Looking for a small/medium truck for boat/kayak. Ram 1500?

[Chaotic42]

Hey all. I'm looking at buying a house later this year and trading in my 2016 Subaru WRX for a small/medium truck. I'll be using it to tow an aluminum bass boat (about 4,000 pounds), hauling a kayak, and hauling normal house stuff. It will be my daily driver for a ~45 minute commute into a city.

It seems like every truck I see is some huge monster and I don't want that. I don't even want back seats, which is why I'm looking at a Ram 1500 Tradesman. Does anyone have any recommendations or warnings? I've never owned a truck, so I'm new at all of this. I definitely don't need anything flashy, though I do like backup cameras.

 

[NutBucket]

While I can see why you may not want an extended cab, consider how you're going to do simple things like shopping. Where are you going to put your stuff? One store at a time possibly?

Or is this a secondary vehicle (which it doesn't sound like).

 

[pauldun170]

While I can see why you may not want an extended cab, consider how you're going to do simple things like shopping. Where are you going to put your stuff? One store at a time possibly?

Or is this a secondary vehicle (which it doesn't sound like).

It will be my daily driver for a ~45 minute commute into a city.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

While I can see why you may not want an extended cab, consider how you're going to do simple things like shopping. Where are you going to put your stuff? One store at a time possibly?

Or is this a secondary vehicle (which it doesn't sound like).

Why can't groceries just go in the back? Get a topper if you have to, or a cargo box. That's how we did it.

Kids these days and their extended everything. Spoiled rotten.

Anyway - your ScoobyDoo can handle the kayak, you've already eaten a crapton of depreciation on it, and it will save you money on the commute w/r/t mpg. Just get any old beater truck (or an old Crown Vic cop car) to tow your stuff on the weekends.

 

[Jimzz]

Look at the Canyon and Colorado. They are a midsize truck that can tow 7000 pounds with the V6. They come standard with backup camera.

 

[Slyr762]

I recommend selling your car privately or keep it. If you drove 100k+ miles in the car, the gas savings would almost pay for the truck. The newer ram 1500 with v6 & 8 speed does get good mpg. I'd go v8 anyways.
My old 5spd F150 v8 did 21+mpg highway.
The "midsize" trucks might be light enough to get lower registration. Anything over 4000lb i think.
My 73 dodge is only 5200lb but costs $50 more.

 

[JCH13]

Honda Ridgeline, a Ram 1500 will be super overkill and somewhat less reliable. I've towed my ~4500lb boat+trailer with one several times, it did fine. Lots of roof+bed rack options for kayaks too. Drives comfortably, seats 5 adults well, has a water-tight trunk in the bed. It's a great 'I want a car and a truck' sort of compromise with decent fuel economy and fantastic reliability.

With the roof+bed rack combo you can comfortably tie down 8-12ft lumber, fit lots of insulation batts in the bed, and haul all sorts of garbage and/or building materials.

 

[JulesMaximus]

You could really meet all your needs with a Toyota 4Runner and still be able to carry 5 people when needed. Fuel economy is poor though.

 

[Chaotic42]

While I can see why you may not want an extended cab, consider how you're going to do simple things like shopping. Where are you going to put your stuff? One store at a time possibly?

Or is this a secondary vehicle (which it doesn't sound like).

I'd just put my groceries in the foot well of the passenger's side. I'm single and will virtually never need to transport more than myself and maybe one other person.

You could really meet all your needs with a Toyota 4Runner and still be able to carry 5 people when needed. Fuel economy is poor though.

I wouldn't be able to haul dirt, plants, etc. in that, I'd have to put the kayak on top, and I'd be paying for seating that I would never use.

Why can't groceries just go in the back? Get a topper if you have to, or a cargo box. That's how we did it.

Kids these days and their extended everything. Spoiled rotten.

Anyway - your ScoobyDoo can handle the kayak, you've already eaten a crapton of depreciation on it, and it will save you money on the commute w/r/t mpg. Just get any old beater truck (or an old Crown Vic cop car) to tow your stuff on the weekends.

Looks like I could trade it in for $21-24K. I'd rather avoid putting the kayak on top if I can help it.

I've thought about getting a truck and then an el cheapo Mitsubishi Mirage or something similar for the commute. As long as it has a radio and air conditioning, I'm good.

 

[herm0016]

i would look at the Canyon / Colorado / new Ranger. if i was single and childless, i would probably go that route. i have a wife and kids though, so a crew cab full size with 6.5 bed is what i have. i would avoid FCA everything.

 

[BurnItDwn]

https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Pow...et&pageno=2&sortBy=Comb&tabView=0&rowLimit=10

Diesel Canyon or Colorado will give you best fuel economy. Gas version is not too bad.

Not sure about what the 2019 Ranger will offer, but, it might be worth waiting for. (ETA is early 2019)

 

[Chaotic42]

https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Pow...et&pageno=2&sortBy=Comb&tabView=0&rowLimit=10

Diesel Canyon or Colorado will give you best fuel economy. Gas version is not too bad.

Not sure about what the 2019 Ranger will offer, but, it might be worth waiting for. (ETA is early 2019)

Yeah, I was thinking about the Ranger, but I've heard it's only slightly smaller than an F-150. I appreciate the feedback, everyone.

 

[gorcorps]

Honda Ridgeline, a Ram 1500 will be super overkill and somewhat less reliable. I've towed my ~4500lb boat+trailer with one several times, it did fine. Lots of roof+bed rack options for kayaks too. Drives comfortably, seats 5 adults well, has a water-tight trunk in the bed. It's a great 'I want a car and a truck' sort of compromise with decent fuel economy and fantastic reliability.

