To all the naysayers....

[TeamRinaldi]

She made it! So I'm an aircraft mech, working in Greenville SC when I get a call about a job at the airforce boneyard in Arizona. Money's great, so I take it. No sweat, right? Pack up the truckmobile, get a 6x12 uhaul for my bike, bed, ect... and roll out. OH NO! But it's old! Phooey. I'm sure you've all heard it. "It's too old" "It won't make it" "Are you sure it's safe" "What if it breaks down". Blah blah blah. What is this mindset today that old is bad? New crap can break down just as easily, and then what? If my '85 breaks down in the middle of Texas beside an '05, is the '05 somehow better off? But I digress. Three days across I-20 and all I had was a blown fuse. The trailer was pulling a little more then the little guy could take, so I put in a bigger fuse. Easy as that, Greenville to Tucson. Turn on the Sirius and go.

[Albatrossian]

Rock on brother.
Thing is, you can more than likely fix the 85 on the side of the road whereas when the 05 breaks, you call the wrecker THEN the bank for the money to fix it!

[78 Chevyrado]

We just keep on truckin man! I get that a lot too with my 3/4 ton... I just laugh and pull dang near anything I want to with no problems.

[old Rusty C10]

my 82 did a 700 mile trip with a weak motor hauling a eclipse on a trailer a few weeks back and it rained the whole way

[S10Fan]

Originally Posted by TeamRinaldi

She made it! So I'm an aircraft mech, working in Greenville SC when I get a call about a job at the airforce boneyard in Arizona. Money's great, so I take it. No sweat, right? Pack up the truckmobile, get a 6x12 uhaul for my bike, bed, ect... and roll out. OH NO! But it's old! Phooey. I'm sure you've all heard it. "It's too old" "It won't make it" "Are you sure it's safe" "What if it breaks down". Blah blah blah. What is this mindset today that old is bad? New crap can break down just as easily, and then what? If my '85 breaks down in the middle of Texas beside an '05, is the '05 somehow better off? But I digress. Three days across I-20 and all I had was a blown fuse. The trailer was pulling a little more then the little guy could take, so I put in a bigger fuse. Easy as that, Greenville to Tucson. Turn on the Sirius and go.

So tell me, is it really a dry heat?

Good for you, nothing like a 3 day road trip!

[special-K]

Traveling in new stuff is for wimps.

[TeamRinaldi]

Funny enough it really is a dry heat like everyone says. Back home in Pa it get's into the high 90's, but the humidity will kill ya. Same in South Carolina and back when I was stationed in Florida. 110 Deg. there and people are falling out. Same temp here and it's nice. Just keeping fluids. There isn't much moisture, so the sky takes it from you.

[87Lowrider]

Originally Posted by TeamRinaldi

She made it! So I'm an aircraft mech, working in Greenville SC when I get a call about a job at the airforce boneyard in Arizona. Money's great, so I take it. No sweat, right? Pack up the truckmobile, get a 6x12 uhaul for my bike, bed, ect... and roll out. OH NO! But it's old! Phooey. I'm sure you've all heard it. "It's too old" "It won't make it" "Are you sure it's safe" "What if it breaks down". Blah blah blah.

Similar thing happened to me in 1992. Transferring duty stations from CA to KY. Ford told me my '90 Ranger with a 5 speed wouldn't pull my '57 stepper on a dolly. So, I did it anyway. With the exception of the nut on the towing ball coming loose and me nearly losing the whole trailer in Memphis... no troubles. And you're right... it is a DRY heat. After the middle east... I've had enough heat for a lifetime!!! /Ken

[RunninLo]

did Missoula MT to Stockton CA via Spokane WA and then back through Reno and up through UT/ID in 3 days in my '88. going down trailer was empty but from Stockton back had a 56 F**d Custom cab and a bed full of stuff. Only 2 hick-up and neither were the trucks fault. Weekend before was a overnight from Missoula, MT to Klackamas, OR to fetch a 68 'Cuda. I'd much rather run my squares than any of the new stuff even if gas in BBC is a bit much.

Josh

[Riveted1]

Originally Posted by S10Fan

So tell me, is it really a dry heat?

It is as long as it's not monsoon season. Even then it's not humid like S.C. or Florida. I'm originally from Texas and I didn't believe ppl either. Now that I've been out here 11 years, it really is true! I go home to visit the family, and I feel like I'm dying when it's 95 degrees. Here, it can be 110, and ya it's hot, but you can still breathe!


