I Need A New Hunting Truck! GM? Toyota? Nissan?

[Dave1]

I have been looking for a replacement hunting truck and am wondering about the little Toyota pick ups in the late 1980s to early 1990s year range.  I have seen that they get around in the mud real good and much better than full size GM or Ford pick up and seem to be very durable.  I would like to find a nice one with street tires that has not been off roaded or abused.

I don't know much about them.  Is there an engine that is more preferable than others?  I read talk about 20R and 22R engines, what is the difference?  I also read about many blown head gaskets, timing chain failures, etc.  What I should be looking for or avoiding?

Thanks for any feedback.

Dave1
davisalf@aol.com

[rickyp]

I have a 2000 Nissan fronter it has over 100000 miles on it and still looks great and runs just as good. I have a friend that had an older Nissan and he got well over 300000 from it and he took it anyplace.

From what I have seen the new 2005 fronter will give the ford 150 a run for it's money.

[Special Ed]

I'm not trying to bash any mfg model of truck, but I would seriously consider where you hunt in relationship to getting the truck serviced if something should happen while hunting.
Alot of the foreign makes just don't have the dealer network in off the beaten path places & service garages might not have the electronic tools to properly find a problem.

[Redhawk1]

One of my old hunting trucks was a 1977 Dodge Power wagon. Short bed with nice off road tries. I went places no little toyota, or nissan could of followed. There is no substitute for horsepower.    JMHO

[rwng]

Well it sounds like you are looking into a small truck. I've owned 2 GM S series trucks.  Both had the 2.8 liter, V-6 engine. One was an '83 long bed w/ the 700r4 tranny, I wrecked after logging 148k miles. It got 27 mpg. The other was a '91 with a 5 spd tranny, I donated it after logging 208k miles on it. It got better than 30mpg. These trucks were also near impossible to get stuck. What I'm saying is, maybe look into the small GMs.

[outdoorman]

Just sold my 91 toy xtra cab 4X4 that I bought brand new. It was like new in perfect condition inside and out with only 96,000 miles. Garage kept, never abused, only used 4wd when briefly needed on a georgia backroad to fishing hole. I sold it because my wife complainded that our boys needed more space than the back cab had and it had no airconditioning and manual windows.  Only problem was blown headgasket and replacing thermostat. Otherwise I believe I could jump in it and drive anywhere a road existed without problem. It was my second toy truck and I would get the tundra but it still doesnt have the passenger space that American vehicles have.
For the past several months, I've been looking for a excellent condition full-size Ford Bronco to replace it.

[Dave1]

I am not locked in on a small truck but am considering all and am looking for the best truck I can find, in very good to excellent condition, for a reasonable cost.

There are tradeoffs with either Jap or American, small vs full size.  I am open to either at this point, just waiting on a good one to come along.

Dave1

[magooch]

Dave1,
If you haven't done it already, you should go take a look at the 2005 Tacoma's.  They are a giant step up from the previous models and that's saying a lot, because I thought the previous Tacoma's were great.

I prefer the four cylinder engine, especially now with the price of gas going up everyday.  I've been told that Toyota switched to a steel timing chain in the four in 2002 or 2003.  That would be one thing I would check on if I were you.  The old rubber bands run nice and quiet, but they have a limited life.

[mjbgalt]

if youre not looking for swanky and spendy, i picked up a 2004 dodge ram with the v6 and auto and tilt, cruise, a/c, and longbed for $16,000 in 2wd.

had 9,000 miles on it and they have the 70,000 mile powertrain warranty.

the v6 has some nice power and the v8s are even better.

i have never been a "dodge man" and i still am not but this truck is very nice and does the job for me well and is getting 17mpg.

-Matt

[Dave1]

The advatages of a full size truck are obvious and I really prefer the full size truck but I have talked to many Toy truck owners and they have nothing but good to say about the small trucks.  The only disadvanatge I have heard and seen is the lack of room and slightly rougher ride than full size truck.

4WD is a must down here.

Still looking and thinking.

Dave

[mjbgalt]

depends what you wanna do. but i can tell you i owned a 3 rangers and an s-10 and if you dont get the extended cab youve got a horrible ride and no room whatsoever. honestly, if you dont have the extended cab, that two seater becomes a one seater when you throw in your gear and guns.

i loved my small trucks and the gas mileage but i dont think i am going back...now that i see the advantages of full size.

why dont you go check out a dealership and sit in em and get an idea?

-Matt

[mjbgalt]

well then...

i had a 1997 ranger xlt with 4.0 v6 and auto and 4x4 with extended cab that sounds about ideal for you. it was my hunting/fishing truck for a while and did a great job of it. the rangers are about as good offroad as you can find. i think toyota is said to be better but i think thats the only one better, full size or not.

these were the same from 1995 through 1997 and in 1998 they got even bigger.

you can pick up a ranger with low miles on it like that for less than $10,000 any day of the week...i can attest to the quality.

or maybe....if youre not stuck on "truck" you can find a nice jeep wrangler and you can store a ton of stuff in the back and REALLY do well offroad and those last forever.
-Matt