Reliable Cheap Work Truck

My dad lost his job a few months ago (no more company truck), seeing that i'm at college he is driving my truck for the time being. However, this summer i desperately need to work and i need the truck back since i'm a carpenter. So, his plan is to pick up a cheap truck under 3,500. I will be the one finding the truck, since i am much more technologically/mechanically inclined and have more experience working on cars.

He loves my truck (aside from driving stick), however i think a yota would be to expensive/hard to find. I havn't had the time to do much research, since i'm trying to salvage my gpa this semester. So any advice/experience is greatly appreciated.

Here's what i'm looking for:

Good automatic transmission
Decent Gas milleage
Reliable
Easy for me to work on
Can cary a decent amount of lumber/tools
Doesn't really need to be 4x4, since we have my truck for that
not a complete dog powerwise

I know for that amount of money, it will likely have well over 100k miles and not be in the best condition. His work truck's over the years were all base model F-150, which gave him nothing but problems. He has been making out fine in my much smaller truck, so i would think a ranger/s10/dakota... might do the job. There isn't going to be a whole lot of time for me to find this so i would really appreciate any insight. Such as reliable years/engines/tranny's..etc.

 

An old toyota truck?

 

probably the dakota or ranger, id suggest staying away from s10's

 

That would be perfect, but they're to expensive and difficult to find in only about a month.

 

I think the ranger would be the best bet. You always see those old ones that never die unless you drove it without oil. My dad had an early 90s Ranger V6 5spd 2wd and drove the hell out of that. Never had to do anything except change the oil and the timing chain. He gave it to one of his friends and its still going strong.

 

taco or pretaco. 95-99 tacos are going for under $5k. and pretacos can be had for about $2k. the older 22re engines are great lil bastards. also condsider an older frontier or hardbody. rangers have shit transmissions and i would never trust a dodge.

 

http://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/2330069532.html

http://cnj.craigslist.org/ctd/2328603239.html

http://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/2304315083.html

http://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/2262290324.html

http://cnj.craigslist.org/ctd/2248613680.html

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/2324661210.html

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto/2287174343.html

http://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/2332727696.html

http://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/2330713376.html

http://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/2325934875.html

Craigslist and ebay are your friends

Personally Id look at getting a older taco like 80s model or a 80 4runner and chop the back off!

I listed some stuff but dodge and ford their know for having shitty trannys its up to you though!

Good luck to you and your father and sorry he lost his job! you need anything or anymore help PM me bud

Ty