Need a 3/4-1 ton Truck for Long Hauls

[IowaOffRoad]

Not counting my yard I see a handful of TTB era Rangers and Mazdas a week and easily 10x more of the 98+ ones. They're just a normal car around here, not exceptional at all.

But I also don't live in the hipster douchebag capital of the nation....


I only show up where fanboy dumbassery goes un-challenged. Don't wanna see me, stop spewing fanboy bullshit.

Sales of rangers were probably 10-1 around here during their lifespan compared to toyota, probably same for nissan, parity with S-10/colorado.
Anecdotally, there are more s-10s running around now than any of them, followed by toyotas and nissans. Rangers are almost non-existent. (that's actually why I'm saving the one I own, I like odd stuff that nobody else has).

Does that mean the S-10 is superior to the Ranger combatting Midwest winters, farm use, and taking on white-tailed deer? Does that mean that all the toyotas and nissans sold back then are still on the road?

 

[Leadfoot21]

Toyota is an amazing company . For anyone in upper management that has been involved with Lean Six Sigma , lean management and the Toyota production system you should know they have one of the most impressive proven systems in the world arguable #1 and it sets the standard for how to run a business/project management for the world . So, it would make sense that they are as successful as they are and carry the reputation that they do just based on that alone .

 

[arse_sidewards]

I've got one. Tore up the transmission doing toyota shit.

You tore up the transmission because you bought a vehicle of unknown history and clutch dumped it as soon as you got it running.

Front drive axles are shot. Carrier bearing is shot. Always been stock. Interior wiring is all fucked up. Interior falling apart (switches, plastics, upholstery).

And if you paid Toyota money for the Ranger you'd be making all sorts of excuses for that condition.

1995 Ranger, so should be at the top of the heap, quality wise, according to arse.

You remember the part where I said the mid 90s plastics aren't that great? You want a 91 down or 96+ for best interior (inb4 486 goes off about the heater core on the 97 as if people are regularly R&Ring those)

I have never, not once, seen a similar mileage and body condition Toyota be so fucked up from regular use (I know the last 15y history of this particular truck). I've never replaced a CV on an IFS Toyota that's been left stock.

And it took me close to 10yr of owning four Subarus to have to do my first head gasket. I'm not a slimeball with an agenda so I don't go around pretending that shit is normal though.

I've never replaced a Birf on a solid axle Toyota left stock. I've never done ball joints on the torsion bar IFS trucks/4runners left stock.

He keeps calling toyota's gay too. Reminds me of this guy:

I don't call Toyotas gay because I'm not some flyover state yokel who hates gay people for no good reason. Also there's much more pertinent adjectives to use.

 

[IowaOffRoad]

You tore up the transmission because you bought a vehicle of unknown history and clutch dumped it as soon as you got it running.

Every other gear in it is perfect. I've had plenty of Aisins that I knew the history of abuse (one had a V8 with a dump bed) and still never tore one up like that.

And if you paid Toyota money for the Ranger you'd be making all sorts of excuses for that condition.

I did give toyota money for it. See post regarding what I've paid for all previous toyotas

You remember the part where I said the mid 90s plastics aren't that great? You want a 91 down or 96+ for best interior (inb4 486 goes off about the heater core on the 97 as if people are regularly R&Ring those)

I've owned 2 91's. Shit plastic in both of them too

And it took me close to 10yr of owning four Subarus to have to do my first head gasket. I'm not a slimeball with an agenda so I don't go around pretending that shit is normal though.

I've owned 3 subi's, never had a blown head gasket.

I don't call Toyotas gay because I'm not some flyover state yokel who hates gay people for no good reason. Also there's much more pertinent adjectives to use.

No you are a well-documented racist misogynist Masshole who has called toyota's gay. If I cared to take the time I'd pull the relevant posts. Why would you think I hate gay people, because I'm not so woke that I'm scared to use it as a pejorative? So now you are an east coast elite who choses to Woke-ly police language while harboring your racist and misogynist views online while also pretending that it's me that's prejudice? Fag.

 

[arse_sidewards]

I thought you were trolling at first, but then I realized you really do believe the lies you tell yourself.

Suck start a shotgun.

I'll find time to reply to the other posts later.

 

[IowaOffRoad]

Suck start a shotgun.

