What Pickup Truck?

Adrian_Thompson wrote: Pickups are the most pointless invention known to man. Full size SUV's and Van's do everything pick ups do with the added advantage of keeping things dry and saf .

Depends on the "stuff" in question. A pallet of paving stones? 3000 pounds of gravel? It's also way easier to get tires into the back of a pickup than it is an SUV, especially if it's hooked up to a trailer at the time.

If you're towing an open trailer, there's a case to be made for wanting more lockable storage in the tow vehicle. If you've got an enclosed trailer then you've got all the lockable space you need in there.

Adrian_Thompson wrote: Pickups are the most pointless invention known to man.

Adrian Thompson must be deported.

Adrian_Thompson wrote: Pickups are the most pointless invention known to man. Full size SUV's and Van's do everything pick ups do with the added advantage of keeping things dry and saf . Also they tend to be easier to load stuff in and out of without a step ladder.

Boy, I couldn't possibly disagree more. Sometimes a truck is so much better. Ever put a fridge in an SUV? Or maybe a greasy nasty engine that spills coolant when you go around a turn? Or 12' lumber that either has to go on a roof rack or stick out the open tailgate by 5 feet?

A truck definitely has its place. I couldn't do my job with an SUV. For me, I gotta have a truck. Maybe a full size van, but it would have limitations.

Adrian can dislocate his spine when he loads a motorcycle into an E250 van, so I can understand his statement.

Wait for me guys! My good pitchfork is in the shop!

Adrian_Thompson wrote: Pickups are the most pointless invention known to man. Full size SUV's and Van's do everything pick ups do with the added advantage of keeping things dry and saf . Also they tend to be easier to load stuff in and out of without a step ladder. Best of all you don't look like you're planning on marrying your sister when driving one Excursion or E250 based conversion van are the best bet I'd say.

You obviously don't need a truck. Many people do and an suv won't cut it.

I'm digging the 96 f250 powerstroke I just bought. It's a 2wd auto supercab longbed. Overall length is identical to my friend's 2012 4dr short bed f150. And the body is actually smaller, which I like. A crew cab long bed would be more than I would be willing to deal with.

A cc longbed, 4wd, 5 speed powerstroke is almost the most expensive version on the used market, but you can find one in good shape for under 10k. Miles will be 250k or over at that $ but that might not be a problem. If you go stroke, you probably want the most stock one you can find. It seems like a lot of people mod these poorly.

Mine's surprisingly comfortable to ride in and has enough modern conveniences to make it a usable capable truck and not just a toy. I watched the tow pig market a long time to find something I felt good about below $5k. I expected to end up with a big block gas 250/350 or Burb since the 7.3s tend to be really rough that cheap. This truck being 2wd and cosmetically rough with lower miles and really good driveline maintenance seemed like a steal at $3500 so I went diesel.

The supercab is only a 2 person vehicle, but I've got room for my lovely wife and the dog, and that's all I need.

In reply to ultraclyde:

My Supercab has 6 seatbelts.

I'll agree that I wouldn't want to go across the country that way, but I have put 6 adults in mine several times.

I would be looking at one of these types of vehicles and modding as necessary for intended use (bracing/reinforcement to loading ramp to be able to handle a vehicle) and comfort... (used Recaro's.)

http://www.commercialtrucktrader.com/listing/2003-Isuzu-Npr--116464480

This one just needs a proper bed... http://www.commercialtrucktrader.com/listing/2005-Mitsubishi-Fe145--115376673

Imagine all the GRM promotion that could be had with a vinyl wrap of the above type vehicles.

Or you could go the boring, more traditional configuration style route...

http://www.commercialtrucktrader.com/listing/2001-Ford-Super-Duty-F-450--116412741

In reply to SVreX:

Oh, yeah, you CAN seat six, I've got the belts. I can put 4 in my Mustang too, but I wouldn't want to do either!

Appleseed wrote:

Tom Suddard wrote: First person to say Ridgeline, by the way, gets knocked down a dork level.

Is is dangerous to mention that it was the first thing I thought?

Ok, I'm lurking this thread because I am considering a truck purchase but at a higher price point.

