Why do you own a truck?

[hike2kolob]

I am planning on replacing a car this year. I usually drive a 4-door sedan, which has been practical for most of the stuff I do. However, seeing all the trucks on this site, I have been thinking of becoming a "truck-guy."

I am jealous of the ability to throw mountain bikes, skis, canyoneering gear, camping gear, and other toys in the back and go.

I also might at some point get either waverunners, snowmobiles, atvs, or river running toys that I would need to tow. I just need to start enjoying Utah a bit more and take better advantage of my weekends.

I make trips to Home Depot for yard and home improvement items quite a bit. A truck would make those trips easier. Though, my work does not at all require a truck and I don't want to help move anybody.

What do you like about your truck? Is gas a pain? Why a truck vs. an SUV? What do you do with it that you wouldn't be able to do with a car or SUV?

I am thinking of something like the Toyota Tacoma twin cab. Maybe it's a mid-life crisis for me.

[Byron]

Two people, two bikes, backpacking and car camping gear, coolers, personal gear, etc...etc...got dogs? Forget the Toyota, go with a full size...I suggest the F-150 with either the 3.7 V6 or the 5.0 V8...the gas mileage will be comparable with the Toyota and you'll get a lot more truck.

[BruteForce]

I used to be a die-hard SUV owner, until I discovered the towing/hauling ability of my first Dodge Diesel truck. As you mentioned, you can haul loads, but the primary reason for me is this:



Additionally, I've been able to use my truck for many good-Sam activities, towing folks off Bangerter, out of snow banks, etc..

[Byron]

Also, forget the SUV...the beauty of the pickup is that you can throw everything in there without the stacking and packing brain damage....mud, snow, wet this or that won't hurt anything.

[phatch]

I bought a double cab Tacoma TRD OR short bed for my family. It had the right blend of stock ability, people capacity and cargo plus the good aftermarket parts to improve the truck for more difficult trails to get to cooler places.

I've been very happy with it. I upgraded the suspension immediately as the stock 3 leaf rear suspension is terrible. There has been a Technical Service Bulletin to add a fourth leaf to complaining customers vehicles every year of the second gen. I put a 7 leaf Old Man Emu DAKAR pack plus shock upgrade back there for 3 inches of lift. It's been great.

I went with a truck over the XTerra/FourRunner because of cargo capacity and versatillty. Those SUVs are a tight squeeze for 5 people and weeks worth of gear. A larger SUV is an option then, but you have worse options aftermarket and lose some trail ability. The Double Cab Tacoma is a great fit.

They're right, a full size truck costs the same, gets the same mileage and has more capacity. But they don't drive or handle as nice and are not as capable off road. Tacomas will last longer generally speaking, have better reliability and have better resale.

If I were to do it again, I'd get the SR5 V6 shortbed instead of the TRD OR package. Then upgrade to the same OME suspension and add lockers. Less money, more capability than the TRD OR in general. There are a couple of traction control bonuses the TRD OR adds, but the lockers are likely as good or better.

[hike2kolob]

Two people, two bikes, backpacking and car camping gear, coolers, personal gear, etc...etc...got dogs? Forget the Toyota, go with a full size...I suggest the F-150 with either the 3.7 V6 or the 5.0 V8...the gas mileage will be comparable with the Toyota and you'll get a lot more truck.

Thanks. I have heard great things about the F-150 as well. That would also be a consideration. I am still deciding if a truck matches my lifestyle... or hoped for lifestyle.

[hike2kolob]

I used to be a die-hard SUV owner, until I discovered the towing/hauling ability of my first Dodge Diesel truck. As you mentioned, you can haul loads, but the primary reason for me is this:



Additionally, I've been able to use my truck for many good-Sam activities, towing folks off Bangerter, out of snow banks, etc..

Ummmm..... THAT is really big.

[Byron]

. But they don't drive or handle as nice and are not as capable off road. Tacomas will last longer generally speaking, have better reliability and have better resale.

Oh no, no, no, no, no my friend...I must respectfully disagree. My '04 is nearly 10 years old and it's been nothing short of magnificent. It rides like a limo, and the 4X4 capability is just fine...I've never been shut out of anywhere I wanted to go.

Yeah, those little Tacos are fun for tight trails, but look at the mods you've had to do! Mine's straight up stock, and it's a beast. In regards to resale, I plan on driving it until the wheels fall off or they manufacture a new model that gets better than 25mpg on the highway (real world, that is...).

OP, go to a Toyota dealer and test drive a Taco, then do the same with an F-150...you're choice should be easy after you do that.

