Decided i need a truck

[hans007]

I wouldn't count out a truck just because the folks on this board don't like them. Other forums that might more closely match your interests would strongly recommend a truck over a car despite the comparatively poor handling, cost of ownership and often high depreciation.

I go camping at least once a month as a scout master, I drive a fwd sedan and it's only good for hauling 4 passengers and a couple sleeping bags, there isn't enough room for camping gear in the trunk or on the roof. If I go camping by myself (other than backpacking) the trunk is full of gear and the back seat holds an ice chest and other food. I can only go camping with 1 friend unless somebody else drives a truck. The gear has to go in a truck, van or SUV. A sedan just isn't as useful as an extended cab pickup would be for my lifestyle. Not to mention the frequent trips to hardware stores, or moving furniture where I either have to borrow or rent a truck or look like the beverly hillbillies with lumber or pipe strapped to the top of the car. BTW I believe Lowes' rents their truck for $15/hr and if you go over an hour it's like $35/hr and they don't let you pay for a partial hour, you use 78 minutes and you pay for 120, it's cheaper to rent a U-haul unless you're making a very short/quick trip. At least that was the case when I worked there back in 2001. I'd like to be able to just throw my bike in the back of a truck and go instead of having to remove the front wheel and put it in the roof rack too.

I get by without a truck just fine, there's nothing that I can't do not owning one, but my next vehicle will be a truck because for my lifestyle it is a lot more convenient. Even a Honda Ridgeline would be more useful than any sedan for my lifestyle.

i think realistically they built things like the subaru forrester or audi allroad for people like you if you can do a wagon...

 

[BoberFett]

wrong.

2000-2004 - 4.7 L (287 cu in) PowerTech V8, 230 hp (170 kW)

just a bit more tq and hp than the older 5.2L (318) that i have in my ram 1500.

those dakotas with the v8s do move tho, not sure about their towing.

Last fall I bought a 96 Dakota with the 5.2 and my god does that thing chug gas! Downhill with a good tailwind I can get 15MPG.

 

[drbrock]

I know you are looking for a midsize truck. But the Nissan Titan is for some reason unpopular and are very cheap considering all the options and power you get. I have one and LOVE IT. Every owner I talk to loves them. I dont know why they get they don't have better sales. just my 2 cents. Also best midsize is the honda. Killer interior but a little pricey. For towing the honda should be able to pull whatever small stuff you have no problem. I would pass on the tacoma. Too expensive and small. For the price go full size.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Do not get the ridgeline if you intend to do any towing or hauling. Get a Tacoma or a Chevy Colorado.

The Ridgeline is easily capable of towing a motorcycle or small boat.

 

[jlee]

A Ridgeline is not a truck. It's a unibody FWD that kicks into AWD when needed and has no low range. That said, it does what it does pretty well...the stability control and AWD system is quite impressive as well. I don't really like the seating position, but to each his own - it might fit you very well. Two of the guys I work with have them and love them.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

The ridgeline is the truck 90% of people need but .05 % of people actually buy

 

[jlee]

The ridgeline is the truck 90% of people need but .05 % of people actually buy

Exactly (except that it's not really a truck).

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Exactly (except that it's not really a truck).

Thats exactly why its the truck 90% of people need

 

[JulesMaximus]

A Ridgeline is not a truck. It's a unibody FWD that kicks into AWD when needed and has no low range. That said, it does what it does pretty well...the stability control and AWD system is quite impressive as well. I don't really like the seating position, but to each his own - it might fit you very well. Two of the guys I work with have them and love them.

No, definitely not in the strictest sense but it is certainly capable of doing everything the OP desires.

BTW-I had a boss many years ago who had a Jeep Cherokee 4x4 company vehicle. He bought himself a small speed boat and trailer to have fun with and dipped the rear axle of his Jeep into the lake one day when he was launching his boat and that cost him over a thousand dollars to fix. That vehicle had more electrical problems than any vehicle I've ever driven.

 

[Bignate603]

No, definitely not in the strictest sense but it is certainly capable of doing everything the OP desires.

BTW-I had a boss many years ago who had a Jeep Cherokee 4x4 company vehicle. He bought himself a small speed boat and trailer to have fun with and dipped the rear axle of his Jeep into the lake one day when he was launching his boat and that cost him over a thousand dollars to fix. That vehicle had more electrical problems than any vehicle I've ever driven.

There are some generations of grand cherokee that were an electronics nightmare.

 

[kage69]

Another vote for the Frontier here. I have an '07 and am extremely pleased with it. More torque and slightly better fuel economy than a comparable Tacoma. Plus there's the chain instead of a timing belt.

You can get some good deals on F-150s and Sierras though, check them out might be worth it for you. I would avoid the Colorados like the plague - have two acquaintances that got them and were both very regretful within a few thousand miles of use. Complete pieces o shit. Designs that have been vetted for a decade or more are the way to go.

 

[MotF Bane]

Ridgeline != truck.

 

[chucky2]

If you can wait for them to get here (whenever that will really be), and if they're not a reliability nightmare, and if they're comfortable for you/your wife, and if you don't mind diesel...

...then Mahindra might be what you're looking for.

The buyers on these though the first 2-4 years are going to be guinea pigs....

Chuck

 

[jlee]

If you can wait for them to get here (whenever that will really be), and if they're not a reliability nightmare, and if they're comfortable for you/your wife, and if you don't mind diesel...

...then Mahindra might be what you're looking for.

The buyers on these though the first 2-4 years are going to be guinea pigs....

Chuck

Except they're ugly as sin.

 

[chucky2]

You've seen the finalized American version in person and can speak for everyone else in the US that it is so horrifically ugly that it's (marketed) superior (to current compact pickups) specs are outweighed by it's looks?

Chuck