What’s Your Favorite Truck?

[jerem0621]

I am currently without a truck and without a RV. High Schoolers life, I got a Senior and a Freshmen in school. No time or $$ to camp. One in Band and one in football. Best years of my life, but its really busy right now and I feel like there is a straw stuck in my wallet. We have something going on nearly every weekend.... etc etc etc

Anyway, I am on the hunt for a cheap beater truck to keep around the house, I’m considering basically everything half ton and up. Nothing newer, those are too expensive right now.

Looking at all these beaters got me thinking about some of the trucks I have had in the past and kind of take a stroll down memory lane.

I’ve owned a lot of trucks from small Rangers to my big 99 Superduty V10 XL CC DRW.

My newest truck was my 08 F150 SCREW XLT but it was not my favorite. It could have been but I bought the 4.6 V8 which meant I got the puny 8.8 rear axle. I couldn’t get over that mental block so I got rid of it. The truck was actually a good truck despite my perception..

I only hated one of them and that was the Superduty. I can’t explain it, I just hated it.

My favorite trucks I’ve owned over the years are

1997- Ram 1500 SLT Quad Cab 4x4 with the 5.2L V8
1997- F150 Supercab XLT 2x4 with the 5.4 V8 (towed my TT with this truck)
1993- Ford Ranger regular cab 2x4 XLT with a 4banger 5 speed.
1978- Ford F-250 with a big block V8, 4x4, and rattle can primer.

My Ranger was fun to drive, My Ram was also enjoyable. The F250 was great. Oversized tires and all, you could practically measure the MPG with a tape measure. Ha ha ha.

But my Favorite, and it’s not even close, was my 97 F150. That truck was nimble, Powerful, stable, comfortable, and a great all around performer. It did a great job pulling my TT, I really miss this truck.

My FIL Has a 94 Silverado 2wd extended cab he would like to sell me, I’ve not actually owned a GM truck, so I may buy it... it needs some work, (cracked fly wheel) but hey I like a project.

Now, I have not owned an OBS Ford so maybe my beater will be a 80-96 Ford OBS. I’ve never owned a diesel either so maybe I’ll go for an IDI beater. Who knows, maybe I’ll find my next favorite truck.

Anyway, What was your favorite truck out of all the vehicles you have owned. And if you don’t care to share, what was it about that or those trucks that made you fond of them.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[the_bear_II]

1986 one ton chevy crew cab dually has been my favorite beater. 454 (7.4L) V8 with headers and flow master mufflers for a great throaty sound. It had a comfortable ride especially when carrying a load; felt like a cadillac ride.

[Super_Dave]

My favorite truck was the one I owned when I was single. It was a standard cab, 2 wheel drive Dodge. No one rode in it but me and it was just how I liked it.

[fx2tom]

I have owned entirely too many trucks (at least that's what my wife would tell you)

1986 Dodge D50
1990 Ford Ranger (365k before the transmission gave out)
1997 Ford F150 4.2l V6. Replaced both the engine and trans by the time I hit 100k
1999 Ford F150 This was a fun truck with a lift kit and off road tires. Sold it at 130k miles with a handful of issues
2001 Ford Ranger truck was flawless up until an idiot hit it head on
2003 Ford Ranger 3.0V6 and auto trans. Trans gave out at 60k miles. Replaced and sold.
2006 Nissan Titan Loved this truck
2012 Ford F150 This was a great truck. 3.5l EcoBoost with the 3.73 rear end. Was an awesome truck. It was traded in for the 2500 Ram
2014 Ram 2500. 5.7l Hemi gas engine. Wish I still had it
2016 Ford F150 Company car - F150 Platinum. Wish I had the personal budget for one.
2016 Nissan Titan XD - changed jobs and had to give the Platinum back, bought this one and loved it.
2017 Toyota Tundra - current company truck. Its eh, outdated platform and 12.5 MPG average. I wouldn't buy one personally.

[jerem0621]

Bedlam, that is a great point.

We get rid of vehicles for practical reasons most of the time. They no longer fulfill the mission needed. Etc... they are just things.

But they do connect us to the people, memories, and the emotions from those times. Those are treasures.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[Bedlam]

I am on my fourth truck and each served their purpose - When they no longer did, they were replaced. I really don't have an emotional bond to any of my vehicles but each of them brings back memories of that era.

1983 Mazda B2200 diesel, 2wd, 5-speed, standard cab, long bed
1989 Mazda B2600i gasser, 4wd, 5-speed, extended cab, short bed
2005 Ford F250 diesel, 4wd, automatic, extended cab, short bed
2015 Ram 5500 diesel, 4wd, automatic, crew cab, flat bed

I've also owned numerous cars, off-road toys and motorcycles over the years with the same detachment I feel with my trucks, but they also bring back memories of the past.

[Bird_Freak]

90 f350 7.3 crew cab. Tough old truck.

