Or you can move to Texas where you don't need any! Haha...seems like you can do anything here and get away with it....feel sorry for yall that have to put up with the lift restrictions and the other little BS the state Gurus feel that makes the road safer! Hell, why not just out law Semi's too! They are bigger than a dang Geo Metro! I just don't get it...but anyways....just sticking up for yall that don't have it so good....im off the box....


Dan "Mudinford" MacDonald

 

I would agree with most of the above posts. If you plan on driving the vehicle every day, and you don't have alot of money then don't buy that truck! You can buy some pretty sweet looking, reliable older 4x4's that are already set up for 'wheelin for the price you're going to pay for that truck. And unless you're planning on doing some hard-core trails or are getting into the nastiest mud around, you really don't need 42" tires. Tires that big will put phenominal amounts of stress on suspention, axle and drivetrain components. Big tires=big bucks. You can't just buy the tires, you have to properly reinforce/replace your trucks parts to handle the extra berth of those meats. Besides the fact that those tires wear like s**t on pavement and when it comes time to replace them you better have a big wallet cause they ain't cheap!!! Take it from me, I work in a tire shop.

 

I strongly recommend taking that truck to a reputable mechanic and have them go over that vehicle from front to rear. I bought a 1986 f-150 4x4 with an i6 that had 150,000 for 2500. The owner wanted 3200 before I took it to my mechanic and found a mess of worn and damaged stuff. I put in at least 2000 and did 90% of the work myself. I say save $7-8000 get a truck that fits the profile of what you really want and build it up the way you desire it to be. Get something that is past needing to get smogged and then build it the way that makes sense for your needs.

 

I think I will take your guys' word for it and work on something stock and build it up from there.

I've been pondering over buying an F250, but I am still debating whether if I should buy '70s or '80s... do you guys have any opinions, feedback on the pros and cons of the two decades?

Let me know everything- I'd love to see you guys duke it out

Thanks,

kd206

 

do you really need a pickup truck? i had a ch**y blazer(sorry guy's i was a college puke back then, didn't know better!).it was great for 'wheeling and for cruising with more than two people. if i were you, i would get my feet wet with a bronco.
you can buy a decent one with stock size wheels and tires and go into the trails until you can''t go any more. then if you hook up the winch you bought with the money you have saved by not buying the giant tires, you can pull yourself out . or your buddy(never go way out in just one truck!!) can pull you out.
any way, just my opinion. i do agree with the other guy's on buying an older pickup if you want a pickup truck, and have somebody who knows trucks and fourwheeling lokk at it and drive it. also, don''''t worry about people looking at it, if you have enough mud hanging off of it, they will look!

 

Kd206, The big difference between the 70's and '80's is the front axles. starting in 1980 the F-series went to the TTB front end. The earlier F-250 with TTB were Dana 44's but later in the decade and in the HD F-250's the TTB was the Dana 50. Don't get the F-250's with the semi-floating sterling rear end as it used a C-clip to retain the axle in the housing. Snap the axle and it comes right out as the retaining ring is always inboard of the brake since it is inboard of the splines in the diff. I take that back...I 'think' the semi-floater has a C-clip. I doubt that the axle used a bearing plate like the 9". Besides there is something wrong with a 3/4 ton without full floater axles . Also all '80 and newer trucks used a chain drive aluminum T-case instead of the tried and true NP-250. The 78-79 trucks were the best ever built by Ford as they had all of the goodies (power disc brakes/ Power stearing/solid axles..even a Dana 60 front if lucky) unfortunatly out here in Califorina I stay away from them as they are STILL covered by California smog laws I'd rather stay with the earlier ones so that the State can't tell me what to put under the Hood .Good luck.
eric

Proud owner of a '73 F-250 4x4 High Boy, 460 V8, NP435, NP205
And a '68 Bronco 289 v8 , NP435 , Dana 20

 

I just found this site a few days ago and i must say these guys for the most part are well in formed because they have been there, done that, broke it, and been stuck there if you ain't sittin on big bank role find another truck for starters.....cause its gonna be a heart breaker and if the deal is to good to pass up good luck and buy ya a 4 banger to get to work and the parts store in



IF YA AIN'T BEEN STUCK YOU AIN'T BEEN 4 WHEELING

1980 f150 351c SITTIN ON 35'S

 

I don't believe i'm saying this and i can hear the hate mail comming now but....how about a CUCV Blazer? They already have a 6.2L diesel, auto trans.and some HEAVY DUTY(3/4 ton) running gear...get some Bondo for the bullet holes and you'll have a ready made off-roading machine. They are relatively inexpensive, just look for some government auctions around your home and check them out.

 

I'll let that one slip by cuz the "bondo for the bullit holes" comment was pretty funny. You really want my best advice for a beginner? Forget about the body and spend your money on the drivetrain. Also, before you hit a gnarly run- get out and walk the course first. Check out any sharp rocks that will shred your sidewall, any deep holes that will trap or even snap an axle at speed. And have a buddy with you who can pull you out once you get in over your head

If your knuckles ain't bleeding you did something wrong.

'72 F-250 "Hi-Boy" 4x4, Dana 60/HD44, FE390 @ 400hp(purt near!), 4-speed, custom suspension w 4" lift, mud on black.

