Why a 1997 Ford F250 Beat a Bullnose for Family Road Trips

In a video from Mike G., the channel owns up to a soft spot for old trucks and admits he's been overrating some of his analog rigs for family use. After three months of daily-driving his wife's OBS Ford, he lays out why that truck, not his beloved Bullnose or his 4Runner, has become his pick for actually hauling kids on longer trips.

Snapshot

Mike G. compares his old trucks after three months of driving his wife's OBS Ford, weighing a Bullnose with heavy blow-by and no airbags against the comforts of the 1997 Power Stroke and a pair of cheap work rigs. His conclusion is that family trips call for the safer, more comfortable truck, while rough bargain beaters earn their keep hauling hay and trash or plowing in winter.

Key points

• Reliability over nostalgia: Mike G. says his '86 Bullnose with the 6.9 IDI has heavy blow-by and isn't trustworthy for a long road trip right now.
• Safety matters: he points out that older trucks like the Bullnose lack airbags and, in his words, could be "an actual death trap" in some scenarios.
• The sweet spot: his wife's 1997 7.3 Power Stroke F250, bought from the original owner, gets praised for cruise control, working heat and AC, and a bench seat with a cross strap for kids.
• Budget beaters still work: he also picked up a rougher 1996 F250 for about $2,000 in trade to use as a hay and trash hauler, noting OBS Ford parts are cheap and plentiful.
• Utility rigs pay off: a $1,500 Dodge W250 with a plow, he says, will cover its own cost through winter work.

Quick take

Mike G.'s overall point is that old trucks aren't one-size-fits-all: pick comfort and safety for family trips, and save the rough, cheap stuff for work duty.

Watch the full video: Mike G.