Doesn't exist (My perfect truck)

Varmintmist · Nov 20, 2004

Re: Doesn\'t exist (My perfect truck)

See, thats the thing. I DONT want something that is way out there, except maybe the 2 spd rear for gas milage and a loooow gear.

I just want a TRUCK in a 15 series. Not a wimped out SUV with a box on the back. They used to make TRUCKS is 15 seires Dodge made a freaking animal with a 318 around 79-80, 73 Chevy's with a three on the tree are still running (and getting 12 MPG /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) , Ford's with a 351 W or C would pull your house over if you were so inclined.

They had vinal seats, vinal floors, steel dashes, though you could get cloth if you wanted to pay for it and special order it. They acted like TRUCKS. Nothing fancy, not set up with a massive motor, just a standard truck.

......................

Course now if you took my armrest, AC, 4wd, and cruise away I'd probably mope around for a month. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

getut · Nov 20, 2004

Re: Doesn\'t exist (My perfect truck)

Amen Varmintmist...

Thats exactly what I was trying to say. Trucks used to be built like tanks. Now they push the envelope and try to make something that retains 80% of what makes it a truck while attracting the grocery getter in the family.

I want a 1/2 ton TRUCK! Something that pulls double duty of shaking out kidney stones because the suspension is so over-designed you could stack 3 other trucks in the bed and not even squat it. Something that will last 300,000 to 400,000 miles REGULARLY... not as the rare exception. And the engine to get it all moving.

In other words... the tugboat mentality.. nearly solid steel.. small... maneuverable.. but able to pull a house. I should not have to buy something 3/4 of a mile long, with seating for 1 section of the stands of a Nascar race. I just want to be able to haul all those people in the back, the cab is for me and my dog. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Oh yea... if the wife comes along, then we take the SUV.

Getut

hobbyfarm · Nov 20, 2004

Re: Doesn\'t exist (My perfect truck)

Hey bgott,
Way back when I used to work in the oilfield, you couldn't hardly beat one of those two stick trucks (5x4) for a winch truck! But, it took a special driver that knew what he had (read: experience).
The older Macks used a two stick tranny too.
phil

bgott · Nov 21, 2004

Re: Doesn\'t exist (My perfect truck)

The first two stick trucks I drove were R190 International 10 wheeler hay trucks with 450 and 501 c.i. gas engines with 5 and a 3s in them. I was about 14 or so. Then the guy I worked for bought a newer 'binder, I can't remember the model number, with a 549 Gas and a 5 and a 4. As long as you remember to shift the main before you shift the brownie they aren't to hard to drive. If you mess up and try to shift the brownie first you might as well stop and start over. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif The biggest pain was when you were pulling a long grade in the mountains and you forgot what gear you were in. I figured I was just a dummy until I realized that the guys with 25 years of experience did the same thing sometimes. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif I really got lost on the 6 and a 5 that I drove for a week or two. That's when I learned that you don't stop 125,000 pounds gross on a steep grade and expect to take off without spinning the driveshafts out of it. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif A 4 and a quarter Cat doesn't help in that circumstance. I felt bad after the 30 minute cussin' I got for doing that, that is, until an old timer took me around back of the shop and showed me the stack of spun out driveshafts. Back in those days they had an unbelievable amount of different combinations of transmissions. I've even seen quite a few brownie setups in pickups. Back then, I thought it was a challenge to drive 'em. Now I'm old and lazy and figure it's too much work to stir them sticks.

bgott · Nov 21, 2004

Re: Doesn\'t exist (My perfect truck)

The best part of all vinyl and no computerized options under the dash is that you can run hose 'em out when they need cleaning. If you try that with a new one you'll total it out. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif And I hope there is a special place in **** for the rocket scientist that came up with the glued in thin felt headliners that all the new cars and trucks seem to have. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

LWFrisk · Nov 21, 2004

Re: Doesn\'t exist (My perfect truck)

I sold my '78 Chevy 3/4 ton dual cab, dually a year ago. I bought it in '82 with a blown engine and put in a rebuilt Cat 1160 with an Allison 6 speed automatic in it. I also added a late model Brownie 4 speed. It was the best towing truck I ever had. It would top just about any mountain in Southern California with my 24 foot camp trailer at 65 miles per hour. I could get a bit over 22 miles per gallon, and it did not make a lot of difference when I pulled the trailer. Shifting was not a problem, I would just shift the Allison to neutral, make my shift and it worked out great. Now that the gas price has gone out of site, kind of wish I had not sold it.

Leo in San Diego

AndyM · Nov 21, 2004

Re: Doesn\'t exist (My perfect truck)

There's a lot of 1970's trucks on Ebay right now with low miles.
I'm looking at selling my Ford Ranger and Ford Club Wagon and replacing them with one Ford F250, and I've been on Ebay looking for ideas.

cowboydoc · Nov 21, 2004

Re: Doesn\'t exist (My perfect truck)

Those new fangled plastic bed liners are only good for people that don't use their truck for much more than a sack or two of groceries 

I would have to say based on my experience that statement is completely false. I put a bedliner in all of my new trucks, esp. the ones that we trade. I use my trucks very hard. We throw, and I do mean throw, firewood, implements, concrete, fence posts and all kinds of other assorted materials that would dent a bed to heck. When I take out the bedliner to trade the truck it is just like brand new. I have never had a bed that was dented or even had the paint scratched when the plastic bedliner came out. We get the non-skid ones and cut 2x? to fit in the slots to hold any kind of material in place.

cowboydoc · Nov 21, 2004

Re: Doesn\'t exist (My perfect truck)

Well I guess I'd settle for an automatic.. one that can handle the torq of the modern diesels. 

 I need a better "woa" system. Fully porportional, no more "piddling" with the break controller as driving conditions change. 

You can get both of these with the new 05 superduty trucks. The torqhshift from Ford is proving to be able to more than handle the big hp and torque of the diesel. This transmission was built specifically for the diesel not for gas and then put in a diesel. I've been very impressed with it.

Ford also has a new integrated brake controller that work with the brakes of the truck. There is no more fiddling with the controller. There are sensors all through the transmission, brakes, and driver controls that monitor and apply the appropriate braking. I've been towing heavy loads with this size truck for 20 some years and there has never been anything to compare to it. Hauling 30k down a 2 mile 6% grade used to be a hair raising experience. Now with the torqshift and IBC you can start out at 40 mph and at the bottom of the mountain you are maybe going 45. It's really incredible what they've done with the new system.

For a two speed transmission that's easy. Just get an over/under from gear vendors. It costs about $1800 to buy one and another $500 to have it installed.

bgott · Nov 21, 2004

Re: Doesn\'t exist (My perfect truck)

I hate 'em. I have had the non skid and the regular smooth ones and you have to have a rubber liner on 'em to keep large metal objects from sliding around. That isn't bad for loading, sometimes, but it can make tying stuff down a treat. The little ribs that are on the bottom of most of them will trap gravel and you have to go through it with a screw driver to pry it out. I have seen quite a few trucks that have the paint under the liner wore through to the metal and galvanizing and rust holes blown through the bed from the water trapped down there. I think you live in a little drier climate than here, not only do we get 1" to 3" an hour rain on a fairly regular basis but the humidity condenses in a place like the gap between the liner and the bed so it stays wet most of the time. Around here if I grind a piece of metal clean and leave it under my carport out of the weather it'll end up well rusted in a day or two, that's with air circulating around it. Those bed liners might work well where you are, and I'm sure some folks down here love 'em, but me and all those folks laying out the bucks for LineX and Rhino spray- ins don't have much use for 'em. At least until we need to sell the truck and hide the pounded out bed. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif