They just don't make trucks like they used to.

[mr_bots]

I was talking to my dad today about work trucks. My dad has worked in the oil field for around 30 years. His job requires him and his co-workers to beat the shit out of trucks out in the boonies all day, every day and it seems that the newer trucks just don't cut it. They used GM trucks for years and then switched to Ford in the late 90s, early 2000s because they were cheaper. He had an 03 F250 V10 that was smoking and missing at 70k. His next truck was an 05 F250 that had tons of suspension problems, the entire company ended up sending all 05-06 F250s back to the leaser because of suspension problems. They were replaced with 07 F150s and HD Silverados. They're all getting around 70-80k on them and the F150s are blowing rear ends while the Silverados' beds are cracking and breaking in the front corners under the weight of the tool boxes. They didn't run into problems like this until the last several years. Where and when did the work truck die?

 

[OPGMC]

I was talking to my dad today about work trucks. My dad has worked in the oil field for around 30 years. His job requires him and his co-workers to beat the shit out of trucks out in the boonies all day, every day and it seems that the newer trucks just don't cut it. They used GM trucks for years and then switched to Ford in the late 90s, early 2000s because they were cheaper. He had an 03 F250 V10 that was smoking and missing at 70k. His next truck was an 05 F250 that had tons of suspension problems, the entire company ended up sending all 05-06 F250s back to the leaser because of suspension problems. They were replaced with 07 F150s and HD Silverados. They're all getting around 70-80k on them and the F150s are blowing rear ends while the Silverados' beds are cracking and breaking in the front corners under the weight of the tool boxes. They didn't run into problems like this until the last several years. Where and when did the work truck die?

well if the used serivice beds and 5500s like Clancys it might help

 

[Stumpuller6.5]

the GMT-400 was the last tough truck. about the same time fords went too, around 98`ish. IMO

 

[Bigredmariner]

I really think it's been a gradual progression away from the true truck and more into what we have now. I don't think it happened between any one model year all at once. The more technology that has been added seems like weight was pulled away from the body panels. Every thing about them is lighter. The inside of the newer trucks are awesome and could no way compare to any old work truck I've ever driven.

 

[daddy]

Beating the shit out of a truck in the boonies all day for 80K miles is tough on it, I'm not surprised they are having issues. Certainly trucks have been made a little thinner and with cheaper materials here and there but these guys are using these trucks in extreme circumstances. What can really be expected?

 

[mr_bots]

I asked about service beds too. They've tried them off and on over the years, but they hold up worse than stock beds. The hinges, handles, latches, and the metal around them end up cracking under all the bouncing around out in the boonies. A few years in there's weld around the hinges from the metal cracking.

 

[mr_bots]

Beating the shit out of a truck in the boonies all day for 80K miles is tough on it, I'm not surprised they are having issues. Certainly trucks have been made a little thinner and with cheaper materials here and there but these guys are using these trucks in extreme circumstances. What can really be expected?

It is extreme abuse, but these are all problems that trucks 10-15 years ago didn't have when put in the same situations. There's a 91 1-ton Chevy 350 5-speed that still in use around the plant.

 

[RebelThunder]

Beating the shit out of a truck in the boonies all day for 80K miles is tough on it, I'm not surprised they are having issues. Certainly trucks have been made a little thinner and with cheaper materials here and there but these guys are using these trucks in extreme circumstances. What can really be expected?

I tend to agree.

 

[daddy]

Beating the shit out of a truck in the boonies all day for 80K miles is tough on it, I'm not surprised they are having issues. Certainly trucks have been made a little thinner and with cheaper materials here and there but these guys are using these trucks in extreme circumstances. What can really be expected?

It is extreme abuse, but these are all problems that trucks 10-15 years ago didn't have when put in the same situations. There's a 91 1-ton Chevy 350 5-speed that still in use around the plant.

I certainly won't contend that they are built quite as tough as they used to be but they weren't ever designed for the beatings they're taking in those circumstances, they just happened to be able to take it a little better back in the day.

 

[Stumpuller6.5]

I remmber a guy telling me the 73-87 gm and fords wern`t so tough either.