Used truck questions

[viva_che1363]

Well here in a  couple months I'll be purchasing another vehicle for myself/family. I'm looking at midsized pickups and if I had my choice is get a Tacoma, however they hold their value very well... I'm looking to spend around 3-4000. Anyone have any advice on what trucks I should focus on or stay away from. I'm partial to Ford rangers/150s. My 96 explorer served me well till she died. Not opposed to Chevy or gmc. I've been seeing a TON of dodges for sale which leads me to believe that there could be an issue after a certain point.I'm  I like the idea of having a crew cab for family, car seat eyc. But we still have our Subaru, so I could use that for family and granola munching things. Truck would be mainly used as my vehicle,work, fishing ,hunting, hauling various things, and maybe towing a small boat somewhere down the road.  Def. Need 4x4.Just looking if anyone had any point on what seem to hold up pretty well as opposed to others. Obviously previous owner care is always a factor.
Thanks.

[Bofire]

I am no expert but I sorta think in that price range it will depend more on up keep etc. what kinda condition it is in.
Good luck
Carl

[Sandberm]

If you only want to spend 3 to $4000 and get a 4x4, and be able to haul a bit and tow a boat I'm thinking what you are going to get is a pre 2000 vehicle with over 200k miles.

[bearpaw]

Older suburbans are one of the most affordable 4x4 options out there and they last for a lot of miles, if you keep your eyes open you can find older ones with fair mileage in the 3k to 4k range. I've owned quite a few suburbans, I have two currently, had three until one was stolen while we were on vacation last summer. ggggrrrrr

[baker5150]

I'd be looking for a late 90's Chevy or GMC.

Easy/cheap to work on and reliable rigs

[viva_che1363]

I'd be looking for a late 90's Chevy or GMC.

Easy/cheap to work on and reliable rigs

Yep, seems to be what I'm look looking at. I don't mind putting some work into the thing, so long as it's just not totally beat to death. Plus I do like the older body styles.

Bearpaw-suburbans skipped my mind. I'll keep an eye out. Our old one when I was younger served us well for a long time.

I not expecting to end up with a 2000 something with sub 150000 miles. I was just wondering if there were any particular years/models to keep away from.

[HntnFsh]

Here ya go.
http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?p=15179218#post15179218
Probably to far away though.

[Sandberm]

At the risk of triggering half the board...get an old Chevy S-10, I love mine.

They were the go-to vehicle for Grandpa types who like to wax their vehicles every other week on the way to there storage unit they own/run or maybe the golf course.

Very comfortable to drive/park. Navigates mountain roads nicely, 4x4. Parts are cheap and problems are known.

[Special T]

At the risk of triggering half the board...get an old Chevy S-10, I love mine.

They were the go-to vehicle for Grandpa types who like to wax their vehicles every other week on the way to there storage unit they own/run or maybe the golf course.

Very comfortable to drive/park. Navigates mountain roads nicely, 4x4. Parts are cheap and problems are known.

S10extreamists is the best forum I've seen for infor and hacks for those trucks.

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[viva_che1363]

Thanks guys, to bad that rangers over in OR. Still keeping an eye out. I wouldn't mind an s10. Old folk vehicles are the best. Usually very well taken care of, maintenance done like clockwork etc.

[Ridgeratt]

On the corner of Argonne and Upriver drive in millwood there is a ford pick-up on the northwest corner had a 2 grand sticker in the window.

[kramman]

I've also been keeping my eye on vehicles in that range. Its kinda come down to this. Trucks hold their value even if they're p.o.s... so I've done my research on motors. The 4.7 Dodge that's in the older Durango's. Also some older explorers  come with a 5.0 these are smaller v8s that will tow a boat. One I've been looking for is the mercury mountaineer that comes with the Ford 4.7,same motor that the Lincoln Town car has and those well run forever. I'm not a mechanic I've just read reviews online. Good luck

[viva_che1363]

I'll have to check that truck in Millwood of its still there when I get a day off.

