What Pickup?

In my seemingly endless search for a cheapo utility vehicle, in which I keep bouncing back and forth between wagons (I've got a thing for 'em, and if I choose wisely, I can make one cool/fast), vans (the winner for overall utility), and 4x4 pickups (the offroad thing is strange to me, but I'm always willing to try new motorhobbies). My current thinking now is back to small-ish 4x4 pickups.

Aside from early 'Yota pickups (my buddy has one), I know nothing of pickups. I'd need something with about a 7 foot bed, counting the tailgate, since one reason for this vehicle is hauling motorcycles. I'd like to think I'd value gas mileage, but since I'd just ruin it with oversized tires, that's not a big concern. Speaking of oversized tires, I would eventually want something I can modify into a light expedition rig for some outdoor fun.

Here's the fun part: I'd like to keep this as close to $2k as possible.

So:
- stout/reliable
- readily moddable
- cheap

I'm not afraid of older stuff, and around here old full size 4x4s are a dime a dozen. If you think I'd be better served there, I'm open.

Thoughts?

A full size should work fine, easily moded, and rugged enough. But for looking at smaller trucks, my personal preferance would be 'yota, nissan, ranger, s-10, dakota. Twice the guys on here have talked me out of buying a dakota, they are the worst of both worlds between full size and compact. And I'm looking at another dakota again...

I'll sell you my 96 B-3000 for 1500.00. V-6, 5 speed, good gas mileage, unknown milage. (Well over 200K). Runs and drive great. I want a full sized van for my deliveries. It's a good little truck, won't leave you stranded, but I need bigger.

Jeep Wagoneer and a trailer. Seriously. Loading bikes into a pickup bed freaking SUCKS, which is why you hardly ever see it. Buy the Jeep for $1000, get a rock-solid 360 (or 401 if you're lucky), indestructible trans/transfer case/axles, and loads of utility (seats 5 full-size adults, 7 with a 3rd row seat). Not to mention you could off-road on the moon and not get stuck. Then the trailer is cheap and easy to throw behind the house when you don't need it.

I've driven small 4x4 pickups for a long time, and after seeing the light I'll never go back. All the crappy V8 fuel economy with none of that pesky torque and a near-useless bed to boot.

neon4891 wrote: A full size should work fine, easily moded, and rugged enough. But for looking at smaller trucks, my personal preferance would be 'yota, nissan, ranger, s-10, dakota. Twice the guys on here have talked me out of buying a dakota, they are the worst of both worlds between full size and compact. And I'm looking at another dakota again...

Go ahead, take the plunge! Sounds like you're doomed anyway. :) There's a pretty good online dakota community, with what we call the "dakota parts train" a cross-continent informal parts swapping system. I just sent an oil pan way up north. Need 3:92 gears with an open rear-end?

lesley, how about de-lifting an '01 dakota

As someone who recently bought a '92 Dakota V8 as my first pickup truck ever and it came with all possible options (power everything, a/c, auto transmission etc) I'd say stay away from them.

The motor is awesome and powerful with a sub 3500lb body it hauls butt. But the ride was really choppy, the fit and finish was questionable but worst of all there's severe lack of technical information. I tried a couple of message boards and the signal to noise ratio was ridiculous.

I sold it recently and bought a new Ridgeline - great truck but not perfect (no 4-lo, not enough towing capacity) - other than these two complaints it's years ahead of the other pickups.

If I were in the market for a basic, cheap, utilitarian pickup truck I'd pick up the Nissan hardbody, Ranger or a Toyota. I put toyota last because they're generally overpriced and have their own share of issues.

What kind of bike are you hauling? How much does it weigh? If it's a 1200lbs Goldwing forget it, if it's a CBR600RR you're probably OK with most compact trucks.

i'll toss a vote in for a ranger. theres a 97 extended cab 4x4 with a hard tonneau on the houston CL that i've been tempted to pick up, listed for 2900. theres a bit of a price jump from the 93-97 trucks with the twin i-beam front end that doesn't like lift kits and the stock springs tend to sag over time, to the 98-up trucks with wishbone/torsion bar front end. then theres another price jump in 01 when the sohc 4.0 became available.

Yup, RussellH, agreed for the most part. It's like owning a british car, if you like it, you put up with its character flaws, and there are a lot. Yours was the older body style, a little different from my truck, the baby ram.

