After moving from PA to OH, bringing my wife's truck with us, and pulling mine out of storage, I decided it was time to search for another one...mainly because both are regular cab models, and we have two larger dogs that we take everywhere. I began the search local, but everything here is overpriced and rusted out. I called my step-son in California, and had him put our feelers, looking for a 10th generation Ford or newer for a decent price. He did better than that...he bought himself a brand new F250, and offered to give me his 1997 F150 for free. It's now on a transport carrier, headed my way, and should be in my drive by Wednesday or Thursday, weather permitting.

Now, the 10th generation F series is my least liked body style. Honestly, it's ugly. It doesn't have the right look or stance, IMHO. But, my step-son has had some work done to his, upgrading the suspension, adding oversized tires, etc. He bought the truck from his dad, who bought it brand new...my wife was still married to his dad when it was ordered. My wife chose the color and trim package when they were in the market for it in 1996. It was ordered with a full towing package, 5.4L Triton, and a few other upgrades. When my step-son bought it, he added rims, tires, bed mounted power inverter, upgraded the stereo system, had the heads helicoiled due to spitting spark plugs, had the trans rebuilt, both axles drained, checked and any repairs needed done, as well as having the front suspension upgraded to aftermarket and adding an Expedition front bumper. All in all, he brought it up to better standards.

It was used for it's 22 years primarily as a tow vehicle to pull their hot rod cars from show to show, all around SoCal and the Bay Area. It averaged less than 10K miles per year, meaning it now has 201K on the clock, and in decent shape.

There is a little bit of surface rust on the roof that I'll have to take care of this Spring, and have it re-sprayed. I also have to replace a few broken vacuum lines for the front axle...the hubs are vac operated. Other than that, nothing else needs done. It comes with a set of stock rims that I'll need to wrap with some smaller tires, as the 35's that come with it are not good in the snow.

This ought to be a fun toy...

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

I really like that body style. Seems like a classic to me. Simple and aerodynamic. Just don't forget to bring your step ladder to get in that one!

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Very nice and the price can't be beat .

It even comes with free wheels to mount the snow tires on....

I hope you burn that flag A.S.A.P., a tattered flag is very disrespectful .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

The flag was removed prior to loading on the carrier...my step-son gave it to his neighbor, who is with the BSA, so he can retire it properly. A new 13 star flag was placed in the cab for me to attach when it's time.

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

As you can see in the photo of it on the carrier, there has been some extensive suspension work done to lift it properly. I prefer the Bricknose style of our other trucks, but it was time to upgrade the comfort a bit.

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

O.K., thank you .

It's an important thing to me, I've been rescuing discarded flags for many decades now, it really bothers me to see one raggedly, dirty or lying on the ground .

I too like this body style, I'd rather have a single cab, short bed because I'm a work oriented guy but this is going to be perfect for you I think .

? Maybe a sheet of 1/4" diamond plate steel in the bed during Winter to ensure traction ? .

I hope you're not going to make it a plow rig .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

God, no...not this truck. Plows go on 3/4 ton truck or bigger.

The bed was Rhino lined years ago. and covered with a fiberglass tonneau, so it should still be in great shape. This is the first short bed I've had...always regular cab with 8 foot beds.

Im going to make a bed across the rear seat so my dogs can be comfortable.

Congrats! What a score! For that price/condition I honestly wouldnt care about body styles, etc. My sympathies on having to leave the Great Keystone State (home of the U.S. Constitution, Benjamin Franklin-who would've loved diesel Benz's, and many many other apects related to the founding of our great nation, for Ohio (ugh) LOL. Seriously, though, best of luck with your "new" truck!! Sooo jealous....

Looks good! I have one similar. I have a 2000 short bed regular cab 4WD with V8 and five speed. I bought it in 2005 with 59,000 miles and it now has 135,000 or so. I use it when I need a truck and have been driving a Benz of some description most of that time when I don’t need a truck.

It was that generation in both Ford and Chevy that brought trucks up to a level where they are much like driving a great big passenger car.

Enjoy!

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

" God, no...not this truck. Plows go on 3/4 ton truck or bigger. "

I see ~ you've never been a Farmer .

We used plenty of 1/2 ton plow rigs in the 1950's and 1960's, it used them up pretty quickly .

If all you have is a 1/2 tonner, that's what's your plow rig .

Beats shoveling ! .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

I grew up on a farm...all trucks were 3/4 ton or bigger. We never had anything smaller. The 1/2 ton was meant for light duty jobs, of which we rarely had.

I guess i don't quite understand your comment...??

I don't always speak clearly .

I grew up in a different time & place, a rather broke dairy farm (Milking Shorthorns & alfalfa) in rural New England ~ if it ran we used it, most of our equipments dated back to the 1930's, this in the 1960's .

1/2 ton 4X4 pickups were cheap, often under $250 so we'd swap the pump and plow on and go plowing, I got frost bite on my right foot once from keeping my foot over the hole in the floor board that tossed wet snow up into my lap and face....

No worries either way .

We also had larger International Harvester trucks but the fuel economy (.27 cents then) of a 1/2 ton Chevy with the 250CID i6 engines made them our choice in plow rigs .

I was just remembering the nice quiet nights spent riding shot gun, listening to the radio and the stories about life the adults would tell me .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

With our side gig of harvesting, splitting and selling firewood, a 1/2 ton never made much sense...they were left for those that lived in town, instead of where we were. Ours ranged from a 68 up to a 79, 3 trucks total. We used them to pull felled trees up hill, and split logs to the stacks... so the straight 6 Ford had in them were perfect.

I learned to drive in those trucks, as well as old beater Jeeps. Consequently, I also learned to wrench on those same vehicles at a young age.

The truck coming to me will be a fun one to drive. I hope it's much more comfortable to drive over the 3/4 ton trucks we have. Being an automatic, my left knee is going to enjoy it in traffic.

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

A friend of mine once had a stock F150 of this era. He had a plow installed for light snow removal at his house. The stock front springs REALLY did not like that plow. I wouldn't dream of installing a plow on anything less than a 3/4 ton.

Good choice. Parts when and if needed should be reasonable and available. Plus no real rust from that region of the country.


We were talking about light trucks over coffee today with a brother in law. I asked him what he thought as general motors is advertising a light truck that can pull 30 thousand pounds. He did say the 3/4 ton trucks use the same chassis and suspension as the 1 tons. Still I thought to myself I would not want 15 tons behind me in what is still a light truck to me . I see the chances of the tail wagging the dog as too strong a possibility even with a fifth wheel type of mount.


It was also somewhat of a surprise that general motors light trucks where in general rated so poorly. I have picked up this on a few articles in the last few years. I think I saw a survey where only 20 percent of owners where happy with them.