While in Alberta, I met another NRA member. We were discussing my new vehicle shopping and I told him I was interested in a Ford F150 King Ranch.

He stated to me that in 1983 the NRA published information on companies that contribute money towards gun control and anti-hunting groups. He related to me that Ford Motor Company was on the list for gun control contributions, but wasn't 100% certain of the anti-hunting.

Does anyone recall this info? I have an email out to the NRA, and just spoke with a rep from Ford but he was not helpful.

If this is the case, I will stop considering a Ford F150.

It was probably the Ford Foundation that was listed, NOT the Ford Motor Company.

George

Wouldn't surprise me at all.

There are several reasons why I wouldn't consider a Ford, poor engineering being chief amongst them. I had an Explorer that kept exhibiting a thumping noise in the steering column when going over bumps, RR tracks, etc. After having a mechanic diagnose it as a bad lower column bearing, I pulled the horn cover and discovered a 4 pound lead weight hanging by one rubber rivet...the other one having been sheared. It was banging against the column. NICE. It must have been there because they didnt engineer the column crush force correctly to begin with, so they had to add inertia to it...odd.

There are other stories, but I have already hijacked this thread.

My 2 cents, sorry its off topic.

quote:

Originally posted by GeorgeS:
It was probably the Ford Foundation that was listed, NOT the Ford Motor Company.

George

That would be my guess too. Many of these philanthropic endowments have evolved into little commie grant distribution centers. Socialists love non-profits.

Well, funny you guys mention the Ford Foundation. I asked that same question and the other hunter stated that it was Ford Motor Company. I went to the NRA website and reviewed their current list and didn't find any Ford names at all. The NRA attorney I spoke with about an hour ago stated that he is not aware of any Ford involvement with antihunting or guns and has not heard of such since he's been with the NRA.

Rumors about companies giving to the anti's have been around for ages. I personally have not heard the one condemning Ford and now seems to be proved false. Certainly the one about Anheuser-Busch contributing to anti's is NOT true. I do remember that Levi jeans used some backhanded donation scheme involving their employees.

quote:

Originally posted by Doc:
Well, funny you guys mention the Ford Foundation. I asked that same question and the other hunter stated that it was Ford Motor Company. I went to the NRA website and reviewed their current list and didn't find any Ford names at all. The NRA attorney I spoke with about an hour ago stated that he is not aware of any Ford involvement with antihunting or guns and has not heard of such since he's been with the NRA.

http://www.nraila.org/Issues/FactSheets/Read.aspx?ID=14

=====================================
The Ford Foundation

320 East 43rd Street
New York, NY 10017
Phone (212)573-5000
Fax (212)599-4584

The Ford Foundation has provided financial grants to programs aimed at restricting gun ownership and regulating gun owners` rights.
=====================================

I ran across an interesting site called buyblue.org, dedicated to "educating progressive voters". You get the drift. Just do the opposite of what they recommend.

Anyway, this group downrated Ford for political contributions by the executives to conservative causes.

So stick with your F-150.

quote:

Originally posted by BFaucett:

quote:

Originally posted by Doc:
Well, funny you guys mention the Ford Foundation. I asked that same question and the other hunter stated that it was Ford Motor Company. I went to the NRA website and reviewed their current list and didn't find any Ford names at all. The NRA attorney I spoke with about an hour ago stated that he is not aware of any Ford involvement with antihunting or guns and has not heard of such since he's been with the NRA.

http://www.nraila.org/Issues/FactSheets/Read.aspx?ID=14

=====================================
The Ford Foundation

320 East 43rd Street
New York, NY 10017
Phone (212)573-5000
Fax (212)599-4584

The Ford Foundation has provided financial grants to programs aimed at restricting gun ownership and regulating gun owners` rights.
=====================================

http://www.fordfound.org
Type of foundation: Independent
Fiscal Date: 09/30/04
Assets: $10,639,366,000
Total Giving: $520,273,000
EIN:131684331

The Ford foundation is the 3rd largest US foundation by asset size.

Every foundation has to file with the IRS listing all their contributions. The form is called the 990-PF. Page 10 part XV lists all grants and contributions paid. It also lists all future grants that have been approved.

quote:

Originally posted by 3584ELK:
Wouldn't surprise me at all.

There are several reasons why I wouldn't consider a Ford, poor engineering being chief amongst them. I had an Explorer that kept exhibiting a thumping noise in the steering column when going over bumps, RR tracks, etc. After having a mechanic diagnose it as a bad lower column bearing, I pulled the horn cover and discovered a 4 pound lead weight hanging by one rubber rivet...the other one having been sheared. It was banging against the column. NICE. It must have been there because they didnt engineer the column crush force correctly to begin with, so they had to add inertia to it...odd.

