More P/U Questions:

[The Reverend Floater]

Sorry about the recent slough of auto threads, but I have one more:

I currently drive a 98' 4 cylinder xtracab Taco with camper w/90K miles on it. It's a great truck in that it gets good gas mileage and has taken an absolute beating and still crushes everything. We call 'er "the Goat" because she can bog through anything. At one point I even got through a mud bog without a problem, only to have to drive back into it, stop completely, then tow my friend's fullsize Dodge 1500 out of the bog in 4-low without a problem.

The problem is this: She's very, very underpowered--to the point where I can't pass anyone safely unless it's downhill. I can't tow anything and now I have a boat to tow frequently in the fall/early winter. She doesn't have anti lock breaks which caused her to roll over a few years ago (with nothing but panel damage, might I add). The ride sucks and the truck is so light that the combo of highway ruts and high winds makes her straight up sketchy to drive sometimes. Also, because of her weight, she's not the best snow truck ever, even weighted. Finally, the small bed isn't big enough for duck hunting nor other tasks like cutting firewood, construction projects, etc. that we do around here.

So...I'm thinking of buying a used pick up. I could take a loan and buy a new/slightly used Tundra which would be my dream vehicle, but I think I might just buy someting older like a late 90's full size something. I'm open to all recommendations. Let's say around $10K for starters.

edit: I walk to work (gout permitting ) and can walk most everywhere. We use trucks to access duck hunting, mtb'ing and the b/c, plus for firewood, etc. For this reason, gas mileage isn't quite as important as it might be for daily drivers. Still a consideration, though.

[Buster Highmen]

Used V6 Taco?
New girlfriend?
Steal one at the next instance of ?

[lemon boy]

1. Tech Talk BITCH!
2. 3/4 or 1 ton SRW Ford PSD 94-97 or 3/4 ton Dodge Cummy (same basic vintage) "good" mileage, get you where you need roughly 10K (you could buy a super clean moderate mileage 97 PSD for 10K)

see how easy that was? Been hunting yet? Sat will be my first op (sadly). Saw about the gout, that sucks at least now you have a boat for duck hunting...

[Buster Highmen]

1. Tech Talk BITCH!
2. 3/4 or 1 ton SRW Ford PSD 94-97 or 3/4 ton Dodge Cummy (same basic vintage) "good" mileage, get you where you need roughly 10K (you could buy a super clean moderate mileage 97 PSD for 10K)

This is covered in the "steal one" suggestion.

[assgasorgrass]

I am partial to the Fords especially the inline 6 motor, torquey and bombproof. The 302 is also another good motor ( I am assuming you're not up for a diesel). For what you describe, a F-150 would fit the bill. I had one recently with the 6 and it was a bomber truck and I beat the hell out of her. Extremely torquey motor. Pulled a 20 foot Malibu with a loaded bed no problem. They don't have the most stylish looks and interior finish, but it is a solid rig. The XLT Lariat trim has all the amenities. I put a lot of miles on that truck and hauled a lot of game out of the desert and mountains. You could pick up a sweet one for $10K, but could spend a lot less and get a very solid rig. It does have locking hubs, so shifting to 4WD on the fly doesn't happen. Drove good on the snow with some weight, just had to chug her along slowly.

[Pinner]

I have a '93 Nissan Xtra cab 4x4 V6 with 265,000 miles on it.

We call it The Goat because it goes everywhere I point it, in all conditions. Just to stroke my own inflated sense of ego, we've been calling it the Goat since 1995, before your "goat" (with a small 'g') was even a blueprint. Sucka!

Good luck with your Gutless goat.

[Big E]

2nd lemon's suggestion on the mid-late '90s diesel. I'm a Cummins fan myself, but whatever. Engine's good for 400k with basic maintenance, high teens mileage, will no longer worry about difficulty passing going uphill.

Lots of Cummins here.

[The Reverend Floater]

I'm a total and complete Diesel JONG. What can you tell me about it other than it's loud and stinky? Pros/cons?

Dig this one:

[Cornholio]

If you buy that, I'll fly up and help you put redneck lights on the top of the cab.

Will you answer my email, btw?

[MOHSHSIHd]

If you buy that, I'll fly up and help you put redneck lights on the top of the cab.

