WTB small 4x4 farm use truck, any advice?

[BLINGMW]

Looking for a ~$2000 likely mid '90s Tacoma, Nissan, Ranger type of thing, smaller and simpler (4cyl) the better. Feel free to chime in with some expertise on model/years that are better in some way than others, is auto or manual ultimately more reliable? I don't really know anything about them.

[JPolen01]

You just missed Dave's Used Car Emporium's offering of a pristine 1992 Ford Ranger. I'm sure he'll have another in a week or two.

[ScottyB]

Get a Nissan D21 hardbody reg cab. Harder to find in 4x4 but they're as reliable as a yota of the same vintage but twice as cheap. They rust like any other old Japanese truck though.

[Senor_Taylor]

Any <95.5 Toyota Pickup will be a rust bucket, however, the 4 cylinder 22re is a reliable motor.

95.5+ Toyota Pickups (now called Tacoma) came in a few flavors. 95.5-96 have glass headlights and a different grill. The 2wd comes with a relatively modern 2.4 liter. However, the 95.5 still uses a distributor. The 4wd can either have a 2.7 liter or the 3.4 v6. This remains true through 2004.

You can snag the 2wd trucks for 2000-3000, but you can honestly find a 2.7 regular cab 4wd for $3000 if you look hard. The 4wd models had a recall for lower ball joints on the front that failed catastrophically, so check those. These trucks also had recalls for the rear spare tire carrier rusting and allowing the tire to fall out.

Most notable, the 1st gen Tacoma had a huge frame rust issue where Toyota would test any vehicle within 15 years of it's manufacture date. If the frame failed, it would be replaced by a dealer. If it passed, the truck would receive a rubberized undercoating. Opinions on this are mixed as they trapped moisture against the frame. If you look at one of these, look at the frame behind the cab and hit it with a hammer.

4wd trucks 95.5-2000 have manual locking hubs up front where 01-04 have ADD (automatic differential disconnect) where the front driveshaft always spins the front diff, but the axles aren't connected to the diff. Regular cab trucks only came with the 2.7 liter whereas the xtra cab could have the 2.7 or the 3.4.

95.5-2000 2wd trucks can be had for 3000 or less.

95.5-2000 4wd 4 cylinder trucks can be had for around 3000-5000, V6 trucks will probably creep up to the 6-7 range.

Anything after 2000, add another 2 grand to the price. You can also get a 4 door with a short bed after 2000, but those only came as automatics.

Another thing to watch out for is that they sold 4wd trucks without the 4wd drivetrain. These are called prerunners. They look just like a 4wd so make sure you check badges and look for the transfer case shifter.

[BLINGMW]

Get a Nissan D21 hardbody reg cab.  Harder to find in 4x4 but they're as reliable as a yota of the same vintage but twice as cheap.  They rust like any other old Japanese truck though.

I'm going to consider rust as an asset as long as it's not something that's holding the wheels on or the drivetrain in place. I mean look at this bad boy for $500

You just missed Dave's Used Car Emporium's offering of a pristine 1992 Ford Ranger. I'm sure he'll have another in a week or two.

I considered that one for the red interior alone, just needed more drive wheels

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...useful information...

I'm waiting to hear from this guy on the engine, seems like a good price? Though I don't really need/want the lift....

https://danville.craigslist.org/cto/d/so...88403.html

[Senor_Taylor]

Here's a decently clean example of an early Tacoma. Don't get your hopes up about getting a low mileage example at this price point. They're pretty pricey. https://blacksburg.craigslist.org/cto/d/...43022.html

My first Tacoma was a 96 2wd truck with 185,000 that I paid $5000 for in 2012.

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...useful information...

I'm waiting to hear from this guy on the engine, seems like a good price? Though I don't really need/want the lift....

https://danville.craigslist.org/cto/d/so...88403.html

Btw, I edited my post to add more information. I personally wouldn't touch that truck with a 10 foot pole. Just say no to body lifts. You can find something better.

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They probably missed a 0 on this price, but that would be high. https://blacksburg.craigslist.org/cto/d/...43022.html

Utility bed! https://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/d/ri...01722.html

Here's a Ranger: https://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/d/sp...27495.html

[BLINGMW]

good finds thanks. I'm not sure I'm really considering the Ranger as much, though I feel like I'm being prejudiced. 

I talked briefly to this guy, sounds like it hasn't been driving in a while but it's close by, I might go look at it:
https://roanoke.craigslist.org/cto/d/ell...47778.html

Does this frame rust look scary?
https://roanoke.craigslist.org/cto/d/roa...82399.html

[Senor_Taylor]

Objectively, yes that rust is cause for avoiding it, but I don't know what you're willing to fix/deal with.

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[BLINGMW]

well I have to say this one ran and shifted awesome, mechanically better than I expected. Leaking some kind of oil, and I attached some better pictures of the rust though, I guess if it got much worse couldn't someone with a welder fix for a few hundred bucks? 
I'm thinking of offering $3k unless you guys think this frame is about to break in half within a year.

[ViPER1313]

And you don’t own this mighty max yet because?

https://roanoke.craigslist.org/cto/d/roa...96550.html

[ViPER1313]

Me on this budget would get this:

https://roanoke.craigslist.org/cto/d/tha...60330.html

[BLINGMW]

And you don’t own this mighty max yet because?

https://roanoke.craigslist.org/cto/d/roa...96550.html

I'm just guessing, but carburetor and 2wd? Correct me if I'm wrong

Me on this budget would get this:

https://roanoke.craigslist.org/cto/d/tha...60330.html

Not sure I'm man enough for a full size truck, I like little ones

[JPolen01]

Not sure I'm man enough for a full size truck, I like little ones

[Senor_Taylor]

well I have to say this one ran and shifted awesome, mechanically better than I expected. Leaking some kind of oil, and I attached some better pictures of the rust though, I guess if it got much worse couldn't someone with a welder fix for a few hundred bucks? 
I'm thinking of offering $3k unless you guys think this frame is about to break in half within a year.

That's about as bad as it gets. How did that pass inspection? You better immediately get that rust fixed and hope it isn't more widespread than that. I don't see a reason to buy anything with that much rust.

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[BLINGMW]

offer accepted, looks like I'm buying it tomorrow 
You guys know what to get me for my birthday now, a tub of POR15 and a framerail repair kit

[Senor_Taylor]

offer accepted, looks like I'm buying it tomorrow 
You guys know what to get me for my birthday now, a tub of POR15 and a framerail repair kit

You're worse than me.

Congrats.

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[HAULN-SS]

Step away from the crack pipe and become a shit craigslist buyer before it's too late

[BLINGMW]

Any easy way to test that the 4wd works today? Am I understanding correctly that the front hubs need to be locked as well as engaging 4hi or lo to get it to be in 4wd? Or should the hubs only be locked when on loose surfaces? All I know so far is the dash light works, and I could feel the gear ratio change in 4lo.

[HAULN-SS]

If it's like my truck the front transfer case won't be engaged if the hubs aren't locked, no matter what the dash says

[JPolen01]

This is madness. I can't believe anyone in their right mind would even entertain anything with frame rust like that.