Buying an older truck

[ram_man]

I believe we have decided to get rid of the little Saturn. Not because we want to but it doesn't really excel in any area for us. Not a lot of room for our growing family and I was offered a job with my fiancé's aunt being a maintenance guy for a few different apartment complexes. This is great because I'm a college student as well so this job gives me decent pay and I make my own schedule. However she really wants me to have a truck for some of the maintenance projects moving appliances hauling mulch or gravel ect.
The ram is not in any condition to be doing this work and won't be for several months. The bed is rusted quite a bit where the bed attaches to the frame. Could probably handle appliances but I wouldn't want to test my lock with a load of rock.
Also that truck with the 360 gets absolutely terrible fuel mileage.
I do not need a truck to haul the family around but it does need to be able to do the job I'll have.
I'll probably spend around 2,000 on a truck I fully expect it to not be perfect.
I an debating on a half ton or a small truck like an s10 or ranger not sure how capable those trucks are but the main building I'll be working at is about 70 miles away. The distance is the only down fall.
So half ton or a small truck?
I remember the rangers had some automatic transmission issues but I don't remember the years affected.
Any recommendations on what to look for or what to watch out for and should i consider a small truck or a stay with a full size? My ram was also my papas so The goal is to slowly bring it back and make it road worthy not use it as a work truck and beat it up. I look forward to hearing from you guys. Thanks!

 

[Nick1994]

Are you saying you'll be driving it 70 miles away each day?

I'd find somewhere you can park the truck and drive your gas sipper the distance and then hop in the pickup for work.

With rust involved it might be hard, but I'd find a C1500 Chevy/GMC that's a basic single cab work truck and run it.

 

[clinebarger]

Stay away from 2.2L S10's, I don't know how anyone can live with it, 4.3L only!

The Ford SOHC 2.3L/2.5L are anvils with a timing belt.....They're underpowered as well. I like the Mazda DOHC 2.3L used in later years with a 5 speed stick in a light regular cab 2wd.

Search Toyota T100, People forget about them or don't know. 3.4L with a 5 speed stick or a 4 speed auto. Another anvil with a timing belt!

 

[Wolf359]

I'm a landlord with 10+ units. I've managed to get away for 10+ years without a truck. If I ever need one, I either rent the truck from Home Depot or Uhaul. It's not that often you actually need it. I'm just curious why they're even moving appliances around. I don't bother with used ones and just have new ones delivered for free. Buying a truck for work will kill you on the gas mileage if you're driving that much.

You also seem to switch jobs around a lot, hate to see you get a truck and then not have it last long and end up stuck with it before it even pays for itself.

 

[ram_man]

Originally Posted by Wolf359
I'm a landlord with 10+ units. I've managed to get away for 10+ years without a truck. If I ever need one, I either rent the truck from Home Depot or Uhaul. It's not that often you actually need it. I'm just curious why they're even moving appliances around. I don't bother with used ones and just have new ones delivered for free. Buying a truck for work will kill you on the gas mileage if you're driving that much.

You also seem to switch jobs around a lot, hate to see you get a truck and then not have it last long and end up stuck with it before it even pays for itself.



Switch jobs a lot? I have no idea why you would think that. I worked at the same shop for about 4 years but I had to take time off for medical reasons (brain tumor)

As far as the drive I'll be working 2-3 days a week here, it's just part time . But yes the drive to the big apartment where I'll be probably 60% of the time . They are state run so they typically buy in bulk and when they need moved or what not I'll get to do that.
Also her aunt and dad own an auction business that she would like me to help out with and a truck would be very handy there as well. I also love owning a truck so that's icing on the cake for me.
Also since I've been without a truck I've had a lot of times where I needed one and had to bum a ride with a friend or borrow a truck. I live in rural Missouri where a truck does make life easier.

 

[user52165]

$2000 will get you a high mileage POS truck.

Everybody wants a nice truck for $2K. So a $2k truck gets bid up to $2.5 or $3k. The $3k trucks get bid up to $4k, etc.................

Unless you get lucky and buy from a relative or friend, ain't gonna happen.

It will need constant repairs and maintenance.

Either spend more or re-evaluate your needs. Rental when a truck is really needed makes sense.

 

[Skippy722]

My boss hauls firewood in his S10, my other coworker does the same with his little Ranger. I'd personally dump the 2 grand into the truck you already have though.

FWIW, the guy with the Ranger believes changing his oil is a scam and never does it... the oil filter rusted off his Escort and dumped all the oil in his driveway. He put a new filter on, filled the sump back up, and hasn't changed it since. It's been almost 2 years now. His logic is "feel the oil on the dipstick, it's still slippery!"

 

[DuckRyder]

I think a Ranger would do the stated hauling save for the gravel (unless it is not very much gravel), gravel is heavy. Maybe the 4cyl do better, but my 3.0 doesn't get great mileage.

Flat nose F150 with an EFI 300 six would do the job, still not great economy.

Around here 2 grand wouldn't buy a truck I'd be comfortable driving 70 miles without putting another 2 grand in. Have you actually found any decent trucks for 2000.00?

 

[CharBaby]

Are you saying that you have to buy & use your own truck for your aunt's apartment complex?

