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Looking for a used pickup truck...4x4, preferably 4 door. Probably older. Can't spend more than $10k or so. I might go look at a 2004 Ford F-150, 4x4, 5.4 liter...but now I'm reading those are plagued with problems and that I should "stay away".
What is the best used, older pickup truck I can get? Ford, Dodge, Chevy..? Some other brand..? I don't mind Toyota but heard the frames rot out.
Seems like used pickup trucks are expensive and have problems!
Toyota, but definitely have the undercarriage checked. in general fords are much better than the other 2, but former owner care can make all the difference when buying used. Stay far away from a contractors left overs, if they weren't junk, they would run them forever. Good luck.
Would look for the Ford F-150 7700 Series it is really a Light Duty F250 that filled the gap between the Super Duty F250 or look for a Mid-00's Chevy Silverado 1500/2500HD or GMC Sierra 1500/2500HD with the 5.3L Vortec v-8 or better yet the 6.0 LQ4 or 6.0 LQ9 H.O. Vortec V-8
Remember all truck have their issues the Ford Triton 4.6 V-8 tend to be better (less issues) the Triton 5.4 V-8's and the Chevy/CMC trucks the 5.3L Vortec really does not get much better fuel economy then the 6.0L Vortec V-8 so better to go with the 6.0L since it offers more power and torque.
Would also suggest if you can handle only having a super cab/Extended cab truck that is kind of Spartan by todays standards then a 1987-1997 F-Series or 1988-1998 (GMT 400) Chevy Silverado/GMC sierra are two of the easiest trucks to work on and maintain and are very reliable and very simple to fix for independent mechanic or you can DIY
For the Ford the EFI 5.8L (351ci and the EFI 7.5L (460ci) are and the for the GM the 5.7L Vortec (350ci SBC) and 7.4L Vortec (454 BBC) are the best Gassers from that era IMO
Now for the Diesels then it is the 2nd Gen Ram with the Cummins 5.9L 6BT and the Ford with either the IDI 6.9L and IDI 7.3, IDI 7.3 Turbo or the vaunted Power Stroke 7.3
Location: Butler County Ohio and Winters in Florida
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I think all the brands listed above are good .
I think you need to keep your mind open to brands, looking for service history and current ownership. Keeping away from work, company, and similar vehicles.
every vehicle has their issues that you will have to deal with. toyotas have frame rust issues, ford triton V8s tend to blow plugs out once in a while when someone doesnt properly tighten the plugs after a service, and the dodges tend to blow head gaskets, i forget what the chevys problems tend to be. all of these issues can be overcome and repaired.
the best you can do is find a truck you like that is in the best condition you can find for the price point you have to deal with. as with any vehicle, have a pre-buy inspection done. while this wont guarantee that any problems wont crop up in the future, it will give you a handle on current issues that you will have to deal with.
No, no mechanic friends. For some reason I'm partial to the Ford F150, 2004+ years. I just love the way they look. Especially the SuperCrew and 5 1/2 ft bed. Although I am open to all brands.
The problem with the Ford is that 5.4 engine. Heard it was garbage. Looked it up online and everything says "Try and get the 4.6". They typically didn't come with the 4.6, although they can be found.
Chevy trucks are ugly, IMO. Hate the interiors too. Nothing personal against Chevy, just think they make ugly vehicles. Even the new ones.
Toyotas, I dunno, they look like like a typical Toyota. Interior is lacking, again, IMO.
No, no mechanic friends. For some reason I'm partial to the Ford F150, 2004+ years. I just love the way they look. Especially the SuperCrew and 5 1/2 ft bed. Although I am open to all brands.
The problem with the Ford is that 5.4 engine. Heard it was garbage. Looked it up online and everything says "Try and get the 4.6". They typically didn't come with the 4.6, although they can be found.
the 5.4 head is basically the same as the 4.6 head. as i said the issue is the triton tends to spit spark plugs out, generally when the mechanic that replaces them doesnt follow proper procedure when removing and replacing them. there is a repair kit for when the engine does spit out a plug. so except for the plug issue, the heads are just fine.
I've been on a cattle ranch in Wyoming and the rancher there swore by Chevy and Dodge trucks. The driving there was 90% off road on very rough, rocky land. The trucks got a severe beating with every ride, day in day out, year round.
He said he had several Ford F150's in the past, but stopped buying them since most would start to slowly fall apart after just one year. The Dodge we drove was early 2000's and I was there in 2010.
For the looks, I like the F150's more though
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