Toyota. I was just at my dealer's yesterday and mentioned to the salesperson
I dealt with that a friend was looking for a used Toyota pickup. She said
there were quite a few program vehicles around, from the leasing madness of
the past couple of years. Check your local Toyota dealer. Tacomas have a
pretty beefy V6, and Tundras have a V8.

As a side benefit, Toyota uses actual instruments to design and measure
engine manufacturing tolerances, instead of plastic kindergarten rulers like
the American manufacturers. 5, 8, 10 yrs down the line, your motor won't be
choking the drivers behind you, or YOU, as you work with your trailer
downwind from the truck.
-Doug


"Butch Ammon" wrote in message
...
Hello there...

Well, the fateful day is fast approaching. You all know I have that old
beatup
'87 Ford Ranger 4x4 (hey it's old, dinged, scratched - but it has
character!)...

My old Ranger has 139,000 miles, automatic tranny is messing up, it's got
a
hole in the muffler, the A/C unit hasn't worked in 6-7 years, and just now
it
developed a hairline stress fracture in the right side front brake rotor.
I
refuse to pay $300+ bucks to get new brake rotors - because it's a 4x4 and
the
labor is a killer.

Anyway, I desperately need a new pickup truck, and one with power to tow
my
boat with. I absolutely refuse to get a new truck. I mean, I won't even
look
at a 2003 Chevy, Ford, Dodge at around $35,000 only to drive it off the
dealer
lot and have it worth $28,000 or thereabouts.

My wife and I have a 99 GMC Jimmy 4x4 which is really nice, but doesn't
have a
trailer hitch for the boat. We also bought our daughters a 98 Chevy
Cavalier
for them to share and run around town, go to work, and drive it to school
in
September, etc... We just have to get something for ME!

I test drove a base model 2000 Chevy Silverado 1500 pickup the other day,
5
speed standard, very nice and has a class III hitch on the back. $11,950
is
the price. I like it a lot, except that it is a 5 speed manual
transmission.

What is a very, very, reliable, pickup truck that has cajones to pull a
2100
boat? Thanks for all the help, suggestions, opinions, etc...

Butch Ammon