Do you feel safe - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

edog1 · 01-09-2005, 01:48 AM

I just wanted to get some opinion about how safe do you feel driving your older truck compared to a new truck with ABS, Air Bags etc. Please dont get me wrong im not trying bash our trucks. My wife and I had our first child and Im starting to look at life a little different now. I want to do everything I can to make my family safe.

C-10volvo · 01-09-2005, 02:19 AM

Considering that my '84 c-10 was my first car, I feel more safe in it than my other cars. except for my Volvo... hahaha. I find my cavalier to be the scariest thing on wheels. I honestly think I could avoid an accident better with a non ABS car than one that is equipped. The only real weak points of these truck are brakes. I have upgraded the front disks with brembos.

People have very mixed feelings with air bags. Some say they cause more damage, while some can walk away from a head on collision. I personally think air bags are great, but I don’t feel unsafe driving in a car without them.

C-10 truck have huge amounts of space under the hood to crumple before the cab does. The only weak safety issues with these trucks are side impacts. Throw in a roll cage and call it good!

edog1 · 01-09-2005, 02:50 AM

Thanks Ken
I have been trying to decide if I should buy a new truck or not. My wife doesnt feel safe in my 85 Crew Cab DRW and she will never drive the "Monster" as she refers to it. I hate the idea of a $600 month truck payment but i dont want someone geting hurt because im being cheap.

CT-Truckster · 01-09-2005, 03:01 AM

wear your seatbelt no matter what you drive, air bag won't do anygood if your bouncing around linside like pingpong ball, or get thrown out of the vehicle and it lands on top of you. and make sure your kids are buckled in correctly. as long as you keep everything(brakes, seatbelts and such) on your 85 operating correctly i don't see why you wouldn't be as safe as about any other vehicle on the road. besides if i was going to be in a wreck I'd take your 85 crew cab tank with bad brakes and no air bag over some compact car with all the safety features anyday.

72 CustomCamper · 01-09-2005, 04:47 AM

I feel alot safer in an older auto because they were built better and have more metal than the newer plastic cars and trucks...

Chuck

87 Shortwide · 01-09-2005, 05:44 AM

Looks like its time to sell that crewcab to me and get a new truck

Mike76251 · 01-09-2005, 07:47 AM

I like my '84 because there is no computer on it to strand me,
I like the weight of it compared to your average Geo,
I like how it responds in a crash........two so far and no damage.
If I had a child to protect, I would want a air bag in the vehicle IF the child was old enough not to get hurt when it fired.

purple gas · 01-09-2005, 11:45 AM

I've driven everything from beaters to the most modern saftey equiped cars. like others have said, keep everything well maintained, wear your seatbelts, and upgrading to disk brakes can't hurt. But the most important safety feature in any car is the one between the steering wheel & the seat. Being in a vehicle is one of the most dangerous things most of us will ever do. There is no such thing as a traffic "accident". Keep your mind on driving, assume ever other person on the road is a blind, drunk, idiot, who can't see stop signs or red lights. The best way to survive a car crash is to avoid it.

SCOTI · 01-09-2005, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edog1

Thanks Ken
I have been trying to decide if I should buy a new truck or not. My wife doesnt feel safe in my 85 Crew Cab DRW and she will never drive the "Monster" as she refers to it. I hate the idea of a $600 month truck payment but i dont want someone geting hurt because im being cheap.

I don't know . ..... your crewcab is one big truck. What would a newer truck (Tahoe, burb, or crewcab) have over it safety wise? ABS, safety air-bags? What else?

Personally, I would rather be in a vehicle that offers the better weight ratio in the event of an unforseen impact. The bigger vehicle will transfer less of the impact to it's occupants.

The only area that I would worry vs. a newer truck is the old side mounted gas tanks. It would be easier (& cheaper.... I mean more economically responsible

) to move the tank/s under the bed & inside the frame rails than incur a $600+ monthly pmt + the cost of insurance.

Blue Beard · 01-09-2005, 01:41 PM

No matter what you drive there's always potential for safety issues.

How many times have you heard of someone getting injured by air bags, or shoulder belts that are made to protect you. Even fatalities from these....

I like older vehicles because they were built strong....but they do cause the same amount of issues.

I rely more on the fact that I've ridden motorcycles most of my life and am more aware of what goes on around me....but even that isn't 100%

I believe it's all a matter of personal preferance...

