I use trucks to work out of.
My test of its usefulness is to throw a short handled shovel into the bed right behind the cab. If I can’t reach in and get that shovel it’s useless to me. That’s why I’ve been nursing our ‘98 Mazda B-4000 along. It’s a Ranger anyway.
I love my 94 B3000. 207k, only had it for 5k miles and spends most of its retirement on our farm. I don’t drive it that much but work it hard when I do.
I love the idea of having a new 1/2 ton or heavy duty truck, but I can’t justify the exorbitant cost. This workhorse will haul anything up to 1000 pounds without much trouble, and it’s so simple that there’s just not a lot of stuff to break. No AC, no power windows, no cruise control, no auto transmission, no auto locking 4wd hubs. It’s just a plain old truck.