Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

The only Ford truck that has interested me in the last 50 years was the Lightning. Not enough to buy one mind you but it did stir my interest. What did they make those about 5 years or so?

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

Anything not 4wd is worthless around here nine months out of the year. You probably wouldn't want the rock chip damage the other three months.

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

Yeah. They made them from 1999 to 2004 IIRC. I saw one for sale just the other day. And I had to hold myself back.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...ightning_3.jpg

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

Not only
So no new and pretty 2wds for you. I used to live on a farm with a cattle gate at the road and the house was fenced in on the middle of the place. I had a girlfriend who drove a '76 Vette with side pipes down that lane through the wash outs and cow pies. It took here a while, but she'd creep that thing on in idling through those side pipes

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

I miss side pipes. My brother had them on his 71 Roadrunner. They were cool.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...Polished_6.JPG

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

Beautiful little red Corvette Paul. Did you burn your legs getting out? I built a replica 65 Cobra (Chevy powered of course) with side pipes and I think I still have scars.:devil:

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

I thought they were ok.... I would of liked them more as a fleetside since that's my flavor. I think Ford should use the Raptor body in 2wd/single-cab version & do a new 2020 Lightning w/the GT500 drivetrain.

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

There is a Ford dealer in Salina Kansas that has their own new version of the Lightning.
2020 Ford F-150 LMST. I dont know how to post a link....

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

:lol: I saw a young couple driving a 1969 Impala over Tincup Pass back in 1989. They made it down the west side okay but the car was somewhat the worse for wear. Ironically, we were driving my old short bed 2wd stepside. But that was back when they still made pickups. It had 16" wheels and a four speed.

It wasn't really their fault. Back then the east side was just a rough gravel road, and they started down the west side before they realized how bad it was and it was too late to turn back. They more or less skidded down the first half mile on their rocker panels. I haven't been back up there now for decades, but judging from YT videos the road has been all tore to hell by motorcycles. :devil:

It's not that it's so rough around here (though my driveway is deep rutted now because of the UPS truck :( ) but I don't see how anyone ever gets all the mud off the bottom of low clearance vehicles. It's hard enough to hose off the Jeep and the 4x4 pickups.

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

No. But I burned my leg on my Harley at a barbecue (how appropriate) I rolled up and was so busy running my mouth that when I got off the bike I had neglected to put the kickstand down. :dohh: It fell right on me. I was lucky there were people there to lift the bike off me. That bike was heavy. And that pipe was burning hot. :eek: I was wearing shorts and my leg was medium rare.

But I did meet a cute girl there. So WTF. :)

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

I don't personally know a single person who's bought a regular cab truck in the last 20yrs at least. That's why they stopped.

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

I bought a regular cab, 6.0
2000 Silverado 2500 4x4 new. The salesman asked me if I really wanted a regular cab?? We had to order it!
Greg

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

Dude no shorts on a Harley. Gold wing yes Harley no.


My last new truck 2007 Dodge CDT 4 door with an 8 ft cab. Pulled a camper with two kids. Prior to that was a 1998 GMC 12 pass van . Three young kids and three rows of seats each had their own bench seat. Made the trip nice and quiet.

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

I was young. What more can I say. :o I did a lot of stupid things. A LOT! :josh:

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

We went over Tin Cup last year, and it is one of the roughest trails I have ever been on. We went up the west side. We met an old military jeep at the top and the guy had his wife and kid with him. I can't imagine riding down In that thing.

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

Well, it didn't used to be that rough at all, except for the "old" section partway down the west side, and I even drove that in the 1970s with my stock K20 (it was "interesting" but not really tough). Thirty years ago you could drive a car up the east side, and the only rough spot was the first half mile or so down the west side as long as you stayed on the newer/higher road with the switchback. And like I said, I drove up there one evening from Tincup with my wife and two little kids in my old 2wd short stepside pickup with a six and a four speed. There were a couple of rocky ruts near the top that you had to bounce up and over. Funny, we also had a 4x4 pickup but I saw no need to use it.

I guess people need a place to go and brag about it, and I suppose another 30 years of natural erosion has taken its toll, but I see no reason why the road(s) should have gotten so much worse than they did the previous 100 years, other than the high horsepower motorcycle riders that insist on rooster-tailing their way everywhere. Even before we left, some of the hiking trails that had been very nice had been torn up to the point that they were nothing but huge rocks. I haven't been back up in the park for almost 25 years now, but our friends who have a cabin a few miles down from Tincup tell us that the motorcycles and ATVs scream up and down the valley all day long all summer long now. A few years ago they finally came up to visit our place and were amazed how quiet it is and how little traffic there is here.

