Dear friends:

I know nothing about pickup trucks, so please recommend some cheap, fuel-efficient and reliable USED pickup trucks. I only need a pickup truck to haul things here and there on an occasional basis. Thanks for your suggestions.

Best regards,

Eric

Do you want a full size or compact? For a compact, Nissans are cheap, reliable and fuel effcient. Full size I'd have to go with the pre-97 Ford 150 w/ 6 cyl

I have had a great time owning my '95 Ford Ranger. The truck has been nothing but reliable and cheap to maintain. It has 110,000 miles and still has the original exhaust, rear brakes, and belive-it-or-not battery! I think that you can't go wrong with a well maintained, used ranger; good luck to you!

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1992 500SEL 25K
1995 E320 40K
1995 SL600 120K
2002 JX8 Sport 43K
2005 Volvo S40 95K
2006 Isuzu NPR 304K (Frankencamper)
2007 Crown Victoria 150K
2014 Smart Electric 20K

Anything Toyota.

If you can find one thats not rusted out its a heck of a truck, its also an Isuzu.

I can second Antony's vote for the Ranger. My brother has one pushing 200,000 miles and the only real prob was an auto trannie that blew it's guts last year. And he's not easy on his vehicles. But go for the post '93 model, with the 4.0 liter V-6. The early 4-bangers liked to crack heads and blow head gaskets.
On at least an equal basis, if not better, would be a Toyota. I've not owned one myself, but have plenty of friends and relatives who have/had. Bullet proof comes to mind.

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past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)

If you were into the old, odd, quirky, whatever I’d look for an old Ford Falcon Ranchero. They’re appreciating and can be built into a very cool hot rod. The old Ford 6 is bulletproof and probably gets good mileage.

__________________
89 300E
79 240D
72 Westy
63 Bug sunroof
85 Jeep CJ7
86 Chevy 6.2l diesel PU

"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
Marcus Aurelius

I'd love one of those! Cool little cars/trucks, whatever they are. It's hard to find anything from the 60's around here that isn't a rust bucket though.

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past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)

I'd support the Ranger idea, too. Just bought a left-over '03 off the lot with the 4.0 V6- A/C, cruise, automatic, sport seats, extra cab, sportside bed. I've had 2 Suburbans in years past.... decided to go back to such a multi-purpose vehicle, but wanted to spend less on fuel and ownership in general. There are a bazillion Rangers out there, and the development cycle is old, so no real surprises. So far it has been as boring and predictable as I would hope. Would bet a 3 year old model would serve you well...

Add me to the F-150 6cyl list. It's kind of a wash between the automatic and manual because the 5-speed they put in them wasn't that great, but you can get them converted to the old tried and true 4-speed manual. Also, the 302 isn't bad; not as torquey and a little worse on gas, but solid otherwise. The 4.2 V-6 is hardly worthy of being called a truck motor and the straight six will probably outlast it two to one. Personally I'm keeping my eyes open for a 94-96 6cyl to put in our van. After I turbocharge it. That may be a pipe dream, but if done right it would beat the pants off the 351W that's in it right now in both power and milage.

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Once and future king:
'64 Ford Fairlane w/approx 238,000 - looks rough, but amazingly reliable if you know how to look after it; I will soon begin work to totally restore and modernize it.
Family vehicles that I lay some claim to:
'78 300D w/approx 350,000 original, '62 Ford F100 4x4, '90 Ford E150 w/171,000 original

Have you considered a utility trailer? Thats what I did. They are a lot cheeper and take up less space.

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5 speed '91 190E 2.6 320,000 mi. (new car, fast, smooth as silk six, couldn't find any more Peugeots)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.5l Turbo Diesel 266,000 mi. (old car, fast for a diesel, had 2 others)
5 speed '01 Jetta V6 (new wifes car, pretty quick)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.2l Turbo Gas 197,000 mi. (wifes car, faster, sadly gone just short of 200k )
5 speed '83 Yamaha 750 Maxim 14,000 mi. (fastest)
0 speed 4' x 8' 1800 lb Harbor Freight utility trailer (only as fast as what's pulling it)

you can buy mine '91 chevy S-10 5-speed... only $1600.. what a bargain.

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1993 320TE M104
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past:

1983 230E W123 M102
1994 E300D S124 OM606 (x2)
1967 250SE W108 M129
1972 280se 3.5 W108 M116
1980 280SE W116 M110
1980 350SE W116 M116
1992 300E W124 M103
1994 E280 W124 M104
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"music and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business" -Pepys

If it's just for occasional local use, you can rent one for a few hours from U-Haul, Penske, etc. It's fairly inexpensive if you're not piling on the miles, and you don't have to worry about insurance, parking, depreciation, maintenance, etc., much less the initial purchase price.

Home Depot has been selling a neat little trailer just the size of a PU truck short bed. They are convertible –stakebed/flatbed and are very inexpensive.

__________________
89 300E
79 240D
72 Westy
63 Bug sunroof
85 Jeep CJ7
86 Chevy 6.2l diesel PU

"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
Marcus Aurelius

Yes, thats the one I was referring to. I've never owned the V6, but the inline sixes have been in Ford Trucks in one way or another since the 1960s. In Texas they are prized as light duty service trucks, they will run a route all day and last for years, and give great gas mileage. The first time you pull something too heavy for the truck with it, it will however, become an immediate POS. For suburbia use they are the greatest.