[Junkyard Dawg]

I'm thinking of selling my S-10 and getting a full size, either a Chevy or Ford, but not sure which to go with.

I'm looking for something with a work truck package....you know, rubber floor mat, plastic door panels, vinyl bench seat.....the no thrills type truck....with maybe A/C if anything.

It will serve as a daily driver that I could go cross country if I needed to, plus something I can throw old engine in and get inside with greasy hands and know I can clean it all off with a bottle of all purpose cleaner.....unlike upholstry which would stain.

I dont want a Dodge, though they have the most power they are best friends with the gas pumps.

Budget......I'm going to ask $6k for my S-10, and then maybe get a loan for however much more, I figure $10k or somewhere around there tops.

I've always liked the 92-96 Ford F150's, I kinda thought maybe one with an inline six/5 speed would be good. I know those 300 inline 6's are good engines, but it's my understanding they suck almost as much gas as a V8?

On the Chevy side, I thought of maybe a 95-98 Chevy, not sure how well the 4.3 liter gets on gas mileage as opposed to the 5.7 liter...

I know the full size trucks aren't exactly fuel economical but I don't really want something that only gets 12 mpg.

Last night I saw a 2001 Chevy work truck with the 4.8 liter....don't the new LS series engines get better mileage than the older Gen I and II engines of similar displacement?

Would you folks recommend I go with a truck with the 4.8 or 5.3 as opposed to a 4.3? Whats the gas mileage like?

My S-10 has the 4.3 and gets 17/23, I'd like to find something that gets the same as if not better....I'm sure the 4.3 in the big trucks gets worse than 17/23, but how does the 4.8 or 5.3 do?

Thanx for any help....

 

[dmg1029]

I just bought a used truck. I was not really looking, but came across a pretty good deal. It's a full size 4 door Dodge RAM 1500 SLT. It has a small V8 and gets an avg of 17MPG so far. It's a 2005 and has 52k miles on it. It was $14K cash from a private party one owner. It still has the extended warranty that is transferable. I would of liked to have a Chevy, but...

Good luck..

 

[drptop70ss]

I use my trucks like trucks, and I seem to have the same mentality as you I buy a truck for $4000 or less and use it for 4-5 years and then get something different. I have been looking to upgrade from my 89 F150 which has served me well for almost 5 years, towed many cars and went to many swap meets with it, but it is starting to get rusty. I wanted up upgrade to a 3/4 ton or better truck and get a Ford or Chevy, Dodges are nice but have lots of rear and trans problems. There are tons of trucks out there, just hard to find one reasonably priced that hasnt been worked to death. I just today bought a 1995 GMC K3500 pickup, 454, 4x4, auto, posi, plow, A/C, and not much else. It will be a killer tow vehicle, picked it up for $3800.

 

[Junkyard Dawg]

Not a bad deal.

I forgot to mention I'm shooting for a 1/2 ton with regular cab.

The only luxuries I like in a truck are a/c and maybe power windows. Other than that I like my trucks utilitarian style. No need for carpet and cloth seats here. :noway:

 

[covertolds]

I just today bought a 1995 GMC K3500 pickup, 454, 4x4, auto, posi, plow, A/C, and not much else. It will be a killer tow vehicle, picked it up for $3800.

Good luck with that 454. I had a '98 GMC 2500 extended cab with a 454 and 4.10's. If you just slid the hitch into the receiver it would struggle. Mine was a Vortec engine. I can't imagine what a throttle body style is like. The truck looked nice, but when it came to towing, it sucked.

 

[drptop70ss]

LOL I am sure it will do fine. I have been towing cars all over the place with my old 89 F150 that has a 300-6 and a 4 speed. Thing accelerates like a school bus but it will pull anything. The 454 just driving around has much more power so if it cant keep up with an inline 6 with highway gears there must be a problem.

 

[JWA]

Good luck with that 454. I had a '98 GMC 2500 extended cab with a 454 and 4.10's. If you just slid the hitch into the receiver it would struggle. Mine was a Vortec engine. I can't imagine what a throttle body style is like. The truck looked nice, but when it came to towing, it sucked.

My 99 Burb is equipped with the Vortec 454 and it pulls great even with the 6 inch lift and 35's. Pulled a 72 K-5 to San Diego a few months ago with minimal effort. Only non-stock item is the air filter.

Dawg-older trucks are a better deal. My new-to me 81 is a 15mpg truck while my previous Z-71 98 Vortec 350 got 17mpg on highway tread. Mud tires dropped it to 14 mpg. Those trucks can go close to 200k with minimal maintenance(intake gasket replacement for sure).
My 81 I just got for $2k is in the attachments:

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=6632&d=1176028232

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=6633&d=1176028244

 

[sharpie]

I'll sell you mine it's a 1978 F-250 with 37" SSR's will pull anything and gets 10MPH!

 

[Bad Rat 414]

There is only one real truck and it's made by Chevrolet!

 

[Jay65SS]

It will serve as a daily driver that I could go cross country if I needed to, plus something I can throw old engine in and get inside with greasy hands and know I can clean it all off with a bottle of all purpose cleaner.....unlike upholstry which would stain.

