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Pickup advice

G

goodness-707

Active member
Joined
Jul 27, 2003
Location
Dublin
Moto(s)
not nearly enough
Name
Richard
My dad's looking to get a pickup to pull a small/light travel trailer. I'm not completely ignorant, but I've been out of the business for nearly 20 years, and haven't owned a pickup in nearly as long. My experience is severely dated.

  • Needs: reliability, ability to haul a ~3000lb, ~18-20 travel trailer in & through the mountains. Clean, straight, turnkey. No salvage jobs, projects, oro junkers. Recent enough model year that a dealer can fix it when it breaks.
  • Desires: low maintenance costs, decent MPG, double cab. Basic creature comforts like AC, power windows & locks, etc.
  • Not needed: 4WD, cool factor, long bed / LWB, nav, sat radio.
  • Budget: would like to spend 10k or less.

It seems maybe do-able with this budget, but are there any models or configurations to avoid? What's the BARF wisdom on what to buy or run from?
 
Caddywumpus said:
why take it to a stealership?
Click to expand...

I worked in dealer service for about 8 years. Some dealerships are terrible, I grant you that, but in general, what you get for the higher cost is greater competence, and a higher probability of shit getting fixed right the first time.

I think things get a bit different for "exotic" brands like Porsche and BMW. An indy shop can specialize and still carve out a decent living because dealer prices on those are so sky high.
 
Every full size Chevy or GMC that I've owned has been deadnuts reliable. Every one. The big difference is MPG. I get maybe 16 out of my 4.8, 4 sp. Auto Silverado 1/2 ton. But, i've got a single cab, a double or extra cab was $10,000 more, for otherwise the same truck. I bought a 2012 last year, with 20,000 miles for $16,500, the exact same truck parked right next to it, was $28,000. A little more than your $10k limit though.

I tend to get much heavier duty than I need though, especially for towing. All I use my 1/2 for is throwing my bike in. If I were to get something for towing, I would get a 3/4.
 
$10k budget is I think where you're going to have troubles. With that price, you're looking at probably 10-12 year old trucks. I'd probably recommend a first generation Toyota Tundra.
 
stangmx13 said:
^ i was thinking the same thing. u wont be getting good mpg out of a V8 Tundra though.
Click to expand...

It was pretty much the only thing I could think of that met most of the requirements.

Maybe an older Dodge 2500 with a 12V would work also. The 2WD models can be found for pretty cheap. I sold my late father-in-law's 2000 Ram 2500 2WD on BARF a couple years ago for around $7000.
 
In a couple of minutes on craigslist, I found this.

So, it looks like you can get something decent in that price range.

BTW, almost any truck will tow 3k lbs. without issues. You shouldn't have to worry about that.
 
Last edited:
When you say double cab, how big are you talking? Some back seats can barely fit kids, others fit full size adults.
 
For the budget Tundra seems like a safe bet. I bought this tundra from barf: http://bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=445904

185k miles on it now. It aged better than any other model 100k+ mile truck I have looked at. Surprisingly comfortable and spacious inside too.

Most of the miles since I got it is hauling bikes or with a trailer. Getting around 15 - 16mpg. So not all that great economy compared to newer trucks.
 
JesasaurusRex said:
Thought this thread was going to be about dubbs
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seriously, I was gonna suggest telling the women what Sailor Senshi she looked like, which would lead to a discussion about the Sailor Moon megaverse, aahhh but I realize this wouldn't help Dubbs.

ford F-150
 
Pickup advice?

Use this line:

Let's change the alphabet and put U and I together.
 
Inquisitive look at the label on the back of her shirt. Step back and with conviction say 'Yep, just what I thought, made in Heaven'.


Works everytime!
 
I know you said truck... but I have a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee that can tow that amount (at least I think it can) and is 4 door. I bought mine for 10k 2-3 years ago...

might explore that route.
 
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