death of regular cab pickups

[two_bit_score]

I drove that exact truck, except white and a 250 for years for a guy I worked for. Mostly snow plowing.
Dodge Trucks were kind of made fun of back then. I thought the thing was tough as nails even back then.

Whenever somebody mentions an old a Dodge being tough I think of the line “I’m as good once as I ever was”.

 

[two_bit_score]

That's why I will stick with the '96 Dodge 1 ton I bought used a couple decades ago.

And it’s why I keep my ‘95 Chev 1500.

 

[Big Barn]

And it’s why I keep my ‘95 Chev 1500.

that was a good model year. i should have kept it

 

[jyoutz]

that was a good model year. i should have kept it

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Hopefully you kept the lady.

 

[Big Barn]

Hopefully you kept the lady.

LOL. almost 30 years ago. she's long gone with a hubby and prob grandkids.

 

[Jstpssng]

In general, pick-ups aren't designed anymore with it being a work vehicle as the primary design consideration. They are luxury vehicles designed to be more of a status statement. Unfortunately that is what most pick-up buyers apparently want. Their are probably a large number of pickups on the road that have never carried a load in the bed. I can't imagine buying a $60,000+ rig and using it and 'abusing' it in the way I need to use a pick-up. That's why I will stick with the '96 Dodge 1 ton I bought used a couple decades ago.

I keep hearing this. Yet a truck today will tow more, carry a heavier payload, and pull better than its counterpart of 30 years ago. Just because they don't beat your guts out doesn't make them any worse. About 15 years ago I thought I had to have a toy, and bought a 1987 GMC "heavy half" Sierra. That truck road so hard that my dog got so she refused to get into it. And it wasnt that she minded riding; we used to log 50,000 miles per year when I was working all over 4 states.

 

[check]

Yep, totally corny.


View attachment 789470

Yup, corny as they come.

 

[Deleted member 371759]

I keep hearing this. Yet a truck today will tow more, carry a heavier payload, and pull better than its counterpart of 30 years ago. Just because they don't beat your guts out doesn't make them any worse. About 15 years ago I thought I had to have a toy, and bought a 1987 GMC "heavy half" Sierra. That truck road so hard that my dog got so she refused to get into it. And it wasnt that she minded riding; we used to log 50,000 miles per year when I was working all over 4 states.

Only down side to newer vehicles is, they are cost prohibitive, unable to be repaired by someone without a full shop and once their useful life is over they go to the scrap yard. Plus older trucks can be built to compare very close to their modern counterparts for a fraction of the cost of a new truck. Give me $30K and you will have a 7.3 Powerstroke or a Lb7-LLY that will put up better (better is subjective) numbers than "modern" diesels all while being able to make repairs yourself. Then there is the aftermarket problem with newer diesels. Write a tune for a post emission diesel or sell a non carb air filter and find yourself in prison. I get what people mean when they say new trucks are not designed for work. I think a better way to describe it would be that they are not marketed for work anymore. If they were you wouldn't have subdivisions filled with them. I know of very few farmers that have 100k to drop on a new truck.

 

[ovrszd]

In regards to "working on" a newer truck.... I'll bet 10% or less of readers of this thread can rebuild a carb? Or know how to set the ignition timing on an engine? Or can replace a Ujoint? Or do a complete brake job including replacing calipers?

Newer trucks require much, much less daily maintenance than older trucks. When they do require maintenance it is critical. With today's consumer's mechanical abilities as described above, it ain't happening at home.

 

[big bubba]

I keep hearing this. Yet a truck today will tow more, carry a heavier payload, and pull better than its counterpart of 30 years ago. Just because they don't beat your guts out doesn't make them any worse. About 15 years ago I thought I had to have a toy, and bought a 1987 GMC "heavy half" Sierra. That truck road so hard that my dog got so she refused to get into it. And it wasnt that she minded riding; we used to log 50,000 miles per year when I was working all over 4 states.

yes, today's trucks are more comfort packed, more powerful, etc, than their older counterparts, but as mentioned: almost takes a 2nd mortgage to purchase new loaded, generally have less payload, & when you have to replace one of scores of sensors (some designed merely for comfort) i will stick to the tried & true for utility going from pt A to B.
Just my limited opinion at this later stage in life & of course, prob does not apply to most truck owners, cheers