"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
02/14/2020 at 16:47 • Filed to: Embiggen this
24
54|
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
02/14/2020 at 16:47 • Filed to: Embiggen this | 24
| 54 |
As many, or perhaps most of you, know, I daily drive a type of vehicle that is much derided on Jalopnik. That would be a 2006 GMC Sierra … crew cab … with the super shorty 5’8” bed. These trucks are much derided by “the enthusiasts” as show ponies for dudes with tiny schwances that never get dirty or do any work. I have little time for such narrow minded knobs, and take a “he who smelt it, dealt it.” point of view when it comes to gear size accusations. Instead I’m going to tell the good people of Oppo why these trucks can be awesome, and why I love mine so much.
First I shall preach the virtues of the crew cab short bed truck, in general. Think of them as a really good multi tool. Are they the best tool for any one task? No, they definitely are not. The awesomeness of a crew cab short bed truck lies in how many jobs it is good at. Hauling the whole family in comfort, carrying copious amounts of building materials (including dirty stuff you wouldn’t want in the cab of your nice minivan/SUV/wagon), towing campers or race cars, etc. The crew cab short bed pickup can do all these jobs, and all in one package that can fit in your average suburban parking spot. Name another vehicle that can carry my entire family, a couple of scooters upright and secure, and tow my camper with all at the same time. The only thing I can think of, would be a full size van. Other vehicles can only do two out of three of those jobs at once.
“The enthusiasts” deride the lack of an 8' bed, because you can’t fit a sheet of plywood in with the tailgate closed. To that I say, I don’t give a crap. Put the tailgate down and grab a couple of bungee cords or a ratchet strap. Job done. The amount of crap I have hauled in the bed of that truck is incredible. With the short bed, I can still fit in normal parking spots just fine. Throw a tonneau cover on the bed, and the crew cab short bed pickup is the modern replacement for the full size sedans of yesteryear. The trucks are a bit more versatile, although in many cases not as stylish as those bitchin’ big sedans.
So, how did I end up with this thing? In January of 2006, fresh off of student teaching, I was spared the fate of being a substitute teacher for a semester, when a rare mid-year full time job became available in a little town outside of Peoria. I may have (read: definitely did) lie a bit about my automotive experience to get the job teaching Engineering, Architecture, Drafting, Wood Working, and Auto Shop. Turned out, the only other person they interviewed for the job was a friend of mine who just wanted experience getting interviewed, and had no intention of taking the job.
I started my teaching career driving a 2000 Chevy Silverado that my dad had sold me during grad school. This was a tumultuous time in my life, for many reasons which I could go on and on about. I’ll just throw out a few stats. In the 14 months between finishing grad school in May 2005 and starting my second teaching job in August of 2006, I moved EIGHT times. During the single semester I taught at that school, I owned at various points that Silverado, a ‘93 Legacy wagon, a CPO 2004 Pontiac GTO, an ‘89 S-10, and finally ended up with the ‘06 Sierra I’m still DDing. I also drove no less than nine loaner rentals in that time, because that GTO turned out to be such a steaming pile of shit that it spent 31 days out of service in the 3-½ months I owned it.
Emotionally drained by my CPO experience, thankfully not financially because of the warranty, I decided I needed a brand new vehicle to replace the GTO. I insisted on brand new this time, because I learned the hard way that the lemon law does not apply to used vehicles, no matter how close to new they are (the GTO had been in service for 15 months and 5200 miles when I purchased it). My budget was $20 grand. In 2006, that didn’t give me a lot of choices. It was basically an econo box, or a pickup truck. I decided to go for a pickup truck, being both a large person and having a construction background, I knew that’s what I would be happiest with of those two choices.
Now, here’s the weird part. I was single at the time. I had no wife, no girlfriend, no kids, no prospects, no nothing. I didn’t even have any friends in that town. It was just me. So how the hell did I end up with a crew cab truck? Truth be told, after test driving several trucks, I had picked out a grey, regular cab, short bed Sierra. It was 2wd with a locking rear end, a towing package, and the 5.3 liter LS motor. All this for a tick over $19k, it was everything I wanted, and under budget. As the salesman and I were heading inside to do the paperwork, he took one more look around the lot to see what else he had that I might like. Along the road there were two crew cab trucks, with a $21k price on the windshield. They were both 2wd, had a locking rear end, and the towing package. The only downside, was they had the 4.8 liter baby LS motor. I test drove it to see if the smaller motor bothered me, and it didn’t. Truth be told, my truck is slow as dog shit, but it gets the job done and that’s all I care.
