Daily Driver to Limited Use Pickup

[crashz]

The others have covered it well.

I've had poor service with mothballs and/or dryer sheets. Most farmers in my area keep cats around for the mice issues and never seem to have a problem.

BTW - the truck is way to nice to get rid of or trade in. I'd keep it too.

 

[tlj87]

I think you should get rid of it or send it my way! I love the package 4.9L 300, 4x4, 5spd manual, Std. cab, 8' bed, especially the six. If they made them today, I buy one in a heartbeat. Best engine I ever had.

I can't part with it, that is why I'm trying to justify keeping it! I could probably get away with buying a trailer (like the one in the picture) and towing it with an SUV, but I really like that truck and can't see anyone else having it. Very reliable, indeed!

I am on the look out for a snow plow for it so it can get some winter use when I visit my camp.

As for a barn cat - I don't know if that is feasible considering my weekend and limited winter usage...

So, what is the verdict on the gas - higher grades have less or no ethanol?

 

[Qapla]

So, what is the verdict on the gas - higher grades have less or no ethanol?

Don't know where you are, but you said it snows and you are moving to Pit. perhaps you are in PA. I live in Florida and we don't have that worry.

We do have ethanol in the gas and they use the same percentage in all grades ... at least they say they do ... perhaps your state is the same.

We have a 1973 1 ton dual flatbed with a 300 and 4 spd manual (1st gear is a granny) that sits for EXTENDED periods (this last time for about 3 years) and we didn't really do anything with it. It still cranked, but the battery was dead and needed replacing. There is also some rust (well, there are some areas without rust would be more accurate) on the cab - wood flatbed.

I would recommend doing much more than we did since you have a much nicer truck. Ours sitting that long was actually unintentional, but good to know how durable the truck is.

As far as a cat goes ... as long as she has somewhere to get in out of the weather and a place to get water, she will feed herself - ours do. If you feed them too much, they won't hunt. Just take some cat food when you go and give her some when you are there to supplement her natural diet.

If you store any animal food at the camp (cat, dog, cattle, horse, etc.) keep it in a trash can with a tight fitting lid to keep the local critters from finding it and helping themselves.

 

[SARG]

I second the suggestion on a $25. battery maintainer .. trickle charger.

I would also buy a few cans of fluid film and spray anywhere I thought rust would be an issue. The stuff is safe on paints and excellent for under the vehicle. A local dealer here has sprayed the undercarriage of his personal vehicles twice per year and he swears by the stuff.

I just bought a case of 12 cans off Ebay for $78.

 

[tlj87]

Thanks for all of the advice!
I will take this into consideration. Truck is in the shop this week while I am on vacation. Getting a rebuilt steering box installed (two inches of slop in wheel with original box) and front bearings packed with grease along with oil change/lube. Will get it oiled (undercoating) within the next month. I'll still be driving the truck regularly for the rest of this year... looking to get a new DD after the first of the year.

Any tips or suggestions as to what to look for in a used snow plow?

 

[Diamondpilot]

Plow brands are all a matter of preference. I would not go any larger than a 7.5' plow on that size truck. Main thing to look for is broken or bent parts and any previous repairs.

Around here the casual user like me have Meyer. They are cheap and the parts are the cheapest because there are many aftermarket parts are made for them. Fisher makes a good plow but costly and not many aftermarket parts. Boss makes a excellent plow but they are 1.5 times the cost of the others. You get what you pay for. Again, not many aftermarket parts.

For the casual user its tough to beat a Meyer on price alone.

Chris

 

[Cat_Driver]

I had a Jeep Rubicon that I bought new in 2005 with hopes of doing a lot of four wheeling. Well I ended up only using it once a year in December going up to the snow.

The other 51 week it just sat. I did nothing to it. In more than five years I had less than10,000 miles on it. So not starting it in a month is child's play. The only thing with be rust, that will kill any vehicle.

Right before I sold it I thought I would change the oil for the new owner and when the records were pulled up I only drove 500 miles that year from oil change to oil change.

Only once was the battery dead in the year but I found a short and once I fixed the short it never went dead again year to year. I did nothing to the fuel, but I always did change the fluids with high quality synthetics.

 

[WH401]

I had a Jeep Rubicon that I bought new in 2005 with hopes of doing a lot of four wheeling. Well I ended up only using it once a year in December going up to the snow.

The other 51 week it just sat. I did nothing to it. In more than five years I had less than10,000 miles on it. So not starting it in a month is child's play. The only thing with be rust, that will kill any vehicle.

You have to remember though that the OP's vehicle is a 16 year old truck with over 160k on it. It's much easier for a new/newer vehicle to sit and not have any issues arise as opposed to an older one with some miles on it. Once an older, used vehicle starts to sit for any amount of time over a week or two it starts to deteriorate, fast. Regular use is the best thing for keeping a high mileage, older vehicle going.

 

[buck12]

You have to remember though that the OP's vehicle is a 16 year old truck with over 160k on it. It's much easier for a new/newer vehicle to sit and not have any issues arise as opposed to an older one with some miles on it. Once an older, used vehicle starts to sit for any amount of time over a week or two it starts to deteriorate, fast. Regular use is the best thing for keeping a high mileage, older vehicle going.

True, I bought an IH Scout in the early 90s from the original owner. It was in great condition but had set up for several years. Within the first year or two I had replaced almost every seal and gasket on it: went through both axles, most hoses, door caskets, rebuild power steering pump, and on and on.

 

[jayste]

You'll have to deal w/critters wanting to make it their home also. Especially mice

And rats. As I was reading all the responses I was thinking of rodents. They do like wire sheathing and places to make a nest. Sorry critters! Nice truck, BTW. I'd like to have on like it.