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

[deserteagle71]

I bought a new IH 1210 (1110, 1210, 1310 series) in 1972 for $4200 if I recall correctly. 304 V8, 4spd, 4x4, no air. Only issue was that it had helper spring packs that under no load were maybe an inch below the hangers. Hitting a bump empty was rough on the back. I had 4200 lbs of concrete blocks on it one day. That squashed out the 7.50-16 tires on split rims a bit but barely made a dent in the spring's arcs. Rode good though, lol!

Had one of those, spec'd just as you've listed, for many years, put thousands of trouble-free miles on it. Bought it for $1200 from a friend who used it as a wood-cutting truck. Pickup bed was removed and a flatbed installed, with high wood racks. It WOULD haul a load - I moved several single-wide mobile homes with it for friends. Biggest problem was those split rims - tire dealers didn't want to work on them. I'd probably still be driving that thing but the wife insisted she needed a/c and a bigger cab.....

 

[Oaktree]

The last vehicle I saw with crank windows was a 1992 Yugo.

They were still around (crank windows, not Yugos) in the early 00s, my '02 Dakota had them. That truck was pretty bare bones by modern standards. V8, power steering/brakes, automatic, 4WD, extended cab, those were about the only "options".

 

[Oaktree]

Had one of those, spec'd just as you've listed, for many years, put thousands of trouble-free miles on it. Bought it for $1200 from a friend who used it as a wood-cutting truck. Pickup bed was removed and a flatbed installed, with high wood racks. It WOULD haul a load - I moved several single-wide mobile homes with it for friends. Biggest problem was those split rims - tire dealers didn't want to work on them. I'd probably still be driving that thing but the wife insisted she needed a/c and a bigger cab.....

My first truck was one of those. It was a '70, and when I got it in '78 the pickup bed had been replaced with a flatbed. As you noted, it could haul quite a load, but was otherwise kind of a POS. Geared REALLY low...could start on a hill in 3rd gear.
I don't recall split rims on it though.

 

[deserteagle71]

They were still around (crank windows, not Yugos) in the early 00s, my '02 Dakota had them. That truck was pretty bare bones by modern standards. V8, power steering/brakes, automatic, 4WD, extended cab, those were about the only "options".

My 2006 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon has crank windows. No power windows available in that year or earlier Jeep Wrangler. Not sure when Jeep started offering electric windows in the Wrangler.

 

[paulsharvey]

My 2006 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon has crank windows. No power windows available in that year or earlier Jeep Wrangler. Not sure when Jeep started offering electric windows in the Wrangler.

I think as late as 2013, F150 could have them. Likely still an option on fleet orders, but Why? I wouldn't be surprised if it was an upcharge item for crank.

So, my "new" work truck, 2022 F150, fleet type vehicle, it does have vinyl flooring, which is fine, 4x4, back up cameras, power windows, and vinyl bench seat (not a fan, makes you butt and back sweat), a 3.3l (i think) NA V6, which is pretty dang under powered. You can absolutely find pretty base vehicles. "Build" it on manufacturers site, and then "find" it with a 250 mile radius. There will be multiple "fleet" type vehicles on dealer lots. The trick, dont look out by the street; those are the flagship models; fleet and base types are normally around back; or out of sight

 

[Hay Dude]

I'd trade the vehicle in a minute but there are 600,000 L87 engines involved with the recall and the trade in value took a big hit. Dealer recommends waiting it out.

Ouch!

 

[Jstpssng]

The majority of fleet and/or utility or government vehicles I've seen over last 5 years, have power windows. I just dont think there is any cost savings by going with manual windows

I've never understood the gripe against them anyways. Sometimes it's nife to open the passenger and/or rear windows from the driver's seat. I've put hundreds of thousands of miles on vehicles with them and had one window motor fail. I've also had the same number of manual windows fail.

Edit; come to think of it, it was the wiring harness which failed in the power window. Of course it was my company truck, and failed with the window down on the last day before taking 2 weeks off.

 

[JasperFrank]

In my 97 GMC G30 van, every auto thing, failed in two years. I feel some what fortunate, in that everything failed at once, so getting rid of it to a wrecker yard, was an easy decision, instead of it bleeding me, slowly with repairs.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Yugo, I'll stay.

Or Yugo, it doesn't.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I got a recall for the windshield wipers on my 2020 F150 in January, and to this day Ford says they still have no parts or resolution to the problem. And mine just failed today.
And a friends 2021 also failed.

Wipers, so hard....