While your on the topic, is there a "reasonable" size pickup I can get that
won't make me a partner with Exxon?

What do you mean "reasonable" size pickup? Do you mean my new/used 2000 Chevy
1500 Silverado regular cab, shortbed? Or, do you mean my old 1987 Ford Ranger
4x4 supercab?

Both get about the same gas mileage. One was 4x4, the newer one isn't. One
had a dinky 2.9L V6, the other has a 4.8L V8. One can pull my 2100lb boat
without a problem. The other one cried trying to pull the boat.

Butch Ammon

Well, Butch, I"ve been pulling a 4500 lb. boat and trailer with a 91
Ford F150 w/5.0 L engine for the past 11 years. It has the 3.55 rear
axle and overdrive. Its the standard size cab and box, wish I had
gotten the extended cab, but the deal was so good, I couldn't pass it
up. It pulls the boat with no problem, gets it out of the hole easily.
I would avoid a manual transmission for trailering , tho. Getting it
out of the ramp is pretty hard on a stick shift & clutch. Now for the
bad news: I"ve had a lot of inordinate problems that shouldn't have
occured in the 80K miles that its been in service. I take very good
care of it and its never outside for very long.
..
Problems: A/C quit just after warranty ran out. Transmission had to
be worked over . Main fuel tank developed a leak. Oil pan developed a
leak. Ball joints had to be replaced. Other irritating things like left
hand turn signal won't cancel. Door lock has stopped working.
The four major problems came to over $3000 in repairs that I felt
shouldn't have happened. Its been a good running drive line, but if I
had it to do over, I"d opt for the GMC. I have friends with GMCs and
haven't put half the money into them and some have over 110K miles on
them.

I'm planning on getting another car soon and I think I'll go for a lease
deal. I don't put enought miles on a car to go over the 12K mile
limit, so at this stage in life, I want a car that that doesn't require
a lot of maintenance .

I'll make you a good deal on an 82 Camaro Z28 if you're interested
:-) But, seriously, folks,.... you might look into a lease deal for
your pickup. Also, we're at the end of the 2003 model year and you
might find a good deal on one of the last of the run along about Dec. or
there abouts. I bought my 91 in Feb. 1992 and it was about the last 91
left in the area. I got it for about $4000 less than I would have
paid for a comparable 92.

Good luck on the truck hunting..
======
Norm

On 22 Jul 2003 11:37:40 GMT, 123 (Butch Ammon) wrote:

While your on the topic, is there a "reasonable" size pickup I can get that
won't make me a partner with Exxon?

What do you mean "reasonable" size pickup? Do you mean my new/used 2000 Chevy
1500 Silverado regular cab, shortbed? Or, do you mean my old 1987 Ford Ranger
4x4 supercab?

Both get about the same gas mileage. One was 4x4, the newer one isn't. One
had a dinky 2.9L V6, the other has a 4.8L V8. One can pull my 2100lb boat
without a problem. The other one cried trying to pull the boat.

Butch Ammon
Butch, you did good! Pay no attention to the rest of these turkey-trots who say
otherwise!

John
On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD