90s Pickup Trucks

[WA1DH]

I'm in the market for a used full-size pickup truck that I'd be using for occasional plowing (driveways, maybe some parking lots) and towing a boat/trailer combo not more than 5k lbs. I'd also use it to get out of the yard in the winter if we get buried in snow and my Ford Escort can't get out of the yard.

My price range is about $3500 max, meaning mid 1990s and up. I was considering a 7.3 F250 but the cost of maintenance and worrying about starting in the winter is pushing me toward gas. My only other concern is automatic transmissions on the higher mileage trucks in my price range. I'm a Ford guy but I hear bad things about Ford autos. I wouldn't mind a manual transmission but they are hard to find and I don't think I would enjoy that on a boat ramp or for plowing.

Is there any 'better' brand for automatics in 90s full size pickups, something that isn't likely to blow up or require a rebuild right away? Anything in general that I should avoid? I'm looking for a work truck that will cost me the least and be reliable when I need it.

Thanks.

 

[01rangerxl]

If you want all out durability, the C6 was available on 3/4 and 1 ton Fords into the early 1990s.

The E4OD in most Fords really wasn't that bad, a lot of them were just poorly maintained. It's based off the C6.

1995-1996 5.0L F-150s got the 4R70W, it's very solid.

Most GMs will have a 4L60E, or 4L80E if you look at 3/4 ton and up. The 4L60E is usually good, but sun shell failures were an issue. Some go 60K miles, some go well over 200K miles. The 4L80E is very durable.

Dodge is also hit or miss during that time. Any auto that old is a gamble just due to age and miles.

Personally, I'd probably get a 5.0L F-150, but any other 1/2 ton from that time will do just as well.

 

[The_Jeff]

For someone to plow with a diesel means they have 100s of accounts. You may get lucky with a gas truck that was only used on, say, a college campus.

I'd worry more about small stuff like front ends needing work. 3/4 ton should be a little better. If you can find a solid front axle, even better still.

The ford mazda stick shifts they put in F150s aren't great either and are lightly rated for towing. Plus you have the clutch abuse of plowing.

If it doesn't have push plates yet, yay for that truck's condition, but you're going to spend a bunch more for those and for a plow.

Hurry up and buy now, winter's coming.

Think against the grain and get a bronco/ Excursion? The bronco's shorter wheelbase would be great for plowing while the Excursion's longer one, towing. Mutually exclusive goals. A truck based SUV has a near vertical rear window and a bed you won't have to shovel out.

My work had a 2000 ish dodge ram 2500 4x4 that ate three transmissions in 60k miles only plowing one 60 space lot plus the boss's driveway. Finally a transmission shop that knew what they were doing chucked a maligned cooler line check valve that was restricting flow and killing transmissions.

Try NOT to get ABS, or at least get ABS that shuts off in 4x4, so you can left foot brake. Make it your goal to lock up the brakes HARD when you're shifting to get all the wheels to stop before taking the opposite direction gear.

 

[Azeem]

What's wrong with Ford's 4r70w? Bullet-proof auto, I sold my 95 F150 with close to 300 k miles on original 4r70w and 302.

Go Ford pick up, you won't be disappointed.

 

[MrMeeks]

I'm told Ford auto trans are weak but i've never had trouble with them.you should look for the best maintained used truck you can find.Ford or GM will do.CHeck the condition of all fluids before you buy.Dark stinky trans. fluid is not good. Always drain all fluids asap.Use an additive (lucas) in the trans. if it doesn't work just right. Use RESTORE additive in motor oil if you have oil use beyond what is considered 'normal' . ok

 

[94JeepCherokee]

Try a Jeep Cherokee. I see a lot of them in Moscow, ID with plows on the front. They handle excellently in the snow with a normal set of all-terrain tires. They tow stuff well, my parents used mine for hauling a half-cord of hardwood in a 4X8 trailer for many winters. They are easy and cheap to lift a couple inches for tire clearance. The 4.0 engine is almost bulletproof, as are the five-speed transmissions and AW4 autos with proper maintenance. Once understood, the engine is simple to work on.

Just a suggestion... They are tough SUVs.

 

[Phishin]

I love my 1990 K1500.

I bought it with 165k miles for $2k.

Only thing I've had to do to it in the 3 years I've owned it is put a new dizzy in it.