71-longbed · 01-09-2005, 01:42 PM

i feel safer in my longbed than i ever did in my little 86 mazda pickup ... you could find shoulder straps for your truck ... with only the lap belt sometimes i worry about how that rear window and the steering wheel might feel against my head

edog1 · 01-09-2005, 02:05 PM

Im looking at buying a 2005 F250 Crew Cab LB 4x4 diesel . My truck is in good mechanical shape it has front disk brakes and shoulder belt but it takes a long time to stop this truck especially in a panic stop when the roads are wet.

Im also a motorcycle rider and couldnt agree more about being aware while riding it does develop into safe driving habbits.

I know nothing is a 100 % safe I would just like to to improve my odds a little.

rolson1039 · 01-09-2005, 02:42 PM

im prolly the only person on here who will tell you the ford is a great truck, but then again i have several trucks for work and some are chevys others are fords.. ill give you the newer ones are more luxurious and quieter but i think my old trucks properly maintained run just as well as the newer ones. ABS is no big issue to me neither are airbags... as long as the truck runs well and is maintained ,body , chassis, and motor, i wouldnt go out of my way to buy a newer truck unless its something i really wanted.. my 86 has 268K and it runs now as good as the day it was new

cliffsta · 01-09-2005, 03:30 PM

well, one issue all of yall kinda ignored is the lack of headrests on benchseats. If your hit from behind or into something, fly forward, then whip back, your head is gonna bang into that nice hard rear glass. My mom does nothing but complain about that, she wants to ghetto up my seats somehow and put some headrests on there, but i won't let her.

plumbcut · 01-09-2005, 04:59 PM

not having abs doesnt really affect a GOOD driver.. lets be honest its mainly for people that are going to panic stop and jump on the brakes at the first sensation of hydroplaning, or whatever... they're great for their intended purpose.. an experienced, conscientious (sp?) driver can do as well or better w/o ABS.....

as for airbags-- Im not convinced either way.. I do know that I dont want it going off in anything less than about a 40mph head-on... I think it would do more damage to me and my pocketbook, in your average fender bender. im no expert- but from what I gather, airbag technology is pretty good these days and late model airbags are only going to go off when they need to. of course nothing is 100% though.

my only real beef with our old trucks is the steering column, it can do some real damage.. I have been in a serious head on in a 77 pickup and the steering column came down and broke my left femur. you should have seen the shape of the steering wheel afterwards

saddle tanks- this has been beaten to death... I dont think they're really that much of a hazzard. but at the same time I dont feel its the best design they could have done.

if you feel unsafe w/ the saddle tanks- doesnt the aftermarket make tanks with a rubber liner inside that is supposed to resist tearing in the event of a side-impact? or am I thinking of a different vehicle......

pc

SCOTI · 01-09-2005, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plumbcut

.... saddle tanks- this has been beaten to death... I dont think they're really that much of a hazzard. but at the same time I dont feel its the best design they could have done.

if you feel unsafe w/ the saddle tanks- doesnt the aftermarket make tanks with a rubber liner inside that is supposed to resist tearing in the event of a side-impact? or am I thinking of a different vehicle......

pc

Just to be clear, I wasn't saying the side tanks are any more dangerous than other options. I just know alot of people do have issues w/them & I wasn't sure if that was one of his safety concerns.

I have a 74 w/saddle tank & I'm not any more worried than when I drive my 68 w/the tank sitting mere inches away from my backside. I think the best alternative is under the bed, within the framerails, & behind the rear bumper & @ least 1 crossmember.

magnethead · 01-09-2005, 07:30 PM

considering they're making cars nowadays out of plastic and plastic, we feel real safe in the dually- if we hit anybody, we're likely gonna go over them, and theres a good foot of open space that the hood can crumble before even touching the motor...

Plastic vs IRON.....who would you expect to win?

cliffsta · 01-09-2005, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magnethead

considering they're making cars nowadays out of plastic and plastic, we feel real safe in the dually- if we hit anybody, we're likely gonna go over them, and theres a good foot of open space that the hood can crumble before even touching the motor...

Plastic vs IRON.....who would you expect to win?

that's my feelings in general. 4800 pounds of steel and iron vs 2100 pounds of plastic, im pretty sure i'd come out the better of the two, and i consider myself a safe driver, it would be someone hitting me that concerns me.

