Re: [RC] [RC] Fwd: [RC] Advice on trucks..... - Michael Lewis
I agree completely. Diesel pickups should
never have become the expensive luxury items they are now. Vehicles in
general are too costly nowadays... but WE keep paying the price...
I had a 1991 F-350 diesel that I loved. No
frills, but comfortable. Heck, IT got 12-13mpg pulling my trailer (albeit
had a lack of power, even with aftermarket turbo.)
Enough of the rounded body curves (expensive to
repair) and other things that jack up the price. Even stripped models are
way too expensive.
Heheheh. I hope to keep my '06 Dodge for at
least 15 years. At the rate I'm driving it, it will last 30.
Subject: Re: [RC] [RC] Fwd: [RC] Advice
on trucks.....
I lovc my 99 one tone Dodge with Cummins.....but no way would I buya new
truck these days with fuel prices! I got two bad hits last year that
smashed both dually fenders....either way to fix by replacing fenders OR
removing bed and installing flatbed would run in $3500 range...finally mdae
decision to just drive it banged up....keep it going mechanically and wait it
out for some kind of fuel efficient or hybrid truck......
If it got totalled, I would probably try to find the cheapest, used but
running well replacement I could and to heck with how it looked....that's my
statement to the automotive and truck industry.....forget the bells and
whistles and luxury items......build us a TRUCK that doesn't such down $5 a
gal diesel and gets 10 MPG hauling!!!
I have a '93 Dodge 3/4 ton super cab (no crew cab) ong bed with the
Cummins engine. (137,000 miles). The transmission is 5 forward
speeds. I have added the Banks turbo and an engine brake. I
also added overload leaf springs to the back. I have a Featherlight 3
horse slant with full LQ. The box is 23 feet and the goose is another
8 feet. I have hauled up some pretty steep two-lane roads (and down
again). I was told that the main difference is brakes and
suspension. The engine brake is the best. I never have a problem
stopping or feel out of control on steep mountain
roads.................mb
As long as there's some chatter out there about trucks, I'd like a
little advice, since it seems I am unwillingly in the market for a new
truck. I was hit broadside about a month ago while coming home from
a ride, and my truck is totalled. Luckily, my horse, my dog and I
all came through with no harm done, even though Dezi had to stand for over
an hour in a trailer that had been pushed up and over the top of my truck
and was tilted at a 45 degree angle. Unbelievably, he stood calmly
while the trailer was stabilized to keep it from tipping over, and then
lowered down. Then he calmly walked out and started eating
grass. Of my three horses, he is the one I would LEAST have expected
to be so unruffled. So now that the initial shock is over, I'm
dealing with trying to get decent compensation from my insurance company
(note: insurance companies are NOT your buddies, they will do everything
they can to intimidate you and force you to make decisions that you're not
ready to....I could go on and on about that), and when I do, I'll be
looking for another truck.
My truck was a 1992 1-ton Dodge dually with a Cummins
turbo-diesel engine. I would like to get another Dodge since
I'm in love with Cummins, but am wondering if I really need a 1-ton
(I got a really good price on this one when I bought it new). I haul
a 2-horse slant with a dressing room, but not built in LQ. At
the most I would upgrade to a 3-horse slant with a small
"weekender" type LQ....but not anything bigger. I did like the
stability of the duallies, but am thinking I could probably
get by with a 3/4 ton. Any thoughts? And if you want to
see a picture of my poor deceased truck, I'd be glad to email you
privately. Unfortunately I didn't get pics at the accident scene, I
was pretty wigged out at the time!
Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used
cars.