Everything on the truck is easy and cheap to work on.

 

[DriveHard]

I am a chevy fan...and that is where my advice is coming.

In my experience, and late 90's chevy trucks are rock solid dependable, and easy to work on when needed.

I would shoot for a 1996 to 2000 year truck. 1996 is the year the engines made the move to Vortec, and had increased power and efficiency. I first hand saw my brother in law beat a 5.7L vortec without enough oil to show on the stick for months on end. It is still in service today as a farm truck. The 5.7L is also the engine I would be after if I was looking for the truck you describe.

Best of luck to you!

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Regarding Cherokees - I've heard they plow excellent. An already front heavy vehicle with a plow hanging off of the front would be nearly unstoppable in the snow.

Seconding the suggestion to avoid IFS. They weren't built to last!

It's not hard to plow with a manual. Take it easy, use 4LO and the clutch will last.

 

[meep]

any gauge of reliability of that era will be based upon previous ownership. thoughts:

1. which is easier to maintain? GM had pretty open engine bays IIRC. Fords had a lot of plumbing.

2. for plow duty, that era GM had stiffer steering, I believe, while fords were lighter to steer... that could be a comfort/convenience issue with plow duty.

3. front axle--- who was solid back then? any offerings in the 1/2ton or did you have to go to the 3/4?

4. I would consider axle gearing when looking

any vehicle you'll be looking at is ~20 years old. you will have to evaluate vehicle-by-vehicle, more than brand and reputation.

 

[Clevy]

Originally Posted By: MrMeeks
I'm told Ford auto trans are weak but i've never had trouble with them.you should look for the best maintained used truck you can find.Ford or GM will do.CHeck the condition of all fluids before you buy.Dark stinky trans. fluid is not good. Always drain all fluids asap.Use an additive (lucas) in the trans. if it doesn't work just right. Use RESTORE additive in motor oil if you have oil use beyond what is considered 'normal' . ok


HA. Do NOT use restore in any motor you want to keep and Lucas is absolute garbage.
Mr Meeks. Please save these kinds of recommendations for some other board. Here we try to lead people into products that aren't junk.
Restore will clog an oil filter in very short order. I suggest putting it your your engine then cutting open the filter and seeing for yourself.
As far as Lucas goes all it takes is a simple search here to see exactly what kind of garbage it is.

 

[morepwr]

Get the 3/4 ton if you can find one you like in your price range. A friend in Colorado beat the front end suspension to death in a 1/2 ton when it was used as a plow.

 

[DemoFly]

I recommend a K5 Blazer with a 6.2L diesel.

TH350 or TH400

Rock solid, short wheelbase, lots of weight on the front axle, reliable and easy to work on, parts are dirt cheap.

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl

1995-1996 5.0L F-150s got the 4R70W, it's very solid.



My '96 F150 with 5.0 has a E4OD, at 177K mi it shifts fine... I think it has a HD or trailer tow package but there is nothing stated...

Interestingly I changed the original fluid just this evening, something I been meaning to do since I bought it late last year...

 

[jimmy87]

Originally Posted By: DriveHard
I am a chevy fan...and that is where my advice is coming.

In my experience, and late 90's chevy trucks are rock solid dependable, and easy to work on when needed.

I would shoot for a 1996 to 2000 year truck. 1996 is the year the engines made the move to Vortec, and had increased power and efficiency. I first hand saw my brother in law beat a 5.7L vortec without enough oil to show on the stick for months on end. It is still in service today as a farm truck. The 5.7L is also the engine I would be after if I was looking for the truck you describe.

Best of luck to you!


I agree, my dads 1997 z71 is pushing 200k miles and is still worked pretty hard on a daily bases, his has the 5.7/4l60e combo.

 

[Clevy]

Originally Posted By: jimmy87
Originally Posted By: DriveHard
I am a chevy fan...and that is where my advice is coming.

In my experience, and late 90's chevy trucks are rock solid dependable, and easy to work on when needed.

I would shoot for a 1996 to 2000 year truck. 1996 is the year the engines made the move to Vortec, and had increased power and efficiency. I first hand saw my brother in law beat a 5.7L vortec without enough oil to show on the stick for months on end. It is still in service today as a farm truck. The 5.7L is also the engine I would be after if I was looking for the truck you describe.

