pickup trucks?

[rockrat]

SIL might be changing jobs in his company and will lose his company truck. They are thinking of trading off his car and getting a small pickup. Would need to haul two adults, baby and medium sized dog sometimes.

Would like decent mileage, tow a smallish boat possibly and haul yard waste. So, 4 door a must.

Opinions? Also, no variable drive transmissions, prefer to have the feel of the shift.

Thanks

[quilbilly]

Small pickups, even with the extended cab and "suicide doors", don't have enough space for the medium size dog plus the baby IMHO. I am currently driving a Nissan Frontier which I got when Ford discontinued their Rangers. The Frontier gets 25% poorer gas mileage than any of my previous Rangers but it was still better than the other small pickups (or any medium sized) three years ago. I use my truck for business as well as fun so put on a lot of long distance miles making me well aware of the gas mileage situation. The amenities for the Nissan were far superior to any of my previous Rangers. Nissan was the only brand to offer a standard transmission (5 speed) at the time which I thought was important and still do.

[Steelshooter]

Toyota tacoma basic model. 4 doors, 5 spd. tranny, 28 mpg city, 31 highway. Extremely reliable.

[Blanket]

If he can live with a small truck a Taco would be the choice

[Rcmaveric]

I wish they would bring the small trucks back. I want a lean green redneck mobile. Picture a Prias and El camino hybrid with 12 inches of ground clearance.....I digressed... I have had my eyes on new Tacoma for years. Its the smallest truck I can find. I hear they have great gas mileage. I currently drive the 2003 dodge Dakota Quad cab with a V8. My step dad used it for 4 years hauling his giant Mako boat. I have had it the last 10 years. I have driven the wheels off it and put them back on and gas mileage has been great for an average 20 MPG. Fits me, wife and 3 kids. Lots of space when they where smaller but now they are teenagers so its a slight squeeze for all three in the back seat. Only thing I hate is its a 2WD. I have had to sleep twice in the woods because of sand pits and getting stuck. I am carefull in it, but some muddy back woods trails of had me on edge. Redneck tip*** hydro plane across the mud. Cons of tip... watch out for cattle gates. Wife was pissed but I fixed the radiator and went home. Replaced the bumper and still haven't fixed the hood or grill. Scars add character even on trucks. I don't care about amenities or technology. I just want it to run and be reliable.

[WebMonkey]

4 door Dakotas with the 318 used to be nice.

[bandsmoyer]

Colorado

[sawinredneck]

Depending on budget, Toyota is number one.
Now don’t laugh, but if you can find a late model Suzuki Equater they are just dressed down Nissan Frontier’s, but sell for a LOT less.
Then Nissan.
Then Chevy. The Colorado’s are better now, but if looking at used, avoid the inline five cylinder.

[ol skool]

Toyota's are nice, gotta following and the prices show it. You can put a lot of miles on a Nissan for a lot less money than a Toyota. Cheaper to repair too. Resale isn't as high but neither is the buy-in. That said...

Get a full size truck and be done with it.

[MaryB]

F150 extended cab, get above 2009 or so they push 20mpg in a 2wd model(4wd is a waste unless conditions require it, like heavy snow or mud and even in snow my 2wd does well with 300 pounds back by the tailgate). My 2001 F150 can seat 4 adults if needed(cramped in back behind me, I need legroom up front so seat is all the way back), split bench so passenger front can be moved forward for more rear legroom. 5.4 Triton V8 that has been reliable, at 150k miles now. 6 1/2 foot box so it can haul a full sheet of plywood with the tailgate down. I paid $3800 for it in 2014 with 113k miles on it. It is a rust bucket but came out of Minneapolis and roads there are white with salt in winter.

[runfiverun]

I think they replaced the 318 with the 4.7 and called them the sport.
I have the 4.7 in my 1500 and it does pretty much what you want.
it pulls my 16' aluminum boat, hauls stuff, and pulls my little 5X8' trailer to the dump when necessary.
it also wheels pretty good in the mud and stuff and handles snow well.
we have had the daughters great dane in the back seat with an adult.
it gets up near 24 on flat ground and about 18 in town if you drive it reasonably well.

my biggest complaint at 160-K is I don't like how the headlights are aimed.

