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Pick Up Truck Recommendations

  

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Topic starter
Truck recommendations, need some for first truck purchase.
 
Any year is fine. Open to ideas, not sure if older or newer is better for what I need.
Budget 10-15k (Open to financing if I need to pay more for a newer truck).
 
Requirements:
1. Something that has comfortable seats / smooth ride.
2. Definitely would need power seats & heated seats. (23yr old with lumbar disc herniation has been causing me trouble for years, hoping to get a truck that will help with pain when sitting not make it worse).
3. Preferably not a long bed
 
Some of the options I've noted:
11-14 F-150 Lariats *Although I'm not sure if the V8 or ecoboost have the same reliabilility*
The new Ford Ranger 2019+ (Would likely need to finance)
2000s Chevy/Cateye *Not sure which Trim level*
2000s Dodge Ram 1500 *Buddy offered his old Magnum V8, but condition was pretty old, wasn't big on the body style*
07-13 silverado ltz *Don't know much about them*
 

5 Answers
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Unless you absolutely need a truck for work, I'd get an SUV. Trucks were never made to be comfort-mobiles. They have solid axle rear ends made from shocks and leaf springs. If you want the attitude of a truck with the comfort of a unibody, I'd recommend the Honda Ridgeline. 


@justin-shepherd Good point. I want a pickup cause I move things occasionally and want to keep fishing gear and other stuff in the bed with lockbox. Also what other trucks have unibody, I saw ford maverick have them


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Posted by: @alexmetz

not sure if the V8 or ecoboost have the same reliabilility

V8 engines are much more reliable when compared with EcoBoost engines. Ecoboost engines are endless money pits and always breaking down. My turbo failed on my Ecoboost engine at 30,000 miles. Out of all the trucks you listed they’re all great vehicles from my experience. The only one I wouldn’t touch with a 10 foot pole would be the Ram 1500s ($$$ pits) and the Ford Ranger (turbo 4 cylinder, not a good idea on a truck). Regardless anything you buy have a mechanic you trust inspect it before purchase.


@fishingandcarsenthusiast123 ok good to know. Are there any V6 rangers that came out with the new gen? Also, so you don’t recommend early 2000s ram trucks with the Cummins diesel or magnum V8s?


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Posted by: @alexmetz

Are there any other older trucks that are unibody? I

Ford F100 and F250, 1961-1963.


@chucktobias shoot I’ll just get a body on frame


The Ford unibody trucks were not successful. Back then pickup trucks were actually used as trucks, and the unit bodies couldn't stand up to the abuse. That's why they were only built for a few years.


@chucktobias I see. Well shoot what do you say I should get? I feel like I’d be fine with a body on frame standard truck. I keep a lot of stuff in my trunk of my sedan. I think I’d be fine in a truck, just would need heated and power seats to have my low back in check


If you want a full-size pickup a good used Toyota Tundra V8 would be the ticket.


@chucktobias Ill check some of those out. Question, what does Scotty say about financing something like a 50k-100k mileage used pickup truck?


I don't recall Scotty talking about financing, though he may have done so in a past video. Probably you'd want to talk to your bank or credit union to see what you qualify for. (I've paid cash for every vehicle I've purchased over the last 40+ years so am not really knowledgeable about financing.)


@chucktobias Ok, thanks for the input.


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Posted by: @alexmetz

ok good to know. Are there any V6 rangers that came out with the new gen? Also, so you don’t recommend early 2000s ram trucks with the Cummins diesel or magnum V8s?

No, the new Rangers are purely I4 EcoBoost engines. As for the Cummins, my father-in-law has a 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 with an I6 Cummins turbodiesel. The radio doesn't work because Chrysler made them cheaply. The Cummins engine still runs like a scalded ape, and it drives without slipping after 230k miles, but the body is all rusted out. I'd go with the Toyota Tundra or Tacoma.


@justin-shepherd Ok sounds good. I wish those dang things had heated/power seats. Or that I could learn how to install some after market ones myself hahaha


I'm pretty sure they have power seats. My 1999 Ranger had them as an option (I have manual seats) Idk about heated seats. The more modern ones should have them.


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Posted by: @alexmetz

Good point. I want a pickup cause I move things occasionally and want to keep fishing gear and other stuff in the bed with lockbox. Also what other trucks have unibody, I saw ford maverick have them

Yes, the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz both feature unibody construction, but the Hyundai is a notorious oil burner, and the Maverick is Hecho en Mexico. Neither Hyundai or Ford Mexico are known for quality cars. Ford itself is of pretty low quality these days, too. 

I have a 1999 Ranger with nearly 300k miles on it. I rebuilt the transmission around 50k miles ago, and I've never seen the check engine light come on (it still works, too). My check engine light is currently on in my 2017 Mustang with only 30k miles on it. I replaced the purge valve two years ago because it was tripping the CEL. I haven't bothered to figure out what the problem is, yet. I bought the Mustang brand new. 

The Bronco Sport (made in Mexico) had fuel injector problems and some vehicles can develop gasoline leaks. Ford recalled them, and, rather than replacing the fuel injectors, they put some stupid system in that detects fuel leaks. It's probably the most proverbial make it as cheap as possible thing I've ever heard of. 

 


@justin-shepherd yeah I definitely don’t want those then. Too expensive to have those issues. Sorry to hear the mustang is having trouble already with that low of mileage… Are there any other older trucks that are unibody? Is it really not comfortable? I thought those cateye chevys were super comfy? I feel like if I were to get a truck my only good options are the cateye Chevys or some kind of early 2000s-2014 f150 with a higher trim level.


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