What's the best truck for $15k, to last the next 20 years

I've got an '09 Nissan Frontier crew cab, short bed, v6 with 4wd. Its been mostly trouble free, but its a big compromise as a truck. I bought it new, after my previous daily driver was stolen, needed something quick... I've had some buyers remorse ever since. Its got 24k miles now, and probably will get 3k total this year. My biggest problem is the bed is just tiny, too short and really narrow, exactly 1 cubic yard. Getting a sheet of drywall home or some 12' trim is just ridiculous. Since its only used as a truck now, I'm thinking about trading it for something bigger. Something to keep for a long time.

Thought about a 1st gen Tundra, but the towing / hauling capacity seems to be a lot lower than a comparable Ford/GM. And the frame issues worry me for the long term. A friend highly suggested a 2004-2008 F150 with the 5.4.

• Budget: $15k-ish with a few grand extra to do any updates / maintenance, max $18k
• Need 4wd
• Ability to tow at least open trailer + car
• Less than 70k miles
• Prefer an extended cab
• Reliability is the most important
• Think I'd prefer gas over diesel, but I could be convinced otherwise

Suggestions? I really don't know much about full size trucks.

12v cummins (94-98.5 rams)

$10,000 will get you a really nice one

Spend the remaining money on a goerend trans. It'll outlast your grand kids

Well, I have a 2004 FX4 with 33 inch tires and it tows effortlessly. Also use it for the box stores to haul lumber etc., and it's incredible in the snow, and not to shabby off road. I'm sure other trucks are just as good but it works for me just fine.

$15K will get you the cleanest berkin' 85 Toyota HiLux on the planet.

Appleseed wrote: $15K will get you the cleanest berkin' 85 Toyota HiLux on the planet.

And it will last FOREVER.

calteg wrote: 12v cummins (94-98.5 rams) $10,000 will get you a really nice one Spend the remaining money on a goerend trans. It'll outlast your grand kids

This, a 12V Cummins will last forever and haul whatever you need.

mndsm wrote:

Appleseed wrote: $15K will get you the cleanest berkin' 85 Toyota HiLux on the planet.

And it will last FOREVER.

So long as you don't get it wet or salty.

Depends on your definition.

This is still a viable truck around here..

Appleseed wrote: Depends on your definition. This is still a viable truck around here..

Had one worse than that sell for $2k.

$15k for 20 years, I'd think about $10k for something now, throw the rest into a savings account that you don't touch, then in ten years sell the truck and buy another one.

A 3-valve Ford would be the last truck on my list. They rust horribly and the front end can be even more problematic than the older IFS F150s. (Wait, or were the infernal vacuum operated hub locks only on F250s?)

The spark plug issues don't worry me, one $400 tool and they are no longer a problem, just tedious. I am just defining the chassis of truck by its most recognizable characteristic.

Nicest 1997 F350 you can find (fly and drive from TX) for $10,000.

I've had my Tacoma for ten years, but if I was looking for a 20 year truck, I'd buy a Chevy. They are perpetually rebuildable, lots to choose from, and parts are cheap and easy to find.

I just started browsing used trucks. I'm in a price range many, many thousands below you so am looking at stuff with a lot higher miles. I'm sticking with Fords, because they seem to 'fit' me best. The 4.6 and 5.4 Fords have their quirks, but the odometer readings I'm coming across (and backed up by the forums) indicate 300,000 miles are pretty common on any of them. F150's do have rust issues along the bottom perimeter as well as fuel and brake lines, but GM's have the same problem with the latter as well.

I don't shop diesels because a) I don't understand them, b) they cost more to buy and c) I wouldn't benefit from the mediocre difference in fuel costs/consumption for the amount of work I'd have it do. Ford has been hit or miss with their diesels over the years and repair costs are way higher when they do break. To me there is no real upside to going diesel for something only seeing occasional work duty.

I've heard the 12 valve cummins thrown around. The problem with buying a cummins is that it comes with a free dodge. The engine will run for 500,000 miles but the truck will be shot in half of that. A half ton chevy with a small v-8 will do everything you want, and in my experience they are the best for long term ownership of all the domestic trucks. $15k will get you a pretty nice one, especially if you can live with a regular cab. I wouldn't bother with a diesel, too high of a buy in and repairs are too expensive

ddavidv wrote: I don't shop diesels because a) I don't understand them, b) they cost more to buy and c) I wouldn't benefit from the mediocre difference in fuel costs/consumption for the amount of work I'd have it do.

I think you described my thoughts on a diesel almost exactly. With how few miles I will drive it per year, MPG really isn't important to me. Sure engine durability is a factor too, but at only 3k miles/yr its not like I'll even be over 100k anytime soon. I think it makes the most sense to buy a truck based off which chassis will last.

