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Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: TAB on February 22, 2025, 06:52:53 AM

Title: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on February 22, 2025, 06:52:53 AM
On wednesday I was hit on the free way on my way to work.   Long story short guy came over 2 lanes hit me right where my cab and bed met.   Idaho state troopers witnessed the wreck and cited the guy with 4 violations including reckless driving.   Needless to say my 90 f250 xlt is toast.   I had it just under 5 years and put 218k miles on it.   It was just a good old solid truck.  Not much to look at and definitely  well used( by me lol)   never planed on buying a 30 year old gas truck when I bought it, but when I found a 1 owner truck with 67k miles on it and i only padded 1800 for it.   What can I say, I just counted hundreds.   It was i need a truck right now moment after I had sold my construction  company and all the trucks that went with it.  Well,Thursday I had another I need a truck right now moment and just like the last time I got lucky.

(https://www.archerytalk.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,onerror=redirect,width=1920,height=1920,fit=scale-down/https://www.archerytalk.com/attachments/1000001492-jpg.8267037/)

2000 f350 xlt lariat  crew cab 4wd long bed diesel. Ypu can tell some old guy owned it,  it still had the factory combo cassette
cd player. 2 owner truck only the 1st one only owned it for 3 months...   155009  on the clock when I bought it.   Had to drive 300 miles each way( the way back was a blizzard and had the road closed )  I  miss the old 7.3   not a power house like today's trucks, but they are an easy 4-500k+ motor if you take care of them.  Which in all honestly  is what I care about.   I don't need the latest and greatest, I always drove my personal vehicles into the ground.  Besides having delt with all the emissions crap on my work trucks, they completely  destroy the entire purpose for owning a diesel.  They remove durability and fuel mileage.   There is a reason why just about everyone removes all the stuff after the warranty  is out.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: alfsauve on February 22, 2025, 08:54:57 AM
Looks good

I hope you didn’t suffer any injuries and aren’t too sore.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: Big Frank on February 23, 2025, 05:45:42 AM
^
What he said.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on February 23, 2025, 06:37:42 AM
Banged my elbow up a bit.  Didn't realize it until 2 days after when I tried to install some bolts and nuts on a water fitting.   Just simply spinning the nut down by hand cuased a sharp pain.   I am having a mri on monday.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: PegLeg45 on February 28, 2025, 11:55:02 AM
Can't find many deals like that here in the southeast. Folks think junk is made of gold.

Hope everything goes good on the MRI and the pain heals quickly.
Arnica Gel helps with both pain and bruising.....works fast. I use it on shoulders and hip.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on February 28, 2025, 08:11:33 PM
Can't find many deals like that here in the southeast. Folks think junk is made of gold.

Hope everything goes good on the MRI and the pain heals quickly.
Arnica Gel helps with both pain and bruising.....works fast. I use it on shoulders and hip.

i had to drive 5 hours 1 way to get the deal.   no bs the trucks locally are 5-10k more with 100k more miles locally.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: Big Frank on March 01, 2025, 02:21:27 AM
That's pretty bad. When I bought my Yukon, I really wanted a Chevy Tahoe. The nearest one I could find was a 45 minute drive away and $1,000 over blue book. So I got the Yukon Denali from a dealer2 1/2 miles straight down the road, and I didn't over pay for it. I'm paying for it in Premium gas and 13 MPG, but I hardly ever go anywhere. Kroger is a mile away, The hospital, Walgreens, and some doctors are a mile away. And my other doctors are 3 miles away, +/- .2 miles. So even when I go somewhere it's only enough to get it warmed up. Living in the city sucks, but having nearly everything within a mile or three is nice. Meijer is 6 miles away and that's usually the farthest I go to the store, unless I drive to Grand Blanc, which still isn't far. If I need to go to the credit union there, I usually stop at one or two stores on the way home.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on March 01, 2025, 08:48:43 AM
I drive ALOT!   in just under 5 years I put 218k on my last truck.   I am trying to retire again.   If that's the case it will be way less.  Like sub 10k a year.   I just have to have a full size truck.   Between the house I am going to build in wy "soon" on 184 arces.   To my hobbies that often  require me to carry very heavy things.   A 3/4 ton or better just makes sense.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on March 07, 2025, 06:59:30 AM
My elbow got worse.  went back to the doc.   it was a real struggle keeping the misses from coming.   (her being an orthopedic surgeon and all)  I know she cares, but every time she comes with me to this type of appointment it always goes to full on dr speak between them and i have no clue whats going on.   Its like I am the damn patient here, tell me what the hell is going on.  Anyways MRI monday morning.