Yep on trucks holding their value, even beat to death rusted out one, people want a decent chunk of cash for. The towing a boat deal would just be a plus extra if I find a decent deal. I'm good as long as it's got a decent motor,  most other things I can work on. I dunno,  re evaluating priorities I've broadened my horizons to include jeeps and 4 runners. Well see what comes up. If uncle Sam  does his part in the next month of so a little more cash wouldn't hurt.

To bad I'm not still by seattle- so many people buy a truck and then realize they don't have a real need for one.

[coachcw]

In that price range I'd lean towards gm

[Lingcod]

Dont forget about Nissan Hard Bodies

[fish vacuum]

Dont forget about Nissan Hard Bodies

The 3.0s all have leaky exhaust manifolds.

I've always had a thing for the early to mid 90s f150s with either a 302 or the big 6. A few friends and coworkers have had them over the years and never had any problems.

[scotsman]

I have an 07 chevy colorado. Great truck. A bit bigger than a ranger / s10 - very comfortable to drive, easy to park and tows a reasonable size boat. The only issue I have had is a heater solenoid that took 15 minutes to fix. Now have 115K on it.

[viva_che1363]

I like the Colorado's , I looked at a few a while back. I just haven't seen many for sale lately around here. At least private sales.  The gmc canyons seem so share a similar body style as well but I haven't looked into them much.

[biggfish]

If you're leaning crew cab the Nissan Frontier seems to be the one for decent bed length. It's not that much bigger than the others in that class but if you're going to haul with it, as small as they are, it comes down to a game of inches.

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[viva_che1363]

I think long term is prefer crew cab. I dunno, guess I'm just wrestling making payments vs buying outright and settling for what I can find for a little cheaper. come taxes i may just pay off a debt, and basically transfer what is be paying off to a vehicle. I just hate having to make payments, and as someone posted on another thread a while ago it's cheaper to pay a few 100 every once in a while as opposed to a monthly payment.

[scotsman]

My Colorado is an extended cab - folding jump seats behind the front seats. There are small doors to a cess the jump seats so you dont have to fold the front seats forward. This gives plenty of safe interior space for storage or dog. Also, a crew cab only has a 5’ bed whereas the extended cab has 6’+ bed.

[viva_che1363]

Well after a while of looking and weighing pros and cons I just got back from buying a 09 gmc canyon with 128k miles on it.  For better or worse looks like I'll be making payments for a while .  Now I need to find some tires to put on it. Of anyone has input on what they've liked running on similar trucks I'm all ears.

[Alchase]

Well after a while of looking and weighing pros and cons I just got back from buying a 09 gmc canyon with 128k miles on it.  For better or worse looks like I'll be making payments for a while .  Now I need to find some tires to put on it. Of anyone has input on what they've liked running on similar trucks I'm all ears.

I ran BFG AT KOs on my 2007 Dakota for years. Three years ago I got frustrated with the price of the AT KOs and went with the Cooper ATs.
The Coopers were half the price, but had little sidewall stability. They were OK on the street, once off road they kinda sucked. Two years into the Coopers, I had a blowout through the tread. I put the 10 ply AT KOs back on, and have been happy ever since.

We ran Yokahama Geolander ATs on my wife's Durango and they were fantastic tires!

[bigdave]

I have driven a Nissan frontier crew cab since 2005. It replaced a 96 toyota truck. Had kids and needed the extra seating. It has served me well over the years as a daily driver and family hauler. (20-21 MPG highway, 100 miles a day, current mileage 296,000) My Brother in law pulls a camper with his a few times a year and it scares me to death every time he does. They will pull a small boat no problem. In 2005, I went with Nissan because it had more cab room than other models in its class. Still does as they have not updated it since then. LOL

[Sandberm]

Well after a while of looking and weighing pros and cons I just got back from buying a 09 gmc canyon with 128k miles on it.  For better or worse looks like I'll be making payments for a while .  Now I need to find some tires to put on it. Of anyone has input on what they've liked running on similar trucks I'm all ears.

