RIP, Bertha

[Phil Littrell]

RIP, Bertha . . . well, technically, she's not dead. I just divorced her. I hope her new owner loves her as much as I once did . . . before she betrayed me . . .



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[Ken Hibbs]

400K mi?

 

[Phil Littrell]

Yes. 2001. Purchased in October 2000. Original engine (ONE tuneup. LOL.). Original transmission. Original water pump. Original alternator. 3rd set of brakes? 3rd set of wheel bearings. Used Mobil One, fully synthetic oil, from day one. Not a mechanic at all. I only changed the oil myself. Typically spent $200 to $1000 (A/C replacement) a year (not including Michelin tires) in repairs. A GREAT truck.



Just bought my Dad's 2008 4x4 Sport Trac XLT with 50,000 miles. Hope it's half the truck Bertha was.

 

[Ken Hibbs]

Ford should put Bertha in a commercial :haveabeer:

 

[Henry Suarez]

We should all be so lucky!

 

[Jerry Abson 3]

Good Lord! 400K! Thats like meeting an old couple thats been married 60 years! How did it last that long! Just goes to show, Ford Rocks!

 

[Richard L]

WOW! 400K miles...and you say she betrayed you? Perhaps she was just a little tired? :grin:



...Rich

 

[Norm Reeves]

The most I've got from any of my vehicles was 250K on a Ranger. Four cylinder with

eight (8) spark plugs!

 

[Mark Price 2]

That's great! This gives me great hope:supercool:

 

[Phil Littrell]

I think most of the credit goes to the fully synthetic motor oil. And a lot of the mileage was highway miles.



I'm hoping Uma, her younger, more attractive sister, will do as well (2008 ST XLT 4x4). We'll see . . .



A few more "working girl" photos of Bertha:



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[Patrick Wallach]

It's great to see the ST lasted that long without issues and judging by the pictures you actually used it as a truck should be.

 

[Dreman]

Crap, and I thought 295k was a lot.



So, how did she betray you?

 

[Jackson Ellis]

Who buys a truck with 400K miles!?! Brave one. Maybe we'll meet him/her on here soon.

 

[Phil Littrell]

How did she betray me? Wouldn't start one day after work. Battery was good. Dome lights, dash lights, radio played. Just wouldn't turn over at all. Ended up being towed and I had a rental for two days.



Drawing a blank on what it's actually called, but the "ignition controller" had to be replaced and two new keys reprogrammed to match.



Plus, she was way overdue for wheel bearings and shocks. But had expensive Michelins that had only 30k miles on them. Good for another 50k.



Who buys a truck with 411k miles? A used auto trader who sells at a lot of auctions. But said he was going to drive her himself.

 

[Dreman]

I've actually carried almost the same load in my Trac as well.



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[Phil Littrell]

Well, my log load was fake. Cut down 3 fairly large dead trees (killed by Hurricane Ivan, but still standing). They were like balsa wood. Wish I had taken a couple of photos with me holding one over my head one-handed . . . So your log load is way more impressive than mine.

 

[Dreman]

It was only one of about 15 loads. I had to take down five 60 ft tall pines that were full of beetles. Not a single complaint from the truck. My back, on the other hand, is a different matter!