This is the part where I showed more foresite than I ever realized until much later. I bought that truck, because it was an incredible deal. I didn’t need a crew cab, but I was offered an entire back seat and two more doors for the paltry price of $2,000 extra. I took the deal and ran. I was out the door for under $22k, including tax and an extended warranty that was long enough that I would never suffer the fate of having to pay for repairs while still making my loan payment. A little over budget, yes, but I had done enough car shopping by that point to know a great deal when I saw it.
I bought that truck about a week before I finished up that semester working in a small town. I learned a lot about small town politics, met some great people, taught some great kids, but it was clear to me that I had to get the hell out of there while the getting was good. I pointed my new truck loaded with my things to the North East and headed out of town a whole lot wiser than I had been when I got there, and started my life in earnest.
The new job paid a lot better, but came with a whole new set of challenges. I traveled between two schools every day. Starting at one in the morning, and finishing at the other in the afternoon. That first year I taught in two buildings, in seven different rooms, and in three different workshops. Being constantly on the go, I learned how to work from a laptop bag, with my truck as my true home base. That was the year I finally acquired the taste for coffee.
That was the year I also entered the dating pool for the first time. Without getting too personal, in high school and in college, my head was too far up my own ass to do any dating. My shiney new truck brought my dumb ass to those dates, both good and bad. Frankly I don’t have any dating horror stories, because it wasn’t too long before I met the woman who would become Mrs. Shop Teacher. It was the day after Thanksgiving 2006 that I picked her up for a lunchtime date. That date would end up at a Denny’s at 3:00 am, when she fell asleep in her Moons Over My Hammy. I dropped her back off at her parent’s house, and then had one hell of an excruciating drive back to my place, trying not to fall asleep. A few months later, on a warm spring evening, we were standing next to my truck about to part ways for the week, when she first told me that she loved me.
A few years after that, we drove away from our wedding in that trusty pickemup truck. In the years between, I had moved a couple of times, changed jobs once more, and we bought our home together (yeah, we did the buy a house and marriage part slightly out of order). All along the way, my truck was there by my side. Never failing to start, never failing to get me where I needed to go, never demanding more than maintenance and gas ... and a few relatively minor warranty repairs to be honest.
Now here is where the foresigh
t
I mentioned before kicked in. This is the part of the story where we first had a kid. If I had purchased that regular cab truck, game over, time to buy another vehicle. Instead, I threw a cheap folding vinyl tonneau cover on the bed, and pressed the truck into family hauler duty. A task which it has performed flawlessly ever since. I now have two little girls. They both came home from the hospital in what they have named “Truckie.” They love Truckie as much as I do. It’s been our family hauler, vacation monster, tow beast, and the thing that never fails to get me to work each day, so I can bring the bacon home to my babies.
To be fair, it’s getting a little long in the tooth. I failed to replace the brake lines before rust caused one to burst about a year and a half ago. This summer we ended up taking my buddy’s Grand Marquis on vacation instead of my truck, because a lazy alignment tech missed a bad ball joint, and we only figured it out the night before our trip. In the last couple months, it has started randomly throwing check engine lights, an airbag sensor has gone bad, and the oil pressure sending unit is undoubtedly also bad (reads 80 psi at all times). Oh yeah, and the rocker panels are turning into swiss cheese.
But with each issue, is a fix. The lines were all replaced with the relatively cheap replacement kit of powder-coated lines. The ball joint is sorted, and everything is in tip top on the front end. A replacement airbag sensor is waiting to be installed once things warm up, and I’ll deal with the oil pressure sending unit in the spring. I’m going to drop a grand to have the rockers redone this summer, and I guess it’s time to finally buy a scan tool. It’s been nearly 14 years and 149k miles so far, but my family isn’t giving up on Truckie that easily. He’s our truck, and we love him. He’s always there for us.
