July 2024 vol. 4
Ranching is a capital-intensive endeavor. With the costs of land and livestock, just to get started will set you back a few hundred thousand! So, it should come as no surprise that we buy a lot of second-hand equipment, much of which I’ve featured in these newsletters. As a pretty good shade tree mechanic, this usually works to my advantage. Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever, and sometimes the costs to keep things running outweigh the costs to replace them.
About a decade ago, I bought a used 1-ton pickup truck. It had seen better days, but it was relatively low milage and could get the job done. However, over the last few years the repair bills have been racking up and last year it started smoking pretty badly. I may be a fair mechanic, but today’s vehicles are not shade tree friendly. So, I took it into the local service shop, and they recommended replacing the turbocharger – a common cause of smoking. Even after the repair, it continued to smoke profusely. With trucks costing an arm and a leg, I figured it would be cheaper to just keep adding oil regularly than to replace the vehicle. After all, it wasn’t our daily driver – it was used only periodically for hauling animals to the processor and picking up feed.
Well, last week my luck ran out. I had just backed the trailer up to the loading doors at our beef processor when I noticed a lot of oil on the ground in front of me. After lifting the hood, I could see that the entire engine compartment was covered with oil. I figured I had blown an oil line somewhere, but after checking the dip stick and seeing that it was only slightly below full, I figured that I could make it to the nearest gas station and pick up some more oil and ultimately make it back to the ranch.
I proceeded to load up three cows’ worth of beef and I started my journey back home. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it more than 5 miles when my engine warning light came on and the water temperature went through the roof. Shortly thereafter the engine died, and I was forced to find a safe spot and pull off the road. Now what? I had a trailer full of frozen beef and was an hour from home.
Fortunately, Molly was at home, and her dad has a truck capable of pulling a gooseneck trailer. Unfortunately, her dad was out of town, and Molly didn’t have a key to the house. After a few phone calls, we found a key at the neighbor’s house, and Molly headed my way. Meanwhile, I disconnected the trailer and had a tow service haul the truck home.

Just as I was beginning to worry about the meat thawing out, a front moved in, and the temperature dropped a few degrees, providing some relief from the hot Texas sun. Though it felt like an eternity, Molly quickly came to the rescue. We connected the trailer to the new truck and began the hour-long trip back to the ranch. Once home, I was pleasantly surprised to find all the meat still frozen solid, and I loaded it into our trusty freezer.
I haven’t quite figured out what is wrong with the truck, but I suspect I blew the front crankshaft seal. Whether that was a result of a connecting rod bearing failure or vice versa, the truck is beyond repair. It has served us well for the last eight years and, after 265,000 miles and 16 years, is ready to be put out to pasture. I’ve been scouring Facebook Marketplace for a replacement, but the sticker shock takes my breath away. If anyone has a lead on a ¾ ton or 1 ton truck, ideally four-wheel drive, feel free to drop us a contact. I’m hoping to find a good deal, but I’ve resigned myself to having to sacrifice my firstborn. A truck is just one tool that I cannot do without. There’s a reason why Jesus, a good truck, a loyal dog, and a loving woman are the cornerstones of a country boy’s life and the subjects of countless songs and stories.
See you at the market!
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