Parts Haulers (Pickups)

[LJS30]

I would be lost without my (extremely) daily driven '83 318 powered D-250. I wish it was a stick, but for what I paid and all the places I have been + all the firewood that has passed thru this bed it don't owe me anything. But it ain't leaving me unless it gets creamed by a semi or something as catastrophic. I am debating on putting a fiberglass utility bed onto it as the wheel wells are starting to rust out.
Motor blows? I have one ready to go. Trans? Ditto. Does a new $40K truck do what I do any better? Hell no Would that cost more? Yeah/ Makes no sense to get a newer one.
I fail to realize why everything these days has to be a 4 door. that is turn-off #1, for any vehicle I ever consider buying. well maybe #2 but close; and if you put having 4 doors at #2 then buying anything like a Toyota, Nissan, Hon-duh, and the like HAS to be #1.
2 I wish I had back? my 81 W-150 and my 87 Dodge van, 3/4 ton with a 318.

Right on!!!!!!!!!!

 

[volaredon]

I wish I was "computer smart" enough to get a pic up of my '83..
then there's my son's truck; an 89 RC 360, 4X4, bought from FABO's own Hawaii Duster, and driven home from Vegas to IL. Don't worry; it sat in the garage last winter as IL is the road salt capital of the world. Don't find rust free RCs much these days and we wanna keep it that way.

 

[LJS30]

Well you guys definitely have some nice trucks. Since I began this thread I may as well post up what I use to haul parts and for occasional towing.

1969 C-10 (Parts Hauler...ranch work...horrible on the outside but has a mild 350 on the inside.

1985 Econoline 350 Cargo Van (Rebuilt Trans)(460 Engine) (Parts Hauler..Delivery Van..Grandfather towed plenty of tractors with this van with ease)

 

[chlngr1970]

My parts chasers are a '98 Dakota Sport Club Cab 4X4, and an '03 Durango SLT+ AWD. Putting a 5.9 Magnum and rear end in the Dakota form a 2K Dakota R/T, and then the 5.2 is going into my Demon ( Unless I can convince SWMBO I NEED another 5.9 Magnum )

First pictures show the Dakota, and when my sup got an 88 K5 Blazer from Bellingham WA for $500. Second show the Durango that drug the Demon home from Idaho

j

 

[Riddler]

Here's my parts chaser/tow rig. It's a 2011 GMc Canyon with a 5.3L V8. Rare trucks these v8 Canyons/Colorado. Fast and strong as well.

Riddler

 

[LXguy]

Something that isn't being discussed is that diesels currently only come in a 3/4 ton truck (and better). A 3/4 ton pulls and stops way way way better than a smaller truck, *2 for a duallie. So its not all "bigger is better because its bigger".

My haul to the track is 100 miles each way. I've been on a Craigslist binge recently, so there have been lots of trips of equal or longer to get parts. On trips like this power, stability and brakes matter a lot more.

Been using the truck on the left which was a 97 F250 5.7 gas. Started using the 95 F250 7.3L diesel because I wanted to pull an enclosed trailer and have been doing some pretty long parts/car runs lately.

There is no comparison. Both trucks are 3/4 ton so they handled the open trailer easily, but the diesel ROCKs it every other way.

Diesel got 18 mpg unloaded on a trip to pick up a car/trailer and 15mpg on the way home. The Windsor would get about 12mpg unloaded (which I always heard was really good for one of these), and 7-10 with the 2000 pound trailer and 3400 pound car. Pulling the same back and forth with the same car and trailer, the diesel does 16mpg every time. And my diesel has 225K on it.

The diesel really shines on the hills. We don't have any in Illinois really, but on those long trips the places where the gas truck would struggle the diesel doesn't even downshift.

If you get stuck behind a granny on a two lane road with a gas truck you need miles of clear to get around them. The diesel will happily go right around.

That said, I don't have gigantic offroad tires or stacks or a lift kit (lift dramatically reduces towing capacity) or stickers or truck nuts.

It does have like a 4" exhaust on it, but its not loud. The power/$$$ on that is so awesome you basically have to do it.

New trucks cost too damn much.

 

[LXguy]

You've got a potential for real problems here:

The rear suspension looks to be loaded about 90% of the way to the bumpstops. If it rides the bumpstops on a jounce, the rear wheels or the trailer are going to steer the truck. This is made much worse with the nose pointed in the air which takes all the weight off of the front wheels (Where all of your braking and steering come from). I'd also be really surprised if that combo wasn't significantly over the Dak's GCWR. Tongue weight is being exceeded pretty massively for certain.

