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Old 04-27-2021, 05:13 AM   #51 (permalink)
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An old Ford for occasional towing?

My old Ford is a 1980 van, bought at a salvage auction in 1981, a rollover with smashed roof but no chassis damage, 3,000 miles. Now has 103,000 miles, sightly modified as seen on my web site:

stilettoman.info

It is very useful for hauling and towing, and gets 22 miles per gallon - that is
10 around town plus 12 on the highway. You may not be prepared to do as much work as I did.

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Old 04-27-2021, 10:40 AM   #52 (permalink)
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Swiss army van



Wow - impressive!!

I love that you can carry small vehicles in the tilt bed. I would do that. And it would tow my galleon!

People should definitely check out your other photos & build description: Ford Truck – Chateau Stillwater Garage
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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
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Old 04-27-2021, 10:48 AM   #53 (permalink)
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Can you get it done in 75 minutes?

https://www.homedepot.com/c/Truck_Re...E&gclsrc=aw.ds
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Old 04-27-2021, 10:59 AM   #54 (permalink)
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Does it take a permit to move it?

With a permit, you might not need a licensed vehicle to tow. Use a tractor, with guide car behind it.
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Old 04-27-2021, 11:07 AM   #55 (permalink)
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Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
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Yup, we could use a tractor.

Same problem, though: don't own a tractor!

We have hired the local marina a few times to launch & haul out the boat. They usually use an old tractor.
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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



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Old 04-27-2021, 12:41 PM   #56 (permalink)
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That truck reminds me of this one I saw at HomeDepot.



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Old 04-27-2021, 11:00 PM   #57 (permalink)
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How much beer would that neighbor's truck cost?
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Old 04-28-2021, 10:39 PM   #58 (permalink)
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Well if MetroMPG resigns I just might have to as well-because I committed one heck of a backslide myself, alas...

After my lovely 2005 Xenon scooter and I were run off the road and into a ditch, I had multiple fractured ribs and two clean breaks in my collarbone. Needless to say I was not allowed to go anywhere near two wheels for awhile. This left Little Wing quite disappointed as it was ready for more after a $10 mirror and a $3 can of touch-up paint...

Long story short, I found a vehicle in hiking distance for only $500-it was a dingy white 1998 Chevy s-10, it ran, I needed it and I bought it. A visit to the local mechanic and $800 later it has new plugs and wires, new timing belt, new hoses, new brakes and 4 new tires.

And to add insult to injury I sold the scooter-but to be fair the buyer really needed transport and offered me twice what I paid for it, and I still get to see her glide by my house once in awhile-I miss 130MPG though...

The good news is that the S-10 is a 'small' truck by US standards (which is to say a medium truck everywhere else), and I do have the 5-speed manual and the 4-cyl 2.2 liter so it could be worse. And of course the s-10 does have a lot going for it:
1) Cargo and towing to spare-which many of my neighbors have utilized and paid me for.
2) Robust and inexpensive parts for years to come.
3) Pre-dented to prevent idiots from playing Stupid Road Games with me.
4) Durable like you wouldn't believe-after the initial outlay, its been nothing but gas, oil and insurance costs so far.

So the Pale Rider isn't an ideal Ecomobile-but I have a lot of low-hanging fruit available. A custom Air Filter and adjusting the Nut Behind the Wheel is getting me an average of 30 MPG-the partial Grill Block didn't seem to do anything at all so I took it out and the wheels are already fairly aero (still looking for 4 plastic caps to hide the nuts though). I think that i'll probably see a really nice MPG boost once i've saved enough for a tonneau or possibly an ultra-light camper shell. This will take time as I am not a wealthy man...

I do miss Little Wing though-and my previous ride the Red Menace (1993 Ford Festiva) got a full reconditioning inside and out,and is getting the new owner roughly 48-50 MPG in Florida-but as I can neither justify nor afford more than one vehicle the S-10 is a necessary compromise.

(Did I mention that it was cheap and I am poor? )

I don't drive Pale Rider every day though-for short trips and local commuting I still have my 1976 Musashi one-speed commuter bike with two baskets for cargo (roughly 35 Miles per Milkshake)....so, um, I can still hang out with you guys, right?
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Old 04-28-2021, 11:41 PM   #59 (permalink)
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Team Metro
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MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 54.46 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

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30 in an S-10 is respectable!



Hmmm.... can one tow 5000 lbs?
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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
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Old 04-29-2021, 11:40 AM   #60 (permalink)
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My kids 1999 Z s10 could as the bigger brakes were rated that high, not sure about the base 4 banger

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