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OT: Old pickup truck recommendations....

CF LION

CF LION

Well-Known Member
May 29, 2001
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Toying with the idea of getting an old pick up for mostly utilitarian purposes...hauling the occasional large item around, getting landscaping supplies, hauling the bikes to a trail somewhere. Might as well get 4WD to drive in the occasional snow storm.

Would like to spend no more than 15K. Looking online that means old and very high miles. Any pickup aficionados have any advice?
 
CF LION said:
Toying with the idea of getting an old pick up for mostly utilitarian purposes...hauling the occasional large item around, getting landscaping supplies, hauling the bikes to a trail somewhere. Might as well get 4WD to drive in the occasional snow storm.

Would like to spend no more than 15K. Looking online that means old and very high miles. Any pickup aficionados have any advice?
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What is your definition of old? I bought a brand new 2005 F150 5.4 Triton and sent it to the scrap yard 2 years ago with 268,000 miles. All mine. I had to weld the frame a few years ago, then the timing chain wore a hole through the valve cover and it wasn't worth the fix. Other than that all I did was typical maintenance.
 
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Might also suggest late 70s/ early 80s Toyota pickups, a good humble example would not be hard to find and would pay for itself ... or maybe even a Mazda/Ford Courier
 
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CF LION said:
I don’t know exactly. I guess I’m looking for the best compromise I can find for $15K. I’m not concerned about impressing anyone, as long as it doesn’t look like Fred Sanfords truck in my driveway.
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As I understand it's a buyers market right now. Depending on where you live, the 4x4 can drive the cost up a lot.
 
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I have a 2003 Toyota Tacoma, V6 4WD extended cab and I can't praise it enough. It has 140 something thousand miles and has given me zero maintenance problems. I use it the same way you want to use yours, drive it very little these days but every once in a while I want to haul something, a piece of furniture, take tree branches and brush to the dump etc. and it is perfect. It's also great if there is a big snowstorm and the snow is too deep for a regular car.

Midrange blue book on it is something like $3500 maybe a little more, don't know. I haven't priced trucks recently but if you are willing to spend up to $15000 you could get something a little newer and be very happy with it.

What I'm trying to say is look into a Toyota Tacoma. I love mine.
 
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Don’t know a lot about consumer reports or quality of the products, but I always loved the 2-toned pickups from the 70’s. Perhaps it’s nostalgia from my youth, but just a sweet looking ride IMO...
9114e8c9e64b03d6da175815eebcf9c9.jpg
 
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Gt a Chevy Silverado. Don't get a Ram, for what you're looking to spend you'll probably get a rust bucket.
 
Player2BNamedL8r said:
Don’t know a lot about consumer reports or quality of the products, but I always loved the 2-toned pickups from the 70’s. Perhaps it’s nostalgia from my youth, but just a sweet looking ride IMO...
9114e8c9e64b03d6da175815eebcf9c9.jpg
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those Ford twin-I beam front suspensions are sooooo damn ropey ... no thanks... spent many hours driving these on the highway and it felt like the steering wheel wasn’t even connected ...
 
Didn't read above threads just know the best of the best:) IMHO.......78-79 Ford or....for you Chevy fans 84 shortbed !!! Ridden in both and love em, my favorites. We need pic for this one or a flag. Going over to my buds house now he has 79 ford. Be back to this thread : Have fun .
 
CF LION said:
Toying with the idea of getting an old pick up for mostly utilitarian purposes...hauling the occasional large item around, getting landscaping supplies, hauling the bikes to a trail somewhere. Might as well get 4WD to drive in the occasional snow storm.

Would like to spend no more than 15K. Looking online that means old and very high miles. Any pickup aficionados have any advice?
Click to expand...

I need a "gig" in the new post-pandemic and had been toying with the idea of purchasing used pick-ups here in Texas, cleaning/repair and selling up North right before the pandemic struck. Can deliver a much better product at comparable or lower price because we have a much larger inventory of used pick-ups here (every cowboy has at least one) that are usually RUST-FREE and if high mileage it's usually mostly highway travel which is much less wear and tear on the drivetrain. Average cost to ship a vehicle from Houston to Pittsburgh is $992; I'd drive it up for half that price and make a small profit thereby - also would include a live inspection of your chosen vehicle via Skype found by conducting web search of trucks available in the North Houston region (***closer to the coast might exhibit some salt corrosion, but not nearly as bad as Northern vehicles).
 
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PSUfiji said:
I need a "gig" in the new post-pandemic and had been toying with the idea of purchasing used pick-ups here in Texas, cleaning/repair and selling up North right before the pandemic struck. Can deliver a much better product at comparable or lower price because we have a much larger inventory of used pick-ups here (every cowboy has at least one) that are usually RUST-FREE and if high mileage it's usually mostly highway travel which is much less wear and tear on the drivetrain. Average cost to ship a vehicle from Houston to Pittsburgh is $992; I'd drive it up for half that price and make a small profit thereby - also would include a live inspection of your chosen vehicle via Skype found by conducting web search of trucks available in the North Houston region (***closer to the coast might exhibit some salt corrosion, but not nearly as bad as Northern vehicles).
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Im in the Philly suburbs. If you come up with something, feel free to PM me.
 
If you buyIng a pre-1990 truck, buy it cheap and from the non-snow western states, because you are going to (at least) double the Investment to get it “right.” On the other hand, if you just want a “beater,” than price accordingly.

I agree that the eventual bankruptcies of the rental companies will flood the market of used sedans, and trucks/suv will be at a premium compared to the sedans.

you will not probably see pre-1990 trucks losing value any time soon to the point it is a good deal, but that may change in 4 months. The owners will just shove them back into the garage. Just imo.
 
