A real mans truck

[b2_tim]

To late to edit, but I will comment that Ford does built a pretty reliable truck, even the new ones. That is why I have two at the moment.

[73f350sc]

I own both old and new trucks...a 73 and an 04.....I love my 73 dont get me wrong but...its nice to be able to go and start up my 04 and not have to worry about warm up temps and which little stupid thing is gonna need replaced today.

I love the durability of my old truck and if I had enough money I'd make it as dependable as my 04...but the fact of the matter is everything ages and right now my 73 is goin on 35 yrs old and shows signs of it.

Thats why I got the 04....my 73 is tired right now and needs a rest errrr a resto....it may not be the best right now but by the time done with it my 04 will need a resto so the way I figure it...both will be around for a while...and when it comes down to it thats what I love about both of them...longevity..something most brands will never be able to offer.

Thats a real man's truck...something thats probably gonna be around after he isnt.
-Chris

[rollerstud98]

i certainly do enjoy my heated leather seats, carpet on the floor, heated mirrors, all that jazz to me doesn't make my truck any less a mans truck haha, just more comfortable

[FTE Ken]

Originally Posted by lostin90s

Hey Webmaster just because most of us don't have $25,000+ to spend on new truck you should know I drive new (company) Ford F150 's all time and at end of day am glad to get off the rock hard seats and into the Old 94 F150 . You couldn't give me a 2006 down to 99 F150 but We will see with new 2008 ones. , I do like the F250 350 450 I a take 2004 F450 4x4 with buckets over every chance I get and leave the my new 2006 F150 4x4 sit . I put 500-600 miles a week on it . I had a new truck every 2 years till 99 and will not get another till they change.

I'm not sure where you come up with "most of us". Millions of people buy new vehicles every year. That has nothing to do money. It has to do with whether or not people who want Ford to make a 79 all over again are actually new truck consumers. I can guarantee if Ford stopped making modern trucks and made 79's again they'd be out of the truck business very soon. Look at the market these days, its extremely competitive. People want more power, more options, more capabilities, more technlogy... all things you won't find in a old truck. New trucks have their place, old trucks have their place. Don't mix them up.

There's nothing wrong with comforts. If folks are going to judge a "man's truck" by some of the things they do, then they might as well sleep on a straw bed, watch black and white tv, cook meals over a fire (started with flint) and get their kids an Atari. Personally I define manhood by more meaningful things than what's parked in the driveway.

[Redcat Diesel]

Ken, excellent post. While I may not care for all of the toys that new trucks have but I know very well that the majority of truck buyers do. As far as a "man's truck" goes well.......about 10 years ago times weren't good at my house and I was driving a beat up ricer truck.I wasn't proud of it but it hauled me to work and back so I could provide for my family.In my book it was a "man's truck".


Clay

[Mike Kopstain]

I don't know... I consider the 96's to be the last of the real trucks. My 95' has basic ammenities (power windows and locks) but a full bench seat, a tractor motor, and a body that rattles sitting still!

97' - 03's I swear must have been marketed to middle aged moms that wanted to get into construction. Those have to be some of the lamest, girliest looking trucks ever built. (sorry to those that own them)

[preppypyro]

Originally Posted by Mike Kopstain

Those have to be some of the lamest, girliest looking trucks ever built.

I definatly disagree with you there, as probably alot of others. I still like the old square look, but compare the look of a 95, to a 79, compared to a 56, compared to a 49! Looks have got to change with new technology. Aerodynamics also help the fuel economy

[gui88ford]

yikes, i see a lot of ford truck bashing....


well, i'll say one thing....my dad had a 79 with the 400 in it....nice truck...sold it to the guy down the street...good friend and a 35 year ford mechanic.....he loves the 79, 96 ford trucks....f

the other day we went for a ride in my 07 XLT extended cab....he liked it alot and said "the trucks get better and better every year.... they ride like a car now but do truck work"

the one thing he said he would want woudl be a solid axel in the front but then i reminded him that were in a F150 and his truck is a 250.....then he was pretty content and said that the new truck is a very good work truck and the fact that you can get a all dressed up truck or a plain jane truck is pretty cool...

so, to say that one is that much better than another i think is trivial.....they all are good trucks it's just a matter of what you like and can afford or prefer...thats all...


and just this little tid-bit of info......

last night he calls me...his 79 broke down and he wanted me to go get the lowboy and tow him home.....well, i went and picked him up with the low boy....prolly 10,000 lbs with the truck and trailer....towed it 50 miles home with OD off and it did great....

he was very impressed..VERY IMPRESSED...



i'll keep my 07 but i'll take a 56 for a street rod

[JohnT]

In my opinion, 1996 was the last year that Ford made a decent full-size truck. The 97-present full-size trucks have absolutely no style. Like some of the previous people who've posted, I own a 79. It's a real truck. I wouldn't be afraid to take it on a cross-country trip, but the cost of gas for it would be pretty rough. I also own a late-model truck. It's a 2000 Ranger(regular cab, shortbed). It's an effecient and stylish little truck. I do still like the compact Ranger pickups, it's just the late-model full-size trucks that I don't care for.

