I need a new (used) truck

[Patriotic Stabilist]

Whoops posted twice.

 

[Patriotic Stabilist]

Hubby said 18mpg on his and only 16 to 17mpg on my 2006, but he said that is because of the towing packages on them.

 

[_RaT_]

No, that Lincoln PU will never do. I need one that I can scratch up or at least not worry about scratching up.

I know that Toyota makes a Tacoma for the rest of the world (so if your not in the U.S. and know about it, it would be interesting to know) a 4 cylinder diesel that gets upwards of 30 mpg. If this is true then smaller can get you better sometimes, as long as its diesel.

 

[Pilot]

'91 Ranger, 3.0 V6, stick shift, 2 WD. 18 mpg. A real wimp, that V6 just doesn't have any power unless you get up to about 4000 rpm. I had a Volvo that had a 2.1 L engine, weighed about the same, was faster, took hills better and got about 23 mpg--and was 13 year older technology.

'97 Ranger, 4.0 V6, auto, 4WD 17 mpg, lots of repairs even though well maintained and driven gently and 4wd only used for snow a couple times a year--trans, heads, front end and more, totaling about $5K. Had about 120K when I sold it. Swore off Fords once again.

The advantage with Rangers is that they are cheap. But as you can see, I paid more in the long run, both in money and satisfaction.

2005 Tacoma, 4.0 V6, auto, 4wd, 18 mpg. Weighs more then the '97 Ranger but it's faster, has a bigger bed, pulls a heavier trailer and gets a little better mileage. It's more civilized, but it's newer. Only 48K on it now, but checked the oil yesterday, 5,000 miles since changed and still at full mark. It's also got the best safety ratings. I really like this truck and would recommend it to anyone.

 

[GT2]

I have a 06 Nissan CC 4x4 Titan. Love it.
Mileage so-so, 11 to 13 in town and 16 to 20 on highway.
I've been told by others that the smaller Frontier doesn't get any better mileage.
If you want serious good mileage, I think small diesel is the only way you will get it.

 

[_RaT_]

I have a 06 Nissan CC 4x4 Titan. Love it.
Mileage so-so, 11 to 13 in town and 16 to 20 on highway.
I've been told by others that the smaller Frontier doesn't get any better mileage.
If you want serious good mileage, I think small diesel is the only way you will get it.

Where do you get these small diesels (in a truck)?

 

[_RaT_]

'91 Ranger, 3.0 V6, stick shift, 2 WD. 18 mpg. A real wimp, that V6 just doesn't have any power unless you get up to about 4000 rpm. I had a Volvo that had a 2.1 L engine, weighed about the same, was faster, took hills better and got about 23 mpg--and was 13 year older technology.

'97 Ranger, 4.0 V6, auto, 4WD 17 mpg, lots of repairs even though well maintained and driven gently and 4wd only used for snow a couple times a year--trans, heads, front end and more, totaling about $5K. Had about 120K when I sold it. Swore off Fords once again.

The advantage with Rangers is that they are cheap. But as you can see, I paid more in the long run, both in money and satisfaction.

2005 Tacoma, 4.0 V6, auto, 4wd, 18 mpg. Weighs more then the '97 Ranger but it's faster, has a bigger bed, pulls a heavier trailer and gets a little better mileage. It's more civilized, but it's newer. Only 48K on it now, but checked the oil yesterday, 5,000 miles since changed and still at full mark. It's also got the best safety ratings. I really like this truck and would recommend it to anyone.

I have a 93 (old style IDI non turbo 4X4 extended cab later 93 get a turbo). There is no other vehicle on the planet that has a larger turning radius. That thing that drives the space shuttle to the launch pad out turns this truck. When I am backing up a trailer folks will say turn the wheel all the way to the right or the left not knowing its all the way already.

I would love some maneuverability in a truck and perhaps why I was thinking of a small vehicle like a Tacoma size. I just find used Tacomas incredibly expensive.

 

[Dmace]

My 98 Dakota 4x4 V6 3.9l club cab got around 18mpg highway and 16mpg city but I averaged 17-18mpg on a regular basis. I could also throw a sled in the back and hook the trailer to the rear with 2 sleds in it and haul all of us and gear 3 hours north and still get 12mpg. I sold it with almost 200k on it and it's still on the road. Plus it's a mid-sized truck so you are not so cramped like those Rangers and Tacoma's. It also has a bench seat in the rear and not those stupid jump seats.

 

[westcliffe01]

I have a dodge ram 1500 3.7 v6 short bed 2wd. Not a truck you want to tow a heavy load up the side of a mountain with. The truck can barely move itself up the interstate at 70mph in 6th gear (stick shift).

But... I average 18mpg on my daily commute and 14-16mpg towing a 22ft 5000lb HiLow camping trailer (top of trailer level with truck cab when in the lowered position). In addition to that, I paid $9000 for the truck with only 2 years on it (new in 2005, I bought in in 2007).

If you actually drive any distance in it with a load, it would be worth while changing the final drive to 4.88 and adding in an Auburn LSD at the same time. The rear axle ratio change from 3.55 to 4.88 basically moves all the gears 1 down, thus 6th gear actually becomes a practical gear that you can hold while driving into the wind. First and reverse become low enough to actually make a start from a light on a slope.

I don't much care for the external styling, but the interior is quite nice except for the fact that a child seat doesn't work in the center between the seats and the cup holders don't work with the stick... I do think that the quality of the sheet metal and rust protection on Dodge and Ford Pickups I have seen is well below average for the automotive industry. My 2005 truck has rust in the tailgate and starting at the bottom of the doors.

This weekend I bought a 93 Toyota Pickup and the only rust on it is where the paint was scraped off. The bed is galvanized/plated under the paint. The tailgate is rotted out of course. It cost $1400 had 130k miles and is slated by the EPA to get 28mpg, which I believe can easily be surpassed.

 

[_RaT_]

"it would be worth while changing the final drive to 4.88 and adding in an Auburn LSD at the same time"

You mean Lysergic acid diethylamide is legal?

I have no clue what an Auburn LSD is.