What Pickup Truck?

Is the 4x4 for off-roading? If so duallys get extremely wide for most trails. I'd look for a straight axle Dodge with a Cummins or swap in a Hemi.

Also for towing or off-roading an automatic with proper cooling beats a manual hands down.

I don't know how nice and new of a truck you want, but 10k won't get you that much if you need a crew cab diesel and 4x4. I would say 90s f350 with 7.3 would be your best bet. If you can compromise with a 2wd you can get a lot better truck for the money. For what you want to do with it, I would probably be looking at a 2500hd suburban gasser, or a 2wd diesel. 2wd diesels haven't been ruined by flatbillers.

GMT-400. Can't beat that chassis.

In reply to Tom Suddard:

7.3 Powerstroke ambulance with full size box.

914Driver wrote: My first thought was for a Centurion type vehicle, but caught in an overnight rain storm in the pits, a van would offer a little more spreading out room. E-350? How committed are you to the 4WD? Dan

That looks oddly appealing to me and I just simply don't/want need a big vehicle. In a similar vein................I am sure you probably can, but can you get a trailer with with a living/camper space that will also carry a vehicle? Just wondering.

They all are good. Best deal. what trips your trigger.

BTW: 4wd not needed. automatic preferred for trailer use.

After having just completed this search (after 4 months) I finally found a great truck. My desires were exactly like yours; diesel, manual, 4x4, for under $7k.

It doesn't exist.

First of all, the number of manual diesels out there are slim. The ones that do exist are so expensive it makes me want to vomit.

But, if you ask me, the best truck is the Ford. Materials last forever, build quality is intense. Expect buzz and rattle free trucks with low NVH. The answer of which diesel is best used to be easy; cummins. But there are plenty that I would love to have; Dmax, 6.7 stroke, 7.3 stroke, Cummins... all fantastic. I've owned them all except the 6.7L. I've also had a 6.5TD that I loved.

Whichever you would choose, the NV5600 is a rocking box, but will be tough to mate to the Dmax. The ZF6 is also a rocking box.

My dream truck is a ford truck with a Cummins engine and ZF6 transmission.

I am basically in the same market or will be very soon. My different needs are the wife needs to be able to comfortable drive it sans trailer, no need for a diesel and I focus on the points brought up early in the thread of how it should be better for 99% of regular non towing type driving and good for towing if not great for the 1% towing use it will likely see.

4WD or AWD are a must as I have seen multiple times truck/trailer combos even without the car on board get stuck in the paddock grass in spring and fall rainy seasons. The truck would also be used for the worst(MI/OH) winter weather. Luckily no mountain trailer towing will ever be done and towing a ~ 1700lb car eases the load.

Stampie wrote: Chevy military m1008 and do a crew cab short bed swap with an nv4500 trans. You can't deny the sexiness.

I've nearly bid on those soooo many times. But I don't really think they're modern enough for long hauls.

All very good points. Thanks, everyone.

Looks like a 6' bed is the answer. I hqve driven crew cab/long bed trucks, and they're a PITA now that I think about it.

No heavy off-roaring, but expedition type stuff and recovering other things that get stuck off road occasionally.

Daily driving: I'm not too worried. This won't be a daily. That probably means I don't need a diesel, but it seems wrong to buy so much truck, then skimp on the engine.

Vans: No.

Excursion: Hmmmm. Did they ever come with a stick?

Tom Suddard wrote:

Stampie wrote: Chevy military m1008 and do a crew cab short bed swap with an nv4500 trans. You can't deny the sexiness.

I've nearly bid on those soooo many times. But I don't really think they're modern enough for long hauls.

Swap seats, decent sterio, maybe build a center console, dynamat the crap out of it? Also, I think these have like 4.56s in them stock, so a gearing swap for highway driving might be in order. Could maybe even swap a 6.0L ls in budget...

