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

[WinterDeere]

Now heat vs AC, I want heat more than AC... When it's -10 it sucks to drive a truck with no heat more than no AC at 100. Of course in FL I'm in shorts 99% of the year, NO way to survive there with out AC

Are heat and AC still even options? I assumed they are included as "factory basic" in every pickup truck made today.

I also didn't list "wheels" in my options. I assume they're included.

An older buddy used to like to tell a story of a time he tried to order a Jeep CJ with no options. Apparently, Jeep used to like to advertise super low "starting from $xxxx" prices, because they made everything down to the wheels themselves an option. This buddy went to the local Jeep dealership, and asked to buy the basic configuration advertised at that "starting from $xxxx" price, and was told he couldn't.

Salesman: "But it doesn't have wheels or a windshield!"

Buddy: "I'm fine with that, I have them at home."

Salesman: "Sorry, we're not allowed to sell it that way."

Buddy: "So why do you advertise that as the price?"

 

[paulsharvey]

On second thought, as a truly spare, farm, and around type vehicle; I could go even more spartan. I probably would be willing to forgo windows (maybe a fold up wind screen, love bugs hurt at 65 mph), and skip ac and heat, and have a rhino lined interior, and vinyl. It still need to be street legal, 4wd, able to run 65mph or so, have lights, but if I could get that with a 2500-3000 lbs bed payload rating... I dont even need it to be a Large/Long bed, just big enough to say, hold two pallets.

Think a over sized UTV, thats street legal. You would choose to drive it 35 miles, most time, but 4 miles to hardware store, sure. And in a pinch, yes, you could drive it 50 miles or more.

Heck, i wouldn't even ask for a key ignition,

 

[Eagle1]

Are heat and AC still even options? I assumed they are included as "factory basic" in every pickup truck made today.

I also didn't list "wheels" in my options. I assume they're included.

An older buddy used to like to tell a story of a time he tried to order a Jeep CJ with no options. Apparently, Jeep used to like to advertise super low "starting from $xxxx" prices, because they made everything down to the wheels themselves an option. This buddy went to the local Jeep dealership, and asked to buy the basic configuration advertised at that "starting from $xxxx" price, and was told he couldn't.

Salesman: "But it doesn't have wheels or a windshield!"

Buddy: "I'm fine with that, I have them at home."

Salesman: "Sorry, we're not allowed to sell it that way."

Buddy: "So why do you advertise that as the price?"

Heat is normally there but if your valve or heater core fail, you find out how much you miss it. Had one fail on a 5 degree morning with a 2 hour drive I had to make. It was fixed ASAP

 

[Eagle1]

On second thought, as a truly spare, farm, and around type vehicle; I could go even more spartan. I probably would be willing to forgo windows (maybe a fold up wind screen, love bugs hurt at 65 mph, ac, heat, and have a rhino lined interior, and vinyl. It still need to be street legal, 4wd, able to run 65mph or so, have lights, but if I could get that with a 2500-3000 lbs bed payload rating... I dont even need it to be a Large/Long bed, just big enough to say, hold two pallets.

Think a over sized UTV, thats street legal. You would choose to drive it 35 miles, most time, but 4 miles to hardware store, sure. And in a pinch, yes, you could drive it 50 miles or more.

Heck, i would even ask for a key ignition,

How would you fit 2 pallets of stuff in <8 foot bed. I see a pallet as 4 x 4 foot square or bigger.

 

[Hay Dude]

Give me the heat any day over the cold.

 

[paulsharvey]

How would you fit 2 pallets of stuff in QUOTE]Lot of pallets are 40" x48" or 42x42.

 

[WinterDeere]

Give me the heat any day over the cold.

I can dress for the coldest days we ever have, without much effort. But there's only so much I can take off on a hot day, before the neighbors complain.

Besides, running a chainsaw nude could have undesirable results.

