Need suggestion/input on trucks

[EyeswideopenParticipant 2930]

Hello all;

My apology if this is grossly off topic or in the inappropriate section of the forum. I a looking for suggestions/input on which make/model / year of truck you would suggest? The ex never allowed me to get one; it was too “boring”. Now that I am free, and enjoying life again, a truck fits my new lifestyle perfectly.
I am looking for a light duty truck with good fuel economy and that is reliable. Something to lug around my scuba gear in the summer, and snowboard in the winter. I don’t need a ton of towing capacity. Also, good handling in winter conditions is a must.
Any other input would be great.

Thanks. It’s great to be free.

- Marriage is described as an institution. You would have to be crazy to be commited to it. -"If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal. Not people or things" Albert Einstein

[StandUpGuyParticipant 334]

Try something with a v6 and 4×4. Since you do not need to do a lot of towing; you do not need a v8; a 4×4 is what you need for snow and harsh driving conditions. My suggestion is to by something used that you can either payoff fast or buy outright. No sense in paying a lot of money for a truck.

Make and model really does not matter too much. Get something that you like. I like Japaneses SUVs but trucks are something that American manufactures do very well.

Just a suggestion to get your started:
http://www.edmunds.com/honda/ridgeline/2007/
Best of luck.

[Gratus84Participant 60]

I drive a F150 2010 two door and I freaking love it. It’s not the most fuel efficient, but you can bet gas prices are gonna keep going down.

I remember shopping around for it at the time, didn’t see anything in my price range that I really liked from Dodge or Chevy.

I did get stuck in the snow this past year and wish I had gotten four-wheel drive.

[StandUpGuyParticipant 334]

Gratus84 wrote:

I drive a F150 2010 two door

Ford = (Found on road dead)
Ford = (Fix or repair daily)
Ford = (Failed on race day)
FoRd = (Found on Russian dump)

[MyselfParticipant 353]

Nissan Frontier, Toyota Tacoma, or the new Chev Colorado. I haven’t spent much time in the Chev except on the auto show floor – looks like a solid truck. The Frontier and Tacoma are both legendary as far as durability goes. Get a 4×4 and some good snow tires and these things are like tanks in the winter. You’ll want to get up early and play before the ploughs are out and ruin (er, clear) the roads.

You mention that towing capacity is not much of an issue. Nonetheless, it is worth bearing in mind that the Tacoma requires options to up its capacity whereas the Frontier and Colorado both have good tow ratings in the base models. I own a Frontier and it is perfectly capable of hauling 5000 lbs comfortably, which really is enough for most of us. Perfect for us “lifestyle” guys who need to haul toys like jet skis, snowmobiles, or race cars around.

Expect 22 mpg for the Frontier and Tacoma, Not sure about the Colorado. They certainly are not terrific as far as fuel consumption goes but not terrible either. Get a motorcycle if you need to save gas 🙂

[StandUpGuyParticipant 334]

Myself wrote:

Nissan Frontier, Toyota Tacoma, or the new Chev Colorado. I haven’t spent much time in the Chev except on the auto show floor – looks like a solid truck. The Frontier and Tacoma are both legendary as far as durability goes. Get a 4×4 and some good snow tires and these things are like tanks in the winter. You’ll want to get up early and play before the ploughs are out and ruin (er, clear) the roads.

All good suggestions.

[Gratus84Participant 60]

StandUpGuy wrote:

Gratus84 wrote:

I drive a F150 2010 two door

Ford = (Found on road dead)
Ford = (Fix or repair daily)
Ford = (Failed on race day)
FoRd = (Found on Russian dump)

Yeah I had heard all of that. I’m no grease-monkey but I remember when I was asking around people were split passionately either against Ford, or those that I spoke with that had one said they loved it. I have had zero problems with that make and model. My friend got a Toyota Tacoma earlier this year and he loves it. Why are people so opinionated against Ford? Is there something specific you can point me to or is it just the witty mnemonic? lol

I’ve never heard that about any other make and whenever I’ve asked I’ve never gotten a real explanation, just curious I’m not in the auto-industry so I don’t know.

[StandUpGuyParticipant 334]

Well I could not help myself.
I think that Ford drivers are very loyal to the point that I find it cult-ish. If you like the truck that is what matters.

[Gratus84Participant 60]

StandUpGuy wrote:

Well I could not help myself.
I think that Ford drivers are very loyal to the point that I find it cult-ish. If you like the truck that is what matters.

