Compact pickup choices

[RobertN]

Around Folsom Lake, I see quite a few folks tow 17-21' ski boats with Forerunners, Tacoma's, Rangers ect. A 21' ski boat is not light; I believe my neigbors Ski Natique is about 3000lbs or there abouts(they tow with an Excursion diesel). They probably do ok for the local tows, but I wouldn't want to take them over Donner or up to Tahoe with a compact.

FWIW, my Kubota B8200 with FEL, scraper and 16' trailer is about 3500-3900lbs.

In your case, I would make sure you have a sufficient size dual axle trailer; brakes on both axles. Get the full tow package on the pickup. Make sure it is wired for a brake controller, and get a good quality controller.

One thing of note about this thread, I am surprised at how poor of mileage some folks are reporting with compact trucks. I would agree with others; might as well get a full size 1/2 ton and get comparable mileage.

Also, do you need 4x4? 4x4 drops your weight and tow rating on any truck out there. Mileage is not as good, and costs more to maintain.

 

[Jagmandave]

If you're concerned about the overall size, I might point out that a Tacoma is almost the same size as a current Tundra, so there are a couple of ways you could go. I have a '05 Tundra V-8, the mileage rating is exactly 1 mpg lower than the Tacoma with the big V-6. I'd buy a Tundra now, before next year's "Big" Tundra comes out. There's almost no difference between a Tacoma and a Tundra in price anymore either, unless you buy a base 4cyl Tacoma....

 

[KentT]

I've owned & towed with the following pickups, in sequence:

Ranger 4cyl, 2WD, 5 speed, standard cab -- worthless to haul over 500 lbs, much less tow. Will pull a 4x8 trailer but only if you have too...

F-150, 5L 2WD, 4 speed, extended cab -- towed good. but a REAL gas hog

Ranger, V6 4WD, automatic, extended cab -- towed OK up to about 3,000/3,500 lbs total. Weight/balance were critical due to soft rear suspension.

F-150, 4.9L 4WD, 5 speed, extended cab-- disappointing when towing over 3,000 lbs or so. 5 speed was a car tranny and simply not geared for a truck nor the torque curve of the big six. 1st, 4th and 5th gears were all too high. Constantly downshifting all the way to 3rd on steep freeway hills with a loaded trailer.

Ram 1500, 5.2L 4WD, automatic, Quad Cab -- towed with 4,000 to 5,000 lbs (total) OK up to about 50/55 MPH. Couldn't maintain any higher speed in OD, and dropping out of OD dropped gas mileage to 9-10 MPG when towing.

Dakota, 4.9L 4WD, automatic, Quad Cab (true 4 door) -- overall, the best towing machine of any of them. Note that it tows better on the freeway at 65MPH than at 55MPH -- that speed matches the torque curve of the engine better with my 3.55 gears. Tows fine at 65MPH in OD if not in the hills, with so signs of strain, overheating, etc. If I were doing it again, I'd order it and get 3.90 gears instead of the more common 3.55s.

My next PU -- should it come to market will likely be the Jeep Gladiator. A 4WD extended cab compact/midsize rated to tow 5,000 lbs, yet has a small diesel with about 25MPG when not towing....

If I made a living with my pickup, I'd drive 2500/3500 size diesels. Since my pickup is also my commuter vehicle for 15,000 - 20,000 miles per year, and I must have 4WD in the New England winters -- I want something that I can park at the office or store, and thai I can turn around in less than 40 acres...

I like my Dakota... too bad a diesel isn't available for them.

Your mileage and experience may vary....

NOTE: I cannot recommend strongly enough that you use a load-leveling hitch and trailer brakes on ANY 1/2 ton or smaller PU if you're going to tow over 2500 to 3000 pounds total.

 

[George2615]

If you're looking for mileage, get the compact truck. You might get over 20 MPG. If you want to tow a tractor with a compact your mileage will drop about 60 - 70%.

I agree with BadDog, I also have the Chev. with Duramax and Allison. I average 18.5 MPG not towing and 14.5 while towing my Mahindra 2615HST w/ loader and rear attachment and the truck isn't broken in yet. I did'nt even get that mileage with my previous 02 Chev. 4x4 with a 4.8L V-8. You won't get that with a compact truck while towing.

If you are firm on a compact at least get the biggest one you can with a V-8.

