blt2ski wrote:
ShinerBock wrote:
blt2ski wrote:
ShinerBock wrote:
$8,109.70 in 1978 is equivalent to $32,329.10 today with inflation which is not too far off from what you can buy a similarly equipped single cab pickup truck today. When I mean similarly equipped, I mean the exact same features, not trim packages. Most trucks were single cab back in those days.
According to GM website, you can get a regular cab 1500 4wd with a 355hp/385lb-ft 5.3L V8 for $32,590 and I bet it has all the same features as the high end trims back in those days. I bet that it also tows more and gets better fuel economy than those trucks did too. So the problem is not that the same trucks apples to apples are more expensive, it is that people want more in their trucks like crew cabs, fancy tech, and power engine options that can tow way more than what trucks can tow back then. Heck, you would have to get a class 6 or 7 truck back then to tow what class 2b and 3 trucks tow today.
A 2500 with a 6l auto trans is closer to 35000 for an equal truck. Yes that 1500 will to more, but still carry half of a reg cab class 2b truck.
The reg cab 1500 I mentioned above is rated at 2100 lbs payload.
But NOT 3800 lbs of payload like the truck bob bought initially. Or my 81, or my 2000 reg cab pickups. Yes it has twice the HP, gears in trans etc. It does not have the payload equal. THAT can be as much of a deciding factor in purchasing truck as the power part! Its no fun having an over powered rig, no payload! Been there done that. Slightly under powered, correct payload is better. COrrectly geared in rear, trans etc is also better in an under powered vs over powered, and wont go anywhere due to incorrect gearing. IE my 89 R3500 with a TH400, 454, and 4.10 rear gears. It would literally stall out on the locl steeper grades here in the Seattle area.
Marty
Oh, I didn't know his 2500 was that much. My dad had a 79 K20. They did not have payload stickers since they were not mandated until after the Explorer/Firestone recalls back in 2000, but it had about 2,500 lbs payload if you subtracted the 7,500 GVWR from the 5,000 lb curb weight.
