Why Everyone Needs A Beater Truck

"Bozi Tatarevic" (hoonable) 03/14/2015 at 15:30 • Filed to: trucks, gmc, chevy

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There you are sitting on craiglist browsing Miata's and E30's thinking about all the fun you can have and then you see that old beat down Chevy or Toyota pickup for $1000 and your first instinct is to skip over it but it can be just as fun and actually useful. The beater pickup has its own personality and can be a great second car.

As my daily driver Cadillac STS decided to start leaking from the front suspension I switched over to driving my beater pickup for a few days while I diagnosed the issue and got the parts ordered. If the truck was not around I would be playing scheduling roulette and trying to share my wife's car or having to pay for a rental. The truck sips a little more gas than my Cadillac but it saves me from having to pay $200 to rent something slightly larger than a go cart for a week.

You may be thinking why should you buy something that's been beat to death and has the handling of a cup of jello and I can tell you it's the best purchase you will make. My reasoning comes from the use of my 1998 GMC Sierra 1500 and here are the reasons why you need to have one:

Cheap Cost of Entry

You can buy a pretty good beater truck for around $1000. My Sierra is a 98 model with the 4.3L V6 sending all of its amazing power to the rear wheels. I bought it with 206,000 miles at a repo auction for $900. After all fees and transport I got the truck home for $1050. For that kind of money, you may be able to buy a salvage titled Miata with a locked up engine but here you have a running truck that may need a little TLC.

Cheap And Easy To Work On

Once I got my truck home I noticed that the brakes were a bit mushy so we went to bleed them and burst one of the rusty brake lines so I decided to get a spool of nickel coated brake lines and fittings for $60 at Advance Auto and a flaring tool at Harbor Freight for $20. I started to take all of the lines out and replicate them and then place them back in one by one. It took about 6-7 hours to complete the task and bleed the brakes but for $80 and a few basic tools I had solid brakes and a sense of accomplishment. Once I got the truck around town a few times I noticed that it was smoking a bit and struggling at times. I tracked it down to a leaky intake manifold, which is pretty common with these motors. I rode back down to Advance Auto and picked up a gasket set for $20 and worked on it for about 8 hours that next weekend and got it back together and running well. The best part here is that you kind find parts just about anywhere and for very cheap.

Throw All Kinds Of Stuff In It Without Guilt

You may lust after the new shiny trucks with their fancy LED lights and woodgrain interior but after you spend $50,000 for one of them you will be heart-broken the first time you get a scratch or gouge somewhere. With my beater pickup, I can ride right over to the junkyard or the hardware store and freely throw anything and everything in it. If something scratches the bed or it gets a little bump or dent I consider it a battle scar and badge of honor and that it's doing what it was built for.

You Don't Have To Let Anyone Borrow It

If you get a nice newer truck, everyone that bought that Prius will bug you when they go buy a huge load of stuff at Ikea or they need someone to help them move. I like to help out friends and family whenever I can but sometimes you may not want to do it for everyone. If you have a beater truck, you always have an excuse not to let it be borrowed. Since the truck looks beat up, you can tell people that the brakes aren't working well or the suspension has been acting up or its down at the moment for a leaky seal and you no longer will be bothered by the masses to be their moving buddy because it won't look like much.

You Can Buy A Fun Car For Your Daily Driver

When you go out and look for a primary vehicle you may be considering buying a hatchback or wagon so that you can have space to carry all that junk you need to buy but if you have the truck, you can get that Corvette that you have been lusting after and still be able to get around. The Corvette will get you around to work and wherever else you need to go and can take a load of groceries or other small items. If you need to make a bigger purchase, you can take your truck and load it up with all kinds of stuff.

Cheap To Maintain

You may be thinking, I can get a nicer wagon or minivan and don't have to maintain a truck for the cost of keeping it on the road but total expenses are very low. So far, to buy the truck, fix a few little issues and do basic maintenance it only cost me about $1200. The yearly tax and registration is $70 and liability insurance is about $230 for a year. I also recently put a nice new set of tires on it that should last 3-4 years for $270 so my total cost for the first year including the purchase price has been $1770. My yearly recurring costs to keep the truck on the road will be about $360 or about the cost of 6 fancy coffees per month.

