Is anyone else disgusted by the popularity that trucks now have in our society? It used to be you bought a truck, because you planned on doing WORK with it. Well, not anymore!

It seems as if now, the "coolest" vehicles to buy are trucks and SUVs, regardless of whether or not the buyer actually needs their vehicle's utility. Not only is this the pinnacle of American wastefulness, but Ford, Chevy, and Dodge have "watered down" their truck lines to cater to this new softer consumer sector.

What do I mean by "watered down"? Today's trucks are no longer work trucks. They are play toys that get shown off. They come with 18 and 20 inch aluminum wheels, Harley Davidson endorsements, and other crap you would only expect on sports cars. Ford even calls their new F-150 STX, and I quote, "a sleek, sporty look." I would never have used those words to describe a pickup truck twenty years ago. Never! Ford's F-150 Lariat even comes with a center console and a "sporty" floor shifter, on a truck!

You hardly ever see trucks with long beds anymore. Why? BECAUSE NO ONE USES TRUCKS LIKE TRUCKS! In fact, some trucks even come with a "CUTE" little four foot bed. How nice. I can't even put my groceries in that small a space! Factor in all the wonderful snazzy little accessories that are now offered, and trucks seem more like glorified luxury station wagons (that just happen to have a small bed on that back).

Today's trucks are marketed to those wannabe tough guys who want to look "mean" and "cool" by buying a big truck, but know little or nothing about using and maintaining one. But in reality, they have to take their trucks to Speed Lube to have their oil changed because they don't know how, and if they did, they wouldn't want to get their hands dirty. In actually, they are just following the popularized trend along with the SUV buyers.

They want trucks that will pamper their lazy butts. Trucks that drive like cars, and look like SUVs. They are buying more truck than they will ever need, and they are only contributing to our nation's energy crisis, because most trucks get 15-20 mpg.

Worst of all, those soft truck buyers make the rest of us (REAL MEN who were driving trucks BEFORE they were "cool" and "in-style") look bad!

Sorry, I feel better now.

Yep, know where you're coming from. I've had Ford trucks for 30 years. Here's the thing that really hurts. Recently I checked the resale on my 2000 F150 and about fell over. This glut of glamour trucks has made the resale on all trucks plummet. I used to buy the Ford trucks for the resale. The key words are "used to". I'm going to really need to reappraise my need for my next vehicle.

Ford has so badly flooded the market with these high priced "going-to-market" pick-ups that we are all going to suffer. Ford's really sitting sweet in their success though. They gotta' love having every soccer mom and metro-sexual dad buying their trucks. Notice how the price of Ford pick-ups have sky rocketedin the past two years? Even in the face of other manufacturers giving some nice long warranties to win over new customers, Ford has decided not to back their trucks much at all. Why not? Supply & Demand baby!

As a result the competition just jacks up the price on their over-priced trash so that they can be just under the Ford's. Talk about inflation at work. Is this what Ford considers a good overall market strategy? It seems to me that they are just helping swing their pickup market right over into the competition's strike zone for a few more bucks now. We'll see.

Sorry that some of us havent been around to drive trucks 30 plus years ago. And sorry that some of us like to customize our trucks to ride and look better than stock. And I'm sorry that they don't make trucks for work anymore.......oh wait a minute, thats right they do. They're the base line bottom end model. The manufacturers are a business trying to make a profit. Hence they tailor their vehicles to the wants of the consumer, therefore, the nice exteriors/interiors/and options. I dont know one person who doesn't buy a vehicle for looks, they all do.

If you want a truck from the past then go buy an f-100 or something along those lines. And if you have to get a new truck, then buy the lowest model, long bed, 3/4 ton or 1-ton p/u.

I've heard people bitch about SUV's and trucks, but never b/c they've gotten to "sporty". :screwy:

Jass up your trucks all you want, the ones that bug me are the people who go to thier home improvement store to by a door, and try sticking it in a hatch of a yugo. GET A TRUCK

Texas, you missed my point. Trucks have always been a symbol of work. When I look for a truck, I demand utility, function,
and longevity, with a "ride and look better than stock" ranking in much lower on my list of priorities. Form always follows
function. Everything else is secondary.

I just see a lot of people wasting a lot of hard-earned money on trucks they really do not use. I think of all the other
things that their "Euro tails," Z-Rated tires (that wear out in 15,000 miles), aluminum wheels, hydraulic suspensions, bass stereos, cold-air intake, and performance exhaust could buy.

Unfortunately, great prosperity often creates a lack of appreciation. Today, we live in a country of excess goods. People
have the ability to invest huge amounts of resources into optional luxuries like your truck. You said it yourself, you like
to "customize" your truck so that it looks "better than stock". Customizing it certainly is not mandatory, it is more of a
luxury.

