Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives Show of hands, plain jane work truck?

I'm considering a new F250 in a plain Jane no frills work truck package.

6.2 gas engine, auto trans, 4x4, crew cab, long box. vinyl floor and crank windows all the way around. Cloth seats, stereo and AC, thats about it.

All business, low on luxury.

Yes? No?

Back in the 80s when I pumped oil and gas wells, all the company would buy was 1/2 ton 6 cyl, 3 speed transmission, no A/C. The old guys told me the company wouldn't buy heaters for the trucks until they became standard. I wore out 3 of those trucks at 100,000 miles each.

The trucks got me where I needed to go, and at the time I really didn't miss A/C because I was use to not having it. So unless you need to pickup women you are probably making a wise choice.

Well Dave, it all depends on how you use it, and what you want.
A regular cab, 5 speed, and a big 6 cylinder if they offer a 6 now days would be my idea.

I grew up around the late 40's/50's pickups.
I still remember opening the side flap vents, did the cobb dust, and dirt roll out!

I had a plain jane work truck for about 10 years, until my kid totaled it

It was comfortable enough, a truck with all the goo gaws would have only got me a couple grand more in insurance money vs costing over $10k more at the dealership, and all those frills are the things that break on a truck.

I wouldn't mind paying a couple grand more for a few of the features I'd like, but it seems like the upgrades come in $10k increments.

Plain Jane? Nah.

Crew cab with full-size bed? Never!

Search kbb resale on trucks that are WT term vs optioned up (assuming you plan on ever selling). You get some money back on resale and it may be easier to sell a truck that more people want. I almost bought one like you describe but was talked into more options by my better half. I don't begrudge the options I have but some of them (auto climate control) have had some very minor issues. To me, you either go vinyl or leather. Cloth sucks on a working truck.

I'd do it in a heartbeat, except, I'd go one step further and LineX the interior floors and get rid of the vinyl altogether. Probably have the rocker panels LineXed too.

Truck is dirty. Get the hose. I meant inside. So did I.

I'm a fan of fairly basic but not of the manual windows. I live in the high desert where we have 300+ days of sunshine, so I tint all of my windows. I want to be able to roll them all down from the driver's seat when backing up, looking for game, and a thousand other reasons.

My wagon is an F-350 XL with power windows/locks, tilt and cruise (those are pretty much req. in my mind). It also has vinyl seats, rubber floors, and a manual trans. Some of the other stuff is nice, though, like compass and thermometer, backup camera, etc. That stuff can be added.

I've had many of those Dave. Being a ford man, you probably remember the "custom" badging. One of my favorites was an '89 F250 4x4 with the 300ci and 5 speed tranny.

I'm unconvinced at this time. There's no storage in the doors, no center council, the manual door locks will actually be a bit if a pain because I usually have a gun in my truck so I do lock my doors.

I think I might stick with my 08 f250 for now

Yeah, F-it. I'm going to keep my 08.

But I think we'll get a new half ton for my wife.

If ordering I'd go with an extended cab longbox F250/350.

4x4(duh), 6.2 gas and auto but it would have to have power windows and locks. And keyless entry and remote start.

And simpleton fricken knobs for the climate and audio.


I absolutely hate the touch screen bullchit!


Every year about this time I wish for gas over the old cold blooded 6.0 diesel....

As a Rancher, I spend more time in my pickup than most. So I usually buy a new King Ranch model when I trade about every 3 years.

Yea it costs more money. But you can't take it with you! I figure I might as well enjoy it.

And my 4x4 Tundra is my daily driver. I really can't afford to also have a car. So I have indulged myself with air conditioning, power windows, cruise control, leather seats, etc.

In a few weeks I'll be 73. You can't take it with you. Enjoy yourself each day.

I drive a 05 dodge 2500, 5.9, six speed.

It's a plain Janer, but I don't think I'd ask for a better all around work truck. Vinyl floors are a must..grin

Electric windows are the only must have, of course there is very little resale value, so unless you are driving it to death you may as well have a couple bells, but no whistles.

Life is too short and the extras just done cost that much

Rotella T6 full syn 5-40 and Archoil 9100 additive are your best friends on a 6.0 in the cold, Samo.

A trade in is your best friend with a 6.no, or so I've been told.

You run T6 in the diesel? I actually have been running that in our 09 5.4 gasser. I run rotella T 15-40 in my 6.4

Been thinking about switching it to T6 for the winter