And ya... boy do you have to wade through a lot of redneck, ignorant trash-talking to get some info. There are a few knowledgeable guys around though. I've bought stuff from the guys on this site: http://forums.delphiforums.com/dakotart

and this one: www.dodgetrucks.org

There are some 4x4 guys on the second site that would know about "de-lifting" :)

On the other hand... I know someone who uses his Caravan to haul his racecars cross country, no problem.

cwh wrote: I'll sell you my 96 B-3000 for 1500.00. V-6, 5 speed, good gas mileage, unknown milage. (Well over 200K). Runs and drive great. I want a full sized van for my deliveries. It's a good little truck, won't leave you stranded, but I need bigger.

If you weren't dangling off the end of the country down there, I might take you up on it. Coming towards the bread basket anytime soon?

P71 wrote: Jeep Wagoneer and a trailer. Seriously. Loading bikes into a pickup bed freaking SUCKS, which is why you hardly ever see it. Buy the Jeep for $1000, get a rock-solid 360 (or 401 if you're lucky), indestructible trans/transfer case/axles, and loads of utility (seats 5 full-size adults, 7 with a 3rd row seat). Not to mention you could off-road on the moon and not get stuck. Then the trailer is cheap and easy to throw behind the house when you don't need it. I've driven small 4x4 pickups for a long time, and after seeing the light I'll never go back. All the crappy V8 fuel economy with none of that pesky torque and a near-useless bed to boot.

See, I hate trailers (and I really don't have a place for one at the new house), and don't mind loading into a pickup. In fact, the shop truck at my last motorcycle shop was a longbed F150, so I got pretty used to it. The trick is to have two ramps, one to walk up, and one for the bike.

I do have a thing for Wagoneers, though, I have to admit. And really, 90% of the time I won't need the bike hauling capability. But, for that 10%, it sure is nice to have and not need.

But I'm kinda with you on the fullsize vs compact argument. I had initially ruled out compacts for the very reasons you state, but I keep coming back for some reason. Seems, though, that a good ol' 'murican V8 4x4 pickup may be what the doc ordered, especially being in the middle of pickup country like I am.

In that case, longbed Jeep J10 or J20. ALl the goodness of a Waggy with a massive bed.

P71 wrote: Jeep Wagoneer and a trailer. Seriously. Loading bikes into a pickup bed freaking SUCKS, which is why you hardly ever see it. Buy the Jeep for $1000, get a rock-solid 360 (or 401 if you're lucky), indestructible trans/transfer case/axles, and loads of utility (seats 5 full-size adults, 7 with a 3rd row seat). Not to mention you could off-road on the moon and not get stuck. Then the trailer is cheap and easy to throw behind the house when you don't need it. I've driven small 4x4 pickups for a long time, and after seeing the light I'll never go back. All the crappy V8 fuel economy with none of that pesky torque and a near-useless bed to boot.

But, with a trailer, your speed is limited. I have loaded bikes for over 15 years in the back of my truck with no issue. You can get a 2x12 for loading and an end for the 2x12 at Home depot.

straight 6 powered F150?

+1 for the 300CID Fords..

I've got a 1996 and I've had to do next to no maintenance in 160,000 miles.

Other than oil changes, tune-ups and tire rotations: 1 battery (dealer battery lasted 8 years) 1 set of brakes and 1 wheel cylinder 1 clutch (towed my race trailer for years and hauls an 8' camper in the summer) 1 clutch master 1 clutch slave 1 set of timing gears (factory cam gear is phenolic resin, replaced with steel) 1 Universal joint 1 set of tires

Not bad for a 13 year old truck.

Shawn

1996 is THE year to get if you're looking for a 300 I6 ford. it was the last year for the 300, and also the only year it got mass-air (and i think mpi instead of tbi), and obdii.

Great, you guy are making me want to salvage my dads F 150. or maybe keep it long enough to pick up a bronco and drop the 300/6 into that.

Broncs were available with the 300, just so you know.

a mid 90s Ranger with a swapped SVO turbo'd 4 banger in there...

Cueing Fit_Is_Slo...

alex wrote: Broncs were available with the 300, just so you know.

I know, but it seams all the ones i find have 351's

I'll add myself to the 300/6 bandwagon.

In reply to neon4891:

they were more prevalent in the early-mid 80's models, coupled with a 4-speed.

i think in the 90s, you could only get a 302 or 351w in them with an auto.

Nope, my buddy's got a '95 with a 5-speed and 300.

Shawn

another vote for the 300 - one tough motor - the body will rust away around it. I like the thought of the compacts, but like hp - what you have is never enough.

Cherokee with the receiver hitch platform for loading bikes.