New truck #@$%@#&

[ratpie]

i own a 74 f-100 long bed single cab with a 360 auto 2wd. been lookin for about 3 years for a 4wd replacement for it and that new truck fever has been trying to creep in for a while now. so me & the wife went and test drove one last weekend. 2018 f150 2wd longbed with the trailering package. (the 4wd / longbed is as much of a myth as a unicorn. i have never seen one on a car lot since we started looking for one)

what a piece of gutter trash. i cannot believe that they are passing those trucks off as something you can work with. i can put 5 grand into my truck and it still be a better option that that 40k+ POS. the truck is to high to work out of. my old ***** can't even get up into the bed without a step or ladder system. the fancy new tow camera is to small to see when you are backing (might be something you get used to) and if you have to pull forward to readjust, it turns off. my biggest problem with it is the weight. my old truck tares out at 5700lbs. putting a tractor on the trailer lifts the bed up a bit but the wheels still stay on the ground. the new truck came up off the ground over 6 inches.

i guess i'm gonna stick with my old girl, and just give it a rebuild and some new shocks, and keep her on the road for another 50 years.

 

[ultrarunner]

My 1985 G20 Service Van is 32 years old and has 180k... so about 100 miles a week over it's life...

It has been over GVW since day one and I added spring packs to level it out... except as mentioned... it is original... even original rotors and drums, engine, carb, etc... the last year for a carb here.

I've been the only driver and with the load it carries I am always very carefull...

I did drive it a lot at first but 10 miles to gallon and filling the 34 gallon tank made me rethink so I drive it when I need my mobil workshop... plus it has been broken into on the job a few times... especially at Home Depot!

Change the oil every 2500 miles... which is about every 6 months... have some real steep hills in the SF Bay Area so I use low a lot and take my time...

Front pads only last about 10k but easy to replace... use OEM which provides good braking and gentle on the rotors.

 

[ultrarunner]

I gave my then 15 year old nephew a like new 96 F150 4 wd, 5 spd long bed extended cab pickup... with 102k miles. An old guy bought it new as a retirement present to himself to go fishing... the bed/body is perfect with and the paint is original... not a fleck of rust... etc.

My nephew is one happy boy... he loves that truck but now is driving to the High School almost a 40 mile round trip... with gas getting close to $4 a gallon and mileage around 11-12 mpg... he is facing reality of $200 gas just to get to school... plus more than that for sports and scouts.

One of his friends was given a brand new Tacoma with 4 wd and easily gets twice the mpg.

I told my nephew when I gave him the truck that it is his with no strings... I do expect him to take care of it but if he decided to sell or trade it is his decision... so far so good...

 

[Ritothebull]

A common misconception is that newer cars are less dependable, computers ruin them, etc; yet that's one reason why they can go 300k miles or more with proper maintenance.



Your right about that but for what they are getting for the new cars they should at least go a million miles.

 

[MossRoad]

I gave my then 15 year old nephew a like new 96 F150 4 wd, 5 spd long bed extended cab pickup... with 102k miles. An old guy bought it new as a retirement present to himself to go fishing... the bed/body is perfect with and the paint is original... not a fleck of rust... etc.

My nephew is one happy boy... he loves that truck but now is driving to the High School almost a 40 mile round trip... with gas getting close to $4 a gallon and mileage around 11-12 mpg... he is facing reality of $200 gas just to get to school... plus more than that for sports and scouts.

One of his friends was given a brand new Tacoma with 4 wd and easily gets twice the mpg.

I told my nephew when I gave him the truck that it is his with no strings... I do expect him to take care of it but if he decided to sell or trade it is his decision... so far so good...

I remember that truck, and I wish you were my uncle.... :laughing:

 

[ultrarunner]

You have a good memory... time marches on... the kids I use to bounce on my knee are thinking about college options... where did the time go???

All good kids so far... so it is nice to be able to help out.

Was disappointed to learn the 4 cylinder Tacoma is no longer available... these were very reliable little trucks...

Back in the day I had a LUV, Datsun and a Currier... all gave very good service... all manual transmissions... none had A/C... just basic.

One nice feature was simply being able to reach over the side of the bed to load... required no effort what-so-ever...

Brother's Super-Duty comes with a ladder to get into the bed...

