I shared this story because many of us, like me, are  not millionaires but need dependable safe transportation for hunting and fishing and can get you way off road to those honey holes that hold great hunting and fishing promise.

I have owned several 4×4 vehicles and did not want to buy new. Not only could I not afford a new vehicle, it did not make sense to spend 30 to 40 thousand dollars at this juncture.

I recently purchased a used 2001 Ford F150 4×4 Lariat Triton Truck (130K miles) from a local used car dealer as my hunting vehicle and it came equipped with a tow package. Got to have tow capability, right? You bet!

Nice Looking Huh!

It was priced right for my budget (cheap) from a used car dealership who specializes in truck sales. I had my local mechanic review my potential purchase for areas that needed repair before purchase. The dealer asked that I pay for parts and they would take care of labor. It cost me $400 extra for parts that included the exhaust manifold and rear axle seals and new trans-axle covers. Thank goodness for my  mechanic’s keen senses.

When repairs were completed prior to purchase I took the truck back for a second review by my mechanic friend George at Freedom Tire in Plaistow, NH before consummating the deal. He was satisfied that the repairs were good and gave a thumbs up for the purchase knowing that my major nemesis was stopping the rust of the doors and skirts as well as the undercarriage. A common problem in the Northeast is severe rust from road salt.

This truck had less salt damage than most because it had no running boards for the salt to collect but it did have a large share of undercarriage rust to care for. Those that had running boards displayed severe rust through. Lesson learned!

I bought some very expensive specialty paints called POR 15 ($25 for a pint). Spray can too!

“POR-15® is a high-tech, high performance rust-preventive coating designed for application directly on rusted or seasoned metal surfaces. It dries to an incredible rock-hard, non-porous finish that won’t chip, crack, or peel, and it prevents rust from recurring by protecting metal from further exposure to moisture. Use it to coat rusty frames, floor pans, farm equipment, marine equipment, or even a heavily corroded battery tray. The POR 15 primer is sensitive to UV light (sun) and must be top coated for prolonged exposure to sunlight. Top coating is not required for areas not exposed to sunlight.”

I went to work scraping and sanding areas ( I used a dremmel power tool for small or hard to reach areas) that needed attention and then applied the paint by both brush and by spray. I just completed phase 1 painting of the door corners, skirt and undercarriage (2 hours) as well as the tailgate that was beginning to bubble. They make a rubberized undercoat too that I intend to purchase and spray on. We will see how it works over time.

The upper body of the truck and cab was well cared for by the previous owner and the truck looks like brand new.

So we shall see how this truck performs and lives its last few years as my Huntin’ Truck. I want to carry my canoe too so I will purchase a bed extender so my Canoe will be supported by the trailer hitch instead of buying racks for the truck. Bass Pro Shops sell the extender for $130.

For my rear widow I will add a Ducks Unlimited Duck Head Decal and Browning deer decal along with my NRA Life Member Sticker. A nice touch!

I will keep you updated on how it all worked out! If you see my truck out there let me know. Good Hunting! ©2014