Just can't get a good basic truck, like the old days!

[jjeff]

Yes, they did. Olds comes to mind. Glad they did that as the block makes a killer base for big inch small block gas engine.

The 350 in gas form is one of my favorite v8 engines. Small block anyway

 

[not2old]

Didn't gm engineers initially try to convert a few of there small block gas engines like the 5.7 over to be a diesel with terrible results? In the
Early 80s I think.

I bought an Eldorado with one of those motors. I got it really cheap as they had a bad reputation and this one had a blown head gasket. It lasted a year before it blew again so I swapped in a 350 Oldsmobile motor. I actually sold parts off the diesel for more money than I paid for the gas engine. It was impressive on how fast it started with two batteries and the diesel starter. Drove that car for about six years and sold it for enough to cover everything that I had spent on it.

 

[ultrarunner]

I bought an Eldorado with one of those motors. I got it really cheap as they had a bad reputation and this one had a blown head gasket. It lasted a year before it blew again so I swapped in a 350 Oldsmobile motor. I actually sold parts off the diesel for more money than I paid for the gas engine. It was impressive on how fast it started with two batteries and the diesel starter. Drove that car for about six years and sold it for enough to cover everything that I had spent on it.

Buy right and depreciation isn’t a factor…

 

[jjeff]

Around here it's hard to find one which doesn't have all of the junk I don't want. I call them pimpmobiles... can I say that here?

Speaking of work truck oriented pimp mobiles reliving my younger years got blacked out aluminum spoked rims came with one of the work truck packages on the Chevy 3500 Duramax truck I ordered. Almost every Tacoma I owned, I purchased black steel spike rims on 31s In a surprising visual upgrade I usually never do on my old 5 speed foreign winter beaters/ daily drivers used extensively when I'm not towing a trailer. wire wheeled all the cooroded silver aluminium rims on my winter beater primed it with etching rattle can paint and painted them black. After I told my stepson who will be driving next year that will be his car he suddenly stopped wanting to learn how to drive a 5 speed on our 15 acres. Lol. Other adults in his life have decided he should get an older awd automatic crossover or older 1/2'ton/ or compact pick up instead. He wants a nicer vehicle than I had til I was in my 20s I'm putting him to work on my hobby farm/ wildlife sanctuary if I'm contributing to get his first car . I'm kind of hopeful he realizes how lucky he.i s. Big thing for me is I hope whatever car he eventually gets doesn't have all the bells and whistles for safety devices besides good manually operated abs brakes and air bags. I want him to learn how to drive without relying on all the things like smart cruise, lane keeping,auto braking and blind spot indicators etc.

 

[jjeff]

Imo Not new thread worthy but was asked by a few not on here why I spent so much extra on a diesel Duramax vs gas with a pretty much base trim level. I think anyone that pulls a trailer frequently knows why. Even lighter trailers. Despite the chances of me ever getting back what I paid extra for a diesel vs a gas engine in terms of money a diesel definitely gets far better fuel mileage than any v6 SUV especially driving freeway speeds hauling pulling a trailer. Ex. My Duramax gets over 12 mpg pulling my 17k cap. 20' deck over pretty loaded, my wife's kia suv with factory tow package gets under 9 mpg yes 9 towing our Micro toyhauler that weighs under 3 k even with stuff in it. Extra maintenance I usually diy myself so I know it's right vs letting some yahoo making 10 bucks an hour do it although as I've gotten older I now let certain repair shops make repairs that have proven to me to do a competent honest job I used to do myself, work on my truck. A few useful options I got them now instead of later cuz it might probably prevent me from using my truck for something I initially didn't plan on. I remember 6 or 7 yrs ago driving north in a blizzard pulling an enclosed snowmobile trailer with 2 snowmobiles in it with my current Sierra Duramax dozens of cars were in the ditch the freeway looked like a icerink with snowdrifts stretched across it with 50+ mph gusts looked out my mirror and the wind was blowing the enclosed trailer at over a 45 degree angle to truck I still think if anything less than a 3/4 ton with the extra weight from the diesel with 4wd engaged I'd be lin the ditch like all the numerous 1/2 tons I passed. I don't use the truck for a grocery getter or a school bus. Hence me always mentioning how I enjoy my old cheap foreign 4 cylinder 5 speed beaters for daily driving. As for towing heavy, down steep grades with the exhaust brake on despite the steepness of grades road sign warnings rarely if ever had to touch brakes. Remember driving behind a gas one or 3/4 ton pulling what looked like a heavy load had to roll up my windows cuz all I smelled was there brake pads burning off. Anyways I could go on but I'm sure others have better reasons why they own and drive diesel pickups over gas.

 

[Renze]

The stock DT360 power output was sad but that was more for reliability and fuel efficiency.

Here in Europe we get the Cummins B6.7 up to 310hp in up to 18 ton GVW and, i think, 27 ton combined. In combination with a ZF Powerline 8 speed automatic, which is also used in pickup trucks. 6 and 9 speed manual transmissions are also available.

