Newbie/lurker looking for truck advice

Looking for some input from the GRM braintrust...I've been lurking here for a few months (ever since I got my miata, though i'm still not sure how I ended up here!) and while I could ask this question elsewhere, most posts here tend to be fairly intelligent as opposed to other forums.

I am a recent college grad, and got a job 10 months ago that entailed buying a car with AC and moving to AZ. Now I'm no longer a poor college student, but I'm still a cheap b@stard! My DD is my 2005 ford ranger, 2wd 2.3l manual that I bought before I started my job. The miata is being driven by my GF until she can finish school/buy something of her own.

This is why I am considering a new/different truck:

I figure the trailer weighs 600 empty, plus 2 quads at 400 each, which is right around 1500 including gas etc. Since the truck is a manual, it is not rated to tow anything in the US (dumb!). Its also 2wd, which means I can get around in the dunes where we camp if I air down to about 10psi but doesn't make me very confident about not getting stuck.

So, I've been kicking around the idea of a late 90s/early 2000s F150/Chebby/GMC that has 4wd and more room in the cab, but should I keep suffering with the smaller truck and use that money saved to buy something else?

Thoughts appreciated! I've run this past the person I normally ask for advice (my dad), and I dont like his answer of buy a frontier, I love mine :-P

Edit: I own the truck outright, and taking a loan out to buy a new frontier scares me!

Welcome to the site, I'd just tough it out until you can buy a bigger or more capable truck for cash.

You have all the camping 4wd you need right there is the trailer, just park a little farther out and ride in.
Welcome.

How much of the Ranger is paid for?

yamaha wrote: Welcome to the site, I'd just tough it out until you can buy a bigger or more capable truck for cash.

JohnRW1621 wrote: How much of the Ranger is paid for?

Ha, looks like you're both getting at the same thing there. I should have specified, but i own the ranger 100%. Bought cash, with a leaking gas tank/fuel pump and broken 2nd gear synchro. plus dents/scratches etc.

Good point on the riding in thing. So far I've been getting around ok with aired down tires, but the sand has been kinda wet the last few trips.

The other thing i've been considering is wear and tear on the driveline...when i'm towing its usually at much higher engine load than normal and I imagine that will reduce the life of all those components quicker.

It will wear the clutch especially......as you own it outright, that changes some things IMO, and pending what you can get for it + what cash you can throw together for a different truck is what I'd recommend.

Maybe buy some more capable tires for the ranger? Or ride in a little further or don't sweat it since you have quads to pull you out if you do get a little stuck. Being a cheap bastard myself, you have to know that whatever extra wear and tear on the driveline is cheaper to fix/replace than a more expensive truck - and being in AZ, the body won't rust and fall off anytime soon. Drive it till you're sick of it.

yamaha wrote: It will wear the clutch especially......as you own it outright, that changes some things IMO, and pending what you can get for it + what cash you can throw together for a different truck is what I'd recommend.

Yea, first gear is way too tall for the little duratec. After first gear its not too bad, and its almost all freeway driving to Glamis where we normally ride. I've been down to the clutch on it twice, once when I put in a used transmission and then again when the pilot bearing wore out since the PO put it in the wrong way. So clutches (or slave cylinders? I think they tend to go bad on these) don't scare me toooo much haha.

I'm not sure I want to get rid of it for something that gets worse MPG, since I currently drive about 20,000 miles a year between work and vacations etc.

oldtin wrote: Maybe buy some more capable tires for the ranger? Or ride in a little further or don't sweat it since you have quads to pull you out if you do get a little stuck. Being a cheap bastard myself, you have to know that whatever extra wear and tear on the driveline is cheaper to fix/replace than a more expensive truck - and being in AZ, the body won't rust and fall off anytime soon. Drive it till you're sick of it.

Yea tires were on my radar; its got decent sized tires now but they're highway tires. Enough tread for the dry days (which we have a lot of in AZ lol) but the recent snowstorm last week taught me a thing or two about 2wd trucks and tires haha.

Good point on the replaceing/fixing point. Thinking about it, I've spent more on my quad in the last 3 months than my truck in the last 6 months :-O Guess thats what you get when you buy an ATV they only made for 2 years lol.

I think you'd probably be better off with a winch in your scenario. I assume there aren't going to be any trees in the area so you'll need something to dig into the sand. I've heard people suggest a boat anchor for this purpose (a fluke-style or similar, not a mushroom-style) or you could get a purpose built device like a pull-plough.

In reply to Mmadness: I'll have to research that, haven't heard much about winches in sand. If need be, I can always have someone tow me out now. Though i'll make sure to use a long tow strap if i use the quads to tow...we had someones front A-Arms get completely sandblasted after they broke down out in the dunes and had to get towed back!

