From: viking@iastate.edu (Dan Sorenson)
Subject: Re: Advice needed on used 4x4 pickups
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA
Date: 10 Nov 92 07:25:21 CST
Originator: hunting@osnome.che.wisc.edu

cavallar@cyber.net (Mark A Cavallaro) writes:

>Well, I am now looking into trading my 92 civic for a used 4x4 pickup.
>Can anyone offer their advice and/or experience as to a good candidate
>(or bad) in the 85 to 87 years. Domestic or foreign, doesn't matter
>(sales taxes go to local and state gov't :>)

	The vehicle you use to get to where you hunt is just as much
a matter of trade-offs as the gun you decided to hunt with.  That said,
I'll just touch on the generalities I'd look for.

	Price and Reliability: The pre-80 domestic pickups, half-ton to
one-ton, were built rugged as can be and are fairly cheap these days.
They also suck gas like crazy.  Will it be for sporting only, or a daily
driver?  Do you go to remote areas, or public lands?  The old truck is a
good option for those who want a rugged, reliable truck they can beat
on and scratch up with tree branches and not feel bad.

	More modern trucks offer good trade-offs.  If you drive it a
lot, get unlocking front hubs -- if you can't lock out the front hubs
you're still driving the axles, differentials, and driveshaft, and
have only disconnected it at the transfer case.  Forget that.  It does
promote more even tire wear, but eats your gas milage.  Contrary to
the commercials, you can lock in the hubs and not engage the clutch
at the transfer case if you want, and you can go from 2wd to 4wd at
any speed with this setup.  Naturally, some vehicles don't like this,
but for American trucks this is generally the rule.  For post-88
trucks, check the driveline out on that specific truck to see if it
meets these general guidelines.

	Motor: get a V8.  You'll appreciate the extra torque and
power when you're in the middle of the woods and trying to get up
a hill from a standing start.  For a transmission, automatics are
fine.  If you go with a manual, get at least a five-speed so you
can get some decent milage on the highway.  Use the low range on
the transfer case when four-wheeling -- no use burning up a clutch.
Incidentially, the diesel motors from post-83 are excellent, reliable,
and have several advantages.  For one, no tune-ups.  The injector
is a $300 part that might wear out after 100K miles, and once it's
set you can forget it.  Run good fuel and change your fuel filters
regularly and you'll have no problems.  They have metric loads of
torque, and are great at lugging out of a tight area.  If it gets
cold, you can fire it up and sleep in the cab with the heater
running and use only a few gallons of fuel the entire night.  You
also won't be suffocated by carbon monoxide.  Your eyes will water
and burn before the air is too putrid to breathe.  However, if it
gets really cold they are harder to start and don't warm up as
quickly as a gas motor.  They're also worth $500 less on resale,
which is nice if you're buying used.  The turbocharged diesels
work fine at high altitudes.  If you regularly travel to the
mountains, get either a turbo-diesel or a gas motor with electronic
fuel injection.  If you don't, your motor will run rich, tend to
load up and foul plugs, and have much less power.

	Two notes: in a mini-truck, a V6, at least a 3.5L or better,
should work just fine.  Automatic transmissions mitigate the lack of
low-end grunt a lot.  One other thing about diesel fuel -- it does
not explode because it doesn't vaporize at normal temps like gas
does.  It burns, and generally smokes a lot.  This can be useful
for starting a campfire or a signal fire, so carry a gallon of it
with you next time you go out.

	Short wheelbase is easier to manuever around.  The
minitrucks like the S-10 and Ford Ranger are fine trucks but don't
expect to tow a camper.  They'll handle a fair load, and with
a topper are usually capable of doubling as a dry tent.  They don't
tend to have the power of a full-sized truck, but they won't
eat the gas the full-sized truck will either.

	So, what are you planning to do with it?  The truck should
be tailored to what environment and situations you will be in,
and you'll make compromises on everything.

	A necessary accessory: Citizens Band radio.  It might just
save your life when you injure yourself in the middle of the forest.

< Dan Sorenson, DoD #1066 z1dan@exnet.iastate.edu viking@iastate.edu >
<  ISU only censors what I read, not what I say.  Don't blame them.  >
<  "This isn't an answer, it's a pagan dance around a midnight fire  >
<   written in intellectual runes." -- Rich Young                    >




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