Will you answer my email, btw?

make sure you but a "Skoal World of Outlaws" sticker on the back window

[iceman]

Does the scary toothless guy come with it?

[Cornholio]

Does the scary toothless guy come with it?

That's the Rev.

[lemon boy]

Ummmm what can we tell you about it?

You will get better mileage than a comprably powered gas pickup (I get no worse than 15.5 and usually around 16.5-17 vs 8ish or worse for a 460).

If it is cold you must either plug the block heater in or have a properly functioning fuel heating system (fuel grid in a cummy, glow plugs/glow plug relay PSD). Mine has started at -10*s and 10,000' so I don't worry much although plugging in makes her much more happy.

They have a ton of grunt, if it isn't enough you can put on simple things that will take you through the power roof.

In 4wd with a little care they are unstoppable in the winter.

That is a good looking ford, does need clearance lights ( ) but it does have manually locking hubs (much more durable than autos and you can leave them locked for long periods no problem) and a small lift. Anybody who can keep the body looking that good can probably keep the engine in shape too. There is a coolant test to determine if they've added the anti-cavitation stuff that I would be concerned with on a ford (wouldn't necessarily be a dealbreaker though). It is an F250, an F350 has a better (non TTB) front end but harsher ride (tires should last longer on a 350 but will last good on a 250 with frequent rotations).

Ford's manual trans is far superior to its autotrans.

When the end of the world comes you can run it on vegtable oil.

Best place for Ford info: http://forums.thedieselstop.com/ubbthreads/ (scroll down to the two 94-97 forums)

[Big E]

All you gasoline snobs are just jealous. In a rig like we're talking about here (3/4 or 1-ton truck), diesel will give you I'd say probably 25% better gas mileage than in the bottom-of-the-barrel V-6 that gets put in trucks like that (probably not the 1-tons, but some 3/4 ton and lots of 1/2 tons), and at least 50% better than the gas guzzling V-8's and <gasp> V-10's that are in there. Meanwhile, the diesel will give you more torque by a wide margin than any of those other engines, including the V-10. For a truck doing towing and hauling duty, torque is what you're after, not hp.

When you tow, diesel mpg will also be way better than in a gas, maybe 2x better, I don't tow that often and don't really have a gasser to compare against so that's just a guess.

The big downside on diesel is usually the cost to buy, since the engine is usually a $4k+ option over a standard V-8 gas. But, they can go forever, 400k is really pretty normal if you do the routine maintenance, at 50k they are just finishing their break-in period.

Only thing I would personally try to stay away from if possible is an automatic, the diesels put out so much torque that you can start going through trannies at an alarming rate.

Sure lb will have much more to add, if he hasn't already. edit - I was right, lemon types faster than me.

[lemon boy]

one point about autos though: If your gout ridden self can't shift a heavy clutched truck and you must have an auto or just REALLY would rather one for a little more than the cost of a new one through the dealer you can get autos that are basically indestructible, regardless of how much power you make.

[char]

one point about autos though: If your gout ridden self can't shift a heavy clutched truck and you must have an auto or just REALLY would rather one for a little more than the cost of a new one through the dealer you can get autos that are basically indestructible, regardless of how much power you make.

Would you care to elaborate on this? My work managed to fry a auto transmission in a F450 this summer and we are less than pleased to be getting the same transmission again.

[lemon boy]

Either Brian's Truck Shop (BTS) or ATS make aftermarket trannys that you just can't blow up. Might be more companies those are the two I know of. in the appropriate model year forum start a thread with a who makes the best auto trans at thedieselstop and you'll get a million responses (the Alta or Snowbird debate)

edit here you go:

http://www.brianstruckshop.com/

http://www.atsdiesel.com

[Big E]

Would you care to elaborate on this? My work managed to fry a auto transmission in a F450 this summer and we are less than pleased to be getting the same transmission again.

Bunch of other companies too like lb said. No experience with them myself, though.

www.dieseltrans.com
www.nadp.ca
www.scheiddiesel.com
www.standardtransmission.com
www.tstproducts.com
www.suncoastconverters.com

[char]

Thanks guys, I'll pass this along.

[ill-advised strategy]

I am partial to the Fords especially the inline 6 motor, torquey and bombproof.

heh...beat me to it. Thoroughly seconded.