Saves You Time And Money

I have used the truck plenty of times since we moved into our new house. It made at least 80 or 90 trips to the home improvement stores while we were remodeling and I may have been able to stuff some of those in my wife's crossover or borrow a truck from someone else but having my own truck gave me freedom and savings. We bought a pallet of hardwood flooring for example and saved $250 for delivery along with an extra $100 of the cost of the flooring for picking it up at the distribution center. We had a huge load of construction material and trash from remodeling. We looked into renting a dumpster but it would end up costing around $400 dollars to get it dropped off and picked up. We decided to make a few runs to the dump and use the truck. Total cost for 6 loads to the dump was $91.

We also bought some new furniture in a city about 70 miles away. Their delivery cost to our home was around $350 but we took the truck and were able to get it home just for the cost of gas. There have also been a few times I have found car parts to buy online and can usually take my truck into the office that day and go out at lunch and grab instead of spending time on the weekend and renting something to get it. When we finally moved into the new home were able to use the pickup to move the stuff instead of spending $150 to rent a moving truck. Just looking at the items in the last above and my current situation of not having to rent a car I have saved about $1350 in just he quick list I came up with but there are many other events I may be missing. That does not quite make up for the $1770 I spent in the first year but I still have the truck and can use it on a whim and the maintenance costs will stay around the $360 mark so I can get many more years of use out of it and break even in the next year or so.

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JGrabowMSt > Bozi Tatarevic 03/14/2015 at 15:45

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My personal solution was to buy a used wagon with a V8. Junk in the trunk? No problem! Weekend burnout toy? I dont even have to clean it out.

But it cant do everything, and Im okay with that. Sucks not having a backup car to drive, but I make do when theres a problem.

Tohru > Bozi Tatarevic 03/14/2015 at 15:57

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I agree with this completely. Everyone should have a cheap pickup truck.

Nibby > Bozi Tatarevic 03/14/2015 at 16:25

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brb buying a 90s ford pickup

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Bozi Tatarevic 03/14/2015 at 16:31

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I wish I could get a truck for that price with that little rust. DAMN YOU RUST!

Boxer_4 > Nibby 03/14/2015 at 17:15

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Nite Edition or bust.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Bozi Tatarevic 03/14/2015 at 18:05

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Dex Cool never again

Funktheduck > Bozi Tatarevic 03/14/2015 at 18:37

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I have my '79 f150. I wouldn't call it a beater but if I don't start fixing some stuff it'll head that way. Hard to do when you don't get home till dark. Summer projects here I come.

Bozi Tatarevic > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) 03/14/2015 at 18:49

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Yep, I have done so many of the intake gaskets on the 3800 and 4.3L motors that now I immediately account for it in the budget of buying something with one.

Bozi Tatarevic > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 03/14/2015 at 18:50

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You must live in the great white north. Some of those make it down here to the auctions and I am always intrigued with the people that actually buy them with their Swiss cheese frames

Bozi Tatarevic > Boxer_4 03/14/2015 at 18:51

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Oh yes, everyone needs the "nite" embroidered floor mats and the special color changing pinstripe

Bozi Tatarevic > JGrabowMSt 03/14/2015 at 18:52

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That can make sense in some cases as well and who can turn a away a V8 wagon

Bozi Tatarevic > Funktheduck 03/14/2015 at 18:52

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I know how that can be and I am lucky to have a spacious, well lighted garage because I end up working on stuff at midnight many times

Funktheduck > Bozi Tatarevic 03/14/2015 at 19:07

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Very jealous. I have an uneven driveway.

Alan > Bozi Tatarevic 03/14/2015 at 19:11

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Great idea - but here in the Rust Belt, that GM truck would not have a body left on it. The bed would have rusted away first, and the cab would have "flow through ventilation" without an on/off switch. Said another way, don't nail the gas too hard - your foot might just go right through the floor! No, I am not kidding.

desertdog5051 > Bozi Tatarevic 03/14/2015 at 19:33

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What is this you speak of? You mean not everyone owns a truck? Silly talk!

ly2v8-Brian > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 03/14/2015 at 19:36

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Helps if you look for RWD

laredo1307 > Bozi Tatarevic 03/14/2015 at 20:07

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This is exactly the rationale that I used. I actually drive my beater (96 2dr 4wd Tahoe) to work everyday and have my 08 Cayman S for everything else.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Bozi Tatarevic 03/14/2015 at 20:07

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Yes! Amazing post! Although people still ask to borrow my truck on occasion...

Dump runs at my convenience (local dump park is cheap too), new furiniture on short demand, grocery getter, fortress of solitude, very cheap to ensure (liability only, of course). And it's always great to have a backup vehicle.

