Tips for Hunters On Buying a Used Truck Whether Diesel or Gas

Photo by Simon Berger on Unsplash

So much of life is about making good decisions. Choosing where you want to live and who you want to live with are big ones. Choosing a career path is another biggie. 

For hunters -- North, South, East or West -- one of the decisions you'll be making is what kind of used truck you need and how to find it. I say used because it's doubtful that you want to be abusing a shiny new $70,000 pickup into the hardscrabble canyons or timber-strewn back woods to get your next buck. 

Last week, Outdoor Life published a useful article on this very topic titled "The Best Used Trucks For Hunters." The story by Scott Murdock carries an informative subhead that explains why this subject is important. "There is no hierarchy of brands in the truck market. Every auto manufacturer has made quality vehicles, clunkers, and everything in between." 

The problem emerges when you try to find a suitable, reliable vehicle in the used truck market. Whether pursuing a diesel or gas guzzler, Murdock believes the right truck for you is not impossible to find. First, however, you need to get a clear picture of what your looking for. 

PRIMARY CONSIDERATIONS

1. A truck that can go where other vehicles can't.
In response to this first point the author gets into a little breakdown of the difference between AWD and 4-wheel drive. The latter is stronger and more capable driving over obstacles.

2. Consider cargo room.
An SUV might be fine if you are hunting small game and have a dog or two. On the other hand, for deer or elk, a truck bed is pretty much a requirement. Easy to hose out afterwards, too.

3. Are you towing?
If you're bringing a boat, camper or trailer loaded with ATVs and gear, then you need to consider what you've got under the hood. Half-ton trucks will suffice in most situations, but for heavier loads you'll be best served by a heavy-duty truck with a diesel power plant.

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ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS

If you buy something small that doesn't work out, you can always use it as a doorstop. But if you buy a used truck that's a lemon, it's much more difficult to recycle. Here are some suggestions on how to find a good one, according to Outdoor Life.

1. Put brand loyalty aside.
Probably a hard one for some folks who might consider such a purchase to be almost like cheating. Murdock notes that every brand has both great vehicles and clunkers. Be open-minded, he suggests.

2. Only pay for features you want.
You're buying a hunting truck, not a Lexus. Four-wheel drive and towing capacity is all you really need. If you want more than that, upgrade your hunting shack.

3. Do your homework.
Avoid the temptation to buy on impulse. Make a list of wants and needs, then go looking. Murdock writes, "Your next step should be an online forum dedicated to the exact year, make, and model of the truck(s) that interest you." (NOTE: There is a list of diesel forums in the right hand column here at the Blue Flame Blog which can help you in your search.) Pay attention to the pros and cons from others' experiences.

4. Read the signs.
By this he means, look closely to see if the truck has been maintained. Ask for maintenance records as well, if available. If you find a truck that has been taken care of, it will probably take care of you, even if it has high mileage.

* * *
This is a superb article with a lot more useful information. The next section goes into the matter of how much you should expect to spend on a suitable used truck. The following section discusses mileage matters and why lower miles isn't always better. From there he makes a case for four-wheel drive. After this he gives his opinion regarding gas or diesel. He gives a strong thumbs up to diesel power if your towing because of the torque these engines generate.

The last section gets brand specific. The author says the best half ton to look for is a 1990-2006 Chevrolet 1500 or GMC 1500. And the best diesel, in his view is the 1994-1998 Dodge Ram 2500 or 3500. If you're going midsize, he likes the 2015 to present Chevrolet Colorado ZR2. In the SUV category he directs readers to the 1997-2001 Jeep Cherokee. For Best Bargain, he suggests the 2000-2006 Toyota Tundra. And for Best Sport Truck, yes, it's the 2010-2014 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor.

* * * 

The article is packed with details in every one of these sections. He makes a strong defense of his selections in the latter portion when naming names. It's a well constructed argument for buying used, and loaded with insights. We recommend you bookmark this page, even if you aren't a hunter:

Buying Used Trucks for Hunting

Are These the Best Special Edition Pickup Trucks Ever?

2004-2006 International MXT 4x4

On Christmas Day most of us are getting stuffed with goodies, reading one of the books we got from Santa or playing games with the kids (or grandkids, depending on your age.) Caleb Jacobs offered this present to truck enthusiasts: an article in The Drive about "the Best Special Edition Pickup Trucks Ever Made." 

He doesn't actually declare these the best. Rather, he suggests they are among the best by asking readers the question, Are These the Best Special Edition Pickups? He then produces a set of suggestions for consideration, just the kind of thing truck enthusiasts love to debate over a lengthy, leisurely after-dinner conversation, favorite libations in hand. Here are the trucks he cites, but I'll make you jump to The Drive for the details as regards why they're special.

He begins with that nostalgic fave, the 1978-79 Dodge Ram Li'l Red Express/Midnite Express. Jacobs dives into the key differences between the Li' Red and the Midnite. Whereas there were ample Li' Reds, there were only about 200 Midnites produced, making them rare though not forgotten. The reputation Li'l Red garnered for itself was based on being the first "hot rod pickup" and who doesn't like that notion?

The second truck he cites is the 1989 Dodge Shelby Dakota,  a truck with several special editions, one of them being a convertible. It, too, was quick though not a Li'l Red Express.

The 1991 GMC Syclone comes in with a whirlwind introduction. Supposedly there are some who would suggest that there's nothing left to say after the Syclone. GMC only made 3000 of them, all black except the Marlboro edition.

The 1991 Chevrolet 454 SS gets the next citation. This was another truck with "a menacing black scheme." To establish its reputation they replaced the small block 350 cu. in. engine with a 454 big block with monster oomph.

There's actually an EV here on the list, the 1997-98 Chevrolet S-10 Electric. The battery-powered pickup was targeted at fleet operators who needed highly efficient vehicles for around-town driving. For what it's worth, this fellow was front-wheel drive.

Other vehicles on Jacobs' list include the 1999-2004 Ford Lightning, the 2004-2006 Dodge Ram SRT-10,  the 2019-20 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison, and (my favorite) the 2006-2008 International MXT 4x4. Of this latter, he points out that International hasn't produced pickup trucks since the 70's, being known for its medium- and heavy-duty trucks, which are reliable workhorses in our economy. 

"Clearly, the MXT rides higher than most factory pickups," Jacobs notes. "That's partially because it rides on 40-inch Pro Comp tires that are also 13.5 inches wide. Its 6.0-liter DT365 turbodiesel engine has no problems turning those, though, as it produces 300 hp and 530 pound-feet of torque." 

Just reading the names of these trucks makes your heart beat faster. What's your favorite?

Here's the link to the full Christmas story:
https://www.thedrive.com/news/38367/these-are-the-best-special-edition-pickup-trucks-ever-made