Okay, sorry for the rant, but it really was an out of the way Shangri-La clear up until about the mid 1980s when the feds insisted on shoving a paved road up around Taylor Dam. And now I hear that Cottonwood is paved all the way down to the lake :(

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

I always wear boots and jeans to ride, and ask the same of the goils. But I was at a swap meet during the Myrtle Beach bike rally and there was this booth with "Foxy Boxers" where you'd pay to sit in a chair with on your leg for a picture. I said I want a picture but I'm pulling my bike up. I pulled up and all three hopped on. The one who was on the tank (nice smudges left on the tanks) facing me with her feet on the footboards burned her cute little leg on the exhaust. It was all fun until that happened as she climbed off.
This is what annoys me about people. Such monkey see monkey do trend followers. Ford and Dodge were making ext cabs in the '70s and it was mostly only horse people and RV haulers who bought them. GM didn't make those because they had the Crewcab and Suburban. The Suburban has been around since the '30s. If you needed a back seat, cargo space (6'), and towing capability you could buy a Suburban. But they were never that popular for general family use. There were the full-size K5s, Broncos, Ramchargers, and Traildusters for people who wanted a truck type vehicle that could carry a small family and didn't really need a fullsize bed, yet could tow and they sold a limited amount of those (compared to today's no-need truck market). And let's not forget Vans with all the comforts and hauling ability. There were station wagons that could haul an RV trailer or a boat, but they became uncool and production dropped out on those. Then came the mini-van as a more useful design that used less fuel. Those took over with families until a stigma of uncoolness was attached to them. This came after the event of the 4dr SUV. This brought families to the SUV world. This was a little after GM went to ext cabs, which were available with a shortbed. Then came the crewcab shortbeds. By now most pickups sold were to people who didn't really need one (true, have one and you will find them handy at times), more for the image. Now we have families, people with shiny shoes, soft clean hands, living in cities driving pickups more as a car than a truck, and they need a back seat. I remember when it was only country bumpkins you'd see with the family crowded into the pickup to come into town and the people who drive the $60k trucks today were looking down their noses at the hicks who don't even have a car. It's no secret the emphasis on truck sales has not been to the working man for a long time and now we are coming full circle to where the truck being about hauling cargo with space for the operator and a helper has changed to being a vehicle with a backseat that can haul more than shopping bags or luggage. And... you have contractors now running shortbed ext cabs with a ladder rack to haul a 24' ladder or 12' lumber that could be laid nicely in the bed of a longbed. Try carrying a 24' walkboard and pump jack poles on a ladder rack with 6' base for mounting.

For me trucks are for work and fun. For passengers I've always had a Suburban and a Blazer or Jimmy

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

I did. The replacement was a 4 door because the price was right and it's easier to sell a 4 door. I would have another standard cab in a hot minute but they are way to expensive. This thread got me to build one on chevrolet.com. 48+k for a standard cab diesel 4x4 with no options. Nope. That's not happening. I can rebuild an old truck and be happy. Around here you see alot of newer standard cab trucks but most are farm trucks and long beds. Personally I think they should just get rid of the gas hog grocery getters and go back to the days of work trucks with minimal options. That should drive the cost down to where you dont need a second mortgage.

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

That will never happen they make way more money on trucks and SUVs than cars. It's all about the profits.

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

Those old single cab pickups with bench seats could be really handy. One time I took three gals and we went off on a afternoon drive up a mountain, as far as we could get. The trail was really off camber in one section and so the four of us were all sliding toward the low side. Of course we couldn't slide very far because it was pretty tight :)

It would not have been near as much fun in a four door pickup with bucket seats.

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

Packin' into the pickup. It's just how it was meant to be. Cars are made for hauling people. Trucks are made for hauling.

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

The last new pickup I bought for myself was in 1990. It was a K1500 single cab swb.

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

You will enjoy this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4I06dL1368

:lol:

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

Ford is great. They have been the real innovators in the pickup segment, not GM. They aren't afraid to try things and also didn't get bought out in 08. Probably the best truck you can buy for the past 15 years or so. I like that their extended cab truck isn't a 4 door like GM. I considered buying a newish one last year. F150, 5L V8, crew cab with 6.5ft bed. Went on a trip instead

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

Which is sad. I quess everyone looks for status and needs that extended cab with all the options that really doesnt gain you anything. I miss regular cab pickups with the 8 foot box. Crank windows. Just give me cruise and ac. It's sad that pickups went this route. Geared towards luxury and status instead of performance. We did it to ourselves. They didn't need to get this expensive.

