What are some of the more reliable 10 - 20 year old non-CTD trucks?

[Coalsmoke]

Hey friends,
My wife and I have our first baby on the way and I’m in between trucks at the moment. When I sold my last CTD, I had it in mind to do a 1-ton cummins conversion, but... conversions are never as quick or on budget as they seem like they should be, so I’m looking for a more realistic option for the next couple of years. I have about 5 months to find a truck.

I’m not brand loyal, I just need a truck that:
1. Has a relatively low cost of ownership
2. Has 4 full doors
3. Is 4x4

That’s about it for limitations. For budget reasons I’m probably going to be looking in the 2000 - 2010 years and something in the 1/2 ton to 1 ton size range. With the world the way it is right now and a baby on the way, I don’t feel comfortable going into debt for a truck.

Any recommendations on what I should be looking at or avoiding (ie. I won’t touch a ford with the 5.4L 3 valve because the parts are expensive and my local machine shop will no longer touch the blocks and heads).

 

[jgillott]

The 3rd gen Ram frames of that era are very prone to rust damage in trucks from the salt belt. Please be very careful if you look at one of that vintage. Please see the following thread.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/frame-rot.269473/

 

[Tuesdak]

Your budget is what exactly? Used 4x4 is expensive, period. You really need 4x4? Age is expensive to the point of 20 years ... that’s antique: always something broken, well oiled tools, and worn out patched rebuild parts that are as bad as things you removed. Age causes problems with older being less reliable and more expensive to keep on the road.

The money saved on used can wind up in parts, towing, and your labor.

Figure $2,000 in repairs on a used vehicle. Then figure a payment with the 0% offers out there. With luck you pay the parts store less.

 

[endoscott]

Coalsmoke, you are a smart young man to avoid debt! Check out www.moneymustache.com on that topic. If you want a used pickup that won't live in the shop check out Toyota. Yeah, I am a CTD guy now but have owned (still own!) 2 Toyota 4-runners. Bought 1 new, daughter has had it for last 10 years, around 250,000 miles, runs great, never had the heads off or anything major.Trannies are bulletproof! Aisins. New one to us is another 97 Limited with locking diff for our desert runner. We took the big truck on some pretty hairy trails and decided that was not that smart. The Tundras also use Aisin trans. Never had a Chevy truck. Had a solid 69 Ford, no power brakes, no power steering, and it took a beating and never quit. 84 Ford was a complete POS. Will never own another Ford truck. I know they are better now but still.

https://www.carfax.com/vehicle/5TFBV54117X021659

 

[BigPapa]

I have a 2003 Chevy Avalanche that’s been good. It has @ 300K on it. I’ve had to replace the water pump, fuel pump, brakes, some steering parts, and the CATs. It doesn’t smoke, runs great, and is dependable. They have a full size back seat and doors. The bed is covered. You can haul 4x8 plywood if you fold the rear seat down. Very versatile.

Excuse the interior mess. My 18 year old son was driving it when the pics were taken.

 

[GrantP]

That’s about it for limitations. For budget reasons I’m probably going to be looking in the 2000 - 2010 years and something in the 1/2 ton to 1 ton size range. With the world the way it is right now and a baby on the way, I don’t feel comfortable going into debt for a truck.

Any recommendations on what I should be looking at or avoiding (ie. I won’t touch a ford with the 5.4L 3 valve because the parts are expensive and my local machine shop will no longer touch the blocks and heads).

Well, first congrats on the baby!
I was actually going to recommend an F-150. My brother has had his 2007 5.4 3 valve since 2009 and has had zero mechanical problems with it. I warned him about the spark plug issue and he changed them before they were due with no problem and replaced them with Champions (IIRC) that don't break. He's at 120k now and still trucking along with only regular fluid changes. I think he replaced the belt and tensioner because he was bored.

Any of the big three will probably suit you fine, just wanted to chime in on the 5.4 plug issue.

 

[Regcabguy]

The Chevy's of that era are hard to beat. Long lasting engines and transmissions and cheap,cheap parts. Reasonable fuel economy.