[BB_TX]

1997 F150 Lariat supercab step side 5.0 was my all time favorite truck.
But my 2004 F250 Lariat CC LB FX4 6.0 (yes the 6.0) was also a great truck.
And I liked my 2007 F350 KR CC LB FX4 6.0 (yes again another perfect 6.0).
But I love my current 2012 F350 KR CC LB FX4 6.7.

But for a beater and not towing I would not buy a diesel due to fuel prices with diesel running 50-70 cents more per gallon than regular gas.

[AlmostAnOldGuy]

Favorites have changed over the years.

1986 Toyota 2.4L 2WD (favorite at the time)
First new vehicle ever owned. Many a good road trip. Drove my girlfriend to the beach with that truck, proposed and she said yes. Been married over 30 years now. Lots of good memories.

1999 F150 Supercab 4.6L 2WD (favorite at the time)
After being married for a year twins came along after a few years decided I needed more seats. Pulled a pop-up with this and loaded the back with bikes, dutch ovens, wet suits, body boards, inflatable kayak, etc. Many great memories of camping and road trips with the family.

2001 2500 Suburban 8.1L 4WD (never really took to this one)
Bought used when kids were in high school. Son grew over 6' and was tight fit in Supercab and was occasionally hauling friends around. I know it is blasphemy on this board, but I never liked this rig. Steering left a lot to be desired, was constantly correcting heading down the freeway. Took it to multiple shops and no luck improving the steering. Really poor feel to the brakes.

2012 F150 SuperCrew 3.5L EcoBoost w/MaxPayload (favorite)
Kids are grown and out of the house. Seats fold up and give plenty of room for the dog. When family is around good seats to haul folks around. Great seats. Great low end torque and like running down the road at low rpms in a quiet cab. The Mrs. and I really enjoy road trips. Goes straight and true down the road, easy to drive. Really like this truck and plan to keep it a long time.

Jeremiah,

Thanks for the post. Was kind of fun to think about these different rigs. Each had it's own time and place. Current rig is my favorite.

Take it easy,
Stu

[Grit_dog]

I hear ya. Sophomore and a 7th grader and rep soccer, hockey year round and football for one in the fall = about 1.5 camping trips and 2.0 snowmachine trips a year only!

Regarding the beater truck, you’re looking for something cool, not a clapped out 1990s something or other. Unless you actually plan on roadtrips or some towing, in which case I’d totally be looking at 90s models.
Otherwise I’d be thinking, 70s trucks. Square body Chevies and round headlight fords.
Classic yet not old enough to be too expensive for a nice one.
For under $10k could have a healthy good running truck with nice paint and interior.
I’ve been thinking the same thing and I don’t need another truck. 2 in the driveway now. But a 73-79 or 67-72 GM pickup is on my shortlist right now.

[Chris_Bryant]

I think my favorite is the 1949 dodge I learned to drive on. Flathead 6, 4 speed non synchromesh (can you say double clutch 🙂 ). Bought for $250, hauled tons of hay, oats and manure. Only breakdown, busted an axle currying hay. Non detergent 30 weight oil, no oil filter.
Great truck!

[colliehauler]

While not your favorite, I like the Superduty's and Excursions based upon them.

One of my favorites was a old 72 Ford F-250 camper special with a 390 engine. The truck seemed indestructible but always had poor 8 mpg.

[Tvov]

I've only owned Ford trucks.

First is probably my favorite - 1985 Ford Ranger, 2wd, manual, 4cyl, absolutely stripped base model. It just ran, never let me down, only thing I did to it was add helper springs to the rear so I could load more on it. Went 111,000 miles on the original clutch when I sold it, and the guy who bought it ran it for years without doing anything to it. I saw him later, and he said it was probably the best vehicle he had ever owned.

1987 F350 Heavy Duty. It is the truck in my profile picture. Beast, 460ci V8 with 4 speed manual with 1st gear a creeper gear, combined with 4.10 rear end, it could drag an aircraft carrier. 7.5 mpg under all conditions - empty, towing, loaded, uphill or downhill, windy or not.

1988 F150. Good truck. Snowplowed with it - at 5 years old, when I was T-boned at an intersection, rust was beginning to show up all over the place.

1993 Ranger. Snowplowed with this truck, great for driveways. Never had a problem with this truck, after 13 years it just was rotted out from rust. Snowplowing is hell on frames and bodywork.

2000 F250 with 7.3 diesel. Good truck. Ended up trading it in for a larger "family" truck.

2008 F250 - which I have now. Great truck. Crewcab. Has options for towing which are great - built in brake controller, extra switches in the dash for whatever you want, heated and power folding side mirrors, etc. Have 95,000 miles on it, and it is running great. Looking to keep this for a while longer, as the cost of new trucks is breathtaking.

So there is my truck biography!

[js218]

1975 f250 4x4 460 v8, purchased new. Wish I never sold it

[Halmfamily]

My current truck has by far been My favorite, 2008 GMC Sierra DRW, Durmax 4x4. Puts a smile on face every time I drive it. Amazing power, quite and has been the most reliable truck I've every owned

[gbopp]

Just about everyone has a favorite truck. It's usually the one you just sold or traded.