Best 3 trucks you've ever owned.

[jjeff]

Hills was pain but not as bad as getting it hooked up to trailers. I'd get a manual for car, but not a truck again.

Yep, the tiny mirrors that came with mine weren't much help for hooking or pulling trailers either not to mention blind spots on a compact regular cab my head had to be on a swivel lol. Back bumpers and trailer couplers always took a beating if I didn't feather the clutch ever so gently or putting it in 4 low helped me also.

 

[jjeff]

They're fun to drive for nostalgia's sake. I take any opportunity to drive a stick if offered just to see if I can still do it.

My brother in-law put my youngest daughter on a dirt bike several years ago, got her used to the clutch, and off they went.

Couple years later, her future spouse had a jeep with a stick and offered to show her how to drive it. He was surprised how fast she picked it up. Once you learn it, it's just like riding a bike! Well, dirt bike, but the saying still applies.

I learned on a 1978 Ford Fairmont wagon with a 4 on the floor. My biological Mother taught me once I could reach the pedals. I'll probably teach my stepson as soon as he can reach the pedals on either my current or future winter beater. Definitely not a car I'd ever want to buy or see again even for nostalgic purposes lol.

 

[MossRoad]

My 80 something yr old mother hopped in my old tacoma to see if she could still drive manual. She could enjoyed it and never stalled it. More than I can say for my dads attempt. lol.

My 83 year old mother in-law drove a stick Ford pickup for many years back and forth to her job at AM General. Can't remember the year of the truck, but it was a purple Ford short bed step side with 3 on the tree, and dual gas tanks. She probably drove that for 20 years. She still laments the loss of the dual tanks when talking about her current vehicle. All of her cars were stick growing up.

My wife, on the other hand, will not drive stick. Hates it and sees no reason to learn it. I can see her point. I showed her how in the early 80s. She could do it, but did not like it, especially if stopped on up-hills.

Funny story. I came over a very steep railroad grade after a train had passed, and there was a car in the other lanes trying to go up in the opposite direction. I could see the driver stall it. And I looked and it was a friend of mine. I laughed at him and he laughed back. The line of cars behind him started honking. I picked up something at a store, and came back and he was still there trying to start out on that hill. Apparently his brother was teaching him to drive stick and would not let him quit until he got it!

 

[MossRoad]

Yep, the tiny mirrors that came with mine weren't much help for hooking or pulling trailers either not to mention blind spots on a compact regular cab my head had to be on a swivel lol. Back bumpers and trailer couplers always took a beating if I didn't feather the clutch ever so gently or putting it in 4 low helped me also.

I found that my car hauler trailer has pin striping on the front of it, and if I'm in my Suburban, and sit straight up, and look in my left and right mirrors, I can keep the same amount of pin striping showing on each side, I've got it nailed left to right. Then it's just a matter of if I smash in my license plate with the trailer tongue or not.

 

[MossRoad]

I learned on a 1978 Ford Fairmont wagon with a 4 on the floor. My biological Mother taught me once I could reach the pedals. I'll probably teach my stepson as soon as he can reach the pedals on either my current or future winter beater. Definitely not a car I'd ever want to buy or see again even for nostalgic purposes lol.

I learned to drive stick by watching my mom's feet when I was a toddler. I'd sit on the floor between the two front seats of the VW bus and watch in amazement. When I was in my very early teens, she'd let me drive it around the circle in our driveway. The day I turned 15 my dad took me down and got me my learner's permit, and he took me to the cemetery and we drove all over the place. Good place to learn. Then we went home and got his Nova with 3 on the tree and went back for some more driving.

My folks were very good at making me drive anytime they could when I had my permit. Thanks mom and dad! I miss them.

 

[jjeff]

My 83 year old mother in-law drove a stick Ford pickup for many years back and forth to her job at AM General. Can't remember the year of the truck, but it was a purple Ford short bed step side with 3 on the tree, and dual gas tanks. She probably drove that for 20 years. She still laments the loss of the dual tanks when talking about her current vehicle. All of her cars were stick growing up.

My wife, on the other hand, will not drive stick. Hates it and sees no reason to learn it. I can see her point. I showed her how in the early 80s. She could do it, but did not like it, especially if stopped on up-hills.

Funny story. I came over a very steep railroad grade after a train had passed, and there was a car in the other lanes trying to go up in the opposite direction. I could see the driver stall it. And I looked and it was a friend of mine. I laughed at him and he laughed back. The line of cars behind him started honking. I picked up something at a store, and came back and he was still there trying to start out on that hill. Apparently his brother was teaching him to drive stick and would not let him quit until he got it!

My mom brought me to
a hill going up and wouldn't let me quit till I got it. How that clutch lasted afterwards for many years still baffles my mind.

 

[jjeff]

My late grandmother let me drive her car in the cemetery (before my permit) she claimed I can't really hurt anyone here. Lol

 

[jjeff]

One thing is for sure imo modern backup cameras on my 3/4 ton and 25' motorhome has made hooking up a trailer a breeze.

