doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Mildly OT: old trucks...

This old Ford has been living up here in Nowhere, Minnesota for something like 10-years now. I fill up the tank, pull the positive terminal connector off of the battery, and walk away from it early every November after hunting up here all Fall, returning in May/June to hook the battery back up and to start driving it again. It sits outside here all winter (& we're and hour and a half west of Frostbite Falls in what can only be described as a brutal winter climate). I did have to put some tires on it last Fall, but otherwise...not much attention gets paid to it.

I had read somewhere recently online that pickup trucks made in this country in the mid-to-late 90s thru the early 2000s were desirable again because they did not have any computer screens in them, only simple switches to control all of their functions. This allows them to age more gracefully evidently?

My brother beat me up here by a few days (a week or so) and he got bored (to windy and cool to fish). His personal vehicle is also a Ford truck (much newer and much bigger) so he has a soft spot for such things (he even owned a '97 F150 back when these units were "new"). Anyway... he always takes the time to keep his own vehicles pretty shiny (as a matter of personal pride of ownership, which I perfectly understand) and since he was bored and patiently waiting on my arrival, he made my old truck something of a pet project.

The newer tires last Fall really helped this old truck anyway (much-taller than what was on it previously [it was badly gearbound before] and a better fit to the 4.6 V8 & 5-speed gearset it came with). It never fails to amaze to me what a little polishing compound, a buffing wheel, and some elbow grease will do for something like this. He even stripped the original rims and repainted them (they were getting pretty rusty) and thoroughly cleaned out the interior (including all of the spider webs that tend to accumulate over the winter months).

I paid $1,800 for this truck (from an airline pilot buddy I knew from church back in 2016) and gave it to my father-in-law here so he could finally have a decent 4x4 truck for life on the northern frontier (his previous truck was a 1989 2-wheel drive F150 that had completely rusted out). Sadly, he passed in 2020 so it became mine again. Probably the best $1,800 I've ever spent on a vehicle btw.

This old truck still drives like it did when I first took possession in 2016. Mileage is unknown (odometer quit at 160k miles) but I'd guess it's somewhere around 200k. It still has its original clutch and original driveline and the interior still looks as good as the exterior. The AC still blows ice cold (I did have to service that a few years ago).

I've never really been a Ford guy but this one's making me a believer.

I'll 2nd that. I bought this one new 29 years ago and it's still all original including the clutch. The grandkids call it "Papa's huntin’ truck.”

I believe I have a few hours riding shotgun in that old girl, and just a bit of time in the pilots seat. Just a nice old truck, perfect around the end of October, beginning of November, when the leaves have given way.

Bet he found a white dog hair or two in the old girl, eh?

Tell Hugh I said Hi, Lloyd.

Best,
Ted

"I had read somewhere recently online that pickup trucks made in this country in the mid-to-late 90s thru the early 2000s were desirable again because they did not have any computer screens in them, only simple switches to control all of their functions. This allows them to age more gracefully evidently?"

True. Cars and trucks reached their zenith shortly before 2000. They had a little computer power to help them be more efficient, but had not turned into rolling, unrepairable computers whose main purpose seems to be costing their owners money.

My 1997 F-150 XLT Supercab, bought new at Kip Kilman's Tyson Ford in Virginia, is still running in Kodiak, Alaska. Between my retirement in October 2002 and July 2004 it crossed the continent eleven times as we moved from Virginia to Washington. In 2011 we drove it up the Alaska Highway and took it on the ferry out to Kodiak. One of the few good pictures of the 1997 I could find was when I brought the rowboat my father built in 1939, that I virtually grew up fishing and hunting in, over from Seattle.



A couple of years ago I sold it to a buddy in Kodiak for a dollar when his much newer pickup collapsed, frame rusted away in Kodiak's salt air!

I'm happy for the good luck y'all have had with those year's trucks, but just cannot completely agree about them reaching their zenith before 2000. I bought a new 2011 F250 4WD XLT with the 6.2L gas engine. It did double duty as a farm truck and a highway truck for a few years then total farm duty after about 2017 when I bought another Super Duty Lariat with the same engine.

