What truck should i buy.

[allard85]

Hi everyone i am looking to buy a 4x4 pickup truck. everyone knows the hilux is bulletproof.

 

What trucks would you recomend for tree work, need something that can go off road if needed.

 

the trucks i have been looking at so far, toyota hilux, ford ranger, mazda b2500. but its so hard to find one at a good price with a low mileage.

 

What do you use and why? Are there any other trucks i should look at?

 

Thanks guys.

[Tyz05]

What sort of budget do you have? 2 or 4 seats?

[Mozza]

Buy the hilux Timtree, has for sale in the classifieds, it looks a minter!!

[allard85]

around £2000-3000

[Mozza]

around £2000-3000

 

Perfect Tims is 2800 :-)

 

Hilux will be the best you can get for 3 grand, don't worry about miles on them, as long as they have good service history they will run and run

[tim361]

I've just gone through this process,

 

Hilux is probably the best pickup to buy but you pay a premium for the relability, build quality etc...... With you budget you'll be looking at a high mileage 2.4td or a lower mileage 2.4d

 

Ford Ranger/Mazda B2500 this is what i settled for. I paid £3000 for 120,000 miler with full history, immaculate body, and a 6 month warrenty. Really pleased with it. I do more road driving than off road so suits me fine. There are normally a fair few for sale so you can shop around a bit.

 

I didn't look at L200's or Navaras. For the money you've got to spend would either get you a td25 Navara with lower miles or the dreaded d22. If you opt for a d22 check the history of the engine. Alot of them have shot conrods throught the block. Ones that have had repalcement eninges may not have had the required mods to cure the problem so be aware. L200's can crack their heads resulting in a £2k plus repair bill.

This won't have happened to everyone's navara/l200 i'm just speaking from what i have experience with friends ones. Both on my mates who had navara's had to have new engine's fitted, and i've got 3 friends who have had no end or problems with l200's.

 

In my opinion have a look on ebay, autotrader, local papers etc and see whats around locally. Its alot of time and money to loose driving to the other side of the country to see something that's no good. Work out what you need and not what you want.

 

Oh and not to forget the mighty defender. I've had two of these, great off roaders but i do alot of miles so wanted something a little less agricultral. Parts readily avaliable, only tin worm effects them fairly badly.

[Peter]

It is only the later d22 navaras that had the engine trouble, 2003 onwards I think, so you would be ok with an earlier one, which is all you would get more £2-3K anyway.