Maybe I am just tempered by harder times.

Maybe I am to fault, since I can remember living in this country at a time when an ENTIRE FAMILY was lucky to own ONE SINGLE
vehicle. Let alone several "customized" trucks. Some would say that I should not be so cautious about sacrificing precious
resources on optional frivolous luxuries, but I am constantly reminded of harder years, when money and resources were scarce
and were never wasted on optional luxuries.

You all may say "hell, relax and enjoy these prosperous times," but I still cannot indulge. The wonderful economic boom of
the past two decades may not last forever. We could as a nation see hard economic times again, maybe even in the
not-too-distant future. If we had another Great Depression, do you think the major car makers would worry about whether or
not their twenty inch aluminum wheels were bright enough? Do you think they would lobby to get Harley-Davidson's endorsement
so that can add a licensed label to the tailgate?

If we had a Great Depression next year, complete with gas rationing, how many people would flock to sell their 13 MPG trucks
and SUVs that they never really needed in the beginning?

Hard times force people realize WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. This country has been lucky long enough to forget what is really
important. Advanced as our economy may be, it is still grounded in hard work. That is why I demand a truck that can
perform; I demand a truck that can work as hard as I do. Unfortunately, the major truck industries have forgotten the
meaning of work. That was my original point in the first post, Texas.

send some of those goods my way if you've got too many, I'll sure appreciate them :) I think you're right though. I like to appreciate things, I buy things I know I'll keep for much longer than other things like it, like lighters. I bought a zippo, sure it cost more than a disposable lighter, but it looks better, it has a better tactility to it, it functions better, no need to keep holding the gas on, and it's windproof (resistant). I think that is the way everything should be, they should make hundreds of something, not hundreds of thousands. I really don't see the appeal in trucks either. Here in Australia we have utes (utility vehicles) which are basically sedans with the back half chopped off and a truck tray put on the back. They, I can accept people treating them more like sports cars, but I still find it funny to see lowered, big rimmed cars with a whole section that is now useless. They look pretty cool though, better than trucks imo.

Texas, you missed my point. Trucks have always been a symbol of work. When I look for a truck, I demand utility, function,
and longevity, with a "ride and look better than stock" ranking in much lower on my list of priorities. Form always follows
function. Everything else is secondary.

I just see a lot of people wasting a lot of hard-earned money on trucks they really do not use. I think of all the other
things that their "Euro tails," Z-Rated tires (that wear out in 15,000 miles), aluminum wheels, hydraulic suspensions, bass stereos, cold-air intake, and performance exhaust could buy.

Unfortunately, great prosperity often creates a lack of appreciation. Today, we live in a country of excess goods. People
have the ability to invest huge amounts of resources into optional luxuries like your truck. You said it yourself, you like
to "customize" your truck so that it looks "better than stock". Customizing it certainly is not mandatory, it is more of a
luxury.

Good luck with everything.
Maybe I am just tempered by harder times.

Maybe I am to fault, since I can remember living in this country at a time when an ENTIRE FAMILY was lucky to own ONE SINGLE
vehicle. Let alone several "customized" trucks. Some would say that I should not be so cautious about sacrificing precious
resources on optional frivolous luxuries, but I am constantly reminded of harder years, when money and resources were scarce
and were never wasted on optional luxuries.

You all may say "hell, relax and enjoy these prosperous times," but I still cannot indulge. The wonderful economic boom of
the past two decades may not last forever. We could as a nation see hard economic times again, maybe even in the
not-too-distant future. If we had another Great Depression, do you think the major car makers would worry about whether or
not their twenty inch aluminum wheels were bright enough? Do you think they would lobby to get Harley-Davidson's endorsement
so that can add a licensed label to the tailgate?

If we had a Great Depression next year, complete with gas rationing, how many people would flock to sell their 13 MPG trucks
and SUVs that they never really needed in the beginning?

Hard times force people realize WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. This country has been lucky long enough to forget what is really
important. Advanced as our economy may be, it is still grounded in hard work. That is why I demand a truck that can
perform; I demand a truck that can work as hard as I do. Unfortunately, the major truck industries have forgotten the
meaning of work. That was my original point in the first post, Texas.

I see what you mean, but the trucks with features can still last really long. I have a lot of family that lives in the country so i know about "putting a truck to use". But living in the city and being a HUGE car guy all my life(im only 22 though),and seeing such diversity of personal styles has drawn me in to the custom truck industry starting at a young age.

