With the recent rant about the viability of Toyota trucks as work trucks, I was wondering…Whats in your driveway?How many miles? Reliability?
I myself am working out of a 1999 GMC suburban-350 gas engine(wish it was a diesel with current gas prices) 116,000 miles, Have had to replace brakes(why GM put rear drums on these is beyond me), radiator(death-cool coolant), and a water pump. Overall I am very happy with this truck, as I can haul 8′ sheetgoods with the seats down, 10-12′ goods with the tailgate down(I am probobly the only one who prefers the gate to Barn doors).
When its not a work truck, the third row seats allow it to seat 6-8 people in comfort(rear air, Video,leather Heated seats)
Can the Toy?
Replies
1997 Ford f-250 heavy duty with a 351 8 cyl.
Bought it with 91,000 miles in 2000 and its still running great with 250,000 miles. I have done the brakes and tires twice and could not be more happy with it. Still has plenty of power. As for repairs , I have replaced the idle arm pully for $40 and lost the fuel pump in the rear tank which I have yet to repair. For all the nay sayers and boat jumpers from the American trucks. BoYa!
1989 Nissan Hardbody. 179000 miles. Had to replace the driveshaft at about 45k. The driveshaft support bearing had to be replaced twice, but the last guy did it right. Plastic stuff keeps breaking (including the driver's door handle). Had to put in new discs in front twice and shoes in back once. Replaced the alternator twice. The throwout bearing is pretty noisy these days. It's also pretty rusty, and the windshield leaks sometimes. I keep checking the classifieds, but every small truck on the market these days seems to have the biggest engine available and every option known to man. I may just fix the door, put new tires on it, and try to get another couple years out of it.
George Patterson, Patterson Handyman Service
1989 Chevy Utility Body 2500 4wd 213K when the odometer broke years ago
Reliable, looks like cr*p, hauls 4K lbs without flinching, pulls the loaded trailer (w/a 305!), but bad for the professional image.
I want a new truck - $16K for a 2wd basic, $35K for something that could also hold my family - whats a guy to do?
very impressive for a 305!
'05 F-350 6.0l diesel super cab with 8' Reading service body and System One racks. Still a puppy at about 25K. Love it. Yeah it's a luxury, but it sure is nice to get into at the end of the day and always know I have the tool I need with me.
Currently '03 Ranger.
This is the third one. Second is still running around with close to 200k on it.
Too small now.
Just bought an '03 E250 Cargo Van with 12 k on the clock.. As soon as I find time to set it up I will use it.
While some Fords may have their issues, I know too many people having technical difficulties with their GM vehicles.
[email protected]
Edited 4/5/2007 9:15 pm ET by EricPaulson
97 F-350 298,000 miles of heavy towing. Utility bed with custom ladder rack. I don't have a picture of it but it's slanted so you can grab the ladders from the side. This also frees up the top rack for hauling.
Edited to add that it's a diesel.
So what's your job? Sit on a fence post and crow like a Rooster when the Sheriff shows up?
http://thewoodwhisperer.com/
Edited 4/6/2007 2:57 am ET by Gunner
That ladder rack sounds nice.View Image
All of our trucks have them. They are handy. I'll try to snap a pic if I remember it.
So what's your job? Sit on a fence post and crow like a Rooster when the Sheriff shows up?
http://thewoodwhisperer.com/
Is that the 200k+ mile tilt or a custom job? If it's the first that explains the no pic!
No it's custom LOL. That truck is still sound.
So what's your job? Sit on a fence post and crow like a Rooster when the Sheriff shows up?
http://thewoodwhisperer.com/
My utility vehicle is a 91 Toyota SB 2.4L 4cyl , 5 speed stick...the basic pickup. I've owned it since new and driven it about 230,000 miles. It's on it's second clutch, replaced at about 200K miles, and it's third starter. It still burns less than a quart of oil/1000 miles and has always been very reliable. It's the best handling pickup I've ever driven, has plenty of power and good brakes. It gets 27-29mpg.
My cost of ownership, including original purchase price, parts and service, but not including insurance or fuel is right at $.035/per mile, three and one half cents per mile.
