[caddis8]

Lots of good advice. I tell my kids and youth that I deal with (not in a prideful or condescending way), "We've both been 16, but you haven't been 40."

I drove a 74 Chevy Luv through high school. We didn't have a lot, but we had enough. My parents had a vehicle available for my brother(s) and I to drive. It wasn't fancy, and it wasn't nice. But it drove. I got into plenty of trouble with that thing in 2 wheel drive. My brother hauled a cow elk in it (that was funny).

Don't be in such a hurry to get a vehicle that you start throwing bad money after good. If you have to buy a vehicle, get the best one you can afford- car, SUV, minivan, or truck. Who cares what it looks like? Fuel is expensive. Trucks are expensive to insure for a kid, and minivans can be pretty cheap. You can sleep in a minivan with no seats and put plenty of gear in it. Sure it isn't cool. But they're fuel efficient (thanks $3.50/gal fuel), and get you from point A to point B.

You may need to ask for a ride somewhere, or get creative on how you get somewhere. But some of these 2WD vehicles end up a safer option for young drivers that aren't experienced enough to handle sketchy situations in the hills. I've had times where I was on code brown on 4WD on snow and mud in my dad's truck when I wasn't driving the Luv. Dang near went down a ravine sliding on ice in the foothills above Hyde Park in Cache Valley. I've had a lot of close calls in vehicles, bikes, 4 wheelers, and about anything mobile. Be safe and be patient. You want to live to teach your kids to hunt and tell them stories. My kids love my stories of when I was a kid. I did a lot of crazy, stupid stuff, and most of it on a bike or 2WD. Some in 4WD. But my dad always taught me. Get yourself in trouble with 2WD and get yourself out in 4WD.

 

[caddis8]

Heck, you could look at an E-Bike. That may be an awesome idea to get you further than where you can go in a truck.

 

[DallanC]

Get this one:

-DallanC

 

[TheOtherJeff]

If the SUV option is appealing, you might look at older Xterras. I looked into those a couple of years ago and they were running not much above the $4,000 mark. I ended up with a newish Subaru instead, but much of what I saw was that they are still pretty bombproof. If you only need a truck bed occasionally, they'll have no problem towing a rented trailer, but the back seats are more comfortable than most pickups for every day driving.

 

[bfrankl]

My first truck was a 96 F-150. Have ran it for 15 years and it still is a great truck for getting out in the hills and hunting deer and just playing around. Depending on how much you're using it, an old 80s or 90s Ford or Chevy will is great to run. Yes, there will need to be repairs and things replaced fairly frequently depending on what kind of shape its in. But trucks from back then are much easier to work on and it's also a good learning experience.

Regardless of what you do, hope you love whatever you get!

 

[DEERHNTR]

I am a Ford guy, I drive a 6.0hno that someone put 20k into to bulletproof before I bought it, but the gas Dodge v8 back then will just run and run. Toyota's also, good, super maneuverable, but anything for 4000 bucks you probably aren't too worried about some bushes scratching as you drive on some narrow roads anyhow.

1996 Dodge extended cab with a small lift and 4x4 157k miles, 4000 bucks

Not found

1999 Chevy Silverado 180k miles, has 4x4 everything works 5000 bucks

Not found

2005 dodge with 180k miles, 4x4, black, aftermarket wheels and tires if you like that sort of thing, dented up tailgate
https://cars.ksl.com/listing/7109603

Really good looking toyota for 5k, 4wd 178k miles, pretty much cut that in half for toyota miles, single cab, little lift

Not found

Really easy to sell toyota's when you want to upgrade someday

 

[MuscleWhitefish]

Another option that I did not see here. Is looking for a truck that does not run because of a blown engine. Some crate engines are not that expensive and some used engines are also not that expensive.

I know with my Nissan titan if the engine ever goes a replacement engine is $1,700 - $2,000, if the transmission ever goes then it is ~$1,000. Now I would still have to pay to put them in, but it may be economy advantageous to at least do some research into this route, because you could get a lot of bang for your buck.

Crate engines may take a bit more work, but you may be able to get a truck and put a brand new engine in it.

Just thought, I would throw this out there.

 

[colorcountrygunner]

Do you have a job, Walty? If you have an after school job and can talk your parents into cosigning on a loan with you maybe you can increase that $4K limit of yours and have a better choice of quality vehicles to choose from. Starting to build a credit score would be a good thing as well. You're wise to not go too crazy with your price though. Trying to spend a lot of money you don't have is a good way to stay broke your whole life. Many people never learn to avoid unnecessary debt even well into their adult years. I know plenty of people with champagne tastes and beer money.

 

[SaltyWalty]

yeah i got a job, but i'm also doing college classes so i can only work about 15-20 hrs/week. And my parents wouldn't trust me with a co-sign loan, especially after i wrecked our full-size van.

 

[caddis8]

yeah i got a job, but i'm also doing college classes so i can only work about 15-20 hrs/week. And my parents wouldn't trust me with a co-sign loan, especially after i wrecked our full-size van.