I am now have just under 1000 miles on the truck.   it has a few minor things to fix, like one of the power door locks actuator is bad.  Which is a easy fix, just have to have time to due it.    I already spent 250 on weather tech floor mats, 800 on seat covers, 400 on a new brake controller and 350 on a  B&w hitch,   the stock one was fine, but i would rather have one rated for 16k than 10k    not like i am going to be towing 16, but i would rather have something i know can handle what ever i throw at it, vs not.

I could go bigger if I wanted too, but most of the bigger one either require you too get rid of your spare or take your bumper off to do the install... no thanks.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: Big Frank on March 07, 2025, 09:07:12 AM
Getting rid of the the spare isn't an option for me. If I had a truck with dual wheels and didn't haul a lot of weight most of the time, it might be. Having been rear-ended while stopped a few times, there's no way I would get rid of my bumper. I don't know anything about B&W but I took a look at their adjustable ball mounts and like what I saw. The last ball mount I bought was supposed to be 2" more drop than the one I had before it, but there was only 1" difference, and it wasn't quite enough. That was 2 different brands that measure their mounts differently.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on March 09, 2025, 06:23:56 AM
1st tank of fuel 16.2 mpg.  2nd tank 14.1, but for about 150 miles i towed 11k#

Trying to find a bodyshop to fix the clear.   super common prob for the vintage.  still debating on a gear vender over drive.   It is really only useful at 70+ as you need to maintain about 1400rpms to keep the 4r100 happy.   an extra 22% od at 80 would be nice.   still at 4k+ you have to have your drive shafts modified. you never actually break even when it comes to $.  still having what amounts to 8 gears can be very useful.


I cant tell you how much i miss having a diesel. just being able to let the turbo spool up for more power is very nice.

  my last truck was the 1st non diesel and 2wd i have owned in almost 20 years. 

you know what they say about temporary fixes.  they are permeant until they break again.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: Rastus on March 09, 2025, 09:08:14 AM
New vehicles are too expensive nowadays.  The 2006 diesel F250 we have has the 6.0 engine which had to be bullet proofed to make it what it should be.  I just put a new fuel pump in it and it's needing a couple of new batteries.  Something like a quarter of a million miles on it now and it should be good for another 100-150k miles.

The F150 I have has 190k miles on it and sports a lifter issue.  Since the F150 is gas I'll be putting a Ford crate engine in it sometime by mid-summer. 
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on March 09, 2025, 10:30:40 AM
Tell me about it.  The last service truck was just under 180k.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on March 10, 2025, 08:33:58 AM
And some mother f***** just rear ended  me at red light
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: Majer on March 10, 2025, 09:34:13 AM
You can't catch a break, Hope he has insurance.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: Big Frank on March 10, 2025, 10:26:38 AM
And some mother f***** just rear ended  me at red light

I hate to hear it, but I'm also glad I'm not the only one it happens too. I had an idiot park his motorcycle under the back of my van while I was waiting to make a left turn into the driveway at the mobile home park 30+ years ago. He caved in the corner of the quarter panel with his body (his face?), and in my rear-view mirror I saw him flying through the air like a cross between a Frisbee and a rag doll. He was spread eagle and spinning around! He was probably doing 120 and I don't think he hit the brakes. The car I was waiting on ran right over him and dragged him down the road, pinned underneath, with his helmet grinding away leaving a stripe down the road. That lady driving the car was freaked out. I can't remember exactly what happened next. I think the guy's brother told her to back up. He was alive but but never walked again. His motorcycle was jammed under my gas tank so bad the wrecker operator had to lift the back of my van up so he could drag the bike out. If you going to get drunk and high AF, don't ride a motorcycle. That guy had no idea where he was or what happened. He didn't even know he was laid out out on the pavement, half paralyzed. I've also been rear-ended at actual red lights at least twice that I can recall right off hand. I really sorry to hear about it TAB, but as you well know, bad things always happen to good people. And you're one of the good ones, for sure.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on March 10, 2025, 11:12:46 AM
This is what hit me.