 

[Fawteen]

The chances of finding a pickup that is road-worthy for that kind of money is pretty slim.

 

[bullwinkle]

They exist-but you'll be looking hard for something decent for $2K. How's the Ram otherwise? Ever considered a trailer for moving the big stuff? That's what I've always done, it's easier to load big stuff on it, and then all the tools stay locked up in the truck (or van).

 

[joegreen]

I have a 98 3.0 ranger. I get 16-18 driving local and 21 on the highway. Watch out for frame rust and cracks. The frames like to rust out by the rear leaf spring shackles.

 

[JHZR2]

My first question would be why work isn't providing you with a work vehicle if it's needed to perform specialty functions. Appliance moving (you're going to move appliances yourself?!?), mulch and gravel will beat a truck up pretty bad in any quantity. Ive seen lots of trucks for $1500-3500, but they all have some warts, and generally a lot of rust.

Better deals alive seen around here seem to be for full size vans and mason dumps, likely because fewer people want them compared to pickups. For example, you can find running 1980s Chevy/GM vans for under $1000, but a square body pickup for less than $5k will have enormous rust or other bad conditions.

As an owner of an S-10, I'm not sure you'll be happy with the narrower bed, at least if you need to move 4' wide stuff or pallets. If it's all smaller stuff then that's likely the better deal.

Still, at 70 miles a commute (which means two hours commute and close to $30/10 gallons in gas before you earn $1), you'd be well suited to commuting in something more economic, regardless of if you own the work truck or it's provided to you.

 

[supton]

Not sure what the bed height is on the S10/Ranger but I know my half ton is at "ridiculous" height. It's ok for tossing 2x4's in, but for anything else it's rather too high. Seems like these days I use a trailer for moving most anything. Lower to the ground. At that point even my Camry can tow an open trailer. Now a light duty trailer isn't going to move much gravel or mulch, but it will move some. And if you need more than "some" then I have to wonder about just having it delivered.

Originally Posted by JHZR2
My first question would be why work isn't providing you with a work vehicle if it's needed to perform specialty functions. Appliance moving (you're going to move appliances yourself?!?).

From what I can tell, it's a family operation, and if he can provide his own "tools" then all the better.

What, you don't move your own appliances? I'll admit, they're heavy, but they're not that heavy. Furniture dolly's aren't that expensive, and they don't take up that much space.

Then again, I've managed to stick with first floor living. If I had to move a washer up 3 flights... yeah I'll leave that to the younger guys! I haven't a clue why anyone would build a house and not use the widest doors they could find...

 

[MONKEYMAN]

I like the trailer idea if the truck you have is roadworthy. I had a new 1994 Mazda B2300 (Ford Ranger clone) and did a lot of mulching. Bed size and suspension just limited what I could haul. Maybe you could drive your truck the days you need to haul something if work maintenance tasks are coordinated.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted by MONKEYMAN
I like the trailer idea if the truck you have is roadworthy. I had a new 1994 Mazda B2300 (Ford Ranger clone) and did a lot of mulching. Bed size and suspension just limited what I could haul. Maybe you could drive your truck the days you need to haul something if work maintenance tasks are coordinated.

That's not a bad idea, and is basically what I do. I'll use my truck when I need to, otherwise I drive my car. If I need to move something of reasonable size, I'll decide if I want the 30 mpg car, 17-19 mpg truck. The Camry towing an open trailer is probably 25 mpg? I do know my truck towing an enclosed trailer is 13!

For going across town, it doesn't matter. But if the OP is 70 miles from work then it'll add up quick!

Actually, I overlooked that bit. I know it's part time and all, but I'm not sure I'd take it. 70 miles is a long ways to drive on a regular basis. I know because I do 50 each way daily. I'd look into what the pay is, and what you have to pay out in commuting costs.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted by JHZR2
My first question would be why work isn't providing you with a work vehicle if it's needed to perform specialty functions.


This.

If you absolutely NEED a truck for this job, it should be provided.

You aren't going to find much for 2K. I like the idea another poster had about parking the truck close to the units and using something cheap to drive back and forth. Considering you won't need the truck all the time, this makes the most sense.

You say you want a truck, you have a truck, so I'd just plug away at fixing the one you have which you'll then to use on your terms, so you aren't destroying it doing work for somebody else.

 

[Donald]

Maybe the employer (your aunt) should get a truck for you to use. Maybe plow snow also.

Even if you find a truck you should be honest with the insurance company and tell them it will be used for business. That will up the insurance.

Maybe your employer will give you a vehicle allowance for a truck and you can lease one.

 

[krismoriah72]

I would get a small trailer for the Saturn. Park the trailer at the apartment complex or at your aunts house and lock it down. You said you are wanting to sell the saturn anyways.. so keep it and the trailer until the job is over then sell both. Trailers only devalue a small amount if you buy them right.

 

[BAJA_05]

Being a guy/man -- its nice owning or wanting to own a truck. Realistically though, what do you expect to get for 2 grand and its not like your only driving 7 miles not 70 one way. Putting the 2 grand in the old Dodge might not be a bad option. Use the Dodge when needed and the gas sipper when not. Hopefully all works out for you.