be responsible. Even if you do file, you will still get the tickets in the mail but you won't be liable IF you have filed a release. You will have to mail off a copy of the release each time that you receive a ticket.

I've been through this. I received 13 parking tickets and a red light violation that I had to respond to.

oh definatley..Dan donated his old car cause it needed to much work ...I told him to send the paperwork in but NOOOOOOOOOOO .. and the next thing we know we are getting hit for impound charges for some guy driving it without a license :eyecrazy:  boy that was a mess to straighten out

[DK&3kids]

Be sure to notify DMV that the truck was stolen and file a release of ownership. You can bet that you will be getting parking tickets in the mail for the next 2 years. If you haven't filed, you may be responsible. Even if you do file, you will still get the tickets in the mail but you won't be liable IF you have filed a release. You will have to mail off a copy of the release each time that you receive a ticket.
 
 I've been through this. I received 13 parking tickets and a red light violation that I had to respond to.

GOOD point Wavery!  We had a similar experience years ago - but we had filed the paperwork so DMV had to back off!

[SURFcampers]

Trina,
Sorry to hear about your truck! I wish this could end with an "Overhaulin" story! Karma (or truckma in this case will get this guy.)

[griffsdad]

Trina and Paul, we're sorry to hear about the truck. Wayne is right about filing the release of liability forms with the DMV. You can get the forms online.
 
We're glad that things worked out.

[oldmoose]

Sometimes there's a reason for everything. Glad he has another vehicle now.

Moose

[Camping Coxes]

Trina,
Sorry to hear about your truck! I wish this could end with an "Overhaulin" story! Karma (or truckma in this case will get this guy.)

Kevin,
 
As Paul stood there staring at the now empty space in front of our house, I said, "Honey, I'm sorry, but I did not call Overhaulin'.  It really is gone."  He said if I'd called Overhaulin' for the minitruck and not the Suburban, he'd have killed me!

[Camping Coxes]

My sister works for the DMV.  You'd think she would have told me that when I went in to register the Bronco II.  Sidenote:  It's soooo nice having a DMV connection.   No long lines for me!  heh heh heh   I just get glared at by those in line as I walk past them and up to her window.