The other day I was playing with the Real Truck A. R. E. Truck Cap modeler with a F-250 truck on it. In many ways visually similar to Big Red, though a few inches lower to ground as my new truck won’t be lifted. Maybe it’s my desire not to let go of red, to keep his spirit alive. But I’m really not sure if I want to do everything the same.
Truth is while I have a lot of good memories with Big Red and in some ways I want to recreate much the same experience with my new truck, there are things I want to do different based on my 14 1/2 years of experience with Red. And technology moves on, the trucks of today have changed since 2011. I don’t even know if there is a BDS Dealer locally anymore, even if I did want to my lift my new truck. Part of reason, besides simpler engines, for getting a HD truck is so I can have a big truck without a lift kit on it with all the reliability issues that brings. Likewise, with the price of 35s these days, I am not sure if I will ever get 35s or 37s for the new truck when the first tires wear out, though I guess I could decide on that later on if I wanted more clearance. Big tires used to be cheaper, or maybe I’m more frugal these days.
My new truck will drive differently. An F-250 or F-350 is going to be fair more heavier then lifted truck, and will have a lower center of gravity. That’s good in sense it won’t wallow all over bumpy roads as much and be better in the snow, though the risk of high centering is greater. A 6.8L engine is much more burly then a 5.3L engine, it will sound different, have a different acceleration and braking pattern. The F-350 would certainly have much stiffer rear springs for higher load capacity, indeed that is the primary difference between the two trucks. Because of similarity in price and equipment packages, that’s why I will consider either the F-250 or F-350 with the 6.8L and same 3.83 axle ratio which will have similiar fuel economy. The difference in fuel economy between the Silverado and Superduty, it will probably be a wash, as while the 5.3L might be more fuel be efficient with the lift kit and 35s, most of that benefit was canceled out, especially on the highway. The 6.8L will be a fuel pig in city, but whatever I try to avoid driving in traffic and city streets with all those cops whenever possible. And I drive mostly for fun, so who cares about a MPG or two. I’m not getting a diesel, as because with all the now required diesel emissions crap and added expense, it’s not really worth it to me.
And my new truck will be a long-bed, regular cab, the way I think trucks should be. With the Silverado a lot of people suggested I get an extended cab, but I honestly prefer the regular cab, and a long bed will be great for packing a lot of camping gear including a future diesel heater and batteries in the bed. The 8 foot bed should allow me to get at least two and probably 3 solar panels on the roof. Extended and crew cabs make a lot of sense for families, and maybe if you have an uncovered, empty bed, but I want my bed to be useful for camping. I think I will likely stick with the MX Cap if it’s not too expensive as I like the extra height room but I am undecided if I will get the Sportsman windows that flip open. I found that tended to leak, especially after I was rear-ended and limited air flow in the truck cap. That said, it does certainly make it easier to access things in the front of the bed with that option.
I like red trucks, and I don’t want want to get a white one for sure, but I will get whatever color that I can get at a price and package I want to get. Limiting yourself to just a red truck dramatically reduces options, though that remains a popular color for the Superduty Regular Cabs, at least in my research. But I do want to keep my options open, and not necessarily strictly build a new Big Red – at least not to exact specifications of the now retired truck.
