Electrical accessories

[Brownie450]

Ray might be right with the no radio thing. Last year I was pricing
new F-150s, & during a test drive I told the salesman that I
didn't want that radio/ info screen that took up half of the dash.
He said that that was the only way you can get a new F-150. I
said I only needed a chore truck without all that extra stuff. He
mentioned that I would have to look for an older pickup then.
I finally found a 2006 F-150 which had exactly what I wanted,
except it doesn't have cruise control. My old '89 F-150 even
has cruise.
Jim

 

[rrlund]

Ray might be right with the no radio thing. Last year I was pricing
new F-150s, & during a test drive I told the salesman that I
didn't want that radio/ info screen that took up half of the dash.
He said that that was the only way you can get a new F-150. I
said I only needed a chore truck without all that extra stuff. He
mentioned that I would have to look for an older pickup then.
I finally found a 2006 F-150 which had exactly what I wanted,
except it doesn't have cruise control. My old '89 F-150 even
has cruise.
Jim

I wonder what that stripped down, manual window, no radio, two wheel drive half ton would cost? Dad bought a new half ton Chevy like that in 1966. It cost him $1995.

 

[NDIHC]

If Gooooooogle AI can be believed, Chevy still offers manual windows on the base W/T model. It says Ram and Ford have either discontinued them or it is highly unlikely that they are available.

 

[trackrat]

my old 2003 dodge one ton has a computer that all it does is operate the turn signals cost 650 dollars to replace but still has the switch under the steering wheel bunch of crap

 

[Brownie450]

The dealer price on those F-150s was $36000 ready for the road.
Of course license & tax was extra.
My 2006 was $11000 & had 49000 miles on it.
Jim

 

[GChief]

I wonder what that stripped down, manual window, no radio, two wheel drive half ton would cost? Dad bought a new half ton Chevy like that in 1966. It cost him $1995.

Easy enough to look up

 

[MarkB_MI]

There are several reasons for the high level of electronics content in newer vehicles, but the main thing is electronics and their accompanying software allow manufacturers to add a lot of content for not a lot of cost. That makes high-end vehicles more profitable to build than ones that are stripped down. Let's take power windows and door locks as an example. These features have been around for many decades; does anyone really want to own a car that doesn't have power windows and locks? In today's market, a vehicle without these features is going to sit on the lot for a very long time. But a loaded vehicle will sell pretty quickly despite its higher price.

Another reason for the high electronic content is emissions control and fuel economy. The modern engine controls required to meet emissions and economy standards pretty much necessitate computerization. And once the manufacturer has added electronic engine and transmission controls, it's not a big step to computerize other systems such as security and infotainment. That way all the systems can be integrated and communicate with each other. Think about the outside temperature display on your dash: Back in the seventies and eighties, an outside thermometer was typically an expensive option and was an actual mechanical thermometer, often attached to the rear-view mirror. These days we just take the outside temp display as a given. But it costs the manufacturer almost nothing to provide this information, since the engine control module already uses the OAT for engine management. Integration of the instrument panel with the ECM allows the IP to easily display this info.

Now let's talk about the tailgate issue: Back in the day, if a manufacturer had wanted to implement a power locking tailgate, they would have run fairly heavy wires from the door lock switches to the tailgate. And that would have been fine, because vehicle weight wasn't a big issue and wire was fairly cheap. But nowadays, manufacturers are doing everything possible to cut weight, so locks are now operated by digital commands. When you hit the door locks on your vehicle, a signal goes from the door lock switch to its controller. The controller in turn sends a digital message to the body control module requesting the lock. The BCM decides whether or not it should respond to the lock request; if the request is valid it sends another message to the appropriate control module(s), which in turn actually switch power to the lock mechanism(s). Doing it this way eliminates a lot of wire and relays while allowing the manufacturer to add new features. For example, it would be very difficult to implement speed-activated door locks with electromechanical devices, but with digital controls it's all done in software. And software is essentially free.

 

[Fixingfarmer]

I’ve bought vehicles for less that the tailgate on dads pickup costs to replace.

It is a fun world we live in have to keep profits up at gm I guess one way or another

 

[GChief]

If nothing.else you's guys sure are entertaining

 

[DPittman]

I just want to drive my vehicle. I don’t want it to drive me. Was driving her Suburban the first time which had more bells and whistles than we knew what to do with and this was an 2003 model.
We’re going down the interstate listening to the radio having a good day when I slow down to take an exit and this thing turned the radio down for me…….during Free Bird!
Totally unacceptable. Changed the setting and all was good but just another one of those unnecessary things.
Too old school I guess. The technology I do love is the button I push and all my seat and mirror settings go to mine. She’s 5’1” and I’m 6’4”. Handy to have

 

[cjunrau]

Be good If they would just make a reliable plain jane car, but the government has mandated a lot of this stuff. The big profit are in the accessories like power everything and electronic keys that cost $500 to replace if you lose it.