Deal Killer - Powered by Focus
> shop-teacher
02/14/2020 at 17:09 |
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Confirmation of the long held belief, no one, in fact, “
goes to Denny’s” .
“
That date would end up at a Denny’s at 3:00 am, when she fell asleep in her Moons Over My Hammy” You just wind up there, usually well after midnight.
atfsgeoff
> shop-teacher
02/14/2020 at 17:10 |
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I want to forward this to GM marketing. They would eat this story up. It’s like perfect Americana.
CobraJoe
> shop-teacher
02/14/2020 at 17:24 |
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Here here!
I’m relatively new to truck ownership, though I’ve been avoiding it since high school (where almost all of my classmates had trucks). Trucks were always work vehicles on the farm, and I never really enjoyed driving them all that much.
But after I realized that I have tools and hobbies that can’t fit in the back of a wagon, I finally acquiesced and bought a crew cab (The fastest and most off road capable one I could afford, which happened to be a Titan) . It didn’t take me long to realize how useful it could be.
And while it’s not the fastest or most fun vehicle, it’s got a sort of “relaxed indestructible ” feel to it that I have only experienced in other body on frame vehicles. It doesn’t fill the gap as an enthusiast car for me, but it’s too damn useful to consider selling now.
DipodomysDeserti
> shop-teacher
02/14/2020 at 17:26 |
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Internet dad fist bump.
Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
> DipodomysDeserti
02/14/2020 at 17:30 |
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Or granddad fist bump...
Chuckles
> shop-teacher
02/14/2020 at 17:32 |
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Now that I've joined the scooter world, I've been starting to think about finding a vehicle capable of transporting my scooter. Something like your truck would work great for that. I'm glad that it has served you so well.
TheRealBicycleBuck
> shop-teacher
02/14/2020 at 17:42 |
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I’m right there with you. My little extended cab truck carried me through grad school, marriage, and the birth of two children. I drove it for 18 years before retiring it.
Chariotoflove
> shop-teacher
02/14/2020 at 17:44 |
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Cool watching your girls grow up. Reminds me of watching my own. The ones where they fall asleep in the car seat are a familiar sight.
I still take my lady to Denny’s.
fintail
> shop-teacher
02/14/2020 at 17:56 |
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When I saw those rusty rockers and other bits, I first thought “run away! ”. After reading that, I think “you have to fix it!”. This truck is a member of the family, and you need to keep it going. Another 25 years or so and it will have some retro appeal.
xc90v8/I4 :(
> shop-teacher
02/14/2020 at 18:04 |
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Just don’t ever calculate what you could have saved on gas by getting an econobox- I did so for the xc90... just what could have been saved by owning a diesel vs the v8 over the miles we owned it.. ouch
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shop-teacher
> xc90v8/I4 :(
02/14/2020 at 18:52 |
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Yeah, that's definitely a lot of money. No regrets!
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xc90v8/I4 :(
> shop-teacher
02/14/2020 at 18:58 |
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Great you can say that!
Have you thought about retiring the truck in order to preserve it?
With such a nice story behind it, it deserves to live for many generations to come.
Svend
> shop-teacher
02/14/2020 at 19:23 |
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Beautiful mate.
A car only has to mean something to it’s owner/keeper/user, as long as you and the family love it, that’s the main thing.
Hell. I’ve a 1.5 Skoda Superb estate, essentially a dad’s car, small economical engine, large family and furniture hauling size in a Czechia built body of the more expensive VW Passat.
It’s slow by GTi/Type R/etc... standards but no slouch. It can be an arse parking a car it’s size but I like it, it’s mine.
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shop-teacher
> CobraJoe
02/14/2020 at 19:26 |
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They're such useful tools. I definitely want an enthusiast car as well, but for now I'm supporting a family on a middle school teacher's salary, so that will have to wait.
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shop-teacher
> atfsgeoff
02/14/2020 at 19:26 |
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Lol, be my guest :)
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shop-teacher
> DipodomysDeserti
02/14/2020 at 19:26 |
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Back at ya!
