Where’s a good place to buy a cheap truck?

"Khalbali" (khalbali2)
08/26/2018 at 22:59 • Filed to: None

Looking at cheap trucks now for a new DD/work but they all seem pretty rusty in the Chicago area. However, trucks seem like they’d be even more popular in the southern states. (I don’t know shit about trucks) so where should I be looking? Budget is only a few grand, 4x4 nice but not necessary, no idea what I’m looking for exactly, I’d love a 4.9L f150 with a stick or maybe a ranger/s10 or something. Want new enough to be fuel injected but like older boxy trucks, don’t need anything huge either, saw a reg cab Chevy with a short bed the other day and liked it a lot. So hit me with your suggestions! I mainly just want a fuel injected stick shift truck that won’t fall apart completely, I can handle some mechanical work if necessary but not rust.

DISCUSSION (26)

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Khalbali
08/26/2018 at 23:13

Go south. The boxy F150 is not a collector item yet so you should be able to find one without rust if you head toward Tennessee on 65 S.

boxrocket > Khalbali
08/26/2018 at 23:15

Just go South, near farming country if you can, because of volume and how they’re used. Don’t go too far South because of exposure to the Gulf and also economic factors. If you’re looking for metro Craigslist sites, think St. Louis, Columbia MO, Kansas City, Joplin, Topeka, Lincoln, Omaha, Tulsa, Knoxville, Memphis (sometimes, again economic factors), Chattanooga, Springfield MO & IL, etc.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Khalbali
08/26/2018 at 23:32

Montana is a surprising place of rust-free vehicles. The Colorado plains as well.

Tristan > Khalbali
08/26/2018 at 23:39

The Pacific Northwest! Mild temperatures, so the paint and interior don’t get baked, and very sparing use of salt. My 17 year old daily driver Chevy is totally spotless.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Khalbali
08/26/2018 at 23:42

Herd you go.

https://kalispell.craigslist.org/cto/d/1995-ford-150/6671202119.html

Deal Killer - Powered by Focus > Khalbali
08/26/2018 at 23:48

I’ve seen some nice stuff on Lexington/Louisville CL.

RacinBob > Khalbali
08/27/2018 at 00:05

Where is the cheapest place South you can take a one way flight to from Chicago with a good Craigslist selection of tasty trucks?

TheRealBicycleBuck > boxrocket
08/27/2018 at 00:10

The Gulf isn’t an issue unless it’s coming from a coastal town. A truck from Galveston should be avoided, but one from Houston (45 miles away) would be just fine.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Khalbali
08/27/2018 at 00:15

Western states and Southern states. Really, anything from dry areas or where they don’t get enough winter weather to use salt. When I was back in Oklahoma last year, I was shocked at the number of older cars and trucks still running around. I’m talking late ‘60s and up.

atfsgeoff > Khalbali
08/27/2018 at 01:06

North Carolina is where I found mine. $900 purchase price plus a few hundred for a new windshield, water pump and a few other odds/ends.

Kinja'd!!!

MTmanual > Khalbali
08/27/2018 at 05:55

ND or MT. no salt. Lots of choices. Just avoid true farm trucks, they use the hell outta those ;)

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Khalbali
08/27/2018 at 07:27

It checks none of your boxes, so you should definitely buy mine: https://oppositelock.kinja.com/repost-for-sale-1828587951

Hamtractor > Khalbali
08/27/2018 at 08:49

Phoenix. Nothing rusts here, EVER. Cheap one-way flights from your neck of the woods. Checkout Craigslist Phoenix, there’s a million trucks that fit your requirements.

Dogsatemypants > Khalbali
08/27/2018 at 10:38

K series ftw. You can find them in decent condition for cheapish if you go west.

boxrocket > TheRealBicycleBuck
08/27/2018 at 13:53

That’s a bit of a drive in an old truck up to chicago, though. I drove from Houston to St. Louis once inside of a day and it wasn’t fun. Chicago’s another 4-6 hours away depending on traffic.

TheRealBicycleBuck > boxrocket
08/27/2018 at 13:58

No matter what, you’re going to have to go south far enough to get below the salt line. That’s about 400 miles south of Chicago as the crow flies.

boxrocket > TheRealBicycleBuck
08/27/2018 at 14:06

I’m from St. Louis and work at a large used car dealership, so I’ve seen a wide array of cars from all over the country . 400 miles south of Chicago may be a bit pessimistic, 250-300 would be fine, as long as the line is that same 250 miles south (so same latitude) from there, and then move longitudinally along and below that line. 150- 200 miles would probably be OK as long as it’s west of the Great Lakes.

TheRealBicycleBuck > boxrocket
08/27/2018 at 14:25

I picked the Oklahoma/Kansas border as the cutoff. That’s roughly 37 degrees North which is about 400 miles south of Chicago. Oklahoma uses very little sand/salt and I believe Kansas uses quite a bit more.

Khalbali > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
08/27/2018 at 18:07

Love it except the autobox....

Khalbali > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
08/27/2018 at 18:09

If I could afford it i just might, but I’m hoping to get rid of a car payment and just buy something cash. Looks like a beauty though. How is the 7.3? I’ve found a few of those in my price range, we have one at my work that’s an old service truck with a crane and I’ve driven it a few times, seems decent, ours is even a stick shift too.

Khalbali > boxrocket
08/27/2018 at 18:14

THanks! Tennessee I've browsed a little since it's probably the closest but I'll check out the others too for sure.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Khalbali
08/27/2018 at 18:20

The 7.3Ls were great.

The 6.0s had a lot of issues, but made the 7.3L look like a dog.

boxrocket > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
08/28/2018 at 12:38

Once you get the small auxiliary systems resolved that give the 6.0 its fits (I think it’s primarily EGR, but most any 6.0 Forum has the laundry list) it’s a good unit. The 6.4 isn’t too shabby, but too pricey right now. The 6.7 is an absolute sweetheart but prices make them far away from cheap anytime soon. The ol’ 7.3 (non-IDI) can be a beast but it’s a relative dinosaur.

boxrocket > TheRealBicycleBuck
08/28/2018 at 12:41

Missouri’s been using beet juice a lot lately, so less salt. Focusing on farm trucks means they’re less-likely to be out in the snow since farmers have less need to drive on treated roads to get to work in the off-season.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > boxrocket
08/28/2018 at 16:02

Mine’s been completely gone through.

Only real issues since have been the occasional injector, but they only take about 2 hrs to replace, so it hasn’t been a big deal.

DJHeadphonesKid > Khalbali
10/01/2018 at 09:47

Tons of trucks that fit that description in my area (Charlotte, NC)