Idle thoughts. In case my repairs suck, shopping for a used truck

ddavidv said:

8 grand doesn't buy much of a truck around here.

8 grand doesn't by much of anything in covid times.  In a couple other threads we talked about the "shortage" of used cars, so I thought I would look into it for kicks.  Around here anyway it's a complete myth.  In fact, it seems to be the opposite.  Covid seems to have given dealerships carte blanche to price gouge and profiteer.  One dealership (without even driving it to notice the problems it has) offered me $300 in trade value.  The truck I was looking at was a 2017 Colorado/Canyon with 87k.  It was stripped down and pretty basic, so new it was probably $27k.  They had it listed on a black friday sale.... for $32k.

On the bright side, Carvana offered me $385.  

John Welsh (Moderate Supporter) said:

 

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?

 

The trick is, you have 30 days to title a vehicle in PA.  So after a dealer accepts a trade or purchases an auction vehicle for their lot, the signature on the title is valid for 30 days.  If they sell it within that 30 days they can more or less just transfer the title to the new owner without actually ever owning the vehicle.  Once 30 days comes around, they have to title it to themselves or face redtape to re-title it.  It's not that a title is expensive ($40), but they then have a liability on their hands.  Within the first 30 days, it's inventory, so it's covered by their umbrella insurance that they pay anyway.  If they title it to themselves, it is now an individual rider for as long as they have their name on the title.  From that point on, they're spending money to keep it on the lot.  They're usually highly motivated to move it before the 30 days.

Scotty Con Queso said:

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. 

That's what gets me about my current truck.  I bought it as a FL truck, a flawless maintenance record, zero rust, for $4k. It was so pristine, it had the factory stock exhaust on it without rust.  It's just about as rust-free as you can get, low miles, but it's a complete lemon.  I can't go more than a few weeks without something major failing and it sits in my driveway.  It easily spends 20% of its life not running.

Let's see... in the 2.5 years I've owned it:

heater core - twice
clutch
radiator
hoses
intake manifold gasket
valve cover gaskets
front bearings - now the THIRD time
possibly catalyst/EGR/O2
u-joints
coil
plug wires
plugs
fan clutch
injectors
tie rod ends
it needs a steering box as this one is beyond help

All of that in the 30k I've owned it (now at 112k) and yet again it's sitting in my driveway... undriveable.

03Panther said:

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!

As tempting as that sounds, a project isn't in the cards.  I have a LeMans and a Bonneville that are waiting for love and a truck I can't drive until it gets fixed.  I've been wearing two coats and taking the motorcycle in freezing weather when I need to go somewhere.

I need a dead-nuts reliable DD that I can rely on from day one.

Newer ranger is your answer. I see nice ones around here with reasonable miles for $5-8k pretty regularly. My preference is 1st gen S10 but most have returned to the earth and none will comfortably tow 5k. So, manual 4x4 ranger. Newest 4x4 v6 you can find. 
 

example:

https://lasvegas.craigslist.org/cto/d/las-vegas-2000-ranger-xlt-4x4-sc-4dr-40/7236048302.html

Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:

Scotty Con Queso said:

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. 

That's what gets me about my current truck.  I bought it as a FL truck, a flawless maintenance record, zero rust, for $4k. It was so pristine, it had the factory stock exhaust on it without rust.  It's just about as rust-free as you can get, low miles, but it's a complete lemon.  I can't go more than a few weeks without something major failing and it sits in my driveway.  It easily spends 20% of its life not running.

Let's see... in the 2.5 years I've owned it:

heater core - twice
clutch
radiator
hoses
intake manifold gasket
valve cover gaskets
front bearings - now the THIRD time
possibly catalyst/EGR/O2
u-joints
coil
plug wires
plugs
fan clutch
injectors
tie rod ends
it needs a steering box as this one is beyond help

All of that in the 30k I've owned it (now at 112k) and yet again it's sitting in my driveway... undriveable.

What does a steering box cost? It appears that this thing is almost totally rebuilt....or is the motor now the big question mark?

Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:

As tempting as that sounds, a project isn't in the cards.  I have a LeMans and a Bonneville that are waiting for love and a truck I can't drive until it gets fixed.  I've been wearing two coats and taking the motorcycle in freezing weather when I need to go somewhere.

I need a dead-nuts reliable DD that I can rely on from day one.

