hay guys iv been looking at truck prices and keeping an eye out.
my oldest son will start driving next year and he wants a diesel.
im thinking single cab short wheel base.
something easy to see out of at all angles. and not the destraction of extra cabs back seats and all that.
i dont want it to be big enough for more than one or two others, as i want him paying attention to the road and not a cab full of kids.
my younger brother was killed in a car wreck in a toyota 4x4 and i like the thought of my son in a truck that can take a hit.
not that our trucks or bomb proof but you know what i mean.
any thoughts on something that would hold up to a teenage boy thats rough on everything.
maybe 1990 to 1997 ford , or first gen dodge.
i dont realy care for the dodge but dont hate the thought of owning one.
im looking at maybe spending no more than $5k
what i can save and tax return.
it may be nuts but going through that with my brother im over protective of my kids and for sure about them driving.
thats why im sending him to drivers school and making him do his driving time with me.
in texas you can let them do drivers ed and drive like 30 hours with a parent. that gets a permit if they pass all the test. then a year driving with me and the wife . and at 16 take the test to get liscens.
any thoughts on a good truck would be cool.
im keeping an open mind on what to buy it does not have to be a diesel thats just what he likes(he's a lot like dad)
thanks again Don

 

Hey Don I know where you are coming from.

I am only 21, my first truck when I was 17 was a 94 F250 Ext Cab Long Bed. A pretty big truck for the first one but I got a really good deal on it from the original owner. It had 90k miles, and was garaged since new, I paid 5500 for it 4 years ago.

I think the idea of the regular cab is spot on. My brother has a 1998 Chevy 2500 regular cab, and that truck is a breeze to drive.

If I were you I would keep my eye out for an older body style ford f250-350 or like a chevy that my brother has, he has had it for 7 years now, did 1 water pump, and the intake gaskets. My old F250 I had for 3 years, and I never had to do a single thing to the 5.8, I only had to replace a battery that whole time.

But I think you are on the right track.

Dennis

 

97 PSD trucks are easy to find,rough n rugged and alot are manual shift trans. Also can be picked up cheap.

 

For $5k you should be able to find a decent truck. I'd keep an open mind about the gas motor. Throw a couple of glasspacks on there and he'll be happy. You might even consider dropping back into the 80's models if you find a good one. As you said, teenage boys will be rough on things so easy to fix will be a plus.

You might shoot Paul or Chris at CPtrucks.com an email and ask them to keep an eye out for a good deal for you. They're not too far away and since they work on and sell goodies for a lot of trucks, they might know of something.

 

I don't remember a 3/4 or 1 ton truck with single cab and short bed.

Someone set me straight.

 

Me neither. Would like to make one out of a 99-00 though.

 

this is my first ford, well not true my dad bought me a 1966 mustang when i turned 14. i still have it and im 42 now, power steering,power breaks, factory a/c and auto trans.
iv always drove 1/2 ton chevy trucks my last one a 1992 had 285000 + miles the guy that bought it is still driving it. good little truck.
a local guy has a 1997 reg cab f350, with 6 new tires and 150000 miles on it.
its really nice, i would not mind having it, but not for my son, i can see him curb burning to outside tires or hitting something with the fenders and knocking them off.lol
i think every other kid in my sons high school is driving a diesel now, i think thats whats got him on the diesel kick.
i could justify him having one, iv been leasing an 80 achre farm for several years that we work. so theres always a trailer hooked to my truck with something on it.
so another good truck would help when im hauling tractors and disc. now i make alot of duel trips moving equipment.
im blessed with 2 good boys that dont mind helping me, they know im not in the best shape. i dont let them or anyone else feel sorry for me, but with 3 back surgerys theres just some things i cant do by myself anymore.
so the boys spend alot of time with me working.
kinda got off track there .sorry.

 

some times you can find a 99-03 reg 2wd zf6 cheaper.
same here wrecked my 91 toyota truck and almost killed me i got the 250!
put some meat around him and you will be glad.
not all boys are ruff on there trucks, the 91 toyota i had it sense i was 14 and wrecked the end of 2009 when i was 21, had 268k miles on it. just depends on the boy.

 

I would look At an older 6.9 or 7.3 IDI. They or good on fuel, stupid simple, very reliable and tow ok. The great thing about these trucks for a kid is they don't do anything fast, nor can they made fast very easy. He won't be racing other diesel's with an IDI, except for maybe a 6.2 or 6.5 Chevy. It is just to easy to get big power from a PSD or Cummins.

 

That is the key phrase right there. Manual Trans. My son's first vehicle was a manual trans. When my daughter learns to drive it's going to be a manual trans as well. A learning driver develops great habits when driving a manual trans vehicle.

Plus its MUCH harder to text while driving so that is a major bonus also.

 

my first truck was a 78 chevy 6 cyl, 3 speed on the collumn.
a great simple first truck.
i do like the idea of a stick shift.
iv got a while to look, maybe up to a year but i would like him to do his student driving in what he will be driving when he gets his liscens to be alone.
so it could be some where about march or a little after.

 

on a side note my 11 year old keeps telling me that he wants my 1966 mustang for his first car.
he is out of his mind if he thinks thats going to happen

 

here is one for 5500 OBO
look ok
2000 7.3 PowerStroke Diesel Ford F250 *REDUCED*