Cheap truck for hobby woodworking and home improvement

[erock]

If you buy a used truck.  Get one with a 8' bed.  No sense in buying a truck with a extended cab if all you're going to do is haul things.

Plus, the sheets of ply will lay flat in the back.

My first 3 trucks were Chevy S-10's.    Great LITTLE trucks.  But hauling full sheets of plywood and sheet rock caused some problems.

I have a 2014 F-150 and will never go back to a small or mid sized truck again!  I do have an extended cab with a 6' bed, but I can lay the tailgate down for an extra 2' if needed.

Keep it simple,  no need for power windows or bucket seats. 

When I had my Lincoln MKX (SUV)  I regretted trading in my truck a week after I bought the MKX.  I only had the MKX for a year and a half before I had enough of trying to fit big items in the Lincoln.  I've always been a truck guy, and I'll always own a truck from here on out.  If you own a house that needs a lot of work, you need a truck.  New or used. 

Eric

 

[erock]

I roll with an 8/9-year old Tundra "Work Truck", which is very simple and has a 6-cylinder engine. It has a "cap" that works great for me and gets reasonably good mileage. I have filled it up with Festools and driven on long delivery trips at 80 MPH more than once. It purrs. The last time was to NM and it got about 19 MPG. The previous trip to Laredo had similar results.

I bought it used (40-50K miles) for under $10K and would certainly buy it again.

Tom

Tom, you never told me you make deliveries!    I don't see that option on your web site !    [tongue]  [poke]

Eric

 

[tbellemare]

Thanks for the poking, Eric...

Also, thanks for reminding me that I didn't point out that the "Work Truck" Tundra I have has a full sized bed. It's easy to transport full sheets with everything closed.

Tom

EDIT:
You might note that I stated, "filled it up".

 

[gkaiseril]

Some home stores offer truck rental for taking material home or to a job site.

If you do get a work truck, it is best to keep it in locked garage and have a way to lock the most expensive tools within the truck and add additional locks and security to the truck.

Many municipalities do not allow overnight parking of commercial vehicles on residential streets.

 

[erock]

Thanks for the poking, Eric...

Also, thanks for reminding me that I didn't point out that the "Work Truck" Tundra I have has a full sized bed. It's easy to transport full sheets with everything closed.

Tom

EDIT:
You might note that I stated, "filled it up".

FILLED UP !    [eek]

I'll have to try and manage a way to sneak you into the driveway with out the wife knowing about it......let me make a list of things I need and get back with you.....  [tongue]

So how many systainers can you fit in a Tundra?    I may have to build more sysports !    [wink]

Eric

 

[Trosey]

TRUCK = 8 foot bed that does not need to be made.

 

[Iceclimber]

I was a big car guy my whole life until i purchased a truck. BMW's to be specific and always all kitted out. I have had a 318 sedan, a 325 coupe, a 325 sedan, a M3 coupe and a 330CI. I also had a C class Mercedes that was a giant piece of crap. Or i should say little piece of crap. I also had VW jetta that ripped the doors off all those cars except the M3. It gave the M3 a real good run for its money though. It also was a way better built car than the Mercedes but clearly had nothing on a BMW.for the price though you had to think?

Traded the last car in for a lightly used Nissan Frontier. I was not happy at the time tbh but it was a practical decision. Now 5-6 years later i would never drive a car again unless i could afford two vehicles. If i could afford two i would just break the bank and buy a full size sprinter.

Cars are great but I'm over it. At least for me a car has become simply a utilitarian item and irs such a relief. I think i just got sick of always being worried about tiny scratches on my car and cleaning it constantly so it was spotless all the time. Its such a relief to just throw whatever in the back seat and forget about i!

Thats just me though, if you like your car and can afford two cars id buy a low milage Nissan or Toyota. They really don't stink to drive as much as it seems when you are used to sports car..

 

[Iceclimber]

I came home last month with 15bf of birdseye maple. One piece was 11' x 7" i drive a king cab Frontier so it looked like a huge piece of wood.

Anyway i got the third degree about yet another trip the lumber yard. It didnt help i was gone all day as the place was 3 hours away. My excuse was its just maple its not expensive like the last bundle of teak i purchsed. That couldn't have been further from the truth as i paid $30 a BF for at least half of it and $25 a BF for the rest.

Yikes!

I need a bigger truck but only to hide things

Thanks for the poking, Eric...

Also, thanks for reminding me that I didn't point out that the "Work Truck" Tundra I have has a full sized bed. It's easy to transport full sheets with everything closed.

Tom

EDIT:
You might note that I stated, "filled it up".

FILLED UP !    [eek]

I'll have to try and manage a way to sneak you into the driveway with out the wife knowing about it......let me make a list of things I need and get back with you.....  [tongue]

So how many systainers can you fit in a Tundra?    I may have to build more sysports !    [wink]

Eric

 

[NHSP759]

No used truck here anymore Tom, but I've got a 2014 Tundra SR5 TRD. Now I'm not saying I speed but....I can haunt a two axle horse trailer with two horses it in at highway speed like its towing a little red wagon

 

[rizzoa13]

I've got a 2012 Rock Warrior Chris and it's almost scary how fast it is. Turn the nannies off some time and really let it have it!

 

[Yuri_S]

Definitely will go for 8ft bed. I look for

Ford F150
Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra 1500
Dodge RAM 1500 (though I have prejudice against it)

and may be (they are sparse to find and pricier)

Toyota Tundra
Nissan Titan

I looked at CL and discovered that most what I can find are 6' -6 1/2' bed  [eek]
Dealers, they are more expensive but not better for my price range.

 

[Tinker]

I have a 2001 1/2T with 6'6" body, regular cab 4X4.  I got it used with 55k miles.  It is now over 140k and so far, only minor repairs.  I have a sliding rack that for most of my use, I keep the back section slid up to the front of the body.  The front section has and extension out over the cab.  For lumber up to 12 feet, I keep the ends within the tailgate and slide the front ends between the two sections of the rack. 
[attachimg=1]

Ooop!  I forgot the tiedown straps that day.  It was a spur of moment stop at Lumber yard.  actually, with the load set that way, there is no way it will slide off or blow off.

For plywood, I just let it hang out over the tailgate.  Long lumber, pipe or anything longer that 12'. I have lots of heavy-duty straps and extra tiedowns that i can attach to the racks and haul away.  If if have too much load to put on the rack, i empty out the trailer and load that.
Tinker

 

[Paul G]

I've got a shortbed fullsize GMC 4x4, I haul plenty of 4x8 sheet goods with the gate down and some straps to keep the load in. Also added a full cab over lumber rack which makes hauling long trim extremely easy. http://www.rackitinc.com/fullywelded/1000seriesstandard.html