I understand on the no projects front I can't even get around to putting a fuel pump in this astro, and my wife is wanting them gone. The crushed is offering 300 each for em, so I guess that's where the will end up.

https://dothan.craigslist.org/cto/d/dothan-customized-suzuki-minitruck/7222969502.html

Doesn't meet your needs, but would be fun! (I think they are too high, but...)

https://dothan.craigslist.org/cto/d/dothan-customized-suzuki-minitruck/7222969502.html

That's bigger than you want, I think, but as you mentioned, an easy transfer case away from 4 low. It may have the case that has awd and low. 

https://tallahassee.craigslist.org/cto/d/thomasville-2003-ford-explorer/7235624229.html

Almost a ranger! If I remember right , that has the desirable engine. 

https://dothan.craigslist.org/ctd/d/enterprise-1997-ford-f150/7225603723.html

If that one is as nice as it looks, a very good deal... And when the 150 was fairly small!

I had seen the prices in this area going down, instead of up a few months ago. Now the prices are not bad...there is just nothing for sale!

In reply to 03Panther :

Not to threadjack, but it's crazy sometimes the difference regions make.  A nonrunning AWD Astro would still be desirable enough to easily sell around here.  I know a guy with 3 of them.

In reply to logdog (Forum Supporter) :

Being rust free, I would have thought so, as well - considering how well liked they are . Almost a cult like following. But no interest even on the astro/safari site.

759NRNG (Forum Partidario) said:

Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:

Scotty Con Queso said:

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. 

That's what gets me about my current truck.  I bought it as a FL truck, a flawless maintenance record, zero rust, for $4k. It was so pristine, it had the factory stock exhaust on it without rust.  It's just about as rust-free as you can get, low miles, but it's a complete lemon.  I can't go more than a few weeks without something major failing and it sits in my driveway.  It easily spends 20% of its life not running.

Let's see... in the 2.5 years I've owned it:

heater core - twice
clutch
radiator
hoses
intake manifold gasket
valve cover gaskets
front bearings - now the THIRD time
possibly catalyst/EGR/O2
u-joints
coil
plug wires
plugs
fan clutch
injectors
tie rod ends
it needs a steering box as this one is beyond help

All of that in the 30k I've owned it (now at 112k) and yet again it's sitting in my driveway... undriveable.

What does a steering box cost? It appears that this thing is almost totally rebuilt....or is the motor now the big question mark?

$250 for a reman that isn't reman'd.  No one makes steering boxes anymore.  They refurb old ones, which means they take it apart, clean it, and put new seals on it.  The steering gears are unobtainium.  Buying a "reman" steering box means that someone took their wasted box off their truck, some company puts new seals on it and a coat of paint, and you are buying a clean, pretty, wasted box.  My only hope is finding a super-low-mile junkyard truck that was T-boned and swapping.

barefootskater (Shaun) said:

Newer ranger is your answer. I see nice ones around here with reasonable miles for $5-8k pretty regularly. My preference is 1st gen S10 but most have returned to the earth and none will comfortably tow 5k. So, manual 4x4 ranger. Newest 4x4 v6 you can find. 
 

example:

https://lasvegas.craigslist.org/cto/d/las-vegas-2000-ranger-xlt-4x4-sc-4dr-40/7236048302.html

It's tempting, but the specific reason I didn't get a newer ranger was because the OHC 4.0L is a timing chain time bomb that requires engine removal to replace them, and requires a very special set of tools.  The cams and crank have no timing marks.

Newer v6 rangers will have the SOHC. You very much do not want the 4.0 SOHC engine. Run away

I've owned my 91 ranger now for 21 years and have done the front bearings once. My 00 explorer I've owned for 17 years and did front bearings once. Does yours have the old style or the newer whole hub?

The frontier idea is a solid one.  They are good trucks that don't usually carry the Toyota tax.  I did  look at a few when I was shopping, but in all cases they had hardcore rust issues.  It's not so much a frame/body rust, but it seems like all the hoses and engine parts rust; PS lines, cooler lines, radiator supports, hood hinges, etc.

I'll look again, but I recall finding several Frontiers that were very much not worth what they were bringing compared to other trucks.

Tacos are great trucks, but they fall into the "factor of two" category.  If you compare a Taco to any other compact truck with the same specs, it will sell for twice as much.  Conversely, if you find a Taco and another truck for the same price, the Taco has twice the mileage.  Great trucks, but in order to get one for $8000, it will be a wasted rust pile compared to a same-price Ranger, S10, F150, etc.

Also, for the sake of this discussion, it might be helpful for all of you to know that I detest high-mileage vehicles.  I would rather have an older truck with low miles than a newer one with high miles.  Miles = wear.  There's kinda no way around that.  I understand that some vehicles (like Tacos) last longer, but it's more than just how long the engine will last.

I don't mind considering a full size truck.  My last two trucks were F150s, but I really don't want the size.  This Branger has done all I've asked of it (when it runs).  

