Need a recommendation for a small WORK pickup

[Herknav]

My dad has two jobs. He's a travelling consultant by day and raises beef cattle by night. After growing up a Ford guy, he got burned by two crappy Fords back-to-back (77 & '81). Consequently, he bought an '83 GMC 3/4 truck. This truck was awesome. It ran for 350K before he sold it to his mechanic, who then sold the original engine. Since then, he's had 3 or 4 S-10s and now drives a Colorado.

He's very underwhelmed by the Colorado. First of all, to blow debris off of the radiator, you have to drain it and pull it out. Who wants to do that every week? The fuel system is vented and the engineers put the air filter for the fuel system in the wheelwell, where it gets clogged very easily. His dealership (in a small farm town) has told him that the pickup was not designed for the type of work he uses it for. My dad's response is, "So, the Z-71 OFF ROAD (emphasis mine) package isn't meant to be taken off the pavement?"

Dad already has a 3/4 truck for heavy hauling. He's looking for a daily driver (S-10/Ranger-sized) that he can use for his day job and can stand up to light farm use (not abuse)--i.e. checking cattle, light hauling, etc. Government Motors representatives have admitted they have nothing to offer. Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance,
Herk

 

[2Loud4You]

OK, granted we haven't had a Colorado or it's brother, a Canyon, in our shop but I'm confused by the "fuel system is vented". If the fuel system was vented it would trigger an EVAP code and set the Check Engine Light. The fuel system should be sealed for emissions. Fuel vapors are sent to a charcoal canister and slowly fed into the engine when it's running. This saves fuel as well as keeping the vapors out of the atmosphere.

 

[Herknav]

This filter allows CLEAN air INTO the fuel tank to displace fuel as it is burned. When the filter gets clogged, you get the "Check Engine" light. (Sorry for "shouting", I can't find the "bold" button.)

 

[walter o]

what truck

I've got a "99"f-150 only K on it and have not had anything but a lower ball joint changed . Granted it is not a work truck but it has pulled our 22.5ft. camper many miles .
Think ford made some improvements in this model truck I'm happy with mine.

 

[rfuerst911sc]

Don't rule out a full size domestic with a V6 motor. Decent fuel mileage and a good truck overall. A short box makes it friendly to drive like a mid-size truck. A few years ago ( aprox. 2000 ) I owned a Toyota Tacoma with a 3.4 V6. It was a nice truck. For what it's worth I just picked up a one owner 1997 GMC 1500 in perfect condition with 98,000 original miles for a great price. There are deals out there if you do some looking. Good luck.

 

[Davwingman]

I have a 2004 Ford Ranger 4wd,5speed manual & 4.0 V6. It has 51,000 mi. on it now and zero problems so far. On a recent trip to Wy. from Ca. it avg. 23.9 mpg & on short trips around town it is always 18-19 mpg. Something like this should work for your dad.

 

[Grayfox]

Toyota. The only worth while option in a small truck.
And this is from a life long Ford man.

 

[zercool]

I've got an '07 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab 4x4 that has done everything I've asked of it. Plenty of hunting and camping. A bit of towing. I'd like to add either airbags or another leaf to the rear springs; they don't handle full loads quite as well as I'd like - truck gets squatty and handling suffers.

The Tacomas are nice trucks too, but my beef with Toyota is that everything is a package option... Nissan lets you choose individual options. I went pretty simple on mine:

V6 (only motor available)
4x4
manual transmission
power windows/locks
air conditioning
tow pack

That's all I needed.

 

[nisamo]

Honda Ridgeline

 

[Bat Guano]

Toyota. We have had 4 in our family and they are like Duracell rabbits. I won't mention what my son has towed with his '93 extended cab with V6. The other 3 have had 4 cyl. 22R engines.

One of the few things out there that pays its way.

 

[rayb]

My Chevy S-10 has 409,5XX miles and I will still go anywhere with it. Only problem is 14" tires, sometimes problems in rougher pastures, ravines, etc.

traded a high mileage Chevy for a lightly used Colorado before the change in ownership, in March I think. Only highway so far. Cheap to run on the highway, but a tin can on wheels for work use. Probably my last Chevy.

