How to get your significant other involved?

[Ripsnorter]

So I've been involved with a really sweet little lady for about a year now and we're getting pretty serious. Serious as in debating bells in the future etc.

Problem is that while she has no problem with my love of old trucks, she thinks they're kind of ugly and doesn't really like them.

So I'm wondering... how have any of you gotten your wives/girlfriends etc involved in this "hobby"? Was there anything you did to change it from "Oh honey, go work on your old rust bucket, I love you anyway" to "When do I get my own Bumpside?!"

I'd love for her to appreciate this old iron the way I do, I learned to love it as a kid, maybe I can teach her too somehow?

[TNIceWolf]

I am one of the lucky few I guess. Miss Yvonne is not only supportive of my old project but often lends a helping hand. She is also a member here and even tho she doesnt post much she is always reading and learning as we go. I can always go to her for advice when buying parts and she never ever complains when I choose to spend the money. On top of that she keeps track of the records for me so I always know exactly where I stand as far as costs. She is also a most excellent tool passer and cleanup crew.....

[towtruckerfour]

My wife and I have two 70s. When our white one was hers, I painted the grills and tail gate letters pink for her. Since then I have taken that truck and made it a 4x4 but it still has the pink letters on the tailgate. She knows what these trucks mean to me. She tells me to get whatever I need. I buy her all the pairs of boots she wants. It is an even trade I think.

[Racer Z]

Unfortunately, I think it's a thing they have to like/dislike on their own terms. Just like how your interest in some of her things is, err, limited. Be grateful that she lets you work on it and does refer it as, "the other woman".

My sweetie didn't have much interest in my truck at first. Cars and trucks are just objects of transportation. The TV is much high on the list of importance. After I did a few things to my truck that caught her attention, her view started to change. I put on a quite muffler. I covered the bare steel cab floor with an old blanket. New shocks made things much nicer. She is not a large lady, quite petite actually, so I added a step for her.

I need to say that I enjoyed all these changes more than she did.

But, when she realized that a truck does have positive benefits in her favor she really took a different approach. We, and this is something we both enjoyed separately before meeting, like to find stuff. "Stuff", can be at yard sale, estate sales, or junk in an alley. We both like this neat old eclectic stuff in the house and the yard. The less it costs the more we like it.

The thing about "stuff" and an ugly old truck is that we can haul it home in the truck. She likes "stuff" in my truck. We found an old vintage garden swing, complete and usable. Never could have hauled it home without a truck. Used bricks, yup and we used them to do some brick work at her house later. Her house has a fireplace... The list goes on...

Does she like to help me work on the truck? HECK NO. But she has a few times, cause she knows it's in her best interest so we can haul "stuff".

Now she actually looks forward to riding around in it. A burger and "stuff" is our date night. LOL

[sargentrs]

I wish I had some encouraging news also for you Rip but, unfortunately, my wife does not understand my love of American Iron in general and my bump in particular. To her it's childish and they're just old junk cars and trucks. I've had my truck over 7 years and she's ridden in it a grand total of 2 times and complained the whole time. If she had any clue how much I've spent on my project she'd go ballistic. On the other hand she does respect my passion for my truck, just doesn't, and never will, understand. She tolerates the frame in the garage and the pile of parts in the basement and the time I spend in the man cave. However, I know when to truck up and when to suck up As long as I do what she needs me to, and pay the bills, I can have my toys and hobbies. I also never let my truck interfere with our relationship. I love my truck and I love my wife. Life has balances and it's important to keep yours in balance.

[Whateverman]

Unfortunately, I think it's a thing they have to like/dislike on their own terms. Just like how your interest in some of her things is, err, limited. Be grateful that she lets you work on it and does refer it as, "the other woman".

My sweetie didn't have much interest in my truck at first. Cars and trucks are just objects of transportation. The TV is much high on the list of importance. After I did a few things to my truck that caught her attention, her view started to change. I put on a quite muffler. I covered the bare steel cab floor with an old blanket. New shocks made things much nicer. She is not a large lady, quite petite actually, so I added a step for her.

I need to say that I enjoyed all these changes more than she did.

But, when she realized that a truck does have positive benefits in her favor she really took a different approach. We, and this is something we both enjoyed separately before meeting, like to find stuff. "Stuff", can be at yard sale, estate sales, or junk in an alley. We both like this neat old eclectic stuff in the house and the yard. The less it costs the more we like it.


