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View Full Version : Need a beater/HD Lowe's hauler



muddeprived
02-25-2018, 09:48 PM
I purchased a $800 XJ last October in hopes that it would serve as my beater vehicle and yank a trailer around for hauling stuff I need for the house but that did not work out. I am now on attempt #2 in finding a suitable beater.

My budget will be $2k. I can do most repairs/upgrades it may need myself except for major issues like head gasket, pressed bearings, and things like that so I am not afraid to fix it up a little if needed.

What would you buy if you had $2k and needed a beater rig? If you know the vehicle you recommend pls share what to look for, avoid, and best years.

My short list so far:

XJ (99 or older) (without the issues the recent one had)
Ranger
ZJ
S-10
Silverado

Keith
02-26-2018, 01:47 AM
My pre 1997 ford trucks were all pretty much bulletproof save for rust issues. I would look for an old f series truck with a manual transmission (preferably with an inline 6 cyl) without major rust issues. My old dodges (rams) were all good to me as well and ran a little better, basically it seems that Chevy is only the brand that lets me down repeatedly. Everyone else seems to have good luck with them though...

joshs1ofakindxj
02-26-2018, 08:25 AM
Silverado/Sierra in the 1988 to 1998 GMT400 family.

muddeprived
02-26-2018, 09:59 PM
My pre 1997 ford trucks were all pretty much bulletproof save for rust issues. I would look for an old f series truck with a manual transmission (preferably with an inline 6 cyl) without major rust issues. My old dodges (rams) were all good to me as well and ran a little better, basically it seems that Chevy is only the brand that lets me down repeatedly. Everyone else seems to have good luck with them though...

Seems like 97, or a few years before or after, is/are the magical years for Fords from what I have been reading. Is there a huge difference in mileage between the ranger and f-150?


Silverado/Sierra in the 1988 to 1998 GMT400 family.

Thanks. Will look into it. They are priced decently and I've always liked their design. Any major issues to look out for?

joshs1ofakindxj
02-27-2018, 07:57 AM
Frame and body rot. Check the whole frame front to back. There may be one spot that is completely trashed on an otherwise solid looking frame.

The_War_Wagon
02-27-2018, 09:26 AM
Nice hauler, if you don't need 4WD. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2040846079275137

muddeprived
02-27-2018, 10:31 AM
Thanks but I need 4wd or I will be parked at the bottom of the driveway during snow storms.

Keith
02-27-2018, 07:02 PM
Seems like 97, or a few years before or after, is/are the magical years for Fords from what I have been reading. Is there a huge difference in mileage between the ranger and f-150?

I have owned several F150’s, F250’s and rangers so I can give some input on mileage. Both the rangers (93 & 06 both with 4.0/auto) and the 5.0 F150’s (88 & 96 both 5spds) got half decent fuel mileage 14-16 if I remember correctly and surprisingly the F150’s would get around 17-18mpg hiway. My inline 6cyl F150’s (89 & 93 5spd) got a little worse but were completly indestructible as far as reliably and durability goes. My F250 (95 351 auto) got around 10mpg but was a Work horse!

I would stay away from the 97+ f150’s, they had even more rust problems and the 4.6/5.4 engines kind of sucked in my opinion. Watch out for transmission issues with E4 & AOD trucks around 100-140k miles, manuals were pretty much good depending on abuse, inline 6 trucks as well as F250/350 trucks had the ZF5 manual which is good. As far as rust look for spring mounts, radius arms, floors & core supports on top of the obvious.

Keith
02-27-2018, 07:06 PM
Nice hauler, if you don't need 4WD. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2040846079275137
If I wasn’t already in deep �� with my wife for buying 3 new guns in 3 weeks I would be going to look at this one. I love old Dodges and she looks like a short bed!

Super Scout
02-27-2018, 09:29 PM
I am selling my 99 k1500. 110,000 miles. V8. Ext cab short bed. Just inspected in January. It needs body work, I started but never finished I have all panels. If you are interested PM ur number. I can text you pics or whatever. Listed at 2200 but obviously I can work with you.

Keith
02-27-2018, 11:55 PM
I am selling my 99 k1500. 110,000 miles. V8. Ext cab short bed. Just inspected in January. It needs body work, I started but never finished I have all panels. If you are interested PM ur number. I can text you pics or whatever. Listed at 2200 but obviously I can work with you.

If the frame isn’t rotted out this is a good deal, 99 should be an LS engine and the 4l60 isn’t bad either. Would be a good hauler if Mother Earth hasn’t reclaimed most of it yet. 4.8 or 5.3?

ridgerunner97
03-02-2018, 05:55 PM
Superscout's is the last of the mid 90s style trucks. 350 vortec I believe. We took it all the way to Scranton and back last year or year before to visit some friends truck is rock solid and good shape for price.

The_War_Wagon
03-02-2018, 08:19 PM
If I wasn’t already in deep �� with my wife for buying 3 new guns in 3 weeks I would be going to look at this one. I love old Dodges and she looks like a short bed!

BLACK guns! ALWAYS buy BLACK guns! Cos' the wife don't know the difference, and when you have one out, you can say - "THIS ol' thing?!?! I had this back BEFORE we got married honey - can't you tell? It's BLACK!" :080:


http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/The_War_Wagon/got%20one_zpsdje9zccm.jpg

muddeprived
03-02-2018, 08:48 PM
Superscout's is the last of the mid 90s style trucks. 350 vortec I believe. We took it all the way to Scranton and back last year or year before to visit some friends truck is rock solid and good shape for price.

I spoke with him a little bit and he shared some pictures and info. I really like what I see but unfortunately I do not have the funds at this time. I hope he still has it when I do gather enough to make him an offer.

Keith
03-02-2018, 10:11 PM
I thought 98 was the last year for the old 305/350? Learn something new every day.

I am lucky enough that my wife really don’t know one gun from another, but yea black guns... I even have a black guns matter t-shirt lol. And it was 2 black ones and 1 pretty wood stock one.

JeepGeneral
03-03-2018, 11:01 AM
I spoke with him a little bit and he shared some pictures and info. I really like what I see but unfortunately I do not have the funds at this time. I hope he still has it when I do gather enough to make him an offer.

So you have a budget of $2k and Steve offers you a $2k truck, but you don't have the funds?

Super Scout
03-03-2018, 03:49 PM
I thought 98 was the last year for the old 305/350? Learn something new every day.

I am lucky enough that my wife really don’t know one gun from another, but yea black guns... I even have a black guns matter t-shirt lol. And it was 2 black ones and 1 pretty wood stock one.
99 was a carry over year, called it the classic.

HoodRN
03-03-2018, 10:08 PM
So you have a budget of $2k and Steve offers you a $2k truck, but you don't have the funds?

Not a math major, but I was thinking the same thing...

muddeprived
03-04-2018, 09:52 PM
So you have a budget of $2k and Steve offers you a $2k truck, but you don't have the funds?

I guess I worded The original post wrong (fixed it). I posted this in the General Vehicle forum instead of the Wanted Forum to gather recommendations on what to look for in that budget. I wasn't expecting offers but I got one and interested.

There is a big ass payday+bonus coming so this might happen sooner than I thought.