Need a cheap truck.. what kind ??

[CamaroKidZ28]

So I need a relatively cheap pickup truck. Thinking of a used 6 cyl s-10 hoping that theyre available in stick.

Need something that gets decent gas mileage and I can throw a dirtbike into the bed of and take off for a race.

Will rarely tow a trailer, and if towing it will be a light flatbed.

What do you guys think? Any other truck suggestions??

-Mike

[Skill]

I'd look for a beat-up Chevy 1500 2wd regular cab...Try to find a 350 over a 305. Honestly, all three (Vortec 350, 305, and the 4.3L) get pretty close to the same mileage. Given that, I'd rather drive the full size since an S-10 is just a piece of shit. My 89 fullsize feels solid, even though it's missing most of the cab corners...Haha

[HYBRED]

When we were looking for trucks, we found quite a few single cab V8 Chevys in the 00-04 range for right at or under $10k. My dad had a 94 single cab longbed and he had no problem with his dirtbike, fitment wise.

[CamaroKidZ28]

I'd look for a beat-up Chevy 1500 2wd regular cab...Try to find a 350 over a 305. Honestly, all three (Vortec 350, 305, and the 4.3L) get pretty close to the same mileage. Given that, I'd rather drive the full size since an S-10 is just a piece of shit. My 89 fullsize feels solid, even though it's missing most of the cab corners...Haha

How many miles is too many on these really? its gonna see a lot of highway miles on weekends

-Mike

[Skill]

Mine has 196,000 on the tranny. The engine was rebuilt at 140,000. I drive it 200 miles round trip twice a week.

They're small block chevys...do regular maintenance, and it won't let you down.

[silver-mod-o]

I DD a 2000 reg cab step side 2.2 5spd S10... Its really not a bad little truck. I just drove it from Tx to AL for work and averaged over 26mpg with me driving 85-90mph lol, all my clothes for a month, and a bigass toolbox... The only thing I'd change about it is the cab... wish it was an extended cab... and yes, they 4cyl is a dog. but it gets the job done. I've pulled my 16ft alumaweld boat, 60hp outboard, and all my fishing crap to the lake (~50miles) with no problems....

I have my turbo'd Extended Cab Silverado but I'm in the same boat as you and NEED a truck at all times for something... so this was the best route for me. My Silvy has been apart since December off an on getting a new motor/trans/paint/turbo...

all Ive done is lower it 3/3 and it needed tires when I bought it so I went with 205/75s in the front and 255/60s in the back, its got 140,000 miles on it and I'm not scared to drive it ANYWHERE... I gave $2800 cash for this thing :)

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c138/silver-mod-o/S-10.jpg

[Skill]

^^^

That's a nice truck for what you've got in it, but you're right in saying the 2.2L is a dog. If the OP has a lot of highway driving to do, like he said he did, I doubt he would enjoy having next to no power to merge onto the interstate and pass.

[Z Fury]

If you are looking for a V6 or bigger, I'd go with the 1500 series pickup. As stated already, they can be found pretty cheap, and those V8s do run forever, it seems (my '94 Blazer 4X4 has 206K on the clock, never rebuilt). If you are more concerned about gas mileage, look into a 4-cyl. S-10. If you find the regular length bed, you should be fine to haul a dirt bike.

[silver-mod-o]

^^^

That's a nice truck for what you've got in it, but you're right in saying the 2.2L is a dog. If the OP has a lot of highway driving to do, like he said he did, I doubt he would enjoy having next to no power to merge onto the interstate and pass.



drop it in 3rd and stand in it LOL.... I'm also planning on switching from drop coils in front to drop spindles and going to Blazer spindles/brakes... They have 2 piston calipers instead of the one big single piston caliper. some friends with these trucks have done that swap and have really liked it. The brakes are designed for the heavier S10 blazer so they stop these little things pretty well... an extended cab 4.3 truck was going for around $5500 for nicer ones when I was looking.