The Conservative Cave
Interests => Around the House & In the Garage => Topic started by: franksolich on November 01, 2011, 06:52:43 PM
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Earlier today, I had to borrow the neighbor's pickup truck to go get something that wouldn't fit into my own car.
The neighbor has three pickup trucks, all Fords. One is a 2010 model, a second a 2004 model, and the third a 1974 model. I prefer the 1974, but am always compelled to take the 2010, in case he needs to use one of the others for some farm-and-ranch work while I'm gone.
The rich old curmudgeon who lives across the river from me (two miles, but by road, a little over six miles), allows me use of any and all of his own motor vehicles when he's gone to California, which is about 80% of the year. I take care of his property when he's gone; the free use of his vehicles is part of our "deal." He also has three pickup trucks and a 2009 sports utility vehicle.
And then there's all these expeditions with the senior business partner, one of whose sidelines is that of an automobile salesman, meaning that any time we excurse around the Upper Great Plains, we always use a different vehicle. Excepting if we're hauling horses (another sideline of his; our partnership is based upon forensic accounting), we have to use a pickup truck, and as already told elsewhere here, we share the driving 50-50, because neither of us cares much, really, for driving.
Now, I realize driving conditions vary considerably all over the United States, but here in Nebraska, the peculiarity is the always-blowing wind. The wind never stops.
It's for this reason I've always preferred low-riding vehicles (an old MGB would be ideal, but--); my own motor vehicle sits pretty low, pretty close to the ground. This, despite my height (6'3").
The first--and only--time I used an SUV, I was greatly perturbed at how little "control" the driver has over the vehicle, when driving in wind. I used that vehicle (owned by a convenience-store clerk) for 22 miles on a "reasonably calm" day out here, and then and there decided no more.
It seems to me the closer one's hugging the road, the more control one has.
But oddly, out here (or up here), others seem to prefer high-riding vehicles.
Don't get me wrong; I can handle any vehicle with skill and adeptness (my car insurance rates, based upon my driving record, prove that; one would be hard-pressed to find anyone paying lower insurance premiums than franksolich), but I really don't care to drive vehicles too far above the road.
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I drive a high clearance pickup truck , and recently put another 2" worth of lift into it.
I have noticed that rather strong wind can blow me around on the road but don't often get winds that strong.
The height is critical for off road activities and I really prefer the added visibility in normal traffic and highway driving as well.
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I drive a high clearance pickup truck , and recently put another 2" worth of lift into it.
I have noticed that rather strong wind can blow me around on the road but don't often get winds that strong.
The height is critical for off road activities and I really prefer the added visibility in normal traffic and highway driving as well.
Okay, so you'e dealing with a lot of off-road driving; it makes sense.
And obviously you deal with a lot more traffic, so the visibility helps.
But in my case, 99% of any hassles have to do with driving in wind.
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I agree with LC, the visibility makes it worth having to be careful in wind. There are few things I hate worse than trying to make a turn and being unable to see around the jerk in the pickup that pulled all the way through the pedestrian lane. :mad:
I always drove a pickup or a van when I lived in NE, and even in Wyoming...the wind is a problem, but nothing you can't learn to live with. :-)
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I'm voting for low, based on what I've got in my garage. I've only owned a couple of high-rider vehicles in the past, and didn't care for them much for anything beyond off-roading. I do enjoy driving, and prefer to do most of it at night, if I can help it. Sitting snug and low down in a nice seat while barreling down the open road does me just fine.
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an old MGB would be ideal
based on what I've got in my garage.
Heh.
I voted low. 'scuse my language, but I can't ****ing stand those big dumb Bubba trucks. What's worse is when people use them for their daily driver. Give me a break. I'll be glad when the SUV/truck fad blows over and people go back to driving cars again.
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Earlier today, I had to borrow the neighbor's pickup truck to go get something that wouldn't fit into my own car.
The neighbor has three pickup trucks, all Fords. One is a 2010 model, a second a 2004 model, and the third a 1974 model. I prefer the 1974, but am always compelled to take the 2010, in case he needs to use one of the others for some farm-and-ranch work while I'm gone.
The rich old curmudgeon who lives across the river from me (two miles, but by road, a little over six miles), allows me use of any and all of his own motor vehicles when he's gone to California, which is about 80% of the year. I take care of his property when he's gone; the free use of his vehicles is part of our "deal." He also has three pickup trucks and a 2009 sports utility vehicle.
