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

[CliffordK]

New gas stations have been banned here for years and should one close zoning will not permit replacement.

What I meant is the old Gas Stations always used to have a service bay, and a staff mechanic. I assume kept busy doing tuneups, fixing tires, etc.

But 30 to 40 years ago, those service bays started vanishing, being replaced by mini marts. Today it is rare to find one that still has a functioning service bay.

There is talk that things have gotten so complicated... but the small corner mechanics haven't entirely disappeared. And the OBDII readers while a bit cryptic, can be extraordinary in directing diagnoses. A couple of things happened. First the mini-marts are very profitable. But, there are fewer routine tuneups. And, of course there are 100+ different tire sizes in use.

 

[paulsharvey]

"And, of course there are 100+ different tire sizes in use."

Sons trucks have 14s and 16s; work truck has 17s; me and wife both have 20s; but I can see 14/15/16/18/20/24; but so we need 17s, 19s, 22s? Not really. At this point, I think its easier to find 20s than 16s.

But thats not new either; remember 16.5s, 19.5s; or 7 Ford wheels.

 

[paulsharvey]

I would say its the norm to only do PM service for 100k, sometimes 150k. Often our work trucks, brakes last 150k; although my personal truck is needing brakes now at 100k, and the drivers door hing does need some lube.

By PM, im meaning oil every 7500, and air filter check/replace as needed/rotate tires every 15k. I think our service book does call for trans flush and coolant flush at 150k.

Even 20 years ago; I replaced wheel bearing, U-joint, ect within first 75,000. Now, thats rare.

 

[Paystar]

You're not comparing today's pickups to those from a few decades ago are you?

The OP photo was pretty old.

A Ford TT truck had a 20 HP motor. While it may have been able to pull a lot, I believe it had a worm drive and wouldn't be able to go very fast. Just forget trying to get it up to freeway speeds.

We never had AC in any vehicle up until the 1990's or so. Certainly not the old pickups. That was what the vent windows were for.

I don't remember the MPG of our old half ton Chevy, but I heard stories of slightly larger pickups getting well below 10 MPG. My current RAM 1500 gets over 20 MPG empty, and likely can beat my old AMC Hornet wagon, as well as my old Ford Ranger 4 banger.

There is a reason why Service Stations have all but vanished, mostly replaced by mini-marts.

100,000 mile tune-up? When was the last time you had to hunt down some sand paper or a nail file to clean up your points? Even Spark Plugs are getting better.

I have had a few trailer flats, but I am having troubles remembering my last flat. I think I had a tread delam on my 1999 F150 a few years ago. Oh, I did plug my Transit Connect tire too. Anyway, reliability everywhere is going up.

I'd still rather have my 77 Ford truck over any of my new ones. Yes, harder on gas and likely slower than the new ones, but simple and I could work on it. Components were also better quality.
Same with tractors. When I see any of these new ones still working in 70 years like my old Allis Chalmers, then I'll be impressed, LOL

 

[Jstpssng]

I replaced wheel bearing, U-joint, ect within first 75,000. Now, thats rare

On my first Dakota I replaced them 18 times in that time frame. About once per month, same as oil changes. I finally started changing them myself and discovered they weren't getting grease properly.
Funny thing, u joints weren't covered under the drive train warranty.

 

[CliffordK]

Oh, another thing that has happened is a bloating in specs.

1980 F350 Dually 7.5L diesel
HP: 225 HP
Towing: 12K lbs
Payload: Up to 4K lbs

2025 F350 Dually 6.7L
HP 475 to 500
Towing 38,600 to 40K
Payload: 6952 lbs

I don't know if the average farm pickup needs to be towing 40K, but the differences over time are quite spectacular. Likely bringing the new pickups into a range they should fall under DOT/CDL.

CAB & CHASSIS versions still exist, although it may be difficult for an end consumer to buy a CAB & CHASSIS configuration new.

 

[deserteagle71]

I have had a few trailer flats, but I am having troubles remembering my last flat. I think I had a tread delam on my 1999 F150 a few years ago. Oh, I did plug my Transit Connect tire too.

You must not drive many dirt roads. Here in northern Nevada there's only a few paved roads so to get to any of the big ranches or mines its not unusual to have to drive 200 miles of dirt road and flats (usually due to rock breaks) happen all the time. I carry only two spare tires but I see a lot of pickups carrying three - the OEM plus two mounted on the sides of the bed.

