small, older pickup to be toad??

[fighterpilot]

Need a small, inexpensive, 2wd pickup truck to tow behind MH to take deer hunting a few times a year. Rangers/mizdas have good reliability record but thus far only 96s and 97s, manual tx, indicate they can be towed 4 down without limitations--don't know about earlier ones yet. Some posts indicates some rangers that were towed were erratic in their tracking of the MH. $3000 budget. How about any others, Toyotas, chevys, nissans, ---anyone tow any of those in the past? Want 2wd and manual tx as cheaper maintenance consideration. If some of the mentioned ranger/mazdas will work will stick with them, but need someone with experience to confirm that. Thanks.

[Ed-Sommers]

I tow a 1985 Toyota PU with a 5 speed manual tranny. While I often wish for a larger PU, but the light weight of the Toyota makes it a dream to tow four down, and the 22R, four banger engines longevity record is a plus.

Ed

[fighterpilot]

Years back my son-in-law had one. Great truck and engine combination. It got passed down to his boys, one by one as they started driving.

[Loozycat]

We tow a 93 Ranger with 5 on the floor. Easy, easy, easy to tow 4 down. The DH is obsessed with firewood, so this is the perfect answer. Only draw back is the small cab, but that is ok. We have the Demco Commander tow bar, with a BlueOx Patriot brake.

[Brockx]

The Ranger pick-ups with the extended cab and the "short step side look bed" would be a great choice. The short step bed is Fiberglass sides and fenders.

[singpilot]

I also have a '91 2WD Toyota P/U. It has Approx 100k miles on it's own power. It shows 338k on the clock. Is on it's second 22RE engine with 5-speed manual, second paint job. Has a topper, and Dick Cepek wheels. Looks sharp, the A/C is ice cold, and is as tight as the day it rolled off the lot.

I just bought a 20-foot enclosed to haul the Prius, so no longer need the truck.

You could keep a thou of your budget, and have a proven toad. It's in Huntsville, AL at the moment if you are interested.