Trucks today

[billyw]

I've owned many cars over the years; 67 Charger, 74 Charger, 74 Satellite, 92 Dakota, 92 Caravan. And that's just the mopars. Plenty of Fords, Audi's, Chevy's too.

This old man is very pleased to drive, haul and tow with my Cowgirl Cadillac '15 1500 Laramie. Can you say heated steering wheel?! I did spruce up the rear springs though. You can have your rubber floor and manual windows.

 

[Chris Karczmit]

My first truck. 85 Custom Deluxe 10
Bench seat all metal interior. If I remember correctly the speedometer only went up to 85. I lifted It a bit. My sister just found this picture a few months ago. I loved that truck, but not nearly as much as my 2020 Limited!

 

[bchap05]

I remember riding in the front and only seat of my dads 82 Ram all the time. In the center of the bench with the stick in my way. Now people go into full on melt down if their truck doesn't have over 4 ft of leg room for their child, in the rear seat so the kid can ride backwards because apparently you can't survive if not.

 

[Ed F]

Raise your hand if you remember cars/trucks from when seat belts and rear view mirrors were an option.

Raising my hand...how about optional radio and heater?

 

[Ed F]

I was behind a guy at Home Depot yesterday who was returning some bags of topsoil he had bought 10 minutes earlier. His wife had purchased a few flats of flowers and it wouldn’t all fit in his spanking new Gladiator ‘pickup’.

 

[2019RamInSC]

Raise your hand if you remember cars/trucks from when seat belts and rear view mirrors were an option.

My 69 Cougar was a special order. All performance options. Nothing else.

It arrived with headrest and seatbelts standard. Seatbelts were mandated in 68. Headrests in 69.

I was mad about the extra weight. Haha I was a diehard street racer

 

[JoeMiner67]

Raise your hand if you remember cars/trucks from when seat belts and rear view mirrors were an option.

I can't raise my hand, I remember back when they were not even an option (except for the rear view mirror). I had a 1947 Mercury convertible that I used to have to provide a copy of the state seat belt law when I had it inspected to show that if seat belts were not an option, the vehicle was grandfathered. I remember my dad's 1936 business coupe, no back seat and only one tail light. Turn signals had not been thought about (I may be wrong on that one). You signaled with your arm out the window.

 

[Marshall]

Raise your hand if you remember cars/trucks from when seat belts and rear view mirrors were an option.

I remember when seat belts where not even a option , rear view mirrors in side have always been around ,1920's I don't know I don't know when out side mirrors where standard equ., about 1960? And in the 70's 1/2 tons, of course they came with headliners, you could get cloth seat, leather as well ,I think. My 67 Imperial has remote mirrors, and auto air.
plastic is good for a work truck, and dogs.
In 72, I had power windows and A.C. Now that was hi living. If you could not afford gas for a 318 dodge, Just try a Ford 351, what a piece of crap that was, nice body ,but terrible mileage
What I want is club cab, not crew , as I don't have a crew, and I want box, it is a truck after all. I love heated steering wheel, sunroof ,Why?

 

[Desertdawg]

Raise your hand if you remember cars/trucks from when seat belts and rear view mirrors were an option.

Sure do. I installed a set in my '54 Ford Crestliner just "to look cool". Passenger side mirror didn't come out till much later.

 

[Tahoebronco]

I grew up in the back seats of a 1964 Chrysler Imperial Crown (Mom's car) and LeBaron (Dad's). Then Dad got a 1971 Imperial Lebaron and drove it over 250,000 before it died. In 1973 Dad sold his 1941 Dodge Power Wagon and bought a 73 3/4 ton Power Wagon Camper Special. It had A/C, AM/FM radio, vinyl bench seat, and large left & right side camper mirrors (acted like big parachutes). Dad added a Warn winch, Meyers snow plow, and metal camper shell. I really would love to find an old 48 PW to restore. I loved climbing all over that rig like it was jungle gym.

I joined the USAF after graduating high school and was so proud to buy my first 4X4 - a 1978 Ramcharger with a 400 CI motor. I think it came out of Canada as the speedometer was primary in metric with the MPH in the smaller numbers. I loved watching friends freak out when they glanced over at the speedo and thought I was going over 65 MPH when in a 25 speed zone. That Ramcharger was an SLT with carpeting, A/C (that didn't work), AM/FM radio, P/S, P/B, & cruise control. Windows were manual. And only very small drivers side mirror.

I loved this rig and took camping and 4-wheeling everywhere. I even had shipped to Turkey when I was stationed there in 1984. Saw a lot of the country in that rig. A lot of country that is now a war zone.

 

[DieselMike29]

Raise your hand if you remember cars/trucks from when seat belts and rear view mirrors were an option.

Raise your hand if you remember when seat belts were not even a option. First car I really remember is a 1955 Plymouth 4-door (Belvedere (sp and not sure of the model either)) We had a different car before that, but I don't actually remember it.

 

[CrazyTrain62]

I'm so glad to find this thread. My 2019 1500 spent it's first 11k miles as a work truck for someone. Vinyl seats, manual mirrors, seats, windows, & locks, & rubber floor mat. It does have a couple options - chrome bumpers, aluminum wheels, limited slip diff and 3.55:1 gears. I had the dealer add carpet. I'm single with no kids or dogs and only need to haul my motorcycle occasionally. A regular cab/long bed is perfect. It's just a truck. I have a sedan for everything else.

