I bought another old pickup truck less than a week ago. I just pulled somebody's little car out of a ditch with it a few minutes ago... which got me to thinking about how much I love old pickup trucks, and why I really hope that I always have one.
I've always liked the U.S.S. Enterprise because it is always ready and able to lend a helping hand; and I like my pickups for the same reason. Whether it is a matter of pushing a stalled car out of the road, or carrying tools around just in case, or helping people move, or giving hitch-hikers a hand... My Fords not only help me, but they help me help other people, which is rewarding.
I got my first vehicle out of a neighbor's yard absolutely free. It was a 1980 Manual Transmission F-250. I must have put less than $1000 into it over the course of four years, and it has carried me an equivalent of two full laps around the world: over 50,000 miles. Being a nerd, I naturally named my truck NCC-1701...
My newly purchased pickup (bought for a meager $1,000 and mostly financed with coins and $1 bills that were accumulating in my drawer) is a 1982 Automatic F-250, and so far, it actually looks like it doesn't have any major problems. After four years of driving stick, I feel helpless trying to drive without using a stick. With my right hand I'm grabbing at thin air to shift while I stomp frantically around with my left foot looking for the non-existant clutch.
This newly commissioned vessel - The 1701-A - allows me to fix my other truck leisurely while still having a vehicle that I can drive meanwhile. Anyway, I know I'm not the only one out there who has a special appreciation for pickups, and so I dedicate this thread to them. Without further ado, here are the top 5 reasons why I love them:
#1. Cargo Capacity - I can't imagine having to hire someone just to move a chair or a table, and if I am going to buy lumber, I want to be able to fit a full-size plywood sheet in there flat with the tailgate closed.
#2. Ability to Tow and Bear Loads - You can't help stranded vehicles if you aren't willing to get a scratch on your bumper, or if you are in a little tiny plastic car.
#3. Vehicle Price - A solid old pickup truck is usually worth anywhere between $1,000 and $3,000 on the market. Unlike expensive vehicles, there isn't any reason to worry about light damage caused from general use. Even if you totally ruined the thing, it wouldn't be the end of the world.
#4. Vehicle Safety - One of the biggest things I love about driving pickups is being able to look out the back window and see exactly what is going on back there. Being able to see out the back window easier makes crashes less likely to happen; and in the rare cases when they do, big pickups offer outstanding protection when compared to a little squashable car. In my mind, the safety bonus of a full-size pickup alone makes up for bad gas economy.
#5. Culture - I've never liked folks who are up tight about their cars, afraid that somebody might lean against it, or touch it, or sneeze on it. Old pickup truck folks aren't really like that. Pickup truck drivers tend to be more interested in getting the job done than in primping over the perfect ride; and what the heck - with all that room back there, if times get bad (or you just want to go on a cheap road trip), you can always throw a canopy on the back and camp in the Walmart parking lot.
I've always liked the U.S.S. Enterprise because it is always ready and able to lend a helping hand; and I like my pickups for the same reason. Whether it is a matter of pushing a stalled car out of the road, or carrying tools around just in case, or helping people move, or giving hitch-hikers a hand... My Fords not only help me, but they help me help other people, which is rewarding.
I got my first vehicle out of a neighbor's yard absolutely free. It was a 1980 Manual Transmission F-250. I must have put less than $1000 into it over the course of four years, and it has carried me an equivalent of two full laps around the world: over 50,000 miles. Being a nerd, I naturally named my truck NCC-1701...
My newly purchased pickup (bought for a meager $1,000 and mostly financed with coins and $1 bills that were accumulating in my drawer) is a 1982 Automatic F-250, and so far, it actually looks like it doesn't have any major problems. After four years of driving stick, I feel helpless trying to drive without using a stick. With my right hand I'm grabbing at thin air to shift while I stomp frantically around with my left foot looking for the non-existant clutch.
This newly commissioned vessel - The 1701-A - allows me to fix my other truck leisurely while still having a vehicle that I can drive meanwhile. Anyway, I know I'm not the only one out there who has a special appreciation for pickups, and so I dedicate this thread to them. Without further ado, here are the top 5 reasons why I love them:
#1. Cargo Capacity - I can't imagine having to hire someone just to move a chair or a table, and if I am going to buy lumber, I want to be able to fit a full-size plywood sheet in there flat with the tailgate closed.
#2. Ability to Tow and Bear Loads - You can't help stranded vehicles if you aren't willing to get a scratch on your bumper, or if you are in a little tiny plastic car.
#3. Vehicle Price - A solid old pickup truck is usually worth anywhere between $1,000 and $3,000 on the market. Unlike expensive vehicles, there isn't any reason to worry about light damage caused from general use. Even if you totally ruined the thing, it wouldn't be the end of the world.
#4. Vehicle Safety - One of the biggest things I love about driving pickups is being able to look out the back window and see exactly what is going on back there. Being able to see out the back window easier makes crashes less likely to happen; and in the rare cases when they do, big pickups offer outstanding protection when compared to a little squashable car. In my mind, the safety bonus of a full-size pickup alone makes up for bad gas economy.
#5. Culture - I've never liked folks who are up tight about their cars, afraid that somebody might lean against it, or touch it, or sneeze on it. Old pickup truck folks aren't really like that. Pickup truck drivers tend to be more interested in getting the job done than in primping over the perfect ride; and what the heck - with all that room back there, if times get bad (or you just want to go on a cheap road trip), you can always throw a canopy on the back and camp in the Walmart parking lot.
But I looked damn good not getting over those speed bumps. Man was that thing a beast. But I loved it. The only reason I sold it was that I got an opportunity to buy my dream car: a '67 Mustang. But, that's a story for anothe time.
