At the risk of starting a war of words and/or being labeled a radical, I'm offering my opinion regarding the trim used on our beloved pickups. And, I realize that these are my tastes and that yours not only may, but will, differ. However, since I own both of the trucks discussed below I'm not taking shots at your pickup, but offering my view on mine.

To me the high-end trucks usually have too many doo-dads. My Lariat (which would be shown but I still cannot upload to this site as I still get Error 503 Service Unavailable) has aluminum molding just above the wheel wells as well as down the belt-line crease. In addition, it has a black molding between the wheel wells and a Lariat badge on the cab just above the bed. And the tailgate has a brushed aluminum insert. On top of that, many were delivered with sliding rear windows and front bumpers with rubber inserts as well push bars, and many owners added a bug deflector on the hood and running boards - as on mine.

Contrast that with the Explorer package, shown above left. That was also a high-end package, but one that didn’t include any of the above-mentioned trim nor, at least in my truck’s case, any of those options like the bumper or rear window. And, to my way of thinking it gives a much sportier look. Nothing to take the eye away from the clean lines of the truck. To me, that makes for a better looking truck.

Your thoughts?

 

Mine is a custom edition, just how I like it. Manual, locks, windows, stereo (with remote , no cruise man trans like a pickup should have. My truck is so different from stock it doesn't really make sense in my case to talk about trim levels, but I will say that I love basic no frills pickups. That being said, a Super Duty 40/20/40 will be swapped in at some point.

 

I have a Ranger f150 XLT. It has P.S., P.B., everything else is manual the way I like it. It had A.C. but the previous owner took it off. I hate power door locks, windows and digital readouts. One thing I really like on my truck is the vent windows.

My truck is a 2 W.D., SWB. fleetside It has a nice stance, higher than most other 2 w.d. trucks I've seen. It has a 5250 G.W. I don't know if that's standard or not. The few that I've seen aren't rated that high.

The only trim is one stainless strip on the upper sides and the aluminum on the tailgate. I'm trying to find replacement strips for the dented ones. I don't want to use the roll up type vinyl trim. I lucked out on the stock 5 slot wheels. They're real nice considering they're 30 yrs. old. The black paint is pretty well shot but with a paint job, it will be a nice looking truck.

 

I have no idea what mine is. When I bought it, there was only the F-150 badges on the fenders.

 

Yes, there is something to be said for keeping a truck basic. They're meant to be workhorses, not living rooms, like all of these newer "trucks" running around today that will practically never see an ounce of mud in their lives.

That said....it sure is nice to find something like the '86 Lariat I just grabbed, with all the toys that some poor sucker shelled out big bucks for 25 years ago and I get them all for pennies on the dollar I like the idea of not having to move the mile and a half over to the passenger door to roll down the window when someone pulls up, too. The buckets are also a lot more comfy than the bench in my '81 Explorer, and at this point I can't do without cruise control (I drive ~40k a year, mostly highway).

 

Mine is an '81 F100 Ranger XLT flareside. I am glad that it has power steering, power brakes, and A/C (although rarely used), but I am also glad that it has old-fashioned manual locks and roll-up windows. It seems that power windows and locks are often two of the first things to go out (just ask my '93 Pontiac GP) and are a real pain and possibly expensive to replace.

Other than that, my ride really doesn't have anything fancy inside or out. I really like the simple bench seat, which I have slept on when I moved to Idaho and back and taken naps on during lunch break. It's not a heavy work truck but it can haul a household load or pull a small trailer if needed. It's not fast or brutish but it has the grunt to get the job done while providing decent fuel mileage for a 30 year old ride. It's easy to work on; the 4.9 big six has a simple and durable design and parts are relatively inexpensive. The best part--it's paid for!

 

I agree with the cleaner look. For some reason my truck has the double molding as well, despite being a base model in every other way (Well, I have AM/FM and factory air, and a sliding rear window, but no power locks or windows or cruise, or extra lighting, or badges). If I ever get around to having it painted, I will ask that they remove the trim and weld up the holes. I know it's a useful break for the two-tone paint, but otherwise I have no idea how it ended up on my truck.

 

Gary, most of what you mentioned was optional trim stuff. My truck is a Ranger Lariat clone, started life as a Custom no thrills truck. What it took me to bring my truck up to Ranger Lariat spec was very minimal. And guess what? The truck is still a no a/c, no power door or locks, and 300 I6 truck. And if it wasn't for the fact that I liked the look of a radio, then it would have remained a radio delete truck as well.

A Custom trim truck could have nearly all the same options as a Ranger Lariat, and the same goes for the base 82-86 base trim and the XLT Lariat trucks. It was all up to the original owner as far as what he wanted.

Point is, a truck could be ordered any way you liked it back then. It really didn't matter what trim level the truck was. Try doing that now though, and the dealer will laugh at you. I am absolutely in love with the way my F100 is set up, and even though the power options on my Ranger are nice, i'm not too lazy to crank my windows or push down my locks. This is why I love the older F-Series trucks, there is soooo much variety.

 

Maybe I was a bit loose with the term "options". Maybe what I meant was trim level, meaning the pieces of aluminum on the outside as well as the various badges such as Lariat. It is my understanding that each series, such as Lariat, XLT, Ranger, etc had differing trim and differing amounts thereof. And, my tastes run to less rather than more, so I like my Explorer more than my Lariat.

As for the various options like cruise, power windows, power locks, etc I'm somewhat indifferent. Both of my trucks have essentially the same options, with the exception of the Explorer having power windows while the Lariat doesn't. And, it is correct that they have some problems but I've been able to fix them for free to this point. But, since it is also true that it is a mile across the seat, I'm glad to have them.

 

Explorers were a limited edition trim and options group.

My 1981 is a CUSTOM Explorer for example.

There were Ranger Explorers as well in the past. No two years of Explorer are the same, hence limited edition, and Explorers do not feature in the main sales brochure due to them only being made avaliable a few months out of the year.

All that outside trim you mention was standard on Ranger Lariat, optional on everything else with a combination tu-tone, except for the full tailgate piece. Why Fordzillia's Custom had the same trim outside.

Inside trim like woodgrain door panel inserts, Carpet, headliner, etc... was standard on Ranger Lariats as well.

As for Options, Ranger Lariats had only two things standard in the way of options, Convenience Group, and Courtesy light group. Other than that nothing else was standard in the way of options, they were all optional on all trim levels, even down to the front bumper guards, the rear bumper, and radio.

 

Personally i think that too much trim can be a bad thing, it just takes attention away from the great lines that the bullnose style trucks have, but just the right amount and placement it can be pulled off. For instance my XLT Lariat has the side trim right under the groove on the side of the truck and the aluminum trim on the wheel wells. This summer i am planning to paint all my trim and my wheels gloss black. I think it would look pretty good.

 

I kind of thought my truck was wierd. 86 150 XLT Lariat. It has all of the mouldings and exterior trim, BUT it has manual windows and locks.

 

Nope not weird, power windows and locks were an option on all trim levels. Even the radio was optional.

 

We all know that the trim and pinstripes are Ford's built in door alignment tools.

 

My 86 F150 XLT Lariat also has manual windows and locks.