need help choosing a truck/suv

So I'm going to be getting a truck or suv soon but I need some opinions and ideas on what to get. I'm looking for 2002 or newer, probably about $10k tops. Id prefer to buy one outright but I only have 5-6k to spend. It must be at least an extended cab and 4x4, preferably v6 but v8 is fine. No Ford rangers, I need something a little bigger. I Won't be towing much if at all. From what I've seen everything in my price range has about 100 -150k miles, so I'd like some opinions on reliability as I'm planning on keeping this truck for a while.

Consumer reports provides a reliability estimate for used vehicles. I would start there.

I would look for a 2 door full size suv with a v-8, with high mileage you will get better service out of an 8 and about as good fuel mileage. Around here anyway the 2 doors aren't bringing the higher prices of the 4 doors or extended cab pickups.

If you go by way of a pickup, you will appreciate an 8ft box...I know I do.

I paid 350$ for mine, 90k miles, rotten body. By the time I was done, I invested a total of 4 grand. But now I know what I've got.

btw mine is a '00 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 reg. cab long box, 318. My other vehicle is a Caravan, I also use it to do small pickups and haul the family.

It all depends on how you go about it, I for one did not want the payment.

Do you want a daily driver, or a scrap truck? I wanted a little of both.

I need primarily a daily driver, but will be used for scrap and hauling other things as well.

If that is the case.. you probably can't go wrong with a Silverado or other 1500. It sounds dopey.. but after having a Dodge Dakota with a V6 that couldn't get out of its own way.. it was a welcome relief to have a 1500 with a V8 (5.3L) and enough room in the bed to FINALLY be able to lay a 4X8 sheet of drywall FLAT in the bed without dinking up one edge! I regularly haul 800-1000 lbs of sheet steel in the bed without any issue. Makes my trips to the yard worthwhile with a full size bed! My .02

how's the gas mileage in that thing? my first choice would be a Silverado, 2nd would be a dodge. I don't like the older style fords with the rounded bodies, but I think in my price range I'm gonna have to get an 02 - 08 maybe. I've looked at a few Chevys, and the mileage ranges from about 120k-150k. any idea how long the tranny and motors in these last? I do keep up with my vehicle maintenance pretty well. this is gonna be my first "big" vehicle purchase, and I want it to last me for over 6 years at least. all of the other cars I've bought were under 3k, and early 90s. ice kept them for 2-4 years usually.

You might want to check out the auctions in your area the city and county trucks are maintained every three thousand miles ans you might find a good truck at a great price, just a thought gov deals gov liquadition are just a couple good luck

One thing I noticed about Chevys is the box is about 3-4 inches shallower than a ford or dodge. Doesn't sound like much, but a lot of times it makes the difference between being able to close the tonneau cover or not (when you have stuff in the box). Maybe you aren't even thinking about a tonneau cover. They are nice tho. Keep prying eyes out. A Chevy or gmc generally is a few inches lower to the ground also. I have a 05 2500 Chevy and love it has 92k miles engine and tranny still solid.

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Originally Posted by Chrissm14

how's the gas mileage in that thing? my first choice would be a Silverado, 2nd would be a dodge. I don't like the older style fords with the rounded bodies, but I think in my price range I'm gonna have to get an 02 - 08 maybe. I've looked at a few Chevys, and the mileage ranges from about 120k-150k. any idea how long the tranny and motors in these last? I do keep up with my vehicle maintenance pretty well. this is gonna be my first "big" vehicle purchase, and I want it to last me for over 6 years at least. all of the other cars I've bought were under 3k, and early 90s. ice kept them for 2-4 years usually.

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I average around 11 mpg or so around town.. Probably about 8-9 or so when hauling a 16 ft trailer with usually 3,000 to 4,000 lbs- and the trailer which itself weighs over 2000 lbs. Engines and tranny's seem to be solid, I bought mine though with about 70,000 miles on it and have only put 15K on the truck in about 3 years. But I have had a mix of daily driving, hauling things in the bed and towing the trailer with decent amounts of weight. So thus far for me.. it has been great. In my position I should have opted for a 2500hd instead of a 1500 because of what I haul.. but I beefed up the rear springs and put towing brake pads all around.. it has helped quite a bit.

I bought a 2003 GMC 3/4 T 4x4 6.0 V8 shortbox extended cab for $9K with 160,000 miles and ran it to 230,000 before the timing chain went out. I couldn't afford the downtime and didn't know the real problem at the time so replaced it with a 2004 Dodge Ram 3/4 T 4x4 shortbox Quad(4door) Cab. I liked both trucks. The GMC had the original tranny as far as I know and it was still strong. I had it flushed with new oil and LubeGuard when I bought it. Need a step to get into the Dodge. I liked the lower to the ground GMC better. The Dodge had 129,000 when I got it recently for $10,500. Both trucks get around 9.5 MPG....pulling a load. I like the shortbox because I haul a generator and air compressor, tools are in the back seat and I pull a bumper hitch trailer. A gooseneck trailer is taller (harder to load with a skidsteer) and I'd lose the box space for my generator etc.

I'd think you'd trash the inside of a SUV if using it for scrapping. I know I would, but they're much cheaper to buy than a pickup truck. You might consider a small trailer to make it into a scrappin vehicle and still have your cheaper-to-buy SUV.

This would be a good buy if someone isn't particular about looks. I don't know how this rig got so abused, but it is a 2004 Trailblazer (Chev) and performs great. It looks like it went through alot of hail but yet there's obvious dings (big ones) all around it, the windshield is broken and the driver's door doesn't seal well. Inside is clean and it drives great. It is dealer owned....I borrowed it during a breakdown on the road. It has 89,000 mi and is 4x4. Wish I needed it. Don't know the price as I'm just using it for a couple days. You might look for a hail damaged rig to cheapen up your purchase if you're not particular.


http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a4...D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a4...D550/ry%3D400/

Yunkman-
That looks like it went through a "Woman Scorned Storm" as opposed to a "Hail Storm"
I envision a Baseball Bat!

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Originally Posted by sledge42

Yunkman-
That looks like it went through a "Woman Scorned Storm" as opposed to a "Hail Storm"
I envision a Baseball Bat!

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Maybe that belonged to Tiger Woods when his wife chased him with a golf club. Lol

anyone ever owned a trailblazer? that's a few around here for sale in my price range and I like the way they look