 

[Hay Dude]

You could carry 2 pallets in a shortbed truck by lowering the tailgate and using a ratchet strap to insure they don’t slide out

 

[Hay Dude]

I can dress for the coldest days we ever have, without much effort. But there's only so much I can take off on a hot day, before the neighbors complain.

Besides, running a chainsaw nude could have undesirable results.

When it gets cold, every work, football, lacrosse and boxing injury I have comes back to haunt me.

 

[jjeff]

Rubberized vinyl floors, cloth, not vinyl seats spray in bed liner was cheaper as part of an other option package. Work truck convenience package, I splurged on this truck I ordered rear USB ports which also included a bed AC power outlet comes with a cab ac outlet also Cab marker lights, Tow package with factory electric trailer brake controller, defrosting manually folding extending mirrors. Ac, cruise, power windows and locks, rear window defrost Alaska snow plow prep package w/ out the freaking grizzly bear graphics logo on bed. Id order it with a 6 speed manual if I could have and manual 4x4 floor shifter but neither were available. Priciest option upgrade was the 6.6 Duramax. Definitely didn't get a white colored truck. 18" wheels w/ all terrain tires, also part of an option package. Trucks these days come with a lot of things I've grown accustomed to like a backup camera, exhaust brake on diesels, etc. most other options I could have cared less for but came with another package I wanted or come standard I guess. Problaby forgetting a few things looking forward to taking delivery of my new truck. Fingers it's as reliable as my Sierra has been.

 

[paulsharvey]

Last few vehicles, we have wrnt to getting the Weather Tech fitted floor mats. Some do fit better than others, but over all, im a fan of them. They are more durable, and cheaper than the OEM options. Take them out to dump sand off, hose them off, and put them back in. And, they dont slide around

 

[Hay Dude]

They’ve figured out a lot of things to add to trucks. The 2 main things they haven’t quite figured out are
1. preventing rust
2. overall reliability

#1 feels like a hopeless cause. Some now make parts of the truck from aluminum or plastic. Thats an improvement, but the pickup bed rust still happening in the 2020’s is inexcusable.

#2 could be offset with a longer warranty. I liked that Ram offered a 5YR 100,000 mile warranty on the entire powertrain rather than Ford or GM, which at the time only offered a 5YR, 100K mile warranty on the diesel engine (3yr 36K on the rest of the powertrain). Ford increased their warranty to match Ram. I don’t know what GM does now.

The way I figure it, if you buy new and expect to keep more than the factory warranty, you might as well extend the warranty and just roll it into the payments.

I just lost my coolant expansion tank sensor (comes as part of the tank assembly) That looks to be about $1,000. I also lost my passenger side heated mirror. Probably $200. My extended warranty was $2,900. So those repairs have been covered by the extended warranty. Don’t know if anything else will happen before the extended warranty expires (7yr, 75,000 bumper to bumper).

The next manufacturer that offers 10yr 100K on powertrain will get a serious look from me.

 

[John0829]

Our 76 Chevy had a 292 straight 6. Dad wanted the 6 rather than a V8. Big 6 cyl. About 120 HP.

I wish I could find a 292 in a truck now, it along with the 300 Ford were the best engines ever put out IMHO. That long stroke engine gave you torque the V8's didn't.

I had a 292 in a 1966 3/4 ton with a granny 4 speed, that truck would take off in 2nd , of course, with over a ton on it and not even grunt. It would also pull down as low a 10 mph with that same ton load and not even need to shift if you did not want to and yet I got 14 mpg loaded or empty.

Our first trip out west in the 80's to the Grand Canyon and up though the Colorado Rockies was in that truck with a pickup camper on it, it was a truck I trusted to get me where ever I wanted/needed to be anytime any weather. Would love to have one just like it now or even to find it to restore, manual everything and dependable like a sunrise.

 

[paulsharvey]

Isn't Ram increasing to 10 yr/100k warranty or something? Maybe I've got it wrong, but i know i watched a video about them revamping the entire warranty going forward, and it being pretty dang good.