You can't deny the badassery. The k5 blazer version has always intrigued me, partly because I don't need something anywhere near as heavy duty as pickups and partly because the k5 is probably the most redneck mass production vehicle known to man.

If you are stuck on a Manual, then find the best overall truck with a Manual you can and go for it. So few trucks are made with manual Trans that you won't have many choices. Especially if you want modern.

Crew cab manual transmission trucks are hard to find. Most people special order them and keep them for a long time. They also command premiums, combined with the diesel tax and these trucks will be out of your price range.

Case in point. http://m.ebay.com/itm/Ford-F-250-XLT-Crew-Cab-Pickup-4-Door-/161950641133?nav=SEARCH This is kinda what you want, but she's got 250k miles and it's over your budget.

Tom Suddard wrote:

Stampie wrote: Chevy military m1008 and do a crew cab short bed swap with an nv4500 trans. You can't deny the sexiness.

I've nearly bid on those soooo many times. But I don't really think they're modern enough for long hauls.

No manual Trans. Cannot carry 4. Does not meet your criteria.

What are you racing that weighs 4000 pounds?

Other than that I would suggest a full size van and if it was in the budget a Sprinter. 5000 pound tow rating.

Ever tried backing a trailer into a tight space with a manual transmission ?

iceracer wrote: Ever tried backing a trailer into a tight space with a manual transmission ?

I do it every time I put my car trailer back at home. I don't get what the big deal is.

As for the truck you want Tom, the price range is going to be your biggest issue. Finding a manual 4x4 diesel isn't going to be that hard, but finding one for under 10k that has anything less then 200k miles on it is going to be tricky.

Stick to the short bed, and put sleeping arrangements in the trailer.

Crew cab long beds are like trying to maneuver a split level house through an autocross.

bearmtnmartin wrote: What are you racing that weighs 4000 pounds? Other than that I would suggest a full size van and if it was in the budget a Sprinter. 5000 pound tow rating.

He said 4000 lb race car plus gear.

That is at least 8000 lb towing capacity by the time you add the weight of the trailer, tools, spares, 4 people, gear, etc. That would nix the Sprinter.

Tom Suddard wrote: No heavy off-roaring, but expedition type stuff and recovering other things that get stuck off road occasionally.

This can be accomplished with a winch on a 2WD.

Have you ever driven a manual truck? They are no where near as fun to drive as a Miata. It's a workout.

Pickups are the most pointless invention known to man. Full size SUV's and Van's do everything pick ups do with the added advantage of keeping things dry and saf . Also they tend to be easier to load stuff in and out of without a step ladder. Best of all you don't look like you're planning on marrying your sister when driving one

Excursion or E250 based conversion van are the best bet I'd say.

iceracer wrote: Ever tried backing a trailer into a tight space with a manual transmission ?

5-6 days a week for 7 years.

Tom Suddard wrote: Excursion: Hmmmm. Did they ever come with a stick?

Lots of work ok? Manual swapped Excursion.

Adrian_Thompson wrote: Pickups are the most pointless invention known to man. Full size SUV's and Van's do everything pick ups do with the added advantage of keeping things dry and saf . Also they tend to be easier to load stuff in and out of without a step ladder. Best of all you don't look like you're planning on marrying your sister when driving one Excursion or E250 based conversion van are the best bet I'd say.

Good luck towing these with an SUV or a van:

Good luck hauling a fridge upright, or a load of hay bales!

SVreX wrote:

Tom Suddard wrote: No heavy off-roaring, but expedition type stuff and recovering other things that get stuck off road occasionally.

This can be accomplished with a winch on a 2WD. Have you ever driven a manual truck? They are no where near as fun to drive as a Miata. It's a workout.

Absolutely. Manual trucks are the best, and I've driven and towed with them before.

bearmtnmartin wrote: What are you racing that weighs 4000 pounds? Other than that I would suggest a full size van and if it was in the budget a Sprinter. 5000 pound tow rating.

New Camaro.