What's the best truck for Wyoming?

[Cyclonesteve]

I've been thinking of getting a new vehicle, probably a diesel pickup, and I was wondering if there are any web-sites to help. The new trucks are really nice & really expensive but I've heard are very susceptible to EMP in everything from getting the engine started to the power steering. I've heard slightly older trucks would need a little help getting started and the OLD trucks aren't effected at all, but they're old & need work & get poor mileage.

Like I said, anyone heard of a good site that talks about different model's, years and such so I can get better informed?

Thanks

[MamaLiberty]

Take a look at this site, Steve. http://ericpetersautos.com/

Here is an article with discussion thread on trucks specifically.
http://ericpetersautos.com/2013/06/22/f-150-or-other/
http://ericpetersautos.com/2012/04/24/2012-chevy-silverado-1500/
http://ericpetersautos.com/2011/12/09/no-more-compact-trucks-for-us/

[Mjolnir]

Wow...Best Truck discussion in Wyoming.  Just go to the local bar and drop that line, that'll start a fight with someone.

That being said, I've got a late 70s (I think 79) Dodge that works pretty darned well.  Sure the sun rot has killed the dash and it is on it's sixth seat cover, but what it lacks in style, it makes up in character (like not having a working gas gauge...so I just fill it up about every 250 miles and just use my trip odometer).  Plus, the addition of a Tommy Lift (hands down my favorite truck accessory ever) and front and back snow plows makes it a great truck for this area.

By the way, if you're used to those fancy new cars, just remember, when you start it put your foot to the floor and crank her over...it takes a bit. 

But good luck on your truck search!  Don't be afraid to visit your local salvage yard!

[Flight-ER-Doc]

One thats paid for and still runs

[Kelly]

Mjolnir's right...that's a loaded question!

What do you intend to do with it?  Hauling a lot of stuff regularly, or just getting around in the snow?  Answering that question should decide you between a pick up or an SUV-style body.

I swear by my 2000 Jeep Cherokees.  Mountain goats in the snow and throw on studded tires and there are not many places she can't go!  I also put on steel bumper and grill cage - she rednecked up real nice...  :-D   Seriously though, it's not IF you hit a critter out here - it's WHEN.   Get steel bumpers.

Enough room in the back to make a respectable trip to the grocery store and Home Depot - roof rack for tying down supplies that don't fit in back (2x4's, etc.).

Love, love, love it!
YMMV, of course (pun intended)
Kelly

[BAR BAR 2]

We have five trucks here on the ranch with all three makers represented. All three have there good points and bad points. The ages of the different trucks span almost 30 years and each one was bought with a specific purpose in mind. We have bought brand new pickups in the past, but that is a mistake never to be repeated. With the way new trucks are set up and all of the nanny state BS incorporated into their design, I wouldn't have one if it was given to me.

I am not a mechanic, but my next truck will be a custom model. I will most likely start off with a 79 Ford 3/4 or 1ton single rear wheel 4x4. After I get done beefing up the suspension and drivelines I plan to drop in a beefed up 12v Cummins along with a new mechanical tranny. There are places to buy aftermarket parts at a reasonable price in order to replace all that is wore out. The plan is to end up with a brand new old truck. Yes, it will cost a little bit, but that cost will not be anywhere near that of a new truck. I will have something that I actually like and is way more reliable than anything being turned out today.

Our newest truck is an 01 model F250 and if it weren't for the job I have, we never would have bought it. Everything being turned out nowadays is so computer dependent, the oldtime shade tree mechanic can't work on it. They are starting to put "Black Boxes" on new vehicles like planes have and the information derived from them is being used against the vehicle owners. It is still being debated on who actually owns the information contained in the black box, but insurance companies are giving discounts to those who willingly sign over the rights to that information. Some states are trying to pass legislation to give the cops that information in the case of vehicle accidents. Just the thought of all this pisses me off. If I buy a vehicle, I sshould own everything associated with that vehicle. The insurance companies, nor the cops should have any access to any of it unless I willingly give it to them. You can't get around or bypass the black box either. The automakers are designing vehicles to be inoperable if the black box is bypassed.

