Need a beater/HD Lowe's hauler

[muddeprived]

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]

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]

Silverado/Sierra in the 1988 to 1998 GMT400 family.

[muddeprived]

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]

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]

Nice hauler, if you don't need 4WD. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...40846079275137

[muddeprived]

Thanks but I need 4wd or I will be parked at the bottom of the driveway during snow storms.

[Keith]

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]

Nice hauler, if you don't need 4WD. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...40846079275137

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]

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]

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]

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]

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!"

[muddeprived]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.