Considering the purchase of a ~10 year old 1/2 ton pick up 2WD.  Looking for FHE, not hyperbole.  Considering a Chevy1500 w/either the 4.8V8 or the 5.3V8.  Mostly local driving with occassional bike hauling duties.  I know going in that I will treat this almost exclusively like a car and I do not need or want 4WD.  Looking to spend ~$5,000-ish.

Mileage?
Durability?
Issues to look out for?
Engines &/or transmissions &/or entire brands NOT to buy?

Thanks in advance, --Stuart

I have a 2004 Silverado LT crew cab (4x4 though) that's treated me very well.  It's main use is as a delivery truck for the shop but it gets used as DIMBY transport once a year as well.  It has the 5.3L v8 (sounds great at 6k )

Bought it with about 88k on it and Im around 115k now.  Biggest expense has been both front wheel bearings (not at the same time though)

Runs well, seems to always get 15-16mph, hauls bikes fine, tows a reasonable amount of weight just fine and I've had at least 1500 pounds in the bed before.  If I needed another truck suddenly, I'd probably go get another one.

I have never touched anything else on it.  I just drive it.

I will say, though, the auto climate control is dumb.  Super dumb.  It just doesn't understand what to do and I manually operate the thing just about all the time.  That's about my only complaint.

Hey baby you are prettier than a Blue Whale?







Oh sorry I misread thought you wanted pickup lines for half ton women.....

I had my '04 F150 for nine years and never had a single issue.

Wish I could say the same for the two Jeeps I've had since.....some days I wish I had kept my truck. 

Quote from: Speedbag on November 26, 2014, 10:13:54 AM
I had my '04 F150 for nine years and never had a single issue.

What motor/trans?  How many miles did it have when you got it & when you sold it?

As far as a half ton goes the last thing I had any real experience with was a 1976 GMC Jimmy with the straight six. Mine had the three on the tree which was a bunch of trouble but a Hurst on the floor solved that. Otherwise those mid 70's trucks were good trucks but you are looking for something newer.

I did own a F150 for a few months but I gave it to somebody that needed it more than I did so I don't really have much to say about it, other than Ford Claims the F150 has consistently sold more units than anybody else's Half ton for the last umpteen years so maybe there is something to that.

You want this

Quote from: Grampa on November 26, 2014, 04:40:46 PM


You want this

The 5.3 engine is probably one of their best.  I never did a thing to mine, other than maintenance, and racked up 130,000 miles +.  Imo it's the best money for a Gaser. 

I should have a diesel F250 for sale soon in your price range. 2wd, manual, longbed.

You need a trip to California anyway.

Quote from: Duck-Stew on November 26, 2014, 10:50:49 AM
What motor/trans?  How many miles did it have when you got it & when you sold it?

Mine had the auto/5.4 (was an FX4 regular cab shorty), I bought it new and it had just under 100K when I swapped it.

Really about the only issue that I could see on the horizon with it was needing some paint and body work, due to our lovely salt-covered MN winter roads. Oh, and the tailgate emblem was starting to fade.

Quote from: muskrat on November 26, 2014, 07:16:57 PM
The 5.3 engine is probably one of their best.  I never did a thing to mine, other than maintenance, and racked up 130,000 miles +.  Imo it's the best money for a Gaser. 

+1

I had a 97' Chevy 1500 2WD Cheyenne with the 5.3L V8. My dad bought it around 80k, gave it to me around 160k. I used it till around 215k, Motor was still going strong. I wish i never let it go. No, FHE with Ram/Dodge but i would not go near their offerings from 10yrs ago.

Quote from: Grampa on November 26, 2014, 04:40:46 PM


You want this

No, I want that.

Quote from: Satellite smithy on November 27, 2014, 12:25:20 AM
I should have a diesel F250 for sale soon in your price range. 2wd, manual, longbed.

You need a trip to California anyway.

Deliver it at DITR2015, i''l go with ya.

Stu-you need this:

http://slo.craigslist.org/cto/4754246675.html