Putting my tinfoil hat on here, but I think one of the reasons for the "Cash For Clunkers" was to get as many older vehicles off the road as possible. Look at all of the vehicles now that come standard with a GPS. Who has seen the Chevy commercial where the vehicle is stolen and Onstar shut down the vehicle and the cops catch the thieves? That technology is becoming more and more common. Who can say what potential that ability will have in the future? They don't want the people driving older vehicles for a reason. It is those reasons that makes me want to have nothing other than older vehicles.

Anyhow, I got off topic. If you don't need to pull trailers or haul alot, get a Nissan 4x4. those damn things run forever. If you do need to haul some stuff, get a 3/4ton of any of the top 3 no newer than mid80's. Go to NAPA and buy a spare electronic ignition module and you should be fine.


Tex

[Old Ironsights]

One thats paid for and still runs

The older and more electronic-free the better.

[FlyingDevildog]

"What is the best truck for Wyoming"?

I would think any 4x4 truck would be a good truck for Wyoming.

Kelly did point out one thing, What are you going to do with it?

While I may not be in Wyoming right now, I do plan to get there someday, I do have a nice truck.
It is a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4. I have a topper on the back, so anything in the bed does stay dry.
It has a 318 engine, and over 270,000 miles under it belt.

With any vehicle, how you take care of it, well tell you how long it will last.
But I also agree with everyone else here about all the BS that is going into new vehicles now.
Being a mechanic, I feel 1998 is about the newest you can get and still be able to work on it yourself, without some form of computer to help you.

also something else to thing about, Fuel, as in what type.

With a diesel, you can also run it on WVO, waste vegetable oil, http://www.goldenfuelsystems.com/
Or with a gas engine, you can convert it to run on wood, http://www.driveonwood.com/

But most of the newer vehicle do not like the conversions.

So in the end, what do you want to do with your truck?

Dawg

[bobcat]

FDD:

So in the end, what do you want to do with your truck?

That is the first question to answer; which will determine size, engine, trans, transfer case, bed length or flatbed or maybe just SUV...commuter, puller, etc.

Next is how many FRN's your willing to part with.

Then what can you find...

Random thoughts:

All of my trucks are 4WD.  You may not need it much, but when you do, it can be a lifesaver.  You'll likely need it even more in WY.  I've gotten around in modest snow with a CRV, but if there were drifts or I slid into a ditch, I'm cooked.  AWD is handy, but not enough IMO if you end up living in the country on gravel roads that have iffy snow removal.

I certainly agree that buying a new truck is not the best idea as the initial 1-3 yr depreciation is needless waste of FRNs.  Not to mention higher insurance, sales tax, tags.  Added complication with electronics will take your DIY skills to a whole new level.  More tools, etc.  But it can be done.  Factory manual and a group of knowledgeable friends.

Like most things in life, it's a compromise.

I drive old stuff.  Five trucks at the moment , all with various jobs.  All over 100K.  A gasser over 300K, diesel approaching 200K.  Some never leave the property.  One is being rebuilt.  Doing your own repair work will be important to you in lower population density areas.  Yes, some have electronics that are both a help and a curse.  ABS on my 2nd generation Dodge is a $%^# curse.  I'd gladly keep my electronic ignition and fuel injection on my gassers as starting and running in the winter is improved immeasurably.  No long cranking, choke issues, vacuum pull off issues and no need to carry gumout or ether for spritzing the carb.  Trying to start a carbureted vehicle in below zero weather can be a serious challenge.  Starting a diesel in cold weather requires preheating to get the best results, not to mention being aware of the gel point of your current tankful.