With the roof+bed rack combo you can comfortably tie down 8-12ft lumber, fit lots of insulation batts in the bed, and haul all sorts of garbage and/or building materials.

I second the ridgeline. It's all you need without being bulky, and I'd certainly trust it more than a Ram. Friends don't let friends buy chrysler products.

Plus the ram is still a big truck

 

[NutBucket]

Amazingly my friend would buy another Chrysler after owning a Ram for over 12 years. Granted he's had no major failures but I'm still baffled. Talk about playing with fire!

 

[mizzou]

You seem like a perfect candidate for the Colorado w/ turbo diesel

That would be WAY more then what you need.

4000lb bass boat!?!?!?

 

[NutBucket]

It's big!

 

[BurnItDwn]

You seem like a perfect candidate for the Colorado w/ turbo diesel

That would be WAY more then what you need.

4000lb bass boat!?!?!?

20-22 foot aluminum bass boat with around 200-300hp typically weighs around 1800-2500 pounds, Trailer will add another 1500 pounds, gear likely adds several hundred more pounds. Something like that carrying around 50-70 gallons of fuel can add another 300-500 pounds... very easy to push the weight over 4000.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Some info on teh Ranger ...

Well, looks like there won't be a "regular cab" option for the Ranger. And no diesel option either.
"Power, fuel economy, and payload figures are currently listed as TBD, so we’ll have to wait a little longer to get those exact specs."

https://jalopnik.com/2019-ford-ranger-everything-we-know-about-the-packages-1828301820

 

[Kaido]

I second the ridgeline. It's all you need without being bulky, and I'd certainly trust it more than a Ram. Friends don't let friends buy chrysler products.

Plus the ram is still a big truck

I third the Ridgeline. The new one is amazing...more car than truck, in terms of nice driving dynamics. I was down to the Ridgeline vs. the Mustang for my current car (went with Mustang because I never tow & decided I could just rent a truck from Home Depot as needed). It's an AWD unibody instead of a 4WD body-on-frame, but the AWD model can tow 5,000 pounds, has tons of features, is comfortable, and is great to drive. Honestly one of the best-steering vehicles I've ever driven. If you're looking used, the first-gen Ridgeline is also a surprisingly nice truck. I don't care for the looks personally, but it's actually a pretty great truck as well!

 

[tynopik]

tesla model x can tow about 5000 and is more compact than most trucks

RAV4 can do 3500 in the Adventure AWD trim

Honda Ridgeline, Kia Sorento and Chevy Traverse can also do 5000 in certain trim levels

I wouldn't be able to haul dirt, plants, etc. in that, I'd have to put the kayak on top, and I'd be paying for seating that I would never use.

get a trailer

 

[herm0016]

tesla model x can tow about 5000 and is more compact than most trucks

RAV4 can do 3500 in the Adventure AWD trim

Honda Ridgeline, Kia Sorento and Chevy Traverse can also do 5000 in certain trim levels

get a trailer

so pay for the seating that you don't need and a trailer?

also, the rating may be 5k lbs, but I have found most vehicles including 1 ton trucks towing anywhere near their limit are not easy to handle or safe at highway speeds. I have done 8k with a half ton across the country and that is about all I would want to do in it, with electric brakes and factory brake controller, adjustable air suspension and a nice, well balanced trailer. The rating on that truck was 10k. also watch your max tongue weight on unibody stuff, it's often lower than the weight you should have when towing a trailer of its max or it is going to eat up your gvwr to the point that you can only put 100 lbs of stuff in the car with your own weight to reach the gvwr.

I have also put tens of thousands of miles on various f-350s for work towing 10 to 15 k lbs all over the Rockies.

 

[Chaotic42]

tesla model x can tow about 5000 and is more compact than most trucks

RAV4 can do 3500 in the Adventure AWD trim

Honda Ridgeline, Kia Sorento and Chevy Traverse can also do 5000 in certain trim levels

None of those really fit my needs, especially the Model X. It's a shame that it's so hard to find a good truck with no rear seats anymore.

 

[Slyr762]

None of those really fit my needs, especially the Model X.

It's a shame that it's so hard to find a good truck with no rear seats anymore.

If you don't a truck alot, just rent one. The mileage would add up though. So i guess that's only good for dump runs & stuff.
That's 1 reason I'd regret selling my stickshift 18-20mpg 1997 v8 F150 stepside. $170 reg, $45-50/mo ins.

I'll keep my eye out for a sub $20k, sub 10 yr old truck to add to my stable in the future or just put a bit of money into this.
It's easy for me already having this truck. For as rarely as i need the bed, i could buy a "commuter" car for most days & break even pretty quick w/ 30+ mpg vs 18-19.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Maybe your best option, if you really want a small basic pickup without 4 seats or without any features, is to just buy an older one?
(Or, get a commercial/contractor style F-150)
There are lots of 80s and 90s era trucks still on the road, and many are damn cheap. They won't be as reliable as the WRX, and they will get worse fuel economy (but will use cheaper regular unleaded).

 

[Slyr762]

Maybe your best option, if you really want a small basic pickup without 4 seats or without any features, is to just buy an older one?
(Or, get a commercial/contractor style F-150)
There are lots of 80s and 90s era trucks still on the road, and many are damn cheap. They won't be as reliable as the WRX, and they will get worse fuel economy (but will use cheaper regular unleaded).

yeah, the ram 1500 express/ tradesman. Trucks like that can be had less expensive, especially when they've been sitting at a dealer for a year.