Maybe you need to wait a little bit then. Don't be in a hurry if you don't have to be.

 

[BRL1]

Time to dust this picture off and repost it, LOL

-DallanC

This was my second vehicle. Didn't quite get to this point but spent a lot of time off road in my 85 Dodge Colt. Hauled a few deer home in the back.

My first truck was a 1968 Chevy C10 2 wheel drive, long bed step side, straight six 250 engine, upgraded to a 3/4 ton 4 speed trans and full floating 1 ton rear end. Put several hundred thousand miles on that truck with a top speed of 50 MPH.

Probably the best off road vehicle was a 1978 Toyota Celica paid $1800 for it with 233,000 miles on it. Doubled that mileage before my son totaled it.

Grew up in a GM family, have pretty much stayed with it for trucks. Just sold my 97 3/4 ton Silverado 7.4l, 4x4 to put the down payment on an 01 Duramax.

Worked as a mechanic for several years, seemed most often in the shop was Ford, parts were hard find and more expensive than GM, but that was also in the late 1980s early 1990s, lots of technology changes since then.

My opinion anymore is drive what you prefer and does the job for you and how much you want to spend.

 

[CPAjeff]

I’ve had a couple different Ford Rangers over the years and loved each one of them. If a person can lock themselves into car payments, they can lock themselves into saving that car payment money and paying cash for a vehicle.

Nothing wrong with driving a car. Like JC said, lots of places can be accessed in a car. Not sure who is paying for your insurance, but a car is going to be much less expensive to insure.

 

[wyogoob]

I've had a number of Ford trucks n SUVs through the years. The only advice I can offer is to do this so yer Ford truck won't get stolen.

 

[DallanC]

I've had a number of Ford trucks n SUVs through the years. The only advice I can offer is to do this so yer Ford truck won't get stolen. View attachment 149712

LOL... took me a moment to spot it.

-DallanC

 

[MuscleWhitefish]

LOL... took me a moment to spot it.

-DallanC

When I first saw it, I thought it was similar to the Wyoming game and fish trucks.

Make it a fish cop truck and you'll be safe.

Then I saw it and was like "I'm an Idiot."

 

[colorcountrygunner]

I’ve had a couple different Ford Rangers over the years and loved each one of them. If a person can lock themselves into car payments, they can lock themselves into saving that car payment money and paying cash for a vehicle.

Nothing wrong with driving a car. Like JC said, lots of places can be accessed in a car. Not sure who is paying for your insurance, but a car is going to be much less expensive to insure.

I like the car idea and I like the saving up for a vehicle idea. I'm trying to decide if my impulsive teenage brain was capable of that kind of delayed gratification. Maybe Walty is wiser than I was at that age. Hopefully he will take some advice from some guys who have been there and done that.

 

[Critter]

For some reason first vehicles are a rite of passage, good or bad.

I worked all summer after my sophomore year in high school for the company that my dad worked for. It was grueling work at times and boring at others. I came home from Arizona in August before school started and started looking for a vehicle to spend my summer wages on. I knew what I wanted but that vehicle was few and far in between.

I finally found a 1942 Ford military jeep, a little older than I wanted but it was a 4x4 Jeep. I hadn't owned it more than 6 hours before I twisted a rear axle driving it up Rock Canyon, this was when you could still drive up the road. But for the next 6 to 9 months that Jeep was broke down more than it was running. But being a kid I did all the repairs myself. When I replaced the axle and headed over to the nearest service station you should of seen the look on the attendants face when he asked me how I was going to get that 90 weight gear lube home and I just held out my hands cupped together. I had no idea that it came in bulk. Towards the end of that Jeeps life when I was a senior I had a 2 1/2 gallon can of Sears 30w tied to the side of the footwell. It was going through oil faster than gas.

I didn't care because it was mine.

 

[AxelHodge]

My first truck was a Ford F-series which is probably one of the most underrated trucks. IMO, it’s perfect. Actually, my kids helped me choose it. As for a bigger truck (I work as a trucker), my first one was a Volvo Truck. Actually, I’ve always loved their trucks. Somehow they’ve managed to create a truck with the best ergonomics ever. IMO they are the most reliable I’ve ever driven. I first drove it when I was hired by one company I found on Jobs for Truckers | Truck Driver Job Boards Free | CDL Jobs. It was the first time I applied for a trucker job, and I was successful. Then I bought my ford, btw.

 

[2full]

My first truck was a 77 Chev pick up I special ordered. Ordered the 400 motor, cruise, tilt, tach, dual tanks, rims, tires, the whole works.
It ran like a raped ape. When I rebuilt it I added cam, heads, high rise manifold, headers, new carb, etc.
Loved that truck, drove it for 26 years.
The wife talked me into selling it...... stupid !!
I still have factory rims, new factory bumpers, grill, dash, etc put away for it. Was always going to restore it.
Always planned on pulling my 68 Road Runner to car shows with that truck. Now I'm retired, and don't have that truck.
Oh well......life is a $itch and then you die.

 

[MrShane]

I would love to know if Salty ever found the truck he was looking for?