Do we expect too much out of our trucks?

[Dmace]

I remember learning to drive Dad's old Ford with a three on the tree. Now you can't even get a stick in a new Ford 1/2 ton.

Dodge still offers a manual option, even in the Diesel. Still no manual in the 1/2-ton HEMI but you can get the 3/4-ton with a HEMI and manual tranny.
I wonder if they just weren't selling for Ford and GM or they didn't want to design a manual tranny tough enough for these newer more powerful engines. I love driving a stick but if it's for mostly towing then I'll take the auto any day.

Gonna have to disagree with this one. Gas engines are the ones who do not sit very well. Diesel will stay good for a long time. I only crank one of my tractors 2-3 times per year and I have no problem starting it right up after warming up the glow plugs. If I let anything with gas sit 6+ months not only will the gas go bad but the water mixed with the ethanol will eat the metal in the carbs and make a heck of a mess.

It's not the diesel fuel that doesn't sit well, it's the engine itself that will not last nearly as long if it sits around more often then not. If you treat the fuel (gas or diesel) properly then there will not be a problem with either. On top of that you have those massive batteries that drain quickly and huge engine internals that need constant oiling or they rust to the side walls very quickly. Keep in mind a diesel truck is very different from a diesel tractor engine, neither should sit long without running though...

 

[MikePA]

I'm getting all misty eyed for oil bath air cleaners, points and condensers.:laughing:

 

[mustangsallysdad]

Dodge still offers a manual option, even in the Diesel. Still no manual in the 1/2-ton HEMI but you can get the 3/4-ton with a HEMI and manual tranny.
I wonder if they just weren't selling for Ford and GM or they didn't want to design a manual tranny tough enough for these newer more powerful engines. I love driving a stick but if it's for mostly towing then I'll take the auto any day.

It's not the diesel fuel that doesn't sit well, it's the engine itself that will not last nearly as long if it sits around more often then not. If you treat the fuel (gas or diesel) properly then there will not be a problem with either. On top of that you have those massive batteries that drain quickly and huge engine internals that need constant oiling or they rust to the side walls very quickly. Keep in mind a diesel truck is very different from a diesel tractor engine, neither should sit long without running though...

It's funny you mention that...I LOVE a manual transmission. I know that with today's towing combinations an automatic is a given as far as the manufacturer is concerned. But, I always liked to be able to select my own gear when hauling or towing, especially up and down hills and for engine braking. Even with the automatic I find myself manually downshifting for engine braking if coming down a grade. I guess some of the other posters in this thread nailed it when mentioning that the driver "interface" if you will, has been removed from our daily driving. It really doesn't take a lot of driver interaction anymore. Seems vehicles have been "dumbed down" to the point where it takes very little skill, if any, to drive them. Heck, my wife's new Ford car will even parallel park itself. No joke, you even take your hands off the wheel so as not to interfere with the car parking itself! Maybe I should have said "Smarted up". Time was you had to be reasonably skilled to drive a vehicle of any kind. Remember "double clutching" back before synchro's? Mention that to most people under 35 or 40 years of age today and you get a blank stare or a "Huh?" I've got an old F450 rollback with a 460 and a split differential that I will sometimes drive into town on errands just to enjoy shifting a gear or two. Now let's see...got me wondering how my V10 F350 would drive with an old toploader 4 speed I've got sitting around the shop? Hmmmm?

 

[Egon]

I'm getting all misty eyed for oil bath air cleaners, points and condensers

What, you mean cleaning and changing every 10K miles does not top your list of desirable activities!:laughing::laughing:

I've still got all the necessary tools required for those jobs but fortunately have forgotten how to use them.:thumbsup:

 

[mustangsallysdad]

I'm getting all misty eyed for oil bath air cleaners, points and condensers.:laughing:

Mike, I've got a dual point distributor and points all set up and ready to go for a Ford FE series engine if you really miss them...I guess there are SOME things about the older cars that I don't miss afterall...it is nice to turn the key on a 41 year old car and have it fire right up! (Don't tell anyone but I sneaked in electronic ignition and fuel injection on an old Mustang).

 

[MikePA]

What, you mean cleaning and changing every 10K miles does not top your list of desirable activities!:laughing::laughing:

I've still got all the necessary tools required for those jobs but fortunately have forgotten how to use them.:thumbsup:

I should have added tuning dual Weber carbs on MGs. Oh yeah, that was fun.

