I know this maybe a difficult question to answer because every truck is different but in general how reliable are these trucks? I drive about 45 miles round trip to school everyday and this would be my daily driver.

Here is the truck I am considering buying
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...ice=&cardist=8.

Its a little rough body wise (rust on lower door panal and rocker panel). I noticed while looking under the truck there was a fair amount of oil build up (was there for quite some time) but only a few tiny drops on the ground. Is this something of major concern?

I did not get to look under the hood so when I do is there anything you recommend looking for? Or anything to listen for while taking a drive in it?
O yea, it’s a 93 with 264,000

Thanks for any help you can provide

 

Well, the mileage isnt all that bad.... the rust in the roof concerns me, these trucks are prone to rusting thru teh rain rail area above the windsheild from teh inside, so look at that closely. It looks like its missing a couple marker lights up top, probably why its rusting there.

For $4000 you can find nicer ones body wise...
The auto tranny shuld be checked out completely, and of course , all teh fluids.
Check around the injector pump for signs of leakage, and check for play in teh front end and steering....

IMHO, I wouldnt pay that for that particular truck just based on what I am seeing and reading, but thats just me...( of course, i havent driven it either)

 

thanks for the help, i just went and looked at it again and came to the conclusion that i will never buy a truck from them. I called before i went down and asked if it was for sale, they said yes. I get down there and they i told me it was sold. This is the second time they have done this to me, i guess they don't want to sell trucks to young people (i am 21). Sorry end of rant...

any more help would be great

 

I've heard nothing but negative things about those guys.

It had roof rot anyhow, better that someone else owns it.

 

I will go ahead and say this:

If that same truck were in my area, and would start and drive, it would sell for that money the day the sign was hung in the window, especially it being an extended cab; and, the guy's phone would ring off the wall for a couple more weeks, people asking about it.

There are more angles to look at a situation like that.

It is a Cummins = BIG PLUS = the real reason to be interested

It is 4x4 = BIG PLUS

It does have a New Process 205 Transfer-Case = REAL BIG PLUS

It is an extended cab, thus the frame of an extended cab = REAL BIG PLUS


If push came to shove, and the body rust just got ahead of your abilities to cure it, gas-burner trucks with real good sheet-metal, of the same vintage, can be bought for next to nothing.

Swap sheet-metal and you then have a real nice Cummins truck.

 

same happened to me, I drove 2.5 hours to have them tell me it just sold. That was last year.They ask a lot for junks.

 

Yeah, I'd have given 4k for that thing in a heartbeat, I'd love a club cab 4x4 first gen, and around here the gassers might as well be free so a truck with some rust isn't a bad thing.

 

are you talking about grandview too??

 

found another in the area i am going to take a look at. I know you can't tell much by the pictures but they are below. This one appears to be in much better condition. It has a new alternator, starter, rebuilt turbo, brand new transmission, rears where just serviced, complete tuneup. Also has 214000 and asking 5500 plus an additional 500 for the plow.

Does the price sound reasonable?

 

What's hiding under the recent paint and the cab visor?

 

don't know, are you suspecting rust? there a peers to be a logo or some sort of symbol on the drivers door, maybe a company truck of some sort.

 

Yeah, the paint looks recent and on a plow truck (plenty of exposure to salt and snow) that worries me. Cab visor might be hiding roof rot, take a look with a mirror for bubbling up there. The fender and rocker look good in the pic, but you need to take a good look at everything (floorboards too) before you pay what they are asking. $5500 is kind of a premium price for a bare bones regular cab plow truck.

 

I will take a good look.

i see your pretty close to my location, do you know of any trucks in the area for sale and in good shape?

 

Nope. If I did I'd have a collection.

 

The other thing that would make me wonder is the fact that there is a PA wieght class sticker and no safety inspection sticker. Like Dave said go over it with a fine tooth comb. I have seen quite a few first gens in PA with a bad case of "roof rot"