I've got it!!!! You say you want to be able to haul around some decent sized cargo correct? I'll assume I'm correct. I've got a very low budget solution. Buy a transmission cooler, a hitch, and a trailer and now you've got your ability to tow things (towing "decent sized cargo") and no add'l insurance and you save over 4-8 thousand dolllars. Yeah?

I like my GMC Sonoma Extended cab 4.3. I've got the ZQ8 suspension, makes it handle great for a small truck. Plenty of power too, if it would ever hook up.

Ford explorers are okay. My dad had a 97 with the 4.0 sohc engine and five speed auto and it was very peppy and shifted great. I would have bought it but I didnt like the bumpy ride. He has since traded it in for a Ford Excursion.

I just got rid of my 97 with the 3rz and it was the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned. Never ever had a single problem other than a powersteering rack, which was caused by hitting a bowling ball size rock that rolled out infront of me at 55mph. I had the truck for 7 years (bought with 18k on the clock and sold at 164k) and seriously never had Any failures besides that.Then I bought a bonnie and been broke ever since

look for an Lx (lowest trim) buying an sr5 packaged vehicle will add almost 2k.You should beable to find a 95-2k 4x4 Lx (Lx is extend cab Sx is standard cab) in your price range. And the 2.7 in the 4x4'* is actualy rated at more like 175hp and 190ftlb and is rated to tow 3700lb. I lived in the mountanis the entire time I owned that truck and it was used like truck every single day.