Need a "grandpa" truck, need more ideas.

I'm trying to find my Father-in-law a new to him truck to replace his dying '94 Dakota. I'm just not happy with the prices of used trucks right now. Adding to it is he'd like to be able to tote grandkids, so that means a proper crew cab truck. Price range is around $6k. For that price I'm finding truck with well over 100k and more. Maybe I'm looking at this the wrong way. My FIL is an ecologist/teacher. He spends his days teaching kids while slogging through swamps and the forest. He needs something that he can toss his waders and dip nets in the back and not worry too much. I assumed he needs something with a bed, but maybe a wagon-type vehicle with a cargo mat (or cargo box?) would work? To add further problems he is hard on vehicles. I got him an older SL2 that lived a year before committing harikari rather than endure another jaunt through the forest.

Things I have considered:

A Jeep Cherokee and a cheap cargo carrier or small trailer. Unfortunately all the Cherokees I find around here are either hacked into trail trucks or overpriced.

A Subie Forester. Not sure how the automatics are in these things.

An Astro. Isn't an Astro just an S-10 with a really long bed cover? Not sure what he'd think about driving a van though.

Maybe something REALLY out there, like a Crown Vic or a Caprice. Huge trunk, lots of room. Way back in the day he had a couple station wagons, so maybe a Buick Roadmonster is the ticket. Too bad the newest would be a '96 model. And from there I might as well look at Tahoes.

Crown Vic won't make it through swamps. Id think a four door pickup truck with 4x4. Swampy roads should throw a few of those out. The Astro is super hard to work on and once again, the mud.

N Sperlo wrote: Crown Vic won't make it through swamps. Id think a four door pickup truck with 4x4. Swampy roads should throw a few of those out. The Astro is super hard to work on and once again, the mud.

He rarely goes offroad except some light trails at the parks. Considering his current truck is not 4x4, I'm not making it a requirement.

Noted on the Astro. Probably going to ditch that idea.

If the main reason for a bed is not getting things dirty, how about a Jeep Wrangler with vinyl interior? You can just hose that thing out after a day in the swamps, grandkids should love riding in it, and the AMC motors are tough as nails.

Ex-Fleet pickup truck. Lots of them come with only rubber flooring so they are easy to clean and will be cheaper.

For wet, smelly stuff - nothing beats a bed.

Sounds like a good candidate for one of those almost-a-trucks: Ford made one from the exploder, I think Nissan had a 4 door, 5' bed, etc. They are scoffed at, and maybe undervalued because the bed isn't big enough to be a 'real truck'.

Just want to point out that Miata is not the answer.

bludroptop wrote: For wet, smelly stuff - nothing beats a bed. Sounds like a good candidate for one of those almost-a-trucks: Ford made one from the exploder, I think Nissan had a 4 door, 5' bed, etc. They are scoffed at, and maybe undervalued because the bed isn't big enough to be a 'real truck'.

Most good ones will break the budget, but might be doable. Thats why I suggested the four door. Problem with the four door is you aren't getting much newer than 94. On another note, my 95 F150 has over 200,000 miles on it and runs great.

Too bad they don't still hold the Gov't auctions here. I bought a rust free 1981 Dodge 4 door long bed truck with a slant six and a stick for $1000. Came off some Air Farce base.

N Sperlo wrote: The Astro is super hard to work on and once again, the mud.

Does Grandpa actually work on his own vehicles?
Astro awd for mud.

In reply to jrw1621:

Hard to work on should I point out for some of you ALSO MEANS EXPENSIVE. I'm looking out for grandpa's back and wallet. Your back too, because I assume you look out grandpa as well.

-1 for the Rastro and +1 to a good old Jeep Wagoneer. The original with the 360 and woodie sides. That's your ticket.

$3500.

http://daytona.craigslist.org/cto/2760519504.html

4 cyl Nissan Hardbody ex cab with 5 sp & rubber floor.

Should be able to pick up a decent one of these under budget.

Could it be possible that the answer could be an Ford Explorer Sport Trac? A bit of a compromise on truck bed but little to no compromise on interior appointments.
May be challenging to find in your price but they were made since 2000 and often fall between the cracks since I think few people set out looking for one (which is why I mention it.)

Edit: Klayfish and I think alike and at about the same time.

Hmmm, trucks hold their value so well in OK............there could money made in buying trucks from other locales and bringing them here.

Subaru Baja comes to mind. Though, I'm not sure about the prices.

Also...my GF's Element works well for her. Hose-it-out type interior. Throw a smelly horse blanket or a few bags of feed in the back...no problem. Snow? forgettaboutit...it's a tank! (I, personally drove it around in Colorado last winter.) A buddy's wife had one and he claims he could fit an old TRX125 four wheeler in the back with the doors all closed. That's an accomplishment. But it's not a truck. I also don't know about the price. It also only has 4 seatbelts, total.

Clem

I looked at the Exploder Sport Trac a while ago but haven't looked in a while. That might be the answer. Now to find the best example in his price range.

I'm going to echo the Nissan Frontier. I've never had a problem out of the older Nissan trucks. They seem to be bolted together well enough, they hold up pretty well, and they're cheap to buy and fix.

Javelin wrote: A good old Jeep Wagoneer. The original with the 360 and woodie sides. That's your ticket.

He said his FIL is an ecologist.

The automatic in the Subaru Forester is fine and is preferred by the off road guys because it is easier to creep along with.

However, I'm betting you can pick up an Explorer sport track in better condition for the same money as a Forester.

+1 on crew cab frontiers. I've got a friend with one that is beat all to hell, bumper missing, drivers door doesn't open, still tough as nails.

bludroptop wrote: For wet, smelly stuff - nothing beats a bed.

HA HA HA!!!!!!!!

Clearly, the answer is an old Chevy truck with a 454. Duh!