I have moved so many times the last 7 years, but have never rented anything because I had a handy dandy pickup.

My dad had a beater (and I mean, beaten down good) '87 Mazda B2600i 4x4 for dump runs. That thing was a dog but we had it for 15 years and the 4x4 was actually really impressive for sticky situations.

I hope to keep my second beater pickup for 20 more years.

MaineAssassin > Bozi Tatarevic 03/14/2015 at 20:15

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That tie down strap looks like an old seatbelt, which is a really cool idea if it is.

First think I did with my old F150 was to buy 4 dock cleats from a marine supply store and bolt them to the top edge of the bed near the corners, hands down the easiest way to tie things down.

MaineAssassin > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/14/2015 at 20:18

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I had an old 88 B2200 2wd 5spd for over a decade, it was given to me for free with a bad starter and I drove it for a year before putting a starter in it (park it on a hill and you're good to go). Best truck ever, I miss it to this day.

All Motor Is Best Motor > Bozi Tatarevic 03/14/2015 at 20:35

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E92M3 > Bozi Tatarevic 03/14/2015 at 20:55

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So true! I used to think I could do everything with my SUV that you could do with a pickup (plus it wouldn't matter if it was raining because it's covered). Now that I have one I can't imagine NOT having one. Just one example: I can get an entire bed full of mulch each year for the same cost of 10 bags from home depot.

CC Rider > Bozi Tatarevic 03/14/2015 at 21:04

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Totally... I've had lots of fun little cars, hot rods, toys and motorcycles, but my old B150 Dodge van has always been there. Reliable, hauls 8-people, hauls full sheets of plywood, rocks and materials, you can haul street bikes in it, camp in it and it will pull a big ass trailer. On top of this, the original 30-year old Dupont Imron paint still looks great and I routinely find offers to buy it stuck under my wipers. It's cheap and easy to maintain, was paid for decades ago and the registration is nothing. It's not for daily driving, but it's always there when I need it...

Bruce > Bozi Tatarevic 03/14/2015 at 21:33

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The number one reason I got rid of my truck at got a used Porsche is because of friends and family asking for hauling favors. If I need to haul, I just rent one for a day. I don't have to deal with 2 insurances and parking space for a junk car.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Bozi Tatarevic 03/14/2015 at 21:36

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Upstate NY so its basically Canada and right in the middle of the rust belt. Running boards help limit rust too, as shown my my grandfather's trucks.

lonestranger > Bozi Tatarevic 03/14/2015 at 21:45

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Not sure if serious, but FYI the stripe didn't change colours like Hypercolour or anything. It was just a fade from teal at the front to purple at the back.

matt davidson > Bozi Tatarevic 03/14/2015 at 21:56

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similar story for me I bought a 2002 dodge Durango 4x4 for $2700 it is my workhorse vehicle that I often drive to work while my car is getting work done or I just feel like driving it.

Bozi Tatarevic > lonestranger 03/14/2015 at 22:26

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haha, it was meant more so as a joke since the package didn't add anything substantial engine wise

Bozi Tatarevic > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 03/14/2015 at 22:27

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oh yeah, the salt is rough. Luckily around here we get 2.5 days of snow a year so there is not much salt.

Bozi Tatarevic > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 03/14/2015 at 22:28

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That's a great looking truck

Bozi Tatarevic > MaineAssassin 03/14/2015 at 22:28

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Now that's innovation

Bozi Tatarevic > E92M3 03/14/2015 at 22:29

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Exactly, and the best part is if something leaks, you can just wash it out

Bozi Tatarevic > MaineAssassin 03/14/2015 at 22:30

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It actually a real tie down strap just looks similar to a seat belt but I have loops on all the corners and it works very well

Bozi Tatarevic > CC Rider 03/14/2015 at 22:31

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That's awesome

Justin Hughes > Bozi Tatarevic 03/14/2015 at 22:34

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One of the best cars I've ever owned was my 1991 Mazda B2200. I bought it off the courier company I worked for at the time for $200 - it was one of their old delivery trucks. Because it was the last truck of that generation in their inventory, they threw in a whole bunch of spare parts they no longer needed for their fleet. I put the spare cat and exhaust on a week after I got it after the old one broke off at the cat. Total cost of that repair: $0.

