Just can't get a good basic truck, like the old days!

[ultrarunner]

Your perhaps right but batteries are not cheep by any means... I still love the concept of individual options something compagnies have steered off within the last decade or so. Its fine to have them as bundles (even that is not so much of a thing anymore) as a discount but give the individual options.

Japan kind of pioneered the 3 trim levels in part because of the long lead time.

Europe was on of the last holdouts where every option down to cigarette lighter had an option code..

 

[jjeff]

I’ve always used thick rubber liner and under the liner the metal and paint remain pristine…

In my cheap foolishness and weariness of leaving my truck out in the California sun for extended periods of time, yrs ago I covered it with a plastic tarp one time. Came back 6 months later truck paint had nothing but swirl marks, scratches,and in a few spots paint was worn down to primer.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Does nj use road salt? I think that's the biggest rust cause.

I do not know if NJ uses salt on the roads these days but they did back in the mid 70's. I hauled plenty of salt from Retsof and Ithica, NY to NJ. Also, deep mined salt from Louisiana was brought into Port Newark to serve the metro area.

 

[jyoutz]

In my cheap foolishness and weariness of leaving my truck out in the California sun for extended periods of time, yrs ago I covered it with a plastic tarp one time. Came back 6 months later truck paint had nothing but swirl marks, scratches,and in a few spots paint was worn down to primer.

Sounds like the wind caused the tarp to flap and wear on the paint.

 

[RB5]

I'd probably never buy a 4x4 show truck, however.

Wasn't a 4x4, but I had a Cordova Brown 77 Chevy Big 10 (heavy half) with 60's and chrome spoke wheels.

 

[jjeff]

I’ve always used thick rubber liner and under the liner the metal and paint remain pristine…

That's what I thought except moisture got trapped under the thick rubber bedliners mat. Plastic tops on bed rails just rubbed away the rubber mounting adhesive then the paint, when I finally noticed what was happening the rust was so severe it already perforated in the box and top of bedsides. If I would have checked and addressed the issue probably wouldn't have a rusted thru bed and tops of bed sides.

 

[Oaktree]

I don't remember if a sliding rear window was an option in the 78 Chev.

Can't speak for Chevy's but my old '78 F-100 had one.

 

[WinterDeere]

Can't speak for Chevy's but my old '78 F-100 had one.

My last two trucks have had electric sliding windows, and about once per year I think, "it'd be nice to open that and get some thru-breeze." Then I'm reminded why rear windows are the dumbest idea ever, as my truck fills with leaves in the fall or tree seed pods in the spring, each time I open the damn thing.

The shape of a pickup truck basically ensures there's a vortex of wind back there that essentially pushes all debris collected in the bed straight into the cab, if you open that window above 25 mph.

 

[Flogger]

My daily driver is an F-250 of 2000 vintage. 20 years ago I would have listed it as piss elegant. Now about the only difference between it and a bare bones work truck is carpet. At 300k it’s still a great pickup.

 

[4570Man]

My daily driver is an F-250 of 2000 vintage. 20 years ago I would have listed it as piss elegant. Now about the only difference between it and a bare bones work truck is carpet. At 300k it’s still a great pickup.

I’ve had 2 fords that were actually bare bones. Like they deleted the door pocket level trim. I wouldn’t consider the 2004 lariat I had as a bare bones truck.

 

[WinterDeere]

 

[Gregster613]

Can't speak for Chevy's but my old '78 F-100 had one.

So did a '79 Dodge (1500?) I had. I can't remember if it was called a 1500, but it was the smaller sized one with a 360 engine. Pulled anything I put behind it but it also never gave me more than 10 - 12 MPG ever!

 

[Eagle1]

So did a '79 Dodge (1500?) I had. I can't remember if it was called a 1500, but it was the smaller sized one with a 360 engine. Pulled anything I put behind it but it also never gave me more than 10 - 12 MPG ever!

D150 sounds more like it...

 

[Jstpssng]

Here is a new, AWD, ecoboost Maverick, for $26,793, on the dealer lot in Ocala. Yes, its white, yes, steel wheels, but we do get AC, cruise control, cup holders, back up cameras, ect

That's all that I need. I'm waffling between buying something simple to drive when I don't need a 4wd pickup; or trading my Colorado and the same amount of money for a new ????

Does nj use road salt? I think that's the biggest rust cause.

Not anymore. They have some type of liquid calcium which works at lower temps... and strips the metal right off your car. People like it because 2 days after an ice storm they can do 70 down the highway.

 

[Hay Dude]

One of the first trucks I ever drove was a late 70’s Dodge 150 Powerwagon 4WD with a 4 speed manual transmission. I plowed snow with it and all sorts of other jobs. 318 V-8 and a rams head hood ornament.
I kind of liked that truck.

 

[jjeff]

That's all that I need. I'm waffling between buying something simple to drive when I don't need a 4wd pickup; or trading my Colorado and the same amount of money for a new ????

Not anymore. They have some type of liquid calcium which works at lower temps... and strips the metal right off your car. People like it because 2 days after an ice storm they can do 70 down the highway.

Liquid calcium chloride we added to road salt on freeways. Was more effective in colder temps. I think winter driving is a lost skill. Anyways I grew up they used mostly sand at stop signs and hills. Roads were constantly snow/ice covered from end of November til March.

 

[Jstpssng]

One of the first trucks I ever drove was a late 70’s Dodge 150 Powerwagon 4WD with a 4 speed manual transmission. I plowed snow with it and all sorts of other jobs. 318 V-8 and a rams head hood ornament.
I kind of liked that truck.

My father had a '78 Power Wagon with full time 4WD which he used to plow around the property as well as a few parking lots to cover his insurance. It had 12k miles on it when he replaced both front axles... just after the warranty ran put.
He traded it that summer.

 

[WinterDeere]

So did a '79 Dodge... Pulled anything I put behind it but it also never gave me more than 10 - 12 MPG ever!

Damn
Old
Dirty
Gas
Eater

 

[paulsharvey]

My 2005 2500HD got 12 mpg with the 6.0l. Sons 2003 1500HD gets 11 mpg with his 6.0L. I have seen plenty of stuff with the newer 6.6L gas, 6.4L hemi, and 7.3L godzilla suggesting 16ish mpg empty/8 towing 10,000 lbs, mixed driving, with the 7.3L getting like 17.1 mpg empty.

 

[Eagle1]

Damn
Old
Dirty
Gas
Eater

Yup but then it Mopar or Nocar

I'm actually looking an older Silverado 2500 this week, sacrilege, but I'm trying to a avoid buying a used Ford. The Rams are all beat too death or too much around here. Mostly 2WD not what I'm looking for.