Looking to buy a used pickup soon for hauling and moving materials for home improvement projects.
Any suggestions welcome as to makes and models
How about Ford F-150 with 6 cylinder 5sp. I have my eye on.

 

97-04 F150's are all nice.

Our 97 is one of the best trucks I have every driven, I have nothing but good things to say about it.

I would keep an eye out for a 5 speed 5.4l standard cab short bed, as they were the nicest of any in those years, basically a non supercharged lighting.

The Ford 6's lack the power I use the truck for. I would stay away from the auto's if you can.

Or, start looking for a 5 speed 12 or 24 vave cummins mid to late 90's Ram. Also, an awesome truck for the money.

 

I found a F150 Ford Truck 1996, 6 ft bed, 6 cyclinder, 5 speed, 101k miles, radio/cd player, A/C, with cap, good condition, no dents or rust, State Inspected.
I think it's the 4.9 six.
Is there a difference in the 1996 to 1997?

 

find 06 Honda Ridgeline - you won't be disappointed.

 

Noted, but probably more than I'm looking to spend.

 

Honda? pssshhhh! Tell them to just keep making cars and let the Americans build the REAL trucks.

Yeah, 96 and 97 were different bodystyles.


96


97

I'm partial to 97's myself. I would stay away from any Ford pickup with over 75k.

 

Have you driven one? Don't judge what you don't know -

 

I bought one for the exact same reason. To me older was better because of price & the fact that there was no computer telling the engine what to do (so less to go wrong in the future). I got a 1980 Ford F100, 4 speed for $850. I spent $200 for a new windshield & $300 for some tuning up (which a more mechanically inclined person coulda done themself). It looks like hell but that that thing will probably be running 20 years from now.

 

I dont want to drive one. I dont drive Hondas.

If i'm going to spend my money on a truck, i'll buy a real truck, like a dualie extended cap 24v Cummins Ram. Now if I had to tow my jetski to the lake, i might consider a litle pansy truck like the Honda for that.

5,000 lbs towing capacity from the Honda is a joke, thats not even a fully loaded trailer.

 

I say find an 1996-1997 Chevy Silverado. Im not a huge fan of the ford trucks.

 

I've had a 1964 Chevy pick up for a very long time. I'm the 3rd owner. It always starts no matter how long it sits, the bed is big enough to carry everything plus the kitchen sink, with the added air shocks it'll carry a ton or more, and has required nothing other than a starter. Oh, the tranny is a 3 speed with a Granny gear.

 

Won't go into all the things that clued me into the fact that this truck was a parts department Trojan horse.
It looked real nice curb side all gussied up and all ( first impression ).
When I took it for a spin I found Ford hadn’t made it to the car like ride I was expecting for a 1996 pickup. I know it's a truck:impatient. The steering wheel is at a sit up and beg position, not adjustable which didn’t jive with the seat position and it shook when you revved the engine in neutral. Clutch engaged at the top of travel I took it to a parking lot and inspected it top to bottom
The real killer was when I checked the oil and nothing showed up on the dipstick.
Still looking.....

 

Every guy NEEDS a truck!!

I have had a 1970 F250 Sport Custom for over 12 years now. It has 96k on it and is all original and Sky View Blue. It starts every weekend or every 10th weekend. Having a truck around is great! Think about how many times you 'wish' you had a truck???
Ford, Chevy or whatever.....it's a 'nice to have' !!!

Just find the one that fit's your need, price and space then make sure it's not a mechanical nightmare......

 

I had a 97 F150 and a 2000 Toyota Tundra. I would go with the Tundra. Very nice truck.

 

Going to look at and test drive a 2002 Toyota Tundra, 2D Reg. Cab. 9k, 3.4,V6, 5sp.
Then a 2002 Chevy Silverado C1500, 2D Reg. Cab. 30k, 4.3, V6, 5sp.

Both priced the same the Chevy has a Cap and a tow bar which is a plus for me but I really don't want to spend this much.

 

buy a honda or a toyota!
americans might like to build cars and trucks but they are crap!

 

How many trucks did it take to make up your mind on that comment?

 

Strongly recommend a GMC (Chevy) fullsize. I've had my 1990 1500K Heavy Duty for 17 years and 157,000 miles and its never been in for anything other than normal wear (clutch, brakes, tie-rod ends, tires, etc.). The MINI on the other hand has spent a total of 3 months in the shop over the past 2 years (mostly bad electronics, bad harnesses, bad connectors, etc.)

Old Ford trucks usually feel old and loose. The GMCs stay tight. Mine looks and feels brand new. (Smells like old cigars, though, but that's my fault). I can't sell mine because its worth to me 3 times what the blue book shows.

 

Yeah, I have a couple of electrical issues, door lock/backup lamp that bum me out.
I leaning toward a Chevy/GMC 1500 series and the reason a good used truck is so hard to find is the same one you gave for keeping yours.

 

Our company has a fleet of over 500 trucks that are used by our foremen and superintendents. In almost 20 years with the firm I've put on the average of 60K miles a year on 6 trucks.

Anyone who states that American trucks are crap is full of it themselves. How many contractors, heavy contractors, do you see using Tundras, Titans or Ridgelines? Don't bother trying to point out that Joe's Custom Bidets uses Toyota -I'm talking real contractors - the big boys.

We drive our vehicles into the ground. They are used to haul, tow, anchor, pull, etc. We have gravitated away from Fords and towards GM products because they've proven a bit more bulletproof and as stated by lhoboy - tighter - over the long haul.

Either Ford or GM - they have required little in the way of repairs. I can't for the life of me think of any catastrophic engine or tranny failures that any of my guys have had. Routine maintenance for the most part is all that's been performed.

I would opt for the GM product. I have put many miles on both trucks and if I ever have need to purchase one, I will go with the General.

 

I agree, a Nissan, Toyota or Honda is what I'd buy and will buy next and again.. My 94 Toyota is still going strong. I wish it would die, but it probably never will. If you need massive towing go with an American v-8 but if you are going to Home Depot for sheet rock (or if you are towing a 24' sailboat or a trailer with a Porche 914 on it) a *** Truck won't let you down, and you will be tired of it before it leaves you stranded. In fact I'll sell you my 94 Toyota Long Bed with 90000 miles on it. You will have it for another 10 years, easy...

 

It came down to a 1999 Chevy Silverado 1500, 4.3L V6, Auto, 93K, very well kept.
Or a 1996 Toyota Tacoma 5sp, 120K, 4X4, 31" tires, 2.7L with cap and Yakima rack, very well kept.

I bought the exact opposite vehicle of me MCS, can you guess which?

 

the exact opposite?

the silverado

either one is great. toyota trucks are indestructible

 

Yep, Toyota trucks are indestructible
Forgot to mention the Rhino liner in the bed and the great gas mileage.
This thing is high without a body lift, looks like the lowest point is at least 12" off the ground. The suspension is taught and bouncy with new springs and shocks 3 months ago.
The only thing I don't like is the bench seats, like sitting on plywood.
This spring I'll hit the salvage yards find and put in some real comfortable bucket seats i.e. Volvo, BMW, VW, Honda, suggestions?
Anybody have recommendations??

 

Unless you will be doing some serious towing, I agree that the manual 5- spd is the way to go. Fords from 97 on are much nicer than those that came before (1980 - 1996). We had an F-250 4X4 with a 351 automatic for farm work. Not the best truck we've had, but far from the worst as well. I do remember that the carbureator (remember those?) always gave us fits. Electronic Fuel Injection is the cure, and will be standard on the vehicles you are looking for.

Ya can't go wrong with an F-150, they are the benchmark for the American Full-Sized Pickup.