The 2011 has 313K miles of hard use, towing insane loads on heavy trailers. No internal work on the engine or the transmission of either truck. 235K on the other one.

I'm going to stick my neck out here and claim that the 6.2L Ford gas engine is the best gas engine they have ever built. Besides a bit of a/c work they have been almost trouble free.

Addendum: I’d forgotten this: One day a few years ago I came out of the garage to find one of my grandsons had the neighbor boys gathered around the open door of the “huntin’” truck and I heard him say, “Look at this. You can put the window down without turning the motor on!” (None of them had ever seen a window crank.). 😎

😁😁

If you leave your electronics behind and drive old 🛻 Big Bro will have harder time keeping track of you. We will be under more monitoring now that mega data centers are being built. Opponents will be placed on special watch list, no future in opposing them. I don’t have to worry about loosing my job, but I'm wondering if they're going to abandon clean renewable energy by using fossil fuels or put even bigger squizze on us to help save the 🌎?

I had a 300 CID straight six, that would've been a close second. It wasn't called on for extreme duty, but it could turn low revs and go slow. Pulled and carried way beyond recommended, lol.

The 22RE or the 3.0 v6 Toyota motors are legendary, 260K on my 2004 Tacoma and going strong after a new clutch, brake pads and an exhaust pipe last year, that is about all the maintenance it has needed in the 190K I have put on it. Hard for me to complain about its performance. I just picked up a new 2 hole Owens style box for the back, I'm counting the days until Sept. 1st

In better lighting...

Not bad for almost 30-years old and ~200k miles. Now it's almost a shame to get it dirty.

A guy I worked with who bought a dairy farm swore by those engines. But, he also had a 390 that he said the same thing about, I found it strange that the main bearings got engine oil after the lifters did, but, didn’t argue with him. It wouldn’t have seen high RPMs under him, anyway.

Same farmer had a relative that had a GMC 5.7 diesel that crapped out (they did that). Out of a wrecking yard near Grasston, MN, they pulled a rabbit out of a hat, and ended up with an Oldsmobile L33 engine, a high compression 2 barrel carburetor 455. Into the GMC it went, and, although a bit thirsty (maybe not for Stan) it has been an outstanding farm pickup. The old guy made the comment he had to be careful when he pulled stumps or he might “tip the world over”. Made me laugh.

I like the notion of keeping an old piece of equipment running. But these guys have made an art form of it.

Best,
Ted

I bought my first Ford pickup in Alaska in early 1975, a 1973 F-100 with the even smaller 240 cubic inch six, three in the tree with dog dish hubcaps. Over the next ten years it saw about forty of the fifty states. Always thought I'd up engine it but by the time that little six was getting tired in 1986 the body was so rusted out I bought a new Ford E-150 van with the 5 litre V-8.

I had one farm pickup that was a diesel, a 2003 F350 with the 6.0L diesel. I nearly broke me. If it wasn't wiring it was the intercooler, or the injectors. When the 6.2L gas engine appeared, with more horsepower and torque than the old standby Ford 7.3L diesel, I jumped on it with all fours. It's been a super good decision. I regularly pull a 1600 gallon nurse tank filled with water. That's almost 6 1/2 tons of water, plus the weight of the trailer itself. It pulled loads of peanuts for years, at harvest time, that would gross 20,000 pounds. Never a problem, and still get 11-12 mpg. I'd be ashamed to ask for better.

My 2004 F250 6.0 diesel was no better. Rebuilt the turbo twice. Blew the head gasket at about 65000 miles which warped the block. Ran it until 2023 when I bought a Toyota Tacoma the last year they offered the naturally aspirated V6 instead of the turbo 4 now offered. That engine was noted for head gasket issues which was secured with bolts instead of studs and not enough of them, apparently. Sold the Ford to a nephew of my hunting buddy who wanted a diesel truck with no rust for his farm in Vermont. He seems to be happy with it. I'm happy with a truck that doesn't need 40 acres to turn around 2004 was the last year for solid front axles.