Didn't GRM have and love (in post) a Ridgeline? Why the dislike? Besides no V8

logdog wrote: Wait for me guys! My good pitchfork is in the shop!

I'll leave the porch light on so you can find me. If you're brining your pitchforks can you aerate the lawn please?

Honda doesn't have a single truck in its vehicle lineup...If they actually did made a truck, I would possibly be interested in it.

You guys will have to excuse Adrian. He comes from a country where "manual labour" means carrying a box of tea up a flight of stairs.

Pickups absolutely have their place. I should know, I've owned many. Now, I am planning on switching to an SUV soon, but that's because it fits my needs better right now. And my current truck's dinky 5.5' bed is a liability. But I do this knowing that I will need to use a trailer to haul a lot of the stuff that I've hauled in the bed of the truck in the past. Appliances, large furniture, a bunch of potted trees, a load of mulch, engines, any number of things.

Tom Suddard wrote:

Stampie wrote: Chevy military m1008 and do a crew cab short bed swap with an nv4500 trans. You can't deny the sexiness.

I've nearly bid on those soooo many times. But I don't really think they're modern enough for long hauls.

They were modern enough for long hauls 30 years ago? What's changed since then? About the only thing you need to update is an overdrive transmission.

Stampie wrote:

Tom Suddard wrote:

Stampie wrote: Chevy military m1008 and do a crew cab short bed swap with an nv4500 trans. You can't deny the sexiness.

I've nearly bid on those soooo many times. But I don't really think they're modern enough for long hauls.

They were modern enough for long hauls 30 years ago? What's changed since then? About the only thing you need to update is an overdrive transmission.

They've got no cupholders. What are we, savages?

The Ridgeline has its spare tire under the bed, as in under the floor of the bed, like a car's trunk. If you have load in the bed, it now has to come out to change a flat. That to me screams not a well thought out truck from a car company.

No cup holder? You got a crotch, don't you?

The Tahoe was available with a 6 liter diesel. BAM!

Get the older model and remove the cap and you have a pickup.

Stampie wrote:

Tom Suddard wrote:

Stampie wrote: Chevy military m1008 and do a crew cab short bed swap with an nv4500 trans. You can't deny the sexiness.

I've nearly bid on those soooo many times. But I don't really think they're modern enough for long hauls.

They were modern enough for long hauls 30 years ago? What's changed since then? About the only thing you need to update is an overdrive transmission.

I own an 84 m1009 cucv, which is the blazer cucv and has more highway friendly gears and lighter weight axles than the m1008 truck, and while they are capable of long trips they aren't nearly as pleasant to be in as even their same year civilian counterpart. My 2002 Chevy turbo diesel crew cab dually feels like an s class benz compared to the cucv.

Appleseed wrote: No cup holder? You got a crotch, don't you?

SAVAGE! (Specifically, savage with cold crotch and warm drinks. Which is backwards.)

here ya go...but it's an auto. Rebuilt beefed up auto though. F250 North GA

And this on'es awesome but 2wd: Dually

Oh, magic combo, near Atlanta. How do you feel about Camo?

You're a magician! I knew this was possible.

I used to tow a good bit of stuff, some pretty big. I would not have wanted to do it with a manual transmission.

In reply to Tom Suddard:

ehh..patience is the biggest thing. I've been watching the market around south GA north FL for over a year on tow vehicles. The old body F250s come up regularly, and 10k will buy a nice one in the config you want but you will have to be patient and ready to jump. They don't last long. The only more desirable combo is the 4x4 crew cab 5speed SHORT bed combo. Those are really rare, but if I had to have crew cab, that's what I'd be after (but not 5speed). They still have a 6.5' "short" bed, so you're not sacrificing much.

Just a thought - don't rule out the trucks with the E40D auto. They're often a tad cheaper and it's a good trans. There are plenty of after market builds that make them ridiculously strong. I'd avoid the 4R70w in the HD trucks, but I think it only came with the gas motors.

I found it was much harder to find a bigblock GMT 800 or 'Burban down here than a PSD.

EDIT: you can score a nice SuperDuty bodystyle 7.3L for that money too, but I just like the OBS trucks a LOT better. Your preference may vary. I don't know about trans/body combos on those though.