I've seen worse, but still...

A rough road/panic stop moment would be a hairy ride at the very very least.

 

[LJS30]

Something that isn't being discussed is that diesels currently only come in a 3/4 ton truck (and better). A 3/4 ton pulls and stops way way way better than a smaller truck, *2 for a duallie. So its not all "bigger is better because its bigger".

My haul to the track is 100 miles each way. I've been on a Craigslist binge recently, so there have been lots of trips of equal or longer to get parts. On trips like this power, stability and brakes matter a lot more.

Been using the truck on the left which was a 97 F250 5.7 gas. Started using the 95 F250 7.3L diesel because I wanted to pull an enclosed trailer and have been doing some pretty long parts/car runs lately.

There is no comparison. Both trucks are 3/4 ton so they handled the open trailer easily, but the diesel ROCKs it every other way.

Diesel got 18 mpg unloaded on a trip to pick up a car/trailer and 15mpg on the way home. The Windsor would get about 12mpg unloaded (which I always heard was really good for one of these), and 7-10 with the 2000 pound trailer and 3400 pound car. Pulling the same back and forth with the same car and trailer, the diesel does 16mpg every time. And my diesel has 225K on it.

The diesel really shines on the hills. We don't have any in Illinois really, but on those long trips the places where the gas truck would struggle the diesel doesn't even downshift.

If you get stuck behind a granny on a two lane road with a gas truck you need miles of clear to get around them. The diesel will happily go right around.

That said, I don't have gigantic offroad tires or stacks or a lift kit (lift dramatically reduces towing capacity) or stickers or truck nuts.

It does have like a 4" exhaust on it, but its not loud. The power/$$$ on that is so awesome you basically have to do it.

New trucks cost too damn much.

LXGUY you have two very practical, clean, and powerful trucks there. It's obvious you utilize your trucks for their intended purpose and not just to satisfy some latent desire to be a semi-truck driver.

 

[LXguy]

Thanks man!

My latent desire is to be a race car driver..haha

:glasses7:

 

[69DARTS]

$280.00 paid
new starter
new battery
and about a hour ago new pads and rotors
has hauled lots of stuff
but i find it funny everybody makes fun of it
but lots want to borrow it lol

 

[yellowdartdave]

LXguy....it's all about torque!!

 

[340john]

I just picked this up from a co-worker. 1956 Ford F100 longbed, all original 272, 4 speed.

 

[HawaiiDuster]

My 74 D100 Shortbed 440/727 8 3/4. This one is going to get sold since I picked up a 76 ClubCab shortbed that I like better. Anyone interested

 

[HawaiiDuster]

$280.00 paid
new starter
new battery
and about a hour ago new pads and rotors
has hauled lots of stuff
but i find it funny everybody makes fun of it
but lots want to borrow it lol

I wanted one of those, but I've only come across the short ones.

 

[Badart]

Here is mine. Started with a $500 truck that we pulled out of a field. I ended up selling it a few months ago. :banghead:

 

[69DARTS]

I wanted one of those, but I've only come across the short ones.

i will trade u even up for your 440 truck this
van has no rust because all the rust has fallen off lol
so i would say rust free and i wont charge for that

 

[ibleedmoparts]

Other than my 10' Ram i built this 87 RC and hauled a few loads with it, then gave it to my Dad when his dakota trans went south

 

[HawaiiDuster]

Here is mine. Started with a $500 truck that we pulled out of a field. I ended up selling it a few months ago. :banghead:

Can't believe you sold after all that work you put into it :sad5: That was really a nice looking truck.

 

[HawaiiDuster]

i will trade u even up for your 440 truck this
van has no rust because all the rust has fallen off lol
so i would say rust free and i wont charge for that

If it wasn't for the distance......and the rust......I'd seriously consider it:glasses7:

 

[Old Tired Rebel]

Other than my 10' Ram i built this 87 RC and hauled a few loads with it, then gave it to my Dad when his dakota trans went south

That is one sweet Ramcharger.

 

[Michaeluser]

Here is my CTD taking the the tires off. aFe Power needed a burnout so I abligded. I use it to tow and r&d at work...

 

[volaredon]

Hawaii; somehow that truck looks better in that spot than the Aspen did;
my son still has the RC, too.

 

[jtolbert]

Man, I want a short-box Dodge truck or a Ramcharger now. I had an '87 short-bed standard-cab W150 I should have never sold...

 

[damnimcooltom]

I bought this new in 04. Hemi.

 

[jaws]

Mine, 78 Macho, 360 auto,A/C 210,000 miles.