Ah. Definitely not drinking the Ford Kool-aid. The reason I got a Ford was because a client of mine had recommended a guy who had got me an awesome deal and I paid cash for it. He made me an offer I couldn’t refuse and after two weeks of shopping I was like done. Everywhere else I had to keep being sold hardcore. I suppose had he known a different brand I would be driving a different truck.

[DoinMyOwnThing40Participant 1000]

Eyeswideopen wrote:

Hello all;

My apology if this is grossly off topic or in the inappropriate section of the forum. I a looking for suggestions/input on which make/model / year of truck you would suggest? The ex never allowed me to get one; it was too “boring”. Now that I am free, and enjoying life again, a truck fits my new lifestyle perfectly.
I am looking for a light duty truck with good fuel economy and that is reliable. Something to lug around my scuba gear in the summer, and snowboard in the winter. I don’t need a ton of towing capacity. Also, good handling in winter conditions is a must.
Any other input would be great.

Thanks. It’s great to be free.

Man, no need to apologize. Trucks is one of the manliest topics I can think of. It happens to be one of my favorite topics.
In my opinion, what you are looking for is a Ram 1500 V6, with 4×4 (of course). It has everything that you are looking for, including relatively good fuel economy (for a truck). The Outdoorsman model is nice, but I don’t know if it comes with a V6.

Women are parasites. Each and every last one of them.

[StandUpGuyParticipant 334]

DoinMyOwnThing40 wrote:

I paid cash for it.

Paying cash is the best because you OWN IT outright. Also you can borrow against it if needed.

Enjoy your truck!

We should have more of this kind of stuff on this forum good topic.

[RoyDalParticipant]

I have a Ford (not a truck) that has lasted 10 years with no real problems. I bought it one-year used from Enterprise car rentals.

Which is the reason I write, Enterprise sells to the public only vehicles that have had no repair problems. The ones with doubtful repair histories are sent back to the dealers or to the auctions. It has worked for me and some friends of mine to buy from them.

Edit: I want to add this good idea. I paid cash for the above Ford. Here’s how. A friend of mine who is very money-wise puts aside the amount of a car loan in savings every month. When he has enough saved up for a good used car, he goes shopping. I copied his idea.

Here’s another interesting idea. I know someone with a long commute. He was making it in a V8 pickup truck, and gas prices were eating him alive. He bought an old Honda Civic for his commute. He came out money ahead. The money he saved on gas enabled him to pay off the Honda and keep the truck with some change left over.

Society asks MGTOWs: Why are you not making more tax-slaves?

[sidecarParticipant 35864]

I’m conflicted about Ford. On the one hand they created dual I-beam suspension. On the other hand they didn’t take the taxpayer’s money.

[Jon the Ex-SquidParticipant 298]

Older model Toyotas just keep going and going. I personally like the Dodge Dakota but really, any V6 4×4 that’s used is worth the money if you either pay cash or pay it off quickly. I have an old Ford F150 that I originally bought, paid off, and now keep in the garage but I got that because its such a popular truck, repair parts are cheap. My main vehicle is a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Also a V6 4×4.

Gas mileage? Not so much. 15-20MPG is what you’re looking at unless you go with a brand new truck, which I wouldn’t advise due to the high cost (unless you’ve got $20-30k laying around).

[EntropyParticipant 902]

RoyDal wrote:

I have a Ford (not a truck) that has lasted 10 years with no real problems. I bought it one-year used from Enterprise car rentals.

Which is the reason I write, Enterprise sells to the public only vehicles that have had no repair problems. The ones with doubtful repair histories are sent back to the dealers or to the auctions. It has worked for me and some friends of mine to buy from them.

I used to sell these very cars! I can vouch for this, in fact the beat up rentals get sold back to the local dealerships for their used inventory. Dealerships call them “lease returns”… but they are really the rentals that were too abused to be sold under the rental companies own name.

(I’m sorry if that came off as an advertisement, rest assured I can say it was the worst JOB I ever had and wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy, but wouldn’t have any problem buying a car from their inventory)

"Compare your lives to mine and then kill yourselves" -BBR

[EyeswideopenParticipant 2930]

Thanks for all the positive input.

V6, 4×4, gently used is the way to go. Always viewed a vehicle as a utility and not a status symbol. I have to do some research into what make/model I prefer. A few more months on the leased vehicle that I had to assume from the ex; total waste of money- the s~~~ I did to keep her happy – wish I could go back in time and kick myself. Cleaning up all the loose ends will take longer the the f-ing marriage lasted. Live and learn.

Thanks for the help men.

- Marriage is described as an institution. You would have to be crazy to be commited to it. -"If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal. Not people or things" Albert Einstein

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