Posted by Ricker on July 27, 2000 at 08:34:03:
In Reply to: question for ricker posted by mongo on July 27, 2000 at 00:17:37:
Well, the 70's D trucks (a generic term for them! We all know that the 4x4's are actually W trucks, but they are commonly referred to as the D trucks) are getting scarce. Up here in the mid west, there are very few 70's trucks still on the road, none from the 60's, and only a handful from teh 80's.
Late model Rams are everywhere, but the D trucks are disappearing. Up here, they rust so badly that they are junked long before they fail mechanically.
The parts that are hard to find are decent replacement body panels, especially the structural ones. The fenders, doors, and tailgates can be bought new, but are imported and are of poor quality.
If you need a floor board, no problem, Tabco has them. If you need a cab support or a core support, forget about it! There is nothing available, unless you happen to live in So. CA or TX where the parts trucks are apparently plentiful.
In my opinion, any good, serviceable D truck is worth grabbing. They are treated as second class citizens on this board, but I really like them! And if I had the space, I'd buy every one of them I could!
Mechanically, they are very easy to get parts for, and are very easy repair. Avoid trucks with bad gas tanks, as they are nearly impossible to find.
I hope that helps you out a bit. If you are considering that flat bed you mentioned, before you purchase it, look down this list a bit and find the W200 for sale. About the same price, but a complete truck.
Good luck which ever way you go! I'm here all the time lurking around, just ask any questions you might have!