And then there's all these expeditions with the senior business partner, one of whose sidelines is that of an automobile salesman, meaning that any time we excurse around the Upper Great Plains, we always use a different vehicle. Excepting if we're hauling horses (another sideline of his; our partnership is based upon forensic accounting), we have to use a pickup truck, and as already told elsewhere here, we share the driving 50-50, because neither of us cares much, really, for driving.
Now, I realize driving conditions vary considerably all over the United States, but here in Nebraska, the peculiarity is the always-blowing wind. The wind never stops.
It's for this reason I've always preferred low-riding vehicles (an old MGB would be ideal, but--); my own motor vehicle sits pretty low, pretty close to the ground. This, despite my height (6'3").
The first--and anytime I used an SUV, I was greatly perturbed at how little "control" the driver has over the vehicle, when driving in wind. I used that vehicle (owned by a convenience-store clerk) for 22 miles on a "reasonably calm" day out here, and then and there decided no more.
It seems to me the closer one's hugging the road, the more control one has.
But oddly, out here (or up here), others seem to prefer high-riding vehicles.
Don't get me wrong; I can handle any vehicle with skill and adeptness (my car insurance rates, based upon my driving record, prove that; one would be hard-pressed to find anyone paying lower insurance premiums than franksolich), but I really don't care to drive vehicles too far above the road.
Dear Frank,
I realised that the higher up one is the better. For the 2 years I drove a school bus I loved the ability to see far ahead, I was able to bring the bus home and park it in my driveway, naturally I stopped at the grocery store on my way home, so as everything else was in walking distance I with public transportation was all set.
Came the day a friend tried to set me up with this guy that owned a BMW about the size of my bath tub. a Soft top, down and we went for a ride. DAMN how to impress a date like only I could do.
I freaked out after 50 yards of city traffic, everything was from my seat in this bath tub 2 storys high.
We passed two 18 wheelers and I was sliding down onto the seat. I could see nothing but the tail end of the cars and trucks, I was looking up their mufflers.
Interesting date, I was so out of it I was delivered to my door and never saw the Bozo again.
It took time to adjust to ordinary cars and trucks when I moved into another job.
Once you get up high, can see over the autos in front, then go to a bath tub car, takes some time and allot of Tums to get use to it in city traffic.
Country living nothing beats a Jeep, These baby's will go through most anything if you know how to drive the monster to full ability. Those trucks the Silverado perhaps I have seen pulled out of mud by a small Jeep.
I have seen farmers attach a earth plow to a Jeep and do a few acres. Jeeps are work horses and unfortunately are now used mostly for transportation.
Long and big history of the Jeep, War and Farming and all so dependable. MY Jeep can be hooked into electricity to keep the oil warm in fridge temperatures.
Frank, the reason your neighbors drive high trucks is a reason to wonder why ???? They are driving them for a reason, the reason is something to look into.
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Heh.
I voted low. 'scuse my language, but I can't ****ing stand those big dumb Bubba trucks. What's worse is when people use them for their daily driver. Give me a break. I'll be glad when the SUV/truck fad blows over and people go back to driving cars again.
Same here. Many of those people think that a 4WD allows them to drive in any weather at normal speeds. Ice doesn't care if there are two or four wheels .
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Same here. Many of those people think that a 4WD allows them to drive in any weather at normal speeds. Ice doesn't care if there are two or four wheels.
It's been my observation and experience that it's the quality of the driver who makes the difference.
A good driver--such as myself--can use any vehicle under just about any conditions.
(That doesn't mean I like to, only that if I have to.)
A so-so or lousy driver, no matter how appropriate the vehicle, is going to end up in some sort of trouble.
It's very odd in winter here, looking at the motor vehicles off the road because of snow and ice; they're always high-riding sports utility vehicles, vans, and pickup trucks.....while I, in my low-laying vehicle just inches off the surface of the road, cruise merrily along.....
Just because one has an appropriate vehicle doesn't mean one's not going to have problems.
The quality, skill, and actions of the driver count for far more than whatever the vehicle is.
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The higher you are the harder it is for the zombies to get your Brrraaaiiiiiiinnnnsssss
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Low. For the same reasons Chris and THundley said. I don't care for high profile vehicles. I can drive em, but I don't like em.
