Pickup Philosophy Question

[Paddy]

I just have an old Chevy Suburban 4x4 and an asortment of trailers. A one ton for mulch and stuff and a duel axel 16' for long lumber/tractor. The Chevy is enclosed so I can lock the tools in. Also 4x8 plywood fits nice. I never have the seats up!

 

[chkntrktr]

What do you haul your fuel in? If nothing else, a truck is way better than a car or suv for hauling cans of gas for lawnmowers or cans of diesel fuel for tractors. I've known a couple of people who spilled gas in their car trunk. The whole car stunk and the smell never seemed to go away.:2cents:

 

[dave1949]

It's hard to see paying extra for a diesel engine unless you really, really need the towing power. The fuel is higher, the initial price is higher, repairs could be higher, gas engines last a lot longer now and don't usually need a lot of maintenance. The traditional advantages of the diesel are getting smaller or have vanished.

If I were looking for something to reduce the price of a new truck, choosing between 4X4 and a diesel for example, is a no-brainer where winter counts. The only reasonably priced new pickups are the base model, standard cab, 8' box - which few people want or can use as a family vehicle.

 

[LBrown59]

Hard to say...I've been driving one for 30+ years.....just don't care for cars much.

There are some really good deals out there on decent used trucks....shop around.

I have been driving picks ups only since 1989.
One of them is the 1989 Nissan I bought new in 1989 .
I plan on putting antique license on it 2014.

 

[Cat_Driver]

First question you need to ask is WHY a pickup truck? I had a DMC Dually Duramax that I would use for hauling tools equipment etc. Then I realized every time I went to Home Depot I had to unload my truck because there were so many Illegal visitors in my area who love to see expensive tools in the open.

I went with a Sprinter Van. Its' diesel so I doubled the fuel mileage of the Duramax, everything is enclosed, I can tow, but not as much as the one ton. The benefits out weighed the pickup. That was 5 years ago and I've never regretted a minute of it.

With the van I can load it up with bikes and sleep in it for week end trips, stand up straight in it and walk around. I Could have purchased a CAP but the van is still better for accessibility.

So take a hard look at WHY you need a pick up.

Ford is coming out with a full size Sprinter clone.

Sitemap - Autoblog

 

[RoyJackson]

A pick up truck is like a gun...better to have one and no need it then not have one and need it.

That said, it is nice to have a smaller, more fuel efficient vehicle for day to day trips, as well.

 

[dave1949]

What do you haul your fuel in? If nothing else, a truck is way better than a car or suv for hauling cans of gas for lawnmowers or cans of diesel fuel for tractors. I've known a couple of people who spilled gas in their car trunk. The whole car stunk and the smell never seemed to go away.:2cents:

I used to think who the heck would buy a Ford Sport Trac or the Chev. equivalent? Now I own one. :laughing:

The little bed in back is great for hauling fuel cans, it will handle a 4x8 sheet of plywood (tipped on a wheel well), for <$100 you can get a hitch receiver bed extender and haul 10' and 12' boards. Rear seats are comfortable, 4x4 works good. Mine has a removable/lockable hard cover for the bed, that's handy for locking things up out of sight. No savings over a pickup in purchase price. More wife-friendly to drive.

 

[Pete Judd]

We have 2 trucks. A Ranger XLT 2wd, and a F150 XLT 4x4. Both extended cab short bed. The ranger is my everyday driver as it get's 24 mpg. The F150 is for hauling bigger stuff and pulling a dual axle 16 ft car trailer. The wife drives a Volvo wagon as a commuter, and we will take that on trips as it gets 28 mpg. Seems I am always hauling something in one of the trucks. Used the trailer twice last week for lumber runs as some of the boards were 12 and 16 ft long. As well as hauling 20 pier blocks, roofing, ect, to build a wheel chair ramp for the in-laws.

 

[newbury]

How many times per month do you have to need a pickup, before it makes sense to buy one?

Once - When that EXPENSIVE item you REALLY needed became available REAL CHEAP or FREE if you could go pick it up NOW but it REQUIRED a pickup.



I got by without a pickup for 40 years. But I always had a full size van, and for the last 24 years an E350 maxivan (to the right of the tree in the pic).

When I went to get that load of pallet rack the guy I was buying it from started going thru math over the phone. 30 times 50 plus 10 times... and I interrupted with "F350 dually". When I got there I had more than enough spare capacity to throw in the rest of his uprights and another 10 beams. Weight was about 3,000 lbs.

 

[bcp]

How many times per month do you have to need a car, before it makes sense to buy one?