Help me find a winter beater

What I really want is expensive, so I'll have to settle. What I really want is a diesel full size 3/4 ton van with a 4x4 conversion. Quigleys are way too expensive, and converting a 2wd is neither cheap nor easy. In general I need a truck-like thing. I'm constantly hauling engines, lumber, tools, and I frequently tow flatbed trailers with cars and farm equipment. The need to tow 8000-10,000 lbs is an occasional requirement, 5000-6000 lbs is frequent. I'm normally anti-truck, but I borrow Dad's pickup all the time because there is just no substitute sometimes. That shows me that I really actually need a truck. Again. For the 8th time. I keep buying trucks and then sell them because I say "I don't need a truck".... and then I need a truck.

So I'm looking for: - truck/van thing in the 3/4 ton range for towing. 1/2 ton would also work since I don't often tow the heavy stuff for long distances. Flatbeds, cab and chassis OK. - 4wd/Awd required for getting in and out of hunting camps. - diesel a bonus but not required - prefer manual but not required - don't need bells and whistles. AM radio and vinyl seats OK.

and the best part.... under $1500.

Keep your eyes peeled for something that might fit the bill. I'm keeping an eye on CL for PA and MD but I don't mind driving 250 miles or so to get it. I'm in Carlisle PA.

It's out of your distance range and its 2wd/overpriced but this screams winter beater to me:

http://macon.craigslist.org/cto/5296534816.html

https://lancaster.craigslist.org/cto/5298649932.html

Found this one. It could be a real unicorn (last year for the straight 6, EFI, manual, low-ish miles) for $1000. But I'll have to look at it. Some of the issues with it could be simple or could be a ton of work.

I was poking around, I should add that I wouldn't mind a BBB. (big bulletproof bitch). Like a retired fleet F550 flatbed, or a DOT W/T. They rarely get down into my price range unless they have 500k on them, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing depending on the truck.

And as much as it pains me to say this, 4x4 is not an option. Its a must.

https://lancaster.craigslist.org/cto/5313927173.html

https://chambersburg.craigslist.org/cto/5300310230.html

not 4wd but BBB https://lancaster.craigslist.org/cto/5284012290.html

Kenny_McCormic wrote: https://lancaster.craigslist.org/cto/5313927173.html

Bet the "inline 8" engine in this pulls like a champ. I bet it's from a '48 Buick.

Sounds like it's ford expedition time

I really don't understand why no one sells a front subframe for the 4wd swap into vans. Seriously, a couple of rails that bolt into a van unibody and have pickups for a pair of leaf springs, once the jig is built it would cost more to ship than to make.

Kenny_McCormic wrote: https://lancaster.craigslist.org/cto/5313927173.html https://chambersburg.craigslist.org/cto/5300310230.html not 4wd but BBB https://lancaster.craigslist.org/cto/5284012290.html

That first one looks fantastic. Calling that guy today. Even with an inline 8

oldopelguy wrote: I really don't understand why no one sells a front subframe for the 4wd swap into vans. Seriously, a couple of rails that bolt into a van unibody and have pickups for a pair of leaf springs, once the jig is built it would cost more to ship than to make.

Subframe isn't really the best way to go given the configuration under there... at least on the Econolines. One of the issues is that its not just a bolt-on thing. You can use 4wd truck driveline parts, but the distances to the axles are different than a truck requiring custom driveshafts, custom shifter linkages, crossmembers, spring mounts... the subframe would only really conquer two of the many things needed to adapt.

I know GM looked into offering 4x4 vans back in the 90s; primarily for emergency vehicles, but the demand was too small and the re-tooling would have been massive.

In reply to curtis73:

I know a guy with an AWD Astro who wants to get rid of it for under that price. It needs an intake gasket and brake booster, but you'd still be under your $1500 if you did the work yourself. ;-)

Your post about the van is one of the things that started me thinking. I had been looking for a 4wd full size van (too expensive), or a 4wd truck, and your Astro post got me thinking about how it would get me a van with 4wd for cheap. Only problem is the occasional heavy towing. 10k lbs behind an Astro isn't really kosher.

But I will keep it rolling around in the brain.

Remember back in July or August someone here was selling that sweet green K20 chevy with the flatbed? That would have been PERFECT but I was in Canada and couldn't make it happen.

This one:

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/open-classifieds/81-chevy-k20-4x4-project/102539/page1/

You could probably double your price range by offering your mauve TV Panther in trade.

In reply to chandlerGTi:

You interested?

MN is full of 4X4 pickups built in the last 15 years that check off all your boxes- with the occasional 3/4 ton showing up on the List of Craig or on a group on the Book of Faces.. the only real issue with the trucks around here are that in that price range they will have at least 150,000 miles, beat up bodies, and no rocker panels... but they are trucks that are good at doing truck stuff..

novaderrik wrote: MN is full of 4X4 pickups built in the last 15 years that check off all your boxes-

New York is the same way. The bummer is that PA has this dumb inspection rule that rust holes can't be larger than a quarter in size. Many shops are pretty lax with that rule, but it is a pain. I did fix some rockers on an El Camino with Great Stuff expanding foam. They were gone so I duct taped over it, cut some slits in the tape, and squirted it full of foam. That only passed because I went to HS with the guy who runs the shop. He said he had to develop selective blindness to let it pass.

I suppose I could tackle welding in some new rockers, but not sure I want to tackle bedsides unless it can be fixed with gobs of bondo.

But if you see some that check off my boxes, drop me a link.

actually, i saw a late 90's 3/4 ton Suburban 4X4 with a 454 and 200,000ish miles on it for $1500 earlier today. i'll see if i can find it again.

regarding patching rust holes to pass inspection: sheetmetal from an old dryer or something and self tapping screws is cheap, quick, and easy...

I finally found my unicorn. Now I just need the guy to reply to my texts sooner than three days apart.

• 1988 F250
• First of the EFI straight 6's
• ZF5 speed
• Lariat with all kinds of options
• single cab long bed
• 4x4
• 122k miles

Only thing he says is wrong with it is "brake issues." But for $1000 purchase price I don't really care if I have to replace all of the brake lines. That is cheap. Send good vibes that I get it.

Winter beater, you say? Why settle for a 4x4 when you can have a 6x6!

https://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/5315700467.html

Edit: Good luck with that '88 Ford. Looks like a nice truck.

novaderrik wrote: regarding patching rust holes to pass inspection: sheetmetal from an old dryer or something and self tapping screws is cheap, quick, and easy...

Yup. Or you can get downright fancy and use pop rivets!

that leaves enough budget left to get this as a second winter beater as well (that meets none of your requirements, but does allow for future rally-x domination):

sub $300 B13 SE-R

Yup... still looking. The F250 fell through (someone else bought it).

http://harrisburg.craigslist.org/cto/5308174268.html

http://harrisburg.craigslist.org/cto/5327217893.html

http://harrisburg.craigslist.org/cto/5323323355.html

http://lancaster.craigslist.org/cto/5316437576.html

http://harrisburg.craigslist.org/cto/5315549998.html

Yup. Found all of those. Contacted all of them. They're either sold (and they haven't deleted the ad), haven't responded, or they are otherwise falling apart. The one F150 with "rust issues" is a hole rusted in the frame the size of a grapefruit and its right in front of the left spring mount.

I've probably contacted 30 sellers and received responses from maybe 5. I think they're selling quick and they just ignore my message.

I've lapsed into the "oh well something will fall in my lap soon" mode.