Considering purchasing an old truck - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

sd300td · #1 02-16-2011, 03:02 PM

any advice?

http://toys.shop.ebay.com/1970-1989-/1185/i.html?_trkparms=65%253A12%257C66%253A2%257C39%253A1%257C72%253A4728&rt=nc&_nkw=stomper&_ipg=200&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14.l1514

POS · #2 02-16-2011, 03:23 PM

You're gonna either need to lose some serious weight, or head off to Universal Studios to find that "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" working display.

sd300td · #3 02-16-2011, 04:31 PM

good point.

cscmc1 · #4 02-16-2011, 04:36 PM

I remember those well! What was the competing brand? Rough Rider 4x4?

PaulC · #5 02-16-2011, 04:43 PM

Gas hogs.

USAROVER · #6 02-16-2011, 10:47 PM

I'm trying to remember how I juiced mine up...

sd300td · #7 02-18-2011, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USAROVER

I'm trying to remember how I juiced mine up...

Yeah...me too. It seemed that you could nearly double the speed but I can't remember how it was done.

sd300td · #8 02-18-2011, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cscmc1

I remember those well! What was the competing brand? Rough Rider 4x4?

Yeah, according to wikipedia, Matchbox made the rough riders. Never had one of those...

cscmc1 · #9 02-18-2011, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sd300td

Yeah...me too. It seemed that you could nearly double the speed but I can't remember how it was done.

I think at one point, they came out with a second speed (and would also freewheel when powered down). I do remember some mods, though -- stuff like gluing the tires to the rims and such.

Check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pko_iTP4sQ&feature=player_embedded

Angel · #10 02-18-2011, 10:35 PM

I was reminded of this recently when someone gave my son one of these sets:

http://www.hasbro.com/tonka-chuck-and-friends/en_US/shop/details.cfm?guid=3BAC976D-19B9-F369-1044-6E9CB800FF41&product_id=26983&src=endeca

- the truck think is AA powered and motors forward. It has splined wheels so it can climb the specially built track that it comes with.

My sons ran the battery down by the 2nd day.

a few weeks ago I had to take it apart to fix the on/off switch (built into the front license plate). The amount of plastic in the Tonka thing is 4x what is in the Stomper. (but, the Tonka thing is notably slower...) it still has stood up to my 2yo and 4yo throwing it, stepping on it and abusing it - those stompers looked cool but were not built for toddlers =)

All in all - the Tonka things are not as cool as Stompers, but the idea has not been lost on todays children

-John

Botnst · #11 02-18-2011, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sd300td

any advice?

http://toys.shop.ebay.com/1970-1989-/1185/i.html?_trkparms=65%253A12%257C66%253A2%257C39%253A1%257C72%253A4728&rt=nc&_nkw=stomper&_ipg=200&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14.l1514

Coincidentally, I'm looking at a middle-aged F150 5L. Mrs B and I are working on an old house for a get-away-on-weekends and I am needing more lift capacity. I think I'll pull the trigger this week.

The "pull the trigger" comment is a euphemism for making the purchase. Don't want anybody to get the wrong idea.

10fords · #12 02-18-2011, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

Coincidentally, I'm looking at a middle-aged F150 5L. Mrs B and I are working on an old house for a get-away-on-weekends and I am needing more lift capacity. I think I'll pull the trigger this week.

The "pull the trigger" comment is a euphemism for making the purchase. Don't want anybody to get the wrong idea.

Bot- The 5.0 (302) is probably the worst motor Ford ever put in a truck. They are good motors, but just not meant for a truck. The 4.9 straight six would be my first choice as they are torquey and nearly bulletproof, and get decent fuel economy. The 5.8 351W is also an excellent motor for a truck. I have had numerous examples of both that have served me well under severe conditions, but the 4.9 is my all time favorite, especially the later ones with fuel injection and a 5 speed manual transmission. I have passed up trucks with the 302 that were nearly free because I have never known anyone who was happy with one in a truck. Now a 302 Mustang or a Cobra is a different story as they need high RPM horsepower, not torque like a truck. YMMV

MS Fowler · #13 02-19-2011, 06:57 AM

Bot,
I'm not anti the 5.0 as 10Fords, but I am very pro 4.9.
They are used in many industrial applications. I ran earth drilling machines powered by them and they never failed. Our company still has one kicking around--the body is rusting away, and it never gets serviced, but the engine just won't quit.

KarTek · #14 02-19-2011, 07:34 AM

I had a stomper back when they first came out. I was a little old for them at the time but a bunch of us got them and they were pretty good entertainment, crawling across the stuff on the desk and such...