No, we do not expect too much out of our trucks, or cars, etc. :confused2:

 

[mustangsallysdad]

I should have added tuning dual Weber carbs on MGs. Oh yeah, that was fun.

No, we do not expect too much out of our trucks, or cars, etc. :confused2:

I found the solution to those Webers...my wife's '72 MGB has the drivetrain from a '91 Mustang GT in it...took some shoehorning, to say the least. Did it about 15 years ago...I don't know that I have the patience to do that one again. But, man, it goes like stink!

 

[20 20]

Um, that's not what I said, at least that's not what I meant. Perhaps an example...

I figured, sorry about that I kind of got into a rant

If a backhoe operator is digging a trench it means he is bringing in revenue for the company he works for or himself. The more trenches he can did in a day, the more the revenue. Any feature of the backhoe that helps him dig more trenches in the same amount of time means more revenue.

Agreed an operator and machine that can work fluidly are a good compo.

If he is fixing a backhoe, he's not bringing in revenue. If he's not trained to fix the backhoe and takes 4 hours to fix it versus a trained mechanic who can do it in an hour, he's losing even more revenue.

Here is where I have to disagree to a point. If the machine breaks and he can fix it, even in the 4hrs it is still cheaper then hiring/finding a mechanic to drive out and work on it. Now obviously if it is something serious or indepth then of course a mechanic will be needed. BUT an operator with mechanical skills that doesn't mind getting their hands dirty is WAAAAYYY better then the operator that whines all day. I can think of an example that was just on TV; One of the logging crews hired a couple of folks that would not fix OR even try to fix things out in the woods "because it was not their job!" The fixes were simple and ended up costing big bucks mostly because of down time waiting for a mechanic to come out and tighten a bolt. I have seen this type of stuff happen many of times over my years. When I drove tractor trailer I was an owner operator, and I can tell you if I didn't have mechanical skills I would have went belly up real fast waiting and paying for simple fixes.

Years ago, old timers probably thought a canopy was for girly men. A cab? For sissies. A cab with AC and a radio? What is the world coming to? A cab, AC, radio and GPS? Why, my granpappy could line up the dent in the hood with the old oak tree and plow a pretty straight line. If it makes the operator more efficient, that's more production, and more revenue.

Of course then we have today were everything stops because without GPS we're lost geees those stupid maps

I'm not sure if they would have thought of the machines as being "girly men" maybe some of the operators of today I still believe it is the operator knowledge that keeps things running smooth not the machine. Let me ask this? If you owned a business who would you want running your machine. Two folks apply for the job, they both can run the machine but only one checks everything out AND KNOWS what to look for before the start of the day??? Driving a machine and being a responsible operator are two completely different things and can make or break a company especially in hard times.

 

[MikePA]

Driving a machine and being a responsible operator are two completely different things and can make or break a company especially in hard times.

Agreed.

 

[mustangsallysdad]

I figured, sorry about that I kind of got into a rant



Agreed an operator and machine that can work fluidly are a good compo.



Here is where I have to disagree to a point. If the machine breaks and he can fix it, even in the 4hrs it is still cheaper then hiring/finding a mechanic to drive out and work on it. Now obviously if it is something serious or indepth then of course a mechanic will be needed. BUT an operator with mechanical skills that doesn't mind getting their hands dirty is WAAAAYYY better then the operator that whines all day. I can think of an example that was just on TV; One of the logging crews hired a couple of folks that would not fix OR even try to fix things out in the woods "because it was not their job!" The fixes were simple and ended up costing big bucks mostly because of down time waiting for a mechanic to come out and tighten a bolt. I have seen this type of stuff happen many of times over my years. When I drove tractor trailer I was an owner operator, and I can tell you if I didn't have mechanical skills I would have went belly up real fast waiting and paying for simple fixes.



Of course then we have today were everything stops because without GPS we're lost geees those stupid maps

I'm not sure if they would have thought of the machines as being "girly men" maybe some of the operators of today I still believe it is the operator knowledge that keeps things running smooth not the machine. Let me ask this? If you owned a business who would you want running your machine. Two folks apply for the job, they both can run the machine but only one checks everything out AND KNOWS what to look for before the start of the day??? Driving a machine and being a responsible operator are two completely different things and can make or break a company especially in hard times.

My neighbor (white collar type) had the dealer come out on a service call to change a bad hydraulic hose ($175)...said he was afraid of messing something up on his tractor...He has about an acre and a half to mow and that's all he uses it for (well, an occasional driveway plow). I told him (he asked my advice, I didn't offer) to sell the Kubota and get a riding mower.