Good Afternoon

Right now I live about 6 months in Plainfield, NH and 6 months in Placencia, Belize. I am thinking about purchasing a older truck and having it fixed up then driving it to Belize. Here's my concerns: Most mechanics in Belize, even in dealerships do not have the equipment nor skill level to diagnose electronic problems. A majority of american vehicles found down here are from prior wrecks etc.

What I would like information on is which model truck F150 or ranger 4x4 would be a good vehicle to purchase and repair. I stay in Placencia, Belize which is a peninsula boarded on all sides by salt water. Very difficult on electronics. In fact everything manual on the truck would be a good thing, especially doors and windows. My preference for engine size would be 6cyl for ease of repair and gas consumption. Cost of gas is $8 to $11 per gal

Any and all suggestions as to models or makes will be greatly appreciated and also if in your experience these models are more easily found in a particular part of the country. Is there a good way to purchase other than local.

Thanks much

Skip

 

You bring up an interesting overall issue about service, parts and knowledge in remote areas.
I've' seen this before from different parts of the world and even in the UK.
If it were me, and there are not to many of me, I would find a vintage carbureted manual shift truck, invest the money if it is absolutely necessary, and rebuild/replace parts to bring it up to the task.
Then have basic service ability and invest in replacement parts you know might be needed over the long term and hope for the best.
If you go to a truck later in year with computer control, your certain to be left out of luck from just the lack of a part.
Good luck.

 

I agree. Maybe a mid 1980s truck with a six cylinder. Manual transmission might be good also. F150 is slightly bigger than Ranger if you need the space. SuperCab would be a good idea. I live in Illinois and the salt in winter eats the frames and fenders on trucks pre 2000. You might have better luck with a southern truck from Texas / Arizona / Louisiana that has never seen the slat and has better frame and body condition.

 

That being said, I had a 1989 FORD with fuel injection and a single coil for all 8 cylinders. I drove it 250,000 miles and NEVER had an injector problem. I did have the coil go out about 200K miles. It was a base line truck, manual, V8, power NOTHING. I would consider a slightly newer truck, early 1990s with fuel injection, but oil coil system......... if the fuel down there is clean.

 

Another thing is the fuel pump. My 1989 had the pump inside the tank like the newer trucks........ an older unit might have a motor mounted MANUAL pump that can be easily changed and trouble shoot.

 

At $8/gallon for fuel, I hope its so clean you could drink it!!

Good luck Fellow!!

 

On a carbed motor, you could main jet the carb smaller by 2 or 3 sizes but keep an eye on any tendency of the motor to run to much hotter or hesitate due to being too lean.
Run the tires hard and reduce weight of the truck as much as you feel you want after returning.
A spare tire and tail gate can weigh well up toward 100 pounds +/- taken together.
Take spare parts back with you, especially parts you replace here with new that are still good.
Good luck.