Edited 4/5/2007 10:04 pm ET by Hudson Valley Carpenter
01 F 350 diesel, closing in on 90K. Crew cab, long box, 4x. Turns in about a 5 acre radius.
Do I like it? Absolutely. Probably too much. I haven't had to do a ton to it maintenance wise, but I've done a ton to it partially for pulling power and partially because I'm addicted to mods. The auto trannys for the 7.3 (the 4R100) are garbage for pulling much of a load. You might get by with a little trailer but you start with something significant and they just go to pot. I shelled out 2 factory trannys in 80K miles, so last year since I was paying for it I bought a better one.
So the tranny is the big ticket item. Custom built, redesigned valve body, massive torque convertor with modified lockup, oversized pan (it holds 20 quarts), billet input/output shafts, center supports, etc. Its a dandy.
Ive gone aftermarket on the fuel system, oil pumps, intercooler, transmission and cooler, added regulated returns and crossover lines to the heads, opened the exhaust, the intake, upgraded the turbo, added gauges, regeared, replaced all the springs and shocks, added bags, a locker, and had a set of commercial 19.5 rims bored for my bolt pattern so I run truck tires on it.
There's cheaper hobbies! But I wouldnt trade it for anything now.
Real trucks dont have sparkplugs
with heat being the great evil with at trannies, running a 20qt pan means your tranny will last forever.... I put a massive cooler on my t-100, and have kept the trans under 120 even on the worst hills traffic
jmmmm
oh I'm with ya. It isnt the pan that holds 20, its the whole thing, but. Right. All winter my gauge never even registered. Its gotta get 60 out for the needle to move. Just now I got back from pulling about 14K for 50 miles, and it hit 120 there.Real trucks dont have sparkplugs
'99 F150.
6 cylinder, vinyl seats, no air--- I would get em without a radio if I could.
about 70,000 miles on it.
oil changes, tires and brakes--and that's about all i have done to it.- carries a ladder rack with maybe 4 ladders and a pick on it most of the time--sheet metal brake hangs off the passenger side--tool box on the driver side.
i added an additional leaf spring on the passenger side--and 2 leaf springs on the drivers side on account of the tool box and brake.
no real complaints--but several minor annoyances
1) truck bought new-windshield wiper motor was anemic--and has slowed down from THERE--every ford I have had does this.
2) vinyl bench seat--to many effen seams------ seam opened up where i sit after a year or so--dealer fixed it free. a year or so later it opened up again--dealer told me to pound sand
3) small crack in door,near window appeared when 2-3 years old--dealer says pound sand
4)gray painted bumpers rusting.
it's the base model--and has performed almost exactly as I wanted. those four things do tick me off--even as minor as they are.
VERY interested in New Toyota Tundra---gonna wait 3 more years 'till oldest out of college---- Next truck will be the last work truck I buy--so i have time to investigate and plan the set up carefully.
stephen
78 3500 chev box van , 12' box, use it the most , Tool hauler .
81 ford 3500 , 10' bed , lumber rack , heavy hauler sits most of the time taking up space.
2000 chev 1500 siverado, commute truck , sunday go to meeting rig.
What are you getting for mileage on your box van??? We are looking at getting an '86 Chevy 1 ton box w/ 350 engine. Just worried about the mileage. Or should I say what mileage.Live by the sword, die by the sword....choose your sword wisely.
m2akita Last time I checked it was about 8, actually went up when I went on what I call road trips... more than 20 miles at 55. 350 engine, the rig has about 60,000 originial miles , maybe 28 ,000 or so on the motor. I have had it since the early 90's work close to home mostly . When I can I leave it onsite and drive the pick up for commute. Best rig to work out of I have ever had. Although I might look at a 14' if I was doing it over again.