Tom · 01-09-2005, 08:50 PM

I feel very safe. I would feel safer with some nice bucket seats that hold you from moving around in the 79 [the 78 has custom buckets with 4 point harness, you don't feel much safer then that]. I rolled a new car, a 99 accord. The airbags never went off. The ABS did not work. Niether me nor my passenger had any injurys at all. Why? We wore our belts. Thats all thats needed IMO.

**N2TRUX** · 01-09-2005, 09:44 PM

I know a short bed 1/2 ton doesn't compare to your long bed crew cab with dual wheels, and hydro boosted brakes, but here's my opinion.

My 77 is a very well mannered truck. It runs ok for a stock 350, and the brakes are in excellent condition so they stop as good as stock brakes should. The steering, and suspension are in like new condition too.Do I feel just as safe in that truck as my late model trucks? NO Way!

The 4 wheel disc brakes, a fat sway bar, and huge shocks are just some of the many advantages of a late model truck. Add wipers that are intermittent, lights that are far superior, steering that responds quickly, and a motor that will power you out of a tight spot when you need it, and the advantage of mechanical advancement becomes very clear.

I love to drive that little black truck as much as any truck I have ever owned, and I will drive it every chance I get. Do I think it's just as safe to drive as a late model truck? Sorry guys, but it's just not the case.

I will say that with some effort, I think it can be made much safer than what it was when it left the factory, and I intend to see what I can do to accomplish that.....

longhorn71 · 01-10-2005, 03:29 AM

I hate abs on ice.they do not really help i think.
Airbags have got better but i still hate them.
the newer trucks are better in a collsion becase they absorb the impact so i feel safer.the older trucks are tougher in a collsion but you can get hurt bashing into the steel in them.

454_72_4X4 · 01-10-2005, 12:15 PM

Personelly I despise ABS.
You'll never learn if you rely on ABS to do it for you.
One failed fuse/conection/computer "blip" and you have no idea of the capabilities of your vehicle.
I have mixed feelings on airbags.

If I were better at expressing myself I'd have written this;

Quote:

But the most important safety feature in any car is the one between the steering wheel & the seat. Being in a vehicle is one of the most dangerous things most of us will ever do. There is no such thing as a traffic "accident". Keep your mind on driving, assume ever other person on the road is a blind, drunk, idiot, who can't see stop signs or red lights. The best way to survive a car crash is to avoid it.

Excellent writing purple gas!

1987SierraClassic · 01-12-2005, 05:10 PM

In my humble opinion, safety is more a driver issue than a vehicle issue. People today are lulled into a false sense of security thinking that the safety systems of the vehicle are going to compensate for their lack of driving skill.

Do I feel 'safer' in a newer vehicle. No, not any more so than I do my '87. I rely on my experience and abilities to keep me out of harms way. I don't cruise down the interstate with a coffee in one hand a cell phone in the other and steering with my knees. The driver's seat is not the place to multi-task. I concentrate on driving and being aware of what is going on around me and avoid situations that would lead to an 'accident'. I assume the other guy is going to do something stupid and 9 times out of 10 I'll be right.

purple gas hit it right on the head.

My opinion for what it's worth!

80BIG10 · 01-12-2005, 05:45 PM

I do feel safe in my truck but its the way other drivers act towards my truck compared to my wifes car. When in my truck I never get cut in front of or anyone on my a##. But when in my wifes car (Saturn Vue) I can't believe how many people think they can just cut infront of me or stay right on my rear bumper. Around here it seems people give trucks alot of respect.

1987SierraClassic · 01-12-2005, 09:56 PM

Well, 80BIG10, they don't do that around here. I have an '89 Suburban with a 4" lift and 33" tires. I get tailgated and cut off all the time, once by some fool in a tiny Triumph sports car (he squeezed between me and a dumptruck!) People follow so close I can't see them in any mirrors. They don't seem to understand that if I stop quick, they are destined to make a very messy stain on the roadway. People around here just don't understand. Maybe I should move to Texas!

People seem too hung up on getting there first. Just sit back and enjoy the drive! That's what I do. There's nothing at my destination worth dying for...or at the very least, wrecking my ride!

01-09-2005, 01:48 AM	#1
edog1 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Santa Maria ,CA Posts: 142	Do you feel safe I just wanted to get some opinion about how safe do you feel driving your older truck compared to a new truck with ABS, Air Bags etc. Please dont get me wrong im not trying bash our trucks. My wife and I had our first child and Im starting to look at life a little different now. I want to do everything I can to make my family safe.

01-09-2005, 02:19 AM	#2
C-10volvo Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Lake Oswego, Oregon Posts: 1,028	Considering that my '84 c-10 was my first car, I feel more safe in it than my other cars. except for my Volvo... hahaha. I find my cavalier to be the scariest thing on wheels. I honestly think I could avoid an accident better with a non ABS car than one that is equipped. The only real weak points of these truck are brakes. I have upgraded the front disks with brembos. People have very mixed feelings with air bags. Some say they cause more damage, while some can walk away from a head on collision. I personally think air bags are great, but I don’t feel unsafe driving in a car without them. C-10 truck have huge amounts of space under the hood to crumple before the cab does. The only weak safety issues with these trucks are side impacts. Throw in a roll cage and call it good! __________________ Ken Morgan For fun: 1964 Volvo 122 For slow: 1984 Chevrolet C-10 For everything else: 1997 BMW M3

01-09-2005, 04:47 AM	#5
72 CustomCamper huh ??? Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Fredericksburg,Va. Posts: 3,368	I feel alot safer in an older auto because they were built better and have more metal than the newer plastic cars and trucks... Chuck __________________ 90 Blazer Silverado 350w/ 700R4 and 32" Kelly's "I am a bomb technician. If you see me running try to keep up!"

01-09-2005, 05:44 AM	#6
87 Shortwide Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Wichita Ks Posts: 536	Looks like its time to sell that crewcab to me and get a new truck __________________ Daily Driver: 1992 Blazer dropped on rallys Project: 87 GMC shortwide, About to get a little boost

01-09-2005, 11:45 AM	#8
purple gas Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: saskatoon, planet earth Posts: 694	I've driven everything from beaters to the most modern saftey equiped cars. like others have said, keep everything well maintained, wear your seatbelts, and upgrading to disk brakes can't hurt. But the most important safety feature in any car is the one between the steering wheel & the seat. Being in a vehicle is one of the most dangerous things most of us will ever do. There is no such thing as a traffic "accident". Keep your mind on driving, assume ever other person on the road is a blind, drunk, idiot, who can't see stop signs or red lights. The best way to survive a car crash is to avoid it. __________________ I got a bench seat baby, you don't have to sit over there.

01-09-2005, 02:50 AM	#3
edog1 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Santa Maria ,CA Posts: 142	Thanks Ken I have been trying to decide if I should buy a new truck or not. My wife doesnt feel safe in my 85 Crew Cab DRW and she will never drive the "Monster" as she refers to it. I hate the idea of a $600 month truck payment but i dont want someone geting hurt because im being cheap.

01-09-2005, 03:01 AM	#4
CT-Truckster ? Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Dyersburg, TN Posts: 471	wear your seatbelt no matter what you drive, air bag won't do anygood if your bouncing around linside like pingpong ball, or get thrown out of the vehicle and it lands on top of you. and make sure your kids are buckled in correctly. as long as you keep everything(brakes, seatbelts and such) on your 85 operating correctly i don't see why you wouldn't be as safe as about any other vehicle on the road. besides if i was going to be in a wreck I'd take your 85 crew cab tank with bad brakes and no air bag over some compact car with all the safety features anyday.

01-09-2005, 07:47 AM	#7
Mike76251 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,499	I like my '84 because there is no computer on it to strand me, I like the weight of it compared to your average Geo, I like how it responds in a crash........two so far and no damage. If I had a child to protect, I would want a air bag in the vehicle IF the child was old enough not to get hurt when it fired.