The thing about "stuff" and an ugly old truck is that we can haul it home in the truck. She likes "stuff" in my truck. We found an old vintage garden swing, complete and usable. Never could have hauled it home without a truck. Used bricks, yup and we used them to do some brick work at her house later. Her house has a fireplace... The list goes on...

Does she like to help me work on the truck? HECK NO. But she has a few times, cause she knows it's in her best interest so we can haul "stuff".

Now she actually looks forward to riding around in it. A burger and "stuff" is our date night. LOL

she has to find the truck handy or it'll be a battle everytime you go near the thing with a set of wrenches.
on top of hauling garage sale junk home for her with it , dragging my old lady out on a few roadtrips and involving her in some wrecking yard parts hunting expeditions has warmed her up to my ol' pig....... a little .....

[Ripsnorter]

Thanks for the replies and experiences.

I'm thinking getting her involved in a fun way is the best way too.

She wants to learn to ride dirt bikes and I'm putting a really nice new stereo in it, so I'm thinking the truck goes from "old rustbucket" to "cool transportation for the bikes with good tunes and a bench seat she can cuddle up to me in"

Letting her help personalize it a bit will help too I think. I'm NOT putting pink letters on it though! Sorry Towtrucker, I just can't do it.

[BobbyFord]

My girl had a really good experience in the cab of my 'ol truck once. Now she loves that truck

[Ranchero50]

Once the whining became excessive we took the truck to get a new fridge...

Anymore it just fulfills my ADHD and I leave her alone.

[averagef250]

I took my wife out for our first date in the Orange '71 Cummins/flatbed I used to have. She wasn't impressed at the time, but grew to really like the truck. The part she loves the most about a nice old truck is the attention. She can't believe how many people give thumbs up, walk up to you in parking lots and pace you on the freeway just to stare. She wouldn't argue for a second if we bought a brand new one, but she knows it makes me happy, that makes her happy and it's neat that so many people also think it's cool to drive an older pickup.

[crewdcab]

My wife likes to drive my truck on occasion. She loves that it's lifted, loud, and by far the oldest truck in the parking lot at work. She is the CEO of our local hospital, and likes the idea that she isn't driving the newest or fanciest rig there.

[Ripsnorter]

well I got my girl to read this thread, she's laughing about it but thinks it's sweet all the same.

She's also slowly being swayed by your stories of getting your wives involved, so keep 'em coming please!

You guys are directly affecting my love life, and I'm hoping we can collectively steer her to the point where someday she utters those 3 little words...

"Where's My Truck?

[Ripsnorter]

Well I just spoke to her and she said:

"Sure honey, one day I'll ask for my very own old rustbucket!"



I think we still have a lot of work left to do on her.



----------- Edit -----------

Just to be clear, when I say "A lot of work left to do on her" I mean my girlfriend, not "her" my truck. It still needs a lot of work too though.

[Racer Z]

Keep in mind that you can't force her to like something anymore than you can be forced into liking something. Push her to much and she will start to hate it. That's just human nature, I'm like that and so are you.

Take her to a truck/car show. Maybe the atmosphere will give her a "contact high".

Or, the other approach is the destination. What I mean, is you and I are in this for the ride, the ride is our destination. But most people are all about the destination and the ride is only a means to the end.

I'll say that in a different way.
My lady does not enjoy driving just for the sake of joy-riding. Me, I like to go cruising in the country roads just for the sake of driving. The more scenic the better. Twisty mountain roads with a cliff straight up one side and straight down the other, Yeah Buddy!

My lady can't stand that sort of thing. So, if I tell her I'm taking here to a place of her interest, (quilt store, shopping mall, nice restaurant, etc...), she will put up with my longer-than-than-necessary drive.

She gets what she wants and I get what I want, and we do it together.


We drove my F250 Bump across country last summer, 6000 miles. She did it only cause it was the most economical way to get some furniture that had belonged to her parents. She didn't trust a moving/shipping company with this really old stuff. This was a means to the end. Along the way we stopped off at a County Fair. The fair included an old (vintage) car/truck show. When she saw some very well restored "Bumps", she said, "So that's what ours can look like someday?" She was excited to think that someday she could be riding in style, not just in some old rust-bucket.

[rippskepticalgf]

- Just to be clear, when I say "A lot of work left to do on her" I mean my girlfriend, not "her" my truck. It still needs a lot of work too though.-

Gee Honey, Thanks for clearing that up!

I still love you though..

I so agree with you Racer z