Used "Truck": What should I buy?

onewhippedpuppy · 10-26-2007, 10:02 AM

C'mon guys, I need your creativity. As soon as I fix my Silverado, it's gone. Too big for my use. I need to replace it with a small truck-ish vehicle, but I'd like some creative alternatives to the Ford Ranger (and similar). So, it needs to get 20 MPG or better, haul 4x8 sheets of whatever, be easy to live with as a daily driver, reliable, and be about $4k (poor college guy with family

).

If I can't find anything "cool", I'm hoping to find a higher mileage Tacoma. But, I'm hoping the braintrust here can find me a fun alternative to a truck.

Shameless plug, if anyone is interested in a 2000 Silverado, 3 door extended cab, 2wd, 5.3 V8 automatic, 137k, for $6500-ish, let me know. Perfect mechanicals, clean interior, decent cosmetics, but repaired accident damage.

legion · 10-26-2007, 10:05 AM

I can't think of anything creative that can haul 4 x 8 sheets. Heck, even in a Ranger they have to be angled in.

I always get full-sized trucks with 6.5" beds. I can put a 4 x 8 in the bed with the tailgate down.

Dan in Pasadena · Dan in Pasadena's Garage

Legion's right Matt. If the criteria is full plywood sheets AND 20 MPG for $4,000? That pretty much excludes fun. My only suggestion would be an older truck. I have recently been looking at '65-66 Chevy shortbeds. I'd MUCH prefer a '67 Chevy but '67-72's are (almost) like early 911's these days.

Perhaps a 6 ft bed '73-'87 fleetside Chevy with a 6 cylinder. You could get it cheap with challenged cosmetics and do your own prep before a paint job, Craigslist wheels and stereo and it would be a decent hauler. Best I can think of.

onewhippedpuppy · 10-26-2007, 10:16 AM

My problem with a big truck is 95% of the time the bed is empty. So I'm commuting back and forth to work and school driving this big, empty truck. For my occasional use, it's overkill. I hate the size, the MPG, the b!tch that it is to park. But, I still need something that can occasionally haul stuff, as we are in the process of remodeling our house.

Short of a mullet-mobile (El Camino), I can't think of anything halfway fun that suits my needs. I may just have to suck it up and buy a compact truck.

legion · 10-26-2007, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I may just have to suck it up and buy a compact truck.

I think you're right.

The ONLY vehicles I can think of that get 20 MPG, cost $4000 or less, and can haul a 4 x 8 (even uncomfortably) are:

* Chevy S10/Canyon
* GMC Sierra/Colorado
* Ford Ranger

And with that, you'd have to get the 4-cylinder version to see a reliable 20 mpg. The Dodge Dakota is right out because (I think) it only comes with a V6 or V8.

My 2007 Silverado will see 22 mpg highway, but that will blow your budget.

Tim Hancock · 10-26-2007, 10:22 AM

I like my occasional use 4 x 4 Tacoma just fine, but the 2 wd stick shift Toyotas can be pretty fun to bang around in and typically are trouble free even with high miles.

BlueSideUp · 10-26-2007, 10:23 AM

Do you need a truckish type vehicle because of the areas you drive in?

If you want something that gets better mileage but is able to haul a 4x8 and be comfortable why not just get a trailer and a vehicle that can tow it occasionally? If you are hauling an empty bed more often than not a trailer might not be a bad option. However if you need the option of hauling 4x8 sheets at all times then one of those older mini-trucks might be a good way to go. Some of them looked to have long beds but they weren't popular in the 90s so it might be hard to find something. Even an F150 with the straight 6 isn't going to get anything in the 20s.

IROC · IROC's Garage

I've hauled a lot of stuff in my 2001 DoubleCab Tacoma (with a 5' bed!!!). I recently brought home new kitchen countertops in it. It's got four doors, hauls the whole family and I tow my 911 to the track with it. I even moved us from our last house with it.

If you're not hauling stuff for a living, a compact truck can do alot. I just checked NADA, though and retail is almost $16k for mine and it's 7 years old.

Seahawk · 10-26-2007, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

I like my occasional use 4 x 4 Tacoma just fine, but the 2 wd stick shift Toyotas can be pretty fun to bang around in and typically are trouble free even with high miles.