While diesel has it's place for pulling, it costs more to buy and own.  In general, parts are more expensive, fuel is more expensive and it takes a little different TLC than a gasser.  Diesels are more efficient, but the current D2 to gasoline FRN ratio negates that.  They make up that difference with gobs of torque over a gasser of similar displacement.  Nice thing about the electronic diesels is that they are easy to hop up with a black box or two.  I wouldn't be without mine, but it's not a daily driver as much as it is the designated puller of the group.

Having owned a dually in winter weather, I will tell you it is not as good as a single rear wheel.  Tall skinny tires work the best.  Big fat wide tires do poorly in snow, particularly heavy slush.  Unless you are pulling a large RV or stock trailer, stick with single rear wheel.  Cheaper on tires, too.  And the way gravel chews up tires prematurely, that can be a significant expense with a dually.

BB2 has the right idea with 'building your own'.  Especially the 12V Cummins.  Robust and no electronics.  Yeaaaa!  Simple is better.  The only electrical item is the fuel shut off solenoid.  They can be hopped up, but not as easily as adding a black box.  At least not as much as a black box, especially with electronic injectors.  Some days, I wish my 2nd generation Dodge had the 12V with an in-line fuel pump instead of the 24V and troublesome VP44 injection pump.  Arg.  Older 7.3 Turbocharged (International) Fords will get it done too and a little quieter than the Cummins.  The older GM diesels had some issues until they came out with the completely redesigned Duramax.

FDD, IMHO, your 98 Ram with the 318 is a keeper if it's in good general shape and suited for the Cowboy State.  You've done well to get it to 270K.  Not everyone is savvy enough to do that.  Crate 318's can be had from Chrysler and other sources.  You may even be able to upgrade to a warmed up 360 crate motor with minimal effort.  Not sure where you are (not being nosy), but keep in mind that Wyoming is 4000ft minimum and it takes proportionally more power to do the same work that would be done at ~sea level.   Chances are you'll be hitting much higher elevations from time to time depending on where you settle.  Just a consideration.

YMMV

[Cyclonesteve]

Take a look at this site, Steve. http://ericpetersautos.com/

Here is an article with discussion thread on trucks specifically.
http://ericpetersautos.com/2013/06/22/f-150-or-other/
http://ericpetersautos.com/2012/04/24/2012-chevy-silverado-1500/
http://ericpetersautos.com/2011/12/09/no-more-compact-trucks-for-us/

That Australian Ford Ranger looks interesting. I wonder how tough it is to import a vehicle? 

[Flight-ER-Doc]

Take a look at this site, Steve. http://ericpetersautos.com/

Here is an article with discussion thread on trucks specifically.
http://ericpetersautos.com/2013/06/22/f-150-or-other/
http://ericpetersautos.com/2012/04/24/2012-chevy-silverado-1500/
http://ericpetersautos.com/2011/12/09/no-more-compact-trucks-for-us/

That Australian Ford Ranger looks interesting. I wonder how tough it is to import a vehicle? 

Damned near impossible, or there would be lots of Toyota Hilux 4x4 crew cab diesels running around

[bobcat]

Take a look at this site, Steve. http://ericpetersautos.com/

Here is an article with discussion thread on trucks specifically.
http://ericpetersautos.com/2013/06/22/f-150-or-other/
http://ericpetersautos.com/2012/04/24/2012-chevy-silverado-1500/
http://ericpetersautos.com/2011/12/09/no-more-compact-trucks-for-us/

That Australian Ford Ranger looks interesting. I wonder how tough it is to import a vehicle? 

Damned near impossible, or there would be lots of Toyota Hilux 4x4 crew cab diesels running around

Amen to that!

It will be interesting to see how the new Cummins LDD (light duty diesel) 5.0L V8 diesel offering will sell in the Nissan Titan half ton pickup.  It was originally slated for the Dodge half ton-until Chrysler went bankrupt.  Chrysler will be offering a 3.0L VM Motori Diesel in their half ton.  Seems a bit small for a Ram, but there it is.  Unless it's planned for the Dakota line?

