Best truck under $10k - opinions please

[jtexas]

Had a little fender-bender last week - don't look too bad to me but Allstate says it's totalled. Looking at used pickups around $10k, maybe 5-6yrs old, & I'd appreciate any opinions on makes/models that y'all have experience with. My boat/trailer is less than 1200 lbs.<br /><br />thanks,<br />jtw

 

[Johnshan1]

Re: Best truck under $10k - opinions please

What class do u want to go with? Compact pickup like the Dodge Dakota? Or a full size like a Chevy Silverado?<br /><br />Either way I will tell you my storys of both of those: The Dakota handles 1200 lbs just fine, I would go with a stick shift in any dodge truck due to their weak automatic trannys. I loved the truck, it was a '97 and had no major problems with it.<br /><br />My currect truck is a '96 Silverado with the 5.7L V8, she has 150,000 miles on her and runs/drives like a brand new truck. She wil pull anything you can think of (within reason). I have had very very good luck with the mid 1990's Chevy/GMC's they seem to be very durable and ride very nice for a truck.<br /><br />I have never had any luck with Ford trucks.<br /><br />-John

 

[JB]

Re: Best truck under $10k - opinions please

I have had very good service from a lot of Ford trucks. . .Rangers, F150s, and a F250.<br /><br />Also had good luck with one Dodge and one Chebby.<br /><br />Never had a bad truck.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[DJ]

Re: Best truck under $10k - opinions please

Once you look at used trucks in that price range, brand becomes secondary, unless they are compacts with minimal options.<br /><br />ALL used vehicles are UNIQUE, there are no two exactly the same.<br /><br />Shop condition.

 

[T S N]

Re: Best truck under $10k - opinions please

half ton full size.<br />small trucks have small brakes.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Best truck under $10k - opinions please

Ditto DJ

 

[jtexas]

Re: Best truck under $10k - opinions please

Do the 6-cylinder 1/2-tons have sufficient power or should I look for a V-8?<br /><br />There's no shortage of used trucks around here, but does anybody else think it seems kind of crazy to pay $6,000 for a vehicle with over 100k miles?<br /><br />thanks for the input,<br />jtw

 

[gsbodine]

Re: Best truck under $10k - opinions please

That's a pretty light load. I wouldn't worry about the power too much, really. I think sw fla boater was on the right track about brakes though. With my old 15ft. I never had a problem with towing power-wise, but I sure did go through some brakes. I guess in TX you don't have quite the hills that we've got though...

 

[KM2]

Re: Best truck under $10k - opinions please

I had an chevy s-10 v6 5 spd that towed a 1000# really well and got great gas mileage too. This is what I would do: buy a nice chevy s-10 or ford ranger extended cab v6 with a towing package. Use edmunds.com for info and pricing<br />A loaded 99 Ranger Ext 4x4 would be around 10k.

 

[cdivrmike]

Re: Best truck under $10k - opinions please

I pull a 19' CC weighing around 2400# with a Ford Explorer to the nearby lakes and rivers( only 10 miles)and when I hit the ocean(25 miles) I use a 2001 Dodge Ram 3500 diesel. I have no problems pulling with either of these vehicles. <br /><br />I did see somebody had a 1996 chevy silverado 1500 with 175,000 miles on it and they were asking $6800. . this person is definately on some drugs.........

 

[jtexas]

Re: Best truck under $10k - opinions please

Well, mike, my general impression from a couple hours of research is that: (1) $6 or $7 thousand will just about not buy a truck with less than 100k, and (B) Chevy owners seem to be prouder of their vehicles than Fords. That's not a scientific study, just my own observation. Course those are asking prices, not actual selling prices.