A Nevada "highway":

 

[RB5]

Westbound in my 1st Dakota with an inch of snow on the ground, I topped a hill 9to find an eastbound lowbed with an excavator in my lane swinging wide to make a right (southerly) turn. I hit the brakes and nothing happened. My passenger was screaming at me to stop but I couldn't. If I'd been alone I would have taken the guardrail on the right. We shoehorned between the two so close that I don't know how we didn't scrape.
After that I started running in 4wd if there was a hint of snow on the ground. At least with the driveline locked up the front brakes would control the rear.
My father had a cartoon at camp of a rider on a horse plummeting down a cliff; with the horseman sawing back on the reins screaming "Whoa, dammit! I said WHOA!!!"
That's how I feel when driving with ABS.
I still practice with the E-brake, although that's getting harder and harder to utilize.

You just reminded me of a little trip in some light rain. I was in that same S10. We were nearing a bridge on an elevated farm road highway when a dark colored cow stepped onto the road from the low spot next to the bridge. I did not see the cow before it was on the road. The cow saw me coming an slipped in the rain and fell on the road. I hit the brakes and prayed. Somehow we went between the cow and the guardrail and missed them both. Either obstacle would have destroyed that little truck.

 

[jjeff]

On my first Dakota I replaced them 18 times in that time frame. About once per month, same as oil changes. I finally started changing them myself and discovered they weren't getting grease properly.
Funny thing, u joints weren't covered under the drive train warranty.

Once Disagreed with a parts counter guy replacing a u joint on my old 1 ton dump truck one of the sealed ones went out got erasable one instead of what they tried selling me. I never had to replace u joints I occasionally greased on the other hand I replaced so called Sealed ones before.

 

[Paystar]

Oh, another thing that has happened is a bloating in specs.

1980 F350 Dually 7.5L diesel
HP: 225 HP
Towing: 12K lbs
Payload: Up to 4K lbs

2025 F350 Dually 6.7L
HP 475 to 500
Towing 38,600 to 40K
Payload: 6952 lbs

I don't know if the average farm pickup needs to be towing 40K, but the differences over time are quite spectacular. Likely bringing the new pickups into a range they should fall under DOT/CDL.

CAB & CHASSIS versions still exist, although it may be difficult for an end consumer to buy a CAB & CHASSIS configuration new.

Myself, if I had to haul anything over 12,000 pounds, I'd buy a used class 8 truck and do it better, and safer than a new $100K pickup. And if spec'd right, get the same MPG.
I already know a guy with a Kenworth with a 450 Paccar in it and he's getting better mileage than his new Ram pickup.

 

[jjeff]

I like my GMC 25-3500trucks and my Chevy 4500 cutaway there's grease fittings on the ball joints steering box pitman arm. Spline shaft for the drive shaft unfortunately u-oints are all still sealed when, I have to replace them I'll go with graaseable ones.sealed one these days Definitely seem better sealed more durable with grease that doesn't dry out like earlier versions though.

 

[jjeff]

Myself, if I had to haul anything over 12,000 pounds, I'd buy a used class 8 truck and do it better, and safer than a new $100K pickup. And if spec'd right, get the same MPG.
I already know a guy with a Kenworth with a 450 Paccar in it and he's getting better mileage than his new Ram pickup.

I don't completely understand the different class designations of more commercial type trucks besides a smaller consumer Chevy 4500 !is considered a ton and a half?was told by numerous more knowledgeable people by putting air helper spring on my 2500;I upped its capacity to a ton and a hal. Is there something somewhere that easily clarifies these classes? To occasional heavy haulers on a more part time consumer evel?

 

[Tomtint]

"And, of course there are 100+ different tire sizes in use."

Sons trucks have 14s and 16s; work truck has 17s; me and wife both have 20s; but I can see 14/15/16/18/20/24; but so we need 17s, 19s, 22s? Not really. At this point, I think its easier to find 20s than 16s.

But thats not new either; remember 16.5s, 19.5s; or 7 Ford wheels.

We have a number of vehicles.. F150 has 17s, Escalade has 22s, F450s have 19.5s, Macan has 21s, Another F150 has 18s, Tundra has 20s, Jeep has 15s, Another Jeep has 20s, ... Its nuts.

 

[Oaktree]

There is talk that things have gotten so complicated... but the small corner mechanics haven't entirely disappeared. And the OBDII readers while a bit cryptic, can be extraordinary in directing diagnoses. A couple of things happened. First the mini-marts are very profitable. But, there are fewer routine tuneups. And, of course there are 100+ different tire sizes in use.

