I ordered a "Veteran for Biden" bumper sticker yesterday.

[MineralMan]

It will go on the tailgate of my 26-year old Ford Ranger as soon as it arrives.

Normally, I don't put political bumper stickers on my vehicles, but I'm going to make an exception in 2020. I chose that particular bumper sticker because it may make some people think twice before giving me the finger as they pass my slow-moving old pickup.

I'm going to play the "Veteran card" this year in my support of Joe Biden.

"I can do no other," in the words of Martin Luther.

[AirmensMom]

1. Good for you!

I hope your old Ford Ranger will survive.

[MineralMan]

5. Oh, it will. It wouldn't be badly damaged

by someone keying it. It already looks a fright after more than a quarter century of use. It is parked on the street in front of my house during the non-winter months. It's unlocked, since there is nothing inside its cab that anyone would want to steal. They're welcome to the brush and branches that have accumulated in its bed, though. I'll get around to taking that to the green waste facility one of these days.

I do have a locking gas cap on it, so it's not a tempting target for gas thieves. If someone steals the battery, I wish them luck, since it really needs replacing, anyhow.

Nobody will steal the truck. Nobody really wants a 26-year-old Ranger, if you think about it.

[AirmensMom]

6. Sounds like my horse.

34 years old, arthritic, expensive to keep, and too small to carry anyone very big. She’s worth more to me than to anyone else.

Sounds like you have it all figured out with the Ranger. I always liked that truck. We had one in the late 90s.

[MineralMan]

10. It does sound like that. I like owning a small pickup.

Last edited Tue May 26, 2020, 11:34 AM - Edit history (1)

I've had several of them, of different brands, during my life, along with a couple of full-size pickups. I prefer the smaller ones.

There's always something that needs hauling, particularly if you are a homeowner. So, I've pretty much always had a small pickup or a utility trailer. Pickups are easier, though.

Ford Rangers with four-cylinder engines and manual transmissions are very, very durable. The engine and transmission was designed by Mazda, although most of the ones in Ford Rangers were manufactured here. My Ranger has almost 278,000 miles on its original engine, and it still runs just fine and the transmission and clutch are also in fine fettle.

The bed in a Ranger is long enough for most needs, and it's cargo capacity is about 1000 lb., although I've been known to put more than that back there. If driven carefully, you can get away with more. The extended cab on the XLT models is nice, since you can fold the passenger seat down and put all of your groceries behind it. There are even two fold-down jump seats back there, although they're useless for anyone over age 10, i think. I've never folded mine down, so I don't know for sure.

The manual transmission offers a bit of theft insurance, too, since most young folks can't drive a stick shift vehicle. My wife and I both grew up with stick shift cars, though, so it's no big deal.

A small pickup truck is sort of an ideal second vehicle for homeowners.

[AirmensMom]

15. The only thing we didn't like about ours was the cab size.

Well, specifically, we should have bought one with a back seat or something. We needed it to hold more than 2 people. Even the jump seats are better than nothing for a short distance. We have a small pickup truck now that has them, which is just perfect. We would have bought another Ranger, but they weren't making any that year. Where we are now, it would be impossible not to have a small pickup truck. We have to take our own trash to the "convenience center" and pull a trailer for mulch. Also around here we have to buy new because it's nearly impossible to buy a vehicle that was not owned by smokers. We tried.

Our friend who is an organic landscaper/gardener bought a Ranger a few years ago, the last year they were making them. She wanted a new one without all the bells and whistles, which was really hard to find. She loves it. Hers has the jump seats. Just having that back area for tools and stuff to be out of the weather is handy, even if no one ever rides back there.

Be careful, though. We both can drive a manual transmission. I learned on my dad's 1972 Subaru.

[MineralMan]

16. Where I live, in St. Paul, MN, the factory that built Rangers

is right in the city. So, there are more old Ford Rangers around here than you can shake a stick at. In fact, it's very hard to find any small pickup for sale here that isn't a Ranger.

A four-cylinder, manual transmission one is the least expensive option when they're over about 15 years old. Oddly enough, though, that's the most durable model, actually. The extended cab with jump seats is the most common version, as well. Plenty of room back there for groceries, tools, or even luggage. When you fold down the passenger seat, it automatically slides forward for better access to the area behind the seats, too.

This is my second Ranger. My first one was a 1984 model. Even then, it had the same engine and transmission as the 1996 one I have now. A very good powertrain, indeed.

[packman]

2. When available, I'm getting a "Biden/??" sign for my yard

Live in a suburban cloister of Trumpites and just want to do it to irritate the piss out of them. Ordinarily I wouldn't but this year - dammit- I'm going to make a statement. I expect the sign won't last long, so am going to get a dozen or so.

[Mike 03]

3. My mother really wants a Biden sign too.

We live in a blood red district. I suggested she order a stack, in case they "disappear."

[Peacetrain]

4. I wish I could a double rec.. one from me and one from hubby

[Chainfire]

7. If I keep a Biden sign in my yard, I will gave to buy them by the gross

There is no doubt that my good, patriotic, redneck neighbors will destroy them. It is the kind of thing they do.

[Cousin Dupree]

8. That's a great idea! Though I'm worried about your truck.

[MineralMan]

11. I'm not, for reasons I described upthread.

[mommymarine2003]

9. When my Marine son was in Iraq...

I had "Another military family against Bush" bumper sticker on my car next to my blue star sticker. I was asked by a woman as to whether I was afraid that my car would be damaged. I told her no, because most everyone else had no one in their family at war. I did get lots of honks and thumbs up, though.

Right now we have a "Vote Blue" sticker. I am looking forward to putting on a Biden sticker when he is officially nominated.

[GulfCoast66]

12. My wife and I have always disliked stickers

But we drive a big truck that is obviously used to pull a boat. Stereotypical republican truck in my neck of the woods.

Talked with her about it she wants no sticker.

So I will order a magnet if they become available and slap it on when I’m driving it.

[MineralMan]

14. Some big pickup drivers consider Ford Rangers to be "girl's trucks"

or "fake trucks." On the other hand, a lot of owners of big pickups would never load a pile of brush in their "precious," like I frequently do. They wouldn't haul a piano for a friend, either, like I have done several times with various old pickups of all sizes.

I like having a pickup for its utility. My neighbors like my pickup truck, too. I say, "Oh, just toss your brush and tree trimmings in the Ranger. I'll take them to the chipping yard for you." Or, "Sure, I'll be glad to haul your snowblower to the repair shop. No problem."

I never loan the truck out, though. If someone breaks it, I'll have to fix it, since nobody has ever offered to fix something they have borrowed from me and broken. Besides, most people these days can't drive a manual transmission vehicle anyhow.

[UncleNoel]

13. Here is a Korean War vet for Biden!

I'm in Taiwan, so no bumper sticker. I served in Libya and Texas, non-combat zone. My Dad, a career soldier, served in the army in Korea. When he signed for me to enter the military at 17, he insisted I join the Air Force as he figured one Schutz on the front was enough and the USAF would be safer. I wouldn't have minded, but Dad insisted.

I supported Clark for president back when. I hope Biden taps him for DOD or UN ambassador. Clark is a national treasure.

[CTyankee]

17. We could use that! We're old and hubby's a veteran. However, we have a leased car so I don't

know how we could affix it...

[Maru Kitteh]

18. Magnet sticker.