 

[garycinn]

Re: Best truck under $10k - opinions please

You should be able to get a Dodge Durango with under 100K for under $10K from a private party. With tow package and 3.92 rear it will tow 7300 lbs. Love mine

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Best truck under $10k - opinions please

www.autotrader.com<br /> link to a bad truck <br /> no, but seriously.... <br /> or this one..... <br /><br /> or even this.....<br />fords cars suck.. but there trucks will work for you till the day their hear gives out, and work hard

 

[Johnshan1]

Re: Best truck under $10k - opinions please

"I did see somebody had a 1996 chevy silverado 1500 with 175,000 miles on it and they were asking $6800. . this person is definately on some drugs........."<br /><br />I payed $6900 for my '96 Silverado with 133K miles on it, the dealership screwed up, they meant $7900 but marked the truck wrong. (They had just put a new tranny in it). <br /><br />Location location location, here in Maine 4x4 trucks are king $$$

 

[jtexas]

Re: Best truck under $10k - opinions please

Lowered my budget to $6500. I picked up a '98 Explorer 2door 2WD V6 yesterday, 88000 miles, XLT trim, leather, $5800. This was just the best riding & driving vehicle I drove in my price range. Had it checked by my mechanic first. He noticed it has the tow-package trans oil cooler on it, but no trailer wiring or hitch. I don't know how to identify which rear end it has. The bumper is just slightly distended so I can tell they towed with it. The mechanic says it (the bumper) is still plenty strong to pull my bass boat. Probably get a receiver hitch anyway before too long.<br /><br />Thanks for all the input, guys.<br /><br />jtw

 

[rjolley]

Re: Best truck under $10k - opinions please

That price you posted for the 1996 chevy, I assume that is 4x4 and that price is right on in my part of the country. I see 00 and 01 models advertised all the time with 100+thousand for 16-17 grand. The bad part is people are getting it. Used Chevy trucks bring high dollar.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Best truck under $10k - opinions please

jtexas,<br /><br />the rear end gearing is identified within the VIN number. Check your owners manual. Shouldn't matter anyways, you have plenty of truck to pull your trailer.

 

[DJ]

Re: Best truck under $10k - opinions please

jtexas,<br /><br />If your truck does not have the wire harness it does not have the factory tow package (option code 535). The trans cooler is standard on all Explorers. I would doubt, very much, if the rear axle is a limited slip. If you have the 16" wheels, the ratio is probably a 3.55.<br /><br />Any dealer can run your VIN on the OASIS system. They should be happy to give you a printout.<br /><br />The printout will show your axle ratio and any potentially open recalls.

 

[livebait]

Re: Best truck under $10k - opinions please

Jtexas:I just want to add a word of caution and it is from experience, I owned a 99 Explorer 2WD V6. You will notice it is very nimble and the handling response is immediate and how can this be a bad thing you ask. It is way too easy to over correct in a critical situation. Drive that baby like she is top heavy and if it still has the AT/Wilderness tire on it remove them immediately. A blowout will compound the response problem, take care. My apologies to all Explorer owners but Ford did have a problem with the Explorers that has since been corrected. I am a Ford man myself, Ford Truck that is. Oh DJ is right about the trans cooler, they all had them.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Best truck under $10k - opinions please

Thanks for the support, guys.<br /><br />I had heard that the tow pkg includes an upgraded tranny cooler over standard equipment (could've been installed later). Also that a wiring harness is standard eqp on all Exploders (from the Ford website), but some car dealers like to remove trailer hitches & wiring from trade-ins because shoppers are suspect of tow vehicles.<br /><br />No matter, really since I'm well within the capabilities of the stock model.<br /><br />Thanks for the heads up, livebait, it's got maybe 65% (hard to estimate) tread left on Michelins; makes me think they were installed early on.<br /><br />BTW, are Ford cars really that bad? My last car was a '96 T-bird, bought new, and it was just about the best car I ever drove (and that includes a '78 BMW 633csi I owned in the early '90's). I liked it so much that I kept it instead of the wife's '99 Mustang GT convertible when we got our first minivan in '00 (talk about culture shock). I spent a couple days trying to convince the insurance company not to total the Tbird. If I had been a little more faithful with oil changes I probably would have kept it, salvage title and all, and had it repaired.<br /><br />Anyway the wife is pleased that I won't be going fishing anymore in her brand new Sienna minivan!