Looking at picking up a work truck, need opinions...

[GoinAllTheWay]

As the title says, I'm looking at picking up a cheap work truck. I'm mostly looking in the $2-3k range from 1996-2001.

If you were in my boat and had to choose between Ford, Dodge or GMC, what would your choice be and why?

I found a decent Sierra for $3k but then I realized I don't know much about trucks or their nuances. From what I've read so far, most seem to think Ford is the way to go, and there are tons of them (F150's), but not sure Ford reliability was all that great back then compared to what it is today.

Any tips/input/advice would be appreciated.

[Travis Munroe]

All I have for input it:

Take a truck with 250,000km driven as a daily driver or highway vs a truck with 150k thats been a towing/work truck.

[WCan_Kid]

How good are you with wrenches?

Anything in that price range will kill you if you have to rely on a mechanic to keep it running reliably. If you're reasonably mechanical, there's not much difference between Ford and Chevy. Had rough luck with Dodges of that era, though, assuming you're talking gas and not diesel.

No mechanical skills, spend a bit more up front and move into something newer and just off warranty. It'll be way cheaper in the long run.

[Jacks]

I've owned Ford and Chevy, I personally prefer Ford. The main difference is in the way they ride and handle, Fords are a bit stiffer than Chevs.

Not sure that one is more reliable than the other, depends on how they have been treated. I've personally had very few problems with the multiple f150's that I've owned.

[GoinAllTheWay]

I'm pretty good with a wrench. I fully expect to have to put a few $$ into whatever I buy. One I was looking had 280k on it but was used mainly for running parts between Vancouver and Calgary. May give that guy a call.

So basically just luck of the draw then, eh? Maybe I'll try to find a few more F150's before deciding anything....

[Sliver]

Yeah, I think it'll totally be luck of the draw.

[GreatWhiteEbola]

Lift with your legs, not your back.

[GreatWhiteEbola]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

I'm pretty good with a wrench. I fully expect to have to put a few $$ into whatever I buy. One I was looking had 280k on it but was used mainly for running parts between Vancouver and Calgary. May give that guy a call.

So basically just luck of the draw then, eh? Maybe I'll try to find a few more F150's before deciding anything....

Although, they are highway km's, think about the highway. Calgary to Edmonton is much different then Calgary to Vancouver.

[Jacks]

280K is a lot, I wouldn't touch a 4x4 with that many miles.

[Smartcar]

If it's diesel 280K is OK, I've seen 400K diesels run fine. I've only had GMC but I don't think there is that much difference, just get the best deal you can find at your price. Either way you're trading off cheaper price vs age/reliability/major repairs. If you're not good enough with a wrench to check out the major stuff yourself, get a mechanic to look it over.

[normtwofinger]

An older mechanic friend told me that it's better to buy a vehicle with over 200,000km then 100,000km. Most of the major repairs have already happened at 200,000km.

[Dan02]

I had a dodge in the range you're looking at, and the thing was nothing but a money pit. It was costing me more in repairs the last year I had it then payments on a new truck would have been, so I bought a new F150 and didn't have to deal with having it in the shop every 2 months.

[Nuje]

Do the research online to find out which is indeed the most reliable. NEVER listen to a "truck guy". They're very often fan boys with a favourite brand that never deviates. My guess for late 90s would be GM.

[WCan_Kid]

Originally Posted by Nuje

Do the research online to find out which is indeed the most reliable. NEVER listen to a "truck guy". They're very often fan boys with a favourite brand that never deviates. My guess for late 90s would be GM.

Haha. So, all the "truck guys" who've posted saying either Ford or Chev/GM in those years are fanboys who never deviate, but your recommendation, based on a guess, is for a GM?

[afc wimbledon]

currently have a 2000 chevy silverado, cheap and cheerfull and works fine, used to have a Dodge dakota, dreadfull peice oh crap that was worse on gas than the chevy even though a V6 and handled worse than a bucket of jelly on a skateboard.

[sun]

My brother had a Dodge in that range (I think it was '99). Biggest pile of trash ever. Thing cost him a lot of money over its (short) lifetime. My dad's farm truck on the other hand is still going strong - '95 GMC.

Just anecdotal advice, but I personally wouldn't touch a dodge from that era.

[trublmaker]

Look at it as parts or payments, probably work out the same.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by Nuje

Do the research online

That's what he is doing.

Originally Posted by Nuje

NEVER listen to a "truck guy". They're very often fan boys with a favourite brand that never deviates.

The poster specifically asked for opinions on different brands.

Originally Posted by Nuje

My guess for late 90s would be GM.

So, its a "guess", you're not a "fanboy" and you recommend a GMC?

[trublmaker]

I've own LOTS of trucks, my preference for a good work truck has always been ford, a good camping, family truck is a chev and dodge well it's a dodge, nuff said on that.

[trubuilt]

I don't think it matters what brand just buy it from someone who has maintained the truck for its lifetime. Find a first owner or someone who has the maintenance records. See when the brakes, rotors batteries have been replaced, has the tranny been serviced and then drive it see if it has play in the steering wheel, does it squeak or shimmy and go with your gut.