It has so many scratches and dents and dings, I didn't care if someone opened their door into it. Heck, if I parked in a space next to someone who parked across the line, I'd get as close to them as possible to make a point. What did I have to lose? It came pre-wired for a commercial two-way radio. I replaced the antenna with one for ham radio frequencies (standard NMO mount made that easy), replaced the power and coax connectors with ones compatible with my ham radio, and plugged it in, right where the commercial radio had been.

Best of all, it was a 5-speed with the same transmission as the Miata. It was the only pickup truck I've ever driven that I could heel-toe!

Bozi Tatarevic > Justin Hughes 03/14/2015 at 22:39

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Miata pickup is the best kind of pickup

fredjohnson > Bozi Tatarevic 03/14/2015 at 22:40

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I've owned a Mazda B2000, a Tacoma and a Tundra over the years. Bot all of them new. Traded them after 6 or 7 years. I wish I would have kept one of them now.

Dave > Bozi Tatarevic 03/14/2015 at 22:49

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I have a 1994 Chevy K1500 4.3L, 4WD, manual, with 108,000 miles, I was thinking of getting rid of it, but after reading this article, I might hang on to it a little while longer.

Bozi Tatarevic > Dave 03/14/2015 at 22:52

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Glad I could support keeping it and that is a great combo that you have there

Destructive Tester > MaineAssassin 03/14/2015 at 23:44

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The dock cleat is a great idea!

me > Bozi Tatarevic 03/15/2015 at 02:12

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I live in California, where a 300,000 mile Toyota will go for four grand. You don't want to see what a $1000 truck looks like here. Trust me.

Munalum > Bozi Tatarevic 03/15/2015 at 07:40

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Those mid-late 90s gm trucks are reliable as a anvil. You can fix them for dirt. My neighbour just picked up a 1997 z71 reg cab short box v8. She's quieter than my taco when idling. It's his daily driver. She's the definition of beater truck.

The Guy who Drives ( A Aw11 Named Inari) > Bozi Tatarevic 03/15/2015 at 09:03

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Fullsizes are great, Haul a lot more than compacts, But If you want better mileage and maneuverability at the cost of hauling, Should look at the Rangers, S-10's and the other offerings.

That being said, I have a hair over 310K on my Ranger and while I do wish I had a fullsize ability to haul my MR2, It is a great truck and very reliable.

Be even better once I get the turbo motor done that I have for it.

snowden > Bozi Tatarevic 03/15/2015 at 09:09

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I'd rather have a beater than a new $50k truck. I've never understood the $50k market. You'll feel bad because you overpaid and because you can't use it like a truck. Go look for a early 2000 Chevy 1500 or 2500 or Ford F250. Or look for a Cummins diesel but make sure it's paired with a manual tranny.

Bozi Tatarevic > me 03/15/2015 at 09:48

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That's only a reason for adventure. Find one online and take a road trip to get it

SpiritOfTheNight > desertdog5051 03/15/2015 at 09:56

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You sound like me. Hell i just figured everyone had a truck or a muscle car when i was young that's what everyone around had. Didnt even know what fwd was till i graduated high school in 08.

webmonkees > Bozi Tatarevic 03/15/2015 at 10:14

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Towing

something to drag that cheap Miata with the seized motor home.

desertdog5051 > SpiritOfTheNight 03/15/2015 at 10:51

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I don't know what I would do without a truck :)

daender > Bozi Tatarevic 03/15/2015 at 11:11

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...So what you're saying is to go buy an awesome old 70s El Camino or Ranchero?

godblessE39 > Dave 03/15/2015 at 12:55

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Only 108k miles? Must have been an "Old Man's Special".

parmenio72 > Bozi Tatarevic 03/15/2015 at 13:23

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I bought a 94 Ford Ranger XLT right out of college. First new vehicle I ever had. 4 cylinders of righteous fury with a 5 speed stick. No four wheel drive and not even the extended cab. It was inexpensive to buy, inexpensive to insure, and I usually got 23 miles to the gallon in the city. I figured I would have the truck for 5 or 6 years and move on to something 'cooler' and more fun. I helped move friends. I moved myself. I went with a friend to put a 400 cubic inch V8 and tranny in the bed for his project. My friends and I filled up the bed with equipment for tailgates at football games and the Indy 500. Over time the Ranger became The Little Mule. Tough, got the job done, and punched well above its weight class. The Little Mule has carried more mulch, paving bricks, lumber, antique store finds, tailgating supplies, and whatever I or my friends have needed for over 2 decades now. The Little Mule has needed some minor repairs and while I was in grad school it needed some tranny work and a new rear differential. It hasn't been a daily driver since 2006, but I just can't get rid of it. It drives fine, the AC still puts out freezing air, a UPS truck dented up a fender, and I had to replace the tailgate after I messed that up with a part out of a scrap yard. When I need a truck, I NEED A TRUCK! The Little Mule is paid for, cheap to insure and tag, and worked fine as a Daily Driver last winter when my VW was in the shop for 2 months. After nearly 21 years of service I don't think I'll ever get rid of it. To fix the minor problems it has isn't that much money and I can do 80% of that work in a buddy's garage. Unless the engine explodes I can't think of a situation where if a part breaks it isn't worth fixing up and getting rid. When Ford said they built trucks Ford Tough they meant it.

