Bojangles
Well-Known Member
Dont forget, 500lbs pretty much is the limit in the bed now too (realistically).I had a 1968 F250 4 wd with the 390 V8 4 speed and manual transfer case and manual hubs of course. I bought it use with 36K on it. Put tires, hoses and brakes on the truck and ran the chitt out of it for the next 90K miles. The tires were an off brand off road tread and were 6 ply. Needless to say the truck rode like, well, a truck. It had a heater, two speed windshield wipers and a blank plate where the optional radio would go.
The heater, if left on high, would allow you to broil steaks on the seat. Vent windows kept you coolThe bench seat was large enough to start and raise a family on. Plenty of spring and padding on the seat made it possible to use the truck for what it was intended, off road. And it did that well, very very well. Brakes would hold so well that the paint on the hood would wrinkle.
The oil pan was tucked up and defendend by the front axle, so no skid plate was needed. The transfer case and transmission were cast iron and kept in a similar high position. It was a truck, looked like a truck and behaved like a truck. It was the only Ford that ever impressed me. Easy to work on and maintian. As close to bulletproof as is humanly possible. Horsepower and torque started at idle and never gave up. If I kept my foot out of it, I got 18 mpg highway. A leather mat adorned the floor. Get it covered with mud and hose it out. No padding underneath to hold water.
Now we have stereo with an amp, leather interior, aluminum wheels, tinted windows and every option that you can get in a high end pleasure car. And **** breaks down with a boring regularity. And gets stuck. Or won't start. Or lacks horsepower and or torque.
We, the consumers,have neutered and killed the truck.
Atleast for US made tacomas