A friend of mine recently came over and borrowed my trailer which weighs about 2300# to pick up an 800# riding mower. He hooked it to his Ford ranger which had a 6 cyl. and said he'd never do that again. He was scared to death with 3100# pushing him. Said next time he'll call me.

Good luck on your decision.

 

[rdln]

<font color="blue"> My next PU -- should it come to market will likely be the Jeep Gladiator. A 4WD extended cab compact/midsize rated to tow 5,000 lbs, yet has a small diesel with about 25MPG when not towing.... </font>

when is that thing coming out anyways?
Hope it is not priced like a commander /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Birdhunter1]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I am looking for a compact pickup truck. 6cylinder, extended cab (not the huge crew/club/quad) 4X4. ..........
...........
.........
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Ford Ranger, Dodge Dakota, Nissan Frontier, Toyota Tacoma. )</font>

One guy I work with had a Ranger Supercab 4wd with a 4.0 V6. Another guy I work with has a Chevy S-10 supercab 4wd with a 4.3, my cousin had a Dakota with the 318 V-8.
I had a F-150 reg. cab 4wd with a 4.6 and I got better gas mileage and could safely handle and tow more than either of those three trucks listed above.

More horsepower, better mileage, bigger truck... go figure.

Those bigger V-6's in smaller trucks suck for gas mileage purposes and you woudl be much better off with a hlaf ton Ford but you could settle for a Dodge 1/2 ton and still be ahead.

 

[KentT]

The Jeep Gladiator will likely a 2008 model, if it happens at all, based on a stretched frame of the 2007 Wrangler. There's been "mule sightings" of even a 4-door version of the Wrangler that would likely share the same stretched frame.

I'm hoping it does make it to market -- I've talked to a couple people who own the diesel Liberty and they love them...

Obviously a lot of the people on here don't drive and park 4WD full size pickups in city traffic every day... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Durbob]

If you are looking for a new truck go compare prices of the Chevy silverado with a dakota and you will find the Chevy can be bought for less money.

Dur

 

[Joe1]

I wouldn't write off the "rebadged" trucks just because they have american counterparts. The Mazda may be a Ford Ranger, but it's a Ranger with a much better warranty.

About a dozen years ago, I met a seasoned citizen driving a Rnager with I believe the 2.8 V-6 towing an 21.5' 5th wheel RV. He claimed it did fine in the western mountains. He did have the 3 speed automatic. I though it was way overloaded, but he claimed he had been towing for quite a while with it, and with reasonable expectations it provided reasonable response.

I wouldn't do it, but he was a happy camper.

 

[Sigarms]

I realize you want a compact truck, only going to offer my observations.

I've owned three Toyotas. One 4 cyl regular cab, a 6cyl regular cab, and since I got married, picked up a T-100 extra cab 6 cyl.

Overall no regrets, and my next truck will most likely be another Toyota, but it will be a V8. I've also read here on this forum that Toyota might be coming out with a diesel (sp?) which I could get really excited about (I know they have them, just not in the U.S so they should already have a good track record).

My reasoning for the change is the "power" to gas mileage ratio (if there is such a "thing" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif), and the price difference between the trucks, which if you look, really isn't that much between a "compact" and "full size".

 

[Wesdor]

I've owned Dodge Dakota and Ford Ranger. From my experience, the Ford Ranger was a very comfortable truck. However, if you wanted to use it to haul anything over about 500 pounds, it was very lacking.

I own the third Dodge Dakota and I bought it used 6 years ago. It is a 1993 with over 100,000 miles. Still runs great and has a lot more hauling capacity than the Ford ranger.

One thing I am thnking about is something our local mechanic had to say. (I live in a tiny town and this mechanic has been in business for about 25 years). I asked him what truck I could buy that wouldn't have me coming back to him. He smiled and told me that I wouldn't like his answer. He said the Toyota was the best purchase IF you want the best maintenance. He knows that I prefer to buy American and has been working on me to make my next purchase a Toyota.

Now realize, that he isn't talking about towing capacity. But at least his opinion has me thinking pretty serious about a Toyota in my future.

 

[HGM]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I've owned Dodge Dakota and Ford Ranger. From my experience, the Ford Ranger was a very comfortable truck. However, if you wanted to use it to haul anything over about 500 pounds, it was very lacking.

I own the third Dodge Dakota and I bought it used 6 years ago. It is a 1993 with over 100,000 miles. Still runs great and has a lot more hauling capacity than the Ford ranger.