I've been really lucky in life to be able to have luxaries and excess needs(which some times i forget how lucky i am). But I don't just blow my money, I save up for what i want and make sure it can fit in my budget before i "blow" my money. I value each dollar, b/c i know how fast it can be consumed. I totally understand going through tough times, my families certainly been through them. Like I said earlier though, car makers run a business and their job is to make a profit by any means necessary. Its really unfortunate that its like that, but thats the business world for you unfortunately.

I see what you mean, but the trucks with features can still last really long. I have a lot of family that lives in the country so i know about "putting a truck to use". But living in the city and being a HUGE car guy all my life(im only 22 though),and seeing such diversity of personal styles has drawn me in to the custom truck industry starting at a young age.

I've been really lucky in life to be able to have luxaries and excess needs(which some times i forget how lucky i am). But I don't just blow my money, I save up for what i want and make sure it can fit in my budget before i "blow" my money. I value each dollar, b/c i know how fast it can be consumed. I totally understand going through tough times, my families certainly been through them. Like I said earlier though, car makers run a business and their job is to make a profit by any means necessary. Its really unfortunate that its like that, but thats the business world for you unfortunately.

Well, I read your post, and I would like to point out that I respect your interests. I realize that you do have a lot invested in your truck: time, expense, and pride. It shows too; your truck looks great. I can respect it though it differs from my vision of a truck.

Thank god we live in a country where we can choose to spend our hard earned money however we want.

they just dont build them "tough" at all. i can see both your points and agree totally with abboq. i couldnt have said it better. thank you. me well i live in the middle of the kalamath national forest and have a 20 to 13 mile dirt road to traverse {depending on witch way i go) with one neighbor. my 2000 f-150 #7700 5.4 has fallen apart!!! base model it is not! built tough it is not. my shackles that hold my leaf springs on in the rear cracked and one broke completly off up in the air! no shit. this part is rivited to the frame! shocks suck after 3 pairs i went with air ride shocks, this is a 3/4 ton 1/2 ton now equiped with over load air ride shocks.why? because ford stopped making work trucks years ago!!!! the other day after 2 inches of snow the heater started smelling like coolant simple right ? wrong 700.00 dollars please. a new core 50.00 the time to take the dash board off and replace the core 600.00. remote entry no longer ,stopped working 20,000 miles ago.(maybe another 200.oo) transmissions leaking ? mine was they fixed it after i held the trained ase mechanics hand and told him how.(computer reliant fools). factory defect paint bubble on door fixed 2x by ford once and not again by me 400.00. anybody have a clicking noise in their dashboard? i do what is it? ford ase couldnt even tell ya. rubber door seals are hanging on driver side!!!! what!!!! A B S lights on? mine was 75.00. you cant even work on these trucks yourself unless you have a degree in spaghitti!!!! this truck is a love hate its nice to be comfortable wile actually using my truck but a 78 pick up with a busted hood,no door widows a bad exhaust,smashed in doors (that was fun) a touchie feelie starter is built tough.as well as our 3 1942 power wagons,1969 international,1986 landcruiser and others. "we live where cars come to die" fords moto should be "BUILT CITY TOUGH" would i buy another ??? Yes i would like a 350 diesel but come on 30,000 45,000 for a workable truck thats going to rattle apart every 5-10,000 miles get real. build me a truck i can use or i will. Anybody want to start a real truck company??? serious. ill even test them in "Real truck conditions" 1940 power wagons rule

monk this is like the 3rd time i've read your fucking post on a different thread,

grow up and move on!

