Best "old" 4x4 truck for hunting? $5k range.

[HairyScandinavian]

If this was a Toyota they'd still want $2k.

 

[Steve300xcw]

. What a PITA dropping the tank. First I went to cut a hole in the bed but the cab and a frame support was blocking the pump, went to pull the bed and the bolts are already rusted shut. No other option but to drop the fuel tank 3/4 full by myself.

I have a couple of these. Makes dropping a tank or pulling shit around and into place really nice. I use the things all the time.

Amazon.com

 

[BLJ]

Those and a couple nylon straps work wonders.

 

[Poser]

You can't be serious. At this price range you don't check fluids you just drive them til they quit.

I suppose it depends on your mentality. You're buying a "beater" 4x4 to primarily take hunting. If you need a 4x4, then you are driving on 4x4 worthy roads, its a beater because you don't care what it looks like. But, that doesn't mean that you don't care if its unreliable. If that $5,000 beater fails on you 25 miles up a rough 4x4 road, you may be spending $1500+ to have it towed out there. you need a vehicle that doesn't overheat when climbing 4,000 feet in 10 miles of rough switchbacks and that you know when you shift it into 4lo, you will be able to shift it back out. Just buying a $4,000 vehicle and having confidence that it will get you there and back reliably because you put a new battery in it seems like a huge gamble.

In my mind, you buy a $5,000 beater because its relatively cheap, easy to perform the maintenance and because its old, its easy to work on and, ultimately, spending $3,000 on a $5,000 beater buys you reliability that you don't necessarily get by buying a $9,500 vehicle instead.

 

[Steve300xcw]

A tow bill is gas money plus a six pack that you'll help drink.

If fluids are milky an such than yea It'll get changed. Otherwise I'm not touching it for a while.

Maybe blow the radiator and heater core out...maybe.

Then run the thing. There will be some kinks that need worked out for sure. But I'm not going to throw the kitchen sink at a rig just to feel good.