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 14-Feb-01 AT 08:58 PM (EST)[/font][p]ya if your wanting a good beginner 4x4 i would go with a late 70's ford, such as a bronco or a f- series. they are easier to work on cause there is alot less eltrical crap and more room under the hood than the newer ones. plus in my oponion they have a tougher look to them than the new trucks. i have a 89 ranger custom 4x4 and its a real pain in the a$$ to work on the motor and underneath on it, and i only have a 2.3l 4cyl!! plus i think its more fun to build your own 4x4, you know get one thats mostly factory and do all the modifacations yourself. and remeber one thing about 4wheel drive, it may go better in snow and ice and mud, BUT IT DONT STOP NO BETTER THAN 2 WHEEL DRIVE!!! i hate it when these dumb a$$es get their "suv"'s and think they can do anything, they r the people that get others killed in bad weather!!! and i my opoinon, they stopped making real 4x4's in the late 80's early 90's. well let us know what ya get.

"they aint dents, they r battle scares!!"

redneck4x4
89 ranger custom 4x4
2.3l 5speed
rollbars, four 100 watt lights, and much more.

 

redneck 4x4 makes a great point about a 4x4 not stopping on ice. in addition to his comment, i would like to add a statement from a friend who owns a towing company.
he says that all four wheel drive does is get you stuck back deeper in the woods. he loves to get the calls for broken down and stuck 4x4's way back there. it spells big bucks for him.
his advice is get a winch, carry a come-a-long in case your battery is dead and always 4wheel in groups.
why not join a local 4x4 club? learn from other's mistakes.

 

Hey KD!

If someone said this already, sorry, didn't read all 26 posts.
You are in college and therefore I assume probably near some kind of city or large town. You will learn very quickly with a tall truck like that which structures you can and can't go into. With 42's you probably have atleast 10-12 inches of lift and let me say that there ain't gonna be any parking structure or parking gate or any underground lot that you are going to be able to fit in.



My truck is a 78 F-150 4x4 - 4 inch lift, 33" tires and I can barely clear structures with 6'4" clearance. I live in a big city so I am parking in structures 70% of the time. Because of this I even run my atennae down most of the time, since I once took out a whole row of ceiling flourescent tube lights with my antennae in a parking structure. I had a bed full of white glass and a dark passage behind me. Needless to say I got out of there quick =).
You won't have that problem though since you won't be in any structures like that to start with.



Just something to think about. Regardless, whatever you do, have tons of fun!! These trucks are all about lifestyle!!

Steve

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 15-Feb-01 AT 01:28 AM (EST)[/font][p]Love the glass story! That is classic! Had a good laugh on that one! Partly I can see me doing the same dang thing! I remember when I had to go into down town Dallas to pick up something from my bosses husbands office. He worked in one of those buildings that had the parking garage on the side. In his directions, he told me to go up to the top to meet him. Well, he must have forgot that I had a big A truck and there was a sign at the top for a low clearance ceiling! WELL.....being that I had almost no room to turn around and the ceiling was all acoustics, I took a chance. I literally had 2" of clearance! Thank God the lights were countersunk in the ceiling! Thought I would have to let the air out of the tires! Well that is my story!


Dan "Mudinford" MacDonald

 

I am only 15, so I have the tightest budget out of all of you, but I am still able to build up my truck. I bought my 77 F-150 4x4 for 2100 dollars. It came fairly stout. The previous owner had swapped in a 429. Over the past year, I have been building up the truck. My 429 now makes over 430 horsepower w/ 550 ftlbs of torque. The buildup has been the best experiance of my life. I encourage anyone, budget or no budget to get one of these old trucks. I don't believe that anyone has mentioned this, but the engines of new trucks, such as the 91 you were going to buy and even the 80's models youwere considering, are very hard to work on yourself. With my old engine, I have done absolutely all my work by myself in my little two car garage. With the computer controlled engines, alot of the diagnostics must be done with a computer. I don't know about you, but I have to work 45 hours a week during the summer just to pay for the work I do by myself. I could only imagine the cost of having to go to a dealer every time I had an engine problem.
I encourage you to bite the bullet and buy a 73-77 ford pickup. Preferably a cheap one that does not run. They come with stout axles, killer suspension, a great transfer case, and plenty of engine ( stock ). You could build one of these with 6" lift and 38" tires, do the work yourself, have fun, and learn a whole hell of alot for much less than buying that F-250. This has been an absolutely wonderful experiance for me.

You can check out my website at
http://bmtbm1.home.mindspring.com/f150/f150.html

 

kd206 if you want a good truck take everyone's advice and buy a 70's era ford. i bought my 79 ford f150 4x4 for $600.oo.it has a 351c/auto/dana 44/9 inch rear/np-203(soon a np-205)transfer case and a 3 inch lift.the guy replaced the bed with a bed from arizona and replaced the floorboards.all i had to do was replace one fender and the master cylinder and one headlight to get it inspected.look around and you will find some good deals on older fords.i live in the trails and the mud,aint no better truck then a 70s ford.i have pulled many new dodges,c#$@%,and even newer fords.i would'nt trade my 79 for any brand new truck.