[rondog]

Full-sized Silverado Crew Cab. Go big or go home.

[Shopdog]

Been a Ford shop truck guy for a longtime.Those old 2wd straight sixes,straight drives.

Around the time Ford finally dropped that completely ignorant twin I beam Fr suspension,say around '05,the result was,wait for it ................. they swallowed the stupid pill on how to engineer a clutch.But,then Chevy quit putting them in Silverado's.

So,if I had to go straight drive,would go Toyota.

Styling and Chevy vs Ford vs Mopar ain't worth the time and effort to discuss.If it lites your synapses,and you're aware of their"built in" issues....snag one.

I personally HATE pickups.Been "riding" in them from a shopworld standpoint my whole life.A freakin used 6 series BMW is cheaper than PU's round here.Yeah,BM's are a little womanly,make it a Merc,Lincoln,Caddy.... it's on principle.

[lightman]

Get a full size 4 door truck of whatever flavor you like. If you are in a place with few dealers, choose a brand with a dealer near you. Most of them offer a choice in engines and most of the medium size ones get decent mileage. My Wife's Expedition gets 19 to 21 MPG and has around 350HP. My Super Duty Diesel gets 18 or so, even at turn pike speeds. A recent 900+ mile trip with 400 miles of that trip carrying 1-1/2 tons of lead in the back averaged 18.4 for the trip. Whatever you get, get the trailer package. The hitch, built in trailer brake control, extra cooling and transmission cooler are worth it.

[alamogunr]

Full size Tundra. Can be cheaper than Tacoma if you shop. Mine is basic model without all the bells & whistles that run PU's into $50K+ range.

[EMC45]

Toyota tacoma basic model. 4 doors, 5 spd. tranny, 28 mpg city, 31 highway. Extremely reliable.

Beat me to it!

[Rick Hodges]

I have a '16 Chevy Colorado extended cab V-6 4x4. It does all I ask of it. For the same money I could have a Ford F-150....and get better fuel economy, but I would be looking at maintaining a turbo for 10 yrs.
Don't rule out full sized trucks unless you just prefer the small ones. The price difference is negligible, and the fuel economy savings are non-existent.

[rockrat]

I have a 4dr Tundra as my daily driver and a full size 4 dr chevy as a work truck. The chevy is a pain to park after driving the Tundra. If I can talk her into a Tacoma, I think that will do all they want, but might look at the F-150 too. Only drawback to the Tacoma is that I won't be able to fit in it if everyone goes out to eat (too tall, I don't fit)

Thanks for the advice.

[Budzilla 19]

I agree with the statement about full size trucks and fuel savings as opposed to the smaller trucks! Tacoma is a fine truck. If it's strictly for you, then find you an old Dodge with a Cummins diesel in it, do a few things for reliability, and drive it till you die! AND, get 20+ mpg if you drive sensible! Case in point; instead of a 60K new truck, I put 17K in a rebuild on my 2002 Dodge diesel truck, it now has 401 rwhp and gets 21 mpg if you keep your foot off the black smoke pedal! It's a quad cab so the little boys( raising my grandsons after my son passed away) can ride along. Good luck in whatever you decide! ( plus the cool factor is off the chart when you blow the doors off a 79K sports car!,) i digressed..... sorry.

[Tom W.]

What is the white truck the ragheads mount machine guns on? Toyotas? Works for them.....:kidding:

My youngest son has a Tacoma. And it is really nice.f I ever am able to get another it will probably be a Toyota. The last five or six vehicles I and my wife had were either Toyota or Nissan. Due to our health we had to trade from cars to SUV's because it was easier to get in and out of them. I got another Toyota and she got another Nissan.