Best 1/2 ton GM you can find for $15k.

Personally I wouldn't even consider something besides a GM truck. But if a van fits your needs Ford really had them figured out around the turn of the century.

Fobroader wrote:

calteg wrote: 12v cummins (94-98.5 rams) $10,000 will get you a really nice one Spend the remaining money on a goerend trans. It'll outlast your grand kids

This, a 12V Cummins will last forever and haul whatever you need.

And get 24 mpg.

My only problem with this recommendation is; that if he hates an 09 Nissan, he'll probably hate the Dodge. I have owned three and detested them. Sure, the Cummins is great, but the buzzy, rattly, plastic interior and cheap upholstery infuriated me. Reaching halfway across the cab to change the channel on the radio or adjust the A/C.... Grrr. Hated it. Add to that a horrific choppy ride, numb steering with a pathetic turn radius, and overboosted brakes and it made for a chore to drive. Workhorse, yes. Get in it and take a long trip with a trailer? Not if you paid me.

2nd Gen Duramaxes are fantastic. Allisons last forever. Ergonomics are awesome in the chevy trucks too. Quality of materials is only slightly better than Dodge though. I have an 08 Duramax dually with only 20k on it and I'm tired of the buzzes and rattles, and the seat is already showing some wear. But talk about nice ride and quiet interior... I could drive to China in that thing and emerge refreshed and happy.

Are the newer Ford 6.7Ls getting into that price range yet? Hands down, I think it is the finest diesel of all of them. 6R140 trans is proving to be super reliable.

The 4.6L and 5.4L Fords last a LONG time. You're right, 300k is a breeze. Nothing about a 281 ci engine makes it happy dragging around 6000 lbs of truck, let alone 5000 lbs of trailer, but it will get the job done.

The LS-based chevy trucks are more of a 200k engine.

There was a post here yesterday for a Chevy 3500, trailer and two m3s for 16k.

I have a 2004 2500hd diesel with Allison 5 speed that I will probably have that long. It was more than 15k but... It's a lot of truck and surprisingly comfortable for long highway cruising.

I bought a 2003 Suburban (I know, but the truck version is very similar) 2500 with the gas 8.1L/4L80E combo. That thing will haul a house. I just did a 2500 mile trip to north CO hauling a 31'(!) Airstream and it drove like a dream. Sine the MPGs are so bad, they are at least as cheap as the 1500 versions and the maintenance is nil because it is just a BBC in there. I replaced everything the could break before the trip and it was like $550 in parts. That included fuel injectors and all 4 shocks (decent mid level Monroes). I think that if I wanted a truck for the next 20 years, I would spend 7k on one with the 8.1l with a 100k miles and no rust. There isn't anything better in your price range.

Also, I am a Ford guy by birth and would agree that the Ford Mod motors are to be avoided. If you want a Ford, buy a early 90's half ton with a 300ci straight 6 and a manual. That will cost you $2500 for a perfect one and it will NEVER die.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: I have a 2004 2500hd diesel with Allison 5 speed that I will probably have that long. It was more than 15k but... It's a lot of truck and surprisingly comfortable for long highway cruising.

Buy this truck with the gas 8.1l I mentioned and you will be good forever.

singleslammer wrote:

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: I have a 2004 2500hd diesel with Allison 5 speed that I will probably have that long. It was more than 15k but... It's a lot of truck and surprisingly comfortable for long highway cruising.

Buy this truck with the gas 8.1l I mentioned and you will be good forever.

No. Don't. You will get 7-11mpg as a high water mark and about 4 towing anything with a big profile in the wind. Only get the 8.1 if you are mostly using it short range for big-truck work like dragging your backhoe across town. If you are DD'ing the thing any real distance it will drain your wallet like DD'ing a Winnebago.

In the long term like he is talking about - 15yrs - the DMAX gets 23 highway, 17 city and 12-16 towing. I real-world average out at 17mpg including towing my trailer 10k miles a year in with all the regular driving. My math says it takes about 4 years (at my usage) to break even on the price difference between the two and after that it's all gravy. That is 11 years of almost double the fuel economy.

I had a '04 F-150 FX-4 and should have kept it. As a 1/2 ton truck it was very very good (excepting the bad mileage: 9 in town and 12-13 highway). I have no reason to think it would not have lasted forever but I didn't use it as a truck and needed a big SUV at the time.

My supervisor thinks very long term about his truck and bought a '03 GMC 2500 with the 6.0 gas engine. It's on course to last forever and tows his race car rig every weekend. Mileage isn't nearly as bad as I would have suspected either.

3k a year will take a lot longer than 4 years to eat the difference