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

[Pookie]

I was going to suggest a gen 1 Tacoma (2004 and earlier) with "low" miles. 130-150k is just broke in.

 

[FishDaddy10]

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.

That's what I bought from a city auction. 2007 2.9 4 cyl 2wd regular cab colorado and then put aggressive all terrains, its a great logging road rig and does surprisingly well with the tires.

 

[Shadowbuck]

1st Gen Tundra or older Tacoma. If you want to stick with a domestic, I would say an older F250 or 350 but in my opinion, they are a pain on mountain roads.

 

[WeiserBucks]

Everyone keeps saying Taco/Tundra, where are you seeing these for $5k? Around here you can't buy a totaled one with the engine removed for that price.

 

[woods89]

Everyone keeps saying Taco/Tundra, where are you seeing these for $5k? Around here you can't buy a totaled one with the engine removed for that price.

I'm wondering the same thing. I bought a 06 4runner in '24 after looking for 6-8 months. If it has a pretzel on the grill, it's going to be pretty wrung out before you get it for 5 grand.

 

[Steve300xcw]

$5k for a pre-tacoma is doable. $5k for tacoma though.. that thing is goona be pretty haggard and need some work. Couple more grand buys a lot more truck though.

 

[WeiserBucks]

I'm wondering the same thing. I bought a 06 4runner in '24 after looking for 6-8 months. If it has a pretzel on the grill, it's going to be pretty wrung out before you get it for 5 grand.

I've got a 2010 Taco 4 cyl 5 speed xcab with 250k in good shape and I wouldn't even consider taking $5k for it. In fact I'd laugh my tits off if someone made a $5k offer.

 

[2rsquared]

2nd the Isuzu Trooper.

Cheaper than a SxS with the same off-road capability. Heat and AC are a bonus!

 

[Smokey Bear]

I've got a 2010 Taco 4 cyl 5 speed xcab with 250k in good shape and I wouldn't even consider taking $5k for it. In fact I'd laugh my tits off if someone made a $5k offer.

Yeah. 5K won’t get you much, unless you get some screaming deal. I was very happy to find this 8 years ago for 10K, with 212k on it. Now it has 305k. It’s my hunting rig and DD.

 

[Steve300xcw]

 

[Olympics777]

View attachment 1020389View attachment 1020390

Dang that’s a good deal.

 

[woods89]

I've got a 2010 Taco 4 cyl 5 speed xcab with 250k in good shape and I wouldn't even consider taking $5k for it. In fact I'd laugh my tits off if someone made a $5k offer.

This one was $9,000, and that's with 250,000 miles.

 

[WeiserBucks]

View attachment 1020422
This one was $9,000, and that's with 250,000 miles.

Ed Zachary.

 

[Amos Moses]

Gen 1 sequoias are a great option. Just picked up this 05 with 296k miles for $4k. Not a spec of rust on the frame and the 2UZ v8 will run forever.

 

[akhunter3]

View attachment 1020465Gen 1 sequoias are a great option. Just picked up this 05 with 296k miles for $4k. Not a spec of rust on the frame and the 2UZ v8 will run forever.

You couldn't touch one of those for double that amount here. Solid deal

 

[Steve300xcw]

been a few tundras of that era for pretty reasonable around here as well

 

[Poser]

Having just spent 2 months shopping for a used vehicle, I'm fairly certain that you can't buy anything in the 5k range that doesn't need at least $3,000 work of maintenance work immediately out of the gate. At a minimum, its going to need the coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, diffs and transfer case fluids all replaced + spark plugs, but, at that price point, expect to find leaking transmission gaskets (because they didn't change the fluid), oil seeping out of the valve cover gaskets (because the oil wasn't changed on schedule) and coolant that hasn't been replaced in 10+ years, which means the head gasket is a ticking time bomb. Dry rotted hoses, worn out bushings, original radiators and worn out wheel bearings are also normal. Guaranteed it needs a timing belt/water pump. And a timing chain will even need to be done after around 300k or so, sooner if the oil hasn't been changed on schedule.

If none of the above applies, you either found a unicorn or its worth 10k+. Not much middle ground.
Its hard out there.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Its a $5k shitbox. You are just wasting money trying to fix every lil thing. Toss a fresh battery in it, maybe change the oil and park it in the gravel where oil leaks do not matter.

Been a while since some of yall have owned/drove a beater and it shows

 

[Chris in TN]

Having just spent 2 months shopping for a used vehicle, I'm fairly certain that you can't buy anything in the 5k range that doesn't need at least $3,000 work of maintenance work immediately out of the gate. At a minimum, its going to need the coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, diffs and transfer case fluids all replaced + spark plugs, but, at that price point, expect to find leaking transmission gaskets (because they didn't change the fluid), oil seeping out of the valve cover gaskets (because the oil wasn't changed on schedule) and coolant that hasn't been replaced in 10+ years, which means the head gasket is a ticking time bomb. Dry rotted hoses, worn out bushings, original radiators and worn out wheel bearings are also normal. Guaranteed it needs a timing belt/water pump. And a timing chain will even need to be done after around 300k or so, sooner if the oil hasn't been changed on schedule.

If none of the above applies, you either found a unicorn or its worth 10k+. Not much middle ground.
Its hard out there.

I have an old pickup that we took elk hunting in 2023.

It hadn't been my daily driver in a few years - it's sort of my farm truck now - and before the trip I spent $4,000 on deferred maintenance stuff. Tires, brakes, changing all the fluids, fixing broken lights, and so on. It adds up FAST.

I'd be amazed to get any sort of functional 4x4 of any age and mileage for $5k nowadays.

 

[ProRoad]

Again everyone, incredible info coming from you all. Some nice buys in there for sure. Also some great incentive to save a bit more and get something better. Thank you!