It should be pointed out (if youre working on cost for welding) that, maybe, next year, it will pass, but maybe it wont... and then the year after, it will need more, etc.etc.
The horrible thing about the disco, vs the defenders, is the amount of thin sheet steel everywhere, esp hidden away, hard to get to bits. Steel behind alluminum which you have to take trim off to even see. Body mounts designed to catch mud and grass. Etcetc.
I like our disco, but every year, i wonder how much longer i can tolerate it. And im not paying for someone else to work on it either. (most of the time)
I do wonder if getting a 20yr old truck that has a rep for rusting is the wisest of moves when you have to pay someone else to weld it.