I'll find time to reply to the other posts later.

<3 ooohh pick me, pick me!

 

[Steve300xcw]

and wtf does a POS ranger have to do with the OP looking for a new 1/2 ton pickup?

 

[IowaOffRoad]

and wtf does a POS ranger have to do with the OP looking for a new 1/2 ton pickup?

ahem because a ranger is used like a wonton in other areas of the world.

And Toyotas are used for personnel carriers and gun platforms in the rest of the world.
Just as applicable I guess?
I dunno, halo-effect “build quality”?

I boarded the ranger train after this thread went off the rails sorry Steve

 

[FleshEater]

Manifold gaskets came today for the truck. So hopefully I’ll see if it quiets down tonight once I change them out or if the lifter is fawked.

Either way, I’m planning on a new-to-me truck purchase within the next year or so.

 

[Toyotanerd]

I missed the shit show…. Anyway I’m biased (just look at the name) but I’ve always been scared of the diesel game from a maintenance and cost perspective.

To the point she’s not fast but will still accelerate up normal Midwest hills. I get about 8.5 mpg with loads like this. My normal load is 2 Toyota pickup based crawlers. It’s a bone stock sr5 2008 with 150k miles

First pic upload. Hope it comes out alright

 

[YotaAtieToo]

Says the subhuman piece of trash that goes on to say this as if it's not obvious trolling:

Any year of TTB Ranger is equal to or better than the same year Toyota on any metric you can come up with and on the ones that really matter the Ranger is pretty much better across the board.

The only way the Toyota is in any way competitive is if you are shopping for a late 80s early 90s 2wd V6 auto trans truck (i.e. the worst Ranger money can buy). And even then it's a pretty close race and a similarly equipped S10 would be a better choice than either. Which says a lot.



Mid 1990s GM interior and chassis isn't exactly a high bar. What are you gonna do next, compare your Taco to a Baja to make it look good?

Your uncle molested you in an 86 toyota huh?

 

[FleshEater]

This Chevy is suffering Ford symptoms. Blew the #7 spark plug out of the block.

Put it back in and the lifter is louder than ever and not going away.

DOD/AFM FTW again.

 

[Leadfoot21]

This Chevy is suffering Ford symptoms. Blew the #7 spark plug out of the block.

Put it back in and the lifter is louder than ever and not going away.

DOD/AFM FTW again.

Truck Norris cam time 🥳

 

[FleshEater]

Truck Norris cam time 🥳

On this rusted turd? No. I’ll sell it under book if I can and move on. Been driving it for about 8-9 years and I was tired of it 2 years ago.

 

[Leadfoot21]

That works too !

 

[Aggie06]

I’ve spent well over 300k miles between two 2014 Tundras. Both were CrewMax trucks. I felt like they pulled 7000 lbs easily. Big knock is they were thirsty loaded or unloaded. Even on the flat ground where I live.

I sold my personal one around 60k to go to a 3/4 ton at the time. The other one stayed around work until it was sold around 320k. I never did anything to mine other than maintenance. The other truck had the starter replaced twice, a few brake jobs including new rotors, and a set of shocks and struts. It also developed a few rust bubbles on the body.

 

[arse_sidewards]

Sales of rangers were probably 10-1 around here during their lifespan compared to toyota, probably same for nissan, parity with S-10/colorado.

Sales of CRVs were like 10:1 compared to Santa Fes during the 00s. These days the numbers on the road are about 1:1 because so many of the CRVs got bought by richer people who turned them into the dealer auction system instead of the private market resulting in a huge fraction of them getting shipped south. Also, Mexicans fucking love CRVs for some reason.

Rangers were super popular cars for teenagers, or at least they were around here in the 00s and 10s. I think that's what killed a disproportionate number of them.

Also for some reason I see way more 00s minivans than I see fullsize SUVs despite the latter massively outselling the former and being far less dieposable of vehicles generally. I can't remember the last time I saw an 00s 'burb, Excursion or Expedition (still see a lot of 'sploders though for some reason).

And now that I think about it, I probably see way more Libertys than any other 00s compact SUV which is kind of weird becasuee they're hot garbage compared to the Japanese stuff. Which reminds me, I see 100x more XJx than any other example of late 90s SUV (yes I know they made them until 01) and they're not exactly the pinnacle of low maintenance either. Makes me wonder if people are hanging onto them because of dumb fanboy logic ("it's a Jeep so it's good in snow)...

