What happened to pickups??

[the tractior vet]

Mixed feelings here regarding the Detroit Locker. The vent cap disappeared off the Grand National’s rear axel . Then the rear end failed from dozens of bits of gravel . So the thought was to install a Detroit Locker . In hindsight , wishing the choice had been a Torsen limited slip instead.
The Detroit Locker on occasion will skitter the vehicle’s rear sideways if one wheel grabs traction
.

I personally never had and issue with one . I did have ISSUES with the Ford Limited slip . Detroit lockers i have installed a bunch . I put three into three F 750 Ford service trucks with the 23000 lb rears that use to go into the strip mines used them in the drag cars and in my pick ups . Maybe it was the wrong gear lube as we used 90 weight Mineral Oil . NOW ya have to add the little bottle on the limited slip rears to the 90 gear oil . I have not installed one in the last Oh 30 years . Plum worst rear end i have ever worked on was the Ford 10 and a quarter pure garbage , Eljunko.

 

[the tractior vet]

I didn't think the EPA crap started till 73 with the electronic ignition. and smog pumps.

NO the smog pumps were in Full BLOOM in 68 God i hated them . Man you have never had the pleasure of tryen to do a tune up on a 1968 Ford Mustang with a big block with a four speed . On the four gear cars they HAD the SMOG pump and thermactor tubes going into each exhaust port and just getting to the spark plugs on the left bank was a nightmare and your working FLAT RATE and back then flat rate to the customer was 8.25 and hours and you got HALF the book called for ONE HOUR on a light tune and that was change plugs , point's cond. set timing And that was another nightmare on them and adjust carb the next nightmare with the limiter caps on the bleed screes and SHAME ON YOU if you got caught removing them , big time NO NO . major finger slapping. Smog pumps were on all med. duty gas trucks and issues oh my god . Then the transistor ing when they first came out oh yea more fun on the service dept floor 72 was the first year for MO PAR but by then i was not out on the floor i was now in my parts dept. and had to listen to the guys fighting issues while on Flat rate and that was now up to 10 bucks customer pay and 9 on factory warranty . Everyday the service dept was not the place for tender young ears and always beware of flyen objects as they may be wrenches . Yea the early days of EMISSION . The end of performance lower MPG and endless problems . YEA EPA.

 

[buickanddeere]

That's about right. I've got a '24 GMC with those specs (mine is a 4 door). I lucked up and found it on a dealer's lot, most of the time you have to order.
I will say one thing, the 6.6 gas is pretty impressive for a gas burner. It won't hang with a diesel but it's more than capable of pulling a big load decent. Pretty decent gas mileage when empty too, loaded not so much. I pull a gooseneck about once a month so it's not breaking the bank.

Lower purchase price. Lower cost fuel. Lower maintenance costs . The 6.2 and 6.6 have more HP than the highway tractors did until a couple of decades ago. Those 318’s etc hauled 40 ton of freight coast to coast. Over two mountain ranges.

 

[Fawteen]

Lower purchase price. Lower cost fuel. Lower maintenance costs . The 6.2 and 6.6 have more HP than the highway tractors did until a couple of decades ago. Those 318’s etc hauled 40 ton of freight coast to coast. Over two mountain ranges.

At 25miles an hour...

 

[Keith True]

Most guys here that ran 318's were beginners,and ran them until they could afford a truck with a real motor.Trucks that had them were mostly old fleet trucks,they were a cheap priced motor when new.Drop 250 RPM below the governed 2100 and you were out of the power band.I have seen guys that could climb hills with them,but those guys could really row a 5X4 or a Spicer 16 speed.They were kind of piggy on fuel too,but that wasn't as important then as it is now.They did work out well in compressors,skidders,pavers,rollers,loaders,excavators,etc,and I have seen a lot of them in equipment that had almost astronomical hours on them.We had a lot of them still working around here because there was an old Detroit mechanic that was very good on them.He had learned in the military,and that seemed to be one of the few jobs learned there that translates directly into a job in cililian life.He called them Hoovers,and the V configuration ones he called double breasted Yamahas.