Yeah but why for a daily driver? Gas is getting back up near $3.00/gal. I don't know how you guys do it, I got rid of my 3/4 ton full size pickup 5 years ago when gas prices just started taking off. Doesn't make sense for a daily driver to get to and from work and the grocery store or whatnot. I'd just keep the S10 and get a can of hand cleaner wipes...and think of the money you're saving by not stepping into a thirsty truck with a bigger payment.

 

[planeoldguy]

I would seriously consider buying a new Chevy. The base model truck like you want can be had for under 13K around here. With your trade you should be in good shape.

I'm like you, I wanted a basic work truck but they are very hard to find. Most used trucks I found are extended cab, 4X4 with all the bells and whistles. I swore I would never buy a new vehicle but when I priced used trucks I found I could buy a stripped new truck for less than a used truck.

Back in 04 I bought an new Silverado 2 wheel drive regular cab with a 4.8 and a 5 speed for under 13K. I believe all trucks now come standard with A/C and AM/FM. All the rest is optional. The only problem I had was finding a stripped truck. Most are optioned out 4X4's. You may have to do some searching.

Don't forget you'll get new vehicle warranty with that as opposed to 90 days or if you're lucky a year on a used one. Also, look for what they now call a Silverado Classic, not the new style that just came out. I think they're making deals on the classics now trying to get rid of them.

Good luck

 

[Alan]

Are you looking for a truck to tow a trailer or just so you can drive in a bigger truck?

Reason I ask is the S-10 does fine hauling engines, trannies, etc. in the bed. It can tow a 3500 lb. trailer without much problem. It won't however tow a trailer with vehicle on it. The S-10 gets better gas mileage (mine would get 22-23 with stock tires).

Personally, after buying a 2005 GMC Sierra 1500 with 5.3L (20mpg on the freeway), I'd rather drive my S-10. I'm still debating whether I should trade the GMC in on a sedan and just go back to using my S-10 as my truck. The so-called GM quality was not implemented on my GMC.

If you don't need to tow vehicles and such, you'll get better gas mileage and save money by keeping the S-10. I regret ever purchasing my '05 GMC Sierra.

 

[RacnJsn95]

You don't say if you want 4x4 or not... I assume 2wd is fine, based on the gas mileage numbers you threw out... If you shop around you can get a brand new 06/07 Silverado Classic (my favorite body style, I hate the new one) for about 11k. My girlfriend had an 07 2wd std cab short bed, 4.3 5 spd for about 6 months. I loved that truck! She decided she wanted a car so she went and traded it in though...

Anyway, It got a consistant 18mpg around town, and we drove it to the coast (which is more windy crazy road than freeway, I'd say about 80% windy scary road, and 20% freeway) and got 21mpg. Her's was the base model work truck. No options, no A/C, rubber floor, plastic panels, cloth seat. If I remember correctly it was right around 11.4k, no $ down, payments were $240/mo for 60 months.

If you wait untill Chevy truck month, that's when you seem to be able to get the new "year old" models pretty cheap. AND all 07+ Chevy's have a 100k mile power train warranty. The same truck with A/C was about 12.8k if I remember correctly.

Worth looking into. Below is a pic of the truck when it was a couple days old... I liked it so much, I told her that when she got tired of driving it, and it was paid off, I wanted to keep it and put a v8 in it :thumbsup: But I guess the car was more important

 

[Junkyard Dawg]

Basicly I wanted to have a bigger bed for extra hauling, plus I've owned a few S-10's now so not sure if I really want another one. Have yet to own a full size.

No I hadn't planned on towing any vehicles.

If the new big trucks really are that bad on gas I might just keep my eye out for a long bed S-10, since all I've ever owned were short beds...maybe that would be a little bit of a compromise?

 

[gotago]

There is only one real truck and it's made by Chevrolet!

Not anymore:sad:

 

[Junkyard Dawg]

You don't say if you want 4x4 or not... I assume 2wd is fine, based on the gas mileage numbers you threw out...

Yes a 2WD is what I had in mind.

Wonder if I oughta look for a long bed S-10 truck?

Also another reason is the one I have is too nice to use for hauling junk around. Figure I can still get top dollar for it as it is as it's been well cared for.

 

[Derek69SS]

It sounds like what you want is exactly what my Dad bought on ebay for way-cheap.

'98 Chevy 1/2-ton standard-cab short bed 2WD 4.3L V6/Auto w/air and 70,000mi (Auto trans and A/C are the only options on it). It was a city park-department truck in Wisconsin that was always garaged and rarely driven winters. No rust, bottom side looked brand new. I think he paid ~$3200 for it on ebay.

Around here, every city, utility, and county has low-option trucks with great maintenance records that they auction off (no reserve) at either county auctions or occasionally ebay. They usually go cheap because everyone wants an ext cab 4x4 Z71 with heated leather, chrome wheels, and a CD player... you know, the necessities.

 

[chevelledude71]

BAAAAAAAAAA, do you guys have a "lemon lot" on your post? We have one here on base, usually some good deals on there. Try that if you guys have one.

 

[driver]

Duramax Hands Down.

 

[Junkyard Dawg]

BAAAAAAAAAA, do you guys have a "lemon lot" on your post? We have one here on base, usually some good deals on there. Try that if you guys have one.

Ft. Bragg has one, I check it twice a week. Hasn't been much there lately I've been interested in....except for a 68 Chevy 1/2 that's overpriced IMO.