OK, Well I like the Ford truck. That's my Dad's & his Dad's fault I guess. They both had'em. Although my Dad has had a few more Dodge's than Ford. His reason?? Ford wanted to much. I bought my very first truck at 19. I wanted a "Work Truck". So I bought a 1994 F-150 XL 4x4 in-line 300 straight six 4.9L brand new from the dealer's lot. Best truck I've ever owned. I take pride in my ride's, But not fashionable like. I put it to the test of power and long lasting. I rememeber my friends having heart attact's when they seen the long-bed of my brand new truck 2 week's after I bought it! That's right it looked as if it had been on the truck for 20 years dented,scratched, and beaten all to hell. My tail gate on the inside had dent's that you could see from the outside when it was up. First thing I did when I brought it home was take it to a friend's roofing company and load everything that I could in the long-bed and drop a trailer on it and hauled it to one of his job site ( for free) just to see if the truck would handle it. Rather or not if it fit's into my bed, I'll haul it. I washed it 2 or 3 time's a year, most of time that would be after winter to remove the salt from the roads. I'm hard on cars/trucks I'm awear of this. That's why I buy truck's. I'd still have my 94 Ford if this kid hadn't took the cornner to fast in the snow and plowed into it. He wrapped it 1/2 around the tree in my front yard. I currently own a 1980 F-150 4x4 custom. Look's like utter shit, makes more noise than a train, ride's like a horse an buggy, get's wet inside the cab on rainy days, no radio, no A/C and steer's like it's on ice. But its straight and soild, and start's when I turn the key any time of the year and handles everything I do to it. I'm rough, I live way back in the stick's our raods are mainly gravel and dirt until town, I don't dodge pot hole's cause there's just too damn many. My trucks don't run fast, don't look good, and only the 94 sounded good. But then I've only had 2 truck's. I won't buy a new truck. Ford want's way to much, Chevy can't build one to handle my need's and Dodge build's truck's for speed which is nice and all, but will it still be running in ten years hauling what ever I tose on it?? I think it nice that everone wants a truck. I love'em. If I'm out an about and the wife say's she want's me to fix something in the house, I can go right to the hardware store and get it. I don't have to go home to get the truck or borrow one from a friend. I dont like the 4 door truck's much though, An exstened cab is ok because you can still get the long-bed with it. The newer trucks sure do look nice an all, But I can't work on them when they break down as monk has stated. If I can't sit inside under the hood and not break something or move easly then I don't want it. And if it squast down to the rim's when I toss a trailer on it ( which most chevy's that I have driven always do) then it anit no truck. That's just me though. Just my opinion's I like to view what other poeple do to show truck's. I think that's just plain "ol neat man! Big rims, fansty paint job's, dropped down low and all tricked out, that kinda stuff is pretty darn nice looking! I just wouldn't buy the truck because I know I'd mess all the really neat stuff up. I'm just rough with a truck. And if I did buy a new truck, I'd have to tear out the engine and tranny and put in an old 351 or 460 with a carb. on it so's I could change spark plugs, starters, alt's and little things like that. I opened the hood on a brand new 2002 F-150 and couldn't tell what was what under there! And I don't like mazda tranny's under my Ford truck's either. My 94 had just that, and it did ok I guess, I think an old c-4 would have done better though. But hell what do I know I'm just a dumb 'ol 27 year old local truck driver. I've NEVER had a Ford that just fell apart like Monk says. They've prove to me, and my family, That their built tough and they go the lasting mile. So do want you want to do to your truck, Pride come's in many diffrent form's. As long as your proud of it, Well that just all that matter's. I get just as many looks at my truck as everyone eles does. Well more nose's turn up ward or shocked and startled looks, but no body stop short in front of me, and no body play's chicken with me, and it won't ever be stolen. So texas keep on tricking out your truck, methinks it's pretty cool. And abboq I see you point too, and like that fact that you too respect other Idead's. I can't agree more with x308!

I don't think that the quality today has suffered, however price and options keep the blue collar working man away from these units. All I see nowdays are a bunch of suits driving around in $50,000 pickups and suv's with leather , thinking that they are some outdoorsman who need to shift into 4x4 to crawl a concrete block to get a parking stall at the opera. Bitter that I can't afford a 2004 f-150 lariat 4x4? You bet. Anyway, now that I got that off my chest, keep on trucking. :evillol:

I don't have scientific research to back my opinion here, just personal experience.

I currently own two trucks: a 1979 GMC Heavy-Half, and a 1995 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT. I use the Dodge to drive when I take the lady out, and when I want the luxuries of comfort and quiet. When I want to get to work, I get out my '79. It ain't quiet, it ain't pretty, but it will take a beatin' and come back for more. It will run circles around my Dodge, even though she's twice as old as my Dodge. She's my baby.

I weigh 200 pounds, and I can sit on the hood of my '79 GMC without any fear of bending the hood. I can't even !!!LEAN!!! on the side of my Ram because the sheet metal is so thin it will bend!!! Damn, that metal must be *at least* half as thin as my '79.

I have roughly 190,000 miles on my GMC. It idles perfectly. It revs up with no problems. Aside from normal carburation issues, it starts up easily in the winter. I have taken excellent care of it, but it has not been rebuilt or drastically modified. With the exception of normal maintenence (oil, transmission fluid, brake pads, etc.), I have not needed to replace any major components on the truck.

On my '95 Ram, however, at just 90,000 miles, I had to replace the Piman Arm. The part alone cost me seventy dollars. I couldn't figure how that piece wore out so quickly... I drove my '79 for twice the mileage and that part never wore out. When I asked the guy at the dealership, he told me (and I am completely serious) that their trucks aren't really designed to go beyond 100,000 miles. I told him that he should advertise that fact and then see how many trucks they sell.

I dunno about everyone else, but when I buy something, I want to stick with it. I hate the disposeable part of our American society, and I refuse to give in to it. I like to hold on to my things. I get my money's worth out of nearly everything that I buy, and I like to buy things that last, not things that are built "City Tough" (thank you Monk, I love your post).

