Another mid-size pickup is coming

[roo_ster]

Oh, IIRC, Dodge is coming out with a diesel V6 for their half ton sometime soon.  It will be the EPA-mandated sucky new diesel, though.  The one with awful MPG and the asinine soot trap dealie-o. 

Dear Lord in Heaven, I must ask forgiveness for wishing boils and locusts and plagues of frogs on those who work for the EPA for their diesel regs. 

[Boomhauer]

Of the problems I've had with vehicles, power windows and door locks rate at the bottom of the list. PDL, when they "fail" it's usually just back to the manual level, so no loss there.

My Silverado, 1999, is at 215k with the original window motors. No problem and they are still very strong. I'm not too worried about them...when they eventually do fail, it'll be $100 per door to replace. Not that big of a deal. I do like the abililty to roll down and roll up my windows quickly and without having to reach all the way to the other side of the truck to crank down the opposite window. Now, back when I had a blazer, yeah the power windows failed a lot more often but I think that was due to an undersized motor. Weren't hard at all to replace, either, on that model.

Mine also has carpet. And it hasn't been a problem. I just vacuum the dirt out a couple times a year. Its still in great shape. Big whoop. And yes, before you ask, I am an outdoors person so I've always got mud on my boots and filthy gear.

Other than price, here are the biggest issues with modern gasoline powered trucks...transmissions (putting a car transmission in a fullsize pickup truck is *expletive deleted* retarded...thanks GM) and the extreme electronics that are used in modern vehicles for engine and vehicle management. Diesels...the whole *expletive deleted*ing engine is *expletive deleted*it.

Oh, IIRC, Dodge is coming out with a diesel V6 for their half ton sometime soon.  It will be the EPA-mandated sucky new diesel, though.  The one with awful MPG and the asinine soot trap dealie-o.

*expletive deleted*ing EPA...

[dogmush]

At this point, manual door locks and windows would likely be more expensive.  By the time you make a handle, make another interior panel, and add a "look at the spec sheet" step for a UAW guy it's cheaper just to slap motors in the doors.  and like boom said PW/DL's are pretty trouble free these days.  when they fail it's usually the cheap little rubber balls that connect the regulator to the motor.  $5 at NAPA and you're good for another 15 years.

[Boomhauer]

And also I really like my little key clicker. The rest of modern conveniences, I can live without but a remote keyless entry system (and I'd love to have remote start) is just nice to have...

[bedlamite]

I want 3 pedals and 2 sticks. Instead we get 2 pedals, a slushbox, and a Rube Goldberg 4wd system.

[RoadKingLarry]

I've got my 3 pedals and 2 stick fix covered with the M715. But I've recently made the plunge and bought a 2011 Ram 1500 crew cab 4x4. It has plenty of bells and whistles and fancy gee gaws. It's defiantly a step up from the '92 Cherokee as far as amenities and comfort and it is better suited for towing my boat.
The rearview camera is pretty slick when hooking up a trailer, just make sure the trailer hitch is jacked up high enough then just back the ball up under it.

[Tallpine]

I want 3 pedals and 2 sticks. Instead we get 2 pedals, a slushbox, and a Rube Goldberg 4wd system.

And the 4wd may or may not work when it's cold or wet or something, and it disengages when you turn off the key - so it's no good for helping hold the vehicle when parked on a steep hill 

On my 1989 K-1500, I just shoved a short piece of 3/4" PVC pipe in front of the non-actuating front axle actuator so that the "hubs" are always locked in.

[charby]

I want 3 pedals and 2 sticks. Instead we get 2 pedals, a slushbox, and a Rube Goldberg 4wd system.

Buy a 3/4 ton truck

[charby]

And the 4wd may or may not work when it's cold or wet or something, and it disengages when you turn off the key - so it's no good for helping hold the vehicle when parked on a steep hill 

Last time I checked most vehicles come with a parking brake and one can buy or make chocks. I wouldn't trust any hubs to hold a vehicle, I've torn my fair share of locking and auto lock hubs apart, their isn't much metal to metal contact on the locking part.

[Tallpine]

Last time I checked most vehicles come with a parking brake and one can buy or make chocks. I wouldn't trust any hubs to hold a vehicle, I've torn my fair share of locking and auto lock hubs apart, their isn't much metal to metal contact on the locking part.

Parking brake only holds on rear wheels, unless all four are locked together by the 4wd.  I've had to park on a slick hill where two tires just wouldn't hold it.  Good luck chasing it down with your chocks! 

We had auto lock hubs but replaced them with manual Warn hubs.  As far as I know, they only work under power and not even then sometimes 

And I call bullshit on manual hubs failing under load.  All the horrible things I used to do with my pickup and the hubs never failed under power - I don't think they're going to give up just holding it on a hill (all four tires would slip first).

