compact pickup truck

[madmikeb]

I've been driving Tacoma 4x4's for about 11 years now and think they're great. 21 mpg's around town and 25+ on the highway. I am biased though, I've been driving the same Celica since 1981, and I've worked as a parts manager for a Toyota dealer for about 23 years now! There's no doubt as to what I would pick.

 

[Munsterf18]

Just a thought

This might sound minor, but I couldn't even stretch my legs out in the Ranger or another compact truck when I drove them. That's okay in the parking lot, but doesn't work long term. Something to check.

Also, the boat ramp might not require 4 wheel drive, but I'm a big proponent of having the tow vehicle weigh more than the trailer. I want to make sure I know who's towing whom. I'm not worried about power, I'm worried about weight.

Good luck and let us know,
Munster

 

[JcMack]

Your size is a big factor. I was hot for a Ranger. I'm 6'1' 240lbs. A friend at work had a Ranger ex cab. I could not get in the drivers seat without banging my head on the roof without making a conscious effort to do so. Interior was cramped with seats all the way back. Butt, I'm calorically challanged.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

Agter finally paying my ex off last Dec. I started looking for a pickup. My '91 Explorer had 205,500 miles & was costing me money for little things going wrong. Wanted a 4x4 so looked at Toyota, Nissan, Dodge & Ford. best deal came up on a Ranger [2007] with 20,700 original miles. Drove it & liked it so I bought it. Good mileage & comfort, tow package, 5 speed, King Cab,all the bells & whistles. So far, so good.

 

[doublesharp]

I've got a Honda Ridgeline and I like it. Perfect truck for hauling guns. There is a trunk big enough for 3 sets of golf clubs under the rear bed and it's lock is tied to the auto lock system. I've got a flip back bed cover that keeps the bed dry. Interior is big enough for a full grown man, full of user friendly touches and the engine is the tried and true 3.5L V6. Routine maintenance is fairly easy and there's much good technical info available on the internet. Great for towing and bad weather. MPG ranges from 14 to 22. flat interstate at 70 will get 22 all day. Full time city stop and go is 14.

 

[pberry]

Tacoma V6. I'm 65 now and bought my last truck last year. A tacoma loaded. It pulls my Bass Tracker 175 just fine. Everyone I talked to said I wouldn't have to work on it for 200,000 miles. I put Synthetic oil in it the second oil change. I have had it 17 months now with 40,000 miles on it so far. The only thing it has been in for is the recall, and regular service. It has 40,000 miles on it because the wife won't leave it alone. She loves it and when I"m not taking it fishing, she drives it to work and everywhere else she wants to go. Motor Trends mag gave it 5 stars out of 5 and said you must drive one before you die. It may not be that good, but its close. I love it.
Phil

 

[Muley Gil]

I had a 4x4 '98 Ranger SuperCab with the 4.0 liter V. It had plenty of power and got about 20 MPG. I found it comfortable. I'm 6' and too much (about 235 lbs)

Don't know anything about the newer ones though.

 

[ohiobuckeye]

After driving your full size pickup for years, I suspect the mini trucks will be a big disappointment to you...especially with a 2700 lb boat and trailer bogging it down. I'm 6'2"/245 and just do not fit into the Ranger/S10 size trucks. My buddy has a Ranger and with both of us it's cramped, noisy, lousy gas mileage, and I often take my truck when it's his turn to drive just to avoid riding in the darned thing. He is also a big guy and it's like being sardines in a can. I have no need for a full size truck and have had two new intermediate size Dodge Dakota pickups that have given me excellent service. 22-24mpg, comfortable, quiet, and good handling. Head and shoulders above the tiny Ranger size trucks. 150k miles with nothing beyond normal PM. My son is still driving my old Dakota. Bad news is that I hear Dodge may drop the Dakota from production, or worse yet, make it a frameless unibody construction.

 

[CJ]

I am planning to trade in my f-150 next year, I have downsized boats so don't need that big of a vehicle. I am thinking between ford, nissan Frontier. and toyota Tacoma. I have liked the full sized ford but am not familiar with any of these compacts..........

Do they even make compact pickups any more? Seems like they have all grown into 7/8ths the size of many full size pickups. You ought to compare them, in person, to your current F150 as the size difference and MPGs may not be what you think they are.

Of the three you mentioned, I've had the best of luck with Toyota. I have a 2000 Tacoma that has had nothing done to it other than routine maintenance.

 

[zercool]

Lots of Tacoma fans out there, for good reason. I almost bought one when I got a truck, but ended up with the Frontier. (Toyota does everything as "packages". Can't spec the truck you really want.)

Mileage isn't great - on par with most full-size trucks, although that may partly be a function of high gravity around my right foot. I have no issue with the turning circle; it's a truck. I want tight turns, I take my wife's car.

The factory tires (Bridgestone Long Trails, iirc) wore out in about 23k. I've replaced them with General AT2s, which have worn well, are a hair noisier, and have NEVER gotten stuck.

I've had it since March of 2007, has 54000 miles, and I've done only regular maintenance. I'd buy another in a New York minute.

 

[Hofstet]

The new 2011 F150 with the 6 cyl. Eco Boost engine is supposed to get great mpg. If the advertising is true, probably better than most of the compact trucks.

 

[enfield]

Comparing just the Ford Ranger to the F150:

Comparable price
Comparable mileage (4.0L V6 vs V8)
Lower payload and towing capacity
Cramped cab

I'd go for the F150!

 

[Stevens]

Many thanks for all the replies and good advice, including doing nothing which may be the best advice of all! The cheapest for sure.
I am in no rush at all so will give it a good bit of thought before or if I do!
This list is always good for help on any topic not only S&W!!
Steve W.

 

[diamonback68]

I would look at the little Nissan. I was talked out of a Toyota. I sold my Nissan at 242,000 miles and it had yet to use it's first drop of oil, but then again I changed it every 3000 miles which was every 10 days. Everything was still original except tires and brakes.

 

[Herknav]

Do NOT, under any circumstances, get a Chevy Colorado. I'm glad to see it's not on your list. Any resemblance it bears to a vehicle that can actually do work is purely coincidental. It's like a Dodge Neon with a bed.

I don't have personal experience with any of the three you listed. However, one of my NCOs has a '94 Ranger that's still going strong. And, I have to say that I've never met an unhappy Toyota owner.

 

[servmgr64]

I am on my 2nd Tacoma, have had S-10's, Dakotas, & full size. Tacoma is the best one available. 2nd best is probably the Nissan. The Tacoma's also hold their value the best of any pickup.
servmgr64

 

[tripledipper]

Went through two used 4cyl Rangers and in 05 a new 4cyl Tacoma (standard cab, stripped), my mistake, should have bought an upgraded Tacoma with more room, bucket seats, doors, etc. that I would still have , so in 06 took my loss and finally got a new full size 6cyl Tundra access cab which can haul anything I need to. Mileage 16/17 city, 20/21 hway. This will still be running when I am in a vase over the fireplace, so I concur with those who said keep the F150 until the wheels fall off.