I think you need to chill

Our culture is changing, you gotta adapt to the latest trends and not bitch about it.

Monk,
Sounds like you got off cheap at $75 if Ford fixed your ABS light issue. I took some time and searched: http://www.f150online.com/index.cfm and found how to fix it myself for a $15 sensor and 10 min. under the truck...

i currently own a 94 chevy s-10 blazer. this is my first vehicle that i have ever owned. i bought it in 95 when it was a year old. i feel safe to say that that blazer has been to hell and back. i bought it when it had 25k on it it currently sits at 190k it has the origanal 4.3l multiport. never been touched. the only thin that i ever had to replace mechanically on the motor was an alternator and plugs and wires once. it has never left me stranded. its carried more weight in engine blocks than my dads 1984 ram 100. its been launched in the air repeatedly, slid sideways into trees, driven across the country 5 times. stuck in mud for 2 days, and it still runs like a champ. sure it has exhaust leaks and dents and half of the interior electrical doesnt work(back windows ect.) but it gets me from point a to point b with relatively little complaint. i do maintain the machanical aspect probably more religously than most. but my point is that 94 is relatively new and you cannot tell me that that truck wasnt built to last. thats why i decided to trade it in on another gm product. i found a gmc serria that i want to buy and i have no doubts in my mind that this truck will live up to the legacy of the blazer.

I always get a kick out of when I see a New Yorker, or someone from Jersey, or Florida, etc, gone off the roads up here in Maine. Then they think their big crew cab or Suburban or Excursion is gonna need a wrecker to pull them out, because they don't know a thing about their vehicles 4X4 system. So naturally, I just drive away in my car while they hope thier cell phones have a signal. Of course, in the winter I pull people out with my truck, but not these tourists that drive to far into a soft shoulder to look at a moose or some deer. Why do they drive these? Why not a big Caddy or Lincoln?

Anyway, every year at the truck pulls some young punk with his daddy's big fancy, chromed out and lifted 2000 or newer truck drives out in front of the drag, revs the cat-back exhaust for the crowd, (Ooooh, Aaaaah) hooks up and pulls 50 feet or breaks something. After 4 or 5 of them, I finally get to go, in my '79 F-150, with full-time 4 wheel drive, a 400M and a C6, two different color doors, rusted out wheel wells, and bent bumpers. That's right a REAL truck. And always pull at least 240 feet (finally start to spin down), but its still farther than the other half tons, and even beats most newer 3/4 and 1 tons.

My other truck is an 84 F-150 body on a '77 frame with a 76 390 FE, jacked up on a 6'" lift and 37's. I could fit 40's or 42's, but it wouldn't be practical for towing or plowing. Both of these are what I would call a TRUCK. If they had leather, A/C, CD players, power windows and locks, oh, wait, they do.....but they still have a real axle slung out front, not some IFS car bull-sh!t. And a real lever to engage it, not a button or dial. What, are the "Fab-5" fans afraid to break a nail if they hafta actually "use" thier truck? Sure, airbags would be nice if you need them, but I feel a lot safer behind the good 'ole american iron of an older truck then the lightweight, thin metal and plastic I'd be sitting behind in a newer truck........

Although a new Ford Lightning would make a sweet tru......er, car!!

We'll, My turn-I just bought an F350 4x4 Crew Cab Powerstroke Diesel with a long bed, It will see some work not much but it will and I love the modern amanities because after a hard day of work I like open the door with out the key and sit in my plush 8 way power adjustable seat, with my A/C on and listen to my 6 disc in dash CD player with cruise control on and not hear the engine rattling and feel every rut in the road, Trucks have evolved and because we are in America and enjoy the freedom of "Choice" in how we live and choose to spend our money, Be glad that truck are so popular and beacuse a majority are still built in North America or would you rather us spend our Hard Earned American dollars on some economy econo box made in Korea/Japan/(insert country here) so the US trade deficit could be even higher than it is now and thus making the economy even worse than it is now? I dont, I love my country and the freedoms it allows me my and my fellow americans, embrace it and enjoy it because not every person in this world enjoys what you enjoy or has the freedom to vent as we do.

Nuff said, Time to move on.


Route666 your sig is actually "Rob Zombie" and Not "White Zombie", Thought you'd like to know?

