My first dent....how soon did you dent yours?

[DBrickel]

Originally posted by DOUGMartin

Stupid is as stupid does. Saw that in a movie a while ago. I got mine a few months after I got it. A guy slid into me in the snow. Yeah a van. He apparently didn't think he needed to stop. I had to turn around and chase him. caught up to him a few miles later. He had some weak excuse but he decided he better own up and give me his insurance info.



I know some people who first thing they do when they get home with a new truck is throw a good size rock in the beck and drive around a while. They clame if you do it on purpuse right away it takes away all shock. I myself have never owned a new truck so all mine have come with small dings already.

 

[Matt400]

Originally posted by CStansbury

My wife thinks I am a little obsessive-compulsive about the whole thing



*I only close the doors with the handles, never touch the paint.

*I look at the ignition switch when putting the key in so as not to scratch the lock.

*I pick little rocks and grass bits off of my mats after I get out of the truck.

My wife thought I was bad till I read her your post... . thanks!!

 

[Mad Bomber]

Dents

I always park in the BFE part of the parking lot and some A hole parked right next to me there were tons of spots everywhere. BTW this was the 2nd day of owning it. :{

 

[Carlsummers]

Got my '03 on a Saturday, drove to my brother-inlaw's on Sunday morning... . ding... . right front fender... . belt buckles are dangerous... . luckily not paint removed.....

 

[CStansbury]

Originally posted by Matt400

My wife thought I was bad till I read her your post... . thanks!!

I'm glad my "sickness" has helped to cover up your own Excuse me while I go wipe down my frame with a soft towel. It got a little dusty on the way to work

 

[machterhof]

I put the first ding in my bumper less then an hour after I picked it up.



Took delivery and headed off to the office. Backed into the parking spot and didn't see the tree. Felt a bump and pulled forward a little and went for a look. dent in the bumper about the size of my fist.



A little over a year later and I have a bunch of small rock chips and a couple of small scratches but it still looks good when she's all cleaned up... ...

 

[CajunDieselMan]

I got my first dent and wasn't even driving. I had company visiting my wife. The person had, for some reason, just pulled into my driveway and stopped. When I came home from work, I just drove around her car and parked in front of her. We were sitting at the table when she said, "Look! Someone is taking your truck!" Sure enough my truck was backing out the driveway--by itself. My drive has a slight incline and I forgot to set my parking brake or leave the truck in gear--something I hadn't had to worry about with my automatic '00 2500. Well, the curve in my back bumper is a little curvier on the right side now, but I caused $660 damage to her Honda when my truck hit it. Unless you look for the damage, you can't see it on the bumper, but it's a reminder to me to set the parking brake. Oh, that fell under comprehensive insurance, and "Act of God", so my insurance picked up the tab--lucky me.

 

[Matt400]

Originally posted by CStansbury

I'm glad my "sickness" has helped to cover up your own

Thats ok cuz I just wiped down my plastic valve cover trim

Hey, I know a dude that cleans off his grease fittings after greasing!

 

[HoofinSoot]

Originally posted by Matt400

Thats ok cuz I just wiped down my plastic valve cover trim

It's a conspiracy !!



I just did that myself this weekend !! Along with the fuse block cover, the air box cover, the fan shroud, upper radiator hose, etc. ... ..... I use a 3M plastic and rubber "rejuvenator". Better than Armor All junk that attracts all the dust and debris particles.



My girlfriend just shook her head when she saw me with the hood popped and half my body mulling around under the hood !



Wait - I wipe off my zerk fittings too ... ... I AM nutty .....

 

[akshadow]

don't leave a tape measure on your back bumper and open the tail gate

 

[Matt400]

Originally posted by CajunDieselMan

Sure enough my truck was backing out the driveway--by itself.

That reminds me of a fella with a CTD that set his park brake idling in neutral with a heavy trailer... . what happened is the soldered on ball that is on the end of the brake cable pulled off, there was a curb but the weight of the trailer pushed the truck on over it... down the hill it went and 6 grand later it was all over.



Oh... and just the week before he paid off the truck and switched to PL&PD- so it was all out of pocket, bummer!



Scary watching manual trans owners leaving the engine running on the boat ramp

 

[DieselNewby]

Originally posted by Matt400

Scary watching manual trans owners leaving the engine running on the boat ramp [/B]

This brings up a question for me. I am VERY close to buying my new truck. Just waiting for an offer on my '01 Dakota right now! I tow only boats but about 10k miles per year. I currently have a 21' Cuddy cabin, and I realize this is nothing for the truck but I'm getting a 26'r later this year.