 

[MossRoad]

Yeah, my 93 Suburban used to be about the biggest thing you could buy back then. Nowadays, these large pickups pull up next to me, all shiney, with massive expensive rims, and I have to look up to see in the bottom of the side windows, and I think to myself... that truck will never see the places this Suburban has been. It can't fit on the trails and gosh forbid you have to push through tree branches, you'll scratch the paint. They cost more than my house! It's getting ridiculous. :confused2: I've got $7K total wrapped up in this 93 going on 11 years, and it's still worth $1500, so that's about $5500 for 11 years.... $500 per year for a daily driver... reminds me of my $500 Novas in the 70's and 80's. :laughing:

 

[ning]

While vehicle quality is way up, let's not forget what roads were like in the past.
Many of the roads I drive on today - nice smooth pavement - were gravel with potholes and washboards just 40 years ago.
Tires sure are more dependable now, too - when is the last time you got a flat? As a kid I remember changing flats right and left (partially because of the used tires we bought, but even new ones weren't fantastic). You can get a tire with an 80k mile warrantee now! I wouldn't, because I like traction, but I regularly buy 40k mile tires which actually get that and they don't hydroplane easily either.
I like the "don't make them like they used to - thank god!" quote, because it's really accurate.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Another factor that I have experienced is trucks averaging 25,,000 miles annually are just have more life left in them at the same number of miles as say one driven like 12,500 miles each year..

A 30 year low mileage Ford F100 turned out to be the most expensive trucks I have owned.

Yes... I put right around 35,000 miles a year on my truck. Then I trade it. Business write off, so no big deal. But, someone gets a very nice truck when I'm done with it.

 

[3930dave]

I've been fortunate with my 85 service truck... Water Pump and Starter... that's about it except for pads and shoes...

One of our nurses has 380k on her 88 Accord bought new when she got her first RN job... Several fuel and water pumps

Brother has over 300k on his 300d Mercedes

Depending who you ask, you get different answers from people as to what their technology sweet-spot is.

I know people who think they NEED the latest/greatest digital interfaces in what they drive, and there is a lot of present day heavy-marketing directed their way in that respect.....

For those of us wrench-your-own types, the answer may be different...... unless you enjoy rebuilding carbs, fuel injection in most forms is a really Nice To Have.

Beyond that, I could live with an AM/FM radio, windup windows, A/C optional. For most street vehicles (unless I was planning Track Days), I'd prefer rear Drum Brakes.

I know with the (production year) range of vehicles that you have ur, that you've likely seen this - older and even vintage vehicles are sometimes way easier to find parts for in the aftermarket, and at lower cost, than for newer vehicles.

Rgds, D.

 

[Jstpssng]

While vehicle quality is way up, let's not forget what roads were like in the past.
Many of the roads I drive on today - nice smooth pavement - were gravel with potholes and washboards just 40 years ago.
Tires sure are more dependable now, too - when is the last time you got a flat? As a kid I remember changing flats right and left (partially because of the used tires we bought, but even new ones weren't fantastic). You can get a tire with an 80k mile warrantee now! I wouldn't, because I like traction, but I regularly buy 40k mile tires which actually get that and they don't hydroplane easily either.
I like the "don't make them like they used to - thank god!" quote, because it's really accurate.

The last time that I had a flat tire was just before I put 10 ply tires on my Ford Ranger. A bit of overkill I'll admit, but I drive a lot of gravel roads that are hard on tires.
I think that the oil today is probably better also, which has a lot to do with engine longevity. A lot of the repairs that people complain about are at mileages that most vehicles of 20 or more years ago didn't attain.

I found Moss' comment about scratching paint to be rather timely, as just last month our summer employee told me that I should be driving a Prius after I chose not to go pushing through the alders on a strange road, and on a separate occasion opted to unload the ATV rather than drive across a bridge which was obviously suffering from tired abutments.
Then again I probably knew everything when I was in college, also. Sometimes I can walk faster than I can drive, and he's never experienced that sinking feeling when the bridge gives way as you're halfway across it.

 

[3930dave]

I've got $7K total wrapped up in this 93 going on 11 years, and it's still worth $1500, so that's about $5500 for 11 years.... $500 per year for a daily driver... reminds me of my $500 Novas in the 70's and 80's. :laughing:

That comment reminds me of someone on TBN quoting his mechanic Dad from years back.... "You can buy Fuel, or you can buy Parts - take your pick".

