Thread: Trucks.

Originally Posted by 32t

How many miles do you drive a year? And how many times do you haul something that needs a truck? Can you do your own maintenance? Do you have 2 parking spots?

I am a truck type guy but want a sports car. When my last truck started to get to the level that I could not guarantee that I would get to work every morning. 358,000 miles. I wanted to buy a sports car for every day and keep my old truck. SWMBO said that I needed one or the other. I have only one off street parking spot, insurance for 2, etc. and she made sense. I chose a truck! It costs me over $1,000 a year in gas more than a car but I can throw a gas can, chain saw, or a dead deer in the back and don't have to smell it like a van. Small trucks don't get that much better gas mileage and when you load them they can get worse. In town a trailer makes a lot of sense to me. Don't get a fiberglass topper, they are a pain! In town a topper is alright but I would never get one when I lived on the farm. I have a tonneau cover right now and it has been OK.

Random thoughts of mine and you have to decide what is best for you.

Around 5000 miles a year if that. Mostly we drive my wives car because well its a 4 door and more comfortable and I can fit a car seat in it for the baby. I do have a garage with 2 spots plus I have 2 street spots. I can do my own maintenance and I am planning on buying a boat soon so I need a truck to tow the boat. Plus I am always having to rent a truck from home depot for when I do major housework which is quite often enough to where it gets annoying.

Originally Posted by 32t

How many miles do you drive a year? And how many times do you haul something that needs a truck? Can you do your own maintenance? Do you have 2 parking spots?

I am a truck type guy but want a sports car. When my last truck started to get to the level that I could not guarantee that I would get to work every morning. 358,000 miles. I wanted to buy a sports car for every day and keep my old truck. SWMBO said that I needed one or the other. I have only one off street parking spot, insurance for 2, etc. and she made sense. I chose a truck! It costs me over $1,000 a year in gas more than a car but I can throw a gas can, chain saw, or a dead deer in the back and don't have to smell it like a van. Small trucks don't get that much better gas mileage and when you load them they can get worse. In town a trailer makes a lot of sense to me. Don't get a fiberglass topper, they are a pain! In town a topper is alright but I would never get one when I lived on the farm. I have a tonneau cover right now and it has been OK.

Random thoughts of mine and you have to decide what is best for you.

for $1000 per year in fuel (over a few years)you could probably buy an old "farm truck" for the times you actually need it, and keep a more reliable/comfortable car for everyday use, I know that counters what you are saying with regards to off street parking etc but weighing up the costs might be worthwhile?

Cosperryfan-After months of dithering on the same issue, I bought this '13 Tacoma last August with 13k miles on it (but like new condition). My wife found it online, and it literally had every option I wanted, and then some (down to the metallic blue color). We drove all the way to Bristol, Tenn to get it (on race day, no less-what a zoo!). By the way, the Friendship family of dealers up there were awesome to deal with, very fair, honest and up-front.


V6 4x4, 236 hp (plenty for me!),TRD Off-Road package, step rails, fully-loaded interior with all the bells and whistles, including a kick-a$$ stereo and bluetooth. And it can haul all I need; probably the biggest load I've hauled was a half-ton bag of sand for a lawn project. I think it's more than plenty for basic household duties (mulch, cinder-blocks and what have you). Does great up in the mountains on all the dicey fire-roads my fishing buddies and I mess around on. The mileage is in the mid-20's hwy if my guesstimate is right, but at any rate way better than my old Jeep used to get. I couldn't be happier with it (well, except maybe for the payments!). Everybody I know with a Tacoma loves it. And yes, these "Japanese" trucks are USA-made (in Brownsville TX I am told), as many "American" cars are now made overseas.Let us know what you end up with!

edit: I saw where you are eventually planning to pull a boat. My manual says it will pull 6500 lbs., which should cover most boats and moderate-sized campers.

The new Chevrolet Colorado is the Motor Trend Truck of the Year. It is mid-sized, comes as a crew cab and gets great gas mileage.

I just finished truck shopping. I previously had a 2007 Ford F150 Crew Cab that was gorgeous and which I loved right up until the transmission failed at 107,000. $3600 later, I had a new transmission, but didn't really like the way it behaved (perhaps it was my imagination). So I shopped. I looked at and read about every choice.

I finally settled on a Chevy Silverado which is even more beautiful and comfortable than my Ford was. In spite of being a V8, it also gets great gas mileage for its size 18/22 mpg city/highway. I need the full size truck, but if I didn't I probably would have gone for the Colorado. Take a look: Trucks: 4x4 Work Trucks - Diesel Trucks | Chevrolet

Never been much on 'late model' stuff. When the kids were little, I could fit about 8 in the back for jaunts around the neighborhood.

That tacoma is just wonderful. I really do like the TRD models too and always said to myself if I had to get a truck it would be that but like Haroldg48 said chevy and gmc got the whole truck thing on lock down according to reviews and edmunds.com. Im so torn. I really like the tacoma and I really like the gmc. I don't think I will get a ford as the F-series are a little too big for me and the explorer I used to drive on patrol in the navy and I absolutely hated them. Nissan makes a really nice (looking at least I have no idea how it performs) pathfinder called the dessert runner but it seems to have more than I need but I really really like it. Only thing is according to edmunds the pathfinder was last out of there midsize truck review.

I think the Toyota is about the best. The Colorado is smaller, FME and used to have that whacky 'Trail Blazer' engine in 5 or 6 cylinders. I hope they have changed those up.
My last new truck was in '01. Always running around and hauling kids. I test-drove the big ones, but they were so big compared to my previous trucks. You needed a step-ladder to get in the bed and forget about reaching over and grabbing something.
I settled on a Dakota 4.7 and love it. Back seat is elevated and quite comfy. No issues with it yet, save one front wheel bearing and 2 P/S sensors. I upgraded the shocks to KYB Monotubes and bigger Michelin tires. Does anything I want it to.
Not sure if they still make them anymore, but the later body style change later brought a cheesey front end and a smaller diff.
I can reach over the bed and grab something. Highway has been good, 21-24 mpg with no trailer. Big plus, IMO
Gonna make it last. No video screens advertising the thing every time I start it!

'07 Suburban LT - The Batmobile. Nearing 200k, nurse it for 19mpg highway or 20-21 with a tailwind - 16-17 around B-roads, pulls 8000#, autolevel, excellent visability, DVD player in the back, seats seven neatly, backseat comes out in 15 seconds, middle seating flattens out mostly making huge flat cargo space, reliable, superbly comfortable, quiet - prima air-conditioning (North Carolina summers are good test). I am a fan. The vehicle has taken loads of kids, furniture, groceries, timber, razors all over - and grandma (at 96) and two kids, wife, wheelchair and all that jazz from Raleigh to Mt. Rushmore, Devils Tower WY and back with nothing but rave reviews.

Originally Posted by MisterMoo

'07 Suburban LT - The Batmobile. Nearing 200k, nurse it for 19mpg highway, pulls 8000#, autolevel, excellent visability, DVD player in the back, seats seven neatly, backseat comes out in 15 seconds, middle seating flattreliable, superbly confortable. I am a fan.

Hard to beat the 'Burb! "National Car of Texas'!

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Hard to beat the 'Burb! "National Car of Texas'!

I like the space inside and, when I really NEED a bed, I hook up the 6x12 cargo trailer. Bought the Burb used and saved a bundle on it when gas was $5.00 gallon.