[charby]

Parking brake only holds on rear wheels, unless all four are locked together by the 4wd.  I've had to park on a slick hill where two tires just wouldn't hold it.  Good luck chasing it down with your chocks! 

We had auto lock hubs but replaced them with manual Warn hubs.  As far as I know, they only work under power and not even then sometimes 

And I call bullshit on manual hubs failing under load.  All the horrible things I used to do with my pickup and the hubs never failed under power - I don't think they're going to give up just holding it on a hill (all four tires would slip first).

I broke a warn hub under power, one should not go like hell on a slick surface then catch a dry surface like a concrete road with one of the front wheels.

[Tallpine]

I broke a warn hub under power, one should not go like hell on a slick surface then catch a dry surface like a concrete road with one of the front wheels.

Well I guess you can be thankful that it wasn't an axle or driveshaft instead 

[charby]

Well I guess you can be thankful that it wasn't an axle or driveshaft instead 

Took the front knuckle out on a '73 full time 4x4 that I used to plow snow with.

[Tallpine]

Took the front knuckle out on a '73 full time 4x4 that I used to plow snow with.

Mine was an early 1973 (which I bought brand new, by the way  ) so it had the regular 4wd with the massive front hubs that they don't make anymore.

I was young and stupid, and ordered it with the automatic which I almost immediately regretted    Kept it about seven years and traded it off for a K-10 with a four speed manual.  One of my greatest regrets was that I didn't order the 1973 K-20 with a four speed.  I might still have it in that case.  Damn, I wish I did :(

Up in Alaska, a bunch of us went up to glean firewood off of a powerline.  There was nothing but a Cat trail back in there.  Another guy had a Landrover and a small open trailer.  Since there were lots of young strong people (including the girls!) we loaded up my pickup to the top of the cab with 8-10 foot long pieces and then topped it off with a bunch of 12-14' pieces sticking out over the cab (I had sideboards with extended stakes).  This was all semi-green birch!  Anyway, heading back out to the highway there was a really steep muddy hill.  My Chevy made it up fine, but the Landrover/trailer got stuck.  I didn't have too much chain/cable so I had to back halfway down that near cliff, get the LR hooked up, and start back up and haul the whole works to the top, which the old Chevy did with no drama whatsoever 

[bedlamite]

Buy a 3/4 ton truck

I would if you could get 3 pedals and 2 sticks, but they are not even available.

[charby]

I would if you could get 3 pedals and 2 sticks, but they are not even available.

order it new from the factory

[bedlamite]

order it new from the factory

You haven't looked recently, have you? Did you read the part where I mentioned they are not even available? With Ford, you have to get up to the F-650 before a manual is an option, and the Chevy dealer will just have a dumb look on his face when you ask.

[charby]

You haven't looked recently, have you? Did you read the part where I mentioned they are not even available? With Ford, you have to get up to the F-650 before a manual is an option, and the Chevy dealer will just have a dumb look on his face when you ask.

Dodge offers them.

[bedlamite]

Dodge offers them.

It'll be a cold day in hell before I ever darken the doorstep of a Chrysler dealership again.

[drewtam]

Gotcha.
Still not very optimistic about their diesel engine once they put all the stupid EPA required *expletive deleted* on it...

Thanks EPA for hating diesels!

The EPA is holding diesel passenger cars tailpipe emissions to the exact same standard as gasoline. It is one of the few times they are making a universal standard and letting the market decide if it is worth it.

[charby]

It'll be a cold day in hell before I ever darken the doorstep of a Chrysler dealership again.

You did say you wanted 3 pedals and 2 sticks. :)

[Boomhauer]

The EPA is holding diesel passenger cars tailpipe emissions to the exact same standard as gasoline. It is one of the few times they are making a universal standard and letting the market decide if it is worth it.

Tell that to the people that die because the ambulance couldn't make it in time because the engine went all wonky or the fire truck decided it needed to regen and wouldn't go into pump gear.

*expletive deleted*ck the EPA

[Gewehr98]

And just how many times has that happened? 

[Boomhauer]

And just how many times has that happened? 

The high failure rate and problems with emergency apparatus engines are a known problem. This is not only a problem from the emergency services standpoint but is also unacceptable from a simple costs standpoint.

Thankfully at my old dept. most of the apparatus was from the mid to late '90s...but the depts with new apparatus quickly discovered that new wasn't always best.

[charby]

I was reading somewhere the other day that another reason why pickup trucks are not coming with standard transmissions is because the increased torque and horsepower of the newer engines takes too much engineering (over building) of manual transmissions and clutches to handle it and be covered cost effectively under warranty.

Takes a helluva transmission/clutch to handle the 350-450hp some of those engines dish out. Its only been recently that that much horsepower has been available in a small truck.