BTW sounds like it was a fun road trip... Where are the pics??

[Eyegore]

Welcome to AZ!!!! Yeah it's a dry heat, I've been here in Phoenix my whole life and what makes it worth it to suffer throught the heat of summer------NO RUST on the the original vehicles. Also beware if your truck is anywhere being close to nice they disappear, believe me.

Again Welcome to AZ.

[Mickey_D]

If I could have afforded the gas I would have happily driven my old rusted out 81 with 340,000 miles without a second thought. The wife's Neon I wouldn't trust to go further than 30 or 40 miles.

I was severely disappointed that U-haul didn't have anything big enough to put the truck on. Ticked me off that I gave it away for $200 instead of bringing it with us. I would have cheerfully left that piece of junk Dodge there instead...

[TeamRinaldi]

Yeah, monsoon season is good stuff. Or so I'm learning. The locals complain about the humidity this time of year, but they're crazy. On a bad day it's 20-30 percent. Monsoon's do make it harder to ride though. Unfortunately, I only have one pic and it's with the truck connected to the trailer in a Louisiana parking lot. I was hoping for some cool driving shots, but no such luck. To anyone that's never been across Texas via I-20, picture a big pile of sand with little bits of grass in it. Seriously the sun came up 14 times. There's nothing out there. I would have rather taken I-10 down south, but didn't have the time. Maybe if there's a return trip.

[seanconnery]

Dude, are you talking about the AMARC joint at Davis-Monthan? That's one hell of a boneyard. I saw that place on History Channel once, and then I checked it out on Google Earth. Big place!

In any event, glad the trip was safe. I was told by the man who I bought my truck from (the 2nd owner) that the first owner was stationed at Davis-Monthan when he bought it new in 1981. Then he was transfered to Dover AFB in Dover Delaware and the truck came with him in 2002.

[PHOENIX]

New cars do break down a lot. Just go to a dealer and look at all the new cars already getting repairs. Cars are complicated, they all break sooner or later... some just require special tools and cost a whole lot more to fix!

Glad you made it..... welcome to hell

[68GMC454]

i hate dry heat.. give me humidity any day..... id rather drie a old truck around than a new one....

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

Thats sweet glad to hear that you made it with now major problems. I gotta agree I would also much rather be on a road trip in a older rig.

[piecesparts]

The older the better---As Scotty would say "The more bells and whistles, the easier it is to screw it up".

[TeamRinaldi]

Yep, out here at AMARC. Well, they call it amarG, now, but that's just military reorganization crap. I can't wait to get out and do some exploring now that I'm out here. I'll post pics as I get them. I've got Vegas, the Grand Canyon, all the mountains, Cali's just up the road, and countless others. I see some of you guys are in and around Arizona, any recommendations?

[AceX]

Good old American Muscle.

I had some lady talking to me the other day, wondering why I buy cars older than me and I told her, "Because I can make an '85 run better than that '05 you're driving..."

[Thumpin455]

Of course you made it! Its not a Phord or dodge and after an EMP it will only take a battery, alternator and ignition module to get it running again. It doesnt take $60,000 worth of tools to keep it running. Its built like a Mig19, keep it simple and make it so anyone who can fog a mirror can fix it.

I have a bro at Holloman, wish I could visit and get some rust free tin! Up here we get rust on the rust from the salt. It doesnt get hot or humid here, but I would venture a guess we get more snow. You got lucky K.I. Sawyer closed a while back, so you get to stay warm.

Once I get everything workin on the 76 and the suspension fixed, I wouldnt think twice about a long distance haul. It will do it no problem, but it will drink some gas doing it. The only thing that would make it better is more room inside. Nobody notices a new vehicle while everyone notices and admires an old one, wishing they were the one driving it instead of the cookie cutter econobox or minivan they are stuck in.

[TeamRinaldi]

Boy you aren't kidding about the gas. I love my truck, but she's thirsty. Someday (finances willing) I have an R4 and 3:73's waiting to go in. Right now the three speed and 2:73's make her a great puller, but it cost about $800 to drive out here. I'd have done a lot better without the trailer but hey, that's why I drive a truck. Not like these new crapola trucks. Have you guys seen the Honda Ridgeline? It's unibody! Honda claims that makes it stronger, but anyone that's had a built camaro or mustang can tell you about twisting. Or how about after a wreck? Sheesh, unibody on a truck. What's next, sliding van doors?