I have one of the afformentioned Harley Davidson pick ups. I like sportyness. I'd like to have a sports car and a work truck but having the additional car, regardless of which is the primary, is not feasable from a cost stand point. Would a regular supercrew do the trick...sure, but it lacks the style I like...and the supercharger. I got everything that I want in 1 vehicle, almost. I don't do "work" on a daily basis and the 5 1/4' bed has proven useless a few times already, but there's nothing I can do about that. Sometimes I miss my 8ft bed. To date my bed has seen a 1/2 ton of gravel size granit(twice), hauled 450 pavestone retaining wall blocks(not at once), plywood, sheetrock, bags of cement, lawn crap, hay, dirt, sand, dirt packer just to name a few. I have a couple of friends who think I'm crazy cause I haul this stuff in my truck and the bed is getting scratched up but I tell them..."It's still a truck and this is why I bought it." Besides, I can always(and intend to) spray a bedliner in a couple years. I know what you mean though. "I miss back when...."

A truck can look "cool" and be functional. My F250 XLT is a really nice looking truck, white, 3-door extended cab, 4x4, chrome rims, etc. I haul my camper and my boat with it all the time. I have also hauled rock, wood, bark, sand and junk in it. It looks showroom quality until you look in the bed... scratched, dinged and gouged. I happen to like the fact that my truck looks sweet but is still a truck! I do get the original posters point though. But hey, it's like everything else... the consumer is what drives the shitty service, quality etc. If people didn't willingly pay for junk, they wouldn't sell it.

:rolleyes:

Hey Abboq- ***AMEN*** Us girls have a term for unneccessarily large/loud/obnoxious vehicles driven by men who don't use them for what they're made for - "Compensation Cars". I drove a Honda Civic for years... when I had access to someone else's rig for hauling my horses around. I now have a 1996 F250... would have bought an F150 for the better mileage but found them to be surprisingly close in price to the 250s! Go figure. May as well have the power for pulling the bigger trailer. If I buy a new truck someday I'll have to special order it to get a bed long enough to stack more than 10 bales of hay in.

Wow, after reading all your statements...I don't think I'm going to get a "new" truck. Thats just unbelievable about parts and stuff wearing out so fast. Man, and I thought I had it bad repairing all my Trans Am problems.

I just think it comes down to this. All the "new" vehicles out there are just not designed with longivity in mind. All the car designers out there are all about style and are kids (well, I'm 23) that have come out of college to try and make money by offering a "new" look to their companies vehicles. Take the SSR for Chevy...all thats for is a grocery getter and to drag from the stop lights.
I totally agree now with Dodge and how they are just making fast trucks...if I'm looking for a truck, I don't want it fast, I just want it to handle my bumps and bruises I put on it. I don't need a frame bent when I go over a curb.
Its crazy...our society is actually getting pretty darn lazy. And I won't even go into politics or what I see in our nation's future.
In my opinion, I'd like to see a "rougher" President or a "rougher" business man in our world. I'm tired of seeing the same stuff as everyone else.
I'm tired of seeing pricks driving around in their big SUVs thinking they own the world when all they do in it is waste gas driving to and from work everyday and not even stepping in the woods.
Oh well, thats my :2cents:

How do you say that Truck today are not tough? The parts are stronger and better! Maybe you are confuseing the "old toughness" with the "extremely stiff ride". just because the ride was really stiff back then didn't mean that i was tough... besides the body being made of sheet metal instead of Fiberglass might be the only way it way more tough back then... They use Toyota Tundra's over in Iraq.. you don't see them looking for on old truck "that your saying is tougher, which 'should be better'" to use over there to last longer and work harder....

ya your older truck is "better" at work cause your to scared to take out you new one cause just like everyone else.. they don't want to scrach it. and put dents in it... or bang it up a little

How do you say that Truck today are not tough? The parts are stronger and better! Maybe you are confuseing the "old toughness" with the "extremely stiff ride". just because the ride was really stiff back then didn't mean that i was tough... besides the body being made of sheet metal instead of Fiberglass might be the only way it way more tough back then... They use Toyota Tundra's over in Iraq.. you don't see them looking for on old truck "that your saying is tougher, which 'should be better'" to use over there to last longer and work harder....

Exactly, they are using Toyotas because they are better than Dodge, Chevy, and Ford for trucks. The United States are not building them like they use to...its too much plastic and fiberglass. I can see using that for cars and such, and maybe some parts of the truck, just because they are lighter weight, but they need to make a real "work" truck and not a truck for show.
Ya, the baseline model trucks might be for that reason...but I'm sure they won't last over 100,000 miles without some major repairs!

I know I can't give an example because I don't own a truck but my car is an example, in a small sense.

After having a wreck into the front driver quarter panel...now everything in that car is Fing up. I'm not sure if its because of that or not but the engine only has 57,250 miles on it. Thats it! And I don't even rag it out! Hey, even the transmission had to be rebuilt...and I wait till the transmission goes into reverse and drive before stepping on the gas. Those people waiting for me to back up can just freaking wait!
Hey, even the trannies on my car are called, "glass transmissions" because they are known for their problems and breakages.

