Used Truck Suggestions Redux

[Spec-ECU]

When I was buying, I looked at full-size trucks. General observation:

Crew cabs are nice, but:
- usually come with a shorter bed
- Suffer from poor economy

The bed can be an issue for hauling 5th wheels or motorcycles. The short bed will require a slider 5th wheel for tight maneuvers.

Super Cabs are a nice alternative
- Enough leg room for a full size adult
- Some models seat 5, others seat 6.
- Bed is longer than a crew, but shorter than a regular
- Suicide doors make loading gear easier
- Rear seats provide security for pricey stuff

Ford, Nissan, and Toyota seem to be the most reliable brands in general. Heavy duty trucks (F250/F350 and comparable trucks) seem to receive poor reliability ratings.

If if fits your needs, consider a sprinter van.

I own a regular cab, but really wanted a plus or super-cab. A plus cab isn't going to be comfortable for passengers, but provides plenty of space to store lose and expensive items.

Most of this info is based on research on edmunds/consumer reports. I'm sure the guys who've owned full-size trucks can provide additional/better info.

I subscribed to one for sale here on BARF, and am actually entertaining the notion again. However, if I go the van route, then my sedan's going to have to stay instead of getting rid of it with my Ranger for consolidation purposes. Not an end of the world scenario though.

My Ranger has an extended cab, so I do know the convenience it provides. Reason for a crew cab is to upgrade from the extended cab experience, and to be able to comfortably put a car seat back there for my child(ren).

 

[Burning1]

Got it.

I did a little looking. The F150 owners are saying that while you can put a rear-facing child seat in a Super Cab, it'll interfere with the front seats. It fits in the middle though.



Not sure about other manufacturers, but just checked on the modern F150s: fuel economy is the same super cab vs super crew. Biggest difference is that you lose 1 foot of bed length.

 

[mikev]

First thread was here, when I was shopping for a midsize pick-up. I've since picked up an '88 Ford Ranger XLT that has served me flawlessly since, not having needed any major repairs or anything in my ownership to date. Picked up here on BARF, actually.

Now, apart from the truck, I also have a full-size sedan that I use mainly for the two-three months in the year when I don't moto-commute to work, and also whenever I need to drive my 15-month old child around, since the Ranger isn't really adequate to fit a car seat in (and 27mpg vs. the Ranger's 18mpg...). This arrangement between my car and truck has worked out just fine; both are cheap to insure, maintain, and are paid for.

BUT

I am thinking it would make sense now more than ever to consolidate the two vehicles into one full-size truck with a crew cab. Something larger than my current truck for ease of towing more than one bike when needed (doable in my Ranger, just tricky), and the crew cab for the convenience and comfort of being able to transport my whole family with me. Having just one vehicle for me also means just one vehicle to maintain, and only one set of tires to replace.

I've always liked Chevy Silverados for their understated look. I'm thinking mid-2000 models is more my cup of tea, but I'm concerned with fuel economy and, as usual, reliability. My Ranger right now averages 18mpg, even when towing two bikes and bodies (plus gear and tools) going to Thunderhill. A very quick research online yields an average fuel economy for a Silverado at 16mpg. I know 18mpg with my Ranger (V6, 2.9L, 5-speed MT) isn't really anything to write home about, but is 16mpg about the norm for full-size trucks?

Any thoughts, experiences, or impressions would be appreciated.

Based on the need to haul multiple bikes/people and a family, you're dead on with looking for a crew cab.

What I'd do is look for something like a 1500HD Silverado -- it's a crew cab with a normal 6.5 foot bed as opposed to the smaller 5.8 foot bed in the normal half ton crew cabs.

Gas mileage will suffer even more because they have the bigger 6.0 V8.

Another option is to look for a crew cab Tacoma with the long bed option, but you're paying good money for that as well.

 

[Archimedes]

A mid 2000's crew cab Silverado with the V-8 is not going to get you 16mpg in mixed driving in the real world. Think 14-15 at best.

 

[Sharky]

My Dodge 1500 with a MT gets 18-20 mpg. It's a 5.2, six seater and I drive it like an old lady. Dodge interiors are inferior to Ford and Chebby. I'd take a F150 over any Dodge or Chevy offering.

 

[mikev]

The newer Chevy/GMC interiors are significantly nicer than the 06 and older versions.

 

[auntiebling]

Well, there's a bit of vanity involved when choosing to roll up in a big truck vs. a big van on my work commute.

vanity will get you every time. 1/7 deadly sins indeed!