 

[MossRoad]

My late grandmother let me drive her car in the cemetery (before my permit) she claimed I can't really hurt anyone here. Lol

That's the same thing my folks told me. So I did the same with our kids.

 

[jjeff]

That's the same thing my folks told me. So I did the same with our kids.

And eventually I will tell the same story when I take them to a cemetery to learn how to drive

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

My Dad let me drive his 1947 Packard when I could barely peek over the steering wheel...but of course he was right there. A cop pulled us over (late at night)...he thought it was funny...but that was 1958.
Grandad did same thing taking me up in his Cessna "I feel faint...you'll have to take over". I was really small then.

 

[Joel/ak]

My Dad let me drive his 1947 Packard when I could barely peek over the steering wheel...but of course he was right there. A cop pulled us over (late at night)...he thought it was funny...but that was 1958.
Grandad did same thing taking me up in his Cessna "I feel faint...you'll have to take over". I was really small then.

The Cessna thing is funny and I can relate.

My bear hunting buddy in AK had a small plane. I was in my late 30's and he was in his 60's. On one trip to skwentna, he suggested I learn how to fly in case something happened to him. I told him he better stay healthy.

He taught me enough that hopefully I can walk away from the crash site.

I'll keep my trucks thank you

 

[Jstpssng]

I parked an old beat up 5 speed oil burning escort on unobstructed hills purposely for over a month

I lost reverse in my 1981 F100 and drove it for about 6 months before swapping out the transmission. THAT took some planning, although I did get in trouble once while hunting and had to have somebody pull me backwards. I changed the tranny and engine at the same time after the cat plugged up and almost set the truck on fire.

 

[fidowanttobe]

Not in any particular order,

1998 Chevy S10 2x4 2.2L 5 speed standard cab short box.
Over 250K and has had a clutch kit and routine Mobil 1 maintenance.

1997 GMC Jimmy (S10 Blazer) 4x4 4.3L Auto 4 door
244K intake gaskets, cv shafts and again Mobil 1 maintenance

2000 Chevy S10 Blazer 4x4 4.3L 5 speed 2 door
195K Intake gaskets, cv shafts, clutch kit, and Mobil 1 maintenance.

See a pattern here?
These trucks don't owe me a dime. I don't count wear items like brakes, shocks, tires, etc. They tow cars and my tractor on my car trailer, PU box trailers, occasional stock trailer, and daily drive 47 miles round trip to work every day. Unbelievably reliable.
And I USE them, Some might say abuse, but we live rural and have bad snow roads. I don't buy new and very rarely so I keep saying I'll run them till the wheels fall off, . . . . they just never do.
North Dakota is hard on bodies though. Blazer is on my hoist right now getting rocker panels and small patches by rear wheels.
Long term project is a body swap on a rolled, (bought it that way) 1998 S10 4x4 4.3 manual standard cab short box. Pretty close to paint now.
I agree as earlier mentioned that it is sad that the manual is a dying option. I actually enjoy shifting and after a while, you don't even realize you are doing it.

 

[MossRoad]

Not in any particular order,

1998 Chevy S10 2x4 2.2L 5 speed standard cab short box.
Over 250K and has had a clutch kit and routine Mobil 1 maintenance.

1997 GMC Jimmy (S10 Blazer) 4x4 4.3L Auto 4 door
244K intake gaskets, cv shafts and again Mobil 1 maintenance

2000 Chevy S10 Blazer 4x4 4.3L 5 speed 2 door
195K Intake gaskets, cv shafts, clutch kit, and Mobil 1 maintenance.

See a pattern here?
...

Yeah. You're due for a 2002 pretty soon!

 

[jjeff]

Question, wasn't RAM the last manufacturer to offer a manual transmission with the Cummins in full size 3/4 and 1 tons?

 

[deserteagle71]

Question, wasn't RAM the last manufacturer to offer a manual transmission with the Cummins in full size 3/4 and 1 tons?

Correct. I believe 2019 was the last year a manual was available.

 

[fidowanttobe]

Yeah. You're due for a 2002 pretty soon!

Man, . . . . I don't know!
All those newfangled gizmos and creature comforts would scare me!!

 

[Oaktree]

Yeah. You're due for a 2002 pretty soon!

Man, . . . . I don't know!
All those newfangled gizmos and creature comforts would scare me!!

Early 00s should be OK, by mid-decade maybe not.
My '02 Dakota is pretty strippo. It's a V8/automatic, but that's about it. Crank windows, no heated seats/mirrors, no electronic key fob, no telematics. No backup camera, but it's easy enough to see out of that you don't really need one.
It's a truck, if I wanted a luxury vehicle I'd have bought one. I did swap out the base model radio for the "premium" one from a junkyard...wow, AM-FM, CD and cassette!! What more could you ask for??
It has A/C but I don't know if it works, Never tried it. Don't need it here.

 

[jjeff]

One thing I've noticed which is very beneficial for folks like me who are more concerned with getting from point a-b somewhat reliably and don't care about some rust or a few dents. Is you still find good deals on older vehicles if some of the creature comforts like AC, cruise, power door locks etc aren't working lol.