This is really the only forum I'm active on, so I thought I would post this here.

I'm looking to buy a used pickup and can't figure out what to look for. I'm not looking for something new (too expensive and too many bells and whistles).

Here's what it will be used for:

- Towing hay trailers, fertilizer buggies, light construction materials (stone, lumber, etc), brush/firewood
- Occasionally taking a 5 year old to kindergarten (preferably a extended cab or crew cab)
- Navigating hunting leases / mountain roads (4X4)

So in summary, I'm looking for a 4x4 with a back seat that is capable of some moderate towing.

I've been looking at older F-150's and F-250's (gas or maaaybe diesel) primarily, but I'm open to suggestions.

My major concern is reliability, so what are some specific models, years, engines, etc. that are very reliable at higher mileage?

I would say the absolute top of my budget is 20k as I'm trying to pay cash and not take any debt on.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

p.s. You should know that I'm not a "truck guy", i.e. my ideal Saturday isn't spend under my truck.

Look for a 2500 Cummins

Used truck market right now is crazy! $20K may not get you very much truck.

You don't have much money then stay away from a diesel they cost big bucks to fix

I would pick a ford or GM 3/4 ton with a gas v-8. My personal preference of the two would be the GM with a 6.0, but ive owned and worked on them in the past so my familiarity with them is the reason why, i think the fords would be fine trucks as well.

F250,

Yeah this was my concern with diesel. I love those 7.3L Fords, but they're getting pretty old and I'm worried about maintenance.

Unfortunately you're right about this. What's shocking to me is that you can pay $20-30k for a pickup with 100k+ miles or you can buy a new one for $35k. They just don't depreciate.

Leaning towards a gas F250. Do you know anything about the 6.8L V10? I know people generally weren't crazy about the 6.0L diesel, but I never hear anything about the gas engines.

I'd much rather have the 6.2 gas than the v10, having owned both.

An F250 is going to be higher priced than an F150. I had a 2004 F150 that went past 340,000 miles. Not sure how far past as I traded it, but it was the most reliable truck I ever owned. I'd imagine that you could get a newer truck with less miles if you go the half ton route. You stated that it would be used mainly for towing, but you did not state how many pounds you were going to tow. If it is on the heavier side, yeah, you are going to need a 3/4 ton. If it is on the lighter side, and half ton will do the job, and repair costs will be much cheaper.

We currently use a 1998 F-150 to tow the hay trailer, so I don't think it would be too much of an issue. That's definitely a consideration. It's an 18ft bumper-pull, so maybe 1800-2000lbs plus maybe 3000-4500lbs of hay. Max I think we're looking at 7000lbs, and that wouldn't be daily by any means, just on occasion.

Sauerkraut you have PM

It seems any thread about anything related to pickup trucks is destined to get lots of play on here and go several pages. Since this one is very generic I anticipate it may never end. Im just glad this is in Off Topic and not under Hunting trucks section.
Sauer, for what its worth I am right up your alley. I dont usually buy new trucks either. I dont spend saturdays under my truck either, for sure not. Reliability, 4x4, some towing and everything else you mentioned is what I look for as well. I bought an 06 Tundra in about 2010 with 40k miles on it and it has 267000 now. Its been great. Im not sure how much longer it will go so im considering doing something similar again but probably one year away. If I was buying used I think Toyota is the way to go since I would be nervous to expect to put a lot of miles on any other used truck. But like I said, im not a truck guy so im sure others will completely disagree.

Tundra if you want gas

Cummins is you want diesel

Hmmmmm. Hadn't thought of a Tundra, that might be a good call. I currently drive an '04 Taco and love it...just can't quite handle what I need it to.

I have a buddy with the gas 6.2, it's been a tank.
All his kids grew up in it and drove it when they got old enough. He still has it though he's bought several new trucks over the years.

Some may completely disagree. But Toyota has a reputation for reliability for a reason. They are reliable. Ford has done some great things in the last 20 years on reliability as well. Dodge and Chevy, not so much.

Yep.

yep

Yep, and probably not the most reliable 1/2 ton gas powered truck ever built which us a Tundra.

I don't think Ford, Dodge, or Chevy are any different as far as reliability. You may get a lemon in any brand and may get one that last forever in any brand. People that think one is way better are just fanboys like Superduty.

If you're looking at half tons look at the tundra.

Or maybe they’ve spent a lot of time in all of them, in true work environments, and they’ve formed an experienced opinion. I know that’s rare, but it does happen.