What 4x4 pickup

Need a <$3000 GM/Ford/Dodge extended cab small truck with automatic for weekend hauling and driving to work in bad snow. I like the dakota, it is a little bigger and more comfortable than a ranger. The ford auto hubs and electronic awd switching seem to be an issue. I know whatever I buy will be high mileage but the use will be light so I am not too concerned. Which 4x4 drivetrain is more reliable as mileage approached 200K?

Would a Comanche fit the bill? They rule.

^they are really awesome little trucks. why no japs? if japs were in the mix the obvious answer would be tacoma/t100/hilux.

he wants the extended cab

I think I've seen T100/Tacomas with extended cabs around here but they seem to be very rare.

Dakota fan here.

I think if you follow the conclusion arrived at on page two of this thread you might find the answer is an AWD Chevy Astro.
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/nissan-frontier-vs-tacoma-vs/41771/page1/
My guess is that for far less money you will find a fresher example that has ample seating, ample towing and ample snow capability.
One quick example: 1995, 96k miles, $2,500
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/2696731704.html

Mild lift kits are reasonably priced. Inspiration...

http://www.overlandvans.com/0104_liftkits.html

BoxheadTim wrote: I think I've seen T100/Tacomas with extended cabs around here but they seem to be very rare.

And not less than $3k

I was coming in here to whore out the Astro, but I see I've been beaten!

Not everyone wants a van. Some people actually want a pickup with an open bed.

Now if only one could be had with a diesel in this country.

Van won't work. We carry 14' kayaks and putting them on the roof of a van doesn't work for me. Has to be a pickup. I am mostly concerned with the reliability of the transfer case and engine between GM, Ford and Dodge.

If putting them on the roof won't work, then I think you really need a trailer. Even with an 8 foot bed, that's still 6 feet of kayak sticking up in the air!

Vans are usually much cheaper than comparable pickups.

Oh, and while I know this isn't what you're looking for, I can't resist the urge to leave this here:

I had a 98 F150 that was ridiculously reliable. The 97-2003 F150s were available with a manual 4x4 shifter... the old-school stick on the floor. It was far more refined than an old dana 20, you just gently yank and its in - period. No vacuum/electric hubs to operate, no computer generated pulse-width-modulated crap, just a physical manual connection to the transfer case.

I sold it for a GMC sonoma for the MPG and I'm still kicking myself. I would buy another F150 in a heartbeat.

I will also add... mine had 130k on it when I sold it and it didn't leak a single drop of anything. It never burned any oil either. The Mod motors are a bit complex to some, but I never had any idea since it was so ridiculously reliable. Under the hood it appeared that everything was very easy to access; coil, plugs, wires, fuel filter, etc.

I've owned about 30 vehicles and I would say that F150 was by far the most reliable, most trustworthy, and most steadfast vehicle I've owned. It was the Camry of trucks. The only one I would rank beside it was my 95 F250 powerstroke. The 98 I took off-road plenty of times, I abused it as a shop truck where I worked, I used it as a camper, and at the end of it all I could hose out the rubber floors and it looked brand new again.

(and I sold it for exactly what I paid)

Hit up Ranger50 for any Trans/Transfer case questions. He used to work in a Trans shop, he seemed to know about the Big Three.

Or me... I work at one now.

42RE and 46RE are expensive to build and (due to the check ball in the cooler lines) frequently fail

4R70Ws are middle-of-the-road when it comes to rebuilds but are pretty stout. The torque converters wear out before the tranny does. The aftermarket has solved this issue.

4L60Es have a tendency to crack input drums, but are cheap to repair.

If I had my choice I would take a 46RE with the check valve removed and an external aftermarket cooler.... if I didn't have to have the cheap Dodge truck surrounding it.

In reply to curtis73:

Good to know that you work at one. Ranger50 was the only one I knew of on here that had worked at one.

I'd like to learn more about the 46RE, because I'm not sure the Trans shop rebuilt mine right in my Durango.

I worked at one for 2 years.

I also seem to remember that 4wd 2g dakotas were a PITA to r&r the trans/tcase on. Of course the idea is to not have to do it, right? hehe.

Also im assuming the only reason Curtis didnt mention sun shells in the 4l60s is because most of them have already broken and been replaced by now because they all break.

I prefer the 4r70 out of those 3 trans from a reliability standpoint.

E30?

Wimp. Three 18' sea kayaks on my old Golf!

I'd go for the Tacoma. But that's just me. And I like pickups more than vans.

Keith wrote: Wimp. Three 18' sea kayaks on my old Golf! I'd go for the Tacoma. But that's just me. And I like pickups more than vans.

The most I have done is a 14' and a 9' on my neon.

I'd go for a +'98 Ranger for the better front suspension. I heard the ohc 4.0 need to be removed for timing chains...

But actually I'd forego any small pickup and just get the best deal for full size truck with a front straight axle with manual hubs and manual transmission. For me it would probably be a '79 F150

I like my F150.

Forget the brand. Just find the one in the best condition for the price you want to pay.