Old quote now, but I think of it today, when chatting with my neighbour as to how his buddy is doing down-sizing his fleet unit-size....... still true now.....

Rgds, D.

 

[Ritothebull]

The fancy computers and electronics aren't what's making these engines get higher mileage, cleaner burning fuels, modern lubricants, better materials and technology used to build engine and drivetrain components are what's doing it. You can pull apart a modern engine with 300,000 miles on it and it will be pretty clean inside.

 

[ultrarunner]

Depending who you ask, you get different answers from people as to what their technology sweet-spot is.

I know people who think they NEED the latest/greatest digital interfaces in what they drive, and there is a lot of present day heavy-marketing directed their way in that respect.....

For those of us wrench-your-own types, the answer may be different...... unless you enjoy rebuilding carbs, fuel injection in most forms is a really Nice To Have.

Beyond that, I could live with an AM/FM radio, windup windows, A/C optional. For most street vehicles (unless I was planning Track Days), I'd prefer rear Drum Brakes.

I know with the (production year) range of vehicles that you have ur, that you've likely seen this - older and even vintage vehicles are sometimes way easier to find parts for in the aftermarket, and at lower cost, than for newer vehicles.

Rgds, D.

Being in California and having California Air Resources Board over vehicles 1976 and newer I have seem a lot of high end vehicles not worth much as they age... if a vehicle cannot pass smog the value plummets...

12 cylinder Mercedes and BMW, Range Rover, etc can have real problems as they age... emission parts may have been long discontinued and limited production means not much on the salvage side... things like CATs and be prohibitively expensive... then there are the air suspensions, digital instruments... etc...

Now, take a 20 year rust free Corolla with 180,000 miles on Craigslist and it will be gone over the weekend...

I hazard to say just about any part for my 80 year old Ford is available... ANY PART.

 

[Handloader109]

A couple of points, don't buy new, get a 2 or 3 year old vehicle. Depreciation is mostly done by then, still a lot of life in truck and you can save a lot..... insanity is paying what these dealers want for the new trucks. Heck my f150 Cost me less than the discount offered on a lot of the new trucks and mine was loaded and has been driven over 110k miles since purchase with nothing over normal maintenance.

Buying new vehicles will insure you remain poor... unless you can pay cash for the truck.

 

[dfkrug]

It is good to see lots of older PU trucks on the road and being used. You can "always" fix or have
fixed an older truck that is not crashed, for substantially less than the cost of a new truck. You can
even buy replacement frame sections to repair structural rust. Engines and trannies for common
trucks may cost a few thousand, but there is a lot of room for repairs when new means $30-70K.

If you want new looks or features, fine. Buy a new truck. Even here in CA, you can usually make
an older truck pass smog inspection. The hardest are from the 80s with the electronically-controlled
carbs. Cars had them too, but truck emissions limits are lower. Diesel PUs here don't need smog
inspections if newer than 1997. Cars: 1975, as ULTRA said.

 

[4570Man]

New truck #@$%@#&

I’ve got an old truck that still earns its keep. Manual window, manual transmission, bench seat, rubber floor liner, ac which doesn’t work. I’ve spent less than $200 in parts over 8000 miles. It needs a starter or ground cables or something so that’s probably another $100. It’s become pretty much essential to life. I wouldn’t sell my dump truck for anything close to what it’s actually worth.

 

[gsganzer]

I have a 2016 Chevy 3500 cab/chassis with flatbed. It's the work truck trim with vinyl seats and rubber floor, just the way I like it. The only convenience things I wish it had is climate control and steering wheel controls for the radio.

 

[3930dave]

Diesel PUs here don't need smog
inspections if newer than 1997. Cars: 1975, as ULTRA said.

df - did you mean older than 1997 ? Either way, I find that a bit surprising.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Re: New truck #@$%@#&

I致e got an old truck that still earns its keep. Manual window, manual transmission, bench seat, rubber floor liner, ac which doesn稚 work. I致e spent less than $200 in parts over 8000 miles. It needs a starter or ground cables or something so that痴 probably another $100. It痴 become pretty much essential to life. I wouldn稚 sell my dump truck for anything close to what it痴 actually worth.

What kind of a Mall can you buy dirt at ?

JK

A powerful and useful tool that's cost you next to nothing for parts - good value :thumbsup:

Rgds, D.