[Anthony]

So im 16 and will be getting my driving N soon, I want a truck that is like the dodge cummins 1st gen. I like square trucks, but since i hardly know anything about mechanics ( im training on my c level weilding ticket ) i thought i would ask you guys whats a good powerful truck that i can keep a stick weilder on the back with some tools thats great for farm work and for driving in the woods, it must how ever have a square body ! so can you guys name some nice trucks for me.

-Anthony

 

[Anthony]

diesel diesel diesel, i live in a hick town were a truck that goes vroooom vroooom gets all the ladies !

 

[Leon]

I would look on craigslist or local for a Toyota pickup to be honest. Better on gas and more reliable. If not, go chevy. Get under it and look for oil leaks first off. Avoid anything that drips or is wet. Watch for big rust holes. I would also check out Jeep cherokees and samurais if they are around. If you absolutely must go dodge, at least get something 95 and up so you got fuel injection. Shy away from transmission dip sticks that smell burnt.

 

[Jazzman]

diesel diesel diesel, i live in a hick town were a truck that goes vroooom vroooom gets all the ladies !

Is the above what you care about? Do you want a woman that be "caught" based on what vehicle you drive?

And best take a look at the maintenance costs as regards diesels , I doubt that you're ready to support even the oil changes.

 

[Jazzman]

I would look on craigslist or local for a Toyota pickup to be honest. Better on gas and more reliable. If not, go chevy. Get under it and look for oil leaks first off. Avoid anything that drips or is wet. Watch for big rust holes. I would also check out Jeep cherokees and samurais if they are around. If you absolutely must go dodge, at least get something 95 and up so you got fuel injection. Shy away from transmission dip sticks that smell burnt.

Good advice , except for " go chevy" that's entirely dependent upon the specific year and motor. GM ( for instance) had a habit of using phenolic resin timing gears , cams that go flat at 30k miles etc.etc. I won't do SBCs any more unless I build 'em myself , and BBCs are junk compared to the big fords and the Chrysler RB motors.

Toyota....well a 22r powered Toyota would be the smartest choice this kid could make.

 

[kevincali]

My daily driver is a 1972 dodge d100. The first year of the square body dodge you like. The body changed a bit in 80 something, but stayed the same until 93.

My truck has the 318 3 speed and about 500,000 miles. Motor was rebuilt around 10? years ago. It has done everything I asked. Even a bed FULL of 14ft 2x4's when I repitched my roof. It can and HAS done 200 mile round trips with no problem. If I had the money, I would do a 4bt or 6bt diesel swap.

I would look for a 90-93 d250 diesel. I've seen trucks with almost 1 million miles and still daily drive dependably (until it was totaled)

Something to consider, no matter what brand, is maintenance. My 40 year old truck keeps up with traffic, and is dependable because I keep up on the maintenance. You could by something that is 5 years old, and be a piece of crap because of high mileage and neglect.

My motor flat spotted a lobe on the cam. Being broke, I put in a 360 cam from a project motor, and BAM, I'm back on the road. If you're mechanically inclined, get something you're comfortable working on. My first car was a 1985 Nissan 300zx. It was an auto, and I wanted a stick, so I converted it to 5 speed. So if you can't find exactly what you want, you could always fix it up to your liking.

Good luck. I'm rooting for the dodge, but I'm biased

 

[kevincali]

Its not letting me edit my first post, so I'll ad my after thought here.

Summer 2012, I made a 1500 mile trip from SoCal to Reno,then Arizona and back in my dodge. no hiccups except a broken crossmember from hacked exhaust, where they torched out part of the shock crossmember, to run pipes out the back.

So don't rule out the older stuff. Fuel injection is nice, but my truck fires right up cold, and is instantly driveable. Fuel injection and computers are just another thing to fail. I had points close on my driving to Huntington beach (100 miles one way) one morning (about 3:30am) and I just popped the hood and re-gapped them. Drove the rest of the way there and back home. If there was a computer failure, I would have been dead in the water. I have since converted to a stock electronic ignition set up from a couple year newer truck, and haven't dealt with points for 5 years, or had a "computer" failure.

Which again comes back to maintenance. If it looks beat, it probably is. A bonus is if the owner has records, otherwise it's just his word that it was maintained.

Again, good luck

 

[Leon]

My daily driver is a 1972 dodge d100. The first year of the square body dodge you like. The body changed a bit in 80 something, but stayed the same until 93.

My truck has the 318 3 speed and about 500,000 miles. Motor was rebuilt around 10? years ago. It has done everything I asked. Even a bed FULL of 14ft 2x4's when I repitched my roof. It can and HAS done 200 mile round trips with no problem. If I had the money, I would do a 4bt or 6bt diesel swap.

I would look for a 90-93 d250 diesel. I've seen trucks with almost 1 million miles and still daily drive dependably (until it was totaled)

Something to consider, no matter what brand, is maintenance. My 40 year old truck keeps up with traffic, and is dependable because I keep up on the maintenance. You could by something that is 5 years old, and be a piece of crap because of high mileage and neglect.

My motor flat spotted a lobe on the cam. Being broke, I put in a 360 cam from a project motor, and BAM, I'm back on the road. If you're mechanically inclined, get something you're comfortable working on. My first car was a 1985 Nissan 300zx. It was an auto, and I wanted a stick, so I converted it to 5 speed. So if you can't find exactly what you want, you could always fix it up to your liking.

Good luck. I'm rooting for the dodge, but I'm biased

This guy has a mean machine and I'd go this way unless it was a 22r Toyota like we were saying. If you can afford the fuel or make your own, dude's dodge military truck is a tough contender in any category even when compared to my FJ cruiser or a Range Rover. I chose the FJ cruiser because it had big out of the box appeal and was proven in most countries as a desirable vehicle. I would also check out 4x4 4-runners and full size sequoia pickups.

 

[ozo]

Here is one of mine with a legal DOT bed
6.7L

 

[Anthony]

Is the above what you care about? Do you want a woman that be "caught" based on what vehicle you drive?

And best take a look at the maintenance costs as regards diesels , I doubt that you're ready to support even the oil changes.

uh yea thats pretty much the main reason.

 

[kevincali]

This is my 72 on the way back from Reno. That is Mono lake in the background

And this was on a closed course

Maintenance is what its about. I wouldn't pass by an older truck. It doesn't matter WHAT make model or year. If you're want to make a girls panties drop, it can be done in ANY vehicle. I once was in my fiances sisters beat to shit van. (She wasn't my fiance THEN) I looked over and this BEAUTIFUL girl waved at me :grin: It's about YOU. NOT the vehicle you're driving

 

[mudhawg304]

You really need to get a dodge cummins. They run forever, easy to maintain and never have any hiccups. Anyone who says diesels let alone cummins diesels are worth it have no idea what they are talking about. You'll be fine. Just read some books and if you get stumped Youtube has a video to help you. Plus you can run many more fuel sources if times get tough. Can you do that gas engines? No I don't think so, lol

 

[MikeyPrepper]

Def agreed...Cummings

 

[ozo]

Pre-6.7L Cummins....
as in a 5.9L
The newer ones (2008) like my red one....[post#9]
very nice....but you don't want the stuff to deal with...
under the hood.

 

[StarPD45]

Is the above what you care about? Do you want a woman that be "caught" based on what vehicle you drive?

He's 16. What do you think? :lol: