Here are some trucks to consider if you need a no-frills pickup for basic hauling and everyday transportation. Check load capacities, towing specs, engine size, bed length and other capacities for each model to make sure the truck will do the job you want it to do. Keep it basic to get the best price--don't expect economy if you tack on a load of options. Prices are Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price, MSRP, but you can usually do better.
1. 2005 Ford Ranger 2WD
Regular cab, basic Rangers start under $15,000. Trucks with 4-cylinder engines (the least expensive models) aren't particularly powerful and they don't have jazzed up interiors, but they can be good, economical transportation for someone who needs a compact, daily driver that's capable of hauling cargo. Regular cab Rangers received four stars out of five in NHTSA frontal and side-impact crash tests--better than some other pickup trucks.
2. 2004 Toyota Tacoma 2WD
The 2004 Tacoma truck starts out at around $13,000. Most features you think of as adding comfort are optional, so if you don't want or need them, you don't have to pay for them. With proper care, Toyota trucks seem to run forever, making the base model Tacoma a must-see for anyone who wants a no frills compact truck. Look for significant changes to the 2005 models.3. 2004 Nissan Frontier King Cab 2WD
Stick with a bare-bones, 4-cylinder King Cab Frontier to keep the price under $15K for this compact truck. That gets you 143 hp, with a maximum payload of 1300 pounds and 3500 pound towing capacity. Moving up a trim level adds a few comfort features--for about $1,000, but to get the base model with a more powerful V6 engine you'll have to go just under $20,000. Look for significant changes in the 2005 Frontier truck.4. 2005 Toyota Tundra 2WD
Keep the price of Toyota's larger truck under $17K by choosing the 6-cylinder regular cab model with base trim. You can move up to a base V8 for around $18,000, and taking another step upwards to buy a 4WD truck takes the price to just over $20K. Maximum payload is 1565 pounds, maximum towing capacity is 5,000. Tundras aren't quite as large as others in the full-size category, but they're a good value.5. 2005 Ford F-150 XL 2WD
The regular cab, XL base model, V6 F-150 has an MSRP of $19,610. Maximum payload is 1830 pounds. If you have towing needs, be aware that this particular model's maximum towing capacity is a weak 2400 pounds. Although it's much higher for V8 equipped XL F-150's, you'll pay significantly more to get it.6. 2005 Chevy Silverado 1500 2WD
Stick with Silverado Work Truck modles, with V6 engines, to keep the MSRP just under or just above $20,000. Maximum load capacity for the base truck is 1875 pounds and it can tow up to 8300 pounds, significantly more than others on this list. Not a bad choice if you don't mind going the extra $$$.7. 2005 GMC Sierra Work Truck 2WD
The Sierra Work Truck is a no-frills pickup that's very similar to its Silverado cousin.