POS Plow Truck Update

"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
10/25/2019 at 14:14 • Filed to: pos plow trucks

A friend mentioned seeing a truck for sale, so I stopped to check it out on my way by this morning.

First glance - *raised eyebrows of promise*

Tires are decent, and even match. Body is... there. I’ve seen worse. I bet that tailgate even (gasp) OPENS! AND closes! I didn’t dare try, though. Don’t care.

Keep in mind, I’m not looking to inspect this thing. Yard use only.

The left side is a bit worse - *furrowed brow of concern*

But hey, the bed isn’t falling off. A quick look underneath says the frame is surprisingly decent:

Yeah, there’s daylight up there, but wait, we’ll come back to that. The frame is decent, that’s the point.

It’s a diesel, which I don’t know a lot about. Things look halfway decent under the hood, of course it needs a battery. And there’s a bit of a rat’s nest of wires next to this battery, but... that’s not a show-stopper. It’s not concours-quality in here but it doesn’t look neglected either.

Old-school belt-driven plow pump. Hoses could use re-routing and one of them needs attention.

Not one, but two cans of starting fluid. Not a great sign.

But then I opened the driver’s door.

*raised eyebrows of disbelief*

*appreciative nod of no-f**ks-given repair*

I mean, the various pieces of scrapwood and possibly firewood (?) don’t even make it all the way to the door, there’s a 6" gap, not to mention the huge pieces of angle-iron left from where the “running board” used to be (it’s there on the other side). But I guess you probably wouldn’t suddenly find yourself on the ground while driving it?

I know I’m being nit-picky, trying to find a running plow truck that doesn’t need to pass inspection but DOES need to run... I bet this thing runs fine, 4wd probably works and the plow, too. But I just can’t... not even for something around the asking price of $1,250 for this piece of Ferd Americana. I’m all set. If someone GAVE this to me, I’d probably take it, and proudly cobble together more of a floor with more intentionally mismatched scrapwood, maybe an old license plate or two for good measure. Not for north of a grand though.

DISCUSSION (20)

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > functionoverfashion
10/25/2019 at 14:20

Fire wood plus 3/4" plywood? Mastery of a skill right there.

CB > functionoverfashion
10/25/2019 at 14:20

That is 100% pure jank.

Sovande > functionoverfashion
10/25/2019 at 14:21

I was thinking you were going to say $500. Which is likely too high. $1250 is absurd.

functionoverfashion > functionoverfashion
10/25/2019 at 14:26

For comparison, this is the best one I’ve seen yet - I hope I can look at it before it’s gone, but it’s about an hour from me (like everything else):

https://nh.craigslist.org/cto/d/loudon-1987-ford-f250-4x4-plow/7006495430.html

functionoverfashion > Sovande
10/25/2019 at 14:27

For $1500 there’s this: https://nh.craigslist.org/cto/d/loudon-1987-ford-f250-4x4-plow/7006495430.html

but it’s not close by, and I have no free time

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > functionoverfashion
10/25/2019 at 14:27

I would say travel somewhere less rusty but then you can’t beat on it like a plow truck and you would probably have to tow it home

functionoverfashion > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick)
10/25/2019 at 14:30

I’m leaning more and more toward putting a plow on the 4wd truck I already have. I’d rather not keep it out in the winter weather, but... I won’t drive it in the salt, only in my driveway. And it already runs and isn’t a POS.

Pickup_man > functionoverfashion
10/25/2019 at 14:31

Thoughts as I read your post.

That’s actually pretty damn clean.

Ok, the driver’s side is a little worse, but I’ve seen far worse used as daily’s frequently around here.

That is not the original tailgate or taillights. I suspect that the bed has been replaced as well since it’s exceptionally clean.

The IDI diesels were decent motors from what I know. This one would have the 6.9 I believe. Reliable, tough as nails, slow as hell, burn lots of oil when they get some miles on them.

Starting fluid, meh, it’s an old diesel that’s probably a bit neglected for maintenance and use. Not too concerned.

*open door shot*
Daaaaammmmn. I retract all previous statements about condition, that suckers gone.

*$ 1,250*

Kinja'd!!!

Unless that janky old plow is worth $1000 by itself that’s a hard CP.

shop-teacher > functionoverfashion
10/25/2019 at 14:32

Yeah, that’s a negative Ghost Rider. Pattern is full.

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > functionoverfashion
10/25/2019 at 14:34

Seems like a good backup plan but is the cost of a plow for your truck not equal to the cost of a plow with a rusty truck attached? Would a 4x4 side by side or lawn tractor be an option? I know nothing about plowing..............driveways.

Wacko > functionoverfashion
10/25/2019 at 14:48

But the wood won’t rust, that’s a win

functionoverfashion > Pickup_man
10/25/2019 at 14:48

Yeah my thoughts more or less exactly lol

The plow... nah, $500 maybe. If I thought the truck was worth $500 without the plow, I might buy it just for the plow and all its parts, the controls, valve body, pump, etc. BUT. That truck is worth flat zero without the plow.

functionoverfashion > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick)
10/25/2019 at 14:51

I can source the parts I need for the plow addition to my own truck for very little money. Basically, yeah, other stuff would *kind of* work, but it’s hard to beat a heavy truck for moving a lot of snow quickly, while enclosed in the warm cab. A snowblower would cost me $1,000 and be dead reliable, but would take me 2 hours every storm and I have so little extra time in the winter. I can do the whole driveway in 20 minutes with a truck.