"7:07" (fanbrain001)
06/02/2020 at 07:07 • Filed to: None
0
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"7:07" (fanbrain001)
06/02/2020 at 07:07 • Filed to: None | 0
| 24 |
My dad currently drives a GMC Envo y (2wd, I6) and enjoys 7mpg while towing his utility trailer that is almost permanently attached.
He’s due to retire in a year or so and might start towing a travel trailer around the states, but in the meantime, he wants to replace the struggling and thirsty and struggling Env oy with a crew cab pickup. Here’s are the requirements he sent me:
- four door
- decent fuel economy
- reliable
- gas or diesel (I don’t think he’ll really want a diesel, but I’d entertain the thought)
- can tow ~8000lbs
- 4x4 not required
- less than 70k miles
- budget is $12k
- location: So uthern Utah
His last three vehicles have been a Mitsubishi Endeavor , a 1994 Toyota Truck (2wd, 5 speed, slow ), and another one, identical to Dr. Zoidberg’s red Toyota (2wd, 5 speed, slower) , so his trucks have always been on the small side.
He normally buys vehicles that are 15 years old, on their 5t h owner, 150k hard miles, and falling apart. Budget is usually $3500, so having him set the budget at $12k made me fall off my chair in surprise.
What would you buy for $12,000?
Under_Score
> 7:07
06/02/2020 at 07:33 |
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I’ve spent over 10 minutes trying to find something, and that man needs to realize that his criteria is impossible.
If he wants the mileage, he’ll have to raise his price a lot. If he wants to tow 8,000 pounds, he’ll have to get something thirstier than an Envoy. If he wants a low price, he needs something with 150,000+ miles. And basically anything that satisfies all three is probably not gonna be reliable.
Grindintosecond
> 7:07
06/02/2020 at 07:44 |
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For well used ten years old the only answers are tundra and Tacoma and frontier and ridgeline . If he’s gonna tow 8,000 pounds, that means Tundra. Period. It lasts and works.
If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
> 7:07
06/02/2020 at 08:01 |
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To get that tow capacity you HAVE to go full-size, which takes a huge penalty to economy. Best I can do in the mid-sized category is a 2013-ish Frontier SV that can get economy in the low 20's but can only haul 6,500lbs.
He’s also not going to find a full-size with that few miles in his budget. The newest ones at that price point are all 2008-2010 models that have been used and abused.
Thisismydisplayname
> 7:07
06/02/2020 at 08:15 |
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Bandit
> 7:07
06/02/2020 at 08:19 |
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Requirements are impossible to meet, but here’s something close:
2015+ GM 3100 platform Colorado/Canyon V6. They can tow ~7500, have four doors, are reliable, and get good gas milage (mid-20s on mine around town, not much worse for towing). Looks like you can find 2015 extended cabs with the V6 for around $14k.
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used-Chevrolet-Colorado-d614#listing=271679809
Gone
> 7:07
06/02/2020 at 08:37 |
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Needs more money or less capability, unfortunately. ~$12k is in the heart of clean mid-size trucks (1st/just short of 2Gen Colo/Canyons, 01-11 Daks, Frontiers, etc). Fullsizers will sadly be another $5-10k, but at least the towing requirement would be fulfilled. This is one more reason I bought new btw, but regardless...
Weirdly, if age is not an issue, BaT (you don’t actually need BaT) is a good fit in this case somehow, as long as an extended cab is fine, there’s been some F-250s that will fit perfect at that price range. The F-150 and 1/2 tons won’t technically have the towing capacity from those years. You can find many clean low mileage older trucks in the price range from the Big 3, lots of older folks 3/4T for fifth wheel campers (2wd mostly) that didn’t get driven much.
8k capacity right here, 5.8 auto, dual tanks, 50k miles, no reserve, in Washington:
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1992-ford-f-250-super-cab-long-box-4x4-custom/
These can be found on Cars.com, autotrader, etc. Before I bought my truck I found a number of clean low mile trucks from the 90s-early 2ks on those sites. Just have to be okay with everything that comes with an older vehicle, low miles or not.
Went yesterday:
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1984-ford-f350-quad-cab/
BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
> 7:07
06/02/2020 at 08:39 |
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You might, maybe, be able to find a Ram that fits that criteria. But oof it’s going to be hard.
My best recommendation is the Titan, around 2013/14 can be had for about that price, since nobody wants them. Does it have to be a truck? The Land Rover LR3/4 gets close to the 8k towing capacity (7700lbs or so) and LR3s are cheap and reliable.
shop-teacher
> 7:07
06/02/2020 at 08:49 |
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It'll be hard to find one with that low of mileage, buy I'd look for a late GMT-800 pickup with a 6.0 liter engine. They made a 1500HD that would be perfect for what he's looking for. Finding one with under 70k miles on it though ... Good luck.
Pickup_man
> 7:07
06/02/2020 at 09:10 |
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- less than 70k miles
- budget is $12k
Pick one because you’re probably not getting both, it’s the sad truth of pickups these days.
As for trucks to recommend they’re generally all fine, I’m partial to Ford, but avoid the 5.4 powered ones from ‘04-’09 unless there’s documentation of the cam phasers being either updated, or locked out. The GM’s of that era were fine trucks as well, but I believe the 5.3 had oil pump issues during that time? Dodge’s from then will probably come closest to your requirements but they’re known to be a little less reliable, are much less refined/cheaper and no true crew cab.
I’d look for a first gen Tundra. Very reliable as far as I know, and relatively unknown and underappreciated so prices might be reasonable.
nermal
> 7:07
06/02/2020 at 09:17 |
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Add $40k to the budget and get a 2 yr old diesel. Pick a brand, doesn’t matter. If he wants to remove emissions stuff, the Ram is the easiest, then the Ford, then the GM.
