Let's talk trucks and other "utility" vehicles...

I've been tossing around the idea of picking up a 2nd car for throwing heavy, dirty things into, and doing some lightish towing.

Out in the open: I'm really hankering for a Jeep Cherokee. Every time I see a nice facelifted one, I want it. Problem? I think I need a bed. I mean, I have a wagon already, I don't think the Cherokee is a drastic increase in storage. Towing, however...

So, that leads me to pickup trucks. Every time I look into them, though, I get doIneedmore-itis. Diesel F-250? Yeah, that'll do the job! Also, it's hard to justify the gas mileage compacts get when compared to fullsized pickups. Also, all the good ones are too expensive. I'd love a Tundra, but they're too new and hold their value too well for my cheap ass.

So, for like, $5,000, what are my options?

I have a Mazda B-3000, AKA a Ranger. Hauls well, modest gas mileage, no power. I want a Cherokee.

Compacts are not too bad if you stay 2wd. A 4cyl/5spd/2wd will pull 30 if you clean up the rear aero (tonneau/airgate/tailgate down/removed)

2WD is not really an option, I should have stated as much. There's a very good chance I'll be in a snowy part of the ol' US of A before the end of the year, and 4WD would make my life a lot easier.

In that case I would just find the cleanest truck in your price range

Osterkraut wrote: 2WD is not really an option, I should have stated as much. There's a very good chance I'll be in a snowy part of the ol' US of A before the end of the year, and 4WD would make my life a lot easier.

Would that be the flat snowy part or the hilly snowy part? Cause flat+snow+snow tires is no problem.

If you want a Cherokee, but could really use a pickup, there are still some Comanches that haven't rusted away. They won't get 30 mpg, but they should be cheap and fill the bill. Jeep even made a longbed.

Sounds like you want a Jeep Cherokee pickup for under 5k. That basically describes the Jeep Comanche.

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&csDlId=&csDgId=&listingId=32539614&listingRecNum=1&criteria=sf1Dir%3DDESC%26alMdId%3D20858%26mkId%3D20021%26stkTyp%3DU%26mdId%3D20858%26rd%3D100000%26crSrtFlds%3DstkTypId-feedSegId-mkId-mdId%26zc%3D61761%26rn%3D0%26PMmt%3D1-1-0%26stkTypId%3D28881%26sf2Dir%3DASC%26sf1Nm%3Dprice%26sf2Nm%3Dmiles%26alMkId%3D20021%26rpp%3D50%26feedSegId%3D28705&aff=national

I've heard that Comanche's are electrical nightmares. Any truth?

As for WHERE I'm going that's snowy, that's up to the AF.

No matter, though, I want 4x4. Trucks just aren't without it.

Osterkraut wrote: I've heard that Comanche's are electrical nightmares. Any truth?

I haven't heard it one way or the other, but to the best of my knowledge (I spent about 30 minutes looking at one) they're the same as a Cherokee. Just with a pickup bed.

If you look seriously at a Comanche you might need to better define light towing as I think they were only rated to 1400lb.

I believe commanche prices, atleast nicer ones, are starting to go up. They are getting rare and Jeep guys love them.

If you want a truck for $5k, just buy the one that has been care for the best. That'll be your best bet.

Comanches don't have any electrical problems that the XJ didn't have. In fect, the XJ's after about 1994 had some electrical glitches that the MJ didn't have since they weren't in production.

What about a cherokee and a small utility trailer. For under $500 you can get a 4x8 foling one from harbor freight. That way you get the cherokee you want and still have the utility of a truck when you need it. Hell, my miata with a harbor freight trailer is almost as useful as a pickup truck. I've picked up loads of dirt, mulch, carried 5 bikes, carried my jetski, etc. The point being that a utility trailer can make a pickup truck unnecessary.

Disclaimer: I do have an f250 also but it really only gets used for towing.

For $5k I would look for the best condition extended cab pickup that you can find. The real score might just be a full size 6 cyl with a short bed.