Some of the local farmers are trying the Toyotas, reports ok so far, but they haven't been out long enough to see if they'll hold up to ranch use. A local farmer that has a lot of windshield time between operations traded his Toyota for a GMC because he couldn't get repairs fast enough out here in the rural areas. Unfortunately for him the GMC dealership closed 21 December.

The oil company field service people are just about all Ford in this area.

Since ag is only 3% of the general population, our needs and wants don't matter to the corporations. Urban flash is what counts to them. I'd watch the construction and oil field industries and see what their field people are driving.

I will probably go back to Ford or maybe try a Toyota next.

As the stickers used to say" Ford Built in Texas by Texans". That was a long time ago.

Now the Texas Ford plant is long gone to the rust belt, and Toyota trucks are built here right outside of San Antonio, by Texans . I may support them if they put out a good enough product. I quit buying Fords about 25 years ago when I switched to Chevy's.

Forget Chrysler.

Your opinions and experience may vary.

rayb

 

[JcMack]

I've got a Colorado. It's the next one up from the cheapest in the line. I'ts a 2008 and a real tin can. I've got a company car but I need personnel vehicle and I bought the Colorado in NOV. 'O7 for 16K. I've got 1400 miles on it now. The truck fills the bill as a "citified" around town gas savin 4 cyl. for picking up groceries and I see a lot of them as auto parts/pizza delivery trucks. Off road or hard use would tear this "truck" up. I had 3 Toyota 4X4 "Delux" bodied (pre Tacoma 87, 88, 90) that I rode hard, and other than the occasional clutch, and tires, I put a thermostat in the '87 once and that was the only Toy prob. I ever had. The 4 cyl 22r Toy engine was widely used as a stationary engine. The '90 Toy 4X4 with short cab, radio, and 5 spd standard, with manual hubs was just over 13K. What are they now? Therein lies the rub.

 

[godlessgael]

unfortunately, I am also going to have to recommend a Tacoma. I am a Ford man, and come from a Ford family, but they are by FAR the best small pick up on the market. However, I don't know if I would really consider them "small" anymore. Thy are about the size of old f-150's.

 

[Culina]

toyota

 

[BADSBSNF811]

Get a Taco or an older Yota with the 22R engine. I kept my 84 4x4 for 22 years, sold it to my best friend for a buck, and it's just now getting broke in with 220K or so on it. Replaced it with an 06 Taco, 4cyl, 5 speed manual, two wheel drive. They'll probably bury me in it.

 

[bmhiii]

I have a '99 Tacoma extended cab (not 4 door), 4x4, V-6, TRD package. It has 157K on it and I just replaced front brakes for the first time. Back brakes still original. Had a U joint go out and had to replace 1 tie rod. Other than that, oil change every 5K, tune-ups every 75K. It has not been used as a work truck, mostly highway miles.

Bottom line for me, I wouldn't trade it even for a brand new one, I've got a keeper. Only wish I have is to have one (or both) of those "partial doors" for behind the seat access.

Of course YMMV...

 

[Muley Gil]

I have a '95 2WD Isuzu pick-up, 123K. It has the 2.3 four cylinder engine and a five speed manual tranny. Never had any trouble with the engine and I'm still running the factory clutch and rear brake shoes. Just wish it had power steering for parking.

 

[Herknav]

Thanks for the replies, guys. Keep 'em coming.

My brother-in-law has a Tacoma 2WD pre-runner. He loves it, but he also rarely uses it to off-road or to haul anything.

 

[Forester]

Toyota. The only worth while option in a small truck.
And this is from a life long Ford man.

+1

 

[45/70 marlin]

The best small truck is the GMC S-15.You will have to buy used,since they are nol onger used.I have owned 6 of them over the years.Have never had any problems with mine.I buy one and drive it for about 250,000 miles or so.Then I trade it off for another.Mine have been used for daily driving,long trips,light towing,farm use,off roading and everything else.I will continue to by the S-15 trucks as long as there are any left.