Thinking of buying a used truck soon and could use some advice

[ghosthunter]

Well I would go and look at a Nissan Frontier used. Four door short box.
Will do light towing, has room for the family. Nice for hunting. Easy on the gas.
I had a 2000 for many years bought it with 50 grand and put another 120 grand on it.
Would still have it excpet for a gal running a red light.
I now own a 2012.
Great little trucks.
And cheaper than Tacoma.

[Hilltop123]

The late '99 - '02 5.3lt silverados all have that engine knock at startup. Its due to a design flaw in the heads. Doesnt cause damage but sounds bad. Got 110,500 on my '01. I think the trannys acting up. Ive run this truck hard on the dirt. Hell half the miles on it are on the gravel. Its been a good rig. Hoping for a diesel tacoma next year so if i can just keep her moving along without having to stick a samll fortune in it i'll be very happy. The dodge 1/2 ton ram is coming equiped with a 4cyl diesel. 

You should hear that knock, when it's 0 degrees out, sounds like a diesel!

[firefighter4607]

I have had 2 Silverados one 2003 1500, 4.8L, extended Cab, I traded it for the 2 nd Silverado that I owned. The main reasons for the trade were 1) the cluster panel keep messing up. It would sometimes read 100 mph while in park then 0 while driving down the highway. Common problem with that year. 2) My step daughter was out growing the back seat. I bought the truck with 18000 miles and traded it in with 70000, other than the cluster I never had problems with it. The 4.8 seemed to lack some power when going up the passes and towing. Didn't really notice the power difference until I started driving the new Chevy.
My 2 nd Chevy was a 2007 new body style 1500 Crew Cab 5.3L. Bought it with 12 miles on it. Traded it with 38000 miles, the reason for getting out of it was simple my wife lost her job and we couldn't afford to stuggle monthly with the payment and filling the 26 gallon tank @ 4.00 a gallon. The only problem I had with that truck was every once in a while the traction control and another light would light up while I was driving out of our property, pushed the on start button they did a test on the system and found nothing wrong. It did it twice one year apart for each other. Not sure what it was but it never caused any problems. I loved the space in the crew Cab seemed to fit my family better than the 03. The engine had the active fuel management system which wasnt very effective in fuel consumption. I would average about 15-16 in city and 18-20 highway.

Silverados are great trucks in my opinion and they ride well.  If I was looking at an extended cab I wouldnt buy one that has the third door. I think it was 01 or 02 when the extended Cab had the 4 doors. I would also stick with the 5.3 engine. I hope you find a great truck for yourself.

[Atroxus]

Wow, I am surprised. So far plenty of mostly positive feedback on Silverado but almost nothing on any other make or model. 

I do expect an older used truck to require more maintenance/TLC than a new truck. With that in mind though, if I get a truck with 100k+, 150k+ or 200k+ miles on it, are there any expensive/semi-expensive items I should expect to have been replaced/repaired already, or that I should plan on having to replace/repair soon after purchase? What things should I consider red flags when looking for a higher mileage used truck?

[Bean Counter]

I drove Ford's, Chevy's, and Dodge trucks for a few years for work. Of the three I'd go with Chevy for comfort and Ford for durability. Dodge would be my last choice of the three. If you need some heavy duty hauling then a domestic is probably the way to go. Any small boat or RV can be pulled by a Toyota... which is the only truck I'll ever own myself 

[jackelope]

Wow, I am surprised. So far plenty of mostly positive feedback on Silverado but almost nothing on any other make or model. 

I do expect an older used truck to require more maintenance/TLC than a new truck. With that in mind though, if I get a truck with 100k+, 150k+ or 200k+ miles on it, are there any expensive/semi-expensive items I should expect to have been replaced/repaired already, or that I should plan on having to replace/repair soon after purchase? What things should I consider red flags when looking for a higher mileage used truck?

Anything you look at to buy with those kind of miles on, I'd take to a shop 1st and have a pre-purchase inspection done. I'd look real hard at fluid conditions like transmission, differentials , etc. I'd want to see maintenance records for sure. If there are none, id walk away. Also look underneath. Make sure it's not a rust bucket. Just a couple ideas.

[Igottanewknee]

If you want to save some money, try the auction website that the state sells their vehicles. It is "Public Surplus.com". I bought a 2004 Ford F-150,4x4 with a canopy, 160k on it for $3800. Love the truck. See the same rig on car lots for 8,000 to12,000 dollars. State rig, so it is maintained on a regular schedule.

Of course, I still have my 1998 Chev with 287,000 miles on it. Purrs like a kitten.. Just not 4x4.

[Alchase]

Ok here is 2002 Dodge Ram for comparison, 4.7L, 1500, quad cab, 211k miles,
have replaced fan clutch, radiator, thermostat, water pump, timing cover, tensioner, belt,  Wheel bearing driver side, front rear end seal. Brake lever switch twice. Brakes of course. Just had it throw a code for No. 6 cylinder misfire, had a tuneup, replaced the No. 6 coil, and EFI cleaning done, back to normal. Has an irritating vibration at 65 MPH, I have not identified yet. It has been a good truck. I totaled out my maintenance and repair cost of the 12 years I have had it, $524.00 a year.
Not to bad.

[fish vacuum]

If you want to save some money, try the auction website that the state sells their vehicles.

I would NOT buy a state vehicle. They were driven by people who did not own them. Maintained regularly? Yes. But were they driven like a rented mule? Maybe.

[Sliverslinger]

At least consider a Tundra in the older body style -2001-2006 I think. I have an 01 and absolutely love it.

[hillbilli]

I drive a 2003 ford supercrew, with the 4.6L. It is a 2wd, highway mileage has been about 18, city about 15. I've had it since new, and other than routine maintenance ( fluid/oil changes, tires and brakes, tuneup&plugs at 100k) - I've done nothing but drive it. It's at 135k. I dont pull anything heavy, and never had anything heavier than an elk in the bed. it is a 4 door crew, and I've had 6 adults in it. Only negative thing I can say is it's not a 4wd.. but in OK & FL I didnt really need 4wd. I've seen a lot of these trucks, especially the 4.6, with 150-200K+ on them. The little V8 will not have the power of the bigger engines, but it's been enough for what I do. Someone above mentioned the nissan frontier- If it has enough room for you (their max bed length in the crew cab is 5ft, and cab room isnt much compared to a full size), these are good little trucks, you see a lot of these, (and the pathfinder, which is the same powertrain) with 200k on them. With newer trucks I wouldnt consider 100k high mileage.. but to my mind theres a lot of difference between buying a truck with 100k on it, and one with 160k.. Also keep in mind most of a trucks depreciation happens in a vehicles first 8 years- so I'd look for one 8years or older with around 100k..