IMO, there arent enough benefits to a full-size truck compared to a mid-size 4 door. im picking up a 2001-2004 Tacoma 4 door this month. they can be found with 4cyl engines for 20+mpg and some go for less that $10k. u might be able to find the current model with a long bed, 4 door, 4 or 6 cyl, but itd be right around your $20k price limit.

the flip side is that for the ~5mpg you gain over a full size you're really just driving a glorified station wagon (most 1/2 ton class trucks untill fairly recently actually, even full size) with mediocre brakes and soft suspension so if you ever really want to tow anything or cart a few thousand pounds in the bed you're going to have to rent something to do it. this is a personal choice of course.

there is also more than a little extra cost because it's one of those in demand vehicles.

97 f350 diesel/ 5 speed. Good gets about 17 mpg towing or not. Pain in the ass to get things into. It's tall and it has shorter tires than stock on. Love the truck though and I call it Moby Dick. crew cab/long bed. So far it's been solid. Best buy of them all at 3k. Also smog exempt.

Personally I'd avoid toyota. Two bikes is too much for them imo.

hold the damn phone. you got a 97 powerstroke 1 ton MANUAL for $3k?

never sell that thing, you could probably sell just the engine and trans for double that... lucky bastage.

Got it.

I did a little looking. The F150 owners are saying that while you can put a rear-facing child seat in a Super Cab, it'll interfere with the front seats. It fits in the middle though.

Not sure about other manufacturers, but just checked on the modern F150s: fuel economy is the same super cab vs super crew. Biggest difference is that you lose 1 foot of bed length.

there isn't an extended cab under the sun that will fit a rear facing child seat without impacting the front passenger knee/ear ratio. hell. most compact sedan "family cars" won't either.

 

[Spec-ECU]

there isn't an extended cab under the sun that will fit a rear facing child seat without impacting the front passenger knee/ear ratio. hell. most compact sedan "family cars" won't either.

I'm actually now considering extended cabs too, to knock down the price. Luckily, my wife's so small, she doesn't need all the leg room up front.

Think of me as Gandalf, and my family the Hobbits.

 

[Enchanter]

I'm actually now considering extended cabs too, to knock down the price. Luckily, my wife's so small, she doesn't need all the leg room up front.

Think of me as Gandalf, and my family the Hobbits.

I know you're somewhat joking, but I'd be concerned with the proximity of the passenger to the airbag. I've been doing the mental balancing act with this for a while now.

 

[Spec-ECU]

I know you're somewhat joking, but I'd be concerned with the proximity of the passenger to the airbag. I've been doing the mental balancing act with this for a while now.

Half in jest, yeah, but I appreciate sharing your concern. Soaking this all in, you know.

I suppose, the work-around is to put the carseat in the middle back there, no?

 

[mikev]

Carseat in the middle seems to work best, and it actually makes it easier for mom to reach back and fuss with the little one when she's in the passenger seat as moms are wont to do.

 

[corndog67]

I traded in my 05 Silverado V6 auto, standard cab, long bed, for '12 Silverado standard cab longbed. 4.8, 4 speed auto. The V8 seems to get better gas mileage, around 17 if I keep my foot out of it. I wanted an extended cab, but the ones I found, were running about $28,000 for a used one. My standard cab, was $16,500 with 20,000 miles. It wasn't worth $12,000 more to me. Also, my buddy, Chevrolet parts department guy, said the 5.3 with the Allison 6 speed auto gets 1 mpg more than the 4.8 with 4 speed auto , but they have more warranty issues than with the 4.8.

The Toyotas are pretty reliable, but every one I looked at, advertised as low miles, had 150,000+ plus miles on them.

Look at reliability issues on newer Ford diesels if you are going that route.

 

[BiG Chris]

Ok I didnt read all the responses but I own a 2000 Silverado 3 Door with the 5.3L I usually use my truck to transport two bikes tools and gear to the track and I average about 16-18 mpg depending on fast i drive. Now when I get done payin off my wifes car and a few other things I think im going to get rid of my truck in favor of a new wrx sti wagon with a trailer hitch instead.

 

[stangmx13]

the flip side is that for the ~5mpg you gain over a full size you're really just driving a glorified station wagon (most 1/2 ton class trucks untill fairly recently actually, even full size) with mediocre brakes and soft suspension so if you ever really want to tow anything or cart a few thousand pounds in the bed you're going to have to rent something to do it. this is a personal choice of course.

there is also more than a little extra cost because it's one of those in demand vehicles.

agreed. i dont need a truck other than for races/trackdays and easily carrying 3 bicycles, hence the small truck. ive survived for years w/ a tiny regular cab. a glorified station wagon would work for me, as long as it could fit my trackbike and it wasnt an eye-sore, haha.

i feel that A LOT of people (at least in SoCal) fit my situation as well, yet they own full-sized or HD trucks. ive got 3 neighbors w/ huge trucks. ive never seen anything but bicycles or surfboards in the beds of 2 of them and the other guy has horses out east a little. IMO, its pretty obvious that the 2 are wasting $$ and the other really needs his HD truck.

every owner def needs to decide for themselves how they are going to use a truck and if its worth it. im sure Dennis has been mulling this over for a while.