Just giving those facts alone makes GM look like garbage. I'll never get another GM for as long as I live. I'll just have to go import.

Anyway...enough about that.

I'm drivin a 4.6L V8 2000 F-150 Flareside, regular cab, regular box (6 feet).
It has about 86,500km on it right now and so far I havn't done any real repairs on it. Another 6 or 7 thousand clicks and it will be time to change the air filters n such, but I've been pleased with it so far. It looks incredibly good, without any additions to the body it catches the eye of people all over town, yet can still towe just about everything I've thrown at it. All summer I use it for towing my boat to and from the lake, then hauling firewood in the fall, Trees n shit in the winter, and various other things.

The thing that gets me with people now is lowering them right to the ground, puttin underbody kits/lights on, and pretending it looks good.
The brand new 2004 F-150's.. Big and powerful looking.... DON'T fuckin drop those things, it looks gay. There's one guy drivin around town with a ground effects body kit on a 2004 F-150... God it looks retarded.
If you're gonna buy a truck you had better be using it for SOMETHING, be it offroading or hauling..

Enough of my ranting. You have better things to read.

"I just see a lot of people wasting a lot of hard-earned money on trucks they really do not use. I think of all the other
things that their "Euro tails," Z-Rated tires (that wear out in 15,000 miles), aluminum wheels, hydraulic suspensions, bass stereos, cold-air intake, and performance exhaust could buy."

How you feel is your business but what gives you the right to criticise how other people spend their money. I don't agree with alot of things either but I keep my opinions to myself. Heres a thought for you. You complain about trucks getting 13 mpg while simultaneously complaining abuot them spending money on intake and exhaust. Why do you think they do that? Because those modifications improve their mileage. I put cold-air and flowmaster on my durango and it paid for itself in fuel savings. Also I use my suv to the fullest going off-road and also pulling a covered trailor for work. Do I care that most people who drive these vehicles would never do this? Not really, because I know that if these vehicles were only sold to the people who will actually use them to the fullest the sales volume would be so small that the dealers would have to price them more expensive then they already are just to justify making them. It's simple logic the more of something you make the cheaper the individual units can be priced. Why do you think low volume vehicles like Ferrari, Lamborghini etc. cost what they do.

nothing like seeing a woman with an Excursion doing 90 down the highway with a "Laker Soccer" sticker on the back window because she knows that if she flies off the highway and hits 7 trees shes not going to die.. trucks and suvs are becoming more popular because of the advancement in new safety features.. they hold up better in crashes than a Ford Taurus would because they're bigger.. but someone like myself doesnt give a rats ass about safety.. i bought my truck because i needed something i could beat the hell out of during the winter.. so i could keep my camaro in the garage..

and for the record.. i dont think trucks are cool..

trucks are cool dummy besides euro cars all suck and sound like shit bags!

I use my 99 F250 100% for work everyday. It brings me, my ladders, my air compressor, and all my tools needed to roof new homes everyday. When I do tear offs it hauls my 4,500 lb empty dump trailer which can hold 15,000 lbs+ in it.

My wife drives the Excursion to work and back and we take it up to see her Dad who lives up north on a lake, it tows the car hauler, camper, and atv every now and then. My wife also has a full size Bronco with 1 air bag and I wanted us to be safe when we drove together, plus I love the look of her X with the 33's on American Racing rims.
A few times my wife has been asked why you drive such a large gas guzzler, she replys back, it's got a diesel engine which gets up to 20 mpg and can tow over 10,000 lbs, can your truck, car or mini van do this? They usually say nope! Plus my husband bought it for me!!!

Plus there are the guys who want to buy it from her knowing what it is.

My wife has made it clear, here in MN she has to have a 4x4 vehicle, which she does use every winter.

if you want to spend your hard earned money on upgrading your truck with sound systems and exhaust and spinner rims , then do it!! Its their choice. If you want to spend it on makin your truck a work truck with whatever you put on them to do that then do it. Dont friggin complain when the companies are makin a bigger profit with the trucks they have out cuz more people like use them for performance and looks.
plus whats the crap about poeple dont use them for what they are made for. If you want to make a ten second truck then im pretty sure thats using it for a pretty good reason. If yu want to pleasure yourself with high speeds good looks or a big towing capacity then do it. Dont complain about how other people use their trucks just cuz your jealous that you dont know how to have fun with whatever vehicle it is you happen to own.

Well. I like the coolness of trucks. But the two I drive are loaded with luxury but get worked the heck out of. Being that they get driven usually by me for over 100 miles a day most of them towing. They see a lot. I like to be comfortable when driving threw this mess of yuppies in this god forsaken place called Long Island, New York. What exactly do these trucks haul. Anything from a car haulers- stock trailers. Both set up to haul tag, 5th, and gooseneck trailers. Customized to my specs. The only spec missing is my name on the titles.