Point is that shit is weird when it comes to what sticks around and I think it mostly comes down to who bought what and what they did with it.

Anecdotally, there are more s-10s running around now than any of them,

It's fucking weird. You basically never see an old S10 or Nissan in southern New England. Go to Maine and they're pretty common (as far as vehicles of that age go) for some reason.

followed by toyotas and nissans. Rangers are almost non-existent. (that's actually why I'm saving the one I own, I like odd stuff that nobody else has).

Does that mean the S-10 is superior to the Ranger combatting Midwest winters, farm use, and taking on white-tailed deer? Does that mean that all the toyotas and nissans sold back then are still on the road?

Every other gear in it is perfect. I've had plenty of Aisins that I knew the history of abuse (one had a V8 with a dump bed) and still never tore one up like that.

And there's plenty of M5ODs in Rangers running scrap....

I've owned 3 subi's, never had a blown head gasket.

You also aren't spending a decade daily driving shit that was clapped out and high milage when you got them.

No you are a well-documented racist misogynist Masshole who has called toyota's gay.

I take issue with the racism thing. If anything I should be double misogynist.

If I cared to take the time I'd pull the relevant posts. Why would you think I hate gay people, because I'm not so woke that I'm scared to use it as a pejorative? So now you are an east coast elite who choses to Woke-ly police language while harboring your racist and misogynist views online while also pretending that it's me that's prejudice? Fag.

Don't you have a cow to be fucking or whatever it is you corn field people do?

 

[IowaOffRoad]

Don't you have a cow to be fucking or whatever it is you corn field people do?

I dunno, you in jail for beating you GF drunk after a Pats/Celts/Sox loss?

 

[arse_sidewards]

I dunno, you in jail for beating you GF drunk after a Pats/Celts/Sox loss?

I'm not sure if you're insinuating I'm an Irishman or a cop.

Edit: Now that I think about it the cop wouldn't go to jail for that.

 

[Projectjunkie]

Anyone that does a Fummin swap for less than $10-15k either hacked it together or is lying.

In 2010 I built this.
$2000 auction 95 dodge with 5 speed and 4wd, $1100 88 truck missing idi motor and trans, front clip off a $50 truck, got the clip painted for some explorer doors in trade, the bajas were a trade for a 350/350 combo from a scrapped van. By the time I sold everything else off,I was in the whole thing for $3500

In 2005 I built this, I had the highboy, I bought a wrecked 92 d350 with a fresh recon cummins engine for $2700 or so. Sold off some extra pieces



Comes down to buying a donor truck for the right price, and selling leftovers, and leave your credit card on your fucking wallet and solve problems yourself. Weld a dodge part to a ford part and keep moving

 

[FleshEater]

In 2010 I built this.
$2000 auction 95 dodge with 5 speed and 4wd, $1100 88 truck missing idi motor and trans, front clip off a $50 truck, got the clip painted for some explorer doors in trade, the bajas were a trade for a 350/350 combo from a scrapped van. By the time I sold everything else off,I was in the whole thing for $3500

In 2005 I built this, I had the highboy, I bought a wrecked 92 d350 with a fresh recon cummins engine for $2700 or so. Sold off some extra pieces



Comes down to buying a donor truck for the right price, and selling leftovers, and leave your credit card on your fucking wallet and solve problems yourself. Weld a dodge part to a ford part and keep moving

You know those memes about the Cummins owners asking $12k because they know what they got?

DMG lives in an area filled with those Mopar guys.

 

[DMG]

In 2010 I built this.
$2000 auction 95 dodge with 5 speed and 4wd, $1100 88 truck missing idi motor and trans, front clip off a $50 truck, got the clip painted for some explorer doors in trade, the bajas were a trade for a 350/350 combo from a scrapped van. By the time I sold everything else off,I was in the whole thing for $3500

In 2005 I built this, I had the highboy, I bought a wrecked 92 d350 with a fresh recon cummins engine for $2700 or so. Sold off some extra pieces



Comes down to buying a donor truck for the right price, and selling leftovers, and leave your credit card on your fucking wallet and solve problems yourself. Weld a dodge part to a ford part and keep moving

I should have added option C. Did a bunch of horse trading and shopped for deals. And was willing to use old or high mileage parts. You are one of the people on here I would expect to pull this off.
Have you priced this stuff lately?


