Small Truck Ideas?
 

I'm thinking of buying a truck but I'm astounded by how huge they are these days. I was thinking I'd pay about $10k for a Ford Ranger type truck used but there just aren't many around these days.

Talk to me about trucks. I need reliability most of all, next cargo capacity.

Toyota is the no-brainer, but could be pricy. Next? 2005-up Nissan Frontier V6 with a manual transmission. Nice torquey engine. I recommend the manual, as Nissan was having an issue for awhile with Xterras and Frontiers having leaking auto trans coolers allowing engine coolant into the trans, with suboptimal results.

Buy any Ranger that isn't rusty (Typically $1,500-$2,000). Throw the rest of your budget at an air assist suspension & typical tuneups.

1500-2k will get you a rustbucket or a completely wrung out work truck with 300k around here, especially with 4wd. The 10k mark is a sweet spot for a 10+ year old ranger that has been decently maintained.

To the op--if you have specific questions about the rangers I'm very familiar...have rebuilt a 4.0 in another truck and currently have an explorer which is essentially the same thing underneath as the ranger.

You either get an F450 with a lift and stacks or you're a pussy.

Tell him about the timing chain arrangement in the 4.0...

Get a Toyota.

I would suggest a Toyota. Apart from the rusting chassis... you are probably going to be fine. I have a 2000 GMC Sonoma, same as a Chevy S10, stay the hell away from them. It's cost me a fortune in repairs that should never have had to be done at just over 100K.

- Peter.

ranger is a good truck, plentiful, good on power and towing capability, thirsty as hell if its the 4.0, and a complete dog with the 4cyl.

Good choice as its cheap to maintain, but since every company has gone insane with truck sizes, good ones are a lot of money and climbing, at least in the rust belt where a lot of options have returned to iron oxide long ago.


Toyotas small trucks are good but the same factors with the rangers are hitting the toyotas as well, climbing prices, and for a truck that was already considered better than the domestics, climbing at a steeper rate. Its a sellers market now for anything smaller in good shape.

My suggestion is this, take a look at what full size trucks built before the massive bloating are going for in your area. I have found the prices to still be reasonable around here, and while there is an increasing demand for the small trucks due to no new new ones being built, an older full size is still a decent price and sometimes a deal.

For example, I recently sold a 99 ranger 4x4 rustbucket extended cab. complete death trap. I sold this truck for more money than I paid for a far less rusted, 1994 F250 7.3 with a flatbed and 4X4. It would have been an inconceivable possibility even 10 years ago. These are old trucks, but i never would have believed it possible. The F250 seller said I was the only one who came and looked at it. No one wanted an old bench seat no options work truck with no comfort and no amenities.

People buying full sized trucks now are buying enormous 4 door monsters they can't see out of, and moving out of far more reasonably sized regular full size trucks. Id search in the late 90s to 2010ish range full size

Amen brother!

It's fine if it's maintained! Horrible if not...

fwiw my current 4.0 seems brand new at 135k. I do need to change the tensioner for peace of mind though. Too bad the rest of the truck is rusting around the drivetrain.

What about an Econoline/Express?

I was able to get a short bed, 6 cyl. 5 speed 2001 F150, rust free, a couple of years ago for $3500 on craigslist. Traded it for a Tundra so I could pull a camper. Sold the camper and traded the truck for a Metris. Should have just kept the F150, it was perfect.

If you had cash,Mexico has alot of nice diesel Rangers.

Been looking at trucks - you can get a 125k mile 2012 F150 crew cab/short bed 4WD for $15k.

Been kicking around the idea of getting a truck to replace my ML since the ML isn't really great at doing house things... :(