Trucks that don't suck

DH1 said:
But aside from my complaining, I'd like to hear any experiences anyone has had with "old" trucks or SUVs. Another pain in the ass might be getting an inspection sticker..how often do these old trucks fail emissions tests?
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I learned to turn wrenches on an '84 suburban. It was never by choice, and the brakes always seemed to time it so I'd have to replace them in the middle of winter. I both loved and hated that truck. 4WD, Factory limo tinted windows, Split back doors, Meyers plow unit, and a 40 gallon gas tank. Four engines through that beast. 350's just didn't have enough for it, but my dad would never listen to me. Was a sad day scrapping that rust bucket. Could climb into the engine bay to work on that pig. Saw it on fire at least 3 times. Also was the loudest and coolest sounding thing I've ever driven. I want to find one with a solid body and rebuild it.

Also had an '89 S10 blazer. Thing was a tank. Not as nice to work on (lack of room) but fairly simple setup. the 4.3 liter engines kicked ass, and had Balls to spare. Had it parked next to my mother's 2000 jeep grand Cherokee once. It snowed 6 feet in 24 hours. Her's just spun all 4 tires and sat. Dropped the Blazer into 4low, and it climbed out like a drunk falling out of bed.

As for emissions tests, I believe if the truck is old enough, it's not required.

It's not very old, or extreme like many others, but my Brother's Jeep is always a good time
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ditto on the land cruiser. my buddy and i are on a bidding war for my dad's '95...still haven't managed to convince him to sell it though. i'm also kicking myself for not buying the generation before the current one...the newest one is just downright ugly!
 
Dizwolf you got some sweet mods on that jeep!
Heres my 2000 grand cherokee V8 limited, lifted with oversized tires :)
it hasnt been too terribly bad to me...but you know what they say about jeeps, J.ust E.mpty E.very P.ocket lol
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Here's mine. 2010 JK 4dr. Lots of room for knives:D
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Beside the jeep is my "95 Dakota. Bought it in '97 with 50K on it. Drove it for 13 years. Only time it stranded me
was once with a dead battery. That truck has been in the bush lots.
 
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thehighlander1234 said:
i will have to agree with the cherokee recommendation, really easy to work on and huge aftermarket support
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Yes, and you can get a nice southern Cherokee with no rust for very cheap. I got my green one (first reply) for 2400$ with not a spot of rust. I was also able to get a stick shift which is nearly impossible to find! Its not unreasonable to think you can build a very solid XJ cherokee for under 5K.
 
Ford 1999+ Super Duty Gas if you don't need to tow north of 10K Diesel either 7.3, or the 2008-2010 6.4 or the new 2011 6.7 but stay away from the 2003-2007 6.0!
 
1968 GMC 1/2 ton with 283 V8, with a 4 speed manual tranny floor shift. Best truck I ever had. Put close to 500,000 miles on it before retiring it. Probably could still be worked on and put back on the road.
 
kdstrick said:
^^^^ Great pics fellas!

I've owned em all. Chevy, Ford, Dodge... loved all of them. But I've gone Jap-Truck! The Toyota is not only better built... but it is made in San Antonio. It uses more American made parts than Government Motors, Dodge, or Ford...

I did not enter into this decision lightly.. but I am exhausted by throwing good money after bad with GM, dodge, and ford. The Tundra is exemplary after 2 years of hard use. Anyone looking for a truck should look into them. :thumbup:
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I work in the engine plant that built your engine, and was at the san anton- plant a few weeks ago.

I've seen things in the past 5 years that will make it hard for me to own any other type of truck. Did you know that when installing crankshaft / conrod bearings, the crank/rod/block are measured and matched at the install point, and that one of seven different thickness of bearings is chosen based on the machining result? Those seven bearings are only 1 micron different in size. That's about 1/22 the thickness of a human hair. I've seen an O-ring show up on the floor, and entire shipments stopped to confirm that O-ring didn't fall out of a water pump housing on it's way to an engine. Even though they all passed an automated water-leak test. I could go on and on, but that company takes quality SERIOUSLY.

Of course I'm now biased, but my wife drives an '06 4-runner that we bought about the time I started working there when gas was $5.00 a gallon, got it for a song.

I've put gas and oil in it, along with an air filter. I'll probably replace front brake pads soon, but that damn thing is rock solid reliable.
 
Your talking about replacing with a rig built in the 70's or 80's? I've had a 79 Chevy Cheyenne 4x4 half ton with Helwig overloads and a stock 350 engine for at least 16 years now and this thing runs like new and never had a problem with it. I'm not myopic on truck brands, all I know is Chevy put out a real quality product back then and for the money doubt if you could beat it. very reliable and tough as a tank. Of course they rode like one too but it's a truck right? Good luck hunting.
 
find something with a 350 with the throttle body fuel injection and manual hubs

depending on how many folks you have to haul, a mid to late 80's crew cab truck may be the ticket
 
I'm looking to buy a new vehicle in the next couple weeks. I really like the new Ram trucks. The 2500 power wagon is high on my list. Also considering the 1500 Laramie and an Unlimited Wrangler Rubicon.

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It was an original Isuzu Trooper that got me hooked on SUVs.

Heh, I special ordered a 2000 Ford Explorer XLT with a manual transmission before I was married. I found it very comfortable and reliable. Took 2 months to get delivered though, it was one of two here in Southern California.

Nowadays, I drive a Landrover LR3. Looks like the below:
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Heres my list of vehicles to date. 1988 4runner, 1974 fj40, 1985 toyota pickup, 1947 cj-2a, 1998 jeep grand cherokee and the latest is my 05 jeep tj. None have sucked. All had pros and cons but then again all were purpose built and near bulletproof, and very easy to maintain. Also had a couple vw's but doesnt really apply here.
 
Stick with strait axle stuff. That is a great place to start. If I was going to run a gas engine it would be a Chevy...

Toyota makes top notch stuff; but if by truck you truly mean truck and not SUV your choices are limited.
 
I literally swear by my Toyota Tacoma. It has around 250k and has never needed any engine or transmission work done. I have also never had any electrical problems with it.

To this day it still runs just like it did the day I drove it off the lot. My next truck will be another Yota.
 
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