Have early Chevy Avalanches fallen out of grace yet to get near the $5k mark?
I like the trailer idea.
As some what of a requirement, I will also nominate a Chevy Astro. Cheap, spacious, good towing.

Being in the land of no rust, have a look for the original cherokee and wagoneer, or a J10. It won't save you on gas, but you would look way cool in it. Like this one for example ebay j10....there are few other on there for cheaper too!!

From the GM guy:

Go buy the cleanest manual Ford 300 (I6) you can find. Those things, in their later years especially, were awesome. My cousin had one, and I was impressed - nearly enough to make me part with my 84 GMC. He used it for landscaping, and not the namby pamby flower type of landscaping, either. It spent a bunch of time on a working farm. Those engines are bulletproof, the 4WDs are ubiquitous, and the axles are way better than the 12 bolt I had.

-Brian

tuna55 wrote: From the GM guy: Go buy the cleanest manual Ford 300 (I6) you can find. Those things, in their later years especially, were awesome. My cousin had one, and I was impressed - nearly enough to make me part with my 84 GMC. He used it for landscaping, and not the namby pamby flower type of landscaping, either. It spent a bunch of time on a working farm. Those engines are bulletproof, the 4WDs are ubiquitous, and the axles are way better than the 12 bolt I had. -Brian

Goes to show the effect of living in the rust belt, The thought of a rust free truck with the 300/6 is unreal. O/T but, maybe I should go south and find a clean 300/6 Bronco.

My dad had two different F150s with the 300/6 and 4 on the floor with a granny first. Both were 2WD, one an 89 and the other an 84. The towing ability was awesome, it towed our 19ft ski boat better than his V8 ZJ due to better brakes and long wheel base. With the granny first it had no problem pulling any loads we strapped to it. Of course a 4WD will have low range so maybe the low first gear isn't necessary.

Both of his were long bed regular cab trucks. I would try to find an extended cab if you like a little interior room.

You can get a 93-96 dakota (in 3.9 or 5.2L trim) longbed for 1-2K around here, 3k for a perfect one.

Ive towed 10k lbs before with my parents 3.9L auto 2wd, though i dont recommend that by any means.. However, up to 5k ive been completely comfortable.

Either one will get ~19mpg highway when empty.

Also, i would NOT tow anything bigger than a utility trailer with a cherokee. Those things are ridiculously unstable. Ive owned 2, towed with another one (not mine), and while i love the heck out of them for a lot of reasons, i think they are no better than a 2500-3000 lb car for towing with. And really, i have to add as a caveat to that that i felt much better towing my 3k lb car/dolley combo 2k+ miles with my 3000 lb dodge dynasty than i did towing 4200lbs about 30 miles with a 4.0 cherokee.

be aware also that if you happen to find a Cherokee (XJ) with a stick, like mine, it comes with 3.07:1 gears instead of the 3.55s that the automatics got. Makes it a bit of a dog when towing or passing. Not sure why Jeep did that. Seems backwards to me. Historically the automatics have gotten the taller gears since they have a torque converter to make up the difference

oh, btw...the stick shifted 3.07 geared ones don't get any better mpg than the 3.55 automatics either

Early 90's F250/350 NA diesel 4x4 5speed, or a GM combo would be K2500/3500 NA diesel 6.2ltr. I had an 88 K2500 with a 6.2 and 4speed, the only thing I wanted with that truck was a 5th gear for the highway. U-haul trailer with an 86 Iroc didn't slow it down any, and you really couldn't even tell it was working other than the mileage went down a bit. I've found the Fords for around a grand, paid 1200 for my old truck 10 years ago, with another grand in parts drove it for 5 years, and to over 330k miles on the clock, with no real problems other than the random starter it would eat. Luckily the truck with 33's under it, you didn't need a jack to change the starter. Neither will be drag strip 1000hp terrors but you should still see mid 20's mileage out of them.

Edit. Oh yeah, if there isn't enough umph outta em stock, a phone call to banks power would prob help you scratch that itch and still keep it under 5k.

if you buy a cherokee/comanche, just be sure not to get a Renix one (1991 and before).....Renix sucks. Ask me how I know.