Looking at used trucks for a weekend warrior- need some help

[Finnster]

Wanting to get a truck for all around weekend warrior activities and need some input from some experts. I basically know what I want, but could use some help in what to avoid.

My requirements:

• Budget $5000 to ~$13,000 ($8000 being ideal)
• Ford or Chevy (F150/F250 or equiv Silverado line)
• Higher mileage ok, as long as won't be a money pit. Stay under 200K. 120K is a hopeful sweet spot.
• Ext cab or 4 dr. Have elementary age kids, would pref 4 doors for traveling
• Less than 20 years old
• Be able to tow my B2620 TLB if needed, and upto med size campers
• Not a daily driver
• Will drive less than 10,000 mi a year
• Want to get 100,000 miles out of it w/o likely major repairs/expense
• Most likely 4wd and a shortbed
• No duallies

=> Right now I only have a V6 Ford SUV (and a small 5x8 trailer I borrow alot.) The SUV is the 8 seater family car. Its doesn't tow much, and I hate putting all the lumber/firewood/junk in it. Its rough, dirty and a pain. Need something I can take to the lumber yard, furniture store, plant nursery, firewood scavenging, occasional towing, etc etc.

I don't want to spend much on the truck. Already have tractor payments, and can't justify a pricey truck for my use. However, it does need to be reliable and comfortable enough to go on the rare driving trip. Would like to be able to rent a camper, or go off driving and not worry the family by being stranded by some old beater.

I've been looking on CL and other used trucks in the area. For example there is a 03 (or 05) F250 4Dr for $8000. However, it does have 160K miles and also has a plow. Mostly rust free and has some level of tow equipment. Looks sharp. Close to what I want, but for the below:

How much should I worry about trucks with plows? I don't need/want one, don't want to resell it. Mostly worried about abuse. The owner may always say gently used,... but sounds like a future tranny problem to me.

How often do trannies and motors go in these trucks? I would think work-grade trucks should be reliable, although I see a fair number of ads saying they rebuild the tranny and motor sometime in the 120K-200K mi area. I know its a YMMV, but I really want to avoid getting some big money pit.

I'm thinking a F250 or 2500HD would be a safer bet vs the half tons. Might be overkill, but this is not a daily driver, so would prefer to err on the bigger side.

Will I be kicking myself for getting a 5.4L or 5.3L motor? Many reviews of the F250 w/ the 5.4 complain about power.

Diesel would be awesome, but too much $$ and too little miles and towing to be worth it IMO.

Thoughts?

 

[Diamondpilot]

For what you are doing its tough to beat a F150 SuperCrews. The 5.4 and 3.73 gears will get the job done for you. Don't settle for anything other than 3.73.

If you settle for a Chevy Gas 3/4 ton the 6.0 gas is ok but you will pay at the pump.

Chris

 

[nirion]

I would look at the Silverado 2500 or F250 with crew cab. The 1/2 tons would work, but since you want short bed, you will get the 5.5' bed instead of the 6.5' bed you will find in the 3/4 ton. You should be able to find a newer than 2000 crew cab short bed 4wd gas truck in your price range. I would worry a little less about mileage than condition. A 150,000 mile truck that was well maintained will last you longer than a 100,000 mile truck that was "rode hard and put away wet".

 

[George2615]

Unless you know the guy with the plow truck and how he plowed or took care of the truck, don't get the plow truck. Plowing does put wear and tear on transmissions, 4WD parts like U-joints, axle shafts etc. As mentioned, a 1/2 ton with 3.73 gears would do what you want. No problem with a 5.3 / 5.4 engines. If taken care of they last a long time. You should have no problem finding a decent truck in your price range.

 

[RoyJackson]

I'd also suggest a 2005-2008 Ford F-150 Supercrew with the 5.4 liter Triton engine....great truck!
I have one and, so far, no problems other then one front hub requiring replacement and the 4WD shift motor sticks occasionally (fixed with a couple taps with a dead blow mallet).
I bought this truck used 3 years ago with about 85K miles on it. I expect to keep it quite a while yet and it is a daily driver.

The Supercrew is quite nice,,,plenty of room for the wife and dog. The only downside is a shorter bed, but there's ways to work around that.

