Buying a pickup for 2,000$

[Pronk]

I've never bought a car before, and I was just wondering if I could get some advice on what to look for at that price? I want to build the camper myself so I'm going to make it light as possible. My needs are few.

I know to ask about these

Title
Milage
Transmission
Motor
Engine
Bed size (needs to be min. 6' x 5')
Weight limit

Anything important I'm missing?

Oh, is 100,000 miles a lot, considering? I plan on moving only every few weeks, in short bursts if necessary to save on gas $$.

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[ArtW]

A lot depends on where you are and how 'pretty' you want, I've seen, near me, two full size truck basically the same, with one being really nice looking, the other all beat up, work truck
'one was 2k, the other was less than 1k
fullsize VANS are hard to find and usually for sale 'as is' (broken) or cast a lot
for that sort of money, you better know how to REPAIR what you buy, almost guaranteed you'll have to

 

[Pronk]

Pretty isn't important, just needs to run and meet my basic needs. I am very low on options as far as buying a vehicle, my credit is shot from college so I can't get a loan, and I want to avoid having to make payments as much as possible, which means saving, and I don't make that much. I live in Pittsburgh if that helps.

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[ArtW]

I have no idea of the Pittsburgh truck market, as I live in Texas. I have relatives in Pottstown, but I hate them so I never go there lol
In Pennsylvania, rust will be a big issue, be sure you look at the chassis closely
100k isn't a lot of miles on most good platforms, and so far as I know all the pickup platforms are pretty solid, though some year Toyota v 6 motors had a problem with the heads warping or cracking or something, so i'm not a fan of the Tundra
If you can, get a full size long bed, sleeping in a 6foot bed sucks
how much camper do you intend to build, one like Bob's, on his old F150? or more like a cap?

 

[highdesertranger]

I would recommend a long bed 3/4 ton as minimum. highdesertranger

 

[Pronk]

@ArtW Like Bob's F150. I "discovered" truck campers through Mobile Rik's site, so I'm using his design as an idea springboard.

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[muddy]

Will be probably tough to find a non-majorly damaged truck with ~100k miles for 2k. I've been looking seriously for several weeks and haven't seen anything like that, except an old Chevy whose odometer turned out to be wrong.

 

[wagoneer]

I got lucky finding a 1995 Dodge ram cummins with a camper and 99k on the clock for 7300 keep up the faith

 

[muddy]

Yep....on a low budget like ours patience is the name of the game

 

[ArtW]

then you for sure want a 3/4 ton, Bob himself says his effy was overloaded
How hard that is depends on your area, I can find cheapish 3/4 tons here pretty easy, and serviceable ones at that, but I have trouble finding vans, whereas others seem to find vans cheap n easy, but can't find trucks
whatever you find post it up for other's opinions on it

 

[muddy]

ArtW where are you in TX? I'm in Houston and have been looking for a 3/4 ton truck for a while, haven't seen anything really great in the sub-$6k range. Probably more conservative here about buying older vehicles as I am not a mechanic.

 

[ArtW]

Muddy I am in Garwood, about halfway between Columbus and El Campo
the trucks I see might not appeal to you, I like older trucks and I'm not afraid of ugly, I saw a white 95 chevy 3/4 ton work truck just the other day with side boxes and a monster ladder rack going for less than 1K, running but with a miss
Miss don't scare me, we don't smog where I'm at (a 95 is exempt anyway I think)
unfortunately the trucks I really like, 73-87 chevy's, are now 'classics' and demand big $$$
if you come through Columbus during the 3-7 pm time frame and you have time, step into the dairy dept of HEB and look for the big older redheaded d00d, except on tuesdays and thursdays

 

[masterplumber]

You definitely need to be looking at older models. But they can be had. I bought an '86 Ford 3/4 ton 4x4 in Colorado and fixed it up for work. Had about $2000 in it by the time I replaced the carb and put new front brakes on it. The body was beat because it had been a construction laborers truck. Drove it for a while then sold it to my son when he needed a truck for what I had in it. He drove it from here to Baja and back, then to Kansas and back twice so far with no problems other than a starter. When he leaves for New Zealand in Nov my other son is going to buy it from him for $1000. They made a deal a little cheaper than what it would go for on Craig's List - but it still would probably only go for $1500. It seems like around here to get a decent price you have to get older than about 1995.

 

[muddy]

Muddy I am in Garwood, about halfway between Columbus and El Campo
the trucks I see might not appeal to you, I like older trucks and I'm not afraid of ugly, I saw a white 95 chevy 3/4 ton work truck just the other day with side boxes and a monster ladder rack going for less than 1K, running but with a miss
Miss don't scare me, we don't smog where I'm at (a 95 is exempt anyway I think)
unfortunately the trucks I really like, 73-87 chevy's, are now 'classics' and demand big $$$
if you come through Columbus during the 3-7 pm time frame and you have time, step into the dairy dept of HEB and look for the big older redheaded d00d, except on tuesdays and thursdays

You're probably right about that, but if you see any high falutin trucks (like late 90s early 00s) feel free to pass them along.

Will keep that in mind in case I drive to Austin again.

 

[ArtW]

I'll be sure to do that, if my 'hi falutin' radar still works

 

[Pronk]

Thanks for the advice guys. I found a couple trucks on CL that seem like they might work, just have to make sure I can afford any repairs I know I'll have to do.

Now I'm just wondering if it will be worth it to take the bed off so I can cut some weight and give myself a little more room.

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[ArtW]

how will taking the bed off give you more room?
I would use the bed as the base of my build for doing a 'Bob' style camper, no way will you get near the rigidity of metal at the same weight, building from wood

 

[Pronk]

I've seen people make flatbed style campers and it was just something I was considering. Seems to add a little more space width wise.

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[ArtW]

well that makes sense, of course the added expense of buyimg a flatbed to mount in place of the bed would be a pretty big boo, or did you plan to build that, as well? I do know of a few folks in off road community who've built their own, but they weld, too, and I don't

 

[highdesertranger]

you don't need a flat bed unless you want the camper to be removable and you want to be able to use the flat bed. just build the camper right on the frame of the truck. to make it more rigid, webbing is your friend. highdesertranger