I've got a subjective question. How would you compare the handling characteristics of a early '70's 2wd F250 crew cab truck to a early '90's 2wd F250 crew cab truck. My wife thinks my '70 crew handles like a log truck. Stiff springs and load rated tires make it wander a bit over bumps, the steering is slow but is at factory specs. I think it just handles like a heavy duty truck. I have driven a 2006 F450 church bus and it doesn't handle any better than my '70. My crew has a completely rebuilt front end, redhead steering box, etc. Huge difference from when I bought it. So do mid '90's F250 trucks handle any better than the early '70's stuff? Just considering something newer so she'd feel more comfortable.

 

I have found that if you can relate your automotive desires to their safety it usually sells better. Your wife could care less what the forum thinks. My Example: Wife said why do you want a GT500? I said because when we pass a big truck we need a supercharger to get around it quickly and not have a head on collision. The power can save our lives. She said we better get that! Same thing when I put a Banks kit on my old 7.3 diesel. Worked for me. Good luck or she will get what she wants you to have. Seat of the pants feel doesn't trump safety. Almost everything I get for my vehicles is for HER safety.

 

I was just wondering if I sell my old '70 F250 Crew Cab and bought say a '93 F250 crew cab would it handle the same as my '70. I need to find one on a car lot and drive it for comparison.

 

ill take a stab in the dark there shouldnt be much difference between the two but i dont know much about features on a 1970 if its got power steering and i beams should behave close to an 90's truck
most 90's truck have sway bars most from the 70's i doubt are sway bay equipped so my guess is a 90's truck will have better cornering some what but at the end of the day i-beam systems pretty much handle the same over the bumps going down the road

but take a mid 90's truck for a test drive pull a sneaky one find one for sale and act interested just to see if there is a major difference (i doubt there will be a big diff)

than go test a late 90's early 2000's truck 2wd f250 should have double wish bone and rack/pinion steering there you will see a mojor difference i suspect

hence why the world went double wish ifs (4x4) in all half tons and chevy 1/2,3/4 and one tons better hwy mannerisms cuz the world wants trucks to act like cars

little story a lady friend i had just drove little cars all her life she drove my old 78 E 150 on a 20 km trip she was confident at 1st but that quickly turned terror by the time she parked she was almost in tears and shaking uncontrollably

about yr later (i was still on suspension) but needed to get an pick up an A.O.D about 75km away i had to borrow my boss's 95 z71 4x4 (double wish bone and rack/pinion) she loved it "i cant believe it drives like my car" she was nervous at 1st (cuz the E-150 exp.) but took to the chevy right away and enjoyed every min. of of 150 km round trip

hope this helps

 

Thanks, Armytruckchuck. You mentioned what I suspected, i-beam systems drive pretty much the same. My '70 F250 and our church's bus 2006 F550 with i-beam felt the same.

If I decide to trade up I'll just skip to the double wish bone F250s, after a test drive of course.

 

Going about this all wrong, i simply wouldnt get rid of that Ole crew cab.

 

Buy the wife a little car......keep your truck.......problem solved......

 

I think you're all right. She doesn't drive the crew now so we'll just keep it that way. I'll hang on to it.

 

There are better options for your setup, especially if what you have currently is original 70s equipment.

 

Yes, it's original 1970 front end equipment but completely rebuilt to factory specs including a Redhead serviced steering box. New Michelin radial tires. I found that playing with tire pressure helped tremendously. Yep, I'm green to load rated tires, didn't realize the 70 PSI was under extreme load, 50 psi is plenty for my use.

I have a sway bar I need to install. Some of the bumpside guys says this helps.

 

Having owned a '72 F100 and now a '95 F150 Supercab...yes the '95 rides and handles much better than the '72. Better more modern components and engineering.

I wouldn't sell that Bump, enjoy the ride.