(https://www.archerytalk.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,onerror=redirect,width=1920,height=1920,fit=scale-down/https://www.archerytalk.com/attachments/1000001550-jpg.8277826/)
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on March 10, 2025, 01:04:26 PM
I looked it up empty they weigh about 12k#
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: Big Frank on March 10, 2025, 02:54:07 PM
The driver of the other vehicle has to ride the short bus. I'm not saying they're retarded but... they ran into a vehicle that was stopped at a red light.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on March 10, 2025, 05:02:07 PM
I am pretty messed up.  Hurts to walk and stand up straight
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: Rastus on March 10, 2025, 05:16:00 PM
Yeah I figure you will be hurting bad.  Especially when you have to replace that brand new truck with a like one.  The insurance company is going to try to get rid of you on blue book less 25-50% if they can. 

A replacement truck will be hard to find and certainly not at blue book prices plus your aggravation, plus your hurt, plus your time off work, plus the damage not only to you not working but since you own the business it also damages your business if you cannot work.

I would go ahead and put the lawyer you have on retainer on it....
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on March 10, 2025, 05:43:21 PM
I already have 4....  I spend about 60k a month is legal fees already lol
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on March 12, 2025, 08:30:26 AM
I talked to the lost wages guy from their insurance this morning.   lets just say after i sent him my last 6 months of pay stubs and bonus checks.( i am after all a salary employee   ;D )   I think he shit himself.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on March 12, 2025, 10:23:11 AM
been searching comps.

I found 3 close, the closet is not a lariat but an xlt.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/326456112193?_skw=Ford+F-350+Super+Duty&itmmeta=01JP5E6VY8DEFFNHBZ41P7XMSM&hash=item4c024cf441%3Ag%3Ak%7EYAAOSwXBxnjgMn&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA8FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1eBdbpIk0F7i%2Bvurvi%2FlH1YFTuwtRXRlS6VLDYk0FN9Xd2w7yVhrYIc4xps0dF26GoJR6746SsTUWcwZ%2B2zZVhQguFYjS8ELuYc3%2BOovbHubB7COMchQ7eqFl810ljRuf9IwYfoHlThRyq0TSG5qKiBA%2B5l4wlf5joTkzp34HPFGdrt4nfpUWoCl7PdllvboDZvvd88NGy7lpw3LcjwQHQaczv0s%2BpFwIlzRd2HHFaOhh1XyeNiep19W2qF4sI%2B3Hpu1YaNyughmXegYcxnbygzJcjtUHMTGAAnPRqy%2BAW%2FBQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5y_m66xZQ&LH_ItemCondition=3000


https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/7c6c7010-38f0-4d2a-ae3b-973b75a6cf02/

https://www.ebay.com/itm/335810206138?_skw=Ford+F-350+Super+Duty&itmmeta=01JP5E6VY8WHZ4285JX6XVN5WB&hash=item4e2fd919ba%3Ag%3AgboAAOSwHVhnXLBL&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA0FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1frEHamFhde4XMDcajg%2ByI%2B0%2FXMBdjuXJep1gQ5ErG7G43B67ihXVMuLRUHyRBi6hsxZKeVHmnK8ktSi4HHXZcjH%2FxGOnNvaaAiytIDhv53TC7f0TOJTMsYrpROgfeD%2BDOeVmdBc%2FK5CFECWmCQy6ktyFCO1g2rTSL04IJqGFBwnLEdk0LNaDyBZfwmEehRGTkzvCsS98Eec0MlQS9EzXFlvF3mtN%2BAZ09YmShY5WUt%2BACHjlN0%2FTcUGmMpJez9gfs%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5y_m66xZQ&LH_ItemCondition=3000

Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: Jim Kennedy-ar154me on March 12, 2025, 10:26:56 AM
I am pretty messed up.  Hurts to walk and stand up straight

I don't comment very much but I do HATE to see any of us hurt. I hope you heal well and quick.

I do not know how old you are but I can tell you for a FACT that the older you get the harder and slower things heal. Best wishes.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: Rastus on March 12, 2025, 10:46:15 AM
Yeah.  What Jim said.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on March 12, 2025, 11:42:17 AM
I don't comment very much but I do HATE to see any of us hurt. I hope you heal well and quick.

I do not know how old you are but I can tell you for a FACT that the older you get the harder and slower things heal. Best wishes.