 

[jjeff]

They’ve figured out a lot of things to add to trucks. The 2 main things they haven’t quite figured out are
1. preventing rust
2. overall reliability

#1 feels like a hopeless cause. Some now make parts of the truck from aluminum or plastic. Thats an improvement, but the pickup bed rust still happening in the 2020’s is inexcusable.

#2 could be offset with a longer warranty. I liked that Ram offered a 5YR 60,000 mile warranty on the entire powertrain rather than Ford or GM, which at the time only offered a 5YR, 60K mile warranty on the diesel engine (3yr 36K on the rest of the powertrain). Ford increased their warranty to match Ram. I don’t know what GM does now.

The way I figure it, if you buy new and expect to keep more than the factory warranty, you might as well extend the warranty and just roll it into the payments.

I just lost my coolant expansion tank sensor (comes as part of the tank assembly) That looks to be about $1,000. I also lost my passenger side heated mirror. Probably $200. My extended warranty was $2,900. So those repairs have been covered by the extended warranty. Don’t know if anything else will happen before the extended warranty expires (7yr, 75,000 bumper to bumper).

The next manufacturer that offers 10yr 100K on powertrain will get a serious look from me.

Paint on the rockers on my Sierra is just starting to fail 10 yrs later. I've found that GMC trucks and some Chevy's use a driless plastic covering around fenders which has definitely prevented rust from forming around wheel wells. I also put driless splash guards around my current truck definitely helped compared to other trucks I've seen similar vintage without these devices
Of around 2016 and earlier. My new truck I opted for the driless splash guard option also. The gm factory spray in bed liner has done a great job over anything else I've used over the years to mitigate rust in bed. Cuz it doesn't trap moisture between bedliner and the bed itself I believe. Nor does it move rubbing down the factory paint and primer in bed to bare metal. On my Sierra I also opted for gm running boards cuz I hated seeing the def tank below the cab on passenger side. If I was to keep that truck I'd look into getting a aftermarket def tank skid plate. Last repair was a def tank temp sensor s which was pretty inexpensive but you had to drop the def tank to replace. Fortunately it didn't cause truck to go in a limp mode just a check engine light illuminated noticed the cheap hf obd scanner I own doesn't diagnose the check engine light on my Duramax very accurately. My 4 cylinder 5 speed gas winter beater diagnoses check engine, abs, etc lights pretty well . Most lights on my cheap cars I make a determination my self if I'm going to bother to fix. 5 yrs 100k miles on Duramax power train. I always forego extended warranties. I've seen quite a few upset folks when there extended warranty claims were denied so I guess read the fine print although I feel extended warranties problaby have improved somewhat but not for me. If I'm paying that much for a truck I am able to afford Repairs and maintenance weather it's diy or occasionally taking it into a decent shop, I've found only one I trust and am happy with even after living in this state for over ten years . GMC in general has a great warranty system in place in my experience all issues I've had during warranty period were taken care of no questions asked. Including a entire back seat replacement cuz the stitching was letting go.

 

[Hay Dude]

My extended warranty has been tested and it has paid for repairs. I went with a RAM manufacturer warranty, not the “Endurance” type aftermarket warranty.

 

[Jstpssng]

One thing I want to come back is a full sized, properly rated spare tire. Granted flats aren't as common as they once were yet I still have changed more flats in the last 10 years than I've put out fires with a fire extinquisher.

 

[Jstpssng]

the “Endurance” type aftermarket warranty

Is that the one which covers everything except when you finally need it?

 

[Hay Dude]

Is that the one which covers everything except when you finally need it?

Yeah, but Danica Patrick sure is cute.

 

[ultrarunner]

My extended warranty has been tested and it has paid for repairs. I went with a RAM manufacturer warranty, not the “Endurance” type aftermarket warranty.

As a Lemon Law Arbitrator the best by far is a Manufacturers Plan…

Often can be shopped and bought from another dealer after sale…