Challenge priced pickups? Doable? What to look for?

My buddy and I are talking about getting a cheap truck. Just to tow my trailer around (3500lbs ish) maybe tow a small enclosed RC racing trailer and haul a golf cart in the bed to race tracks. Since this would mostly just be abused for hauling and towing I would prefer full size and even better if we could find a 3/4ton

We are in NC, do I shop craigslist? or go for copart or something like that? How many miles is too many miles? Obviously we dont want it breaking down in expensive ways but I also don't mind it being old and somewhat beat.

Or are trucks that cheap going to be anathema and not worth it? The trucks I was looking at for myself were the GMT800s 2000-2004 3/4tons most likely crew cab but thats more the 7-10k range

Keep in mind that trucks can be the basis of a small business. They can make money. So they tend to be priced higher than an equivalent car.

True, a lot of the landscaping trucks I see are pretty beat to hell but still in service

I'd just look for the least rusty domestic full size you can find. In that price range, I think you'll do better with a GMT400, the GMT800s are just barely dipping into that price range and they ALL seem to have rusted out rockers. But the iron block LS engines seem to run 250k+ with regularity.

That's good info thanks. Yeah something that the interior sucks but it drives/hauls fine and looks worn cosmetically would be perfect.

At least here in WNC any 2wd domestic v8 truck is 1500-2000 minimum.

https://asheville.craigslist.org/cto/6160326086.html Is this a contender?

MrChaos wrote: At least here in WNC any 2wd domestic v8 truck is 1500-2000 minimum.

I'm in Raleigh so I can't imagine its cheaper out here

Seems like a lot of these on craigslist in that price range say they need transmissions

I like municipal trucks. They get their share of abuse but they are also on a maintenance schedule and get fixed when they break.

I bought a Bronco from the Environmental Police and with 190,000 miles, the oil was still clean when I changed it

Try Municibid.com

Since you are in Raleigh. Fiscal Year for the state ends at the end of the month so trucks and stuff might start hitting surplus auctions

That's a great idea. We were just talking about police type auctions. And I saw what looked like an old animal control F250 on a site and had the same thought