97 T4R
The truck sat for a little over a year before my son got it.
1 headlight is out and some interior lights didn't work. I figured it was just a matter of a fuse and a headlight.
As I am checking the fuses in the underhood fuse panel, I take out a fuse and the "dead" headlight lights up...
I think it must have taken him longer to hitch up the chains and the "plow" than it would have taken him to do it with a shovel. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should!
with the tarp and poles you could have it just be a couple of bungee cords so if you want to run an errand you just undo the clips and leave the tarp and poles behind.......It was great for the scouts because it got them to use ropes and knots, and they made poles out of sticks they trimmed.
I think diesels had more appeal back in the day when gas engines were only expected to last 100k miles, and they got better mileage.
Efficiency and longevity are so much better now that I'm not sure I'd want want today.
Our scout troop had a Costco 10x10 that held up well. We used a cheap blue tarp for sides if we needed it. That worked better as we had more adjustibility for venting when we cooked under it.
Another option is to get 3 telespoping poles. Lay one on the roof fore and aft overhaning the back...