Best Pick-Up Truck for less than $3k?
 

I'm will to spend around $2k for a work horse that has to be dependable & reasonably economical to run.

What should I be shopping for?

Chevy's? Fords? Dodge? Japanese?

Any ideas?

Thanks.

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What kind of work?

reliable Japanese under 3K? doubt that.

stick with domenstic

Mixed variety of light work...

Moving large household items, garden stuff, gravel, furniture, trees etc.

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Could probably get an earlier 2000ish model or 05 area for this price range. I drove a little s10 for about 6 years while I did drywall and taping, good on gas cheap to fill and had a pretty decent sized box for a small truck.

lots of nissans for sale on craigslist , theres a red 92 in vancouver with a v6 that looks pretty minty that was posted recently. There is a reason jap trucks are more expensive ,there better, ive owned a bunch of s 10s and there good but not great , and the milage is always less than i expected even with the bare bones 2.2 , 5 speed.Find a toy or nissan thats a little older with as little or no rust and it will last you.

And therein lies my dilema...

Some say get a Japanese truck if you want reliability.

Others say I'd be better off lookin at S10s & Rangers at that price level.

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Dodge all the way. I had an 04 Laramie. That truck was a workhorse. LOVED it.
It can have trouble with Tierods but if you buy used and an older model chances are the previous owner has already dealt with that. I had to have them done on the 04 this year.
Hauling trailers, a Jet boat, over loaded dump trips. it never failed me.

I gave it to my Dad a few months ago after getting the New Longhorn. He said its the best vehicle he has owned. (besides his camero of course) He is a Mechanic and says so far Dodge is the better vehicle. Ford is made to break and super expensive in parts.
he was considering a Tacoma before I gave him my truck.

I had a Mazda B2000 for a while I bout it for cheap.... Like $2500 or something and ended up selling for the same. The thing was bullet proof. I had it up to almost 350K by the time I sold it and never had an issue.

If there was nuclear war, only B2000s and cockroaches would be left.

+1

Do you need to get a sheet of plywood in the box? Carry a lot of weight? Hauling tools? Would an SUV suffice?

The Mazda b2000 is simply a rebadged ford ranger

I'd say S10 from my experience. We had a '91 work truck that had actually rolled over the odometer. 1.2mil when we sold it. Original engine and second transmission, that thing was a tank.

to add... it was a work truck, shop deliveries. It could never possibly be said that it was "babied". It was abused by 17-18 year old parts delivery guys.

This should be somewhat relevant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P05j3...e_gdata_player

S10 & Ranger/Mazda probably too small.

Seems like I need to buy a Chevy or an old Toyota.

But then again, I'm not planning to reach any Alaskan Glaciers.

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I drive a Toyota 4Runner and it is a great vehicle but If I were getting a truck for work on the budget you have i would look at early 1990's Ford inline 6 cylinder pick ups make sure it has the inline 6 and you've got a bomb proof truck that will go forever, if you can find an early 90's f250 with the IDI diesel you'll also get a decent truck with enough power and economy. That's what I would look at try and find one with maintenance history or you'll end up getting nickel'd and dime'd to death I love my Toyota but unless you have more than $3000 grand your going to end up with someones junk get a domestic - You could likely get a decent truck if you don't mind hefty gas bills by picking up a used triton V-10 f250 .

My ride :http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...dy/Flex056.jpg

hmmmm..... truck envy!

Thanks for your input Acipenser. Just the kind of info I need.

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this has been a funny read,

2000.00 eh.. good luck finding anything reliable. I would stay away from the Jap trucks.. at this price range there going to have a tone of miles and need work soon, not cheep. My grandpa used to drive Datsun trucks.. it was alright, small, no power, couldn't haul much (the story with all Jap trucks) but good on gas.

what you need to look for In my opinion is a domestic with a standard transmission (can you drive a stick?) my reasoning is that with a stick you can change the oil in the trans and change the clutch plate and its good to go, if you get a auto and it goes it is expensive.

I would look at a V8, in a ford or , although it pains me to say it, a chev. tones around so parts are cheaper. Dodge at that age, and even now are considered the worst truck for holding up over the years for domestics. Ford are about the best lasting and chev is in the middle.

but depending what you want it for anything could be good, just make sure you really look them over.. if you have a mechanic friend or some one who fixes a lot of cars take them with you.

Steve