The last truck I bought new was a 1994 chevy silverado single cab stepside. Yes it's a short bed but it has a 350 throttle body 4 speed auto. It's tow limit is only 5K but I put a 1000lb helper spring kit on the rear and a set of 3/4 ton front spring kit in the front with heavy duty shocks all the way around. It still gets 18 mpg empty but only about 10 to 12 pulling a 5K loaded trailer on flat ground. About 8 mpg in the hills. lol but it has never let me down.
I just hit 200K on the odomator. New breaks all the way around, new water pump with all new idler bearings on the belt with new belt, hoses, new alternator, starter, plugs, rotor cap,plug wires, new thermostat, new fan clutch, new heat sensors on the intake and block. New grill, headlights. I just put the first set of turn signal bulbs cause they only lasted 26 years before one went out. lol I put a total new front end ti rods Pittman arms front and rear wheel bearings and races and sway bar bushings. I changed the rear gear oil after 26 years. It still drives great and no more emissions inspections because it's over 25 years old. Only cost me 7 dollars for a state inspection. I'm running 31 1/2 mudders. At 70mph it runs at 1,600 rmp. Should be good for another 100K at least or more. Most of the things I replaced was simply because while I had it apart and they were 25 years old I just replaced with new so I wouldn't have to go back later and do it when it did finally wear out. Parts and labor was less then 4K for everything I did to it. But with new trucks starting at 35K for a basic work truck, it was a bargain. Still running the original trany with the original trany oil. I would not be afraid to drive it cross the country without the fear of it breaking down.It's been the most dependable truck I have ever had. No rust anywhere and is solid as a rock.
You can't get a new single cab truck thats not stripped down with no enmity's. Everything that is fully loaded are all double cabs these days. Even a stripped down single cab work truck starts at 35K. screw that. I looked at some new high country trucks and they run 70K. They are out or there minds if they think I will pay that for a truck. lol The 350 still doesn't smoke or burn any oil ether. Why needs all that fancy stuff anyway. Just more to go wrong with it. My 94 is still mechanically sound so why replace a truck that still runs great.. They can keep there fancy over priced trucks.