Must have:
4x4. Not AWD. some of the places i take it are a little beyond "viscous coupling" and more "oh god we're going to die."
Adequate power, transmission, and heft to tow 5000 lbs
Truck: My needs fit squarely in the DD/work beater, so for the DD side I prefer compact pickups, but I have had 1/2 tons and only hated them in a parking lot.
Van: I would consider a 4x4 van or AWD Express (simply because they are a super-simple transfer case swap to make it full 4x4)
Needs to haul heavy items; fridges, 16' lumber on a rack, muddy motorcycles, dead deer, so no SUVs
Don't want: big, long, behemoths. It really kills the DD vibe for me. Dad has a K2500 duramax that excels at everything, but I give up on most parking logs.
Favorite would be a Taco, but can't afford one. Least favorite is Dodge. I had two. I couldn't do it. Personal preference.
Long story short, I frickin love everything about my current Fordzda Branger... except that it keeps breaking.
Budget $8k provided I can get a decent price for mine during the covid craziness.
thedoc
Reader
11/26/20 4:59 a.m.
a humble f 140? We test drove a sport truck that was awesome, but I'm not sure if it was 4wd.
yupididit said:
Nissan Frontier?
This man speaks the truth.
ddavidv
PowerDork
11/26/20 5:43 a.m.
8 grand doesn't buy much of a truck around here.
I went shopping for Frontiers on your behalf. I found this one with some deer damage and maybe in need of a transvestite. Maybe you could be the right man (girl.)
'06 w/ 110k & 4 door asking $2k. But, not good pics of damage and no proof of being 4wd. Might be worth sending some questions.
Since it is white (the most popular truck color) if it needs body panels you should be able to find them already in white. Search on car-part.com
MrChaos
SuperDork
11/26/20 8:02 a.m.
at least here in a 300 mile radius of WNC that budget is 150k-200k+ trucks leaning heavily toward 200k trucks and a lot of Avalanche/Escalade EXT's
on autotrader from dealers
Another. Not cheap but from a rust free climate and a loaded model for its time. Also, a 4 door w/ long bed giving you the most you can get in a "compact truck."
'04 Frontier w/ 120k asking $8k
Do we know anyone in Raleigh?
Another '04 in PA The ad says listed 3 weeks ago. I think you taught me that PA dealers need to move cars in 30 days or pay tax?
'07 w/115k asking $8.5 also a 4 door long bed south of Pitts
fanfoy
SuperDork
11/26/20 8:35 a.m.
In reply to John Welsh (Moderate Supporter) :
Damn you 'muricans really like you pick-ups!
That '04 Frontier is half the price around here in Canuckistan: Exact same '04 Frontier with a nicer color and less miles (202000 km) at $4.8k cad ($3.7k USD).
In reply to fanfoy :
To be fair, in some areas the Frontier isn't worth E36 M3 lol
5.3 1500 Silverado in whatever cab and bed layout fits your use best. 2500 if you're towing 5000 pounds all the time.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2947247695375457/
2000 in Scottsdale PA
Rust might be an issue but 4x4 with manual tranny.
Here’s an '03 Frontier 4x4, 180k on the truck, but only 80k on the engine for $3500.
There's many other similarly priced Frontiers down here too.
Avalanches are not bad for the $ if you can ignore the GM around the awesome engine
I'd have a hard time spending that kind of money without going south to buy. Up here, $8k buys a poorly maintained truck with a ton of rust.
In reply to Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) :
That's a Perunner. Isn't that code for 2wd that is lifted like 4wd?
In reply to Scotty Con Queso :
This. Fly and drive to Texas is the answer. The land of rust free pickups.
I bought a Frontier, extended cab,4WD. stick with 76k miles for $10,000. Had it shipped up from Florida.
I can't speak to the automatics, but my 6 speed is very comfortable on the road and with cruise set at 74 mph I get 20 mpg. OTOH my uncle had a 1971 F-150 (or were they 100s then?) stick with straight six. I loved it, hauled everything that needed hauling including a 23ft. boat. 5,000 pounds, no idea.
Mr_Asa
SuperDork
11/26/20 11:53 a.m.
In reply to 914Driver :
Nice truck - 4WD and stick shift - not easy to find these.
John Welsh (Moderate Supporter) said:
In reply to Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) :
That's a Perunner. Isn't that code for 2wd that is lifted like 4wd?
No clue. I also have no clue how to identify a 4-wheel drive one, and much like the auto vs. manual issue, no one can seem to be bothered to correctly identify it.
dabird
Reader
11/26/20 10:29 p.m.
First Gen Tundra is what you want
gearheadmb said:
5.3 1500 Silverado in whatever cab and bed layout fits your use best. 2500 if you're towing TWICE 5000 pounds all the time.
I had to fix that for ya. Even though Curtis already knows that, others might read it!
In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :
I’ve got a AWD Astro van / 4x4 blazer project you could have running for little of nothing, with your skills! And both are rust free, as well. An Astro tows 5K all day long, if you haven’t used one. But Lower Alabam’ is a long way away!
