Looking at used trucks. Just a basic Silverado or F-150, 4 wheel drive, crew cab. All the fancy bells and whistles are not important. Year isn't a huge factor. I'd like to find something in the 20k range and 100k miles, give or take. They're out there! If you take a look at craigslist or car soup you can find them. I just haven't found the right one yet

For those of you that have some experience with getting your truck worked on, or if you're a mechanic yourself, is there a specific year, model, engine type to stay away from?

I am interested in the replies too. At work I see Ford, Chevy, and Dodge, and can't pick a clear winner. All have cheap thin tinny bodies, (never been around aluminum ford). All have front wheel bearing problems, disc brakes in the rear all suck if on gravel and dirt roads a lot. Seems all are getting taller so you can't reach a tool box over the side.

Well, my son and I have both asked the same questions you are, and both bought used trucks in the last year, so heres our story. I found a 2013 Ford F150 with low miles, it only had 30,000 km on it when I bought it last spring. It has the 3.5 Ecoboost. After I bought it I found out they have problems with the timing chains. Ford was actually hit with a class action lawsuit over it. So far I've had no problems, but the dealer tells me the timing chain issue will usually appear after 70 to 80k if its going to be a problem. Very expensive to fix. Ford claims this engine gets 23 plus miles to the gallon.....maybe going downhill with a tailwind. Empty its not bad...best I've gotten is 18, and mine is a 2x2. Hook up a trailer and Im into the single digits...like 8 or 9 miles per gallon!

My son found a 2012 GMC with the 5.3. Low miles, only had 50km on it. We flew down to Edmonton and drove it home about three weeks ago. He paid 25k for it. It is now sitting in the shop with blown lifters, a bent rod, and ruined camshaft. Going to be a 6k fix. GM will only pay half. The problem was caused by GMs Active Fuel Management System, you can look it up online it is very common. A good friend is having the same problem on a brand new one.

A good friend is on his second Dodge. The first one he bought in the US so it was in miles. He got 500,000 trouble free miles out of that truck. He sold it and bought another one a few years ago that had very few miles on it. He is now at 350,000 KM and the only problem he's had is the torque converter. Both trucks had the 5.7 Hemi

All this has led me to believe that Toyota or Dodge is the only way to go. Everyone I know who has them has great luck with them, and get very high miles. I would look for a Toyota.

I had a Nisan Titan that ate front wheel bearings for breakfast, you couldn't find one that would last. I'm driving a Chevy Silverado now and it has been one of the most dependable, trouble-free vehicles I've ever owned.

They all have issues. Chevy has all the AFM issues, ford had the spark plug debacle, Dodge has had evaporator core leakage issues. All are fairly expensive to repair.

Modern vehicles are highly sophisticated computers with wheels and an engine. Therefore the more complicated they get the more expensive the repairs get.

I say all this to say, it really all comes down to what one fits you and is comfortable to drive.

I grew up in a Ford family, it's all I was ever exposed to. The first and only Ford F-150 I bought new had to be re-painted within its first year of life, both gas tanks leaked, the LCD on my radio crapped out and it was eventually backed into by a ornery Scotsman who needed the humbling.

I haven't owned one since.

I have a 2010 siverado. 4wd, 5.3 engine with almost 100k on it.
Had to put lower control arms on it last inspection and the "service traction control" light comes on once in a while.
It often got 22mpg when it was new. Now I get 16-17 in the winter 18-20 in the summer. Very little of my driving is highway except for a trip to the pacific when it was fairly new. On that trip I got 23+ on a couple tanks.

I probably drive this 'till it goes to the scrap yard and buy another when that happens.

It might end up in the scrap yard sooner than you think...the service traction control light coming on periodically is one of the signs of AFM problems. Almost everyone on the GM forums that reported problems with the AFM mentioned that light....my son got it too.

With a new truck costing 50k an up, they should run trouble free far longer than they do.

If you look at it from an unbiased view, Toyotas are hard to beat in the reliability department. They just go forever, and the 5.7 V8 in the Tundra will do just about anything.

k5 blazer works pretty well for me-I have a 1991 with tbi 350-still gets reasonable fuel mileage and pretty basic and easy to work on-parts are pretty common. I have pretty much lost faith in newer vehicles-my dad has an 07 ram 3500 with 6.7 cummins-love the 18 mpg but a little more truck than what I need and very expensive just to change oil-I gave $2000 for my blazer and it ran and drove-for trapping/hunting purposes and the places I have to go-I don't see any sense in spending big bucks on a vehicle-I would rather give up new and fancy for simplicity/price and functionality any day.

