I think I am going to call my new truck, Old Smokey. In part because of the color, but also because it's very close to the specifications of the trucks that NYS DEC Forest Rangers use, with extended cabs though I think they may have long beds. Old in the sense, the dashboard doesn't have a lot of big computer screens, and the engine is a simple pushrod engine without auto shutoff or anything fancy. Honestly, though it's a good size for me, reasonably big but also small enough that I can get it into most campsites. You get so absurdly big on a SuperDuty if you want to spend enough money.
People say, oh that bed is so short at 6 3/4 feet on an extended cab SuperDuty. Well compared to the 8 foot beds and quad cabs, like the test trucks I drove, it is pretty small, as is the 6.8L gas engine on a SuperDuty. But let’s be honest, it’s still a SuperDuty, and the second largest gas engine currently in production. More importantly it’s a good fit for my needs, simple and reliable with halogen headlights and tailights – and a big block pushrod engine.
In many ways, it’s a profound statement to say this is last truck I will likely buy until my retirement circa 2040. 👴🏻 Hard to believe that is only 14 years away, less time then when I bought Big Red not that long ago. People point out there is no certainty in life – I could get into a crash or something catestrophic could happen or gas engines become unaffordable to drive before then. ⛽ But it’s like, I could have a heart attack or get run over by a car riding my bike to work. 🚲 Or get fired for being the jackass that I am on the internet, or in trouble with law for burning garbage or some bullshit like that.
I don’t really need a truck right now, 🤷♂️ and I don’t plan to start up the engine until at least Sunday at this point. 🌨️ I thought about going up to Partridge Run on Good Friday – but not going to be a real nice day – mostly to try out the hill descent control. This is a low-speed cruise control that let’s you go down steep mountain passes while maintaining a set speed. Great for heading down from a place like Dolly Sods without overheating your brakes. But I can wait, that feature isn’t going to disappear from the truck right this afternoon.
It was a super easy transaction 🤝 doing the car deal over the phone 📞 and remotely, putting everything on your own time schedule and not that of the dealer. Gives you a lot more leverage, and paying cash 💰 meant I could go to the bank, have them issue a big cashier’s check in 5 minutes, then basically it was 5 minutes to inspect the vehicle on delivery, 5 minutes in the Finance and Insurance office to sign the title and hand over the check, and 20 minutes while the old man Dan Marchese tried to explain how to use Android Auto and the Ford app. 🚗 Honestly at that point, I just wanted him to shut up and let me have the damn truck.
I went over to Peebles Island, 🚶 and went for a hike over to Waterford and then around the island. Starting to green up a bit around where the Mohawk reaches the Hudson, 🐸 spring peepers were happy last night. Hot walking around the island in my dress shirt. I drove from the south bridge, as I wasn’t sure if I could drive over the north bridge with the big truck, but apparently not. The SuperDuty is required to have commercial plates, so I won’t be able to drive on parkways even though I think my lifted Silverado half ton with passenger plates was a bigger truck. Backup camera 🎥 is fantastic as is the automatic parking brake that releases as soon as you hit the gas. Got 14.6 MPG driving from Peebles Island to home, which is reasonable noting that I sat at several traffic lights and drove through city traffic. I have a feeling this truck will get similar or better gas milage then my lifted truck. ⛽
Going to ride my bike into work today, 🚲 as the rain has stopped and should hold off until evening. I was originally planning to bus it in today, 🚌 but I think it will be fine to ride in today as it’s not ready. I am just glad no more dealing with stealerships for hopefully a long time. I will probably get the oil changed at DePaula and other work done there during at least the start of the warranty period, but also I think my independent local mechanic will be fine too. 🛠️ Shouldn’t need a lot of work at first. 💳 Need to replace my bus swiper card by Friday I believe, though I might just use my phone and CDTA app in the mean time, but I have to first add $20 in cash to that. But I think I prefer using the Swiper Card as you don’t have to worry about a dead phone battery or app not working.
I will probably have Good Friday off. 🐰 I don’t know they haven’t decided yet at work. Still it’s a relief 😌 that the truck thing is done, no more bargaining and war with the dealers. I was so jittery and nervous towards the end, until I gave them the check, plus $122 for the commercial plates, and they handed over the paperwork and title in F&I office. 🤝 It seemed like it all was just one big scam. I probably will just need Friday to recover from the stress of it all. 🐸 Maybe I’ll just ride my bike out to Five Rivers and enjoy nature. With gas prices these days – I saw them pushing them up to $4.20 a gallon on way to pick up the SuperDuty – all I could think about was parking the ginormous truck 🅿️ and having one toke over the line sweet Jesus on Good Friday, as I handed over the check for $59,160. And with that it’s done.
Life is full of trials and tribulations. ⚖️ and there is no guarantee for tomorrow or anything else. I was worried about hail storm last night, we had a severe thunderstorm, and the deductible on the new truck is $1,000 and I do not have GAP insurance as I paid cash. Do adjust the mirrors before leaving with a new truck, as I had some hairy moments on 787. And enjoy that song, about sitting downtown in a railway 🚂 station, one toke over the line. I tell you, in my 25 years working at the State Capitol at this point, I haven’t seen the shenanigans I had to deal with auto dealers. 🤝 Don’t get me wrong, I had a lot of fun, even if it involved a lot of caffeine ☕ and tokes to make it through the month that was. And now it’s April and trout season. 🎣 High water flows today, and I have to work today. Next step will be decide which truck cap to order, and maybe the weekend after next to put in the order. Then start wiring up the CB radio and get a cellphone booster for the truck. 📻 Although I will later until later for that, as cellphone booster may be mounted in the bed and on the cap. Honestly I am not in a real rush, I’ve done fine without a vehicle all winter, and while I do want to get back to wilderness and have a fire, 🔥 black fly season 🐜 bites, and honestly there still is a lot of summer and autumn ahead of us all. I may be playing rehearsals for retirement, but it still 14 years way before I am in my late 50s, and it’s time to build or buy that off-grid cabin. 🏡 The one with the burning barrels, no recycling bins, solar and wood power, and hogs grunting in mud out back.