 

[BSeyler]

Ford 5.4...
One of our pickups is a 2008 F-150 SuperCrew. I replaced the plugs at some point after 100,000 miles. Was supposed to be done at 90,000, but I was thinking of trading it, so put it off. In mid year 2008, they changed the design and luckily, ours does not have the problematic plugs. In 160,000 miles, the only breakdown was an alternator. I’ve replaced a couple of batteries and done a brake job because my wife thinks she a race car driver and the rotors were pretty badly heat damaged. It’s a solid rig.

 

[Regcabguy]

Ford 5.4...
One of our pickups is a 2008 F-150 SuperCrew. I replaced the plugs at some point after 100,000 miles. Was supposed to be done at 90,000, but I was thinking of trading it, so put it off. In mid year 2008, they changed the design and luckily, ours does not have the problematic plugs. In 160,000 miles, the only breakdown was an alternator. I’ve replaced a couple of batteries and done a brake job because my wife thinks she a race car driver and the rotors were pretty badly heat damaged. It’s a solid rig.

I had a 1998 F-150. 4.6. About the 2nd week I developed an axle leak. Warranty no problem. Lousy brakes. rear drums with insufficient hydraulic pressure from the master cylinder. Ford increased the pressure in 1999 and went with discs later. I mounted a 400# camper shell with rack on it and panic stops were nerve wracking. I did go up one size to a 265-70-16 but dang. The biggee was the trans. When I'd pull up to an intersection and make a customary complete stop the trans wasn't in 1st yet. I'd step on the gas and it would clunk into 1st. I've never in my life had an auto do that. dealer stated no problem. Lastly was the knee-knocker dash. The engineers designed the dash on the drivers side to curve out toward the side of the door more. Passenger side was fine. My wife and I would hit our knee everytime getting in or out and it was a sharp edge. It was like a mild version of many of the cars in the late 50's and early 60's. lastly and my fault was the gutless 4.6 engine. Unladen decent power. Put a few hundred extra pounds in it,increase the tires one little size and the trans was constantly hunting and barely got 10 mpg.
That being said the next generation of F-150's have been fine trucks.

 

[BSeyler]

4.6 - what a dog. We also had a 1998. I think the engineers were all 5’8”. At 6’1”, I often hit my head getting in. Glad to see that one in the mirrors! We also have a 2012 SuperCrew with the 5.0 and it’s a great rig for just traveling. I can get 20+ MPG on the highway. My hot rod wife gets around 17. I still prefer my 2000 CTD.

 

[Coalsmoke]

The 3rd gen Ram frames of that era are very prone to rust damage in trucks from the salt belt.

Thanks for the heads up. Lots of rust up here. Had to build a new frame from scratch for a customer’s older jeep that was like the truck in that link you posted, only a few years farther along.

Coalsmoke, you are a smart young man to avoid debt! Check out www.moneymustache.com on that topic. If you want a used pickup that won't live in the shop check out Toyota. Yeah, I am a CTD guy now but have owned (still own!) 2 Toyota 4-runners... Trannies are bulletproof! Aisins.

Money mustache, will do! I didn’t realize Toyota was using Aisins, good to know. I’m going to stay with a truck platform Instead of a SUV, mostly for the utility. I looked at the Tacomas and they’re just a little too small in the back. We need 29” of front to back space in the back seats for most of these new carseats. The standard ram quad cab is about 30-31”. Also, I’m a little worried that anything lighter than a 1/2 ton just won’t handle things like firewood, farm equipment , or whatever I’m packing home to wrench on for other people.

It might be worth mentioning that I used to be a chrysler dodge tech and can still get parts from the stealership a little cheaper, but it’s not enough in the big picture to be a big deal.

 

[Coalsmoke]

Used 4x4 is expensive, period. You really need 4x4? Age is expensive to the point of 20 years...Age causes problems with older being less reliable and more expensive to keep on the road.

