I have been reading the forums here for a while and I am about ready to buy. My questions are what is the best setup to look for in a first gen? Manual/Auto? What gears? What Years are best? It will be 4x4 of course. I am gonna go this route unless I find a nice 2nd gen and from what I understand the 96-98 are the way to go on those. On the first gen's were there alot of ext cab long boxes? Thanks for the info. Jason

 

Anybody ?

 

all depends on your preferance and what you want to do with it

 

Like underpsi said, what do you want to use it for? A play truck or a heavy hauler, or something in between?

 

I would definatly take the auto over the Gertang 5spd. Now if it had the NV4500 I'm not so sure. Would probably still take the auto so the wife can drive it.

On second gens I don't think you can get a club cab 4X4 unill '96. '98 got the quad doors which are handy. If you think that you want to put childern(or anbody for that matter) in the back of the club cab go with a 2nd gen. First gen club cabs are really only good for dogs or gear. The jump seats that come stock are not safe for small children. I got lucky and got a club cab retrofitted with a bench in the back. But with the driver's seat in the normal driving position I have about 4" between the back of my seat and the front of the bench, not enough room for a pair of legs.

 

It will be used mainly for occasional hauling and towing. Weight will be around 8k.

 

I think the plain jane answer you are looking for is: '89-'91.0 non i/c less power potential, auto has no od hence high 3.07 ratio bad for towing heavy heavy loads. '91.5-'93 Are intercooled and the auto trans has an overdrive and are better for towing. If you found a good quality well maintained truck like this one I just found : http://losangeles.craigslist.org/car/141898050.html
Your'e going to paying up,,, almost or as much as a 2nd gen, because , hey everyone knows that these 1st gens are tough mothers! I like the getrag 5sp... and will be converting my auto non od 727 over to one soon.

 

if ex-cab seating is important, you probably want a 2nd gen (1st gen (sideways) jump seats are not comfortable or safe for kids (adults kinda 'jam-in' so not as bad, but their heads are heavier, (wonder why?))...
I think cab space is better in 2nd gen, but.... I'm a first gen kinda guy,
why...
I think (know) they are a tougher work truck (suspension and body) they ride rougher...
and of course they are much 'r
and... they are simpler and cheaper to maintain and work on (minimal computer jazz) ez to get free power mods (but you are starting with less )

they have a few issues... wiring, death wobble (steering) and brakes are not the greatest, tho each of these have a econo fix.

Auto vs. manual is a personal choice, and buying used, you may not have much of a choice... you can live with either, BUT each does better with a few thousand $$ thrown at it

if you tow heavy or do serious off road, you probably want a Manual tranny (but stock is kinda wimpy), a newer 6 spd conversion has the grins of many

if you tow medium (up to 10,000#) then an auto will do, preferably a 'built' auto - Torque Converter ($300-$1000 depending on brand) and 2nd gen Flex plate ($100) the most important mods

the trannie is not a 'lockup', but issue can be mitigated with TC or a later trannie or components

There are some 'rust issues' to be aware of, try to do your shopping out of the 'rustbelt' I found mine close to home (5hrs) via Autotrader 'Advanced search' by 'fuel type'