Suggestions for a compact pick-up truck, please. (vanity)

March 15, 2015 | me

[Leaning Right]

I'm in the market for a compact pick-up truck. The old Ford Ranger would have been perfect, but Ford's motto in that regard is: Shut up and by the F-150.

Is there anything out there that approaches the Ranger? Thanks for any advice.

[rabidralph]

Chevy’s half-ton Luv!

[discostu]

Toyota Tacoma are the most durable vehicle in their class. There’s a reason why the African juntas weld guns onto them, you don’t actually need to take care of them and they last forever. If you actually DO take care of them. The boys in Top Gear actually tried to kill one, tried like smashed it, burned it, and left it below high tide, it still runs, if you watch an episode and notice a really beat up red pickup on display, that’s the Hilux (Tacoma here) they tried and failed to kill. You’ll find it’s a lot more comfortable too, I spent 10 minutes in a Ranger once, took days for my back to forgive me.

[Delta 21]

Thats a “UTE”. Good luck getting one outside of Australia.

[Delta 21]

Drool more HERE.

[patton]

In my experience, the best Ford bargain you can get is an F-250 4WD beer can.

Right now, they are 31k new, with limited options - phone, radio, power mirrors, power windows, vinyl. Snow plow and trailer package, like that. Nothing fancy.

[Leaning Right]

Thanks much for the link. Before your post #58, I hadn’t even considered a coupe utility, such as that Ford Falcon. So I did a little research over morning coffee. Evidently, no US manufacturer is even thinking about coupe utilities these days.

But that little Australian Ute is a real beauty. And yeah, I did drool over it.

[Delta 21]

Just another case of your government knowing what best for you and over-regulating what you really want beyond your reach.

[JimRed]

Remember the LUV.

Light Utility Vehicle? Some called it "Limited Use Vehicle".

[Yosemitest]

A few questions:

How much weight do you plan to haul on the truck?

Do you plan tho pull a trailer with it, like a boat, a small utility trailer, or a pop-up camper?

How important is gas mileage?

Would you consider a diesel in a small pickup?

Very important, how long do you plan on keeping the truck?

Do you believe that the United States might be attacked by terrorist with an EMP attack?

If so, how mechanically inclined are you?

Would you consider an older truck that was points, plugs and condenser, say before 1967 model?

An example to consider:

1965 Ford Ranchero Base 3.3L FORD RANCHERO


1959 Studebaker Pickup Truck


1964 Datsun Other NO RESERVE

An older truck that has been rebuilt and taken care of, is a great tool, and it may cost as much as a new truck.
But usually they're worth it.
They may be a little more trouble to go get, or to finance, but if you take a little time preparing for the "buy", you can do very well.

Plus you are not chained to the dealership for repairs.
Just do a little research on the availability of parts.
Most are easy to get parts for, but some are not.
And most are easy to work on.

[Leaning Right]

How much weight do you plan to haul on the truck?
- Light weight: garden supplies and my three-wheeled trike

Do you plan tho pull a trailer with it, like a boat, a small utility trailer, or a pop-up camper? - No

How important is gas mileage? - Not very

Would you consider a diesel in a small pickup? - Maybe

Very important, how long do you plan on keeping the truck?
- Forever...I keep vehicles until (and even after) major parts fall off

Do you believe that the United States might be attacked by terrorist with an EMP attack? - Probably only a matter of time

If so, how mechanically inclined are you? - Not very

Would you consider an older truck that was points, plugs and condenser, say before 1967 model?
- Only as a project, not as primary transportation

[chaosagent]

Is the Dodge Dakota still being made?

We bought a 2004 V8 4 x 4 with 104,000 on it in 2007. It now has 226,000 with another 70,000 being towed behind our RV. In tow mode, miles don’t accumulated on the odometer.

Very few problems, thought the gas mileage isn’t great.

[Yosemitest]

"how mechanically inclined are you? - Not very"

One of the best things you can do to make taking care of your vehicle easy, is to buy a SHOP Manual to your vehicle.
Older vehicles really are easier to maintain, than the newer computer vehicles.
Anything past about 1990 is really designed to throw away after about 15 years.
Just because a vehicle is old, doesn't mean it's not dependable for a primary vehicle.
My primary vehicle right now is a 1965 Comet Wagon in rebuilt shape and my truck is a 1977 Ford.
However on the farm, we have several 1964 large trucks that never give us any trouble, and haven't for years.
Our farm tractors are Massy Ferguson and are out of the late 60s and they rarely give us any trouble.
Ford is a popular vehicle and LMC Truck Parts has just about everything you'll ever need.
That Datsun truck is easy to get parts for.
Go to some older antique vehicle shows in your area and talk to people.
You'll find that the older vehicles are much more dependable than todays "computer vehicles" and are much more fun.
They're cheaper to insure, cheaper to tag, and, you can drive a standard, less likely to get stolen.

[ottbmare]

I agree about the F-150s—they seem to be mostly suburban toys. But I wanted a work truck, something capable of pulling a loaded four-horse GN through a mountain pass, and I am not willing to pay for decorations. So I bought a 250 Superduty. No bells or whistles, a plain Jane truck, but it does the job and gets great gas mileage. It surprises a lot of people when this little blonde lady hops down from the cab, when they’re expecting a Mexican landscaper to get out of such a truck. :-)

[ottbmare]

I wish Subaru made a pickup truck.

[SouthParkRepublican]

Well I must be missing something. I have a Maxima, bought new in 1998 with 300k on it, a 2004 Titan with 125 k on it and a 2011 Murano with 120 on it. The Titan has a bit of whine from the rear dif and is not good at the pump but is otherwise a great truck. The Murano has had nothing other than use items replaced and I’ve only had to change the starter and the alternator on the Maxima.

[urtax$@work]

For business hauling or passenger conversion - Ford Transit , the van you can walk into !

[rabidralph]

They used to but I don’t think it was useful for hauling anything.

[Leaning Right]

Ford Transit...that thing is bigger than my first apartment!