Best Winter Truck For $2500?
 

Dont mean to jack to forum with this question but I want to know what you guys suggest and why you are suggesting it? I need a wnter truck and I need it fast. We are projected to get 8-12in of snow the next day or two and my rx7 is getting stored today.:yes:

I was looking at jeep xj's, jeep wranglers "any year", 93-99 dodge ram's, 91-99 dodge dakota's, 92-99 chevy s10's, isuzu trooper's, mazda b2200's etc... I was leaning more towards a jeep cherokee or wrangler with an i6 4.0. My dad use to have one and it was a tank. Nothing ever went wrong on it and he beat the crap out of it.

I will not buy a ford... "sorry ford fans".

anything but they foreign jobs and the jeeps.here in the natti salt seems to playn seek and destroy on jeeps and anything mazda,nissan,izuzu,etc.id go with the S10s or the rams.both have great and most importantly cheap aftermarket support and are very dependable.although im not saying the others arent dependable,but they just rot out very quickly.--josh

Ive heard nothing bad about the 4.0l I6 jeeps. There engines last quite awhile but I have heard a few instances with the trannies being sour and going out. But that doesnt bother me. It only has to last til spring.

Hmm, can you say rebadged ford ranger? Good, now say it three times so you remember!

Out of that bunch the jeep sounds like the best bet.

The dakota, s10 and isuzu are all crap. But cheap, so that may fit you budget better. I am guessing you want a 4x4?

Yea I know their the same thing. I just will not drive anything with a ford badge on it, thats all Im saying. Im a huge hater.

Yep, you sound like a chevy boy to me...

Nope not at all, I dont mind them but their definately not my favorite. I am a dodge fan. I just will not drive a ford.

Out of that list:
#1) Wrangler or Wagoneer
#2) If you can find one of those Rams with a Cummins in it for that price, take it.

the wife has/had a 4x4 '96 cherokee I6 it has over 200k miles on it, she delivered Italian food (pizzas) with it for 5 years in Chicago winters (as well as daily driver) We just handed it down to her nephew a few months ago after it was sitting in the driveway untouched for 3 years. Threw a new battery in it and drove away. Reliable truck !

Buy a used snowmobile? :whistle:

fwd car. 4x4 is just more stuff to fix. I know all about the snow and have made it through winters in a camaro. I have not met anybody yet that "required" 4 wheel drive, but everybody thinks they need it.

If you must have a 4x4 Jeeps are great, and that 4.0 is a very dependable engine. If you won't drive anything with a Ford badge then buy the Mazda, same excellent truck with a different badge on it. B2200, B3000, B4000 they're all great trucks (the different numbers are for what engine it has, 2200 has a 2.2L I-4, 3000 has the 3.0 V6, 4000 has the 4.0L V6). The Ford Ranger has the highest customer loyalty of any vehicle and for good reason, so I'd expect it's Japanese clone to be the same great vehicle.

If you don't HAVE to have a 4x4 spend your money on some good tires (I like Bridgestone Blizzaks) and drive your RX7, that should do just fine in the snow and ice as long as it's not several feet deep. Tires make all the difference, my Mazda Protege will get stuck in 2 inches of snow with my Summer tires on it but just last night I busted through a 2 foot snow drift with my snow tires on it.

I'd say get a Tacoma from the 90's. My dad used a 95 to start his construction company many years ago and many dents scratches and salty Winters in NYC the truck has 170k and it's still running as strong as the day that he bought it.

late 80's nissan/toyota trucks are built tough and to last.. i hate to admit that beings how ima chevy guy (that drives a 86' Dodge Ramcharger and if u dont know what the ramcharger is picture the old dodge truck with square headlights and put a topper on it and cut the middle out..)i've know plenty ppl that drive mainly 87-89 models that they will put forever my friend worked at a nissan dealearship and they had one guy bout his truck in 89' and its still on the road after a million miles!!..

Stay away from the isuzus. They tend to have computer problem and finding a used computer is tough. Jeeps with the 6 are pretty good, the only problem I ever had with mine was a transfer case chain. S10 are also pretty good but fuel pumps can be a problem (not that common). Mine went out at 45k but that seemed like an isolated case. A Tacoma would be a great find but they tend to be a bit more expensive.

-JB