FWD on a pickup is counter-productive IMHO. Putting weight over the rear wheels on front wheel drive is akin to dropping an anchor. One of the reasons I’ve gotten the truck is that I can’t tow even my small trailer uphill on the grass with my FWD Escape - no traction even with only 1500-2000 pounds worth of trailer. The RWD truck is made for that purpose (and I upped the ante by snagging a 4WD). Put 2 yards of mulch on the back and it gets better traction.
I do agree about having a small turbo-diesel in a small truck though. Something like VW’s TDI engine in a little 3200 pound truck with class-2 towing would be perfect for typical homeowner tasks.
One problem with full-sized trucks now days - my shortbed Dodge pushes almost 5000 pounds. It’s heavy already. In the old days, you could get a full-sized truck at around 4000-4200 pounds curb weight but they’ve fattened up over the ears with all the safety-nazi crap that they put in them.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens when/if Ford re-introduces the F-100. If it’s lighter and a bit smaller, it might be a great platform for a 4BT type engine whether it be Cummins or Ford.
4WD
Ford F-100 trucks are all over Argentina...brand new models, so I assume there is a factory in country.
Best pickup I ever drove for non-heavy use was a Toyota HiLux; 3.0 liter turbo diesel, doble cabina y quatro por quatro. Drove them all over the high Andes in Chile and Argentina and Peru...over 17,000 feet above sea level.
Great trucks except the heaters didn’t put out enough hot air in winter at the high altitudes...when it was snowing, and the wind was blowing...and it was -40.