Fuel economy has been between 14 and 18 MPG.

 

[handirifle]

Look closely at YOUR bed length requirements for your truck. Personally if a truck has a 5.5' bed, it's useless, to me. If your trailer you want to haul is a 5th wheel you will be very disappointed, a bumper pull, less so. By "camper" if you mean an in the bed cab-over type stay away from 1/2 tons. you might be able to beef up the suspension, but the axles, brakes, and sometimes frames are not up to the task. The heavier duty truck will really pay off when you have a big load of lumber or firewood or gravel or whatever it is you need to haul with it.

Many folks refer you to 1/2 tons quoting how far they have come, but you're not looking at new ones and a 10 yr old truck doesn't have huge improvements the new ones do. When towing ANYTHING, I have firmly come to believe, I'd rather have too much truck, than too much trailer.

I also agree, stay away from a plow truck. To me, it's the same as a truck that has done nothing but tow it's entire life.

I have owned 1/2 tons all my life (except for the '77 GMC 3/4 crew cab I had), and now have a 2500HD, and there is no way I'll go back to 1/2 tons if I intend to tow anything heavier than a small boat. If your weights are going to be in the 5-6K range you'll probably be OK with a 1/2 ton. But still I like the better brakes on the 3/4.

 

[Finnster]

That's what I thought on the plows. Going to stay far away.

Thanks for the sb length info, although I don't think I have a specific requirement, other than the long bed trucks are too long.

I don't have a camper now. What i would likely do is rent a camper as needed. Maybe in the 25ft range? No plans for a fifth wheel, but they do seem like a better setup. I don't really want to buy one as it would only be used a couple of times a year, and I don't want to have to store it otherwise. Basically rent one for a summer trip somewhere.

Here's a nice truck.…bit on the higher side of my range.
2005 Cheverolet 2500 HD 4 X 4, Crew Cab

 

[Diamondpilot]

I'd also suggest a 2005-2008 Ford F-150 Supercrew with the 5.4 liter Triton engine....great truck!
I have one and, so far, no problems other then one front hub requiring replacement and the 4WD shift motor sticks occasionally (fixed with a couple taps with a dead blow mallet).
I bought this truck used 3 years ago with about 85K miles on it. I expect to keep it quite a while yet and it is a daily driver.

The Supercrew is quite nice,,,plenty of room for the wife and dog. The only downside is a shorter bed, but there's ways to work around that.

Fuel economy has been between 14 and 18 MPG.

I have had 3 Super Crew trucks with the 5.5' bed and 2 with a 6.5' bed. All 5 had 3.73 gears. To me the 5.5' bed was just fine.

I have also had a regular cab step side 6.5' bed with 4.10 gears. It was a great truck. All 6 F150's had the 5.4 and never a minute of trouble.

Chris

 

[sd455dan]

That's what I thought on the plows. Going to stay far away.

Thanks for the sb length info, although I don't think I have a specific requirement, other than the long bed trucks are too long.

I don't have a camper now. What i would likely do is rent a camper as needed. Maybe in the 25ft range? No plans for a fifth wheel, but they do seem like a better setup. I don't really want to buy one as it would only be used a couple of times a year, and I don't want to have to store it otherwise. Basically rent one for a summer trip somewhere.

Here's a nice truck.…bit on the higher side of my range.
2005 Cheverolet 2500 HD 4 X 4, Crew Cab

Looks real nice for a truck with over a million miles on it. Actually they must mean 111,000 miles so should be many years left in it. And it is an HD model. Also says reasonable offers considered...

 

[RobertN]

It soooo depends on user. A 5.5' bed is the most useless thing I have ever seen; the trunk of my first car was bigger Even a standard 6.5 is marginal.

I can't imagine being without my long-bed...

But, we all need them for different things... Mine is an extra-cab long bed; it would be really looooong if it was a crew...

I have had 3 Super Crew trucks with the 5.5' bed and 2 with a 6.5' bed. All 5 had 3.73 gears. To me the 5.5' bed was just fine.

I have also had a regular cab step side 6.5' bed with 4.10 gears. It was a great truck. All 6 F150's had the 5.4 and never a minute of trouble.

Chris