I'd like to grab a used pickup truck, what should I get? I'd like to spend less than 10k.

Something fairly low mileage, reliable, good for winter and light duty...

Ideas?

 

I just bought a 95 used pathfinder 4x4 for about 2900 post new clutch, great condition.

You should be able to get like an older frontier or I bet like an older ranger or something even cheaper. I found mine on autotrader.com.

 

Should note as well, I'd want something with an 8' box. So a large pickup.

Need to be able to haul sheetrock and lumber n shit.

I'm thinking an F150 or something...?

 

Pickups suck in the winter. You need to weigh the rear end down with sand bags otherwise the rear end slides all over.

If you want something fairly reliable and for light duty, look at a Tacoma or a Frontier like Sarlacc said.

 

You can pick up a nicer F-150...the last generation before the 2005s.

 

f150 definately...i had a 97 and i swear it had zero problems...the only thing that ever went wrong with it was something i did. they're ususally cheaper than a comparable chevy 1500

 

Being a farmer and having pickup trucks on a constant basis I've have the opportunity to have several of the domestic brands. And the Ford F150 has always been the most reliable for me. Ford F150, 97-03 would most likely fufill your needs. I would go with the V8 triton 4.6 or even 4.2 V6. The V6 has no problem moving a regular cab full size and gets good mileage. If you drive in winter condition then make sure it has a limited slip diiferential. With good tires and 400 lbs in the box you won't have a problem.

Terry

 

I drove a 2000 F150 XLT Ext. Cab 4x4 with the 5.4L V8 for work and it was an excellent truck. Zero problems with it. A matter of fact the company had a fleet of 20 of them and they were great. Mine had 160K miles when they got me a new 2003 F150 and mine was passed down the food chain to a supervisor. What surprised me was my 160K mile F150 still rode quiet and tight like my new truck. I actually really miss that truck and I would buy one for myself but the gas mileage sucked - about 15 mpg average.

 

If you want something sound that is light-duty, check out a Toyota Tacoma V6. They're a great value truck.

 

If you're just looking for a homedepot runner, then a 2x4 longbed might work for you. For winter you'll probably want a 4x4, but if you're not planning to tow anything, then you might want to avoid the V8 modelsin order to get some decent gas mileage.

I'm a big fan of the old chevy's with the 350ci v8's (1998 and prior IIRC), but the F150's are solid too. Heck, a decent early 90's F150 with the straight 6cly. 2x4 can be had for under $3500.

For $10K, you'll probably see alot of 100,000 miles trucks forsale, but there are some low mileage private sale trucks out there sometimes (at least before the dealers scoop 'em up for resale).

 

My little brother has a 2005 Taco (4cly) that replaces his 2003 Taco V6, and while it's a lightduty, reliable, and fuel efficient truck, I don't know if the bed is big enough for a 4x8 sheet of plywood/sheetrock.

The Tacos have a great resale value too...

 

tacoma or frontier are good for small pickups, f150 for larger

 

Soopa, this is gonna be a work truck, right ?? (If it's a beater, it opens up your options).

Are you going to keep it long term, or just while you're working on the house ??

Maybe a used Tundra might work for you too. (good resale, full-size bed, toyota relability, and decent gas mileage).

 

Used Toyota Tundra or T100 = Toyota quality& reliability in a full sized pickup

 

true. if its just a work truck my friend's girl is remodling the hell out of her house and picked up a decent pickup for 900 smackers.

 

I'd get something like this that's a few years old.



Why do you want an 8' box? Standard fullsize pickup bed is 6.5 I think.

 

Shortbed (standard) is usaually 6.5, long is 8...

With a 6.5 bed, you have to leave the tailgate down for plywood. It's easier to close the gate and go rather then having to secure the load another way.

 

I'd go F-150 or C/K1500 diesel from the mid nineties - probably only have to spend about half of that, insane reliability, and a testosterone boost every time you start it up.

 

Id rather have the 6.5 bed and extended cab and have to toss a quick strap over it. The extra space in an extended cab is worth its weight.

 

True. I know several people who swear they will never buy a single cab again. It is nice to have storage out of the rain/elements...

It really depends on what the intended use is. If it's a long term vehicle/winter beater, then a extended cab is great, but it's less of an issue if it's just an occasional home depot run/take the trash to the dump twice a year type vehicle.

One of my ex-bosses bought a single cab truck from the electric company (it was beat) for $500 when he cleared the land and built his house, but it didn't matter what it was 'cause he sold it after about a year. He actually left the truck on the lot and drove his nice car to and from.

For a daily driver (or even a winter only daily driver), extended cab is the way to go.

 

Extended cab with an 8' bed would be nice. You can put the dog in the backseat and put the wood in the back. I'd go with a Ford as well. If you don't have state inspection in NY (I think you do) I'd go with an 80's Ford F150 with a straight 6 and a 3speed.

I have heard that Ford automatic transmissions seem to have problems after 100k miles. I had a ranger and it was fine except for a leaking back window.

 

I would go with a Toyota Tacoma or Tundra. I've only heard good things about those trucks.

 

i vote tunrda or...........

 

Yea my friend has a 92 F150 long bed (regular cab) with a straight 6 and a 5 speed. What a workhourse! It's his go to Home Depot, go to the dump truck and he's owned it for about 10 years now. He had it all through college and it's just a reliable workhorse.

 

But there's tons of reliable trucks out there. Sarlacs Pathfinder was a sweat deal for a truck to haul stuff too

 

even on a 4X4?

 

My company vehicle/daily driver is a 2004 Toyota Tundra base model 8' bed. I work in drywall & painting, and I have nothing but praise for this vehicle. I carry both 8' drywall and 12' drywall with this truck with no problems at all. It drives nicely & has a fairly comfortable ride. My only complaint is that it's a pain to park it in most shopping centers. My company has also owned a Chevy Silverado, but that doesn't seem to have the build quality or the reputation for reliability that the Tundra has. You'd be hard pressed to find a Tundra with low miles and $10k or lower price, but you get what you pay for