Good to see you posting, Bruce. I may be wrong but it seems like it's been a while.

Anybody heard about these?

https://reotrucks.com/

Looking forward to what they can pull off, but, they have big dreams and goals.

Best,
Ted

I mostly lurk and learn what I can from the more knowledgeable folks. But I check it out every day.


Bruce

That is very interesting, and I cautiously believe there could be a big market for it/them. The market for Side by Side UTVs has exploded. People are paying automobile/truck prices for utility vehicles (think Polaris, CanAm, Kawasaki, Honda, John Deere and Kubota), and loving it. A genuine truck for less money has a definite opportunity in the market at the prophesied prices.

My interest is piqued.

If the U.A.W. is involved in any way I’m out.


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Can’t stand those clowns.

Funny, I never pictured you as a pickup truck ‘kinda guy. Prius kind of guy, I was thinking.

Best,
Ted

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With a Cub.

The trouble with newer trucks is it's harder to find used ones with straight shift transmissions. If you are in the woods and the battery/alternator (does anybody remember generators?) or starter gives out, you can roll it off to start it. This is why I still park on a hill, in the woods, in spite of having an automatic now. Also, you can keep it in one gear to ease out of the mud without the truck changing gears on it's on. I had a 74 F100 w/3speed on the column while on temporary duty in Savannah and it got stuck in second gear because of wear in the "shifter". I was able to drive all the way from Savannah Ga. to Columbus Ga. in second gear. I did have to run two stop signs (going uphill) but could see far enough to avoid oncoming traffic. On the other hand, II do enjoy quick starting fuel injection.
Mike

I had a 74 Bronco with a three on the tree, a rebuilt 302 and the tow package. First gear topped out at about 12 mph, in third you struggled to hit 65 mph, but 2nd had the widest range of any gear I have experienced in a stick shift.

I still drive a 5 speed but the hill to my house(3k ft elevation change) from town tends to eat brakes in most automatic transmissions, I don't have that issue, I only got 170K out of my last set of brake pads

Another vehicle that I have long been toying with the thought of up here are the little "Kei" trucks imported from Japan.

Extremely small and essentially powered by motorcycle engines, they would be (& are) perfect for general agricultural uses (which they dominate in the rest of the world). Extremely fuel-efficient, 4x4, with heat, AC, and even windshield wipers they are far-superior to the mostly-silly ORVs you see being built here these days. They have been kept out of this country by very serious lobbying (because they threaten the truck "rice bowl" of the American automakers) but they are slowly making inroads here.

For hunting vehicles I'd guess that they'd be almost unbeatable. From what I understand, they are dirt cheap and very easy to keep.

If I didn't already have so-many old 4x4 vehicles up here...

Well, that’s the problem, Ted.



Picture me any way you care to, Ted, but I have you pegged as an Oldsmobile driving union dork wasting the youth of his old age dragging his arse to that shyte paper huckin’ job raising a non hacking, boot camp failing kid. I can almost hear him crying “But I lettered in trap!” as they booted him out the door.


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BTW nobody volunteers for anything in boot camp unless you’re a moron. The correct term is voluntold.

Whoa. The hatred. Sometimes, I hit the nail right on its flat little head, it seems.

BTW, in a rehabilitation platoon, you can sit on your bed and read the bible all day if you want. A couple kids did just that, including the guy with the broken shoulder.

Maybe get on your Cub and take a ride to cool off, dude. Bruddah Iz might help:



Best,
Ted

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Is your Prius white, with a sticker from your pickleball league on the bumper?

Yawn.

When will you ladies realize this stuff gets old?

No hatred, Ted, just facts and pity.


What are you babbling about?


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Nobody fails boot camp except weirdos and weaklings. It’s designed so everyone passes. Something like 95% graduation rate. Tough pill to swallow if you’re that 5%

Actually, swallowing prescription pills is exactly what landed him in the 5%.

Pity? HAHAHA! Dude, you were the guy who admitted to working at UPS.

Best,
Ted

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Silver Prius. Must be silver….