 

[Spec-ECU]

im sure Dennis has been mulling this over for a while.

I oscillate between remembering that I only really want to upgrade from my Ranger, not need to do it. Figured if I was gonna chuck it for a newer truck, might as well be roomier, more comfy for passenger(s), etc.

But really, the Ranger has yet to feel lacking. And truth be told, my sedan I've owned since I was in my teens, so there is a sentimental value to it. However, consolidating both into one is an appealing prospect to me lately.

 

[auntiebling]

Carseat in the middle seems to work best, and it actually makes it easier for mom to reach back and fuss with the little one when she's in the passenger seat as moms are wont to do.

imma just reach back and go: You want something to cry about??!! you best shut up or i'll GIVE YOU something to CRY about.

the center does work, depending how the front seats are arranged. don't work so well with a bench or split bench

agreed. i dont need a truck other than for races/trackdays and easily carrying 3 bicycles, hence the small truck. ive survived for years w/ a tiny regular cab. a glorified station wagon would work for me, as long as it could fit my trackbike and it wasnt an eye-sore, haha.

i feel that A LOT of people (at least in SoCal) fit my situation as well, yet they own full-sized or HD trucks. ive got 3 neighbors w/ huge trucks. ive never seen anything but bicycles or surfboards in the beds of 2 of them and the other guy has horses out east a little. IMO, its pretty obvious that the 2 are wasting $$ and the other really needs his HD truck.

every owner def needs to decide for themselves how they are going to use a truck and if its worth it. im sure Dennis has been mulling this over for a while.

socal is weird on so many levels....

a lifted truck is such a waste of money and utility.... i was kind a looking for lowered full size trucks because if done right they fit my needs better, and i feel really lucky that the one i found hasn't been lifted and isn't particularly tall from the factory.

 

[stangmx13]

I oscillate between remembering that I only really want to upgrade from my Ranger, not need to do it. Figured if I was gonna chuck it for a newer truck, might as well be roomier, more comfy for passenger(s), etc.

But really, the Ranger has yet to feel lacking. And truth be told, my sedan I've owned since I was in my teens, so there is a sentimental value to it. However, consolidating both into one is an appealing prospect to me lately.

same here. my gf is going to be so stoked when she doesnt get molested by the stick-shift when we take a friend cycling somewhere far away. and im going to be stoked when i dont have to drive home from the races (shes too short to drive stick in my current truck).

socal is weird on so many levels....

a lifted truck is such a waste of money and utility.... i was kind a looking for lowered full size trucks because if done right they fit my needs better, and i feel really lucky that the one i found hasn't been lifted and isn't particularly tall from the factory.

, yep. the truck i have now came improperly lifted and it rides like shit. ill never make that mistake again.

 

[Spec-ECU]

same here. my gf is going to be so stoked when she doesnt get molested by the stick-shift when we take a friend cycling somewhere far away. and im going to be stoked when i dont have to drive home from the races (shes too short to drive stick in my current truck).

Ah, that's another convenience I don't currently have with the Ranger; it's MT, so if I and my bike ever needed to be picked up on the side of the road, I have to call my friends for their trucks, since not only can't the wife put our kid in the truck to pick me up, she can't drive MT.

 

[mikev]

a lifted truck is such a waste of money and utility.... i was kind a looking for lowered full size trucks because if done right they fit my needs better, and i feel really lucky that the one i found hasn't been lifted and isn't particularly tall from the factory.

I'm a shorter dude. Lowering my truck just a bit was the best thing I ever did. It didn't affect the load capacity because it still used stock springs.

I did get a set of helper airbags though to level it back out when I towed or had the bed full of stuff.

 

[Stormdragon]

I was in need of a truck earlier this year, and after a lot of looking, and dealing with CL sellers that thought their beat up old trucks were worth $6K, I ended up with a nicely maintained '95 F250 diesel. Love the thing.

18MPG all day long, decently quiet now that it's got a muffler on it, and enough power to actually pass some gawking tourist doing 40 in a 55.

If you decide to go diesel, remember there are some higher expenses in regular oil changes, and regular fuel filter changes, as well as keeping an eye on the coolant with special test strips. Still worth every penny IMHO.