Yuccarat > Alan 03/15/2015 at 15:09

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That's funny.....the point is, that's gonna happen to the 50,00 dollar new truck too, in time, and that will hurt a whole lot worse than his $1500 beater....but the real upshot is that you just don't use the 'beater' all that often....so it might last just as long as the brand new in the long run of things.....and it will do just as much work, if not more. I love to use my little mazda beater, leaving my Lexus sport coupe to sit in the shade of the carport as she ages. Have had the beater 26 years...best transportation investment I've ever made....bar none. Paid $2000 for it. Other than yearly tabs and insurance and a couple minor repairs and ONE set of tires so far,, that's less than $100 a year. Unless it gets totaled, I'll likely have it 'til I kick the bucket. That's not saying too much, however, as I'm 77 years old and not aging real well myself....at least not as well as that little Mazda pickemup. It's a real holler (er, hauler).

Yuccarat > MaineAssassin 03/15/2015 at 15:31

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I'v had Dodge, Ford and a 55 chevy in the past....loved and miss the Chevy to this day, but to tell the truth, my handy and dandy B2000 is all and more than the Chevy....especially a consistant 22 and sometimes more MPG. Just not quite the power of the Chevy's 283 that was installed in it. The Dodge and Ford are sour tasting memories, but did so-so jobs. The last Ford F250 ('75) was a bitch, that needed some kind of repair just about every time I used it. Sold it for a measly $3,000 and bought my '87 B2000 for $2,000, and it still is the Best Buy of my life. Have had it 26 years, and counting. Sad that you let yours go.

Yuccarat > Bozi Tatarevic 03/15/2015 at 15:40

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Lovin' it.....gonna call my little B2000 a Miata here on out.

Yuccarat > daender 03/15/2015 at 15:48

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Not a bad idea if you can find one at a decent price....but.....good luck. Not many around anymore....especially for sale.

Yuccarat > fredjohnson 03/15/2015 at 15:50

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I'll bet you in fact do.

Yuccarat > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 03/15/2015 at 15:54

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Have you ever thought about actually suing the county for the damages the salt has done to your vehicle?? Kick THAT around a bit.....you never know....!!!

MissionRecon > Yuccarat 03/15/2015 at 15:58

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Yes, dude. I love my little Mazda beater. Old 94 B2300 on 14'' wheels. Its just low enough to put things in without back strain from high lifting. I can literally drop the tailgate and walk my 600cc bike up and into the bed.

God bless the long lost era of tiny Japanese pickups.

MissionRecon > MaineAssassin 03/15/2015 at 16:04

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My 94 B2300. God bless her.

PyramidHat > Bozi Tatarevic 03/15/2015 at 16:10

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Of course you write this as I start to think about selling the Taco because I don't drive it enough..

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > me 03/15/2015 at 16:18

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Even in Central PA, I had trouble getting something that wasn't dangerous for under $3k...

RallyWrench > Bozi Tatarevic 03/15/2015 at 16:44

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Spot on. Mine is a '95 F150 bought for 2k with a trans leak.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Bozi Tatarevic 03/15/2015 at 17:10

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Thank you! I also paid exactly $1000 for it :)

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > Bozi Tatarevic 03/15/2015 at 17:56

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If only my pickup can get into four wheel drive..

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > desertdog5051 03/15/2015 at 18:56

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Not as much cool stuff as you can with a truck.

So what if it isn't a Z71? > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 03/15/2015 at 19:26

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Another almost Canadian? Now I have someone to share my hatred of rust on brand new vehicles with.