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

I still prefer a reg cab shorty, always have. But some years ago I stepped up to an ext cab and then the current crew cab because of needing to carry things inside the cab that just wouldn't fit in a reg cab. That's no longer a need with the job change so once again I am keeping an eye out for a nice reg cab shorty. ;)

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

I just can't believe it has come to people minding their own business getting stopped by the Ford dealership

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

So the late model GM SWB regular cab trucks are going to be through the roof now that they are obsolete...
I really like my 02 I picked up last year the 5.3 makes it a fun driver and plenty of room inside

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

You’re funny K! At least I didn’t get a ticket

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

Or worse, placed under house arrest until you bought a new Ford! :chevy:

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

Thanks. I really did :)

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

You're welcome :) They play that sometimes on one of the local radio stations out here.

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

I like to pluck out a few cowboy songs myself..... once in a long good while. Can't hardly play a tune but when it gets to be time to play one I'm not caring much

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

I need to get my flattop back out. I got chilblains in my hands last fall and that sort of put me off of my winter music. Seems like I need to have some sort of spark down in my spirit in order to play guitar and sing, and that has been missing for a while.

I just thought you would appreciate the family crowded into the cab and the kid riding in the back with the horse :lol:

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

I did :D

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

I don't see it like that. My first truck was a regular cab [the 78]. My second was as well. My third was going to be but I found a great deal on my 98 and the wife wanted extra room so extended cab it was. I'm not going back for a daily driver or doing anything useful type truck. Regular cabs for race trucks and fun only.

Regular cabs can't hold people and stuff. Suburbans can't put large loads in the bed. Extended cab and even better crew cabs are the best compromise to do everything. And most people don't want multiple vehicles, they want to pay for one.

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

Those stupid little short beds can't haul large loads either. And not everyone wants the length of a crew cab plus a long bed.

There's just the two of us now and the back seat would just be a waste of space, compared to putting that into the bed where it would be useful to carry an 8' camper. There's got to be a lot of couples that want to start travelling again.

Actually I think the crew cabs and short beds are a great idea and I don't know why they didn't think of making them 40-50 years ago. But not for everyone. Why does it all have to go the other way?

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

Actually, most people do own multiple vehicles. I can haul better in my Suburban than a shortbed truck. I don't own a vehicle just so I can haul refrigerators, plus there are trailers for even larger loads, when such need arises, and the Suburban is an excellent tow vehicle*. All I know is I'm an industrious guy on most all levels, have been running a contracting business, and raised a family. I have never had a use for an ext cab. The trucks used in my business require a ladder rack which limits height of load just as a Suburban does. Suburbans have existed longer than any other vehicle model for a reason... absolutely handy useful vehicles on all levels. For me it's long beds for work, shortbeds for fun and a little work, and Suburbans for everything. In fact, I've been working out of my K2500 Suburban for five years now. Right now it has an 8' floor full of building tools with 9 sheets of 1/2" plywood and 4 sheets of 5/8" drywall on top. I didn't want to unload yesterday with thunderstorms coming last night. Can't haul any more than a Suburban in a long bed with a cap over the bed to keep cargo dry and locked up

* I see 1t crewcabs with bed covers that can't haul crap. I see them with bicycle racks in the hitch.

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

We've hauled lots of stuff in our Suburban, except I don't put dirty and loose stuff in there like firewood or hay. I've hauled fence posts and roofing materials and stuff like that back from town. But it's a 1991 Square Body that you can fold everything down flat and completely take out the third seat. But the newer ones aren't really fit for that; you might break the back seat TV screens :rolleyes:

And yeah, when you live way out where we do you absolutely have to have more than one vehicle (and you keep the gas tanks full!). Anything no matter how new can break down or suddenly fail to start and sometimes you need to go to town right now. If one of us goes somewhere, we don't want to leave the other at home without a vehicle ready to go, which means we need to keep at least one of the extras dug out of the snow and started within recent memory.

In 2008 we got our "first car" because of gas prices after driving nothing but pickups and suburbans (and Trucks!) for decades. It's great for fuel economy but sucks for most every other purpose. The first few years we didn't even break even with all the extra costs vs the gas savings. I've come to the conclusion that it's just not worth it for us. I want to buy a nice lwb pickup that we can travel and stop and sleep in the back. Just saving on motel costs would pay for extra gas, and then it would be a 4wd so we could actually drive it all year long instead of leaving it sit parked for four to six months in the winter/spring. But I would still have at a minimum a "ranch truck" and the Jeep just for a local runabout. I don't see where a crew cab pickup fits in anywhere. If our kids and grandkids are out here visiting, then they all still wouldn't fit anyway.

Re: Stopped by the ford dealership
 

I’ve work out of every truck I’ve owned. I hauled a 72 long bed frame from the powdercoater in a 1970 long bed. 12’ goods in a short bed. Carpet, pad, tackstrip and all my tools. Sometimes you just got to get it done... no excuses.