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There was a used car dealer in Toughkenamon that could find you what your looking for back in the day. The corner of Newark Rd at the intersection. There were title issues, but the dealer was some how able to rectofy (somehow) the issues with the local notary. This was back in the 90’s so am not sure if it is the same owner.
 
Mile High Lion said:
I have a 2003 Toyota Tacoma, V6 4WD extended cab and I can't praise it enough. It has 140 something thousand miles and has given me zero maintenance problems. I use it the same way you want to use yours, drive it very little these days but every once in a while I want to haul something, a piece of furniture, take tree branches and brush to the dump etc. and it is perfect. It's also great if there is a big snowstorm and the snow is too deep for a regular car.

Midrange blue book on it is something like $3500 maybe a little more, don't know. I haven't priced trucks recently but if you are willing to spend up to $15000 you could get something a little newer and be very happy with it.

What I'm trying to say is look into a Toyota Tacoma. I love mine.
Click to expand...
I have a 98 Taco as my daily driver, firewood hauler, and lately,log skidder. Indestructible.
 
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CF LION said:
Toying with the idea of getting an old pick up for mostly utilitarian purposes...hauling the occasional large item around, getting landscaping supplies, hauling the bikes to a trail somewhere. Might as well get 4WD to drive in the occasional snow storm.

Would like to spend no more than 15K. Looking online that means old and very high miles. Any pickup aficionados have any advice?
Click to expand...

Just surpassed 296K miles on my 04 Chevy Avalanche Z-71 4WD. Gas, Oil, Brakes, Tires, Alternator, Spark Plugs @ 250K and a couple of O2 sensors along the way. I just replaced front hubs. Overall it’s been a great vehicle no matter the weather.
 
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PSUfiji said:
I need a "gig" in the new post-pandemic and had been toying with the idea of purchasing used pick-ups here in Texas, cleaning/repair and selling up North right before the pandemic struck. Can deliver a much better product at comparable or lower price because we have a much larger inventory of used pick-ups here (every cowboy has at least one) that are usually RUST-FREE and if high mileage it's usually mostly highway travel which is much less wear and tear on the drivetrain. Average cost to ship a vehicle from Houston to Pittsburgh is $992; I'd drive it up for half that price and make a small profit thereby - also would include a live inspection of your chosen vehicle via Skype found by conducting web search of trucks available in the North Houston region (***closer to the coast might exhibit some salt corrosion, but not nearly as bad as Northern vehicles).
Click to expand...
Just a little advice.
Many trucks in Texas are 2WD.
Most people up north want 4WD.
I think you'll be better avoiding 2WD in your new gig.
 
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massimoManca II said:
those Ford twin-I beam front suspensions are sooooo damn ropey ... no thanks... spent many hours driving these on the highway and it felt like the steering wheel wasn’t even connected ...
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Again, you all know better than I...I’ve never owned a pickup in my life. When I was a kid, I just always thought they looked so cool.
 
Lion Son/Husband/Father said:
Avoid this gen 150
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=2ahUKEwjcx62WmbLpAhUkB50JHUIiCZ4QFjAAegQIARAB&url=https://www.f150forum.com/f4/spark-plug-nightmare-339117/&usg=AOvVaw35mxruE1OJvUcZCvZoBEkG
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I can't agree with this enough. Avoid at all costs a 5.4 3 valve F-150 from 2004-2008. PearlSUJam's experience is the exception not the rule and I'm basing this off of a large sample size. The spark plug problem is the tip of the iceberg, those trucks are not cost efficient. I try to talk anyone that'll listen into not buying them or spending the money to fix them if they already own them.

If I was looking within your budget, I'd look for a V6 Tacoma, anywhere between 1998 and 2004, just be cautious about rust.
 
palmettolion said:
I can't agree with this enough. Avoid at all costs a 5.4 3 valve F-150 from 2004-2008. PearlSUJam's experience is the exception not the rule and I'm basing this off of a large sample size. The spark plug problem is the tip of the iceberg, those trucks are not cost efficient. I try to talk anyone that'll listen into not buying them or spending the money to fix them if they already own them.

If I was looking within your budget, I'd look for a V6 Tacoma, anywhere between 1998 and 2004, just be cautious about rust.
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I have never driven a V-6 Tacoma, but the 4 cyl, 2.7 liter in my truck is astonishingly strong and durable. I have loaded mine chock full of oak AND towed a 5x8 trailer also loaded at the same time, I am sure way beyond both the load and trailering capacity, without any problem except having to stay in 3d gear because >45 mph the front end hunted back and forth across the lane like a hound searching for the scent.

The 6 cyl must be REALLY strong.
 
KCLion said:
Just surpassed 296K miles on my 04 Chevy Avalanche Z-71 4WD. Gas, Oil, Brakes, Tires, Alternator, Spark Plugs @ 250K and a couple of O2 sensors along the way. I just replaced front hubs. Overall it’s been a great vehicle no matter the weather.
Click to expand...


Just be certain to cover it with a sheet #fuggliestvehicleever
 
palmettolion said:
I can't agree with this enough. Avoid at all costs a 5.4 3 valve F-150 from 2004-2008. PearlSUJam's experience is the exception not the rule and I'm basing this off of a large sample size. The spark plug problem is the tip of the iceberg, those trucks are not cost efficient. I try to talk anyone that'll listen into not buying them or spending the money to fix them if they already own them.

If I was looking within your budget, I'd look for a V6 Tacoma, anywhere between 1998 and 2004, just be cautious about rust.
Click to expand...

on applicable 3VZE motors - make sure the head gasket recall was done... and make sure the frame has not turned into kibble
 
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