That's why I have a 1980 F250 HD with a 460 an 8 foot bed, and a 4 speed with a shifter about as long as I am tall. Im a mechanic, I use my truck to haul stuff, it's got a bedliner that's all beat to hell, and I love my truck.

4 speed with a shifter about as long as I am tall.

Thats the way to do it in a truck. :biggrin:

I feel the same way, trucks and SUV's are the new trend. Like cloths many only buy them to be trendy. I don't mind their tastes and desires but when it affects me I do mind. I've seen many drive their trucks reckless as if they were sport cars, I've seen them drive in ways where I really wish I could see what traffic looked like in front of them, and I've seen them affect resale value and vehicle quality. By resale value and vehicle quality I mean truck and SUV makers have flooded the market with these hot sellers and as supply and demand says excess supply will lead to lower prices, not bad if your just gonna by a new one next year but most work trucks don't get traded-in on a yearly basis as if they were out of date. On the vehicle quality side the strong market of everyone wanting trucks and SUV's, auto makers are taking more shortcuts than ever before. Really if you were in charge of buying or making parts for trucks and SUVs would you use a part that costs twice as much and lasts 10 times longer than a part that only lasts one year. Not when you expect your main customers to be trading in their trucks and SUV's within a year. For example look at how much and the location of the plastic in todays trucks and SUV's verus the trucks of a decade ago, plastic isn't a new invention either.

ABBOG, you hit the nail square with your comments.

The first truck I bought was a 1985 regular cab, long box XL 4X4. It had a 351M under the hood, a four speed with a granny gear and air conditioning. Because of its use in my job, I did do a 4 inch suspension lift and gave it a set of 33 inch tires. The truck was a workhorse. In 370,000 miles it only failed me twice, both times within 20 miles of home. It lost a timing chain (just slam worn out, no teeth left) and the distributer lost the pin holding the gear on. That one always puzzled me.

It did not matter if the tailgate was up or down, you had a ton in the bed or it was empty, the truck pulled 17 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway. It also did not matter how you drove it, pussyfoot or raise hell. The mileage did not change.

I wish I could find another one like it. I have a 96 now and it fits the description ABBOG made. It has a 302 five speed. It could not pull a noodle out of a widcat's ass with a fifty mile an hour tailwind and giving the wildcats a fifty foot start. The 85 could get down and grunt with the big boys. I had it in places that I would not even think about taking the 96.

Yes the memories, when horsepower was generated by cubic inches instead of a damn computer.

Well, Don't know where I stand here. I mean I've never owned a car other than my wifes. I've owned 5 different trucks ranging from a 1980 Ford f100 to the 2000 F250 that my wife now drives. I've been watching this topic for a while and never posted cause I didn't want to get a flame going but whats the deal? Why is it such a problem that people like to drive trucks? My wife drives the 250 and I drive a chevy Z71. Yea she could get to work and back in a car and did for a while, but what the heck good is a car if I wanna pull something? My truck is basically my office and stays full of blueprints, tools, and dirt to be honest so I'm not gonna crawl up in it for a long weekend of travel, and the Pontiac Grand AM that she use to drive doesn't have a chance of pulling our quads, so she drives the 250 so it'll stay clean enough for us to use when we need to.... But hey don't get me wrong I don't have to have a big powerstroke, but if I want one I can have one so back off..... This is America and suppose to be the land of the free. I say buy what you want, drive what you want, and be happy. As for quality... Huh thats going down in everything nowdays. Look at the big rigs on the road. They aren't made like they use to be either and I don't see many soccer moms driving them. Its all about making stuff cheap and selling it at a good profit. Do that and you'll make money. Face it everything revolves around money.

There are several outstanding problems that ford seems to have. Power steering shits out, mainly, as far as my family goes. My dad's 89 F-150 that he drove 50 miles all over town delivering newspaper got to 215,000 before we sold it, and my truck is at 105,000 (granted it's been treated well before I had it. I got it at 90,000 and drive the hell out of it.)

It depends on the vehicle you get... but notice how my truck is 10 years old? They throw vehicles together these days very poorly. And they make EVERYTHING rely on computers, as if that is a good thing. It's not!!

Sure almost all the half tons are built for paved roads, never mind the quarter tons. but Ford(perhaps others too) offers a 3/4 with rigid front diff and long box reg cab v8 with a standart trans for usually less than the half tons. so the thing is you buy what you want to buy, that it be a ford,chev gmc or dodge. I still say BUILT FORD TOUGH