GM is rumored to have a 4.5L four cylinder version of the Duramax for it's truck line.  Not sure where that project is.

Fuel economy seems to be the goal vs brute torque for pulling.  Other than the premium fuel price of D2, the only downside I see is the complication of the added pollution controls would drive any mechanic or skilled DIY'r to drink.  Hope they have the bugs worked out better than Cummins did when they into'd the 6.7L ISB in the Ram...

[Cyclonesteve]

I'm just looking for a somewhat affordable, smaller diesel truck that won't die when exposed to a HEMP.

The smallest truck here has an automatic transmission plus all the electronic bells and whistles. 

[BAR BAR 2]

Isuzu used to make a small truck and Chevy sold the exact same truck under the "Luv" name. These trucks came out with a small diesel. They didn't have a lot of power, but simply as a daily driver or hauling small loads, they were great. The mileage was great and the trucks themselves were damn near indestructable. I have driven a couple different ones that almost 400,000 miles on them. Neither had alot of power, but they were still running good with the original equipment.

Eventhough some makers are coming out with diesels for their less than beastly models of trucks, I still don't believe I would want a new one. The older diesel engines like the 12v Cummins are still my pic. The 12v Cummins can be beefed up substantially for an amazing amount of power. The Cummins os a very old engine that has been tested in many different aplications and environmenst. Years ago when I was logging, the skidder I drove had the exact same engine as my pickup. The pickup did have a turbo, but that skidder could latch onto several tons of logs and go up the side of a mountain.

The newer an engine or vehicle is, the more electronics there will be to contend with. The old diesel engines are fairly simple to navigate and work on. The new diesels, on the other hand, would be a nightmare for someone who wasn't specifically trained to work on them.

Many times getting a good used diesel engine is as simple as buying an old or wrecked vehicle and then swapping the engine into a vehicle of your choice. I've heard the core charge on a 12v Cummins is around $4k, yet I have seen some old 2wd Dodges for sale really cheap with that engine. The ones I am referring to were for sale here in the Cowboy State. Had the trucks been 4X4, I am sure they would have had a lot bigger asking price, but the seller didn't take into account the value of the engine when listing the vehicle.

To get the "Perfect" Wyoming truck isn't necessarily cheap or easy, but it can be done for way less than the price of a new one. Each maker has a long list of vehicles and they try to convince the buying public that somewhere in their line is the perfect vehicle for everyone. I call BS on that though. Everybody has different interests and different needs, but having the perfect truck for yourself is not an impossibility. Figure out your needs and budget and then determine what extras you want. Aftermarket parts for every truck made in the last few decades are available. If you do decide to go this route, you most likely won't be able to finance it, but that isn't advisable anyhow. Decide what engine you want and then figure out what you want that engine to go into. When that is done spend some money and upgrade the truck and make sure it is all in good working order. It will not be as cheap as going down to a used car lot and simply driving something home, but hey, if you want the perfect Wyoming truck, take your time and do it right.


Tex

[Paul Bonneau]

Only problem with those older diesels is that they can't get near the MPG of a newer one with computer controlled direct injection. There are actually some advances sometimes... 

Maybe the thing to do, if you are worried about EMP, is to get yourself some old cheap beater 2WD diesel truck and set it in the back yard, then buy something more modern for your daily driver. You can tinker on the old one as you have time. If no EMP happens, you haven't lost much (the old truck is still worth what you paid for it) and you've saved fuel money with the new vehicle. If EMP happens, you have your beater to use, better than nothing.

I've been getting 50 MPG from my Passat. This saves a lot of money. 
http://www.fuelly.com/driver/paulx/passat

I was thinking of selling my Sprinter van and looked on craigslist. I was shocked at the prices people were getting for these things, and the high mileages too (some at 400k). Mine routinely gets 27mpg these days now that it is broken in.