What make, model year. Thinking there is a bullet proof pickup that will punch above its weight and be a great work truck. Thanks guys

I cant imagine the options are outside a Taco or Nissan Frontier for new trucks.

Do you mean new trucks or any truck since the beginning of time?

Sounds like my ‘03 Tacoma work truck. I suspect you can do well with newer ones as well. I just particularly like the ‘01-‘04 body style.

Sorry, not enough info.

I was thinking there was a Ford truck that had really good lineage. Maybe a 1980's or 90's.
Chevy?

if you mean new I think you can get a Taco or a gladiator. The Tacoma is probably the only one that is likely to be a great truck.

I owned a 1987 Chevy 1/2 ton w/ a 4.6 liter Vortec V-6; 4 speed manual transmission. It was a good truck and gave me over 120K generally trouble free miles.

I miss the truck, but had to sell it as the front bench seat combined w/ the aforementioned 4-speed disallowed the use of 2 child car seats in the cab. With our 2nd son on the way, I was forced to go truck shopping for a full crew cab unit.

Offerings in new trucks are unfamiliar to me now.
s.

I'm talking used but I'd look for:

Toyota Tacoma
Ford Ranger
Nissan Frontier

If you want fullsize then I'd look for a late 80's to mid 90's Ford F-150 with the 300cu inline six.

quote:

Originally posted by sigarms229:


If you want fullsize then I'd look for a late 80's to mid 90's Ford F-150 with the 300cu inline six.

yes, this is what I was thinking about. I would like some first hand knowledge on a rig like this.

Tacoma, Gladiator & Frontier are the only crew cab 6cyl options I'm aware of in the last decade or so.
Cummins is a 6cyl, available in a manual with 4wd, but I don't think that's what the OP meant.

quote:

quote:
Originally posted by sigarms229:


If you want fullsize then I'd look for a late 80's to mid 90's Ford F-150 with the 300cu inline six.


yes, this is what I was thinking about. I would like some first hand knowledge on a rig like this.

I had one for a few years, I think from 2007-2012. Mine was a 1994 F-150 regular cab, longbed, 300cu Inline 6 with a 5 speed and 4x4. Only reason I sold it was the rust. I live in the rust belt and was constantly fighting rust and other minor issues. I replaced many rusted out parts myself (Radiator Support, rear spring hangers, front cross member). The motor is bulletproof, not a lot of HP but the torque started down low and never let up. Right before I got rid of it, the 3 gear syncro went out. So you had to double clutch 3rd gear, or you could wind it out and skip it if you were empty.



Here's the front end tore apart with the new radiator support in.



and here's why it needed a new radiator support.




I really liked the truck but got tired of the rust repairs. If I found one in good shape with the same motor and transmission I'd consider buying it.

Also did you know the 300cu Inline Six was offered in the 3/4 ton Ford trucks from that time period too?

I had a work associate that had a 1990 F-250 with the same motor. It was meant for contractors that needed a heavier work truck but weren't pulling big loads. I hear they did well as plow trucks with that setup.

Thanks S229. That is what a truck should look like.

Might have to put a wtb add in the classifieds. Maybe a member has a truck Grandpa does not need anymore

Sigarms229 beat me to it, Mine was a F150 1992 model, 4WD 5 speed manual. So so gas mileage, so so performance, but dependable. Mine was a standard cab but a coworker had the same engine with an extended cab.

OK unless you have some magic connections with rust free low mileage examples this seems silly. But here you go.
Greatest 4wd pickup with manual and 6 cylinder is any dodge with the early non emissions cummins and a stick. Probably the 5 speed is the best combination.
Second best is any Tacoma with a stick.
Third best is any early model ford with the V6 and a stick
Fourth best is any model ford with a stick and the inline.
After that the rest suck or don't meet your criteria (i.e you can't get a ranger with a stick and 6cylinde afaik).
But this is a wild goose chase if you are after great work truck without a huge reconstruction budget, these will all be very old, very tired trucks. Absent finding one in a museum.

Ok, thanks for that.

My 2002 Cummins purrs like a kitten. Seems to have an intermittent oil leak. Need to seek some advice here on it in another thread. No rust to speak of. Heater sucks, doors are sprung, don't close when closing. Body parts loose. Normal thing. Auto tranny. I a good truck. But old enough and the bodies on these have always been an issue as they age.

My decade and a half Tundra is still going strong.

But a good ole stick with a staight six 4wd gem would be sweet.

Had a late 90's Chevy K1500 with a 350 and a 5sp. It was a decent truck for the years I had it. It is hard to not like a pick up with a stick for a lot of us. Not interested in a Tacoma.

New redesign Frontier automatic trans only. Need to get one from 5-10 years ago

I have a 17 Tacoma manual trans 4wd love it. Never had any problems. I do regular oil changes air filter changes. I’m just under 69k miles after 8+ years. Picked up in 11/2016 the day it came off the car hauler. I’d buy another in a minute. Mileage has sucked at mid teens for life of service. But will trade that for superior reliability. I dig the old Nissan hardbodies from the 90’s. Brother in law had a 4wd manual ranger around 2000. Good rig but he wrecked it.

Have not tracked manual trans availability on full size trucks.

Look at 90s dodge Dakota's

Find a 2000s Nissan Frontier. Mine got 340,000 on it before I had to get a JDM replacement engine.

The swap is really easy.

Big fan of the old Ford 300. Pretty bullet proof. I've owned multiple high mileage examples with no issue. The V6 that Ford used after that seems to have had some problems but I never owned one.

I'd think most Fords and GM's that were made with manual transmissions are pretty much spend now, or rusted up. I'd want a heavy duty clutch and transmission so if I were searching I would focus on 3/4 ton. Or maybe a small dump truck.