Another vehicle I’m doing some body repairs on at work for a customer, it’s a 1972 F 100 pick up. Really nice truck, I’ll post pics of it Monday, it’s two tone green, very nicely done. Being the way I am, I look at how vehicles were built “back then” I can’t help but say they look more “spindly, delicate, even cheesy” The reason for my thinking this way is more so (as far as pick up trucks) today’s trucks have a much higher load/towing capacity than older trucks. Are the drive lines of today’s trucks beefier, frames, axles, suspension?? I prefer the styling of the older models over the recent ones, but the older models just look more delicate as far as build technique. Just some observations of mine going from a late model collision shop to a Resto shop, it’s almost like culture shock
Few years ago I picked up a 85 F 350 dually, crew cab with a 8' bed. It weighed over a thousand pounds less than my 01 F 250 crew with a 6 foot bed.
I think people expect a lot more out of todays vehicles (especially trucks) than they did back in the 60's to the 80's. Back then people got rid of them before they hit 100,000 miles. Today they are just getting broken in at 100,000.
Pretty much every area is more structured on a new truck,...thicker steel in most instances,..welded crossmembers vs brads,..more cross members the body construction is LIGHT YEARS better and stronger,...the driveline are not necessarily "stronger" or more durable but certainly are built better if that makes sense,....a wreck in an old truck is no fun,...I was hit at 70nph by a f350 van loaded down with tools and equipment in the driver door with no attempt to slow down in my 07 tahoe,...concussion and sore shoulder is all I suffered and I wasn't wearing my belt not that it does anything on a side collision but had I been In a old c10 or something I would have been wadded up in the carnage
Im sure the additional electronics and wiring add some weight to your '01 but certainly not 1000 lbs That additional weight has to come from additional bracing, thicker frame rails, beefier suspension pieces, bigger transmission, etc. I believe the later models are heavier due to these improvements over older models.
Forty/fifty years ago, hobbyists and non professionals towed with full size cars so most travel trailers, horse trailers and the like were in that weight range. As cars shrunk and went front (wrong) wheel drive, trucks got nicer, easier to drive and better optioned. So people shifted to Suburbans and trucks and the trailers started growing to meet the new capacities. Look how big campers are now compared to 50 years ago. The manufacturers realize the buyers are wealthy, recession immune, often incentivised by tax deductions and less concerned about fuel economy. Also, the bigger it is the less MPG it has to get (for the EPA and CAFE standards) and above a certain weight I think they’re exempt entirely. So the torque race is on! Patrick
Yes. My 01 SuperDuty (RIP) could pull my 28’ enclosed loaded with one hand on the steering wheel the other holding a full cup of coffee. Try that on a ‘70 something truck
The trucks are also so much bigger now comparing the same models from the earlier years.. Better frame designs and metallurgy, and more support and structure. Safer and heavier doors, dash, bumpers etc. More powerful and bigger heavier diesel engines, more gears, air bags and gadgets.. We all know this.. Just maby even 15 years ago it wasn't that hard to pull out into a street as it is now if these big trucks and even mini vans are parked on a corner it's kinda scary pulling out as you can't see over them if your driver a regular car.. Mark from Graveyard carz weighed a 69 Daytona Charger and it just just almost made 4000 lbs, something like 3950 lbs. He brought his Hellcat also and it came in at 4600+ lbs. He rear wheel dynoed the 69 DC and it made 220 hp and the Hellcat was 750 hp as far as I remember. The Hellcats weight to power ratio was fantastic..
The underside of our ram is no comparison to the underside of the 99 k2500 suburban. Axles, sway bars at both ends, and the steering components are visibly bigger on the ram. 18 vs 16 in rims and the additional two gears in the trans and better fuel economy. Though diesel cost more per gallon currently. Crazy how stuff goes but it doesn't come without additional cost. Last pickup was eleven yrs ago and was less than a third of the cost of the ram. But it is gasser vs diesel and cc vs extended cab. So not really an apples comparo.
I do have to hand it to Dodge for their chassis on their Ram trucks, pretty damn stout compared to Chevy, only reason I say that is I’ve seen a lot of cab back bare Chevy and Ram frames when I worked at Serpentini Collision center, the Ram was TONS beefier looking, plus they PAINT their frames
Yeah them Challenger bodies are no light weight, 4600 lbs, that’s as much as my dads 75 LeSabre hardtop weighed back when
First truck was an ‘88 f250, 351, 4x4. Did everything my ‘21 f350 6.7. dsl,lariat does. But it sure is nice to pull 17k up a steep grade at 70mph. With heated leather seats
Wow! The Buchev which has a standard cab, AC and an eight-foot bed weighs 4,300. Actually perhaps a bit less; I have removed one of the two fuel tanks and it's (heavy) mounting brackets.
My next door neighbors dad had one of those in the copper color. He used to give us a ride to school in it on occasion. They are pretty bare bones when you think about it. No power seats or windows (at least in his), no fancy equipment. Not really that powerful either. But it was a real work truck. He was a plumber...
Yep bare bones nails it This one has no power steering, reminds me of my Aunts Maverick she had. Seat doesn’t go back far enough either I like simplicity, but geez, trying to turn a ship sized steering wheel while it’s pressed into your chest ain’t easy Another weird thing is on the drivers side door jamb, on the hinge pillar is an oval metal disc that has a Ford name on it has two wires attached to it, have no idea what it does, looks like a magnetic switch or something I’ll post a pic of it. It does have a tag on the door that states 133 hp @ 4800 rpm, not a real power house for sure!
