Beater Truck for around $2,500?

[ultimatebob]

I have a friend that's looking for an old beater truck or SUV to use for plowing snow in his driveway this winter. His budget is an (insanely low, I know) $2,500. Do you guys have any recommendations on something to buy in this price range?

I know that he can pretty much forget looking at used car lots, as he probably isn't going to find anything in running condition in this price range. That said, he might be able to find something on Craigslist if he's lucky.

 

[Gerle]

I have a friend that's looking for an old beater truck or SUV to use for plowing snow in his driveway this winter. His budget is an (insanely low, I know) $2,500. Do you guys have any recommendations on something to buy in this price range?

I know that he can pretty much forget looking at used car lots, as he probably isn't going to find anything in running condition in this price range. That said, he might be able to find something on Craigslist if he's lucky.

For something like that it doesn't matter what it is, just what it is like. Does it work, will his plow or whatever fit? That's pretty much what matters, right?

 

[thedarkwolf]

Any old full sized 4x4 truck should do the trick. They really aren't that hard to find in decent shape for $2500. There are a crapload in my local craiglist as new as 2003 and even an older low mileage f250 diesel 4x4 for $1800. Save some for tires cause he probably going to need new tires.

 

[Meghan54]

Any old full sized 4x4 truck should do the trick. They really aren't that hard to find in decent shape for $2500. There are a crapload in my local craiglist as new as 2003 and even an older low mileage f250 diesel 4x4 for $1800. Save some for tires cause he probably going to need new tires.

You gotta be up in the snow belt, too, eh? I say this because a truck like the 2003 you mentioned can fetch upwards of $8k down here in the south, depending on model and mileage.

For instance, a 2003 Silverado, reg. cab and bed, 2wd, 5.3 V-8, LS trim, ~140k miles, can fetch like $7800 or more with great regularity down here (GA). 4wd would just up the price more. Then again, no rust issues down here for the most part, so there's that.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Yeah the 2003 was rusty and had 200k miles on it but who cares if it is just a beater that is going to mainly be used as a plow. There of tons of early 90s ones though that are still decent looking and have 150k or less miles on them around here for less than $2500. All I'd care about is does it run well, is the suspension tight, and does the 4wd system work.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

There of tons of early 90s ones though that are still decent looking and have 150k or less miles on them around here for less than $2500. All I'd care about is does it run well, is the suspension tight, and does the 4wd system work.

This has been my observation as well.

 

[mindless1]

You just have to keep watching the ads and be willing to go look at as many as possible. You might suggest to him that he may be able to justify a little larger budget if he plows a few driveways for pay over the winter.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

You just have to keep watching the ads and be willing to go look at as many as possible. You might suggest to him that he may be able to justify a little larger budget if he plows a few driveways for pay over the winter.

Well... then he needs a plow. How much do those run?

 

[mindless1]

Well... then he needs a plow. How much do those run?

I have a friend that's looking for an old beater truck or SUV to use for plowing snow in his driveway this winter. .

Wasn't it sort of implied that he's got to have a plow to do his own driveway? How much they run depends on where you get it, the size and quality. You can usually find something old/used that needs some TLC/refurbishment for under $500 (for sale by owner locally), something used but ready to use for under $1500, something used but better quality for under $2500, or something new under $5K in a size that makes sense for driveways, but obviously I wouldn't buy a plow worth more than the truck itself is worth.

Just like buying the vehicle itself there's the factor of how long you'd look for one and how much DIY work you can put into it to save money when on a tight budget. I assume a certain level of mechanical competency just to hook it up to the vehicle.

 

[ultimatebob]

I think that he was hoping to find a cheap snow plow on eBay or Craigslist for around $1,000. That might not be easy, either.

 

[mindless1]

^ Probably easier to find now rather than waiting till later into winter (though it's just a generalization, which can't be extended to that ONE he needs to find in his area), and if it needs derusted and painted, or even other work done, easier to do outside or in the garage when the temperature hasn't dropped as much yet.

 

[NAC]

Pickups tend to keep their value a bit better than SUVs. I'd recommend an Explorer or Blazer. I found 73 near me in NJ for under $2500. Most are about 15 years old, but no reason the main mechanical parts wont still run well if the car wasn't abused. I just clicked around a little, but at least one of them looks in positively great shape. Uh... at least on the little craigslist photos.

 

[mindless1]

Pickups tend to keep their value a bit better than SUVs. I'd recommend an Explorer or Blazer. I found 73 near me in NJ for under $2500. Most are about 15 years old, but no reason the main mechanical parts wont still run well if the car wasn't abused.

Actually there is a reason for the Explorer. 15 years ago most were a V6 4.0L SOHC design with timing chain tensioners and plastic guides prone to fail, requiring the whole engine to be pulled to replace them all anywhere from ~50K to 200K mi. They improved the design in 2002 onward to decrease but not eliminate the issue, then also replaced the 5.0L V8 OHV engine with a SOHC 4.6L V8 with the same issue. Therefore, if picking a 15 y/o Explorer, get the 5.0L V8. They also had a 4.0L OHV a little further back in years '95-'00, but it was so anemic that you wouldn't want it (except it would do fine just shoveling driveways).

I suppose if you found one with the 4.0L SOHC and low miles that was dirt cheap, you could make sure the seller did not warm it up ahead of time so you could listen for chain rattle on startup to see how far along the problem has progressed, but it's easier to just avoid the 4.0L SOHC Explorers.

 

[ultimatebob]

Pickups tend to keep their value a bit better than SUVs. I'd recommend an Explorer or Blazer. I found 73 near me in NJ for under $2500. Most are about 15 years old, but no reason the main mechanical parts wont still run well if the car wasn't abused. I just clicked around a little, but at least one of them looks in positively great shape. Uh... at least on the little craigslist photos.

My buddy was thinking of getting a Jeep Wrangler for this, but those suckers seem to hold their value really well. There was nothing in his price range that wasn't completely rusted out.

 

[mindless1]

Yeah, a Wrangler can plow snow, but their frames aren't the greatest for it and if they're not worth much yet still good mechanically, people tend to keep them. In this price range I wouldn't be nearly as picky about what to get as what to avoid, but since fuel economy isn't a factor, would gravitate towards full sized SUVs or short bed pickups.

Condition means everything on a vehicle this age, but poking some numbers into Kelly BB, a '95 Ford F150 5.0L Manual Trans., 4WD in good condition books for around $2300, though around here you can find something that age selling for a bit under $2K. Granted a manual tranny isn't as important on a full size pickup as a downsized (whatever).

 

[HarryLui]

Location???

http://buffalo.craigslist.org/cto/5905967630.html

 

[olds]

How big is the driveway?
Can't use a blower or ATV?

 

[ultimatebob]

How big is the driveway?
Can't use a blower or ATV?

It's about 100 yards long, on a hill. I guess that he could, but it would take him awhile.

It's been awhile since I talked to him, actually. I think that he might have found an old Toyota truck to use for this.

 

[mindless1]

I wouldn't want to do 100yd with anything less than a heated cab vehicle. Then again I'd want a better-than $2500 4WD vehicle for the times I needed to get in and out, drive somewhere before I had a chance to plow, or get back home after it snowed while I was away, but maybe he already has that.