 

[NDIHC]

I'm in the process of fixing up a '79 Ford F250. Don't really know where I'll end up with it but I figure if I sink $30k into it I'll still be money ahead.
I don't think I'm ready to replace my '24 GMC with it, but the Ford will make a good farm truck.

I just made myself feel REALLY old! I read your post saying you wouldn't replace your '24 GMC. The first thing that came to MY mind was "WOW! He has a 1924 GMC!?!?!?

 

[hurleyjd]

I'm starting to search for little newer pickup.
My 2013 runs good but is showing more rust than I like
I want a Chevy/GMC 2500, 4X4, gas -STANDARD CAB 8' bed.
Have been looking at several auction sites.
They're like unicorns.
What happened to them. Have looked at a hundred or more online and found only 3 or 4 with a STANDARD CAB and 8' bed
WTH ?
Do all you guys have extended cab trucks?
I would be happy with the plainest Jane, low mile pickup -from a no rust zone.
It has me wondering what people use an extended cab, short bed 3/4 ton for.
Done whining now...
By the way, I've seen a couple in the Washington DC/MD/VA area. How much snow/salt/rust do they get there?
Photo shows a 2018 that I would be happy with.

Search on CARGRU for your area in my area there are tons of them. Just check the boxes for what you want.

 

[the tractior vet]

At 25miles an hour...

I personally only BOUGHT one truck that had decent factory Hp. and that was the 88 F 350 one ton cab and chassis with the 460 once we got 90 % of the bugs worked out .there are days i wish i had just ordered in a new long block 460 and put a couple new factory fenders on it and two new rear springs and not bought the Dodge . Between the two fuel mileage was about the same and now with the cost of diesel the 460 cost less per mile . empty ford on our trips out to the sales every week the 460 avg 14-15 MPG . Before they went to low sulfur diesel the Cummins was doing 16-17 , the down side was flat up against the gov flat on the floor in O D she was a rolling road hazard on the inter state topping out at around 72 . and when you were dragging the trailer staying out of O D 56 was tops and J B HUNT would blow you off the road With the 460 in forth she was just starting to get happy and in her power band running 70 loaded and it would get the best fuel mileage in the 32-3400 RPM range . Last i even looked at a new pick up was 7-8 years ago at a left over Dodge/ Ram 3/4 ton and on so called sale buy the time they were done with taxes and all the B/S extra charges they were talking over 56k . That was almost as much as i had in a new I H 4300 eagle and a new East custom built 30 foot all aluim Dump trailer that went out and made 500- a grand a day . A pick up makes you nothing but costs you everyday . To think back in 94 i was Thinking about buying a new truck and was looking at either a new Ford of steeping up to a new Dodge diesel i was talking to the owner of the Ford Truck center who i had known for years as he at one time also was in the Ford Drag club and ran two dealer cars like where i worked and took care of that dealers two cars . Tom wanted me to take one he had on the lot a new F 350 4x4 Cab and Chassis with the 460 five speed with the XL pkg. for 17500 out the door . He told me that before long pick ups were going to be over fifty K and i told him they were nuts . The Dodge dealer in Columbiana priced me out a new 95 dodge 3500 Cunnins five speed and we priced it two ways one with the mid level trim with OPTIONS and the top line trim pkg with carpet delete and the top line cost less to buy the adding options and the final price of the top line out the door less bed was just under 26K . I decided on the dodge and placed the order they said six to eight weeks . I got sick big time starting the night i finished corn harvest the end of Nov. . the truck got delayed for six more weeks and i was not getting better when it came in i was flat on my back and they kept calling wanting know when i was coming over to get it and on around the ifth call i told them to just put it on the lot and sell it. I was still down and out till easter . I kept on driving my 88 . when your self employed and you go down with dr. bills and no income it is a long road back and out going expenditures are not in the forecast.

 

[buickanddeere]

At 25miles an hour...