I do respect the older trucks & cars when I go through the car wash and the sheet metal on the sides and roof of the '19 RAM flex when going through the dryer jets. Sheet metal and window glass ain't what they once were. This coming from a former owner of a '68 and a '70 GTO; those things were built like an MRAP.

 

[jawzs2]

I can't raise my hand, I remember back when they were not even an option (except for the rear view mirror). I had a 1947 Mercury convertible that I used to have to provide a copy of the state seat belt law when I had it inspected to show that if seat belts were not an option, the vehicle was grandfathered. I remember my dad's 1936 business coupe, no back seat and only one tail light. Turn signals had not been thought about (I may be wrong on that one). You signaled with your arm out the window.

Which one had the vacuum wipers? I remember my grandfathers old Ford with those, he was heavy on the gas, they always came to a screeching halt when he drove. LOL

 

[tomb]

I'm so glad to find this thread. My 2019 1500 spent it's first 11k miles as a work truck for someone. Vinyl seats, manual mirrors, seats, windows, & locks, & rubber floor mat. It does have a couple options - chrome bumpers, aluminum wheels, limited slip diff and 3.55:1 gears. I had the dealer add carpet. I'm single with no kids or dogs and only need to haul my motorcycle occasionally. A regular cab/long bed is perfect. It's just a truck. I have a sedan for everything else.
I had a 1978 Ford supercab and I actually used to stand on the hood to line-up the 14 foot aluminum boat on the roof racks. I was under 150lbs then but with my new Ram I wouldnt chance putting a 5lb sack of onions

I do respect the older trucks & cars when I go through the car wash and the sheet metal on the sides and roof of the '19 RAM flex when going through the dryer jets. Sheet metal and window glass ain't what they once were. This coming from a former owner of a '68 and a '70 GTO; those things were built like an MRAP.

I remember my 1978 Ford supercab. I used to stand on the hood to pull my 14 foot aluminum boat onto the roof racks. The paint was toasted anyway. I was only 150lbs then-but with my newer Ram or any truck today I would be afraid to lay a 5lb sack of onions on the roof or lean too hard into any panel especially the rear box panels. Being as thin as they are they are way better treated today-my old Ford had thick guage steel panels but when the rust took hold-they ate away pretty damn quick!

 

[Mike Flea]

With a few exceptions (wife’s vehicles) I buy base or near base model vehicles as I don’t need nor want fancy electronics or onboard nanny garbage jacking up the price and accelerating depreciation.

I ordered my 2020 2500 CC 4x4 SB in Tradesman trim with the off-road, snow chief and level 2 equipment packages and nothing more. It’s perfect for me with 3100# payload and 15000# towing capacities.

Compare these numbers to the Power Wagon and you wonder why it’s called the Power Wagon with its limited payload and towing ratings.

Seems like an insult to the pre-electronic, pre-computer Power Wagons of the 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's, where the manufacturer concentrated on designing and building the truck to be a workhorse instead of a mall crawling, family toting, fuel efficient, Pansy Wagon.

 

[Sandevino]

Seems like an insult to the pre-electronic, pre-computer Power Wagons of the 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's, where the manufacturer concentrated on designing and building the truck to be a workhorse instead of a mall crawling, family toting, fuel efficient, Pansy Wagon.

Kind of a stretch there. Those were real trucks built for purpose.

Many of today’s tough trucks can’t carry much and are more show than go with lift kits and 20+” rims.

 

[dputnam01]

Similar to some of you, I did a factory order to get what I wanted; basic diesel 3500 Crew Cab Tradesman with 6-speed manual xmission (love it), 8-foot bed, work-grade vinyl bench seats, no carpet, snow chief group & side steps. Many times I find myself taking the "long way", so I can spend more time in the seat. It came key operated. I did buy OEM fobs and had them programmed, but I still find myself using only the physical keys all the time. Very happy with my RAM.

 

[dputnam01]

My RAM is not just a vehicle, its an experience

 

[Wes Veness]

Raise your hand if you remember cars/trucks from when seat belts and rear view mirrors were an option.

When i was young my Dad & Grandpa owned a Dodge dealership. Where able to ride in all the new cars that came out. Couple things that stick out were for sure that gas tank in behind the passengers and hearing it slosh around. In the back of your head you though that can't be very safe but you just kept on going cuz safety was not a big thing back then. When power windows came out that was such an amazing thing but you didn't want to get your fingers caught in the 1st ones cuz they were coming off...lol. The vehicle that will always stick out in my mind and people still talk about is the "lil red express". That thing was so amazing and if you owned one back then you couldn't drive it anywhere without people wanting to talk to you about in. It was fast and the dual exhaust stacks that's how you made a truck.

 

[Docwagon1776]

I remember when seat belts where not even a option , rear view mirrors in side have always been around ,1920's I don't know I don't know when out side mirrors where standard equ., about 1960?

Right at 1920 is when the inside rearview mirror became an aftermarket accessory. See: Cop Spotter. It was not factory equipment at the time. I don't know exactly when they became standard equipment in trucks but I do know some pre-WW2 IHC's didn't have an inside mirror or a passenger side windshield wiper.