01-09-2005, 01:41 PM	#10
Blue Beard Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Washington State Posts: 8,831	No matter what you drive there's always potential for safety issues. How many times have you heard of someone getting injured by air bags, or shoulder belts that are made to protect you. Even fatalities from these.... I like older vehicles because they were built strong....but they do cause the same amount of issues. I rely more on the fact that I've ridden motorcycles most of my life and am more aware of what goes on around me....but even that isn't 100% I believe it's all a matter of personal preferance... __________________ 1970 Chev CST 2003 Harley Fatboy 1975 Chevrolet Step Van 1956 Chev Bel Air 1977 Blazer 2WD For Sale $3000.00 1978 Blazer 2WD For Sale $7000.00 1978 Silverado 2005 Monte Carlo

01-09-2005, 01:42 PM	#11
71-longbed Its Magically Delicious Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: oregon Posts: 2,398	i feel safer in my longbed than i ever did in my little 86 mazda pickup ... you could find shoulder straps for your truck ... with only the lap belt sometimes i worry about how that rear window and the steering wheel might feel against my head __________________ 71 C10 LWB 350sbc -TH350 12 bolt 3.42 Posi Of all my favorite things to do, The utmost is to have a brew. My love grows for my foamy friend, with each thirst-quenching elbow bend. Beer so frosty, smooth, and cold it's paradise pure liquid gold. Yes beer means many things to me that's all for now cus I gotta pee.

01-09-2005, 02:05 PM	#12
edog1 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Santa Maria ,CA Posts: 142	Im looking at buying a 2005 F250 Crew Cab LB 4x4 diesel . My truck is in good mechanical shape it has front disk brakes and shoulder belt but it takes a long time to stop this truck especially in a panic stop when the roads are wet. Im also a motorcycle rider and couldnt agree more about being aware while riding it does develop into safe driving habbits. I know nothing is a 100 % safe I would just like to to improve my odds a little.

01-09-2005, 02:42 PM	#13
rolson1039 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 404	im prolly the only person on here who will tell you the ford is a great truck, but then again i have several trucks for work and some are chevys others are fords.. ill give you the newer ones are more luxurious and quieter but i think my old trucks properly maintained run just as well as the newer ones. ABS is no big issue to me neither are airbags... as long as the truck runs well and is maintained ,body , chassis, and motor, i wouldnt go out of my way to buy a newer truck unless its something i really wanted.. my 86 has 268K and it runs now as good as the day it was new __________________ so many trucks so little time!!!

01-09-2005, 03:30 PM	#14
cliffsta Stepsides RULE Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Pineville, LA Posts: 1,921	well, one issue all of yall kinda ignored is the lack of headrests on benchseats. If your hit from behind or into something, fly forward, then whip back, your head is gonna bang into that nice hard rear glass. My mom does nothing but complain about that, she wants to ghetto up my seats somehow and put some headrests on there, but i won't let her. __________________ 1981 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe Stepside 350 V8, headers, side exhausts, 3-speed auto SOLD 1980 Chevy C10 Custum Deluxe Stepside 305 V8, Edelbrock Performer Intake, Edelbrock 1406 600CFM 4-barrel, TH350C. Bent rod. SOLD 1984 GMC Sierra Classic Longbed 6.2L Diesel SOLD 2009 Kawasaki KLX-250S too many mods for this signature 1999 Honda Accord EX 4-cylinder, 17" Motegi Wheels 215/45/17 Sumitomo tires, Tein S-Tech lowering springs, KYB GR2 shocks, Acura TL 20mm rear swaybar, debadged, blackhoused headlights, Short-Ram Intake Cardomain of the Accord

01-09-2005, 04:59 PM	#15
plumbcut california fill Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Sunny So-Cal Posts: 694	not having abs doesnt really affect a GOOD driver.. lets be honest its mainly for people that are going to panic stop and jump on the brakes at the first sensation of hydroplaning, or whatever... they're great for their intended purpose.. an experienced, conscientious (sp?) driver can do as well or better w/o ABS..... as for airbags-- Im not convinced either way.. I do know that I dont want it going off in anything less than about a 40mph head-on... I think it would do more damage to me and my pocketbook, in your average fender bender. im no expert- but from what I gather, airbag technology is pretty good these days and late model airbags are only going to go off when they need to. of course nothing is 100% though. my only real beef with our old trucks is the steering column, it can do some real damage.. I have been in a serious head on in a 77 pickup and the steering column came down and broke my left femur. you should have seen the shape of the steering wheel afterwards saddle tanks- this has been beaten to death... I dont think they're really that much of a hazzard. but at the same time I dont feel its the best design they could have done. if you feel unsafe w/ the saddle tanks- doesnt the aftermarket make tanks with a rubber liner inside that is supposed to resist tearing in the event of a side-impact? or am I thinking of a different vehicle...... pc

01-09-2005, 07:30 PM	#17
magnethead 7000 #'s of american IRON Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: north tx Posts: 883	considering they're making cars nowadays out of plastic and plastic, we feel real safe in the dually- if we hit anybody, we're likely gonna go over them, and theres a good foot of open space that the hood can crumble before even touching the motor... Plastic vs IRON.....who would you expect to win?



