How many miles would you be okay with? (work truck buyers guide?)

On a 5-lug/auto/2nd gen?

I've seen a bunch of ~170,000 mile trucks that cost in the mid-$6000's and they're awfully tempting. What do I need to look out for on a truck that age?

Here's a little background, I'm looking at buying a Tacoma for business use. I don't need anything particularly sexy, but I need something with good mileage, low maintenance, and a cheap initial purchase price. Basically, I want to only have to change oil, tires and brake pads.
What it will be doing:
-Hauling dirt
-Hauling appliances
-Hauling trash
-Driving my ass all around North Carolina
-Maybe pulling a small utility trailer
-Possibly having other people drive it that can't drive a manual.

What it won't be doing:
-Jumping dunes
-Rock Crawling at Moab
-Drifting on a racetrack
-Towing 35" boats or campers

So what do you think? I've considered Ford Rangers too, but I'm worried about the reliability. If I'm fixing the thing every weekend, its not doing its job correctly.

 

Actually I really don't want 4x4 for this truck--its not going offroad, (gravel roads are probably all its going to see) and it never really snows hard here. Also, 4x4's seem to get beat on worse so its harder to find them in good shape.