Hey guys, trying to talk myself out of an old pickup. I'm torn between Bump and Dent.

Right now top contenders are a 78 F250 4x4 Supercab in decent shape, but it will need a lot of small work and some red flags like the booster being rusted through makes me wonder what the rest of the stuff you can't see looks like.

Another contender is a 76 F150 4x4 Shortbox - this one looks just about perfect for me, but the short box utility worries me.

And yet another top contender is a beat old 1970 Highboy, looks very straight but it someones dump runner so its a beater in and out, its the cheapest (2500), but the inside is real rough.

Anyway, I've looked at the differences, and I haven't been able to find a comprehensive list. I'm more interested in what's different in the cab, because you can see the exterior, and as far as I can tell, everything that is standard in the dentside trucks was an option for the bumpsides. The exception is the divorced Tcase from 1977.5.

My ideal truck is a 78/79 manual supercab 4x4 in decent shape with a rebuilt engine for around 4k. I can find plenty of short boxes for sale with new engines and such for under 4k, but I'm buying a rig to make my project, I don't want to find one later that I like more.

Sorry for rambling, just having a tough time deciding which to look for. My wife isn't helpful as she just lets me buy whatever I want o.0

 

Hold out for exactly what you want. No reason to settle. You'll be happier in the end.

 

Well if you're looking for other people to help talk you out of buying one of these then, well you're in the wrong place .

I would tend to agree with the Captain though, get what you want or at least something you can resell if you end up with a wandering eye. Seems short boxes are always in demand.

 

Overall I like bumps better than dents, just a lot more solid and less plastic but as a 4x4, I would take a married high pinion over a highboy anyday. The whole divorced T-case low pinion is a crappy design, lots of stuff low to the ground, u-joints wear out fast, ect. All that said, my daily is basically a highboy but I'm just a poser anymore, seldom get in any extreme off roading where it would matter.

 

So, like this: https://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/d...477456318.html

 

I keep seeing these Washington Craigslist ads. It seems like the place to go for reasonable deals on old trucks.

 

Devils advocate here - do you really need four wheel drive?

I used to have a Landcruiser 70 series troop carrier on 35" Mickey Thompson Baja M/T's and it would go anywhere in 2-wheel-drive high range. I got into some unbelievable places with it and am a more firm believer now than ever in good power, tyres and rear diff. If you have those things four wheel drive is irrelevant most of the time unless you're talking deep sand or mud.

I'd be tempted by a nicely done shortbed. If the bed is 7ft long or longer it's more than enough for most things.

- boingk

 

Id go for the 76 Short box 4x4. My previous truck was a 79 F150 4x4 long box.....the only thing about it was I wished it was a short box. I also think the short boxes hold their value a little more as I don't see as many on the road these days. And the first place I wheeled the 79 was the sand dunes north of Pasco....good times!!

 

Don't need it at all, but can't stand the look of a 2wd truck to be honest o.0

 

Nothing wrong with that. We want what we want!

- boingk