What cheap truck?

Ranger50 wrote: In reply to Ian F: Diesel is cheating. I was talking gassers, especially those in the "half-ton" segment.

Oh yeah... you're screwed there. Best my '78 F150 4x4 (bone stock 351M 2V) got was 10 mpg. At 60 mph hwy. 200 miles to a tank. The 5.0 EFI in my '90 conversion van would do better. It would average around 16 with a best of 18 coming home from the mtns (downhill for a good portion). My '86 Toyota 4x4 could manage over 30 mpg once in awhile on hwy drives. I could just get from Niagra Falls, NY to my house in SE PA on one tank.

I've been hesitant to post in this thread and PHeller's similar thread from last week because in a way they're loooking for unicorns. I've been down this road. It's why I own station wagons. Any choice will be a compromise in some way, some more towards one particular attribute than others.

In reply to Ian F:

I don't think you are "screwed", but you will have to live without 4x4, with skinny tires, and not speeding. My wife's 141k mile 4x4 1500 series Av gets 15 with her driving, almost 19, but mostly mid 18's, with me driving the exact same speed. My biggest beef with it is it has this HUGE air profile to push around. IF I could lower it 2", I suspect I could gain 1mpg for about 400 bucks, new torsion keys and rear springs, but then I would have an irate wife that can't jump the curbs anymore to park on the grass. I probably could gain another 1mpg, maybe 2, with blocking off most of the front area to the radiator. Then if I was to dump the 4x4 and run a "passenger car" type tire, I suspect another 1-2mpg increase from the change in tread pattern, running Nitto all terrains right now, and the weight reduction from the 4by elimination, I could be approaching 23-24 for under a grand in mods that don't change anything permanently.

Maybe. I have an illogical mind-block when it comes to buying a 2WD truck, so other than my van, all of my trucks have been 4x4's. If I can get past that, my next truck might be 2WD and probably a gasser. I just don't drive them enough to justify the diesel buy-in premium, even ignoring the fact my Cummins has been a nightmare to own. It might be going on eBay this w/e if anyone is looking for a project - I just don't have the time or space to deal with all of the projects it needs.

Speed is definitely a big factor when trying to squeeze MPG out of a truck. Unlike more aerodynamic cars, trucks seem to hit an aero-wall at about 60 mph.

My experience with mini trucks is with the S-10's, of 98+ variety........the '98 was the 4.3/5sp rwd zq8.

Total investment in 2004 for drop spindles, springs, shocks, and such was under $300......running 16x7 and 8" rallys with 225 rubber up front and 255/50 DR's in back.

It handled well even being set up for the dragstrip.....didn't get a chance to run an autox with it though. The 4.3L can make some decent power though. The rangers can't really.....without a 2.3T, 5.0, or sho swap....at least.

Ranger50 wrote:

JK949 wrote: Also, I found out having an open bed classifies your ride as a commercial vehicle in California. Research carefully.

Source please? I bet there is a weight limit on this too that you are missing.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/fees/weight_less.htm

In reply to mguar:

I didn't do a v8......but after the hybrid built v6, it ran high 14's all motor and mid 13s on spray(not shabby for the v6) The guys who bought it from me LSx swapped it though......lucky bastards

Also, the snowplows don't come by here for 3-7 days after a major snow storm.....and I have never personally owned a 4x4. If it is too bad to get through with a 2wd, you shouldn't be out anyways.

JK949 wrote: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/fees/weight_less.htm

That is just a simplified fee schedule, no mention of pickemups being forced into registering as commercial vehicles.

Ranger50 wrote:

JK949 wrote: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/fees/weight_less.htm

That is just a simplified fee schedule, no mention of pickemups being forced into registering as commercial vehicles.

The reality is a few years ago the vehicle registration fees were tripled. Those increases has since expired. My Frontier is only going to cost me $148 this year to register. for a while it was close to $300. They may have reclassified since the increase expired.