Decent used truck?

[Username Taken]

Depending on what I find wrong with my Toyota T-100, perhaps looking at buying another truck.

What I'll be looking for

1 - Used
2 - Generally under 150-100k miles
3 - Enough room "comfortably" for 4 people
4 - Primary purpose for hauling trailer when I need it that will have a ZTR on it or hauling brush from out back. T-100 is only a V6 and perhaps something with a little more power.
5 - 4X4 for out back going across the creek
6 - Since we use T-100 the least now out of all of our vehicles, would like something for the wife to drive if she doesn't want to take the Pilot out.
7 - Max budget is 15k cash (this is a "side truck", not primary vehicle and I can't justify spending more).

I've only owned used Toyota's, and know nothing about Chevy's, Fords or Dodges. I'm not a ford kind of guy or a chevy kind of guy if that makes sense.

Any recommendations, models and what engines to stay away from?

With trucks now going for more than my dad paid for his house back in '78 am I just living a pipe dream per my requirements and just shoot for a beater to use out back for around 5k?

Thanks!

I hope there's not much wrong with your Toyota because the market is really tough now. Didja feed the gerbil?? (sorry, couldn't help myself)

Be cautious when it comes to putting serious money in it. They're good trucks but..... Just be cautious if it's engine related. Other things, you should be okay. maybe But, generally speaking, Toyota doesn't engineer its engines with rebuilding in mind. As far as they're concerned, they should last 150k and at that point, they figure you should spring for a new engine FROM Toyota.

As far as which models, engines, etc.....

There aren't really any bad ones out there. It's much more important how it was driven and who drove it. Regardless of make.

I'm a Ford guy but I drive a Ram. I'll only be in a Chevy if I'm wearing a mask but they're so simple, the engineering is so primitive, they tend to be a decent buy at a certain age. But Chevys break down often. Ford has some engines with Cam Phasers (mostly in the 5.4L) that you want to stay away from if it has a lot of miles on it. Not the end of the world but if they haven't been replaced, count on spending the money at some point.

Good luck.

 

[Sigarms]

Autotrader - page unavailable

www.autotrader.com

Past my price point, but thank you.

 

[Rebeldad1]

A rose by any other name... bla, bla....

Dodge / Ram It's still a Chrysler...

Stellantis to be exact

 

[ruffdog]

Sure!
I don't know why I didn't know that!
Everyone should know about the "Stellantis" car company!
It is about as well known as the Stutz (Bearcat) company..... maybe?

You should know the 14 brands under the Stellantis name too!

Here’s Every Car and Truck Brand Now Owned by Stellantis, the World’s Fourth-Largest Automaker

 

[Sigarms]

Be cautious when it comes to putting serious money in it. They're good trucks but..... Just be cautious if it's engine related. Other things, you should be okay. maybe But, generally speaking, Toyota doesn't engineer its engines with rebuilding in mind. As far as they're concerned, they should last 150k and at that point, they figure you should spring for a new engine FROM Toyota.

I leaning towards transmission and not engine.

If I've got to over 3k for a transmission, that's where it may make more sense to look around.

But as you noted, seems like anything today with supply is a sellers market.

 

[MossRoad]

Just to consider something different....

We just picked up a 2003 Suburban 1500 4x4 in Oklahoma last weekend. 167,000 miles. 5.3 liter engine. Leather interior. All the options, etc.... seats 6 very comfortably, 7 in a pinch, tows 7100#. 3rd row seat folds up towards the front for more rear cargo capacity, or removed completely for even more. 2nd row seats fold flat, leaving room for 4x8 sheets if needed. Has the rear ambulance style doors, which I like better than a tailgate. Rides very smooth. I was kinda shocked given the age. We got around 19mpg on the 815 mile trip home with speeds of 85-60mph.

Another selling point, the keys of that year are not chipped, and cost about $4.00 to replace. Remote lock fobs I just picked up 2 for $23 delivered. The truck can be set to recognize which remote opens the door, so once you get in you push a little button on the door and the seats, mirrors, radio presets, temperature, pedal height, etc., all adjust for that driver. I'm not used to that kind of luxury!

Oklahoma trucks have very very little rust if any. Interiors can be trashed from sun. This one has one small split on the driver's seat, but nothing else. Many buttons are worn from 18 years of radio channels being changed.

We have a 1500# car hauler trailer with 5500# usable capacity, so no need for a pickup truck.

Anyhow, I find the Suburban way more useful for a family than a pickup truck, especially since we have that trailer.

Good luck in your search.

 

[Hay Dude]

Sure!
I don't know why I didn't know that!
Everyone should know about the "Stellantis" car company!
It is about as well known as the Stutz (Bearcat) company..... maybe?

I always joke with my Ram salesman that "Stellatis" sounds like some kind of upset stomach remedy.
"Got stomach pains? Try Stellantis! "

 

[Hay Dude]

Not really. Not anymore. Ram has its own building, it's own engineers, it's own marketing....... They're a separate Company from Chrysler

In fact, with the Stellantis merging, it's doubtful that any other part of Chrysler survives much longer. Ram will. I doubt Dodge and Chrysler will.

JEEP and RAM selling like bonkers. I could see the dealers becoming "Ram/Jeep" dealers, but could they meet EPA regs as a brand without some small cars to raise fuel economy standards?
Only thing that seems to sell from Dodge are the Challenger Scat Pack stuff. Rarely see a Dodge Durango or Chrysler cars much anymore. The 300 was a popular car for a while...

 

[4570Man]

Just to consider something different....

We just picked up a 2003 Suburban 1500 4x4 in Oklahoma last weekend. 167,000 miles. 5.3 liter engine. Leather interior. All the options, etc.... seats 6 very comfortably, 7 in a pinch, tows 7100#. 3rd row seat folds up towards the front for more rear cargo capacity, or removed completely for even more. 2nd row seats fold flat, leaving room for 4x8 sheets if needed. Has the rear ambulance style doors, which I like better than a tailgate. Rides very smooth. I was kinda shocked given the age. We got around 19mpg on the 815 mile trip home with speeds of 85-60mph.

Another selling point, the keys of that year are not chipped, and cost about $4.00 to replace. Remote lock fobs I just picked up 2 for $23 delivered. The truck can be set to recognize which remote opens the door, so once you get in you push a little button on the door and the seats, mirrors, radio presets, temperature, pedal height, etc., all adjust for that driver. I'm not used to that kind of luxury!

Oklahoma trucks have very very little rust if any. Interiors can be trashed from sun. This one has one small split on the driver's seat, but nothing else. Many buttons are worn from 18 years of radio channels being changed.

We have a 1500# car hauler trailer with 5500# usable capacity, so no need for a pickup truck.

Anyhow, I find the Suburban way more useful for a family than a pickup truck, especially since we have that trailer.

Good luck in your search.

It’s not like I have to look very far for a truck when I need one but I like my SUV ( if you could call an excursion that ) way better than a half ton pickup truck. I’ve only had one regular bed pickup and I’d be ok to never have another one.

 

[Hay Dude]

For $15,000, Id be looking at anything thats a good value, as User Name taken said, you really cant go wrong, but Id have a bias towards a Chevy Silverado 1500 with a 5.3L. Good, simple solid trucks. Just gotta watch the rust on the body or the brake/fuel lines. I had a Tahoe and a Silverado 4wd and they were mechanically bulletproof. You can run a 5.3L 200k with basic care.