[alamogunr]

I have a 4dr Tundra as my daily driver and a full size 4 dr chevy as a work truck. The chevy is a pain to park after driving the Tundra. If I can talk her into a Tacoma, I think that will do all they want, but might look at the F-150 too. Only drawback to the Tacoma is that I won't be able to fit in it if everyone goes out to eat (too tall, I don't fit)

Thanks for the advice.

That is the reason I got the Tundra. That and I don't drive it enough to be concerned about gas mileage.

[blackthorn]

Another vote for Toyota! I have a 2006 Tundra, four door, four wheel drive, auto transmission, lots of bells and whistles. I was looking for a Tacoma and spotted this (three year old) Tundra in a guy's yard with a for sale sign. Looked at it, got it checked by my mechanic and bought it. I do not KNOW what the gas mileage is. I do know around town it burns gas, lots of gas!!! On the highway it gets pretty good mileage (my estimation). We also own a Toyota Highlander that we drive around town. It is a 2004 and was four years old when we bought it. Both machines have been (and are) dependable and not unreasonable to maintain. We do put many more miles on the Highlander than on the Tundra. Toyotas hold their resale value very well.

[marlin39a]

I would recommend the Toyota Tacoma 4 door. I am on my third one. Great mileage, looks, and dependability.

[2ndAmendmentNut]

Another happy Toyota owner here. Love my Tacoma.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I like this thread, learned something about the newer small pickups.

ANYWAY...
Myself, I've had a couple small pickups years ago (Jeep Commanche and Dodge dakota) and friends have had older ford baby rangers and the little Toyotas. They are kinda fun...BUT, IMHO, if you need a truck, you need a truck, a full size truck. If you don't need a truck, but have some needs as the OP mentions, a small SUV for a good hitch and utility trailer is probably a better solution than a small pickup.

Right now, I'm driving a Toyota Matrix, which is kinda of a "tiny" SUV. The 1.8l 4cyl engine powers this 4 door wagon with AWD just fine, and has a receiver hitch for installing a cargo carrier or small trailer...pulls it just fine if I don't put too much weight on the tongue.
Love the Toyota engines.

[winelover]

Another vote for Colorado.....and I hate pickups. I've owned nothing but full size vans since 1977. This is wifey's, 2016, Z-71 extended cab with extended bed. Not a small truck, by any stretch of the imagination. She wanted it for hauling kayak's.

207471

It will hold four adults, comfortably, five if you must. She drove back to Michigan, this Summer and averaged 25 mpg....not bad for a 305 HP V-6 that can **** and Get. Handles better than my 72 Chevelle SS. BTW, plenty of leg room in the front, I'm 6'1".

We ordered it new, with my GM retiree discount. A comparably equipped Silverado would be 10K more.

Winelover

[Artful]

. If you don't need a truck, but have some needs as the OP mentions, a small SUV for a good hitch and utility trailer is probably a better solution than a small pickup.

That was my choice - 2002 Suzuki XL7 - and I don't own the trailer - just U-haul rental when needed.

Wife has Full size Town & Country in which the seats fold to make a flat floor that will haul 18 cu ft upright freezer on it's side.

[GOPHER SLAYER]

I had a 1969 F-100 and drove it for 39 years, over hauled a 302 engine and installed it myself when the truck was six years old. It came with a huge inline six that couldn't climb a cigarette butt. I drove that truck across the U.S. three times and it seldom gave me any trouble. When something failed such as a solenoid, points or regulator you could trouble shoot the problem in a few minutes. It had twin I-beams and they never got out of alignment and the tires wore straight across with no ware on the outside or inside. I loved that truck and only sold it because we moved to a senior community and I had no place to park it.

[10x]

Toyota tacoma basic model. 4 doors, 5 spd. tranny, 28 mpg city, 31 highway. Extremely reliable.

Second this advice.

[shdwlkr]

well I have a 2006 ford f250 cc short box 4x4 and can get 20mpg on the road and it weights 8900 lbs as I have it setup and can tow 12,000 lbs
I also have a 2014 gmc denali cc short box 4x4 and get around 18 mpg on the road, both are diesels