[fordmantpw]

Originally Posted by JohnT

In my opinion, 1996 was the last year that Ford made a decent full-size truck. The 97-present full-size trucks have absolutely no style. Like some of the previous people who've posted, I own a 79. It's a real truck. I wouldn't be afraid to take it on a cross-country trip, but the cost of gas for it would be pretty rough. I also own a late-model truck. It's a 2000 Ranger(regular cab, shortbed). It's an effecient and stylish little truck. I do still like the compact Ranger pickups, it's just the late-model full-size trucks that I don't care for.

Define 'decent'. If you are talking about styling, that is purely subjective. I had a '99 with the 5.4 and it would tow more, tow better, and get better fuel economy while doing it than my dad's '95 with the 5.8. Empty, the '99 would get 4-5 MPG better than the '95...towing, it was about 2 better. The '99 was more comfortable, rode better, and was, overall, a better built truck. So, tell me, why is the '99 not decent. I put 136k miles on the '99 before selling it.

I now have an '05 SuperCrew. It has more power, tows better, and gets 1-2 MPG better gas mileage than my '99 regular cab short bed, even though it weighs probably 1500 lbs more. Plus it's more comfortable, rides better, is safer, and has more features. Now tell me, how can you NOT say that trucks get better every year.

To some people, any type of change is a bad thing. Others are just afraid to admit that the new is better than the old. Others are just jealous. No one can honestly say, that, overall, the newer trucks are not better than the trucks made 30 years ago.

[smokestone52]

Hey don't get me wrong. I am 55. I have owned Ford trucks since I could drive. I wreaked my dads brand new 1966 F-100. I still pay the price for that.

My first was a 1972 half ton with a 302. I only put 149,000 miles on that one. And I changed the oil a couple of times! My next one was a 1979 heavy duty half, with a 351. I was a 4X4. Traded or really gave it to the dealer for a 1995, F150, 351. Single cab, short bed. Ummm baby that was a truck! I hauled stuff, I towed stuff, and I rode the mountians and desert in that one. I ran that truck like I had stolen it. When I traded, I am sure some lucky person endend up with the best truck ever. I bought a Ford ranger in 2002. It was ok. Not much. I only put 245,000 on it. It looked brand new when I sold it and bought my new 06 F-150 Lariat with all the candy. Yep I bought one of those stinking city trucks! But now that I have 12,000 miles on it, I am starting to like this truck. Heck I even leave the windows down, if it ain't dusty out.

It pulls the heck out of my new 5000# travel trailer.
Changing plugs suck in the engine. In fact oil changes suck. Ford had the head buried there no doubt.

Laugh at my leather seats. I don't care. I am getting older, and I deserve good stuff. I give a poop if I get some grease on them.

This is MY cadillac truck!

[b2_tim]

We all have style preferences, I started this topic with the hope that the next F150 truck would have a decent steering wheel, good seats, and a real bumper front and rear. Ford has always made the best trucks no matter what the year. I was just peeved at the wimpy bumpers, and uncomfortable steering wheels in the current generations.

Ohh, I like the 95 style better than my 2003 or the current style, but they are all built Ford Tough.

Have a great weekend, looks like I will have to the the lawn tractor out and Get-R-Done!

[bf250]

interesting thread.

i must say, i like the mid 90's the best. i had a 2004 f250, 2006 f250 and i didn't like it as much as my 1995 f350

it looks good and all, but when i drive the newer stuff it has that "motorhome" feel to it. i wish they would make them slightly smaller.

[ec_fritz]

It seems funny to me that people like the new ones because they have more options. I was in the market for a new truck and serious about buying a quite a few times in the past ten years, every time I decided to spend the money to fix up the 89 because of the lack of options available now. When I bought the 89 I had the option of choosing an automatic or a manual trans, now I have to take an automatic. When I bought the 89 I had the option of choosing automatic or manual hubs, now I have to take the automatic ones. And judging by another thread in this forum I am soon to loose the choice of a manual or electronic transfer case. I have no problem with adding creature comfort options for those that want them, but don't force people who don't want them to take them. And I'm sure you'll say my opinion doesn't count because I'm not a new truck buyer. But as I have already stated I was shopping for a new truck quite a few times over the past ten years, and I was serious about buying. Ford just didn't want to sell me a truck with the options I wanted.

[Dude_Zilla]

being an owner of a 1978 4by4 and a 2004 fx4 I love both of them though they are completely differant animals I wonder sometimes why doesnt Ford redo the 1978 body and throw in the new style creature comforts like the Dash the seats the console shifter all the guts of the new and throw it into the body of the old I tell ya if I had millions I would want to do it basically if you have a year that you like for body style why not get it with all of todays bells and whistles