The gov does not mandate electric doors and windows. That is all companies trying to make more gadgets to out sell the competition. No different than tractors. when one company came up with something the next tried to do it one better. Most people are just so stupid they want the newest and best. companies found out about this and kept a rolling.

I watched something in church yesterday that shows the exact thing.
you know how in some churches they stand to sing. ours does 1 song or if the song leader says stand to sing. yesterday we sang 30-50 songs in 2.5 hours. Well the ministerial stayed sitting as the members went to vote in the smaller rooms in the back of the church, one at a time. we voted 4 times and got to stand and walk a bit. the ministers did not. So some of them decided to stand during some of the songs. Out of 100 people maybe 3 stayed sitting. As we sang slowly everyone would stand. it took till the second verse on a few of the songs before everyone was standing. It was interesting to watch how they would fidget awhile before they would stand. You could see the peer pressure in action so clear. These are all grown men. that is exactly how manufacturing electrical and GPS and self driving cars, tractors etc all come to play. Humans must do and have what the neighbor has. It takes a stubborn man like me and a few on here that refuse to do what the other one does. I don't stand even for 1 song. I am a rebel according to some.

 

[cjunrau]

My dad said my grandpa had a hard time understanding why some makers put electric starters on tracrors. The crank was good enough for him.

Yes the computers and array of motors and circuits create a challenge but most of us in the world enjoy the convenience. For example I never want to have to insert a key into an ignition switch in order to start a vehicle again, nor do I want to manually unlock a door or turn headlights on or off. I enjoy opening the tailgate remotely when I pick up a Sam's order etc. Did anyone complain about self-canceling turn signals after the turn is completed? Same idea. When it all breaks you just pony up the money to get it fixed. Change is part of progress and is not stoppable.

I will never own if possible a push button start. For one I do not have the money to pony up to pay. I like to be able to fix my own. I just do not get how lazy people ae but I guess if you got the money you want the food delivered to you while laying in bed LOL There was a story when I was a kid about some such guy. Fairy tale of course.

 

[GChief]

Typically , stubborn just means dying on an undefendable hill

Rebel without a cause maybe

 

[cjunrau]

Part of it is probably theft deterrent. How much would it cost to buy that tailgate? If it requires programming then you have to visit a dealer. It's money for the dealer (which they like) along with likely serial number tracking for stolen property.

I do not think theft of a tail gate is on anyone's mind. All this anti theft is BS. New vehicles are being stolen at a higher rate than ever before. All there anti theft and safety is just smoke and mirrors.

 

[cjunrau]

Currently looking for a used Ram 3500 one ton, what a pain. All I need is the HO Cummins and the goose neck hitch in the basic models. Found a couple but they're 6 to 8 hours away. Don't want to travel that far and find out things aren't as described.

If they are in the same direction I would think it might be worth a one night stay and a road trip. Get lots of pics and video sent to you if yo like.

 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

A lot of options are "bundled" so if you want one or two you have to take the whole package. This smooths production. When was the last time anyone went to a dealer to order a car or truck. I haven't heard of anyone doing it for a long time.

 

[Tony in SD]

wanted a one ton ford 3 years ago non to be found so we found a chevy 4 wheel drive the only 350 fords were also 4wd there are almost no 350 fords or 3500 chevys not 4wd

There are a couple of very good reasons why in the snow country; first, if there is snow or ice on the ground, a 1 ton, especially a dually is worthless and second, the resale value here is next to nothing on a 2wd.

 

[Tony in SD]

A lot of options are "bundled" so if you want one or two you have to take the whole package. This smooths production. When was the last time anyone went to a dealer to order a car or truck. I haven't heard of anyone doing it for a long time.

Last 2 pickups i bought were ordered to my specifications

 

[GChief]

Last 2 pickups i bought were ordered to my specifications

And you can do it yourself on the manufacturers sites, it will then have you select the dealer you want to work with. I have started my research for a new one, I have been building vehicles for over a week to get pricing and such.

When we get something new at the end of the year it will most likely be ordered, unless they have a good deal on a left over 2026 the way we want it.

 

[NDIHC]

The thing is that almost nobody wants a stripped down vehicle anymore. You are more likely to find someone who wants one on a site like this than in the general public. Look at resale values of a W/T compared to one with all the options. The well optioned one will retain a higher percentage of its value than a W/T because the resale market for a work truck is so limited. I know, some people specifically want them but not many in the general public do.
One funny thing that I've observed is that a lot of people think nothing of paying 20 or 30 thousand on a side by side and use it as a car around town. They get 15 or 20 mpg. A little thing like that and the owners are ok with 15 mpg while crying that their F250 or 2500 full size fully loaded pickup only gets 15 mpg. The NTSB has mandated front air bags in vehicles since 1999, yet these side by sides are street legal without them. 30 thousand for a 4 wheel drive go kart with few creature comforts or safety equipment. We had them at work and I have driven them. For what they are, they're fine. But I'm not going to take one on a trip more than 5 or 10 miles. To me 5 grand is overpriced for them for what you get.