One thing I am thnking about is something our local mechanic had to say. (I live in a tiny town and this mechanic has been in business for about 25 years). I asked him what truck I could buy that wouldn't have me coming back to him. He smiled and told me that I wouldn't like his answer. He said the Toyota was the best purchase IF you want the best maintenance. He knows that I prefer to buy American and has been working on me to make my next purchase a Toyota.

Now realize, that he isn't talking about towing capacity. But at least his opinion has me thinking pretty serious about a Toyota in my future.
)</font>

You may want to ask your local dealer tech about the Ranger.. For whatever reason (maybe this guy is partial), my buddies independant shop and the local Ford dealers dont see Rangers either(few and far between)... My point isnt that the Ranger is head and shoulders above the Toyota, just that Japaneese isnt simply better like some would like you to think.. I have talked to many guys who(again for whatever reason) started driving Toyotas in the 80's and will not drive anything else because of past perceptions.. I also think that this thread has WAY too many variables.. You may have the guy that has a 4 cyl Ranger or even a 3.0L auto that tells you the Ranger cant pull a greasy string....... But the guy that has the 4.0L will only complain about the mileage.. I curently have a 3'0L 5spd that I have towed my YM2000 with tiller, box blade, and bush hog...Also towed my pop-up camper with, its not a relaxing drive, but capable.. I cant recomend that someone else do it because when the comfot factor goes down saftey becomes a big issue... Drivetrain, wheelbase, tow package, tires, etc. all play a part in it.. I still recommend driving all of the ones your attracted to and take notes of what they are set up to do and how they feel.. Thats the only way you'll make a good choice.. If you want a small truck, I dont think you can go wrong with any of them.. But for towing, you need to be educated on their capabilities.

 

[Bird]

Yep, Greg, I have the 4.0L, automatic, XLT loaded, and no complaints at all except for the mileage and a bit of a stiff suspension. But he said it was lacking in hauling anything over 500 pounds and I'll admit when I hauled some 1,380 pounds of concrete paving stones, I was overloaded, but only had about 10 miles to go and not over 40 mph speed limits. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[pennwalk]

<font color="blue"> I'll admit when I hauled some 1,380 pounds of concrete paving stones, I was overloaded </font>

Yeah but I'll bet it took the stiffness out of the ride. Probably drove like a caddy. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Chris

 

[pennwalk]

I have been thinking it is pretty hard to really compare things unless you have owned both of then. And a sample of one isn't very scientific. That said my wife had a ford several years ago and she was putting in $1500/year of repairs on it from year one. It was a great vehicle to drive but you wouldn't believe how little she got for it when she sold it. I have 2 toyotas. At 50k and 105k I have had almost no repairs (oxygen sensor at 90k) although the routine maintanence has been expensive. I guess they have to make a living somehow. It seems like a low milage toyota brings almost as much as a new one. I'm not sure which is a better deal. The cheaper car with lots of repairs or the more expensive car with few repairs but I would just as soon not spend a lot of time sitting around the garage waiting for my car.

Chris

 

[heehaw]

i've had 3 toyota tacomas, extended cab on all 3, an 89, a 94 and a 2002: 4cyl, 5speeds: they all got 28mpg, i actually hauled hay with the 89, pulled a light weight 16ft trailer with 4, 4x5 round bales of hay on it: the next two had the same engine, but just didn't have the same power as the 89 did? don't know why, but i still pulled some pretty heavy stuff with them too.
heehaw

 

[HGM]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I have been thinking it is pretty hard to really compare things unless you have owned both of then. And a sample of one isn't very scientific. That said my wife had a ford several years ago and she was putting in $1500/year of repairs on it from year one. It was a great vehicle to drive but you wouldn't believe how little she got for it when she sold it. I have 2 toyotas. At 50k and 105k I have had almost no repairs (oxygen sensor at 90k) although the routine maintanence has been expensive. I guess they have to make a living somehow. It seems like a low milage toyota brings almost as much as a new one. I'm not sure which is a better deal. The cheaper car with lots of repairs or the more expensive car with few repairs but I would just as soon not spend a lot of time sitting around the garage waiting for my car.

Chris )</font>

I dont deny that a pre-'95 vintage vehicle of any brand could be predisposed to "breakage" of some sort.. Since the OBDII regulations came into effect, the playing feild had leveled quite a bit electronicly.. From what I have seen, about the same time, barring a few exceptions, overall quality became better.. So, I'll have to agree that although I liked my '85 Ranger I wouldnt own another simplly because better versions are available...