Concur...I've had two with zero trouble.

tobster1911 · 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

If the criteria is full plywood sheets AND 20 MPG for $4,000? That pretty much excludes fun.

I would say they are nearly mutually exclusive.

Any truck that would fit full sheets without them hanging over is not going to get anywhere near 20mpg hwy. Not in $4k. Mileage between a 6 and 8 does not make a huge difference in town. Trucks with a 4 cylinder are so small they become pointless as a truck IMO.

Is this a daily driver? If not why sweat the mpg? Mileage between a 6 and 8 does not make a huge difference in town but the size does. Trucks with a 4 cylinder are so small they become pointless as a truck IMO.

Personally, I would keep the Chevy....

Edit: Just saw this is your DD. S10 w/ 5spd would be my vote. My old one in college did 16city/23hwy. You can haul with it but it just does not hold as much. 4.3L v6 has nice power though.

legion · 10:28 AM

A Toyota and a trailer. Two more good suggestions.

You can get a utility trailer that can hold a 4 x 8 for something like $300 new.

HardDrive · 10-26-2007, 10:26 AM

I wish I could help, but this pretty much sounds like a Ranger or a Tacoma to me.

I have a $1000 83 F-150 that I keep for home depot runs.

Seahawk · 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tobster1911

Is this a daily driver? If not why sweat the mpg? Mileage between a 6 and 8 does not make a huge difference in town but the size does. Trucks with a 4 cylinder are so small they become pointless as a truck IMO.

Personally, I would keep the Chevy....

I would disagree...the R22E engine is fine for Home Depot runs and pulling a small trainer. I own a farm and only two YEARS ago upgrade to a large truck. 12 years with Toyota trucks, both 4 cyl and they did 95% of what I needs.VMMV

onewhippedpuppy · 10-26-2007, 10:29 AM

You guys are no fun. If the early '90s GMC Syclone sold for $4k, I'd be a happy man. Almost 300 HP turbo V6, AWD, sport suspension.

Too bad they sell for over $10k.

Fine, I'll get a compact truck. If I'm patient, I'm confident I can find a 2wd Toyota for $4k-ish, they pop up occasionally. I just missed a '97 2wd 4cyl 5sp Tacoma with 135k on it for $3500, that was a good deal. Second choice would have to be a Nissan Frontier. In the smaller trucks, I would actually prefer a stick. It won't be as slow, gets better MPG, and will be more entertaining to drive (slightly).

71T Targa · 10-26-2007, 10:30 AM

Dodge Caravan. I'm pretty sure you can get full sheets of plywood in one.

legion · 10-26-2007, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phred68

Dodge Caravan. I'm pretty sure you can get full sheets of plywood in one.

And the second you drive a minivan off the lot, the value sinks like a scab in the East River.

onewhippedpuppy · 10-26-2007, 10:33 AM

I should add, the trailer idea is out because I have nowhere to keep it.

4x8 sheets is for occasional use, as I'm remodeling my house. For example, this weekend I'll have to pick up a couple of sheets of underlayment for the bathroom I'll be tiling. Compact truck will work fine for this, as I'm not looking to haul 50 sheets at a time.

The truck is my daily driver, so size does matter. In a perfect world I'd have a full size truck for occasional use, and a car as a DD. But, family, mortgage, and bills come first. When I finish school in less than a year it will become a realistic option.

onewhippedpuppy · 10-26-2007, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phred68

Dodge Caravan. I'm pretty sure you can get full sheets of plywood in one.

Only if it comes with a "Baby On Board" sign.

tobster1911 · 10-26-2007, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I would disagree...the R22E engine is fine for Home Depot runs and pulling a small trainer. I own a farm and only two heres ago upgrade to a large truck. 12 years with Toyota trucks, both 4 cyl and they did 95% of what I needs.VMMV

I was referring to the size of the vehicle it is in. I agree the R22 is a good engine. (and easy to work on) All the Toyotas (except for the new LARGE ones) just can't hold as much as a full size. I guess you can add a trailer but some people don't have the room to store it.

rammstein · 10-26-2007, 10:50 AM

If you wanna get REALLY screwy:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3502057