Looking to upgrade to a newer truck. When did the manufacturers decide all we want is a 5 passenger short bed pickup? My 86 F150 has less rust than most of the newer trucks I’ve looked at.

 

Seems like about 7 or years ago the change over happened. I'm with you, the truck is not a car.

Having a 8ft bed is priceless...

You can still buy a new one for a little over $31,000. I just priced one up from Fords site.

 

Don't know what years you are looking at to buy but I think if you want a normal cab & 8' bed you will have to jump up to a 250 truck.
Most people that buy a 150 don't carry much (weight) in the bed so don't need the long bed of the 250 but they will be moving more people in that 150 and why the 4 doors and short bed.

I say this because most of the normal cab / 8' bed trucks at my work, trucking Co., are 250's and do carry some heavy things in the bed but not a lot of people.
150's just would not cut it at work.
Just my .02
Dave ----

 

When they started accounting for more than 90% of private party sales. I've never had a need for an 8' bed, as long as a motorcycle fit in the back I was good to go, but I'm a huge fan of regular cabs and unless you special order them they're pretty much dead too.

As mentioned you'll probably need to go 3/4 ton and up to get what you want.

 

The regular cab and 8ft bed is still available on the F150 but only in XL and XLT trim.

 

I can understand the need for a 250 for a business. For a home owner unless your looking to plow your driveway, for us in the snow belt states, a 150 with a 8ft bed is nice to have for doing lawn projects and getting things for the house.

I will say, its a want more then a need. I often question why am I paying car insurance on a truck that I have put only 3500 miles in the last 9 years.

But when I want to go get a yard of top soil, some mulch for around the house, go get wall blocks, etc. it's nice to have. I have no problem driving on my lawn so it makes a great wheelbarrow too.

I got mine from my dad when he could no longer drive, he bought the 1986 F150 used with around 90,000 miles on it in 1989, it now has 139,460 miles. We put a Ford create motor in it at 96,000 miles. (had rod knock).

I know my story is different then most. In the same thought my son sold his 2004 Chevy 1/2ton a few months back because he was not using it much and the frame was beginning to show major rust issues. They have a new home and are still doing projects for landscaping. He did have 6 yards of topsoil delivered a month ago. We spread most of that around using the dump cart behind his lawn tractor.
Couple weeks back he asked me to bring my truck down to help return the rented table and chairs after the baby shower.

Just saying every one's need is different.


kh0432, you should be able to find a used standard cab around, it will just take some time to find one. Are you set on getting one that's say less then 5 years old ?
As an example, for a older one, there was one for sale on someone's front lawn. Your going to have to keep your eye's open when driving around.


I'll add, you guy's are beginning to make me think I need to drive the truck more...

 

I can put 4x8 sheets of plywood & 8' 2x4's in my SUV , mulch is to much like work to spread out in the yard so no need for a bed to put it in LOL.

The other night I was thinking about this post and when the wife asked about buying a new PU years ago over the SUV and I told her if I was going to get a PU it had to have an 8' bed.
Well guess what I have now .........not an 8' bed PU LOL
The 80-86 flare sides only came in 6' beds. Now if I came across along bed truck, I gave my frame away, and a came across 2 more flare side beds I would make a custom long bed 80 - 86 truck like they did in the early years.
Dave ----

 

Every couple years I get a yard of mulch from my local place for $42.00 + tax. They load it in the F150 with a Bobcat. Same with topsoil, stone dust, traprock, 3/4 stones, etc.

I really like the 8ft bed. Even when I need to load the lawn tractor in and take it some where, its easy.

Being recently retired, I also find the truck, like my two cars, keep me busy.

 

Even if my truck had an 8' bed after a 4 year frame off rebuild I am funny on what goes in the bed
I think if I had to get mulch or ?? I would get a U-Haul open trailer for that.

Right now I use the truck to take the trash to the dump each week.
But last week the roads were damp and did not want to get the truck dirty from spray so used the SUV.

No PU made will hold my garden tractor as it has a 60" deck.
When I bought the tractor I had to use my car trailer to go get it.
Dave ----

 

I'll have to get a good photo of my truck, and put it in the avatar, you'll understand,

I have a 54" deck so I know the issue. I have an old till bed trailer in the woods behind the house, been thinking about getting that in good shape ...another retirement project...

 

Boy! You must have arms that put Popeye to shame!

 

I'm an automotive tech so I get to drive a lot of different vehicles. If you're looking for a crewcab longbed, I'd highly recommend an F250 with the 6.2L. The Super Dutys have a nicer interior feel than the F150s in my opinion, and haven't seen any issues with a 6.2 (unlike the old 5.4).

 

Any updates from the OP ? If you ever come back, do you want/need a recent model or are you looking for something in the 90's early 00's ?
Do you need something that you can put a snow plow on ?

what's wrong with yours ? Why not keep it, and buy something else like a car ? You can get just about any part you'd ever need for the 86. it's easy to work on...