Which vehicle?

[Jacob Chapman]

I am going to have to sell my truck for the move to Montana (work/hunting truck) and will only have my car + my wife's car for when we move to Bozeman here in a couple weeks (I got the job!!!!) I have been looking at a newer vehicle after we get out there, the car didn't fare very well with the past couple winters we had back here-tons of snow. I would like to stay under 15k with reasonable miles & a warranty if possible as I'm not rich haha. I love to fly fish and obviously bowhunt, I need something that can handle the snow and some off road capabilities and have enough room for myself plus one other person, most likely my wife, for our gear + hopefully some game in the back! Any recommendations? I should mention that I am a Chevy guy, but am also realistic about the "quality" of American cars/trucks older than a few years.

 

[Yukondog]

Don't minimize American trucks. With proper maintenance and care I suspect any new or later year truck will serve you well. I bought my Dodge 1500 new in 2005. It has been perfect with only normal maintenance done. 170k miles and not slowing down. Will be buying Dodge again with only change being 2500 Cummings.

Matt

 

[Shrek]

As Yukondog stated , the American made trucks are about the same as the Toyota and Nissan offerings and don't carry the premium purchase price or parts price. A couple year old American truck will be more affordable than a Toyota and just as reliable IMO. I'm familiar with the Fords and the only constant issue I'm aware of is the individual coil packs start to go bad and have to be replaced. Not a big deal to do at home in a few minutes. The local auto parts store will usually run it on their diagnostic computer for free and the coils are about $50 apiece if I remember correctly. My only regret with them is I didn't do all of them when the first one went bad.

 

[Jacob Chapman]

I did find an 07 Tacoma, I can get parts pretty cheap. Looking @ 30+ tires n wheels, a 3" lift locker for the front if it doesn't have it and some skid plates, looks pretty tough n with the shorter wheelbase should b real good off road.

 

[a3dhunter]

The old Chevy's do pretty good, the 2000 and up seem to last forever. I have 178,000 on my 2000 Chevy, and they can be had pretty cheap.

 

[seand]

I think by the time you factor in all costs- purchase price , resale, fuel, maintainance, repairs, the Tacoma is cheaper than domestic half tons.

I'd buy one again.

 

[Idaho Bowhunter]

I have a 05 Tacoma four door with the TRD off road I love it lots of room for the kid and wife to go I hound hunt out of it also and the locker is nice I put 235/85/16 toyo mts witch is tall and skiney they do great in the snow and mud

 

[2ski]

Get a Subaru....everyone else in Bozeman does. You'll fit right in. You know everyone that I know with a Toyota gets around pretty good in the mountains in the snow. That'd be my vote. While I'm on Bozeman cliché, don't forget to buy a lab and name it either Bridger or Madison.

Congrats on the job, and welcome to Bozeman. Let me know if you need some suggestions for fishing places. Best place in the states to live for its proximity to blue ribbon trout streams. You best hurry up and get here before you completely miss the salmon fly hatch on the Madison. One of the most epic hatches there is.

 

[G Posik]

You can not go wrong with the Tacoma. I have an 02 Double cab and would not trade it for any other vehicle. I run 3" lift and 285/75/16's, full skids and locked.

Glenn

 

[Shrek]

Glenn , I think the early 2000's Tacoma double cabs are as good a truck as was ever made. I'm not as confident of the 2005 and up Tacoma models and I'm sure not a fan of the styling.

 

[G Posik]

Dave that is why I have this model. For an IFS truck it is the best thing out there for the trails. One day I will do a SAS on it, then I would list it as the best all around 4x4. I had an 06 double cab. They are nice just not the same trail rig as the 00-04.

Glenn

 

[Shrek]

Yep Glenn . Toyota made the 05 and newer Tacoma too wide and plastic. The Tacoma has gotten too big . It's about as big as the f150 without the power or payload capacity. Ford was genius when they separated the f150 from the Superduty models. It allowed them to make a much better F150 and about dominate the Superduty market. If ford hadn't stumbled with the 6.0 diesel they would have just about run everyone else out of the superduty market.
I'm hoping Toyota comes out with a next generation Tacoma that gets back to a great small truck.

 

[KMD]

For what it's worth, the original body style (2000-06) Tundras are about the same size as new model Tacomas , except they have v8 power. And seeing as how the old style Tacomas have such a cult following, you can actually find a used Tundra for quite a bit cheaper than a same year Taco.
I stepped up from a baby Taco to a 2003 Tundra w/access cab and I wouldn't go back to the small truck again. The original Tundra is just enough bigger than the old Taco to make a difference in comfort and has plenty more balls from the v8. My buddy has an '04 double cab Taco and it would take some crazy tight situation for me to not go where he can. But I can haul and tow more than his truck with a better ride on the highway. And believe it or not, our gas mileage is almost the same!
If I needed a heavy duty toy hauler, I'd prolly look into a new full sized Tundra. Otherwise, 10 years and 180k later, my Tundra is everything I need in a pickup, and nothing I don't.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[brianincc]

I have to agree about the 05+ tacomas. I have had a '93, '96 and currently a 2006 tacoma. The new ones are just not in the same league. It is a comfortable truck with decent power but it rattles and bottoms out down any road I take it down and gets horrible gas mileage for a v6 to boot. The plastic bed flat sucks,everything slides around and the tailgate actually cracked. The good thing about it is that it's finally paid off. I'm sure if I dumped a couple thousand into the suspension I would be much happier with the way it rides but I cant bring myself to do it. My '93 spent as much time in the mud or in the air as it did on pavement and never rattled or squeaked until I got rid of it with 173,000 miles on it.

 

[Shrek]

The 96 T100 may have been close to an ideal truck for hunting but it lacked the rear doors for access. Other than the doors a supercharged 3.4 l T100 is awsome.

 

[brianincc]

My '96 Taco had the 3.4 in it and it was a great motor. There was a t100 around here not long ago that I thought seriously about buying.It was a one owner truck and had less than 75,000 on it, but I mulled it around too long and it was gone.

 

[Shrek]

Dang , that was a miss ! They don't carry the premium that the Tacoma does and it my be a better all around truck.

 

[CrzyTrekker]

I'm hoping Toyota comes out with a next generation Tacoma that gets back to a great small truck.

+1!!!

 

[huntndad]

My Nissan Frontier has served me well. It is a 2001 4-door with 213,000 very hard miles on it. I've recently been looking for a new "used" truck, and another Nissan seems like the best direction to go for me.

 

[Lukem]

For what it's worth, the original body style (2000-06) Tundras are about the same size as new model Tacomas , except they have v8 power. And seeing as how the old style Tacomas have such a cult following, you can actually find a used Tundra for quite a bit cheaper than a same year Taco.
I stepped up from a baby Taco to a 2003 Tundra w/access cab and I wouldn't go back to the small truck again. The original Tundra is just enough bigger than the old Taco to make a difference in comfort and has plenty more balls from the v8. My buddy has an '04 double cab Taco and it would take some crazy tight situation for me to not go where he can. But I can haul and tow more than his truck with a better ride on the highway. And believe it or not, our gas mileage is almost the same!
If I needed a heavy duty toy hauler, I'd prolly look into a new full sized Tundra. Otherwise, 10 years and 180k later, my Tundra is everything I need in a pickup, and nothing I don't.

Good luck with your decision!

100% agree.