Not to highjack but what is the issues?
Last one I owned went over 300,000 (routine maint.)
Brother is still driving one way more miles than that ?

Not sure of your mechanical abilities, but used means maintenance possible beyond normal.
Until you get 8-10 yrs old vehicles prices are crazy around here.

I bought a 4 year old F150 with the small V-6, no turbo, 172,000 miles on it. Guy that had it put on 4,000 miles a month, I was not scared, never even drove it , had it delivered on a flatbed. But I have replaced all the fluids in it, shocks all around, yes it needed tires and brakes, but in two years I have only put another 16.000 on it, I think I can drive it for a lot of years and then it will be average mileage for the year. The state asked me to pay more sales tax, because they said I bought it for less than wholesale, just had to send a second purchase agreement.

I've been going retro on my last two vehicles, current project is a 84 F250HD 4x4. Find a decent running truck and stick a few thousand into it vs dumping tens of thousands into a computer with tires. The ability to fix something with duct tape and tie wire is priceless.

You would be amazed at what’s sitting at the local junkyard. You just need to take the time and look around and be patient. There’s good warranty on remanufactured motors, most have 3 year 100,000 miles warranty.

B

I don't like have a thing do junkyards, nasty places

A new 2021 Chevy 1500 work truck is bare bones price of $28,750 . You won't see a better price on a new truck.

Problems have solutions sometimes you may not like them but you do what is necessary. Myself I love junk yards lots of treasures in them.

At this point it seems to me you complain a lot and though seem to have good work ethic don't seem able to make good choices so you can get ahead.

It used to make since to cut your losses and buy a newer vehicle vs repair cost on old ones. With today's prices on vehicles I think its cheaper to spend 10k on an old one rebuilding it and know what you have vs spending that 10 k on more wore out junk. Just my current take on it.

I drove before, appt in shop an ya, sounds like last year , crack manifold from Jan to July an fell apart, if is under warantee, an can get shop to do it, who eats the labor cost ? Shop or parts supply ? Pretty sure it walker exhaust system parts

You may not have as manly options as you hope to have but in our area used pickups are extremely high priced. I bought a 4 wheel drive SUV for about half or less of what a 4 wheel drive pickup sells for at similar age and miles. I bought the SUV to save miles on my pickup so it will last longer. I have a 2006 Silverado 1500 with 116,000 and want that to go another 5-7 years.

Bryce

have you thought about a Van

yes not the appeal of the truck but a cargo van can be very useful , same ebgine and transmittion as a truck , they are all 2wd

but they sell for less than a truck yet can be great haulers of tools , traps , building materials and most anything else a truck can do.

lots of good dry storage , more than a truck with topper

They are not common but I have seen 4x4 Van's before

Grab a FrontWD grand caravan, pull out the seats, throw in a tarp (or stink it up, your choice), and trap outta it.
All enclosed. Throw some studs on the front and yer rollin

Add a foam pad and sleeping bag, a fella can long line coon, save rent and have a different address every night.

I have always bought new and drove it till there wasn't much left. I feel like that is going to be the cheapest per mile cost. You can dealer shop. Tell them your dealer shopping. You will be surprised the difference in price from one dealer to the next. Im driving a 14 y/o dodge right now. I bought it for the life time drive train warranty. Well that was a bold faced lie. Found out when my water pump went out. Fiat bought Chrysler and they are not honoring those life time warranty's. So I have started looking around.

I really liked my 98 ranger. Only bought the dodge cause of the warranty. Was rebuilding the ford. Motor was getting weak at 250,000 miles. Rebuilt the frond end, rebuilt the brake system including lines, was ready to pull the trigger on a rebuilt long block and tranny (standard) with 100,000 mile warranty when my wife crashed it. Wife was fine so that was good.

Anyway my old dodge has a lot of rust and has some problems. Need a new truck. Have not seen any I like yet. Not sure what I will do. I am shopping before I have a "have to" buy a pickup problem.

Wow!!

This is a 2005 with 86,000 miles. It must be worth a fortune. lol

Our "retirement" vehicle has 60k on it now.

The woman and I, as we were approaching the age your at Coonman and planning ahead for retiring, we decided to buy a new vehicle and have it paid off before retiring.(our going away vehicle)
I run old stuff that I've rebuilt and have enough parts to do both again if needed which is something I take you couldn't do. (our daily drivers)

That's why I suggest you try to buy new while your still working like we did so you have a good reliable vehicle that should run you late into life without much extra expense.
Once you retire, you pretty much got what ya got unless you dip into your savings.

AWD Chevy Astrovan is nearly perfect trapping vechile

Trucks are high and gas to feed em is going to be a factor 15-17 is probably avg. Gonna be high for the next 4 years for sure . I would go with a all wheel suv that sports some mileage

Water pump is considered a wear item and has never been part of the Dodge/Chrysler 100,000 power train warranty Danny.

Buy a Toyota Corolla. You'll be set for years to come.