Towing an 8k lb camper all over the place is gonna be miserable with a smaller gas truck. Not just the towing experience, but also the extra fuel consumption, lower fuel range, and needing to fill up at regular ass gas pumps instead of truck stops. Big truck, smaller trailer, everything will be much, much better.
HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
> 7:07
06/02/2020 at 10:13 |
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These can hit the price, and towing capacity, and should get decent towing mileage with the 6.2l from the 2500. This was the lowest mileage one I could find underlike 20k tho. I did find another with 120k for 11,000. https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventorylisting/viewDetailsFilterViewInventoryListing.action?zip=71209&showNegotiable=true&sortDir=ASC&sourceContext=untrackedExternal_false_0&distance=50000&sortType=DEAL_SCORE&entitySelectingHelper.selectedEntity=d144#listing=240578923
If he wasn’t the mileage, towing capacity, and price finding a single cab, 2wd, with and 8’ bed is probably the only way to do it.
Shift24
> 7:07
06/02/2020 at 10:14 |
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Whats your actual answer to good fuel economy? Any truck towing is going to get low to mid teens of course depending on weight.
Below meets everything except the 70k miles at 88k. Still well below 100k.
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themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
> 7:07
06/02/2020 at 10:32 |
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If you adjust your requirements to “The most amount of truck, for the least amount of money” then the Nissan Titan is what he wants. Probably won’t be great on fuel economy though, and the Titan has always been a bit behind the others in terms of....everything. A newer Titan XD with the diesel is an amazing truck for the money though. But an older one will fit his budget. Here’s what I found:
SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
> 7:07
06/02/2020 at 10:37 |
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Express Passenger Van out of a fleet sale somewhere. Will tow the weight, decent fuel economy with the 4.8.., four-door-ish with dual side doors. And easily hit the price point.
He can’t get that price with the diesel though.
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SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
> 7:07
06/02/2020 at 10:39 |
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BTW, did he ever have to replace the transmission or torque convertor in the Trailvoy? That 4.2 was a great engine, but the engineers did some really weird “torque management” stuff when towing... the TC Lock would release, the transmission fluid would run really hot and mileage would plummet. Awful mileage.
Sounds like he experienced it, but was curious if it ate transmissions?
Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
> Pickup_man
06/02/2020 at 11:04 |
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I can absolutely second the first gen Tundra. My dad’s TRD with the V8 and 4 speeds auto w/ overdrive never felt like it was struggling pulling laden trailers up hills on the off-road suspension, so I imagine the much more common work spec ones are even better. The V8 in those is absolutely bulletproof and since Utah. Rust won’t be an issue. With some basic maintenance (timing, fluids) can get a good example ready for another 200,000 miles at that price.
He won’t miss the true double cab and the half doors are nice for using the back seat as a parcel shelf.
Plus they are pretty comfortable even on long drives and have decent range. This is the correct choice right here.
DipodomysDeserti
> 7:07
06/02/2020 at 11:29 |
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1st gen Tundra. Spend the other $6k on strippers and blow.
cmill189 - sans Volvo
> 7:07
06/02/2020 at 11:55 |
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How badly does he need the truck part? Like others have mentioned, the wants are basically impossible at the price point.
A Suburban 2500 is currently the cheapest way into a 2500 pickup. Like, half the price. That’s what I did to pull our camper. Mine is an 03 and I wanted the ‘smaller’ 6.0 but found one with a 4:10 axle. It’s rated to tow 10,000 and pulls a 6,000 pound sail through the Utah mountains just fine. I get 8-10 mpg while towing. It does 10.5 not towing. That generation can be had with the big block V8 and is rated to 12,000 pounds. The generation after only has the 6.0 but is obviously newer.
If that’s something your dad would consider, he’s in the holy grail area for Suburbans! Lots of options, cloth, leather, 7-9 passenger setup, 2 or 4 wheel drive, GMC or Chevrolet, barn door or hatch.
TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
> 7:07
06/02/2020 at 12:44 |
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Skip mileage and find a good cared for powerstroke. Heck i paid not much more than that foe my 6.0 with under 100k miles. Bit that was a needle im haystack. Diesels with under 150k miles are a good choice and will last much longer.
If he is going to tow a lot dont even think about getting a gasser.
thl543
> nermal
06/02/2020 at 13:04 |
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Yes, it seems like many folks don’t realize how much weight 8000lb is for a half ton truck , even though they’re rated for it . Will not be a good experience
HammerheadFistpunch
> 7:07
06/02/2020 at 13:25 |
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If he’s towing 8k regularly, he’s really going to want a diesel. Ideally an older one without all the crap. A first gen D-max would be my first thought. Thought not needing 4wd is really going to be an asset for getting a good deal down in St. George area.
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HammerheadFistpunch
> 7:07
06/02/2020 at 13:30 |
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https://cars.ksl.com/listing/5866746?ad_cid=2#
https://cars.ksl.com/listing/6469348?ad_cid=14
https://cars.ksl.com/listing/6455271?ad_cid=1#
https://cars.ksl.com/listing/6215882?ad_cid=5
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HammerheadFistpunch
> 7:07
06/02/2020 at 13:34 |
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Lastly, 7 mpg towing is SHOCKINGLY bad. my much older, much thirstier, much less powerful, much heavier, much less aero Land cruiser gets 11-13 towing 3500 lbs.
A Boy and His Longtail
> Pickup_man
06/02/2020 at 14:36 |
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First gen Tundras are great. Full sized power in a slightly smaller body. It’s the truck we need out now instead of the Canyoneros on the market we currently have.