Ford pickup trucks have come a long way since the automaker started producing them. In the beginning, the company rolled out pickups with simplistic features. But, as time went on, Ford changed the design to meet our modern-day needs. So much so that even some of the rich wanted them.

The problem is, though, modern needs require more luxurious and more sophisticated equipment. These vehicles don’t last as they run into tons of problems real easily. The Fast Lane Truck website shows you how two 30-year-old Ford pickups compare and how they’ve stood the test of time.

The two older Ford Trucks

The first pickup they bought was the 1989 Ford F-350, which is a 4×4 heavy-duty truck. Their model runs on a 7.3-liter diesel engine that has an output of 185 hp. That kind of horsepower today would disappoint many owners as we’re used to the turbo-charged figures of around 430 hp.

However, the 1989 version has plenty of power and torque to perform many heavy-duty tasks. The Fast Lane crew didn’t feel this truck – with its 5-speed manual – ran at its highest capacity since it was still in decent running shape. The main problems were the rust at the rear of the truck, a gas tank leak, and an oil leak problem.

The pickup they purchased to use for parts in the F-350 was a 1990 Ford F-150 truck. This one has a 4.9-liter straight-six engine used for farm, ranch or work-site jobs. The engine could generate 150 hp with 280-lb-ft of torque. It runs as smoothly now as it probably did when the original owner first drove it.

Why they can last so long

Ford has its slogan, “Built Ford Tough.” That’s true especially for the older versions of pickups. With some decent TLC, you can make an older truck last a lifetime, thus saving you a ton of money in the long run.

With new vehicles, you often see a lot of cheaply made buttons and display screens that rely on a touch function to select what you need. These tend to have a ton of problems with either breaking or glitching. With anything related to the computer, it’s automatically going to set you back a big chunk of change to repair.

You won’t find any of that in these older Ford trucks. Parts are simple, and their button accessories are of high quality, which means they rarely break. The main problem with the older trucks, which is one of the many reasons people continually trade-in for newer vehicles, is the faded paint and rusted bodies. They don’t look good for someone who likes to make an impression with their trucks or SUVs. However, with some proper maintenance, even these components can last a long time.

What’s the difference between them and the vehicles we have today?

The trucks we have today are more for convenience than anything. Sure, they can be good haulers, but if you look under the hood, you’re more likely to see a cramped space of internal parts. With the older vehicles, there’s more room to get to the things you need, but with the new models, you pretty much have to remove the transmission or engine to get at something else you need to fix.

Also, the parts, like the engines, in older Ford trucks are simple workhorses. You won’t find complicated turbo-charged anything there.

The more sophisticated and the more complicated parts become, the more cost you’ll be looking at. Having all the bells and whistles are great, but when they break down, those parts will be expensive, and the labor to fix them will set you back quite a bit.

A simple system is much easier to deal with because you don’t have the frustration of sensitive equipment to replace. Plus, you won’t usually have to take half the truck apart just to get at anything. As long as they have the required safety equipment, they can also be safer than some of the newer ones.

Older Ford trucks are tough, and if given enough TLC, they can last a lifetime – even longer than some of us. The simplicity of features and parts that the old Ford trucks offer make them easier to repair should you need to fix them, and it won’t cost you your life savings as some of the newer trucks would.