My dad has a 1990 GMC Suburban. It’s a tank on the road, especially given that all my previous cars have been Hondas or Nissans, but given today’s regulatory environment I keep offering to buy it from him but no luck so far. LOL It still runs well and is a great workhorse auto.
You could use the Suburban and a trailer to retrieve all your found junkyard treasures.
One very popular platform is the S-10 chassis.
DO NOT, repeat DO NOT let your Dad get rid of that 1990 Jimmy. It is not replaceable especially if it is a 3/4 ton and they are as good , or better, than money in the bank. My oldest is an 87’ and it seems to be worth at least what I paid for it. I have four, spread out over some years, one for every occasion, and more than enough spare/rebuilt engines and the rest to keep them on the road for longer than they will prolly let me drive.
My 96 Big block is nothing but fun to drive. It’ll do 160 mph without getting close to the red line——buuuutttt you dint hear me say that.——