There are other stories, but I have already hijacked this thread.

My 2 cents, sorry its off topic.

Every company makes junk now and then. My personal truck is a Ford, at work I've had a few different trucks, I drive about 60,000 km per year so get a new truck every 3 years. The GMC I currently have is a piece of shit.

I previously had a Dodge and drove it for 180,000 kliks with no repairs other than reg maint. (brakes, etc) The GM I'm driving now has had tranny rebuilt, ball joints replace, u-joints replaced, headlight assembly replaced.............just cheap, lightly built trucks, IMHO.

The guy was probably a lying chevy/dodge or import owner mad at Ford outselling them.

AMEN to that...............

My 97 ford F150 4x4 has 200,000+ miles and is running strong.

With the exception on a GEMS module which was my fault for not repairing the leaky window... The only thing I have ever had to do were the brakes and oil


John

quote:

Originally posted by Deathwind:
The guy was probably a lying chevy/dodge or import owner mad at Ford outselling them.

Deathwind and Mauser:

If you are referring to the hunter I met in camp then I disagree. He wasn't like that at all. He only had caution in his tone and did not come across as a Ford hater by any means. He admitted owning several Fords, Dodges, and GM trucks.

He was just telling me what he thought to be the truth about Ford Motor Company being listed as anti-gun by the NRA. He made a mistake and was misinformed.

This is also why I started the post to begin with. I emailed him and told him it was the Ford Foundation.

All of my Ford trucks have played some role in every successuful hunt I have been on in the past 25 years. It would be un-American to not buy a Ford.

As an MD, I imagine that Doc needs a good vehicle to get to the hospital fast...I hope he drives a Ford.

As some of the people have indicated here, you can get led around by the nose by any and every rumor if you are that gullible. I personally don't follow any special-interest advice; and I mean ANY. Life's too short.

When in doubt, use your common sense, and tune all the bullshit out.

quote:

It would be un-American to not buy a Ford

Un-American? Funny, lots of Fords are built in Mexico, and Canada, yet companies like Toyota and Honda are building them in the USA, employing USA employees. My Toyota Tacoma was built in the USA at a union plant. My friends Ford was built in Mexico.

dogcatcher223: No need to take offense...none was ment.

quote:

Originally posted by dogcatcher223:

quote:

It would be un-American to not buy a Ford

Un-American? Funny, lots of Fords are built in Mexico, and Canada, yet companies like Toyota and Honda are building them in the USA, employing USA employees. My Toyota Tacoma was built in the USA at a union plant. My friends Ford was built in Mexico.

My Toyota Tundra was built next door in Indiana.

Doc: Since you brought it up, the last I looked, Toyota was owned by some company from Japan and Ford is owned by an American. You choose to send your money to Tokyo, and I'll send mine to Detroit.

Come on Doc. You brought this whole thing up. No need to get insecure about your truck.

quote:

Originally posted by rwj:
Doc: Since you brought it up, the last I looked, Toyota was owned by some company from Japan and Ford is owned by an American. You choose to send your money to Tokyo, and I'll send mine to Detroit.

Come on Doc. You brought this whole thing up. No need to get insecure about your truck.

Yes, I brought it up attempting to learn if anyone else had heard of this(see original post). I do not believe it was Ford Motor Co. I believe it was the Ford Foundation and that the hunter I met in camp had it wrong. That issue is settled.

I have chosen to purchase the F150 King Ranch I've been looking at. I made that decision a few days ago after posting here, calling Ford, and the NRA.

Someone posted that they like their Tacoma and I added that my truck was built in Indiana, the Tundra.

Where have I posted anything that resembles insecurity?

I merely posted that it was built in the US, which means American workers got paid something to put it together, right?

I've owned Fords in the past with no problem, but I was not too happy to hear that Ford allegedly sifted funds to anti-gun orgs. Turns out to be a mistake. Turns out I'll be buying a Ford.

So, case closed. No insecurity here. Even if the Tundra was completely manufactured in Japan, it is still a great truck and has never let me down in the field or on the road. And you are right, I chose to "send my money to Tokyo" and I don't regret it. I've had very good luck with my truck. My good friend in Columbus, however, has not had the best of luck. In 9 years, he's owned 7 Fords (or leased them). Most were F150 XLT's. Of the 7, 5 had major problems. Some were under warrantee, others were not, and he never purchased any extended warrantee. While driving out west and north to Canada for a moose hunt, his transmission went out at 10K miles. One another, the transm. went out at 32K miles. He was lucky the warrantee was in place. I do not remember off hand what the other issues were as it has been about a year since we discussed it, but none of the other repairs were under warrantee. Regardless, the trucks didn't have enough miles on them to justify the mechanical problems, and he baby's his trucks.

