I drive my '62 Suburban every day, haul parts with it all the time, used it last weekend to pick up 800lbs of QuickCrete sacks, drove 116 miles round trip three days this week to a shop for pictures, and use it once a month to haul all my gear (tents, tables, coolers, chairs, signs, etc.) for the swap meet I promote.
Once I get the brakes upgraded to power drums, get the wiring replaced and get a new receiver hitch on it, I'll be towing my open race car trailer somewhat regularly.
And along the way, I'll keep upgrading it.
Your buddy is pretty cool for working out of his truck, but the only one in the country? Hardly. In fact, the guy I bought my Suburban from was an on-sight equipment mechanic, and had a Snap-on tool chest in the back, tack welded to the metal floor just inside the door opening. And yeah, he used it every day.
Brad