4x4 is a must unfortunately, and you’re right, it adds a lot of maintenance costs. Twice I have talked myself into a 2wd truck, regretted it both times. I had an ‘02 2wd F-150 for a while and the ‘93 CTD was also 2wd. Way too many headaches living in a northern area where snow is common for 5 months of the year book-ended by 2 months of mud before and after winter. You make a valid point about age. I thought that way before I bought the ‘08 3500 CTD new off the lot. Found myself still spending money on the truck, regardless of warranty status. It was an eye opener for me, and I’ll probably never buy a new vehicle again. I have long since embraced the “You are your own warranty station” mentality which is why I’m doing a little research and asking around about people’s experiences, instead of just “buying the blue truck on the corner car lot.”

I have a 2003 Chevy Avalanche that’s been good. It has @ 300K on it. I’ve had to replace the water pump, fuel pump, brakes, some steering parts, and the CATs. It doesn’t smoke, runs great, and is dependable. They have a full size back seat and doors. The bed is covered. You can haul 4x8 plywood if you fold the rear seat down. Very versatile.

Thanks BigPapa, I think the avalanche is built on the standard GM truck platform if I’m not mistaken? I’m going to look into that some more.

 

[Wayne M.]

Coalsmoke, I commend your effort to live sensibly and raise a traditional family!
The truck effort is such a tough thing to pull off, especially being in the northern climate. I really doubt you’re going to find anything locally- in any brand. My bet is that you’ll end up importing something from down south, and making a balls out effort to preserve it with Krown, Fluid Film etc etc etc. stick with what you know and can fix. My plan was a 10 year plan to get a new (or close) vehicle and put a death grip on it. I started in 2001 with the Durango in my sig, and I still have it. I now have 3.

 

[Tuesdak]

Add plane tickets and go to a non-rust state for used. GM makes good gas engines like the 6.0L or 8.1L if you can find one.

As you are going gas IMO it would be less out of pocket new than used for repairs. It’s the small Krap like window motors, cracked dash, AC compressors, fuel pumps... adds up. Close to 20 years and 200k is a lot of work to keep it running. 50-120k miles used and no older than 10 years isn’t bad. Anything older is risky and a project. Unless you know it’s history well.

 

[AnonEd]

If I ask around there neighbourhood I can get good and bad for all, but 3 to consider IF they fit the dimensions/weight requirements. Know multiple Honda Ridgeline owners that like the ride/handling and have proved reliable, looks are another question. Two guys use Dakotas for commuting, both 200k+, and they fit your parts access. Third, another plug for BigPapa's Avalanche...since it was an open-bed Suburban it has a coil-spring rear end (but it wasn't light) and they made a 3/4-ton version that offered the big-block. If you really need some bling and half-ton power, get the Escalade EXT version. Good luck with the search.

 

[Coalsmoke]

Thanks guys. Just an update on what direction I’m heading.
I am pursuing 3 different routes right now and whichever one works out will be the one I go with.

1. Clean, running, Chevy Avalanche on the 1500 platform
2. Honda Ridgeline if it has a good service history (likely won’t end ip with a Ridgeline as they are priced fairly high here, but I’ll keep looking).
3. A F-150 with a blown motor but good body, trans, etc. in which case I will do a non- 5.4L 3valve repower in it, probably with the 4.6 or the previous 2V 5.4L (wouldn’t mind the chev or dodge half tons either, but the dead F-150s are half the price, sometimes even less, than the dead chevs and dodges.

I appreciate the input you gave me, I wouldn’t have considered the avalanche otherwise.

 

[Ozymandias]

Thanks for the heads up. Lots of rust up here. Had to build a new frame from scratch for a customer’s older jeep that was like the truck in that link you posted, only a few years farther along.


Money mustache, will do! I didn’t realize Toyota was using Aisins, good to know. I’m going to stay with a truck platform Instead of a SUV, mostly for the utility. I looked at the Tacomas and they’re just a little too small in the back. We need 29” of front to back space in the back seats for most of these new carseats. The standard ram quad cab is about 30-31”. Also, I’m a little worried that anything lighter than a 1/2 ton just won’t handle things like firewood, farm equipment , or whatever I’m packing home to wrench on for other people.

It might be worth mentioning that I used to be a chrysler dodge tech and can still get parts from the *******ship a little cheaper, but it’s not enough in the big picture to be a big deal.

Toyota is Aisin