Best of luck to you!


I agree, my dads 1997 z71 is pushing 200k miles and is still worked pretty hard on a daily bases, his has the 5.7/4l60e combo.


In 99 chev made the move to the 5.3,and mechanically the 99-04 or 05 was pretty much identical.
So if trying to stay with the 5.7 1998 was the last year chev used one. Gmc may be different though,but my 99 silverado is a 5.3

 

[Phishin]

Originally Posted By: Clevy
Originally Posted By: jimmy87
Originally Posted By: DriveHard
I am a chevy fan...and that is where my advice is coming.

In my experience, and late 90's chevy trucks are rock solid dependable, and easy to work on when needed.

I would shoot for a 1996 to 2000 year truck. 1996 is the year the engines made the move to Vortec, and had increased power and efficiency. I first hand saw my brother in law beat a 5.7L vortec without enough oil to show on the stick for months on end. It is still in service today as a farm truck. The 5.7L is also the engine I would be after if I was looking for the truck you describe.

Best of luck to you!


I agree, my dads 1997 z71 is pushing 200k miles and is still worked pretty hard on a daily bases, his has the 5.7/4l60e combo.


In 99 chev made the move to the 5.3,and mechanically the 99-04 or 05 was pretty much identical.
So if trying to stay with the 5.7 1998 was the last year chev used one. Gmc may be different though,but my 99 silverado is a 5.3


Just a small correction....

I think in 1999, Chevy offered trucks with the 5.7 Vortec and also they moved to the 5.3 modular. I'm pretty darn sure you can get a 1999 Silverado with either engine. I think the early production trucks had the 350, the later in the year, they swtiched to the 5.3

I could be wrong tho....

 

[Phishin]

Originally Posted By: Clevy

Restore will clog an oil filter in very short order. I suggest putting it your your engine then cutting open the filter and seeing for yourself.


Have you torn one open? I run Restore in my 1990 K1500. I'll be cutting mine open very soon. I say....no way Jose. It's not clogged. If it was, my oil pressure gauge would be telling me it was....and it's not changed a bit.

Heck, I even put 2 6-cylinder sized cans in my crankcase 7000 miles ago. Which is way more than is called for.

You got proof that Restore will clog an oil filter?

 

[ls1mike]

Originally Posted By: Phishin
Originally Posted By: Clevy
Originally Posted By: jimmy87
Originally Posted By: DriveHard
I am a chevy fan...and that is where my advice is coming.

In my experience, and late 90's chevy trucks are rock solid dependable, and easy to work on when needed.

I would shoot for a 1996 to 2000 year truck. 1996 is the year the engines made the move to Vortec, and had increased power and efficiency. I first hand saw my brother in law beat a 5.7L vortec without enough oil to show on the stick for months on end. It is still in service today as a farm truck. The 5.7L is also the engine I would be after if I was looking for the truck you describe.

Best of luck to you!


I agree, my dads 1997 z71 is pushing 200k miles and is still worked pretty hard on a daily bases, his has the 5.7/4l60e combo.


In 99 chev made the move to the 5.3,and mechanically the 99-04 or 05 was pretty much identical.
So if trying to stay with the 5.7 1998 was the last year chev used one. Gmc may be different though,but my 99 silverado is a 5.3


Just a small correction....

I think in 1999, Chevy offered trucks with the 5.7 Vortec and also they moved to the 5.3 modular. I'm pretty darn sure you can get a 1999 Silverado with either engine. I think the early production trucks had the 350, the later in the year, they swtiched to the 5.3

I could be wrong tho....

1998 was the last year for the true Vortec. 1999 was the first year of the 4.8, 5.3, 6.0 LS based motor. As a matter of fact the 1999 6.0 is the only complete cast iron (heads and block) LS motor ever made.

 

[JANDSZIRKLE]

In my area, for the price you listed, $3500.00 yu can pick up a Dodge 4x4 with pretty reasonable mileage that can tow and or plow as well. Full size Fords in that year range are coveted like the chevys as well, for some reason Dodges dont get the same cred the others do. Hopefully this is just a geographic thing and you have some luck finding a Ford thats been taken decent care of. Biggest thing for vehicle shopping truckwise where im at is rust, DOT likes too put salt on roads if it rains in Va... no joke.