I can definitely see the advantage of a shorter bed on a full size four door truck. If you aren't constantly hauling for work and only need to use it occasionally, the shortness, relatively speaking, comes in handy. Especially in parking lots.
For work, I'm pretty much stuck with the 8' bed. It's a necessity. Not only for putting stuff in the bed, but also for throwing 20' 2x12s on top. But man, I hate parking the damn things. It takes a 5 point turn to make it into most normal sized parking spots. Even when pulled all the way in the pintle hitch is sticking out waiting for an unobservant driver or pedestrian (or my knee if I'm not paying attention )
ETA: The only reason I kept my trucks stock (untuned) is the transmission. Both Fords are on their second tranny. They went at around 90K with a stock engine. But then again, I'm towing 10K once or twice a week with them.
The truck is dead, long live the truck
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- blackeagle603
- Posts: 9772
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Re: The truck is dead, long live the truck
In my Ford ('02 7.3L autotrans 4x4) I ate my first -- as have a couple friends. Backing up against a load or slope is what killed 2 of us. The key for us (all hauling trailers or heavy toy boxes) has been to dump the stock torque convertor and go to a billet convertor like Banks or ATS makes along with an aftermarket controller from Banks.ETA: The only reason I kept my trucks stock (untuned) is the transmission. Both Fords are on their second tranny. They went at around 90K with a stock engine. But then again, I'm towing 10K once or twice a week with them.
Just the controller made much improvement in pulling by matching shift points better to engine torque curve.
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"The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has justly been considered, as the palladium of the liberties of a republic;" Justice Story
"The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has justly been considered, as the palladium of the liberties of a republic;" Justice Story
Re: The truck is dead, long live the truck
It's not a Beech D-18, so who cares?
- Netpackrat
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Re: The truck is dead, long live the truck
I like how you think. I have a dream that one day AlaskaTRX and I will have to decide whether to buy a twin beech, or a Grumman Goose.Drone 7 of lots more wrote:It's not a Beech D-18, so who cares?
Cognosce teipsum et disce pati
"People come and go in our lives, especially the online ones. Some leave a fond memory, and some a bad taste." -Aesop
"People come and go in our lives, especially the online ones. Some leave a fond memory, and some a bad taste." -Aesop
Re: The truck is dead, long live the truck
A D-18 with floats? I have to admit though, that there's a weight penalty associated with floats and I don't know of any D-18 amphibs. Mebbe a Goose is what a D-18 amphib might have been?Netpackrat wrote:I like how you think. I have a dream that one day AlaskaTRX and I will have to decide whether to buy a twin beech, or a Grumman Goose.Drone 7 of lots more wrote:It's not a Beech D-18, so who cares?
There's a D-18 nearby that could likely be had for the right price, and as soon's I win the lottery, I'll have it...
- HTRN
- Posts: 12401
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Re: The truck is dead, long live the truck
Stop fooling around, and get a Basler 47.
Chris, best bet with the transmission is simply do a trade with one of the countless improved rebuilds on the market, rather than have somebody local try and monkey with it. a 48RE with a
"stage 4" heavy towing/streetperformance rebuild is 5900 from ATS Performance, minus a 1200 dollar core. They have a half million mile warranty. Is the new truck a 2007? In 2008, Dodge switched to the 68RFE"Orion" transmission, and it seems nobody is selling complete transmissions for it yet.
A tranny cooler is a very good idea. I personally like to a whopping big one on, and then plumb a cooler thermostat in. Oil stays at the proper temperature that way, even in winter(which I suppose, won't be a problem for you. )
HTRN
Chris, best bet with the transmission is simply do a trade with one of the countless improved rebuilds on the market, rather than have somebody local try and monkey with it. a 48RE with a
"stage 4" heavy towing/streetperformance rebuild is 5900 from ATS Performance, minus a 1200 dollar core. They have a half million mile warranty. Is the new truck a 2007? In 2008, Dodge switched to the 68RFE"Orion" transmission, and it seems nobody is selling complete transmissions for it yet.
A tranny cooler is a very good idea. I personally like to a whopping big one on, and then plumb a cooler thermostat in. Oil stays at the proper temperature that way, even in winter(which I suppose, won't be a problem for you. )
HTRN
HTRN, I would tell you that you are an evil fucker, but you probably get that a lot ~ Netpackrat
Describing what HTRN does as "antics" is like describing the wreck of the Titanic as "a minor boating incident" ~ First Shirt
Describing what HTRN does as "antics" is like describing the wreck of the Titanic as "a minor boating incident" ~ First Shirt
- Netpackrat
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Re: The truck is dead, long live the truck
There was one on straight floats flying around the town where we grew up when we were teenagers. My brother later went to work for that outfitter, but by then the Beech was gone, although they did have an otter, beaver, and a 206.Drone 7 of lots more wrote:A D-18 with floats? I have to admit though, that there's a weight penalty associated with floats and I don't know of any D-18 amphibs. Mebbe a Goose is what a D-18 amphib might have been?
Be careful, there are some nasty ADs out on them, especially the earlier ones. IIRC, there is a wing spar AD in particular that is difficult and expensive to comply with. We're probably going to end up content with the Bearhawk on amphibs, but it is still nice to dream, particularly with my brother being multiengine rated and all.There's a D-18 nearby that could likely be had for the right price, and as soon's I win the lottery, I'll have it...
Cognosce teipsum et disce pati
"People come and go in our lives, especially the online ones. Some leave a fond memory, and some a bad taste." -Aesop
"People come and go in our lives, especially the online ones. Some leave a fond memory, and some a bad taste." -Aesop
- HTRN
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Re: The truck is dead, long live the truck
HTRN, I would tell you that you are an evil fucker, but you probably get that a lot ~ Netpackrat
Describing what HTRN does as "antics" is like describing the wreck of the Titanic as "a minor boating incident" ~ First Shirt
Describing what HTRN does as "antics" is like describing the wreck of the Titanic as "a minor boating incident" ~ First Shirt
- Dub_James
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Re: The truck is dead, long live the truck
That's tasty. Safe travels!
Course, you need a nice new shiny trunk gun to "christen" it, right?
Course, you need a nice new shiny trunk gun to "christen" it, right?
Oh, the heads that turn
Make my back burn
And those heads that turn
Make my back, make my back burn
-She Sells Sanctuary
The Cult
Make my back burn
And those heads that turn
Make my back, make my back burn
-She Sells Sanctuary
The Cult
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- Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2008 9:41 pm
Re: The truck is dead, long live the truck
I read about the billet converters ... after both transmissions blewIn my Ford ('02 7.3L autotrans 4x4) I ate my first -- as have a couple friends. Backing up against a load or slope is what killed 2 of us. The key for us (all hauling trailers or heavy toy boxes) has been to dump the stock torque convertor and go to a billet convertor like Banks or ATS makes along with an aftermarket controller from Banks.
At least I got a 3 year warranty on the rebuilds...