[Gary R.]

Back when I was young and dumb, I hauled a cord of firewood several times in the bed of my 1969 Ford F100 4x4, powered by the venerable 390 V-8 and 4-speed manual.

The last time I hauled a cord of firewood, as I rounded a corner, the left axle shaft departed the rear end. 1/2 ton Fords of that era did not have full floating axles. The bearing had eaten thru the backing plate. The weight on that axle sticking out of the axle tube was a lot, but it did not break. Axle shafts on the Ford 9-inch rear ends are tough. Nursed it home, having to stop and jack up the rear end and shove the axle back into the housing several times.

Repaired the rear axle with a new backing plate, and never hauled anything heavy in that truck again.

Experience is a wonderful teacher!