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

[ProRoad]

Hey all, I have been thinking about buying an "old" 4x4 truck for hunting. When I say old, I mean, a 5k price range on a truck that works, is somewhat dependable and is most affordable to maintain. This would be a local driver for going up and down the mountain. What brands, models and years have made it thru the years to be a good pick? (prefer American made, full size)

 

[sndmn11]

And 85 efi straight axle Toyota pickup

 

[ProRoad]

funny that was my first 4x4 in the 80s!

 

[Randy11]

If you're okay with it being tiny, the first generation colorado and canyon are surprisingly tough little trucks. The 4cyl especially can be found real cheap.

 

[Craigo]

On Facebook marketplace I found an older model Toyota 4Runner 4x4 with gumbo mudders lifted for 5k used it for years before I sold it. For $5500 Never got stuck, it was a beast

 

[5MilesBack]

And 85 efi straight axle Toyota pickup

My BIL had the '85 xtracab 4x4. My '89 xtracab is much more comfortable and stable. We both had 31x10.50x15's, and I almost rolled his truck the first time I drove it on the highway. Same freeway exchange I'd take every day doing 65 without issue, and his was hopping all over the place trying to maintain the turn. As for 4-wheeling, they'd both go wherever we'd take them.

I don't think I've seen one of those mid to '88 pickups anywhere I've been the last 10+ years. I'll see one of the similar year 4runners every now and then though.

 

[betelgeuse]

On Facebook marketplace I found an older model Toyota 4Runner 4x4 with gumbo mudders lifted for 5k used it for years before I sold it. For $5500 Never got stuck, it was a beast

I have had good luck with the ford rangers I have owned

 

[sndmn11]

My BIL had the '85 xtracab 4x4. My '89 xtracab is much more comfortable and stable. We both had 31x10.50x15's, and I almost rolled his truck the first time I drove it on the highway. Same freeway exchange I'd take every day doing 65 without issue, and his was hopping all over the place trying to maintain the turn. As for 4-wheeling, they'd both go wherever we'd take them.

I don't think I've seen one of those mid to '88 pickups anywhere I've been the last 10+ years. I'll see one of the similar year 4runners every now and then though.

I had an '81 in high school and then an '89 decked out like Marty McFly's in college. The '89 is up at my uncle's cabin as the get around the lake cart. V6 manual on that guy.

 

[K9kodi]

Toyota truck, prior to Tacoma, if you can find an older one w a solid axle you have a bulletproof Time Machine. 22re for reliability

 

[khart_6882]

90’s Nissans get no love, always overshadowed by Toyotas. I’ve beat the holy hell out of a few of those 90s hardbody’s and they held up. They’re usually a lot cheaper than Toyotas and their 3.0 v6 has significantly more power than Toyotas 3.slow

I’m not taking anything away from Toyotas, they’re frickin awesome. But 5grand doesn’t buy much these days besides an 87 yota that some high school kid has been stump jumping

 

[K9kodi]

You’re absolutely right. I’ve owned 2 pathfinders, the old square bodies. My first vehicle ever was an 87 pathfinder se v6 s door manual v6 4x4 and I misss that truck. Every so often I look for another one to buy for nostalgia.

 

[5MilesBack]

V6 manual on that guy.

Mine too. I love that pickup. But I keep beating the living tar out of it. Not sure just how much more of me it can take. After 37 years of abuse it still runs really well.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Location is goona play a big part here. Can round up toyotas and jeeps easy enough though a couple more grand will go a long ways to get you away from rigs owned by kids..

Base model f250 6.2 work trucks are getting down below 10k now. Ive been eyeballin a few of those.

Really though $5k budget means you cant be picky.

 

[TheGreek]

1st gen tundra

 

[sndmn11]

Mine too. I love that pickup. But I keep beating the living tar out of it. Not sure just how much more of me it can take. After 37 years of abuse it still runs really well.

You don't fit in that thing!

 

[HairyScandinavian]

So I have a unique situation with a cabin on an island at the coast, we get about 3-4 years before rust completely takes the trucks so I've gone through a lot of them. I pay $1000-$2500 for a 4x4 so this applies to that caliber of used vehicle. So far all the 90's model Rams have made it to rust out. The brakes go around 2 years (we replace with plastic lines now and disconnect the rear), the drive shaft falls off around 3 year mark, frames and other structural components are completely done by year 4. I do replace the 4x4 actuator with a PermaLock because they run on vacuum and always fail. The Chevy trucks never make it to rust out because they always have weird mechanical issues that end up being a pain all the time. Distributor caps and coils and 4x4 and axles and guns completely spin out. I'm on my first F150 and it's been great, until it wasn't. I'm actually on my porch swing at camp posting this and will be doing the fuel pump tomorrow. That truck has been here less than 6 months. Fuel pump was a sudden failure, working great then went to start it and just cranks. We also ripped the bumper completely off trying to jerk a truck with stuck axles out of the front someone's cabin which was odd but it was a bit prerusted so maybe it was a one off. I've hammered the old Rams with a lot more force than that and never lost a bumper. I've not tried a Toyota because they're too expensive for a 3-4 year truck.

So all things considered if I were buying a cheap old 4x4 I wanted to have confidence in not letting me down in a bad situation I'm going with an old 90's model Ram. They won't have a dash and the radio will probably fall out eventually but they're the best odds of not leaving me stranded from my experience.

 

[ProRoad]

Now that's some solid R&D! Great stuff everyone.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

I forgot to mention the Isuzu Trooper my BIL has, they've been trying to kill it for 15 years and they can't. It's not on our island but it's their hunting rig. 4x4 is smooth and it just works all the time with no drama and crawls stuff other guys have issues going over in their trucks.

Also if I'm buying a mountain vehicle I'm expecting to last longer than 3-4 years it seems like a 4Runner type of rig might be great in the mountains and have huge aftermarket support and accessories. I'm just not paying the premium for my situation.

 

[K9kodi]

Suzuki samurai, although they are starting to get pricy,

Yj series wranglers are the cheaper options

Ford bronco II aren’t super expensive at all

Rangers