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shop-teacher
> Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
02/14/2020 at 19:26 |
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Back at ya!
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shop-teacher
> Deal Killer - Powered by Focus
02/14/2020 at 19:27 |
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Truth.
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shop-teacher
> Svend
02/14/2020 at 19:32 |
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That's a sharp looking wagon my friend!
Mid Engine
> Chariotoflove
02/14/2020 at 20:06 |
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Lookit you fancy pants, I take m’lady to the Costco food court after we wander the aisles eating all the samp les
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Svend
> shop-teacher
02/14/2020 at 20:10 |
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Thanks.
I think she’s much better looking than the VW Passat she shares the platform, drivetrain, etc... with.
jimz
> shop-teacher
02/14/2020 at 20:12 |
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if it’s any consolation, I don’t preoccupy myself with what you drive nor am I interested in the status of your schwantz. You can be an enthusiast and still have to exist in the real world. At one time (2011) I owned an SRT-4 and a Mustang GT. Having to move and go down to one vehicle means I own a Ranger now. Hardly an enthusiast choice (though I do get a few points for it being an older “compact” pickup) but it’s what I got.
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Chariotoflove
> Mid Engine
02/14/2020 at 20:13 |
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Sams club here. Four berry sundae FTW!
gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
> shop-teacher
02/14/2020 at 20:28 |
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before I read the rest i have to ask, is this guy high?
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DipodomysDeserti
> xc90v8/I4 :(
02/14/2020 at 21:18 |
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It’s got a SBC V8 in it, so it’ll run forever. Rust doesn’t care if the truck is moving or not.
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shop-teacher
> fintail
02/14/2020 at 22:00 |
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Yeah, it absolutely is a member of the family, and it deserves to be fixed . At the very least I want it to be around long enough for my girls to learn to drive in.
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shop-teacher
> Chuckles
02/14/2020 at 22:01 |
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It really has. I recommend something like this, that's for sure.
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shop-teacher
> TheRealBicycleBuck
02/14/2020 at 22:01 |
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I hope to keep this one around long enough for my girls to learn to drive in it.
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shop-teacher
> Chariotoflove
02/14/2020 at 22:02 |
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Its crazy how fast it goes, but great to look back and enjoy the pictures.
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shop-teacher
> gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
02/14/2020 at 22:05 |
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No, the bucket is 6' wide, but the bed is only 5'8" long. S o to get as much of the mulch as possible into the bed, they line up diagonally. I love that place, they are very generous with the volumes they load.
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fintail
> shop-teacher
02/14/2020 at 22:06 |
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Maybe one of them can take it over. Kids can develop strong attachments to cars. My dad dabbled in old cars when I was young , and I wish a few of them had been kept in the family. I f I found his 60 Ford wagon today, I’d probably buy it.
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shop-teacher
> Svend
02/14/2020 at 22:06 |
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I agree. Those Skodas are sharp looking. It's a shame they don't sell them here.
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shop-teacher
> xc90v8/I4 :(
02/14/2020 at 22:09 |
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I have, but I really can't afford to just put it up. Honestly though, if we weren't using it and making memories with it, we wouldn't have this connection with it. I'll keep fixing it though. I'm hoping to at least have it around long enough for my girls to learn to drive in it.
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shop-teacher
> DipodomysDeserti
02/14/2020 at 22:10 |
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Ultimately the rust is it’s main enemy. The miles are indeed irrelevant .
Derpwagon
> shop-teacher
02/14/2020 at 22:10 |
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Great story. I've had my first truck since the Saturday before Christmas and am loving it. I don't think I'll get rid of it any time soon.
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shop-teacher
> jimz
02/14/2020 at 22:14 |
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I think the folks of Oppo get that. It’s not what you drive, it’s that you love driving it . I’ve always said a real enthusiast finds a way to enjoy whatever they’re driving.
Its the chest thumping douche nozzles on the FP that can't wrap their closed little minds around that.
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shop-teacher
> fintail
02/14/2020 at 22:17 |
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Maybe they will. We shall see when the time comes. My dad never had any really interesting cars in my childhood , but if I found his electric blue ‘79 K10 pickup, I’d find a way to buy it.
