Old Smokey 📍

Old Smokey is the nickname I have for my 2026 Ford F-350 SuperDuty which I purchased at the end of March 2026 to replace my former truck, Big Red, a 2011 Chevy Silverado. Why the name Old Smokey? One is it the color is smokey but also it’s the truck that Smokey the Bear drives, at least the latest generation of DEC Forest Ranger trucks tend to be this color gray and built to a similar configuration. Why old? It is a work truck, and while it has some technology, most of the design is tried and true – 6.8L MiniZilla pushrod engine, key ignition, needles for speedometer and all guages, manual climate controls, conventional cruise control.

The Old Smokey truck is a “one-ton” class axle commerical HD pickup truck, extended cab, short bed (6 3/4 foot bed). While the short bed seems small by SuperDuty propotions, it actually is a very good fit for my uses, as it’s long enough to sleep on and camp once I get a camper shell (aka topper or cap) on the truck. It also is reasonably short at 19 1/2 feet, that with the backup camera makes it possible to get into relatively small campsites.

The truck has the FX4 and XL Off Road HD Utility Package, which provides 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler tires, skid plates, specifically tuned off-road shocks, Hill Descent Control, an electronic locking rear differential, a raised air dam for better ground clearance and water-fording vent tubes on the rear axle. It also has dual alternators and batteries, able to supply up to 410 amps of power for camping, and has the upfitter harnasses for additional power and configuraton.

The next step will be ordering the camper shell, moving the solar panel, lead acid batteries, interverter and CB radio to the new truck, and acquiring and installing additional solar panel(s), cellphone booster, and probably a supplemental LiPo battery. By next winter, I also want to add a diesel heater for comfortable winter camping. Stay tuned, as they say. It’s going to be a great rig.

🖼️ Photos
Map: Empire State Topography

Fuel savings device ⛽

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Turn this counter clockwise and it saves fuel. Above that is a rare device that cars all used to have that told you how fast you were driving. But not many 2026 model year vehicles have either device.

Friday April 3, 2026 — Old Smokey
Map: Severence Hill Trail

Old Smokey

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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. 

Tuesday March 31, 2026 — Old Smokey
Map: Bartman Trail