I want a 6spd however, and now even more so that I've driven two of them. My question is this, will I always have to shut the truck down on the ramp when launching and retrieving in order to put the truck on gear? Am I correct that the parking brake won't hold and puts me in danger of sinking the truck!?!

Also, after a long tow, it only takes me about 3 minutes to get the boat ready for launching. Is this enough idle time to shut the truck down while on the ramp without damaging turbos or anything?

Unless I hear otherwise I still want the 6spd as it is just a blast to drive. Any ideas?



Thanks!



Eric

 

[CajunDieselMan]

Even with my stupid, but fortunately not costly, mistake, I would still get a 6-speed--it is a blast to drive and I learned my lesson. I might, however, think twice about a 4. 10 rear end (nothing wrong, I get 17. 5 mpg empty, just more than I need and slow on the take off). The only way to use your 6-speed as extra insurance on the boat ramp is to stop the engine--otherwise all that's between your truck and the fish is the parking brake. Unless it is 100+ degrees and you've been pulling on hills, 3 minutes should be enough

 

[DragonflyDriver]

Ding Free

Don't hate me guys, but my '96 is ding free and yes, I do drive it. Talk about tempting fate, it'll probably get hit by a bus today. Never been "waxed"--I've only used Turtle Wax Wash-n-Wax on it so it doesn't have any wax application related swirls in the clearcoat. The pic is two years old but the truck still looks the same.

 

[CajunDieselMan]

And to think I've been killing myself waxing my trucks. That's a fine looking truck Dragonfly--better looking than most 2-yr-old trucks. Might start using your method instead

 

[Matt400]

Originally posted by DieselNewby

will I always have to shut the truck down on the ramp when launching and retrieving in order to put the truck on gear?

Hey Eric,

I would only because if you look at how easy it would be for that ball to pull off the end of the cable you will see.



On the ramp you will lock the cable down tight as a safety measure and that adds more stress to the end. I hit the brake pretty hard and use park when launching.

The wife gets the truck for loading and puts the trailer in the water.



If you really want the stick I think it would be a good idea to install a hydraulic brake lock similar to the ones tow trucks use.

Flip the switch and press on the service brake to lock all four wheels that way you can also leave the engine running.

 

[DieselNewby]

If you really want the stick I think it would be a good idea to install a hydraulic brake lock similar to the ones tow trucks use.

Flip the switch and press on the service brake to lock all four wheels that way you can also leave the engine running. [/B][/QUOTE]



OK, well we can forget my wife bringing the truck around! LOL!! But how much are we talking for a hydraulic brake lock? I could probably rig up a stick to wedge between the seat bottom and the brake pedal a whole lot cheaper I'd bet! Not a bad idea to lock up all four wheels I'll admit.

 

[Matt400]

Re: Ding Free

Originally posted by DragonflyDriver

Don't hate me guys, but my '96 is ding free I've only used Turtle Wax Wash-n-Wax on it

Oh I don't hate you, I commend you for treating your ride so good. What kills me is the 02 Ram I saw the other day that was completely beat and wore out. The interior was all tore up, drinks spilled on the dash, bed dented up real bad on the inside, 3 sets of brakes, one transmission and the 360 gas motor is wasted with valve seats pounded into the heads.



Whats that wash-n-wax stuff? Is it a soap for the bucket that contains wax?

 

[Matt400]

Originally posted by DieselNewby

how much are we talking for a hydraulic brake lock? I could probably rig up a stick to wedge between the seat bottom and the brake pedal a whole lot cheaper I'd bet! Not a bad idea to lock up all four wheels I'll admit.

How about both rears or both fronts for under $200. 00?

The stick could work but would be a pain to use and if it slipped out:--)



Check this link even at 2 wheels its much safer than a park cable. They have 4 wheel kits but doubles the cost.

 

[DragonflyDriver]

Thanks guys. Yes, it's wax mixed in with the soap. I typically get about 5 washes out of one bottle which makes it less than a buck each wash. The recommended amount to use doesn't quite do it. I ordered a case of it when I had trouble finding it in the local stores from here:

http://shop.ivalueinternet.com/washthecar/index.cfm/action/productdetail/product_id/86.htm

I dry the truck with one of those synthetic shammis--had one for years and never used it, now I use it all the time, it just took a little getting use to. Still use a towel for the wheels and door jams.