Cool! Ive got a 2010 Colorado, extended cab, I5, 4x4 with 85,000 miles and love it. Gets 20-22mpg. I really think from 08/09 on Chevy got all the bugs worked out of the early Colorado models . The only thing that has gone wrong with mine is the instrument cluster. First the RPM gauge quit working at 45k miles, then the temp gauge got wonky. I got a scan gauge for $120 and plugged it in so I know my engine temp.

Mine has the 17 inch wheels. I bought some Cooper Discoverer A/T 3's about 20k miles ago and hate them. Loud and they get no traction on wet pavement.

Did you get 4x4? Inline 5 engine? Automatic transmission? 16 inch wheels? Extended cab or crew cab?

[Stein]

Older suburbans are one of the most affordable 4x4 options out there and they last for a lot of miles, if you keep your eyes open you can find older ones with fair mileage in the 3k to 4k range. I've owned quite a few suburbans, I have two currently, had three until one was stolen while we were on vacation last summer. ggggrrrrr

 

Pre-2000 will have the 350 and you really can't go wrong.  Even if you do, parts are dirt cheap and there is tons of room in there to work.

Every once in a while you can find one with under 200k for your price range.  They should go 250-300k depending on how much you tow.  We will have our 2000 for sale in March for $1,500 with about 255k miles for reference.

Great family rigs, big enough to sleep in during hunts and pull moderate sized stuff well.

[Calvin Rayborn]

Dodge w150 - Still on the original motor from 1977 - That's saying something if ya ask me...

[viva_che1363]

Well after a while of looking and weighing pros and cons I just got back from buying a 09 gmc canyon with 128k miles on it.  For better or worse looks like I'll be making payments for a while .  Now I need to find some tires to put on it. Of anyone has input on what they've liked running on similar trucks I'm all ears.

Cool! Ive got a 2010 Colorado, extended cab, I5, 4x4 with 85,000 miles and love it. Gets 20-22mpg. I really think from 08/09 on Chevy got all the bugs worked out of the early Colorado models . The only thing that has gone wrong with mine is the instrument cluster. First the RPM gauge quit working at 45k miles, then the temp gauge got wonky. I got a scan gauge for $120 and plugged it in so I know my engine temp.

Mine has the 17 inch wheels. I bought some Cooper Discoverer A/T 3's about 20k miles ago and hate them. Loud and they get no traction on wet pavement.

Did you get 4x4? Inline 5 engine? Automatic transmission? 16 inch wheels? Extended cab or crew cab?

yes its an automatic 4x4 with 16 inch wheels, and crew cab. 3.7 l5. I took a look at the Cooper Discoverer A/T's and the H/T's this afternoon. looked ok, but I may need need to keep shopping...

[Alchase]

Well after a while of looking and weighing pros and cons I just got back from buying a 09 gmc canyon with 128k miles on it.  For better or worse looks like I'll be making payments for a while .  Now I need to find some tires to put on it. Of anyone has input on what they've liked running on similar trucks I'm all ears.

Cool! Ive got a 2010 Colorado, extended cab, I5, 4x4 with 85,000 miles and love it. Gets 20-22mpg. I really think from 08/09 on Chevy got all the bugs worked out of the early Colorado models . The only thing that has gone wrong with mine is the instrument cluster. First the RPM gauge quit working at 45k miles, then the temp gauge got wonky. I got a scan gauge for $120 and plugged it in so I know my engine temp.

Mine has the 17 inch wheels. I bought some Cooper Discoverer A/T 3's about 20k miles ago and hate them. Loud and they get no traction on wet pavement.

Did you get 4x4? Inline 5 engine? Automatic transmission? 16 inch wheels? Extended cab or crew cab?

yes its an automatic 4x4 with 16 inch wheels, and crew cab. 3.7 l5. I took a look at the Cooper Discoverer A/T's and the H/T's this afternoon. looked ok, but I may need need to keep shopping...

If you are use to the traction and sidewall ruggedness of the AT KOs, the Coopers will be a disappointment. Good price point, sidewall sucks, no traction on wet pavement or wet grass for that matter, not that great of a tire.