Gaseous Clay > Bozi Tatarevic 03/15/2015 at 19:54

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There is a downside though. People keep stealing anything I try to use to weigh the back down in the snowy season, up to and including:

1 toolbox, filled with sand (I'm not an idiot)

4 concrete slabs

4 sand bags

15.5 cinder blocks (one was broken during the theft and they left me half)

I've gotten good at feathering the throttle now, so I can handle the wheelspin and generally don't need that stuff anymore, but it's still annoying.

Nymphicus Hollandicus > Bozi Tatarevic 03/15/2015 at 20:18

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Oh man, I've been thinking about one for a long time, mostly because they're cool, fun to drive and just so damn tough. I really want to get an older Nissan Frontier one of these days.

fishtankwog > Bozi Tatarevic 03/15/2015 at 20:24

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Shhh. We know this, but don't tell everbody. It just drives the price of good beater pickups up....

desertdog5051 > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) 03/15/2015 at 21:23

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Why is DexCool so bad?

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Bozi Tatarevic 03/15/2015 at 21:39

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Beater trucks are awesome. Just in the rust belt anything that old has speed holes and not the good kind.

Boxer_4 > Bozi Tatarevic 03/15/2015 at 21:53

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Don't forget the dash badge.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > desertdog5051 03/15/2015 at 22:17

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once exposed to water or air, it turns acidic and ruins any gasket. This also happens when you don't change the coolant often. You are better off with the green coolant as like what I did with our family truck.

B Bader > Bozi Tatarevic 03/15/2015 at 22:26

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I currently have a 1994 GMC 1500 SLE with 180,000 miles. To and from work and little weekend hauls. Is what I use my "Beater Truck" for.2014 Malibu turbo is the fun family sedan. The wife and kids along with myself love our old truck..

desertdog5051 > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) 03/16/2015 at 01:26

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Interesting. Thanks.

Machingadera > Bozi Tatarevic 03/16/2015 at 02:05

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Definitely agree. Now we must fight out Ford v. Chevy beater? (Assuming the random collection of parts called "Dodge" does not apply*)

((*not you dodge diesel guys))

duurtlang > Bozi Tatarevic 03/16/2015 at 07:36

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Meh. The very few times I need to haul something that doesn't fit in a wagon or can't be done with a trailer I'll rent a truck. It's way cheaper than having an insured + taxed + maintained + inspected old truck around that's rusting away, unused for 363 days a year. For many to most who don't live in a farm it's just not worth it, especially if you don't live in the US. Having a backup vehicle makes sense though, but I already have a 1988 Peugeot 205 GTI as a weekend toy, which is cheaper in every way (fuel, maintenance, parts, tax, I'm unsure about insurance) than an old truck, and as an added bonus it's actually incredibly fun to drive.

mr2gud2u > Bozi Tatarevic 03/16/2015 at 08:40

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Before we where married we have a F250 4x4 diesel. It stank of diesel fumes, and was a bit of a pain to start in the winter, but the deepest Midwestern snow was no match for it. We sold it to pay for part of our wedding, and have regretted it ever since.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Gaseous Clay 03/16/2015 at 09:05

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I'm assuming this is a beater truck, since that is what the article is about. If you don't want to spring for a bed cover, just get some plywood and screw it down to the sides of the bed. Unless of course you are hauling tall things on a regular basis.

Pixel > Bozi Tatarevic 03/16/2015 at 11:44

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I combined my "beater truck" & "fun old car" into one vehicle when I bought a house. It is slowly being restored, but I'm dong the restoration knowing it will still be a working truck afterwards. So I'm not aiming for "showroom perfection" just a solid, decent looking truck that can still do a full days work when needed.

BigBlock440 > duurtlang 03/16/2015 at 12:26

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The point is though, if you're going to have a back up vehicle, a truck is handy. Using anything other than a truck, you still have all the "insured + taxed + maintained + inspected" costs with almost none of the utility.

duurtlang > BigBlock440 03/16/2015 at 12:41

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True. However, it depends on what the main function of the second vehicle is. My 'backup' vehicle is my fun weekend car first, and could function as my backup vehicle if it needs to. It's not what I bought it for. A truck wouldn't be an improvement.

I do understand that my perspective is far from universal. I do think it's valid for many though.

MaineAssassin > Yuccarat 03/16/2015 at 13:03

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Unfortunately up here in Maine without proper (and constant) maintenance frames eventually become swiss cheese. Eventually I had to let her go when my mechanic told me the frame was not going to pass inspection. Traded it to a farmer for a trailer and snowmobile and it still runs around a farm somewhere to this day as far as I know. That truck survived me in my early 20's and that says something right there.