[phatch]

Oh no, no, no, no, no my friend...I must respectfully disagree. My '04 is nearly 10 years old and it's been nothing short of magnificent. It rides like a limo, and the 4X4 capability is just fine...I've never been shut out of anywhere I wanted to go.

I could take you places....

[JP]

Wow. Hmmmm. I'm just not a car person, had to drive one for work, liking my own personal vehicle being a truck. From throwing a canoe on top and bringing that extra set of clothes/boots. When the fishing trip was over, all the muddy, sandy, wet clothes are tossed in the back. Never entering the passenger compartment and that area always remaining clean. From towing my off-road buggy to now, pulling a sled. Having that bed to haul stuff, whether it be a refrigerator, lawn mower, yard cleaning, coming home with big household goodies it really didn't matter. A place to put that wet dog or that nagging passenger The compact pickups have there place, I'm a full-sized diesel kind of pickup owner. Diesel, much better fuel mileage, less maintenance, less cost, more power. Ram is coming out with a half-ton, full size pickup diesel next year. I have a feeling, this will take off... http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2...el-pickup.html

It went from this...



To this








Then when your buddy calls you because he chose the wrong diesel and needs to be towed home, you go and get him




Your girlfriend's father needs a piece of equipment moved



I'm just a 1-ton, full-sized, diesel pickup owning kind of person I'll probably never go back to gas, especially with that 1/2 ton coming out with a diesel.

[2065toyota]

A truck will everything that a car can do plus a whole lot more. Gas economy is really the highlight of owning a car, but you actually sit down and run the numbers, it doesn't save you that much money. And if for sure doesn't save enough to justify not owning a truck. I can't even imagine not owning a truck and being able to haul bikes, ATV's, lumber, yardwork, etc. My wife has 2 friends that don't own trucks, and they have to rent them from Home Depot all the time just to do anything. No brainer in my opinion, but I guess that's also why they call it an opinion

[Iceaxe]

I currently own a Toyota Tacoma twin cab and love it. I have owned a full size truck my entire life and the Toyota is the first smaller truck and it has worked out great.

YMMV

Tap'n on my Galaxy G3

[Kent K25]

Bought my truck for the ease of tossing bikes in the back and driving to a trail head. MPG isn't a concern since I live 1/2 mile from work, when it's warm I ride my bike to work anyway.

[phatch]

Comparison of last years mid size 4x4 trucks.

http://special-reports.pickuptrucks....-shootout.htmlWhile this next link is about used vehicles, it gives good insight into ability, durability, parts availability and price.

http://jalopnik.com/5958901/the-ten-...ing-the-world/

[fourtycal]

05, F150 I use to haul everything! dirtbikes, mountainbikes, fourwheeler, Camper and tow a car hauler with a 4x4, Boat or ATV trailer behind the camper. Seven years and over 100,000 play miles and running strong.
Daily driver is a 97 Ford Ranger with over 200,000 that I also use for a lot of weekend activities.
Would be a hard life without a truck.

[Mooseman70]

I used to own a 2001 Dodge Dakota Quad-Cab. Loved that truck! Sold it several years ago, which was a decision I've regretted ever since.


Replaced my truck with a 1999.5 Nissan Pathfinder. It's been a good Sport-Ute, but it's just not the same as a pickup.


One day I'll buy another truck!

[BruteForce]

One day I'll buy another truck!

You can ride shotgun with me anytime, Moose!

[Gambel Oak]

Clearance and 4 low! It is sort of like a ladder, you don't need one until you do.

[reverse_dyno]

Keep in mind that the smaller double cab trucks like the Taco have 4 foot beds. You can get them with 6 ft beds, but then it is basically a full sized truck. I never tow anything, and I do not have a dog, so for me an SUV is prefect. Two people can sleep in the back of my Xterra and it is comfortable no matter the outside temp. Plus, it is short so bottoming out is uncommon on 4x4 roads. However, SUVs tend to be top heavy, which makes them less than ideal if you want to put on big tires and do serious off-roading. But then again, you would not take a full sized pickup on Poison spider either. Jeeps Rubicons are the offroading champs, but they do not tow like a truck and you can not sleep in them without doing a few mods.

[phatch]

Short bed in the Taco is 5 feet. Still a bit smaller than standard. You can get a long bed double cab too, just not in the TRD OR trim. You lose some breakover and departure angles with the longer bed. YOu have to weigh what you need out of your truck to figure out those sort of tradeoffs.