I will challenge a factory 2026 6.6 DI gas against any factory 2026 tier IV diesel . In the light truck application.
This is 2026, not about a 1994-1998
12 Valve or 24 valve 1998-2002 VP44 Cummins .

Purchase price, regular maintenance, fuel cost , reliability , unscheduled maintenance during and after warranty ,def fluid, insurance cost and cold weather starting. And the ability to keep up with traffic .
So many pickup owners view themselves as truckers.

 

[Fawteen]

I will challenge a factory 2026 6.6 DI gas against any factory 2026 tier IV diesel . In the light truck application.
This is 2026, not about a 1994-1998
12 Valve or 24 valve 1998-2002 VP44 Cummins .

Purchase price, regular maintenance, fuel cost , reliability , unscheduled maintenance during and after warranty ,def fluid, insurance cost and cold weather starting. And the ability to keep up with traffic .
So many pickup owners view themselves as truckers.

Not sure why you quoted me on that. Never have owned a diesel pickup (or anything diesel other than tractors) Can't make the cost of purchase and maintenance pencil out for what I do with a pickup.

 

[m16ty]

I will challenge a factory 2026 6.6 DI gas against any factory 2026 tier IV diesel . In the light truck application.
This is 2026, not about a 1994-1998
12 Valve or 24 valve 1998-2002 VP44 Cummins .

Purchase price, regular maintenance, fuel cost , reliability , unscheduled maintenance during and after warranty ,def fluid, insurance cost and cold weather starting. And the ability to keep up with traffic .
So many pickup owners view themselves as truckers.

I agree. Between the higher purchase cost, higher priced fuel, def, and higher maintenance cost, a diesel will never pencil out over a gas.
Sure, you get a little better fuel mileage with a diesel, but the extra cost of the fuel cancels that out right away. You also get a premium price when you sell the truck with a diesel engine, but not enough to make up for the extra you spent on purchase. Then you have the emissions related issues with the modern diesel engine.

I used to be a big proponent of diesel trucks, but that was back when diesel fuel was cheaper than gas and the engines didn’t have all that extra junk on them that’s not needed. Last diesel I had was a ‘98 Dodge, and it was bad enough with that VP44 injection pump.

 

[1948CaseVAI]

Leaving it on the kitchen table can create an alibi.

The issue I have with the flock cameras is their ability to mis read or be fed incorrect information. Then you get the police conducting full on armed felony traffic stops while looking to be the county’s next hero. Meanwhile they have the wrong person and no one bothers to check if the information even matches.

Flock cameras are not "fed" anything. Queries may be run against the database. But a data query is simply a question. The camera just takes a picture of whatever is in front of it, like any other camera. It is no different than on officer in a patrol car taking notes (which we did a lot of times in high crime neighborhoods so we could know who was out and about where and when). W soon had a notebook of who worked where and what hours they worked. How many kids they had and their visiting habits. That was just good old police work.

And a felony car stop, done correctly, is not a bad thing - no one is hurt unless the suspect resists or creates a disturbance. If it is the wrong guy then no harm no foul. And no one has any right to resist any stop or arrest, even if the arrest is wrong or illegal. Take it to court. Tik-Toc attorneys lead a lot of people astray.

 

[buickanddeere]

Flock cameras are not "fed" anything. Queries may be run against the database. But a data query is simply a question. The camera just takes a picture of whatever is in front of it, like any other camera. It is no different than on officer in a patrol car taking notes (which we did a lot of times in high crime neighborhoods so we could know who was out and about where and when). W soon had a notebook of who worked where and what hours they worked. How many kids they had and their visiting habits. That was just good old police work.

And a felony car stop, done correctly, is not a bad thing - no one is hurt unless the suspect resists or creates a disturbance. If it is the wrong guy then no harm no foul. And no one has any right to resist any stop or arrest, even if the arrest is wrong or illegal. Take it to court. Tik-Toc attorneys lead a lot of people astray.