I don't know about you, but my opinion is that NO ONE should have to deal with a bad transmission at 10-20-30- or even 40K miles, no matter the manufacturer. His feedback to me is part of the reason I did not buy a new F150 in 2002.

Honestly if we were to begin splitting hairs here, one could argue that I should never hunt outside the US also right? But, I have chosen to spend my money with Canadian outfitters for bear hunts, mulie, etc. and I can find those same species here in the US.

For what it's worth, if you are employed and pay Federal taxes to the US government or have in the past, I assure you, you've paid money that has been distributed all over the world, and most likely to countries you would rather not donate to. Of course this is involuntary, but it's no secret the US tax dollars are given to other countries by the billions.

I haven't lost any sleep making a Japanese guy richer. My TOYOTA TUNDRA 4x4 has served me well, but it's time for a supercrew King Ranch.

Have I erased any indication of insecurity?

The transmission is the weakest point in the F series trucks, but it is fixable with a factory tech monster box kit. Or you can replace the transmission with a FT moneterbox ($2600). But my transmission has withstood 200,000 miles of hunting, road trips and Nevada/Texas heat with no trouble.

http://www.f150online.com has lots of good information on the F series trucks.

John

RWJ, I am not offended, and I did not mean to offend you. My point is this is not 1950, and there is no such thing as an American car company.

Of the "Big 3", one is owned by Germans (Chysler/Dodge), and the other two have plants in Mexico and Canada employing foreign workers.

You might think that the money is going to Japan, but a lot of it is going to the AMERICAN workers. And, since both companies are traded on the NYSE, they are actually owned by its shareholders which could live in any country on Earth. You can keep supporting a company that hires Mexicans and Canadians that spend their money boosting the Mexican and Canadian economy, I will spend mine on Toyota that atleast distributes it every two weeks to some American worker's paychecks that in turn are buying goods here in America.

Hey Doc, My old hunting buddy John used a couple of Toyota trucks over the years with excellent results. Same can be said for those driving the Datsuns. In fact, most the same for all the Jap Traps. High Quality and good Reliability, which is what most of us want.

Had a neighbor go off on the Dodges last week. One of the 1 ton trucks on their farm ended up needing a new trany. His son found one for $5000 and asked if he wanted him to get it or rebuild the old one. They thought about it overnight, decided to get the new one off the shelf and when he went to get it, it had been sold. They told him it would "only" take two weeks to get a new one! Needless to say he was not pleased.

But, he mentioned how much vehicles had changed since the 1960s when the Japs begin sending well built vehicles over to us. For those that don't know, after MacArthur reformed the Japanese country, the Japs had the great American Quality Guru, Dr. Demming come to Japan and install his Quality System nation wide. They began making high Quality extremely Reliable vehicles at the same time that Detroit decided we would buy "anything" they put out and Reliability was of no importance.

So, my neighbor is of the opinion that if it hadn't been for the Jap vehicles forcing Detroit to rethink their mission, we would be lucky to get 20k out of a car or truck today. Must admit his thoughts are difficult to argue with.
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Concerning your new Ford, my guess is it was built in Louisville. You come right on down I-71 and get off onto the "Gene Snyder" going South. Go about 3 miles and get off on Westport Road headed East. The first light should be "Chamberlain" and you turn right on it. Go 1/2 a mile and the HUGE Ford plant is on the left.

There is another Ford plant in Louisville on Fern Valley Road, but I think(could be wrong) that they still build the smaller Ranger and Explorer size stuff there.
---

For what it is worth, they all seem to make good and bad vehicles from time to time. I've found the most difficult thing is to find a good Dealer who will stand behind their products. Once you find one, whatever he sells is the thing to have.

Best of luck with your Ford!

Nice post HotCore.

I think I'll start a new thread on how to buy a car/truck so you guys will know how to wheel and deal.

I typically save anywhere from $6000-11,000 on a car. NO BS. The title will be car buying tips.

Doc, do post your techniques, I might be buying a Tundra within a few months.

quote:

Originally posted by dogcatcher223:
Doc, do post your techniques, I might be buying a Tundra within a few months.

already done. It's still in Big Game but new title: Car/truck buying tips.