Hey, I posted in the Tx Chapter a few days ago, after suggesting it to all chapters in a thread. But, I thought I'd make it official.

I have more trucks than time and need to get them out of my driveway to start working on my house. These are all "free" trucks for me - they paid for themselves long ago. I'll get it done, but it occurred to me that it my be fun to have a Texas Chapter Project Truck. I don't know what that could entail beyond beer, BBQ and greasy hands, but maybe some others do. We have an impressive Texas representation in the 6.0 forum, but it doesn't have to just be 6.0s. One of my trucks is a 7.3 IDI.

The thing I don't have is a nice place to work on them - mostly because I can't get them out of my driveway to clean my house and garage, lol. I'll gladly host the afterparty, lol.

I could even see my ambulance or shuttle bus becoming a Mobile Party Bus able to bring a complete TX Chapter party to the various cities in turn, complete with ice chests, BBQ, and tools/equipment/tow a truck.

I suppose that if it was ever sold, I should get some compensation, but just out of fairness - again, these are free, but doesn't mean they're not worth something. Here are the three trucks I have:

 

Soon as I get my Duramax fixed & sold, I'll have a place in my driveway. Need to find some time to work on my old F250, but it's been put off so many other times, what's a little while longer. TX panhandle's a hell of a long way from H-town, though!

 

We might have to steamclean and sanitize that driveway. My trucks social distance from Duramaxs, . Dang, you West Texas boys are friendly...or lonely, lol. You're the 2nd or 3rd to respond to this.

I guess distance is a consideration on the ambulance and 7.3, since they're not running.

 

SYK, this would still leave me with 5 cars and 2 trailers to work on, one of which is my F450, which is the only vehicle I have that can tow these other ones. So, I might need to fix that truck first so I could tow one of these three anywhere. But, hey, y'all all got trucks too. However, the bus and ambulance won't fit on my trailer. I'd have to rent one. PITA.

 

Here's another way to think of this, one that might get a whole lot more people involved than just Tx:

Imagine that bus of mine, loaded up and ready to go. SYK, it runs just fine right now. I was driving it around the country right up to buying this other bus.

But, imagine loading that up with...whatever, everything. And driving around the country to a series of regional meetings. Why?

Because there's some people here who need to be recognized. You know who they are. And, you know they're going to say no, being the selfless so-and-sos that they are. But, we can find out where they live, and show up at their doors in this bus, if they won't meet us down the street.

We got a couple of guys here in Texas who are among the bedrocks of this forum and have been for years. Several others have been here providing so much free help to so many for years and years. How many hundreds of guys owe a debt of gratitude and would jump at a chance to repay and reminisce? And that's just in the 6.0 forum.
I simply suspect there is an untapped market extending from online back to the streets - reversing our migration to these forums. It's because of the trucks - we actually want to see and hear the trucks, not just videos. Perfect fit for the post-pandemic re-opening.

For this idea, of course, we don't need a bus, but it might help for marketing - slap one of those vinyl wraps on it.. But, I have another bus now, and drive around the country all the time anyway. on other people's dimes. It wouldn't be a big uptick in cost for me to devote some cargo space to party supplies, but it would be some cost in lost revenue. I'm off the road for the summer - have to fix the AC on that bus. But fall sounds like a good time. Maybe a trip to the northeast, grab everyone some Christmas trees.

If any of this sounds good, I'll tell you how we can hit up vendors to pay the costs. Find a big open parking lot so everyone can bring trucks and vendors can have exhibits.

 

Quick Google doesn't show any ford truck club meets. Geezus, how many thousands of guys would show up? Here's what's fun, I've done this at a couple of big parties at my house back in the day - we buy a auction Dodge truck and let everyone beat the hell out of it with sledge hammers. You auction off the first so many swings and then just let them have at it after those, maybe 3 for $1 - safely of course. I'm telling you, those boys will be beating on the Cummins until dawn. It's really crazy, Lord of the Flies stuff.

Market it as Ford-only, no other trucks allowed, lol. Get some free PR for being jerks.