No problem then mounting Flock Cameras inside everyone’s home . Worth it to reduce domestic violence and to monitor invalids in case of falls etc.

 

[the tractior vet]

I agree. Between the higher purchase cost, higher priced fuel, def, and higher maintenance cost, a diesel will never pencil out over a gas.
Sure, you get a little better fuel mileage with a diesel, but the extra cost of the fuel cancels that out right away. You also get a premium price when you sell the truck with a diesel engine, but not enough to make up for the extra you spent on purchase. Then you have the emissions related issues with the modern diesel engine.

I used to be a big proponent of diesel trucks, but that was back when diesel fuel was cheaper than gas and the engines didn’t have all that extra junk on them that’s not needed. Last diesel I had was a ‘98 Dodge, and it was bad enough with that VP44 injection pump.

Well atleast my Dodge is all mechanical . I can have a dead battery and not have to worry about electronic injectors and push/ pull /coast start mine . If i need more pony power simple hand tools will solve the issue . No blue juice to add to the COST per mile . that is bad enough now

 

[buickanddeere]

Well atleast my Dodge is all mechanical . I can have a dead battery and not have to worry about electronic injectors and push/ pull /coast start mine . If i need more pony power simple hand tools will solve the issue . No blue juice to add to the COST per mile . that is bad enough now

Problem is with a 1998 pickup by 2013 . It is so rusted out that a cat can escape from the cab even with the doors closed and the windows rolled up . This is now 13 years after that. Although washing and oiling can maybe squeeze 25 years out of a chassis.

 

[Ultradog MN]

9

No problem then mounting Flock Cameras inside everyone’s home . Worth it to reduce domestic violence and to monitor invalids in case of falls etc.

I think you're stretching it a bit there B&D.
I'm no fan of surveillance - there's enough of that on our phones and TVs but I'm not too concerned about licence plate readers or flock cameras. At least not yet.

 

[NY 986]

Problem is with a 1998 pickup by 2013 . It is so rusted out that a cat can escape from the cab even with the doors closed and the windows rolled up . This is now 13 years after that. Although washing and oiling can maybe squeeze 25 years out of a chassis.

25 years is fairly optimistic for the Great Lakes region of North America. Impossible to wash and oil every nook, cranny, and crevice on any vehicle. I know people who have tried. Once the rust sets in it spreads out in short order. The tried and true method is to have the vehicle off of the road before first snowfall and not put it back on the road until the first two heavy rains of spring have washed the roads. Drive the winter rat between November and April.

 

[buickanddeere]

9
I think you're stretching it a bit there B&D.
I'm no fan of surveillance - there's enough of that on our phones and TVs but I'm not too concerned about licence plate readers or flock cameras. At least not yet.

the escaping cat or maybe 25 years ?

 

[m16ty]

25 years is fairly optimistic for the Great Lakes region of North America. Impossible to wash and oil every nook, cranny, and crevice on any vehicle. I know people who have tried. Once the rust sets in it spreads out in short order. The tried and true method is to have the vehicle off of the road before first snowfall and not put it back on the road until the first two heavy rains of spring have washed the roads. Drive the winter rat between November and April.

I guess we have it a lot better here in TN, it’s not that bad.
The worst part in TN is they have started putting down brine water before the snow. At lest 75% of the time they will put down the brine and then it won’t do anything, or it will rain before it snows and wash the brine away. We usually only get 1-2 snows here a year, and it usually only hangs around a couple days. I do try not to drive any of my better vehicles when there is brine or salt on the roads.

 

[buickanddeere]

I guess we have it a lot better here in TN, it’s not that bad.
The worst part in TN is they have started putting down brine water before the snow. At lest 75% of the time they will put down the brine and then it won’t do anything, or it will rain before it snows and wash the brine away. We usually only get 1-2 snows here a year, and it usually only hangs around a couple days. I do try not to drive any of my better vehicles when there is brine or salt on the roads.

Last winter highway 21 was closed for 28 days. They do overreact in this era . Only needed to be closed for 12-14 days last winter.