MaineAssassin > MissionRecon 03/16/2015 at 13:04

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A beauty! Those trucks are just so darned useful and cheap to own and run.

Gaseous Clay > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 03/16/2015 at 15:41

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The bed is almost entirely eaten through with rust. either someone could force their way in from the side or the screws would strip the metal. I think it's pretty easy to steal the tailgate too.

In other words it's not very secure no matter what I do, i'm not that worried about it. I don't leave things in the bed long-term anymore.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Gaseous Clay 03/16/2015 at 16:10

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Come forth from the grey.

Gaseous Clay > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 03/16/2015 at 16:36

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Thanks!

BaltimoreGuy > Bozi Tatarevic 03/17/2015 at 13:17

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Dumb

-Guy that lives in a major city

Morgan ATX > Bozi Tatarevic 03/17/2015 at 13:23

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buy a 1/2 ton, add electric brake controller and now you can tow your track toy too without worry if the toy breaking at the track...

terpsman65 > Bozi Tatarevic 03/17/2015 at 13:28

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Also even more practical is a utility trailer. Bought it for $300 and the Traverse hitch was about $500 installed. No insurance needed.

Schmeitung > Bozi Tatarevic 03/17/2015 at 14:26

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I agree with your use case, but I don't trust used trucks, especially since they're more likely to have been used hard and maintained by amateurs. What sucks is that you can't buy a little stripped-down truck (or any truck at all, really) for the same price as an econobox, like you could 20 years ago. When Ford disco'd the Ranger, they specifically pointed out that some buyers (like me) bought the truck because it was simply the cheapest vehicle on the lot.

Squarical > Bozi Tatarevic 03/17/2015 at 14:30

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What I find really funny is that those $50k trucks will be someone's beater in about 20 years.

Textile > Pixel 03/17/2015 at 14:43

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Nice choice in old trucks, I agree with your plan, here is mine.

A lovely 1960 F100 with 8 foot bed that I bought in SOCAL while on vacation there. I have a similar plan, slow restoration while keeping her as a working truck. I used her for a dump run, and got a laugh when I realized she predated the dump by 20 years.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Bozi Tatarevic 03/17/2015 at 14:51

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Genius! My family has had 2 beater trucks, and they are just great. First we had Junior, and 86 GMC S-15 which was great for yard work, and for letting my sister and I learn to drive on considering he had already been totaled twice. My mom and sister ride horses so in 98 we replaced the family minivan with a GMC 2500 4x4 Crew Cab. This was the "family car" and a horse hauler for a long time, but is now the beater truck. It's a bit overkill, but about 3 years ago, Junior was showing his age, and we had a 2006 GMC 3500 Dually for hauling horses, so Junior was sold on Craigslist and the 2500 took over beater duty. I borrow it a lot from my folks to move stuff, and it's perfect for going camping. When it finally bites the dust I'm going to probably end up buying a cheap beater of my own.

atfsgeoff > Bozi Tatarevic 03/17/2015 at 14:57

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$1000 pickups represent!

Got this '97 F-250HD with 270k miles for $900, just needed to replace the water pump and timing cover gasket, a couple of vacuum lines, and it's ready to haul almost 2 tons (rated payload capacity of 3800 lbs). Southern truck so there's no structural rust anywhere. Can't wait to get it home, I'm driving it from my folks' house in NC to PA on Friday.

911e46z06 > me 03/17/2015 at 15:39

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That's because people in CA are dumb and willing to pay triple-value for anything with a Toyota badge. I'm in San Diego and I scored a really solid '97 Tahoe with under 150k on it for like 2500 bucks last year. There are always sweet deals to be had if you search around a bit.

BreakMyWallet > Bozi Tatarevic 03/19/2015 at 11:52

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Bozi, could you share your experience at the impound auction? I've never done one, but curious about how it all worked for you, how you got the car out, keys made, titled, etc.

Bozi Tatarevic > BreakMyWallet 03/19/2015 at 11:54

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I will try to put something together in the future

handsoff > Bozi Tatarevic 03/24/2015 at 01:22

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This! So much this!

I've always had a truck. Or 2. Or 4. Many uses, much wow.

You can say easy to work on until you get to deal with GM steering. Especially on one of these otherwise-lovely GMT400s (trust, I'm on my 3rd)