The first truck that came into my life was a 4 cylinder, 5 speed Nissan, similar to the one above. Light, easy on fuel, and tons of fun in the rain. It was also a great parts chaser and ATV hauler. I like my current Chevy duallie, but many times it's just bigger than what I need. Everyone needs a truck, but you need the RIGHT truck.
Kenny_McCormic wrote: In reply to Feedyurhed: Not all trucks are an old twin I beam F series that needed a front end rebuild 20,000 miles ago.
Especially the newer ones. My F-150 is essentially a tall luxury car that can tow 10k pounds.
In reply to Tom_Spangler:
Yeah, I'm slowly making progress on learning my mother of this. She struggles with the idea that nothing made in the last 20 years, that she can afford, that isn't a 1/2 ton truck or a Suburban will pull her ~4000lb Trailmanor hardside pop up camper like it isn't there and not die doing so (the old, extremely heavy, 1997 AWD Grand Caravan's transmission somehow survived this). And negating the "like it isn't there" requirement only gives you Grand Cherokees and Trailblazers.
I wanted a beater truck, and found I could get a much nicer minivan for the same price. It may not be great for ultra heavy loads or towing, but with the seats out, it has no problem doing Lowes and Home Depot runs, and I've camped in it, too.
I sincerely miss having a pick up truck, haven't had on in nearly a decade. I've also owned several SAAB 9000s of the 5 door hatch back variety, and I constantly impressed myself with the amount of stuff that I could pack into them. I once saw pics on one of the SAAB forums of one that had a mostly assembled mid-seventies Honda motorcycle loaded onto it!
Some time this week I will be trading my Transit connect for a Subaru Outback. First time since 1990 that I haven't had an actual truck in the fleet. But the wife and I discussed all the things we have hauled in the last two years and all of it should fit in the Outback except for the latest riding mower. But the mower wouldn't fit in the Transit Connect either.
We just sold our truck a few weeks ago. My first vehicle (at 20) was a truck, and since then I've only been truckless for about three months in total. I've spent some time mentally preparing for this reality, but with the Odyssey and the RAV4 (with roof racks on both), I think we'll be OK. I also have a 4X8' 1720 lb HF utility trailer that'll be a big help. Trailer maintenance (and taxes) are still far less than I'd be spending on the truck.
Life is definitely much easier with a pickup around.
We need trucks....
I have two trucks now, 92 Dakota for a daily and 79 GMC C3500 for hauling the trailer. There have been times I didn't have a truck, and always ended up needing one. So I keep at least one truck around.
Nicely done! Years ago I hauled four complete engines in the back of my '94 Passat. I'm firmly in the "don't need a truck" camp, though I will admit it was nice when I had a long bed Ranger as a company vehicle. Drywall doesn't fit in the 944 or the E46 very well.
BTW, my old Passat. I'm sure there was a GRM thread too, but I couldn't find it. http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?1825454-Who-needs-a-truck-when-you-ve-got-a-Passat!
1988RedT2 wrote: I have come to the conclusion that everyone needs four or five vehicles, at a minimum.
23 mpg mom mobile suv
30 mpg sedan with tow hitch
40+ mpg econo box
Track Miata
Contemplating selling my boat to pick up a family beach cruiser convertible.
Less than $25 for a uhaul trailer for the one time every 2 or 3 years we have some larger hauling to do.
Just my wife and I as drivers.
Hal wrote: Some time this week I will be trading my Transit connect for a Subaru Outback. First time since 1990 that I haven't had an actual truck in the fleet. But the wife and I discussed all the things we have hauled in the last two years and all of it should fit in the Outback except for the latest riding mower. But the mower wouldn't fit in the Transit Connect either.
Transit Connect can tow a trailer. I put near 4000lbs on one once. I also put lift blocks under the leaf springs. It is one heavy duty Focus wagon. 
STILL don't need a truck.. I saw it on the internet so it must be TRUE !
If it doesn't use a 2-5/16" ball, you're not really towing. 
All the truck I need. 8 passenger, plenty of power, manual transmission, and the limiting component of the car puts empty towing capacity at 7800 lbs. 
. Don't know that I need that much, but I've towed 5000 lbs with no issues at all.
Wally wrote: I had functioned without a truck until now but I'm getting to the point where I need to bring home dirt and stone so an open bed is the easiest way to go.
I won't be without a truck. One of my more suburban friends has a new crew-cab, 4x4 Frontier. I REALLY LIKE IT. We went and spent the weekend at his new place. Saturday morning, I helped him move some fresh dirt into his garden boxes -- he had it delivered because he didn't want to get his truck dirty.
Delivery is cheaper than truck ownership. But if you're into trucks, they're really handy.
gearheadE30 wrote: the limiting component of the car puts empty towing capacity at 7800 lbs
No it doesn't. The towing capacity is what the manufacturer stated it is. Nothing you do changes that rating.
chestertiger wrote:Hal wrote: Some time this week I will be trading my Transit connect for a Subaru Outback. First time since 1990 that I haven't had an actual truck in the fleet. But the wife and I discussed all the things we have hauled in the last two years and all of it should fit in the Outback except for the latest riding mower. But the mower wouldn't fit in the Transit Connect either.Transit Connect can tow a trailer. I put near 4000lbs on one once. I also put lift blocks under the leaf springs. It is one heavy duty Focus wagon.
Yeah, I know that but at 71 years old I decided I want a little more luxury in my DD. For fun I still have my supercharged 2001 Focus.
HiTempguy wrote: No it doesn't. The towing capacity is what the manufacturer stated it is. Nothing you do changes that rating.
Snarky, but I'll bite. . Factory tow package cars were rated at 7800 lbs with levelers from the factory literature I've seen. The GVWR for everything I've swapped keeps that rating intact, not that I think I'd want to tow that much with it. Based on the asterisks in the manual, though, that's if you basically have no payload in the car with you. I think it leaves like 500 lbs on the table, which is a few beefy friends and that's it.
A friend has a truck he calls the plastic pick-up; in actuality it's an 82 Corvette that he takes the passenger seat out of to haul things like the block from his E-Type to the machine shop. I have an E-250 camper van and when we have something big I just bring the car trailer (flat deck). I also bought an Outback last year to haul various things like potting soil, brick and Datsun rear ends. I keep sheet plastic in the under floor storage and wrap anything that might ooze.
Tom
gearheadE30 wrote:HiTempguy wrote: Factory tow package cars were rated at 7800 lbs with levelers from the factory literature I've seen.You've read wrong. It probably was the "gross vehicle weight rating" as 7800lbs, which is how much the wagon can weigh in total (vehicle, load, and hitch weight). I still doubt its that high though. And somebody would be an idiot (to put it bluntly) to ever try and tow more than 5k lbs with one of those. I don't think everyone needs a diesel 1 ton, but at least follow the manufacturers recommendations for christ's sake guys. Its others safety on the line, towing is serious business.
I didn't need a truck, I just wanted one.
In reply to HiTempguy:
I know for a fact you could option out the 93-96 Cadillac Fleetwood for 7000lbs tow capacity, I think the rest of the B bodies of that era, or at least the wagons, could be optioned the same way. I can believe 7800 in an earlier one with the right options.
With the amount of landscaping and renovations we've done to our house in the last few years, yeah, I couldn't live with a truck. Especially since my wife likes to refinish not so small furniture on the side. You can, but why would you want to. All my friends who have recently bought an older home, now have some sort of beater, 4x4 truck with excellent tires as a hauler of things and a horrible weather driver.
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