Off course the duty cycle for distribution trucks is quite different to that of a pickup truck, and horsepower and redline are adjusted accordingly.

In a medium duty pickup truck application a DT360 could deliver a lot more horsepower too.

Anyways, the MAN D08 engine, 6.9 liter, is the TRATON equivalent of the B6.7. Maybe they get an idea...

 

[jyoutz]

Imo Not new thread worthy but was asked by a few not on here why I spent so much extra on a diesel Duramax vs gas with a pretty much base trim level. I think anyone that pulls a trailer frequently knows why. Even lighter trailers. Despite the chances of me ever getting back what I paid extra for a diesel vs a gas engine in terms of money a diesel definitely gets far better fuel mileage than any v6 SUV especially driving freeway speeds hauling pulling a trailer. Ex. My Duramax gets over 12 mpg pulling my 17k cap. 20' deck over pretty loaded, my wife's kia suv with factory tow package gets under 9 mpg yes 9 towing our Micro toyhauler that weighs under 3 k even with stuff in it. Extra maintenance I usually diy myself so I know it's right vs letting some yahoo making 10 bucks an hour do it although as I've gotten older I now let certain repair shops make repairs that have proven to me to do a competent honest job I used to do myself, work on my truck. A few useful options I got them now instead of later cuz it might probably prevent me from using my truck for something I initially didn't plan on. I remember 6 or 7 yrs ago driving north in a blizzard pulling an enclosed snowmobile trailer with 2 snowmobiles in it with my current Sierra Duramax dozens of cars were in the ditch the freeway looked like a icerink with snowdrifts stretched across it with 50+ mph gusts looked out my mirror and the wind was blowing the enclosed trailer at over a 45 degree angle to truck I still think if anything less than a 3/4 ton with the extra weight from the diesel with 4wd engaged I'd be lin the ditch like all the numerous 1/2 tons I passed. I don't use the truck for a grocery getter or a school bus. Hence me always mentioning how I enjoy my old cheap foreign 4 cylinder 5 speed beaters for daily driving. As for towing heavy, down steep grades with the exhaust brake on despite the steepness of grades road sign warnings rarely if ever had to touch brakes. Remember driving behind a gas one or 3/4 ton pulling what looked like a heavy load had to roll up my windows cuz all I smelled was there brake pads burning off. Anyways I could go on but I'm sure others have better reasons why they own and drive diesel pickups over gas.

Another reason: resale value down the road. A used gasser truck with 200K miles has very little resale value, however a diesel truck with the same mileage is can be resold at a decent price.

 

[Runner]

Another reason: resale value down the road. A used gasser truck with 200K miles has very little resale value, however a diesel truck with the same mileage is can be resold at a decent price.

At the rate I'm going, it will take me another 380 years to break 200,000 miles on my truck.

 

[3930dave]

I remember 6 or 7 yrs ago driving north in a blizzard pulling an enclosed snowmobile trailer with 2 snowmobiles in it with my current Sierra Duramax dozens of cars were in the ditch the freeway looked like a icerink with snowdrifts stretched across it with 50+ mph gusts looked out my mirror and the wind was blowing the enclosed trailer at over a 45 degree angle to truck I still think if anything less than a 3/4 ton with the extra weight from the diesel with 4wd engaged I'd be lin the ditch like all the numerous 1/2 tons I passed.

^, back to your point, about your step-son learning with the Digital Guardians = Off...... many people don't want to think about it/or believe it, but all this tech has limitations or blindspots, and that ^ type of weather can slam that home, literally.

Rgds, D.

 

[jjeff]

Another reason: resale value down the road. A used gasser truck with 200K miles has very little resale value, however a diesel truck with the same mileage is can be resold at a decent price.

1 tons especially 3/4 ton pickups used gas or diesel folks are asking and probably getting a lot for them. I was pretty surprised on the book value of this one does it mean someone will pay that problaby not even though it's pretty mechanically sound and maintained mechanically above what I seen others do. For now I'm holding onto it meaning it's not listed but will sell if the offers right.

 

[not2old]

At the rate I'm going, it will take me another 380 years to break 200,000 miles on my truck.

Same here. I bought my F350 in Sept. last year and it just turned 4000KM (2599 miles) and I've been using it a bit more than usual. I absolutely love the way it tows 9000lbs.

 

[jjeff]

^, back to your point, about your step-son learning with the Digital Guardians = Off...... many people don't want to think about it/or believe it, but all this tech has limitations or blindspots, and that ^ type of weather can slam that home, literally.

Rgds, D.

Is it really learning how to drive if your relient on a cars fancy safety options to get you safely from point a to point b?

 

[jjeff]

Same here. I bought my F350 in Sept. last year and it just turned 4000KM (2599 miles) and I've been using it a bit more than usual. I absolutely love the way it tows 9000lbs.

My 2016 double cab 2500 Sierra just rolled 125k mostly highway trailering especially to my place up north. (Over 500 miles one way) was and still is my favorite most capable truck I've ever owned. I may end up regretting letting my friend show my wife his crew cab truck.