I've had three 85Chevy vans. A 1500, a 2500, and a 3500All automatics and all about eleven MPG in local driving. Never had one on the highway or without hundreds of pounds of tools inside.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
'95 Toyota t-100 205,000 everything original , still running strong ready for the next 100k
I drive a 1993 Ford F250 supercab 4x4, powered by a gas swilling 460 V-8 and a 5 speed manual transmission. My Honda driving daughters refer to it as the Queen Mary. It has 213,000 miles on it and has been a terrific work truck. The upside is that it is paid for, and I don't use it when I am not working. If I were to buy a new truck, I would look hard at the new Toyota Tundra.
I've had my 98 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 quad cab for 5-6 years now - had 55,000 on it when I bought it, and now has about 135,000.Been a good truck - I've done the brakes 2-3 times, had to have the Torque converter fixed, got a big of a clunking when in 4wheel - maybe ujoints? Try to stay on oil changes every 3000 or so.Put on a K&N cool air intake system, cause the factory shroud was all cracked up.Have a 4" lift on it with a 2" reciever hitch on the front for a winch basket with a 9000lb winch.The lift kit upgraded the suspension componants - that's probably helped in terms of towing my smaller trailer.Nice driver - only problem is the doors are starting to show a tinch of rust at the bottom - very depressing... Michigan winters.The Tundra is the first new truck in a long time that I really like the looks of. Plus - I've had 3 other Toyota's - a 82 4x2, an 85 four runner, and a 95 Tacoma. Glad to say goodbye to small trucks when I got the Dodge - but I miss the better milage.JT
2003 Ford E 350 with 12' Supreme walkin utility box. All the tools stay nice and dry, and it does seem like you can carry everything, its too easy to keep on adding tools to.It is surprising how many boxes and buckets of nails you have in there , and just forget about.
I don't miss covering an air compresssor or generator from the weather, or hiding them from thieves.I would have liked a diesel, but the ford diesel has issues, and not something you want to put in a van.
The next van will be a E 450, larger GVW and bigger brakes, and same body style.
Greg in Connecticut
here is a picture of my rig
2006 Dodge Sprinter.
Just under 5k miles. Intake air temp sensor flaked out- warranty.
Had a full size truck with sideboxes and a rack, a small truck with a bed box and a cargo "minivan" with interior shelving. They all had good and bad points, they all got the job done within their abilities, nothing was perfect. No major reliability issues.
Looked at trailers. Trailer (a good quality one) big enough to haul 10' material was pricey, near the limits of the towing capacity of the vehicle I had *empty* and then there were space issues on the driveway.
Wanted a bigger van with the ability to put 10' material inside of it. I wanted a diesel for economy and longevity because I don't plan on buying another truck for a heck of a long time and I have no need to tow heavy objects.
Diesel trucks and vans are in the $35k range on the lot. Nice utility bodies are more.
So, I bought a Sprinter before the 2007 ULSD and EPA stuff reared their ugly heads.
So far, I am very happy with it.
04 ford 350 with stahl walk in bed and exterior utility doors. Picture the phone company around here. It gets between 7 and 9 mpg. v10 gas engine. I don't worry about gas cost, it's a company truck. I also just talked them in to getting me a 14' pull behind trailer because I am out of space.
jeremyThe bad news is you've done exactly the right things to be exactly where you are today.
"IdahoDon 1/31/07"
91 Mitsubishi Deliaca Super ExceedJust got my new truck yesterday. Don't need the fullsize van anymore.
This still holds ply ok the rear door is 49" x 52".
the floor to the frontseats is 8'
The rear seats swivel and slide ,I tossed the bench seat.
2500cc turbo diesel
4WD righthand drive, power blinds on the 5 sunroofs
the pod on the dash has an altimeter and an inclinometer.
underdash cooler /icemaker
crazy stereo with tv and vcr inputs and mike inputs for kareoke.
I'm still finding wierd sh@t because the manual is in Japanese.
Gonna put some tool shelves in and partly camperize.Rik
Did you get that from ebay? I would love to have one of those japanese turbo diesel vans. Hard to get in the states.
Hope it's good to you.zak
"When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone." --John Ruskin
"so it goes"
Found it on the local online classifides.
$10,000
See lots of em around BC lately.
Right hand drive is a kind of wacky but easy to get used to and I sit up as high as my old GM G30.Rik