I've had 3 crew cab chevys. An '08 1500 LT that was 125k trouble free miles. A '14 1500 High Country that I literally could not keep out of the shop. It was a first model year with too many gadgets. So I traded it to '15 2500 LTZ (gas) to give chevy one more chance. Its been 49k trouble free miles.

If you go Chevy, look at the 5.3 and 5.3 ecotec ('14 and newer) or the 6.0 which has been around forever. Both are great engines.

Yukon is right about Toyotas, I just don't like the look of the Tundras and the Tacomas are too pricey.
My next truck will be a Powerstroke.

I had a 2011 Nissan Titan Pro4X and it was one heck of a truck. Plenty of power and would go anywhere. I traded it for a 2013 Chevy Silverado and have been somewhat disappointed. The Chevy just doesn't have the power or features the Titan did. Both are really nice trucks I did prefer the Titan though. I have quite a few friend with Titans and they do go through front wheel bearings on average about every 50000-60000 miles.

Be careful with the power strokes....a buddy is on his second engine, in a newer truck and now it's giving him grief. Luckily warranty replaced the first one when it blew up. I know another guy that has one that is off warranty now, he has had nothing but trouble with it.

At this point (and it'll be years from now), my powerstroke options will be limited to the 7.3 from days past and the current 6.7. But that'll be years from now.

I'm a Chevy guy and your results may vary. In the driveway I have a 2017 Silverado with less the 4000 mile, a 2016 Suburban less than 30,000 miles & a 2007 Silverado with about 187,000 miles. I traded or sold these in the past 25 years. A 91 1500 4x4 with 200,000+ miles, a 97 Suburban with 200,000+ miles, a 2005 Suburban with 175,000 miles. All vehicles were bought new and none ever had any major repairs, maintenance only. I prefer to buy new and over the years that has been a good decision. I could list about a half dozen used vehicles bought in the last 25 years, but all I'll say is most haven't worked out for me. In fact last summer I bought a low mileage used 4x4 truck and traded it on my 2017 after two months. I think most low mileage vehicles have hidden problems why else would someone get rid of a "GOOD" low mileage vehicle. Just my opinion. BTW all my trucks have been the 5.3 except the '91 was a 350. Don't remember what engine was in the 2500 '97 Suburban, but it only got 15 mpg on a good day

ebsurveyor, from what I understand GM didn't switch to the AFM until 09, so your older rigs wouldn't have the problem. Your newer ones will have AFM, hopefully you will be lucky. I refuse to buy new....just can't take that 30% drop in value the minute it leaves the lot. I look for low mileage trucks with warranty.preferably from a rental company. Up here I deal with Driving Force. They buy new trucks and put them in their rental fleet. They can't legally sell them until they have a minimum of 15,000 KM on them. Those are the ones I look for.....just like brand new for less than half new price.

Yukon254, I agree your purchase option will work out OK most of the time. Since 1998 I've worked for a company that does what you do. Our owner has a connection with chevy and gets their demo vehicles at a good price. We have about 15 vehicles on the road and most have worked out OK.

seems ford changes engines every 3-4 years............

bought an '03 dodge 3500 5.9 cummins with 117k on the odometer, it now has 212 on it, cost a bit more to maintain but gets 19 mpg, and if anything goes wrong turn the switch on/off 3 times and it tells you what the problem is. yeah its hard on tires and u-joints but its the best truck I ever owned and 've had all the brands.
RR

Head south and find a 7.3 powerstroke.. Might have to change the o rings at at 250000, but that’s about it. Them motors run for 500000. 15000 dollars would get you a nice one

I have a 2006 2500HD Chevy with the Duramax and Allison tranny that has 255,000 miles on it. Its been an almost trouble-free pickup. I think the only thing I have done to it is replace the alternator. Use all synthetic fluids from front to back. Even the batteries are 8 yrs old. Best vehicle I've ever owned. Pull a 32ft. fifth-wheel camper with it.