I know there are lots of these around, but I didnt find any that were truck specific.

I'm about to start shopping for a pickup as a second vehicle. These are the basic parameters:
$5-7k
Reliable
4wd a plus, but not necessary
Comfort / low noise levels
Could be either full-size or compact truck

Uses:
- Second car for commuting to work (i only drive once every few weeks)
- Work truck for around the house - hauling dirt, stone, plants, wood, lumber, etc
- A few road trips camping - usually within the state or region. So nothing to loud or noisy

Any thoughts or suggestions? There are plenty out there in that price range, but with high miles and I haven't dealt with trucks enough in the last 10 years to know what's reliabel with high miles (if anything)

thanks!

5/27/2009 11:01:08 AM

1997 DODGE RAM 2500, CUMMINS ENGINE, MANUAL TRANSMISSION.

20+MPG
TOWS LIKE A CHAMP
RELIABLE AS FUCK
STRAIGHT FROM THE HANDS OF GOD.

5/27/2009 11:24:48 AM

BREAKS DOWN EVERY OTHER DAY
INTERIOR FALLS APART
DRIVES LIKE SHIT
FAILS AT LIFE

5/27/2009 12:00:06 PM

i drive the white 98 dakota club cab 4wd in my gallery. got a 3.9L.

i love it. only change i would make is go ahead and get the one with the 318. practically the same gas mileage. i do all the stuff you listed in your needs and i pull my boat with it.

my $0.02

[Edited on May 27, 2009 at 12:25 PM. Reason : my fav part is the size, not fucking huge, but i can still breathe. just don't get a tiny ranger]

[Edited on May 27, 2009 at 12:26 PM. Reason : high mileage dakota is probably gonna need a transmission soon if it hasn't already been replaced]

[Edited on May 27, 2009 at 12:27 PM. Reason : but that's something i was willing to deal with. i get trans work done cheap]

5/27/2009 12:24:37 PM

tacoma

5/27/2009 2:48:57 PM

a $5-7k tacoma is gonna be ragged. when i was truck shopping, i had about the same budget as this guy and every tacoma i looked at in my range had rusty rocker panels and ripped up seats.

5/27/2009 6:46:23 PM

Tacoma
'course my 97's a 2wd 4cyl but in its last 4 years and 50k miles with me it's needed tires, a belt, and a few lights changed. Was $7½k in '05 when I got it.

5/27/2009 6:49:02 PM

The Tacoma is a very good truck, but watch out for frame rust issues on any pre-2004. If it's one that's been in the south for its entire life and hasn't seen much road salt, that shouldn't be a big issue.

5/27/2009 7:59:36 PM

my vote is for a toyota as well. kind of hard to justify the extra size and operational costs of a fullsize for your needs.

^wasn't/isn't toyota buying back any of them with excessive frame rust?

^^^i think a clean taco could definitely be had for $5-7k these days. while toyotas still retain excellent resale value, overall their numbers have taken a hit in this economy just like everything else.

5/27/2009 8:19:42 PM

92-96 dakota 2wd

5/28/2009 12:20:06 AM

^ quite possibly the shittiest truck he could possibly get, if its not shitting the transmission, the wiring harness is catching on fire

5/28/2009 8:56:24 AM

I know thank you

5/28/2009 9:04:55 AM

I've got a white long bed 93 F-150 XL I'm trying to get rid of.

5/28/2009 9:08:45 AM

^ now that sir will run forever, it will run like shit, and pieces will fall off everywhere, but it will run forever

5/28/2009 9:15:30 AM

Quote :

"Comfort / low noise levels"

not happening in a 7k truck.
I'd get a tacoma

5/28/2009 9:21:22 AM

tacoma sixted

5/28/2009 11:26:48 AM

Quote :

"92-96 dakota 2wd"

bought my 94 4x4 for 3500 when i was 15 and never had a problem out of the 100kmi 3.9 or 5-speed. cruised on 3rd gen rims and 31's for several years, numerous one wheel smokies, some mud whatever she kept on tickin(and by tickin i mean the lifters lol)

couple valves met some pistons shortly after i sold it but threw in some new ones and the guy still drives it 30min to work everyday at probably 175-200k by now


[Edited on May 28, 2009 at 10:44 PM. Reason : dads 95 cummins/nv4500/4x has 250k and pulls 22mpg and whatever you hook to it]

5/28/2009 10:41:58 PM

5/28/2009 11:50:17 PM

id just build one

5/29/2009 1:32:40 AM

x2 for the cumminz

5/31/2009 12:21:04 PM

5/31/2009 2:59:43 PM

you can fit lots of mexicans in that unit

5/31/2009 3:43:45 PM

Tacos kick butt.
I wanted one 3 years ago but the prices are crazy, so I got a 2000 Tundra for the same cost of an equivalent Taco.
I loved that truck. It was just like a Taco but bigger and more comfy. I got rid of it for extra interior space and road trip comfort/camping
On the other hand, I love my 03 4Runner that replaced the Tundra.

If you don't mind the price, get a Taco. You you look constantly you'll find a good one at that price.
Otherwise I'd look for a first gen Tundra. IMO the first gen Tundras are better than equivalent domestic offerings (well, the Tundra is domestically manufactured. you know what I mean)
Early this year I sold my v8 2000 access cab 4x4 with 80k miles in great condition for $9k.

A Dakota would be a shitty truck.
My uncle has a 94 extended cab Dakota that's on it's third transmission.
He hates it so much that it just sits in his car port. He's only got 60k miles on it. It won't stay aligned and the interior's falling apart.

6/1/2009 1:02:24 AM

toyota trucks suck. that is all

6/1/2009 4:01:53 AM

get a 96-02 chevy, cant go wrong

6/28/2009 8:06:39 PM

Quote :

"clust our"

6/28/2009 8:32:12 PM

[Edited on June 28, 2009 at 8:34 PM. Reason : clust our]

6/28/2009 8:33:25 PM

double post/edit fail

6/30/2009 7:32:36 AM