For the past 3 1/2 months, I've been cruising around our base in the little Mitsubishi pickup truck that you see pictured above. It's by no means the biggest, fastest, or strongest truck around. But it is fun to drive. It's got a little diesel engine, 5 speed manual transmission, and shift on the fly 4 wheel drive. It seats 4 or 5 of us relatively comfortably, and when we need to haul something off to the dump, or to the air terminal, we just throw it in the short bed.
Whenever it rains here in Southern Iraq (which fortunately isn't often at all), the place turns into one big mud hole. On those couple of days, the 4 wheel drive comes in very handy. But even with all 4 wheels engaged, we've still had quite a few "slip and slide" adventures on the roads ...
One morning, it had rained about 1/2 an inch overnight, and we were driving to work. Due to some construction, we had to take a little detour onto a windy dirt road. Would have been no problem, except parked all along one side of this dirt road was a very long convoy of 18-wheeler semis. One of my forecasters, Dave Smith was driving the truck. We spent about 3/4 of a mile slipping from one side of the road to the other, just barely missing the big truck bumpers several times. Dave was really enjoying the ride. The LT and I, on the other hand, were less enthused ... accidents mean paperwork ... and I hate paperwork !!!
Anyway, as I said, I really like this little truck. And since I traded in my car before I deployed, I will be in the market for a new vehicle when I get back home. Unfortunately, they don't sell this model in the United States. And even more unfortunately the closest relative is a truck called the Mitsubishi Raider, that doesn't appear to get very good reviews. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to enjoy this truck while I'm here, and look for something else when I get home.
Todd Morris
Todd, you’re a “man’s man” blogger! My husband could and probably would have a two hour conversation with you about that truck! lol
He once got a truck with “sport” written on the side (before we met). I used to tease him about that all the time, how he got sucked in by that word. He thought it was funny, too.
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Hi Heather,
lol … Just for you, maybe I’ll try to take a picture of a flower or something to inspire tomorrow’s post
As for getting “sucked into the wife’s world” .. I know how your husband feels. I may “want” to get a truck when I get home … but that doesn’t necessarily mean that Ana is going to “let” me get a truck. Know what I mean?
I love how the US Gov buys foreign made autos and then bails out the auto industry. Seems like they could just only buy American and that would have done the same. ha. All politics aside I want a Lifted Toyota Hilux after watching District 9 last night. They look pretty badass.
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Hi Josh,
This truck is leased from, I believe, a Kuwaiti company … so I suppose they just buy whatever is easiest to get. I’m not sure it would be practical for all of us to have only American made vehicles over here. Although, I will tell you that most of the Air Force guys who live in my little area here drive U.S. government trucks … and they’re almost all Fords.
I’m actually just about to finally unplug my Internet, and go watch District 9 myself … so who knows … by the time the night is done, I just might be wanting that Toyota myself
Todd, in my army days we drove 4 x 4 Landrovers which were a challenge and your muddy encounter reminded me of that.
Since I moved to live in Thailand I have driven nothing but a pick up. You see very few in the UK but here they are more popular than cars.
I was reluctant at first driving the 3.0 litre monster but I soon realised it offers quite useful protection when driving on Thai roads. I reckon they are more a war zone than your current assignment!!
Funnily enough the truck featured is not popular here-poor resale value.
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Hi Mike,
Yes, there are certain parts of the world where you almost need to have a truck … the main reason I’m leaning towards one, is that sometimes I think Texas might qualify. I think the reason you don’t see many trucks in the UK is because those roads are so darn narrow. I can remember plenty of times doing 60 or 70 down the road, and having cars go by in the opposite direction so close that I probably could have reached out and given the driver a high-five.
When my hubby and I got married, I traded in my Honda Accord for a
big red Chevy pickup truck. When we met, he was living out in the country and my poor Honda was taking a beating going out on the country roads here in Texas. My kids were shocked when I told them I had bought a pickup truck. They ‘accused’ me of “going country”, lol.
Even though we don’t live in the country anymore, having the pickup has been great for the times we need to load up at Home Depot or Lowe’s, or when we’re asked to help people move. Fortunately, the latter doesn’t happen much anymore, and we’ve started playing the “age” card, lol.
My kids were REALLY shocked when I told them I’d bought a red Corvette but still have the pickup truck. I don’t really “need” two vehicles and we’ve been discussing selling the truck, or maybe where the hubby would sell his Expedition and start driving the pickup. It’s pretty ridiculous but between us, we have four vehicles. We’re either going to sell the two pickup trucks we have, one small (S-10) and one large, or we’re going to get rid of the Ford Expedition.
Driving my pickup truck is a lot of fun, but the vette is well…even more fun.
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Hi Lin,
Vrrroommm … grandma in a red Vette !!!
I think if was to ever get another sports car (have had 2 Mustangs in the past) I would want a corvette. lol, then again, being a guy, people would probably just think I was having a mid-life crisis.
Even a truck is probably not going to be terribly practical, with the size of our family. We’ve got the new van, that everybody should be able to fit in. Then, to be perfectly honest, I’ll probably end up with something small that get’s good gas mileage. Apparently, rather than midlife crisis, I’m becoming old and practical.
I can’t imaging any scenario where we have 3 or 4 cars … unless maybe my teenage kids come to live with us (that would make for one full house). Although, I guess if you have to have a car dilemma, it’s better to have too many, than not enough.
Hi Lin,
Vrrroommm … grandma in a red Vette !!!
I think if was to ever get another sports car (have had 2 Mustangs in the past) I would want a corvette. lol, then again, being a guy, people would probably just think I was having a mid-life crisis.
Even a truck is probably not going to be terribly practical, with the size of our family. We’ve got the new van, that everybody should be able to fit in. Then, to be perfectly honest, I’ll probably end up with something small that get’s good gas mileage. Apparently, rather than midlife crisis, I’m becoming old and practical.
I can’t imagine any scenario where we have 3 or 4 cars … unless maybe my teenage kids come to live with us (that would make for one full house). Although, I guess if you have to have a car dilemma, it’s better to have too many, than not enough.
The trucks in the film district 9 were infact Mitsubishi L200′S
You know, I wasn’t really paying attention when I watched the movie. But now that you mention it … cool coincidence
Yer there the 3.0 v6 L200’s plus some extra movie kit ect, not sure about over in the states but in the UK you can’t buy a new 3.0 v6 l200 only the 2.5 TD unless it’s a grey import.