Best 3 trucks you've ever owned.

[Fuddyduddy1952]

My Dad let me drive his 1947 Packard when I could barely peek over the steering wheel...but of course he was right there. A cop pulled us over (late at night)...he thought it was funny...but that was 1958.
Grandad did same thing taking me up in his Cessna "I feel faint...you'll have to take over". I was really small then.

 

[Joel/ak]

My Dad let me drive his 1947 Packard when I could barely peek over the steering wheel...but of course he was right there. A cop pulled us over (late at night)...he thought it was funny...but that was 1958.
Grandad did same thing taking me up in his Cessna "I feel faint...you'll have to take over". I was really small then.

The Cessna thing is funny and I can relate.

My bear hunting buddy in AK had a small plane. I was in my late 30's and he was in his 60's. On one trip to skwentna, he suggested I learn how to fly in case something happened to him. I told him he better stay healthy.

He taught me enough that hopefully I can walk away from the crash site.

I'll keep my trucks thank you

 

[Jstpssng]

I parked an old beat up 5 speed oil burning escort on unobstructed hills purposely for over a month

I lost reverse in my 1981 F100 and drove it for about 6 months before swapping out the transmission. THAT took some planning, although I did get in trouble once while hunting and had to have somebody pull me backwards. I changed the tranny and engine at the same time after the cat plugged up and almost set the truck on fire.

 

[fidowanttobe]

Not in any particular order,

1998 Chevy S10 2x4 2.2L 5 speed standard cab short box.
Over 250K and has had a clutch kit and routine Mobil 1 maintenance.

1997 GMC Jimmy (S10 Blazer) 4x4 4.3L Auto 4 door
244K intake gaskets, cv shafts and again Mobil 1 maintenance

2000 Chevy S10 Blazer 4x4 4.3L 5 speed 2 door
195K Intake gaskets, cv shafts, clutch kit, and Mobil 1 maintenance.

See a pattern here?
These trucks don't owe me a dime. I don't count wear items like brakes, shocks, tires, etc. They tow cars and my tractor on my car trailer, PU box trailers, occasional stock trailer, and daily drive 47 miles round trip to work every day. Unbelievably reliable.
And I USE them, Some might say abuse, but we live rural and have bad snow roads. I don't buy new and very rarely so I keep saying I'll run them till the wheels fall off, . . . . they just never do.
North Dakota is hard on bodies though. Blazer is on my hoist right now getting rocker panels and small patches by rear wheels.
Long term project is a body swap on a rolled, (bought it that way) 1998 S10 4x4 4.3 manual standard cab short box. Pretty close to paint now.
I agree as earlier mentioned that it is sad that the manual is a dying option. I actually enjoy shifting and after a while, you don't even realize you are doing it.

 

[MossRoad]

Not in any particular order,

1998 Chevy S10 2x4 2.2L 5 speed standard cab short box.
Over 250K and has had a clutch kit and routine Mobil 1 maintenance.

1997 GMC Jimmy (S10 Blazer) 4x4 4.3L Auto 4 door
244K intake gaskets, cv shafts and again Mobil 1 maintenance

2000 Chevy S10 Blazer 4x4 4.3L 5 speed 2 door
195K Intake gaskets, cv shafts, clutch kit, and Mobil 1 maintenance.

See a pattern here?
...

Yeah. You're due for a 2002 pretty soon!

 

[jjeff]

Question, wasn't RAM the last manufacturer to offer a manual transmission with the Cummins in full size 3/4 and 1 tons?

 

[deserteagle71]

Question, wasn't RAM the last manufacturer to offer a manual transmission with the Cummins in full size 3/4 and 1 tons?

Correct. I believe 2019 was the last year a manual was available.

 

[fidowanttobe]

Yeah. You're due for a 2002 pretty soon!

Man, . . . . I don't know!
All those newfangled gizmos and creature comforts would scare me!!

 

[Oaktree]

Yeah. You're due for a 2002 pretty soon!

Man, . . . . I don't know!
All those newfangled gizmos and creature comforts would scare me!!

Early 00s should be OK, by mid-decade maybe not.
My '02 Dakota is pretty strippo. It's a V8/automatic, but that's about it. Crank windows, no heated seats/mirrors, no electronic key fob, no telematics. No backup camera, but it's easy enough to see out of that you don't really need one.
It's a truck, if I wanted a luxury vehicle I'd have bought one. I did swap out the base model radio for the "premium" one from a junkyard...wow, AM-FM, CD and cassette!! What more could you ask for??
It has A/C but I don't know if it works, Never tried it. Don't need it here.

 

[jjeff]

One thing I've noticed which is very beneficial for folks like me who are more concerned with getting from point a-b somewhat reliably and don't care about some rust or a few dents. Is you still find good deals on older vehicles if some of the creature comforts like AC, cruise, power door locks etc aren't working lol.