Best used truck for $5k? (F150, vehicle, MPG, engines)

[ameridreamNoT]

anyone has any recommendation for a used truck (pick-up) for around $5k? Really could use a truck for multi-purposes. I as looking at the tundra year 2000s and the Ford but anyone has any experience to share, I'd appreciate it!

[Me007gold]

Rangers have always been pretty sold little trucks. Tacomas as well, though they hold their value really well

[AlfredB1979]

A 97-03 (and '04 Heritage old body style) F150 would probably work just fine. Any engine (4.2 v6 or either the 4.6 or 5.4 v8), really.

I'd skip compacts altogether. The v6 engines usually get close to full-size truck MPGs and they aren't all that roomy, either.

I had a '94 Ranger SuperCab (they really didn't change aside from cosmetic tweaks until the ends) and I still have my '03 F150. It's not even close. The Ranger was a four cylinder and good for MPGs. That's it.

One thing I'm not keen on with the Tundra is that the early 4.7L v8 has a timing belt. I believe that v8 is non-interference, but still not something I care to deal with.

[ameridreamNoT]

thanks...I thought about it and I don't think it's worth getting a truck, I may just get a trailer and hook it up to my highlander. towing capacity is 5000 lbs so I think it should fine if I need to haul something.

[JWG223]

Any small truck.

S10
Ranger
B2200
Frontier

For some reason, small trucks from the 1995-2005 era are about the most cockroach like of vehicles regarding their durability.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by ameridreamNoT

thanks...I thought about it and I don't think it's worth getting a truck, I may just get a trailer and hook it up to my highlander. towing capacity is 5000 lbs so I think it should fine if I need to haul something.

get a Snowbear brand trailer, they are well built, customizable towing configuration (Tongue and axles adjustable) and tow very nice. I have over 20k on mine. (behind Diesel VW). For the 5x8 version, get one sold by Costco (2200# GVWR) vs Home Depot version (1650# GVWR)

OT: Used TRUCK... I prefer a 12v Cummins, (pre 1998) tho you have to put up with a Dodge to get one...
~ 20 mpg and can tow 30,000# GCVW 12 mpg)
1st gen 89-93 are stout workhorses. good to 1m miles
94+ have some steering / front end expenses to get you to 1 m miles.

[stilldriveem]

Save some money. Get a clean 78 or 79 F150/250. They'll last forever. Simple to maintain too.

[jtur88]

There are two kinds of sellers. A) has an old vehicle that he wants to get rid of and is tired of looking at it. and B) is trying to score a killing on a used vehicle he happens to have.

For $5,000, you're going to get a vehicle that's worth about $5,000. Judge it by the visible condition that is relevant to your tastes and needs. Starting out with a narrowed-down idea of the make, model and year is going to restrict your chances of finding the best truck. Shop around until you find a seller in category A, and walk around with cash in your pocket that you can offer him on the spot. He won't say No..

[rbohm]

Originally Posted by ameridreamNoT

thanks...I thought about it and I don't think it's worth getting a truck, I may just get a trailer and hook it up to my highlander. towing capacity is 5000 lbs so I think it should fine if I need to haul something.

if you dont need a truck, then this is probably the best idea. trucks tend to be quite utilitarian, unless you are going to carry passengers regularly. then you get into trucks that are rather large, or lose a lot of their utility. a trailer gives you the best of both worlds in your case.

[Mandalorian]

Honestly, at this price range make/model really doesn't matter. Look for something well-maintained with appropriate millage for the age and no rust. The condition it's in is the most important thing.