Dale Matson
Property Cleanup
I bought my first new vehicle in 1970. It was a Ford F250
four-wheel drive (4x4) pickup truck. Men frequently name their trucks and mine
was “Big Red”. The price tag was $3,500.00 out the door.
Since that time, I have had several vehicles (all 4X4s)
including 6 trucks. My first two trucks were Fords and my last four have been
Chevys. I understand the loyalty of the Dodge owners too. There are other truck
brands but the American trucks are a long American tradition. There is a great
deal of brand loyalty, pride and rivalry. Some of this is carried too far with
provocative Calvin cartoons on the back window. It is also common to see an NRA
sticker on the back window. Young guys like to run through a mud puddle and let
it bake on as an exterior coating.
Emblems (also known as badges) on the trucks tell an
additional story to other truck owners. The badges tell you if it is a half,
three quarter or one ton truck. The one-ton trucks usually are equipped with
dual wheels in the back. Farmers and
ranchers prefer them to the lighter trucks. They are big and hard to maneuver
in the city. Often there will be a few bales of hay in the back. I think this is for 'tax' purposes.
An additional badge tells if the truck is diesel. Ford is
“Powerstroke”, Dodge is “Cummins” and Chevrolet is “Duramax”. Diesel is an expensive
option. In the Midwest and wherever road salt is used, the engine will outlast
the body. Additionally, starting diesels in sub zero weather can be
problematic. In really cold weather, the fuel actually becomes a gel unless it
has an additive. The advantages are the increased torque, mpg, and longevity of
the diesel engine. The resale remains higher also and used diesels are as scarce as hen's teeth. Guys in gas trucks often have a “Flowmaster” type aftermarket muffler
installed on their truck to make it sound more impressive. The best sound
however, is the low ‘growl’ of a diesel engine.
Another emblem is the 4X4 decal. Most trucks are two wheel
drive. Here’s a surprise to some of you. Not all Z71 off road vehicles (GM) are
4X4s. Having only two-wheel drive for me is not an option. Our cabin driveway
is gravel and in the mountains. Mountain driving is less dangerous with a 4X4
with the additional traction and control one has. In winter, vehicles are
required to carry tire chains in the mountains. If the roads become snowy you
will have to chain up if you only have two-wheel drive. If you have a 4X4, most
of the time you will not have to chain up. If it is snowing, use your 4X4 to get home.
Pickup truck cabs were primarily a single bench seat
initially, later they went to what is termed a “Crew cab” configuration. This
was essentially the addition of a back seat like a sedan. This made the truck
much longer with the standard eight-foot box. To counter this the manufacturers
began offering a shorter 6.5’ box to allow the truck to fit in the average
garage. Some make an extended cab truck that is a narrow seat behind the
drivers seat. One of the advantages of the crew cab is the ability of a man to
“sell” the concept of buying a truck to his family. The first thing my wife checked with my latest truck was to see if the rear seat could accommodate three baby carriers for grandchildren.
Length can be a problem for trucks. While the average SUV
can do a U-turn in an intersection with two lanes on the other side, a truck
with a crew cab (even a 6’ box) needs more room. If I lived in a rural area, a
crew cab with an 8’ box would work but it is not a truck made for running
errands in a city.
Part II is here: http://midsierramusing.blogspot.com/2014/04/men-and-their-trucks-ii.html.
Part II is here: http://midsierramusing.blogspot.com/2014/04/men-and-their-trucks-ii.html.
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