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My husband has one of these:
Ford Raptor
(http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/853891/original/ford-raptor-3.jpg)
And as soon as he is finished with it he will have one of these:
'53 Chevy Truck (hopefully not that much of a low rider)
(http://ls1tech.com/forums/attachments/conversions-hybrids/201825d1255696306-lq4-52-chevy-truck-project-2476920841_662443ccc4.jpg)
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Heh.
I voted low. 'scuse my language, but I can't ****ing stand those big dumb Bubba trucks. What's worse is when people use them for their daily driver. Give me a break. I'll be glad when the SUV/truck fad blows over and people go back to driving cars again.
You probably should have a talk with my husband. :-)
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Hard to do this with a "bathtub"
(http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j191/lc_efa/uploads/DSC_1796.jpg)
Harder still to then drive several hundred miles over corrugated dirt roads with supplies for a week.
I stand by my choice. :-)
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It's been my observation and experience that it's the quality of the driver who makes the difference.
A good driver--such as myself--can use any vehicle under just about any conditions.
(That doesn't mean I like to, only that if I have to.)
A so-so or lousy driver, no matter how appropriate the vehicle, is going to end up in some sort of trouble.
It's very odd in winter here, looking at the motor vehicles off the road because of snow and ice; they're always high-riding sports utility vehicles, vans, and pickup trucks.....while I, in my low-laying vehicle just inches off the surface of the road, cruise merrily along.....
Just because one has an appropriate vehicle doesn't mean one's not going to have problems.
The quality, skill, and actions of the driver count for far more than whatever the vehicle is.
I watch a lot of news and it never fails that during bad snow storms, most of the vehicles they show in the ditches are pick ups and 4WD. Too many people get over confident when they're in bigger vehicles.
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Hard to do this with a "bathtub"
(http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j191/lc_efa/uploads/DSC_1796.jpg)
Harder still to then drive several hundred miles over corrugated dirt roads with supplies for a week.
I stand by my choice. :-)
Well, of course.
You're driving something appropriate for the terrain.
But one suspects if on the other hand your main problem was dealing with heavy winds, I suspect you'd have something different.
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It's all about the keel area. Big, flat sides are gonna catch the cross wind. Get a standard PU, not extended or crew cab. Put a bed cover on it. You'll be fine high or low.
Years ago, when I was poorer, I had a '63 Corvair, followed by a '63 Pontiac SW. An eighteen wheeler could pass me on the highway while in the Corvair, and I'd hardly notice it. But the Pontiac SW would get blown all over the place, and I'd have to be careful.
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i now drive a standard suburban, i get blown around alot on a windy day
my next vehicle will be a crew cab truck. stock trucks nowadays are designed to tow heavy loads, thats why they are so tall, especially the heavy dutys. i think i would like airride adjustable suspension. something where i can keep it low for daily driving then during hunting and such driving through the woods jack it up a little. plus when i do have a heavy trailer on i can adjust to level off.
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A good set of shock absorbers takes a lot of that 'wind blown' effect out of driving large profile vehicles.
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Daily driver is a 1989 F-150. I've driven it in 40-50 mph winds no problem.
I'm not fond of "road graders" I always feel like I can't see whats down the road.
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I prefer to be higher than most vehicles on the road. Whenever I get into a car I feel like I am sitting on a skateboard right above the ground
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I'd say neither high nor low.
I drive a minivan. It gets me up out of the basement, but I damn sure ain't perched 10 feet above traffic either.
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I'd say neither high nor low.
I drive a minivan. It gets me up out of the basement, but I damn sure ain't perched 10 feet above traffic either.
I've never owned a minivan, but I've rented quite a few for road trips. I like the ride height, and I don't feel like I'm going to teeter over if I have to make a quick driving correction.
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I off-road too much to go with a low-rider. Hell, I was driving my truck off-road through the Arbuckle Mtns. just 3 days ago. Like Chris, I can't stand folks who have something like a Hummer or a Wrangler and only drive it on paved roads through a city.
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I off-road too much to go with a low-rider.
It is true that I seem to have to replace tie-rods a lot.
But the expense of that, for me, is much lesser than the problems caused by driving a high-riding vehicle in the Nebraska wind.
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It is true that I seem to have to replace tie-rods a lot.
But the expense of that, for me, is much lesser than the problems caused by driving a high-riding vehicle in the Nebraska wind.
Frank, we get the same wind down here in OK. :)
A small pickup is not that bad in it as long as you don't have the SOB jacked up 3' or 4'.
