Truck / Trailer question?

Well I've had my 98 Chevy 1500 W/T V6 since Oct of 97. 1.5 miles on the odometer when I got it. About a week later my wife took it in because it was pinging a little, and she was told that there was nothing they could do about it because the check engine light wasn't flashing. I have 156,000 miles on it now and it still pings, I've had to replace the computer twice ($500 ea), the O2 sensors three times (3 of them at $70 ea), Valve job because the throttle body fell apart & the engine ate a chunk of aluminum ($300), Fuel Pump ($350), the Tranny's been rattling for 70,000 miles, The cat fell apart inside (it's gutted now), the A/C compressor is shot, and now my check engine light is on again. It still looks nearly new, but it's trade in value is only $3500. I'm gonna find a nice pre-80 truck so I can afford the parts when it breaks.