I'd suggest selling it and buying any small, 4x4 truck. If that isn't an option, then invest in a shovel and sand ladders before a winch.

In reply to Tom Suddard:

Hehe. Shovel and sand ladders coming up! I do have freinds out there who can tow me out if I need to, but I really should own a shovel at least.

However, I'm not convinced a small 4x4 truck is worth it unless its diesel (and those aren't generally cheap). Typically they seem to be about the same mpg and are smaller, less room and less towing capacity, etc. I wonder how the new ecoboost will depreciate in 2-3 years?

Well, honestly I wouldn't be truck shopping if I were you. You have a topper and want more cab space, so why not just buy a 10-20 year old 4runner or similar.

SUVs are cheaper than pickups, have 4wd (and are better off road), are reliable, and can tow a trailer easily. Heck, you are a prime candidate for a second-gen Trooper, too.

AWD Astro van .

In reply to Tom Suddard:

I am tending that way as well, though I do like the truck look better. So does my gf, apparently suburbans are ugly?? who knew. I seriously looked at one for $2500, but the thought of the 7.4l and sub 10 mpg scares me haha.

I'll have to start shopping for 4runners/astros/suburbans/etc and see what I like. My first vehicle was an aerostar, maybe i'll pick up an AWD version

edit: looks like troglodyte beat me to the astro van!

Why go to a full size SUV? A 4Runner or Trooper will already be bigger in every dimension than your current truck. I can put a 4x8 sheet of plywood in my Trooper!

http://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/3646131606.html rated to tow 5,000 pounds, room for lots of crap (and a flat corrugated metal load floor like a pickup truck), back seats fold into a bed, 4x4, cheap buy-in.

http://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/3625251253.html

http://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/3611238876.html

http://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/3567542130.html

http://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/3554999744.html

In reply to Tom Suddard:

i'll admit I don't know much about the trooper, but i just figured small SUVs were like small trucks - slightly better mpg maybe but smaller/less hauling capacity. especially looking at something pre-2005ish, I'd probably keep my truck for daily driving and just use a big truck/suv for towing.

Thinking about it, I'm not sure I really want to work in van engine compartments anymore. I'm clumsy enough already, working in that kind of confined space really seems to speed up the blood loss.

You could probably find a cheap Exploder with 4x4, even with a 5.0 for cheap.

XJ?

Just upgrade to a V6 4x4 version of what you have. I'm not a big fan of the 4.0L Ford with its complex (and failure-prone) timing chain setup, but an S10 with the 4.3L is ridiculously bulletproof.

My 03 Sonoma ZQ8 was rated to tow 6000. Of course, it was a 2wd with the 4L60E auto, but it was a wonderful truck.

PeterAK wrote: You could probably find a cheap Exploder with 4x4, even with a 5.0 for cheap.

My first thought was an Explorer Sport Trac.

But a Trooper/Passport/4 Runner/XJ would be cool.

Even though I love my '91 Land Cruiser...it is one thirsty beast.

the correct answer is "Bronco 2"

they were designed to go thru dunes, have enough towing capacity for what you are doing, and they get decent mileage for a small 4X4 truck..get one with the biggest V6 (4.0, i think), put some good offroad tires on it, add a winch, and you are ready to rock..

Ugh, I wouldn't take any of these suggestions. This sounds more like a "buy my favorite truck even if it makes no sense for you" thread.

The OP said: So, I've been kicking around the idea of a late 90s/early 2000s F150/Chebby/GMC that has 4wd and more room in the cab

Yes, you should do this. Having owned a half dozen pickups of various types I've concluded mini pickups are worthless for any kind of real work (as have you). The mpg is nothing stellar either; I had a 2wd 2.3 stick Ranger and it didn't generate mileage numbers any better than a full size F150 with a six, while retaining all the negatives of a tiny pickup.

The ultimate truck to me is a pre-97 F150 with the 300 six and a stick shift, not difficult to find in a 4x4 version. Engine is as reliable as anything you'll find, gives decent mileage and has wondrous amounts of torque. Only thing that kills these trucks is rust, but if you're shopping the desert country where you now live that shouldn't be a factor.

Post 96 brought the Triton engines with their wonderful habit of vomiting spark plugs. Took many years for them to get past that expensive issue.

You can also shop bowties and Mopars but I just don't care for them so can't guide you on which ones are better. Once you succumb to the charms of a full size pickup, you'll wonder why you resisted for so long. I also looked at enclosed SUV type things (Broncos, Excursions, etc) but the unneeded extra seats just waste interior space, and frankly they are more difficult to sell than a pickup when the time comes.