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Frank, we get the same wind down here in OK. :)
A small pickup is not that bad in it as long as you don't have the SOB jacked up 3' or 4'.
My first car was a Daihatsu Feroza - They're rather high in comparison to their width and what I guess is termed a compact 4x4.
Rolled it. They're unstable as all heck because of their design flaws.
My current ride is nice and wide and handles beautifully on and off road.
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Frank, we get the same wind down here in OK. :)
A small pickup is not that bad in it as long as you don't have the SOB jacked up 3' or 4'.
I suppose the deal here is one's perception of the major hazard one faces.
In your case, it's the ruts and gullies and crevices and rocks and hazards associated with off-road driving; in my case, it's the wind that's always whirling around with unexpected super-strong gusts.
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I suppose the deal here is one's perception of the major hazard one faces.
In your case, it's the ruts and gullies and crevices and rocks and hazards associated with off-road driving; in my case, it's the wind that's always whirling around with unexpected super-strong gusts.
A little Ford Ranger would do fine in Nebraska. Big enough to clear the potholes and such on rural roads and not high or long enough to catch a lot of crosswind.
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I off-road too much to go with a low-rider. Hell, I was driving my truck off-road through the Arbuckle Mtns. just 3 days ago. Like Chris, I can't stand folks who have something like a Hummer or a Wrangler and only drive it on paved roads through a city.
Or those that buy a big, beautiful Dually...then slow to 5 mph to cross railroad tracks. What is the point of a truck if you drive like an 80 year old lady going to church???? :mad:
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I watch a lot of news and it never fails that during bad snow storms, most of the vehicles they show in the ditches are pick ups and 4WD. Too many people get over confident when they're in bigger vehicles.
I see all kinds of vehicles slide off the road in Oklahoma every time there is a little ice. The big vehicles are the worst... if they do make it, they're all tailgating in a single line in the clear lane. I drive my little front-wheel Toyota right past most of them, if the "dirty" lane isn't just too much for my little car. Otherwise, I'll find myself stuck in a 2 mile long line of trucks and SUVs, with the idiot behind me following 15' off my tail. Since they obviously don't know how to ease from lane to lane or leave proper following distance, I know they'll likely smash into me if we have to stop. :argh:
I came over a hill in one ice storm, found an OK idiot parked in the driving lane looking at a car that had slid off the other side of the road. The road was solid ice, so don't have any clue what he was thinking...it took all my skill to keep on the road and not plow right into him. I did it...but I have to confess that I did spill my coffee. :lmao:
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Or those that buy a big, beautiful Dually...then slow to 5 mph to cross railroad tracks. What is the point of a truck if you drive like an 80 year old lady going to church???? :mad:
We see the same thing here, but it's not just trucks that slow down on RR tracks almost everyone does, even when the tracks aren't that bad. I've found out that they are better to go over only moderately slowing down from the speed limit.
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I see all kinds of vehicles slide off the road in Oklahoma every time there is a little ice. The big vehicles are the worst... if they do make it, they're all tailgating in a single line in the clear lane. I drive my little front-wheel Toyota right past most of them, if the "dirty" lane isn't just too much for my little car. Otherwise, I'll find myself stuck in a 2 mile long line of trucks and SUVs, with the idiot behind me following 15' off my tail. Since they obviously don't know how to ease from lane to lane or leave proper following distance, I know they'll likely smash into me if we have to stop. :argh:
I came over a hill in one ice storm, found an OK idiot parked in the driving lane looking at a car that had slid off the other side of the road. The road was solid ice, so don't have any clue what he was thinking...it took all my skill to keep on the road and not plow right into him. I did it...but I have to confess that I did spill my coffee. :lmao:
Nothing worse than being in a southern state when they get snow or freezing rain when they aren't used to it.
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I like the seating in my Honda Ridgeline pickup. High enough to see traffic ahead, but no ladder needed to get into it.
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I see all kinds of vehicles slide off the road in Oklahoma every time there is a little ice. The big vehicles are the worst... if they do make it, they're all tailgating in a single line in the clear lane. I drive my little front-wheel Toyota right past most of them, if the "dirty" lane isn't just too much for my little car. Otherwise, I'll find myself stuck in a 2 mile long line of trucks and SUVs, with the idiot behind me following 15' off my tail. Since they obviously don't know how to ease from lane to lane or leave proper following distance, I know they'll likely smash into me if we have to stop. :argh:
I came over a hill in one ice storm, found an OK idiot parked in the driving lane looking at a car that had slid off the other side of the road. The road was solid ice, so don't have any clue what he was thinking...it took all my skill to keep on the road and not plow right into him. I did it...but I have to confess that I did spill my coffee. :lmao:
Seems like everyone in this area forgets how to drive in the snow and ice every year. I'm lucky my parents (from PA) taught me how to drive in the stuff, and I brush up on it every year by getting out in it when the first snow or ice hits.