I am 43, but i have had a rough 43 years.  25 years  active in combat sports and in heavy construction since i was a kid. 
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on March 12, 2025, 12:50:04 PM
this one is identical but had 30k more miles on it.

https://www.kbb.com/cars-for-sale/vehicle/738952849?allListingType=all&bodyStyleSubtypeCode=FULLSIZE_CREW&bodyStyleSubtypeCode=FULLSIZE_CREW%2BCOMPACT_CREW&city=Nampa&driveGroup=AWD4WD&endYear=2000&fuelTypeGroup=DSL&makeCode=FORD&mileage=200000&modelCode=F350&searchRadius=0&startYear=2000&state=ID&trimCode=F350%7CLariat&vehicleStyleCode=TRUCKS&zip=83651&clickType=listing
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: Big Frank on March 12, 2025, 01:36:31 PM
As someone who's in pain every day, I can tell you a few things about it. First of all, it sucks! As if you didn't already know that. Secondly, it usually gets better with time. And lastly, if it doesn't get better, you might get used to it, eventually. I've had headaches for 16,000+ days in a row, my knees have been screwed up for at least 50 years, I've had arthritis for decades, and besides all the daily crap, I have chronic problems that flare up at least monthly if not weekly. It might take a couple decades of daily pain to get used to it like it did for me, but I wouldn't know how to act if I had a day without pain. I'd probably go out and do something stupid, and end up hurting myself. :-[ Get well soon, TAB. I guess I had 43 rough years too. I think that's how old I was when I went on permanent disability.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on March 20, 2025, 02:02:02 PM
They are saying 11800 in damage too the truck.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on March 30, 2025, 02:23:32 PM
this shit sucks.   tried to spray about a cup of lacquer on a project i have had in my make shift spray booth for months.  made 2 passes with the gun, started to hurt.  said nope, cleaned it up and back inside.


here i have been waiting months for it to be warm enough to spray with out having to use heat ( i dont want to blow up)  now i have the time, its warm enough, but nope.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: Big Frank on March 31, 2025, 05:23:28 AM
Isn't that how thing usually go? You never have the time, money, ambition, and ability all at once to get things done.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: PegLeg45 on March 31, 2025, 09:08:14 AM
Isn't that how thing usually go? You never have the time, money, ambition, and ability all at once to get things done.

This is the way.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on March 31, 2025, 09:09:45 AM
Isn't that how thing usually go? You never have the time, money, ambition, and ability all at once to get things done.

Pretty much.


All the monthly in the world no time.   All the time in the world, no money.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: Big Frank on April 01, 2025, 03:17:34 AM
People say time is money, but money can't buy you time.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: Pathfinder on April 05, 2025, 11:01:07 AM
I drive ALOT!   in just under 5 years I put 218k on my last truck.   I am trying to retire again.   If that's the case it will be way less.  Like sub 10k a year.   I just have to have a full size truck.   Between the house I am going to build in wy "soon" on 184 arces.   To my hobbies that often  require me to carry very heavy things.   A 3/4 ton or better just makes sense.

My 2002 F350 came used mid-2003 with 72000 miles on it. Owned previously by a guy who owned 3 sale barns in eastern MT, and traded it in after 9 months - he apparently liked new trucks. And it was high-end: XLT, Lariat, 7.3l Powerstroke, leather interior, etc.

At that rate, in 5 years, he would have had close to 500,000 mile on it. The 7.3 at that point would have been nicely broken in. Instead, I got it and used it on my ranch.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on April 05, 2025, 02:39:03 PM
My 2002 F350 came used mid-2003 with 72000 miles on it. Owned previously by a guy who owned 3 sale barns in eastern MT, and traded it in after 9 months - he apparently liked new trucks. And it was high-end: XLT, Lariat, 7.3l Powerstroke, leather interior, etc.

At that rate, in 5 years, he would have had close to 500,000 mile on it. The 7.3 at that point would have been nicely broken in. Instead, I got it and used it on my ranch.

i bet every one of those 72k miles had a horse/stock trailer behind it.

72k in 1.5 years is not that hard when you think about it.   thats only about 800 miles a week.   given how he had 3 sale barns,   that sounds like just a round trip between them 3 or 4 days a week.

Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: Big Frank on April 08, 2025, 04:59:41 PM
I texted this pic to my friend today. I used Paint to make a 4-wheel truck into a 6-wheel truck the same exact length, width, and height. I think a tandem axle pickup truck would have several advantages over a dually. My friend thought the picture was real. I told him that's how I know I'm getting good at this. I also told him if he zoomed in he would be able to see things that didn't look right. But on a phone, without zooming in it looks totally legit. It even looks real to me on my 24" monitor if I don't zoom in. :)

P.S. If I had the budget for it I'd have someone build me a custom Suburban 6x6.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on April 11, 2025, 08:29:23 AM
I have always been a stock kind of guy.

Don't want the attention and I want reliability over all else.

The one exception to that is adding things that make it work.   Example trailer  brake controller or lumber rack. 
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: Jim Kennedy-ar154me on April 11, 2025, 11:25:02 AM
This is the way.

After all, weapons ARE a part of your religion.  ;^)
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on April 24, 2025, 10:24:21 AM
Bill from the body shop $18871.27
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: PegLeg45 on April 24, 2025, 01:54:32 PM
Bill from the body shop $18871.27

Woo-ee....that's stiff.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on April 24, 2025, 04:36:44 PM
Woo-ee....that's stiff.


Yeah on a 25 year old truck and they fixed it.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: Big Frank on April 24, 2025, 06:07:35 PM
IIRC there was $19,000 damage to my 1986 Dodge van and they fixed it. The cost to replace it was probably no more than $100 over that, that and the insurance company did it the cheap way. It took half a year to fix it, and it was still falling apart years later. The hinge pins in the doors may have been intact after the rollover, but they didn't all stay intact when I was driving around. Somethimes I would open a door and  SURPRISE, only one hinge was holding it on and the door dropped down on an angle.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on May 20, 2025, 06:58:22 AM
Lots of pt, I am slowly getting better. Still not close, but I am getting better.   The muscle tears have mostly mended, it is now just a matter of getting strength back.   The Dr bills are nuts, just under 40k so far.  Granted they have been charging an overly inflated price on everything.   Funny how they always do that with insurance.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: Jim Kennedy-ar154me on May 21, 2025, 08:36:45 AM
Granted, they have been charging an overly inflated price on everything.   Funny how they always do that with insurance.

Insurance is just like a casino. The house (Insurance company) ALWAYS wins.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on June 14, 2025, 07:16:11 AM
a little update.   the last mri was not good, got a surgical referral.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: PegLeg45 on June 14, 2025, 11:59:20 AM
a little update.   the last mri was not good, got a surgical referral.

Oh no, that sucks.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: Rastus on June 14, 2025, 08:05:44 PM
That's terrible news.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: Big Frank on June 15, 2025, 12:15:33 AM
Oh, man. Surgery sucks. I hope it turns out as well as it can.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: alfsauve on June 15, 2025, 09:28:31 AM
I am so sorry TAB.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: MikeBjerum on June 16, 2025, 11:33:39 AM
Sorry to hear this, but hopefully it gets you back on the mend soon.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on June 23, 2025, 12:05:07 PM
The 10th, will be the 1st of 2.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: Jim Kennedy-ar154me on June 23, 2025, 01:41:12 PM
a little update.   the last mri was not good, got a surgical referral.

I am sorry to hear that. Sorry for the delay, but I have been tending to my own 7 broken bits.

Get better soon.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: Rastus on June 23, 2025, 04:07:42 PM
Tab I hate to hear you have that.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on July 06, 2025, 11:33:46 AM
1st one is Thursday.   Hopefully it helps with the pain.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: Rastus on July 06, 2025, 06:22:57 PM
I hate you have surgery and I hope that it goes well.  Exactly just what are they trying to fix?
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: Jim Kennedy-ar154me on July 07, 2025, 11:30:45 AM
1st one is Thursday.   Hopefully, it helps with the pain.

That is funny ONLY because that same day I have to go in and have 10mm and 7mm kidney stones broken up.

I'd rather be going through what I have to than you. Good luck and may God watch over you.

(P.S. The stones were found when I broke my ribs. Silver lining??????)
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: Big Frank on July 19, 2025, 10:39:32 PM
Always look on the bright side of life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_-q9xeOgG4
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: TAB on July 20, 2025, 08:33:32 AM
It went great.  They were able to fix the nerve.  It removed 80% of my pain.
Title: Re: Forced truck upgrade.
Post by: PegLeg45 on July 25, 2025, 04:34:36 PM
Good to hear..... once you get past a certain point in life, 80% is a win when pain is involved.