On 1/6/11 1:39 PM, MMC wrote:


"Harryk" wrote in message ...

On 1/6/11 11:00 AM, YukonBound wrote:


"Harryk" wrote in message
...
On 1/3/11 11:49 PM, Tim wrote:
I haven't seen where smaller trucks are really that great of a savings
compared to their bigger counter parts, Especially if you plan on
really using them.

It depends on how you plan to use a truck. I no longer have a trailer
boat so I don't need a full-sized truck to tow a heavy boat. The
smaller trucks are...smaller...and therefore easier to park, easier to
maneuver, a little easier on the gas. Most of the time the "stuff" my
wife buys at the garden shops and other stores will easily fit into a
smaller truck. The other times, the "stuff" is too large for even a
full-size pickup truck.

I happened to park next to a new Toyota Tundra the other day, and
thought that truck was just humongous. I owned a Tundra some years
ago; it was significantly smaller than the current models.

The new trucks do seem way too big for a city dwelling weekend warrior.
I did have the Ranger for three years , but I have mixed feelings about
them.
I could never claim to be tall in a newsgroup where every second poster
claims to be 6' 4" and weighing 230 or so .................... but on
the other hand, if you stood me next to Scotty..................
anyway, they jack the Rangers up.. even the 2WD versions and seem to
compress the cab height so you have to sit in a lower seat that say, a
mini-van or even a RAV4.
I found the seat of firm foam uncomfortable for a couple of months and
even called the salesman to see if I could unload the Ranger and move up
to a F150.
He told me to wait and the foam would conform to my shape.. and he was
mostly right.
If I was in the market today, I'd take advantage of the great sales Ford
has been offering and try to find a short wheelbase regular cab F150.
(6.5 foot box).
That's all I would need the vast majority of the time and I could always
put a cap over the box to accommodate the dog.


I had a Ranger and an F150. Both were good trucks, as was my Tundra.
I've eliminated the Chrysler and GM small trucks; they don't do much for
me. That leaves Toyota and Ford, I guess. I need to take a test drive in
the Toyota Tacoma 4x4 small truck.

======

The vehicle of choice for international projects in the crapholes of the
world with the worst terrain and minimal support is the Toyota Hylux
(called the Tacoma here) and the Hardtop Land Cruiser. Difference is
diesel engines, winches, roo guards and roll bars, HF radios, no fluff
and lots of spare tires.
The Land Rover 110 used to be the hot ticket but the Toyotas are a lot
more dependable and handle a lot better.
We had Nissan PUs on a project in Southern Africa and Rangers in Kosovo
and neither held up.
Back after Desert Storm, we had F250s and Nissan Patrols (not offered
here) and both held up great in that environment.



Unfortunately, the Tacoma/HiLux is not available here with a diesel, nor
in Canada, apparently.