We were talking about a super duty swap where he will need a trans adapter, different manifold to relocate the turbo, either a trans controller or clutch upgrade, etc, etc. And putting it into a newer truck youn ant a lower mile 12/24v or a common rail because the low mile 12/24v motors are long gone.

 

[DMG]

You know those memes about the Cummins owners asking $12k because they know what they got?

DMG lives in an area filled with those Mopar guys.

Unfortunately Flesh speaks the truth. Tow mirrors out! More smoke=more power!

 

[FleshEater]

I’m staying hopeful with my current truck. I’d like to ride it out one more year before I sell it and buy a new to me truck.

Messed around last night swapping coil packs around and discovered the spark plug was blowing air by it. So the threads in the block must be toast. Buddy of mine has everything to re-thread it (he did it on his 5.4). If this calms down the lifter/exhaust leak noise I’ll be happy.

I think another year and used truck prices might return to normal. Technically I don’t need a super reliable truck for another year, or until I get a buggy built. Hardest part of a super clean truck is storing it over salt season. Not enough stalls in my garage/shop!

 

[Steve300xcw]

In 2010 I built this..............,I was in the whole thing for $3500


In 2005 I built this,........

Seems like things are a bit different than they were 18 years ago What would it cost you to do those builds today?

 

[Aggie06]

On another note, my current 1/2 ton is a 2019 Chevy 1500. It feel like pulling the same load is a wash between the tundra and the Chevy. The Chevy gets better mileage loaded and unloaded.

I do question how long it will go without needing something more than general maintenance though. I had the transmission flushed last fall which seemed to help some shudder issues it was having. It feels like those issues might be coming back, but it is close to the recommended service interval for the transmission. The 5.3 has oil consumption issues but is within spec for Chevrolet.

 

[Projectjunkie]

Seems like things are a bit different than they were 18 years ago What would it cost you to do those builds today?

In 19 I bought a running but kdp busted timing cover 2wd 5spd 96 dually for $2500 then restored it. In 20 I bought a running 2wd auto srw truck for 3k in 21 I bought a 96 2wd 5spd truck at auction for 2800ish

You can occasionally find 12v powered school busses or mdt for 4k, then you have to source motor mounts and LDT accessories etc

Transmissions are getting expensive though

I scored a 4wd zf6 that'll pair up with that 96 2wd auto truck

It seems the tuning has been sorted out for a 6.0 super duty running the 5r110, that might be cost effective

What I'm seeing these days for cheap is 260k mile 04-08 dodge 2500 4wd auto trucks for 5-7k, just kinda beat down. Dunno if a guy was savvy to the common rail stuff, he could pick out a good one, I'm not, so I stay away from it.

There is a trend of putting 70s sheet metal on a 6.2 gas f250 chassis, and coming out nice

If it's just a Friday night truck, gas is fine anyways

I was going to put my 12v/zf6 in a 79 rclb ford, but with the low hanging 12 valves drying up, it's getting a gasser and I'll save that power train for a proper cclb 1 ton tow rig

 

[Steve300xcw]

Around here you can round up a rig with a cooked 6.0 cheaper than most anything OBS. I keep looking for a clean long bed for mine, but its looking like I'm going to have to buy a truck just for the fucking bed.

 

[FleshEater]

I threaded in a new spark plug. Fired it up and it’s all quiet now.

Pulled the plug back out and put orange loctite on it. Hoping it holds for awhile. I really don’t want to try and re-thread that hole with the head on. I sure don’t want to take the head off either.

 

[FleshEater]

So as much as I want a Tundra, I’m so torn on the idea of owning a super clean truck. Especially a super clean truck at the tune of $25k-$30k.

I decided to do a search on 2500 Chevys and found a super clean, low mileage 2006 Silverado 2500HD. I didn’t want the added costs, but it’s hard to deny the realities of hauling capcities. It’s a 6.0, so if I remember correctly it has a 4l80…44,000 miles. Looks like an older individual owned it.