I used to work about 20 miles from home, and at the time I was driving my Datsun 240Z as a daily driver. They called off work halfway through my shift, so I got stuck out there with all the 4PMers trying to make their way home. I made it home in my 30 year old rear wheel drive sports car with sport directional tires without a problem.
There are always more Jeeps and other such vehicles in the ditches than there ever are cars. Four wheel drive is handy, but it doesn't make you invincible, and it doesn't make up for a general lack of driving skills.
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There are always more Jeeps and other such vehicles in the ditches than there ever are cars. Four wheel drive is handy, but it doesn't make you invincible, and it doesn't make up for a general lack of driving skills.
One of my points about Nebraska drivers, exactly.
There's this delusion that with the "right kind" of vehicle, all's okay.
(Around here, it's usually considered that my choice is the "wrong kind.")
If one has the "right tool," one's a craftsman.
Yeah, right.
A lousy driver with even the "most appropriate" vehicle made for the terrain is still going to mess up.
A good driver with even the "most inappropriate" vehicle is going to adapt, and get through.
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I drive a minivan.
I'm................sorry. :panic:
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I taught both of our kids how to drive in the stuff, too. Took them to deserted shopping center parking lots and had them practice until they got it right.
Neither of them has ever had a problem driving in the white crap. No hits, no dents, no errs.
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I'm................sorry. :panic:
Don't be. I'm perfectly happy with my vehicle. It carts around my horns, music, and equipment, gets great gas mileage (29 mpg on the highway and 23-24 in town), and has been very, very reliable.
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Don't be. I'm perfectly happy with my vehicle. It carts around my horns, music, and equipment, gets great gas mileage (29 mpg on the highway and 23-24 in town), and has been very, very reliable.
That last minivan we rented was a Chrysler T&C with the V6 massaged by Fiat. We exercised the 0-60 capabilities of the van many times on our trip, and found it to be more than adequate. I'm not sure how fast it was, but it was definitely under 8 seconds, down in the 7 second range at most. I was surprised, and so were several of the typical stoplight miscreants. :-)
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I believe in using the right tool for the job. So I have a 2002 Ford Ranger XLT when I need a truck. a 2002 Monte Carlo SS when I need a car, a 1985 Harley FXWG when I want a ride and a 2002 Yamaha Big Bear to plow snow and take to the woods. All run like a to and are ready to go any time I need them.
If I am driving on the highway I prefer the Monte so I guess I'll vote low.
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Or those that buy a big, beautiful Dually...then slow to 5 mph to cross railroad tracks. What is the point of a truck if you drive like an 80 year old lady going to church???? :mad:
Not my duallies....I found the best way for me to across the average RR crossing with them was to clutch the FORD or slip the GMC into neutral and let them free wheel across the RR crossing without slowing down.
Having said that, there are some crossings around here that would have you going airborne in any kind of vehicle if you crossed them at more than 5 mph.
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Not my duallies....I found the best way for me to across the average RR crossing with them was to clutch the FORD or slip the GMC into neutral and let them free wheel across the RR crossing without slowing down.
Having said that, there are some crossings around here that would have you going airborne in any kind of vehicle if you crossed them at more than 5 mph.
We have a couple like that around here, too. The crossing that I see duallies slow down for, though, is on the most-used road to Wal-mart, so kept even better than the downtown crossing. My little-bitty Toyota hardly feels the bump. One day, I'm gonna follow one of those duallies home, and when the driver gets out, I'm going to tell him he doesn't deserve a truck and needs to go buy himself a peddle-trike. :mad: :mad: :lmao:
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Not my duallies....I found the best way for me to across the average RR crossing with them was to clutch the FORD or slip the GMC into neutral and let them free wheel across the RR crossing without slowing down.
Having said that, there are some crossings around here that would have you going airborne in any kind of vehicle if you crossed them at more than 5 mph.
There's a couple of rail crossings outside town here that I gas up to in an attempt to get some air from. :-)