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01-09-2005, 08:50 PM	#19
Tom driving is in my blood Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Mesa AZ Posts: 5,748	I feel very safe. I would feel safer with some nice bucket seats that hold you from moving around in the 79 [the 78 has custom buckets with 4 point harness, you don't feel much safer then that]. I rolled a new car, a 99 accord. The airbags never went off. The ABS did not work. Niether me nor my passenger had any injurys at all. Why? We wore our belts. Thats all thats needed IMO. __________________ -78 c10 short/step: 388cid, M20, 5/5 drop, lots more. Playtoy and first vehicle. -98 c1500 x-cab: 5.7L, 17" rims, 5/6 drop, flowmaster, helper bags,NBS rear disk brakes. -02 Suburban 4x4: leveled front -CBR600F4i, CBR600RR, CBR1000RR, and standup skis DISCLAIMER: I cant spell for the life of me.

01-09-2005, 09:44 PM	#20
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,021	I know a short bed 1/2 ton doesn't compare to your long bed crew cab with dual wheels, and hydro boosted brakes, but here's my opinion. My 77 is a very well mannered truck. It runs ok for a stock 350, and the brakes are in excellent condition so they stop as good as stock brakes should. The steering, and suspension are in like new condition too.Do I feel just as safe in that truck as my late model trucks? NO Way! The 4 wheel disc brakes, a fat sway bar, and huge shocks are just some of the many advantages of a late model truck. Add wipers that are intermittent, lights that are far superior, steering that responds quickly, and a motor that will power you out of a tight spot when you need it, and the advantage of mechanical advancement becomes very clear. I love to drive that little black truck as much as any truck I have ever owned, and I will drive it every chance I get. Do I think it's just as safe to drive as a late model truck? Sorry guys, but it's just not the case. I will say that with some effort, I think it can be made much safer than what it was when it left the factory, and I intend to see what I can do to accomplish that..... __________________ Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra"

01-10-2005, 03:29 AM	#21
longhorn71 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: CANADA Posts: 1,681	I hate abs on ice.they do not really help i think. Airbags have got better but i still hate them. the newer trucks are better in a collsion becase they absorb the impact so i feel safer.the older trucks are tougher in a collsion but you can get hurt bashing into the steel in them.

01-12-2005, 05:10 PM	#23
1987SierraClassic Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Buxton, ME Posts: 91	In my humble opinion, safety is more a driver issue than a vehicle issue. People today are lulled into a false sense of security thinking that the safety systems of the vehicle are going to compensate for their lack of driving skill. Do I feel 'safer' in a newer vehicle. No, not any more so than I do my '87. I rely on my experience and abilities to keep me out of harms way. I don't cruise down the interstate with a coffee in one hand a cell phone in the other and steering with my knees. The driver's seat is not the place to multi-task. I concentrate on driving and being aware of what is going on around me and avoid situations that would lead to an 'accident'. I assume the other guy is going to do something stupid and 9 times out of 10 I'll be right. purple gas hit it right on the head. My opinion for what it's worth!

01-12-2005, 05:45 PM	#24
80BIG10 3 lefts make a right Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Texas Hill Country Posts: 150	I do feel safe in my truck but its the way other drivers act towards my truck compared to my wifes car. When in my truck I never get cut in front of or anyone on my a##. But when in my wifes car (Saturn Vue) I can't believe how many people think they can just cut infront of me or stay right on my rear bumper. Around here it seems people give trucks alot of respect.

01-12-2005, 09:56 PM	#25
1987SierraClassic Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Buxton, ME Posts: 91	Well, 80BIG10, they don't do that around here. I have an '89 Suburban with a 4" lift and 33" tires. I get tailgated and cut off all the time, once by some fool in a tiny Triumph sports car (he squeezed between me and a dumptruck!) People follow so close I can't see them in any mirrors. They don't seem to understand that if I stop quick, they are destined to make a very messy stain on the roadway. People around here just don't understand. Maybe I should move to Texas! People seem too hung up on getting there first. Just sit back and enjoy the drive! That's what I do. There's nothing at my destination worth dying for...or at the very least, wrecking my ride!

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