I'd imagine from a mechanic's standpoint having to keep dropping what you're doing to go out and pump gas might get old after a while, especially for the smaller outfits that might not always be able to afford a dedicated pump jockey.
First thing my mechanic where I used to live did when he bought his garage (from his father), was to sell off the gasoline part of the business for that very reason.

And today's young people (and this goes back 30+ years) just don't seem to be as into cars as older generations, so there are fewer young mechanics. What few kids who are into cars seem content to put neon undercarriage lights and a fart can muffler on their Suburu and call it good.

"And, of course there are 100+ different tire sizes in use."

Sons trucks have 14s and 16s; work truck has 17s; me and wife both have 20s; but I can see 14/15/16/18/20/24; but so we need 17s, 19s, 22s? Not really. At this point, I think its easier to find 20s than 16s.

How old is your son's truck where it has 14" wheels on it?

Even 20 years ago; I replaced wheel bearing, U-joint, ect within first 75,000. Now, thats rare.

Don't forget ball joints. The old Mopars were especially bad in that dept, but no one else's were much better.

On my first Dakota I replaced them 18 times in that time frame. About once per month, same as oil changes. I finally started changing them myself and discovered they weren't getting grease properly.
Funny thing, u joints weren't covered under the drive train warranty.

You've mentioned this before, not sure what to make of it. I've had 2 Dakotas (an '88 and an '01) and neither had any drivetrain issues whatsoever.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I worked at a gas/service station in my teen years owned by an older friend whom had bought it from the non relative friend whom he worked for. He generally did wrenching while I was mainly a pump jockey but helped out in between by changing tires, helping wrench, etc.

Pumping gas involved checking oil, coolant level, cleaning the windshield. It was a different, slower paced time. It was a fun time as there were always car "guys" hanging around. Lot's of burnouts across the lot.

I learned a lot about mechanics that has served me well over the years.

Exxon wanted my friend to build a new station on that property as the building was getting pretty dated. When they did not renew his franchise, he sold the station and wrenched out of his garage at his home.

 

[paulsharvey]

"How old is your son's truck where it has 14" wheels on it? "

1993 Nissian D21 "hardbody"

 

[Jstpssng]

You've mentioned this before, not sure what to make of it. I've had 2 Dakotas (an '88 and an '01) and neither had any drivetrain issues whatsoever.

I've tried to explain it many times but everybody says the driveshaft was bad.
Even the service department at the Dodge dealer said that. They were wrong.

It had little tiny joints which were so small that you couldn't get a grease gun on the zerk when it was installed. So they would replace but not grease it. I didn't figure it out until I started changing them myself; and the darned things were dry. I started greasing them before installing the driveshaft. They lasted a year (50k miles) that way and should have lasted longer but I wasn't dropping the shaft every month to grease them.

 

[deserteagle71]

I don't completely understand the different class designations of more commercial type trucks besides a smaller consumer Chevy 4500 !is considered a ton and a half?was told by numerous more knowledgeable people by putting air helper spring on my 2500;I upped its capacity to a ton and a hal. Is there something somewhere that easily clarifies these classes? To occasional heavy haulers on a more part time consumer evel?

Sure, if you put air bags on your 2500 you can carry more weight. To a point. What are your tires rated for? And the axle? Not to mention how much fun the lawyers will have with you if there's ever a problem.

Your truck should have a payload sticker on it somewhere, telling you how much weight it was rated to haul. Exceed that, no matter what mods you've made to the truck, and you are "illegal".

 

[rontaki]

I'd imagine from a mechanic's standpoint having to keep dropping what you're doing to go out and pump gas might get old after a while, especially for the smaller outfits that might not always be able to afford a dedicated pump jockey.
First thing my mechanic where I used to live did when he bought his garage (from his father), was to sell off the gasoline part of the business for that very reason.

And today's young people (and this goes back 30+ years) just don't seem to be as into cars as older generations, so there are fewer young mechanics. What few kids who are into cars seem content to put neon undercarriage lights and a fart can muffler on their Suburu and call it good.

How old is your son's truck where it has 14" wheels on it?

Don't forget ball joints. The old Mopars were especially bad in that dept, but no one else's were much better.

You've mentioned this before, not sure what to make of it. I've had 2 Dakotas (an '88 and an '01) and neither had any drivetrain issues whatsoever.

There are electronic fart can noise generators being developed for EVs. Are exhaust smell generators next?

 

[Oaktree]

"How old is your son's truck where it has 14" wheels on it? "

1993 Nissian D21 "hardbody"

I always wondered what marketing genius came up with the "hardbody" name, especially given how quickly they rusted out here in snow country.