 

[rontaki]

Is it really learning how to drive if your relient on a cars fancy safety options to get you safely from point a to point b?

Back when I lived in the SF Bay Area, there is a a little town called Kensington next to Berzerkeley, with a reputation for very strict enforcement of speed limits. At the time, I was driving a stick-shift VW. Whenever I was driving in Kensington, I stayed in 1st or 2nd gear so as to not exceed the speed limit, even accidentally.

 

[ultrarunner]

Island of Alameda was known to be strict… especially if you were driving with a light out or similar… big contrast from say Oakland.

Chevrolet Luv, Ford Courier, Datsun, etc all had very affordable new small pickups… 4 cyl with a stick and if A/C it was luxury…

 

[Jstpssng]

Is it really learning how to drive if your relient on a cars fancy safety options to get you safely from point a to point b?

When I bought my first pickup with all wheel ABS I had to learn to drive all over again. No more pounding down marginal woods roads, slamming on the brakes when a hazard appeared. Stopping on snow was/is ridiculous. After doing $300 worth of front end damage bouncing through a washout because the damned ABS wouldn't let me stop, I pulled the applicable fuse.25 years ago $300 was a lot of front end damage. It was nice to be able to stop again. When some bozo looked me in the eye and pulled out 50 feet in front of me, I would have t-boned him with ABS. Instead I put down 4 strips of rubber and stopped in 1/2 of the space that the charts say I could. Yet I also realized that I would have been found at fault if I'd hit him, so begrudgingly hooked the ABS back up.

 

[jjeff]

From way back when I have to drive in in inclement winter weather specifically driving In Snow and ice I learned to slow and stop with a firm but steady pressure on brake pedal right on the verge of locking up the wheels but not. abs or not you can'teach that or any defensive driving methods for that matter in one of those new fangled auto braking safety option loaded trucks. Learning to drive these days sure seems like a new vehicle orientation on how to work all that tech instead of Learning driving fundamentals. unfortunately I see common sense things like defensive driving will eventually take the route of the old phone booths and be long forgotten in my lifetime why learn something like defensive winter driving if new tech does it for you? Until it fails or malfunctions of course.

 

[RB5]

When I bought my first pickup with all wheel ABS I had to learn to drive all over again. No more pounding down marginal woods roads, slamming on the brakes when a hazard appeared. Stopping on snow was/is ridiculous. After doing $300 worth of front end damage bouncing through a washout because the damned ABS wouldn't let me stop, I pulled the applicable fuse.25 years ago $300 was a lot of front end damage. It was nice to be able to stop again. When some bozo looked me in the eye and pulled out 50 feet in front of me, I would have t-boned him with ABS. Instead I put down 4 strips of rubber and stopped in 1/2 of the space that the charts say I could. Yet I also realized that I would have been found at fault if I'd hit him, so begrudgingly hooked the ABS back up.

ABS was crap when it first came out. We learned to steer into a skid and control the vehicle by driving in an empty parking lot. My first truck with ABS caused me to have 2 rear end collisions when it completely failed to stop.

 

[Jstpssng]

ABS was crap when it first came out. We learned to steer into a skid and control the vehicle by driving in an empty parking lot. My first truck with ABS caused me to have 2 rear end collisions when it completely failed to stop.

MY first company truck after driving the above mentioned pickup was an '04 F150. I was intown with about 2" of fresh snow. I came to a stop sign and (luckily) started braking well in advance but the truck didn't even slow. With no braking action I was about to roll into traffic so in desperation I stomped on the parking brake. In 4wd that locked all 4 tires up which cut down through to the tar and I stopped dead. If anybody had been behind me they'd have hit me for sure, it snubbed up that fast.
Later that winter I took both trucks out on my road with about 6" of fresh snow to check stopping distances. From 45mph my '98 Sierra with discombobulated ABS stopped in 2/3 the distance of the '04 Ford, when I applied brakes as hard as I could. Granted the Ford likely weighed a little more but it also was new with about 200k fewer miles. I later wrecked my back trying to stop that Ford... exploring a woods road on fresh snow, topped a rise and dropped off a hill I didn't want to go down. I stomped on the brakes, braced myself against the steering wheel to push them down harder, and something in my back went "snap". Then I had to drag the darned thing back up the hill again.

 

[paulsharvey]

One Huge improvement with trucks was been places to put stuff; Not cargo, I mean chargers, receipts, cup holders, laptop/tablet, ect. It seems small, until you dont have a center console... My Ram is a split bench, and it has a nice center console for storing stuff; and if you raise it up, the middle seat also has storage under it too. Work truck, 2022 F150, also has a split bench, but the center is just a triple cup holder and an arm rest. If you work out of a vehicle, you appreciate a place to keep some pens, note pads, chargers, receipts, business cards, ect.

The older ones... you might have 1 cup holder or two, and everything else was either on the passenger floor, or on the dash.

Its not night vs day, but small quality of life improvements, that really didn't cost anything to mold into the plastic trim pieces