What base model 4x4 truck would you buy?

[DuckRyder]

You could get an XLT High FX4 Ranger for about 43 which is a nice truck should be able to get 7000 is lbs towing on it. Problem is timing, im not sure they are in production yet.

 

[64bawagon]

Around here the only 5k trucks are in the scrap yard due to rust.

 

[atikovi]

Ok I'm dying to know--where do you find a 10 year old truck for $5k that is worth buying?

Umm...you do understand what, any 10 to 20 year old F150, Silverado or Ram for $5-10K means? Maybe I should have wrote, any 10 to 20 year old F150, Silverado or Ram for $10-5K?

 

[tblt44]

I know you said new but I would buy a 2 or 3 year old used certified vehicle and save 10 -15k
You get a 100k power terrain warrenty with most if not all

 

[goingplacesanddoingstuff]

Nissan Frontier. The base models still get the 3.8L engine, they’re cheaper than the competition, and they’re likely just as, if not more, reliable.

And this is coming from a Tacoma owner.

 

[SeaJay]

Do base model pickups actually make their way onto dealer lots anymore?

 

[supton]

Umm...you do understand what, any 10 to 20 year old F150, Silverado or Ram for $5-10K means? Maybe I should have wrote, any 10 to 20 year old F150, Silverado or Ram for $10-5K?

Apparently not.

Where do you find a 10 to 20 year old truck that ain't a rotbox for under $10k? Most of the ones I used to see on CL were rusty and/or high miles, or worked hard and put away wet. I gave up looking, maybe the situation has changed in the last few months?

 

[buster]

The lower trim Frontier, Ranger, Colorado, Tacoma, F-150 or Silverado. They all have their pros and cons. It comes down to preference. Colorado weak link is the 8l45 transmission. Everything else is pretty reliable about it.

 

[Elkins45]

Why on earth would you buy a new truck for occasional farm and off-road use? Unless you're rich, any 10 to 20 year old F150, Silverado or Ram for $5-10K would be fine.

I don’t think that reflects the reality of the truck market in the south/midwest. Might as well pay a little more and get a warranty and booger free upholstery.

The farm and off-road use is occasional. The main use would be towing the boat several hundred miles for fishing trips. A 20 year old truck with a ton of miles is not the best choice where a breakdown would be far from home with a boat attached.

 

[goingplacesanddoingstuff]

Apparently not.

Where do you find a 10 to 20 year old truck that ain't a rotbox for under $10k? Most of the ones I used to see on CL were rusty and/or high miles, or worked hard and put away wet. I gave up looking, maybe the situation has changed in the last few months?

Really depends on where you live. In the northeast, never going to happen. In New Mexico or Texas, you have a shot.

 

[GoobSoCold]

Nissan Titan. Doesn't have start-stop or cylinder deactivation. I've had good luck with Nissan products in the past, but don't know if they are as good as they used to be.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/42b57a41-c813-46b0-b58a-412adb0629eb/

 

[goingplacesanddoingstuff]

I don’t think that reflects the reality of the truck market in the south/midwest. Might as well pay a little more and get a warranty and booger free upholstery.

The farm and off-road use is occasional. The main use would be towing the boat several hundred miles for fishing trips. A 20 year old truck with a ton of miles is not the best choice where a breakdown would be far from home with a boat attached.

For this use case a Ridgeline wouldn’t be a bad consideration either. Way nicer to drive several hundred miles than any of the competitors.

 

[Elkins45]

All the Nissans are crew cab now, which means they have tiny beds. I hate the EPA for what they’ve done to trucks.

 

[supton]

For this use case a Ridgeline wouldn’t be a bad consideration either. Way nicer to drive several hundred miles than any of the competitors.

Indeed. MPG finally went up on it, but it still has VCM, a timing belt and ... was going to say, expensive trans fluid, but they all do now I think, so no diff there.

All the Nissans are crew cab now, which means they have tiny beds. I hate the EPA for what they’ve done to trucks.

Is that from the EPA, or from buyers eschewing long bed reg cab mini trucks? err whatever you want to call them.

 

[goingplacesanddoingstuff]

Indeed. MPG finally went up on it, but it still has VCM, a timing belt and ... was going to say, expensive trans fluid, but they all do now I think, so no diff there.

VCM can be easily defeated, for what it’s worth.

 

[Elkins45]

Is that from the EPA, or from buyers eschewing long bed reg cab mini trucks? err whatever you want to call them.

My understanding is that the convoluted and flawed formula they use to calculate allowable emissions gets less stringent for heavier and longer wheelbase trucks. The end result is that a 1980‘s Hilux can’t meet the spec for its small footprint but a bloated behemoth can. I may be wrong about that but that’s what I’ve read.

 

[supton]

My understanding is that the convoluted and flawed formula they use to calculate allowable emissions gets less stringent for heavier and longer wheelbase trucks. The end result is that a 1980‘s Hilux can’t meet the spec for its small footprint but a bloated behemoth can. I may be wrong about that but that’s what I’ve read.

Ah, you might be right, am now reminded of a few vehicles getting ride height raised, so as to skirt this. I was thinking of safety standards, for a while, the mini trucks didn’t have to pass the same crash standards.

 

[dlundblad]

Why on earth would you buy a new truck for occasional farm and off-road use? Unless you're rich, any 10 to 20 year old F150, Silverado or Ram for $5-10K would be fine.

Nice things are nice.

 

[fisher83]

Nissan Frontier would be my choice. I've not owned one of their cars but I have had two of their pickups and they were great.

 

[Elkins45]

Nissan Frontier would be my choice. I've not owned one of their cars but I have had two of their pickups and they were great.

It’s a strong choice. I just wish they still made the king cab version.