I'm looking at purchasing an '06 XL RC Longbed, V6 AT. Not surprisingly, it's a former work truck, and it has 76k miles on it. I test drove it today, drives nicely.

I'd like to know what, if any, weaknesses of this model/year I should be on the look out for when I do my final inspection.

I've noted a few of the normal dings, plus the floor of the bed is kinda beat up, but since the truck has spent it's entire life in the desert, there's no rust, anywhere.

The steering wheel is off center about 8 degrees or so, but the truck tracks straight. Also, the funky door handle for the driver side rear access door is broken. So, how difficult should it be to resolve these two issues? In examining the door handle, the "mechanism" doesn't show any visibile fasteners, which means access almost certainly means pulling the access door panel.

 

The 4.2 V6 in this generation was rated as one of the best engines ever built. So says consumer reports. Seems the 5.4 V8 has most of the problems.

I've had a few issues which were all covered under warranty. Nothing that ever left me on the side of the road. Faulty TB, oil leak, bad lifters. The only thing I can say is the oem brakes on these trucks are awful. My rotors we're warped at under 10,000 miles.

It'll be a solid truck and you should be able to get 200,000 miles out of it if you take care of it. Just really depends on how the previous owner treated it.

Also, what's the price? And do you have any pics?

P.s. the handle shouldn't be too hard to fix. You would have to remove the panel, I believe, which is not hard as well.

 

Only problem I have had was a speed sensor going out. My steering wheel is a bit off as well, but not a significant problem.

Otherwise, its not a bad truck.

 

Price is just a bit under $7k, OTD. As for a picture, it looks pretty much the same as 2008_XL's, only a long bed. It already has a hitch and the tow package, which is good, because towing a light trailer is part of it's mission in life if I do get it.

It's primary mission is actually being my backup vehicle, for when either the weather renders riding unsafe (rare), when the heat triggers my "I don't want to put up with this crap" reflex, or when my bike is out of service.

 

The only 4.2's that have issues are the 97's and early 98's - they have bad gaskets. Since then, it's been one of the most reliable engines on the road. There are tons of them out there with all kinds of high mileage being used as work trucks. You don't see too many owners of them here because they are not enthusiasts - to them, a truck is simply a tool. A lot of V-6 owners here are constantly whining about low power and unpleasant exhaust sound when modified - enthusiasts have no business buying one in my opinion. The V-6 is for the owner who runs it totally stock and only wants something that's going to start when the key is turned and gets them down the road with whatever they are hauling, be it just their @$$ or a bed full of crap. It's old tech - pushrods and spark plug wires. There's a lot to be said for this kind of simplicity.

BikerDad - with your stated needs, you won't go wrong as long as you don't have more expectations than that.

I am actually an automotive enthusiast, but if I really wanted something whippy I'd buy a suitable car. For my daily driver needs, my simple V-6 manual trans standard cab short bed is plenty adequate. It gets somewhat acceptable gas mileage, it has adequate power, and I actually like the sound of my modified exhaust. I don't cop the attitude of "V-8 rumble or nothing". I've run the thing from coast to coast, including up Pikes Peak, and have never cussed it out for lack of power. I must have 10 round trips between Joplin and Chicago towing a 3000# trailer with additional crap in the bed, and it did the job - and got about 14 mpg doing it.

 

Everything super notable (that I can think of) has already been said. Just commenting from experience.

I drive a '07 4.2 Reg Cab, 6' Bed with an Automatic, and mechanically she's been perfect. I keep up on regular things and I've never had an issue. I've had her since day one and I'm at around 40K. My Dad drives an '02 4.2 Ex Cab 6' Bed with an Automatic and I don't know of any problems that he's had. Last time I saw his truck he was around 130K and it's his daily as well.

Honestly for a reliable daily I couldn't ask for anything better.

 

I have 135k on mine and the only significant work that's been done is as follows:

Plugs, wires, and coil pack at 84k, along with a BG intake cleaning
Plenum gaskets and isolator bolts at 120k
Clutch at 65k (because the slave cylinder blew)
U-joints at 75k
Coolant, tranny, and diff fluid change at 104k
Front brakes at 65k
Upper and lower ball joints and idler arm at 125k
Original battery lasted 7 years
I change the oil with 5w20 Mobil 1 EP every 10k, it burns a quart about every 6k

 

I've got 40k on my '07... the only work it needed was an alternator, a/c clutch, pulleys, and a new head gasket. But that was a fluke. It's been running like a champ for over a year now.

The '99 I had with the same combo just a scab, it never needed anything but regular maintainance.