Just for the data point: I know people who work at UPS, and I spent a career working with paper tossers in the printing industry.

The UPS guys make more money, and with a few exceptions (like where I worked) had better benefits.

Keep telling yourself that, Ted, but the fact is your kid’s just a pussy.


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Like his old man

Well, if he rode a Cub, I’d agree with you.



Best,
Ted

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Pity that.

Wouldn’t matter if he rode an FJ, he’d still be a pussy.

Just like his old man.


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Did he go back to pop pop’s grave and try and explain how he failed at boot camp?

Naw. Getting on with life.

A skill set you could use.

Best,
Ted

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Work on a wider vocabulary. I realize you are from Detroit, but come on.

Great idea. Well let’s hope the wee whelp does better at trying to be an electrician than he was at being a Marine. Hasn’t electrocuted himself yet has he?


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But pop pop’s, I lettered in trap!

https://babylonbee.com/news/ups-updates-driver-uniforms-to-include-top-hat-monocle

Center managers made serious bank. They always looked as if they were about to have a stroke though.


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Ol’ Ted the paper tosser. Still Huckin’ away at 64. Good for you, Ted.

65. You didn’t wish me a happy birthday last week, Lonny. I work 5 more days. Been training people the last 18 months or so, not as much time on machines, but, I can still do it. I guess I’ll just console myself with the three fully funded pensions I’ll collect, (really weird thing is two of them I didn’t put a red cent in-employer funded-how does a guy pull that off?) and continue what is proving to be a glorious summer. I worked for an organization that had a company funded pension and a 401K plan for 16 years. Could have made more, elsewhere, and working a shift, but, ratholing 20% of my wages every year seemed like a decent trade off. I always planned on working until 65. I never worked anywhere that had crummy benefits, especially after I got married when I was 43. I made enough that my wife didn’t need to be employed until after the boy was in school full time, and, he went to a private high school.

I did OK. When social security collapses, it won’t hurt me. It took some planning, I don’t have a lake place but, I’m OK with that. I live close to some of the best bird hunting and fishing in the world. I never thought my job sucked. Being an importer of guns post 9/11 sucked, but, I got over that. The Union allows me to work in the trade up to 39 hours a month, if they need help at the U here and there, I think enough of the organization and my coworkers to lend a hand. But, It’ll be on my terms.

The changes that are happening at employers around here are sobering-Neighbor got shown the door at Medtronic after pulling down mid six figure income for twenty years. The folks in HR told him if your job description includes the word “analyst” you will need to find something else to do in the future. Lots of software engineers out there can’t find work. “Learn to code” didn’t pan out.

The print guys are all busy. Print was supposed to die. It didn’t, but, it did change. The boy has an exam with the electricians in July.

It’s all good. Well, except for my peers from high school clocking out at what seems like an alarming rate.

Best,
Ted

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Retirement cake at the U on July 8th.

One thing those pensions etc can’t buy you is time.


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Knew at a fairly young age I wasn’t working to 65.

Good for you. I mean that. I had a good friend in high school who wanted to be retired by 40.

He was.

Best,
Ted

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He’s dead, too.

Exactly. You never know when He’s coming back…or when you’re leaving. In the meantime I’m going to have fun.


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Nugent going to be in Paw Paw in August

The big guy, yea, question not.



High School buddy who punched his ticket, sure he ain’t coming back. Gone, is gone.








Best,
Ted

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Which, leaves zero chance of getting stuck in the Corps for 30 years and telling people how much work sucks.

You have a good looking old Ford Lloyd. Here is my old truck. It is a 59yr old pickup to hopefully soon be carrying a 56yr old man with 100+ yr old doubles to go hunt some birds.

RedofTX: Neat old stepside F100, 3 on the tree 6?

Headed home tomorrow, saw my first grouse of 2026, visited with the right people, saw some new real estate, serviced the critical equipment here and even caught a few fish.



I'll be back in about 75 days, fine guns in tow.

Yes sir. 3 on the tree and a 240 in-line 6. I get to work on it as work schedule allows. Safe travels home.