New trucks are rolling computers, many with dealer-only software, and the average new full-size pickup now costs $67,573 (Kelley Blue Book, September 2026). This book helps you choose, inspect and keep a simple older truck instead: one you can understand and fix.
No promises of a perfect truck. Just a clearer, better-informed decision.
One book and the checklists that go with it. Instant download.
128 pages, PDF + EPUB. Twenty truck profiles, the buying guide, the full inspection, the stockpile, the first 30 days and the modern-truck blacklist.
32 pages, US Letter and A4. Inspection, test drive, seller questions, price worksheet, a stockpile list for every truck, a First 30 Days tracker, a maintenance log and a roadside kit list.
I host a YouTube channel about simple, repairable older trucks. This book puts the research behind it in one place: which trucks are worth chasing, what they cost, and exactly what to check before you hand over the cash. Every model fact and price is tied to a published source. I'm not a certified mechanic, and nothing here replaces one; for a big purchase, pay a professional to look the truck over.
Nine parts, from why simpler trucks still make sense to the parts you keep on the shelf.
What changed in modern trucks, what a truck really costs, what "simple" means, and the honest trade-offs of going older.
Twenty profiles: years to target and avoid, best engine and transmission, known issues, recall numbers, dated prices and parts availability.
Where to find them, reading a listing, title and VIN checks, fair price math, negotiating, and the scams to avoid.
A step-by-step pre-purchase inspection that matches the printable checklist line for line, plus when to walk away.
The parts and fluids worth keeping on the shelf, truck by truck, plus storage, tools and a budget.
Baseline maintenance right after you buy, week by week, with safety steps on every hands-on job.
An ongoing schedule, rust prevention, finding a good independent mechanic, and when a repair isn't worth it.
Twelve newer engines, transmissions and systems with commonly reported problems, and how to check a specific truck.
Key numbers, the comparison table, a one-page inspection summary, a glossary and every source.
Each gets a full profile: years to target and avoid, best engine and transmission, known issues, recalls, price range and parts availability.
Straight from the files you'll download.
This book helps you choose and inspect a truck; it can't make the decision for you. Every used truck is different, and a great model can still be a bad example. Prices change, so they're given as dated ranges with their sources named. It doesn't replace a professional pre-purchase inspection, and it says when to pay for one. It covers only legal, factory-original setups: no emissions deletes, no workarounds.
Four files: the book as a PDF (128 pages, for computers and printing) and an EPUB (for phones, tablets and Kindle), plus the printable checklist pack in US Letter and A4 (32 pages each). You download them right away and keep them.
Twenty trucks, listed above: seven full-size gas, six full-size diesel, and seven mid-size and compact pickups, mostly from the late 1980s to the late 2000s.
No. Removing or defeating emissions equipment on a road vehicle is illegal under the federal Clean Air Act, and the EPA has fined sellers of delete parts and guides. This book steers you toward trucks that were simpler from the factory instead.
No. It's written for regular buyers. Hands-on jobs come with plain safety steps, and the book tells you when to hand a job to a qualified mechanic.
They're dated ranges (2026) with named sources such as Kelley Blue Book, CarGurus, Classic.com and Hagerty. Prices move, so always check current listings in your area.
Yes. Payment is handled by Gumroad's checkout; your card details never reach us.
Reply to your receipt within 30 days for a refund.
128-page book (PDF + EPUB) and the 32-page checklist pack. Instant download.
Not what you expected? Reply to your receipt within 30 days for a refund.