Old Truck Story

[Bluhorn]

Just thought I would pass this story along for you guys that have old vehicles. My Wildcat Fifth Wheel has been in New Jersey for almost two years and I needed to get it to Florida. I had worked a deal with a transport company to bring it down. I had to go up anyway and wanted to get the trailer checked out and serviced for the trip. I drove my old 1993 Dodge D 250 Cummins up there to take my tools and pick up boxes but didnt really trust the old girl to pull that trailer 1290 miles.
It seems I didnt have a choice when scheduling issues caused transporters plans and mine not to work out.I had to get the Wildcat back to Florida. Well after getting trailer cleaned and roadworthy I hooked up the old Dodge and set off. I took the ferry and the eastern shore to make the trip more enjoyable and not to run the truck to hard.. I drove 6 hr stretches and the truck just amazed me. It took it all in stride and pulled it like a champ. And averaged 15.4 mpg for the trip! Used no oil. No issues cropped up. Sure it was a little slower accelerating but had no problem keeping up with traffic. It was actually a pleasureable trip after I realized this truck would cause me no problems.
Those of you with older trucks. Keep them maintained and keep using them. You can save a lot of money and have more left over for camping. Whatever you do, have fun and enjoy!

[SoCalDesertRid1]

DaveF-250SD wrote:
I occasionally tow a large car on a transport trailer with my '77 C-20 Chevrolet pickup in my signature. Towed weight is approximately 6,700 to just under 7,000 lbs. with no wind drag issues like RV trailers. Truck has low miles, around 72,000 original. The 454 does great, never any issues with power, never overheats, even in the summer heat with A/C going full blast. I set the cruise control at 65, and just enjoy the drive. Just a great truck all around, although it would be nicer if it was a 4x4.

I like the old Chebbys.

I had a '77 K20 Camper Special with 350/TH350/NP203, then replaced it with an '82 C3500 Camper Special dually with 454/TH400, in the 90's.

Dad had a '73 C20 Camper Special with 454/TH400, in the 70's & 80's.

[Jarlaxle]

Mice?

[dwb619]

Well I bragged to quick. Went to the shed and brought the "01 2500 8.1 HD out for a little "ride around".
EVERY malfunction lite in the dash came on, MULTIPLE DIC problems message,engine temp and gas level read zero UNTIL you touch the brake pedal. Been sitting this time for about three months.

[hvac]

I'm envious. We live in Michigan. Seems right around 8 years it's best to move on or live with the insidious and constant issues of road salt. Cost of living here.

[Bluhorn]

Thanks for the comments guys. The truck is ready to turn 280,000 miles.The engine has never been touched.Everything including injectors is original. Nothing has been messed with either. The original tranny was overhauled at about 240,000.It runs sweet. I will have to see if I can download some pics.

[LVJJJ]

Recently replaced my really old 1965 Chevy Van (w/292-TH350) which I towed with since 1988 with a "newer" old '94 GMC Suburban. Van is still going strong but it doesn't have A/C. Much prefer the pre-OBD II vehicles so I can work on them myself. Burb has 126,000 miles, one owner, always garaged, looks new inside and out and mechanically in great shape. We have the Carfax that shows maintenance records from day one, old owner put new trans fluid, antifreeze and brake fluid before he sold it.

Engine sounded "good" but had no power. Found that the, plugs, wires, cap and rotor had never been replaced (the one thing the original owner didn't do). Tuned it up, added MSD adjustable timing control and installed a "fastchip" computer chip which made a huge difference. Lots of power now. "fastchip.com" out of Oklahoma customizes the chip for your vehicle. You have to send them your computer serial number so they can send you the right chip, plus they need to know your rear end ratio. I've never bought something for my vehicles that made such a major difference in power. Only was $159.

Love old trucks.

[Jarlaxle]

My friend replaced his V6 Ram with a diesel F250 a while back. He's had it over ten years now...it's a 1997 with close to 300,000 miles. He has no plans to replace it!

[SoCalDesertRid1]

All my trucks are old! Nothin wrong with old trucks! :B

My close friend's dad, may he RIP, bought a brand new F250 in 1968. He drove that F250 every day for 30 years, until he bought a brand new Dodge 2500 Cummins in 1998, when he retired. He drove that Dodge every day for 15 years, until he quit driving in 2013, at which time he gave it to his daughter, who's husband still drives it every day to this day. He'll probly still be driving it 10 years from now.

[FishOnOne]

jerem0621 wrote:

DaveF-250SD wrote:
I occasionally tow a large car on a transport trailer with my '77 C-20 Chevrolet pickup in my signature. Towed weight is approximately 6,700 to just under 7,000 lbs. with no wind drag issues like RV trailers. Truck has low miles, around 72,000 original. The 454 does great, never any issues with power, never overheats, even in the summer heat with A/C going full blast. I set the cruise control at 65, and just enjoy the drive. Just a great truck all around, although it would be nicer if it was a 4x4.

Do you have any pics? I bet it's a sweet truck!

Thanks!

Jeremiah

X2... With that 454 it's a jewel.

[jerem0621]

DaveF-250SD wrote:
I occasionally tow a large car on a transport trailer with my '77 C-20 Chevrolet pickup in my signature. Towed weight is approximately 6,700 to just under 7,000 lbs. with no wind drag issues like RV trailers. Truck has low miles, around 72,000 original. The 454 does great, never any issues with power, never overheats, even in the summer heat with A/C going full blast. I set the cruise control at 65, and just enjoy the drive. Just a great truck all around, although it would be nicer if it was a 4x4.

Do you have any pics? I bet it's a sweet truck!

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[DaveF-250SD]

I occasionally tow a large car on a transport trailer with my '77 C-20 Chevrolet pickup in my signature. Towed weight is approximately 6,700 to just under 7,000 lbs. with no wind drag issues like RV trailers. Truck has low miles, around 72,000 original. The 454 does great, never any issues with power, never overheats, even in the summer heat with A/C going full blast. I set the cruise control at 65, and just enjoy the drive. Just a great truck all around, although it would be nicer if it was a 4x4.

[campingken]

We have a 2003 Dodge 3500 4x4 quad cab 5.9 with 175,000 miles that we bought new and a 2001.5 Dodge 2500 4x4 regular cab with 125,000, bought used from original owner. The 2001 is noisier but has a lot more power (thanks to mods made by the original owner) than the 2003.

[blofgren]

Gotta love the Cummins. How many miles on the old girl?

[Perrysburg_Dodg]

My Dad still has his 1991 D350 Cummins with a manual trans. At 87 he is no longer RVing but uses the truck all the time, just not through a drive thru lol. Man is that thing loud!

Don