I would consider a mid-sized, except that limits me to Dakota (pass) and later Colorado/Canyon... which, in case you hadn't noticed, are nearly as big as a GMT400.  Hard to find a Colo/Canyon that is under $20k right now.

Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:

759NRNG (Forum Partidario) said:

Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:

Scotty Con Queso said:

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. 

That's what gets me about my current truck.  I bought it as a FL truck, a flawless maintenance record, zero rust, for $4k. It was so pristine, it had the factory stock exhaust on it without rust.  It's just about as rust-free as you can get, low miles, but it's a complete lemon.  I can't go more than a few weeks without something major failing and it sits in my driveway.  It easily spends 20% of its life not running.

Let's see... in the 2.5 years I've owned it:

heater core - twice
clutch
radiator
hoses
intake manifold gasket
valve cover gaskets
front bearings - now the THIRD time
possibly catalyst/EGR/O2
u-joints
coil
plug wires
plugs
fan clutch
injectors
tie rod ends
it needs a steering box as this one is beyond help

All of that in the 30k I've owned it (now at 112k) and yet again it's sitting in my driveway... undriveable.

What does a steering box cost? It appears that this thing is almost totally rebuilt....or is the motor now the big question mark?

$250 for a reman that isn't reman'd.  No one makes steering boxes anymore.  They refurb old ones, which means they take it apart, clean it, and put new seals on it.  The steering gears are unobtainium.  Buying a "reman" steering box means that someone took their wasted box off their truck, some company puts new seals on it and a coat of paint, and you are buying a clean, pretty, wasted box.  My only hope is finding a super-low-mile junkyard truck that was T-boned and swapping.

so maybe your buddy Stampster could be on the lookout for you/road trip.......wink

Antihero (Forum Supporter) said:

Newer v6 rangers will have the SOHC. You very much do not want the 4.0 SOHC engine. Run away

 

I've owned my 91 ranger now for 21 years and have done the front bearings once. My 00 explorer I've owned for 17 years and did front bearings once. Does yours have the old style or the newer whole hub?

Not really sure which hub it has, but I'm guessing older.  It's the I-beam IFS that came from the factory with auto locking hubs (which broke or course) so I put earlier manual hubs on it from a 92.  

A long-time friend of mine is selling this 99 Ranger in Lewisburg PA:

759NRNG (Forum Partidario) said:

Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:

759NRNG (Forum Partidario) said:

Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:

Scotty Con Queso said:

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. 

That's what gets me about my current truck.  I bought it as a FL truck, a flawless maintenance record, zero rust, for $4k. It was so pristine, it had the factory stock exhaust on it without rust.  It's just about as rust-free as you can get, low miles, but it's a complete lemon.  I can't go more than a few weeks without something major failing and it sits in my driveway.  It easily spends 20% of its life not running.

Let's see... in the 2.5 years I've owned it:

heater core - twice
clutch
radiator
hoses
intake manifold gasket
valve cover gaskets
front bearings - now the THIRD time
possibly catalyst/EGR/O2
u-joints
coil
plug wires
plugs
fan clutch
injectors
tie rod ends
it needs a steering box as this one is beyond help

All of that in the 30k I've owned it (now at 112k) and yet again it's sitting in my driveway... undriveable.

What does a steering box cost? It appears that this thing is almost totally rebuilt....or is the motor now the big question mark?

$250 for a reman that isn't reman'd.  No one makes steering boxes anymore.  They refurb old ones, which means they take it apart, clean it, and put new seals on it.  The steering gears are unobtainium.  Buying a "reman" steering box means that someone took their wasted box off their truck, some company puts new seals on it and a coat of paint, and you are buying a clean, pretty, wasted box.  My only hope is finding a super-low-mile junkyard truck that was T-boned and swapping.

so maybe your buddy Stampster could be on the lookout for you/road trip.......wink

Might have to start hitting yards soon.  This box at 80k had already been adjusted tighter and still had a ton of play.  Further adjustment causes binding.  Right now, it binds turning right, and I can turn the steering wheel 2-3 inches at the circumference without any wheel movement.  At 112k.  Most Ranger guys talk about having to do their first adjustment at about 200k.  Mine has already been done three times, it's past its limit, and still has a ton of play.

AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) said:

A long-time friend of mine is selling this 99 Ranger in Lewisburg PA:

 

If that were 4wd I'd be all over it.

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

Yeah, I didn't reread your requirements before posting.

Also at 257k miles I've never even looked at my steering box, no play or binding.

Texas to PA isn't a hard drive at all. Find you a Frontier here that's rust free then do a fly and drive. This LT I worked with sold his for cheap and it was in great shape with not too many miles. 

From working SW of Ft Worth a few times, it is definitely the place to go for a truck! I don’t know what the cure crazy has done to their prices...