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shop-teacher
> Derpwagon
02/14/2020 at 22:18 |
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Thanks. May you enjoy many years and many miles with your truck as well :)
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Chariotoflove
> shop-teacher
02/14/2020 at 22:22 |
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It happens too fast. My wife got me a digital frame for Christmas. I’m going to load it up with all the little girl pics I have and put it in my office.
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fintail
> shop-teacher
02/14/2020 at 22:34 |
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If they learn to drive in it, and have grown up with it, one of them is going to be in love with it. Your dad’s old K10 would be the ultimate for you, both his truck and a squarebody (and a great color, too). Sentimental value for cars often exceeds market value. Next month marks 25 years for me with the fintail. I bought it when I was 18, I’ve been through a lot with that car. The memories are worth more than any appraisal.
There are some wide age gaps in my family, I have cousins who are nearly 70. When they were kids in the 50s, their dad/my uncle had a little hot rod 34 Ford pickup. He kept it for a long time, selling it in the 70s. They still talk about it and wish it had been kept in the family.
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shop-teacher
> Chariotoflove
02/14/2020 at 23:04 |
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That's a good idea. I should do that.
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shop-teacher
> fintail
02/14/2020 at 23:08 |
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Dad’s truck is the root of my Squarebody love, and blue has always been my favorite color, especially in vehicles.
The girls may have to fight each other for my truck. The memories are definitely worth more than market value, that's for sure.
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fintail
> shop-teacher
02/15/2020 at 00:39 |
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I like blue cars, too. Not connected, but when I was born, my dad had a blue 70 Mustang, probably my earliest car memory, he had it until I was 4 or 5.
I think that truck will be around for a long time.
cg-guy
> shop-teacher
02/15/2020 at 07:52 |
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One of the better days in my life was your assignment to a (it shall remain anonymous) middle school. Our trips together to Byron with the RallyMetro and the evolution of that beast (R.I.P.) were a great/enlighte ning experience. The haulage you have done for me (and there shall be more in the future) is appreciated. You had previously shared with me your “adventure” in purchasing Truckie and I laughed again when reading it here. Hats off to you.
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shop-teacher
> fintail
02/15/2020 at 08:36 |
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As long as a wreck doesn't take it from us, Truckie will be around for many more years.
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shop-teacher
> cg-guy
02/15/2020 at 08:42 |
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Oh man, thank you. That's a very high compliment. Those trips would have been considerably less fun, without you riding shotgun and spinning yarns too. Get ready, because Birddog is getting that C10 whipped into shape for this season. We shall ride again to Byron, and there are going to be rallycrosses at Road America this year too!
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cg-guy
> shop-teacher
02/15/2020 at 09:51 |
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Who will conducting rallycross at Byron? That is too good a track to sit idle.
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shop-teacher
> cg-guy
02/15/2020 at 09:58 |
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The Milwaukee region of the SCCA took it over last year. Unfortunately the SCCA’s insurance regulations prevent them from running the lower course, so they only use the flat portion up top.
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TheRealBicycleBuck
> shop-teacher
02/15/2020 at 10:44 |
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Good luck. That was my plan too. Unfortunately, a few things happened within a few months and my wife deemed it unsafe for anyone to drive. That was the death k nell for the little truck.
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shop-teacher
> TheRealBicycleBuck
02/15/2020 at 10:53 |
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Thanks. Things can happen, so you never know. It's a goal. I certainly have gotten my money's worth and then some.
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fintail
> shop-teacher
02/15/2020 at 12:38 |
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15 years down, the next 15 will fly by.
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shop-teacher
> fintail
02/15/2020 at 14:07 |
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No doubt about it.
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fintail
> shop-teacher
02/16/2020 at 17:03 |
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This was “suggested” for me on marketplace, made me think of you - shows what’s available here for little money. No mention of rust, because that’s just not a thing:
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2719587101488659/
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shop-teacher
> fintail
02/16/2020 at 22:51 |
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Daaaaaaang! If I ever manage to pull some money together, I really need to fly out there and drive something home.