The longer one (looks like the whole thing just sits a little higher too) states it has the 2-speed rear end, but doesn't state much else... still waiting to hear back, might be a few days.

Plan of use is to restore it, and by restore it, I just mean fixing it up, not worried about being "true to stock original" or any of that. Fresh paint (not that either need it, though one has a horribly ugly orange/teal color combo), new wood if needed in the rear and sides... I may install a small little crane arm off to one side of the bed, up against the cab corner to lift heavy stuff onto the bed. New tires, conversion to 12v if needed, new door trim to help block out the cold during winter.

For use, it's going to be a very utility piece utilized on our little 60 acre farm, but being able to do stuff with some fun and charm. Driving the 34 mile trip into town to buy lumber for odd projects around the place, fencing material, bags of wood pellets for the stove, hay, and old tools/shop equipment that I restore (I have a 278 lb bench vise, for example, that was a pain in the butt to get home!)

I would love if I could convert it to a dump bed, but not needed (no idea how that is done, or if it's possible or financially feasible)

Anyway, we'll see what happens. Being a full-time college student and father of two kids, money is tight, and if I make the purchase is really dependent on how taxes go... I was surprised that that the wife actually sounded intrigued about the idea of picking up an old truck.

Thanks for the advice so far guys! Oh, before I forget, assuming the larger truck (the one I'm more interested in at the moment) is a 2 ton truck, what is the available weight limit I could put in the back? I'm assuming someone here knows the gross weight and all that. I don't plan on loading it up with much weight very often at all, but may use it to move an old tractor sometime.

Also you said the 2-speed rear end will give another 10 MPH or so. What'd be an average cruising speed to expect? Not worried at all about making good time or anything, just curious.