When to call it quits on a vehicle..

[SideShow Bob]

If $5000 is your budget, I?d be looking for the following 4x4?s:

Trucks:
2000-2006 Tundra
1995.5-2004 Tacoma
Anything with less than 200k would be a good buy if it?s in decent shape. These trucks run well over 300k with no issues so don?t let ?higher? miles scare you. My first gen tundra has 177k on the clock and it runs/drives like new.

1999-2006 Silverado/Sierra 1500 V8 (4.8 or 5.3).
For $5000, this should put you in the 150k+/- mileage range. These trucks are super easy to work on and the LS series engines are bullet proof. Parts are plentiful and cheap.

SUV?s:
1999-2006 Tahoe/Yukon/Suburban 5.3L
1997-2003 Toyota 4Runner
1997-2000ish Mercury/Ford Mountaineer/Explorer 5.0L with selectable transfer case if possible. If it?s AWD, it?s pretty easy to convert to selectable.

FWIW, I’ve been finding a lot more deals on Facebook vs craigslist. I’d keep an eye on FB if you are in the market.

In the 1999 to 2006 Chevy/GMC 1500s you are going to get a high rate of electrical/electronic gremlins especially in the airbag sensors & wiring and in the electric sensors & wiring for the 4x4 systems.
I have personal experience with all of these issues with a 2006 GMC, that I have had since new, with just over 75K on it. I have a permanent air bag issue, from codes saying a bad front sensor to code saying that my airbags deployed. The dealer never could solve the problem and when the warranty was up, wanted $$$$ to keep trying to find the problem. So I now have a airbag warning light on all the time.
I have also had the transfer case selector switch go bad twice and the transfer case position sensor and selector motor go bad, all after the warranty was up. I have replaced these myself,
And I have had a blower motor issue to the tune of $400+ that was not covered by a recall because the VIN wasn’t in the recall range, even though it was displaying the exact same symptoms.