Pickup Trucks

[Lightcycle]

We're considering something with a full sized bed as I'll need to handle plywood sheets.

We have a long-bed mid-sized Tacoma and I've hauled plywood sheets in it. You can either put the tailgate down or have the plywood hang out over the side of the bed. You don't need a full-size for that.

Long bed mid-sizes typically are 6'-6.5', and full-size offers 8' beds. We use our truck a lot for hauling everything from furniture, motorcycles, building materials, debris and I've never yearned for the extra 1.5'-2' of bed length a full-size provides.

The benefit is that a mid-size truck is easier to maneuver and park in city traffic - it's as narrow or narrower than most SUVs on the road.

My wife and I are not tall or large people, but if we were bigger-sized then I could see the benefit of the extra leg-room and head-room that a full-size provides. Other than that, I like the space-efficiency of a mid-size.

Full-sized freezer in the bed of a mid-size truck:

 

[Jampy00]

We have a long-bed mid-sized Tacoma and I've hauled plywood sheets in it. You can either put the tailgate down or have the plywood hang out over the side of the bed. You don't need a full-size for that.

Long bed mid-sizes typically are 6'-6.5', and full-size offers 8' beds. We use our truck a lot for hauling everything from furniture, motorcycles, building materials, debris and I've never yearned for the extra 1.5'-2' of bed length a full-size provides.

The benefit is that a mid-size truck is easier to maneuver and park in city traffic - it's as narrow or narrower than most SUVs on the road.

My wife and I are not tall or large people, but if we were bigger-sized then I could see the benefit of the extra leg-room and head-room that a full-size provides. Other than that, I like the space-efficiency of a mid-size.

Full-sized freezer in the bed of a mid-size truck:

Good insights, appreciate your post.
Again nothing is for sure, just tossing stuff and seeing what sticks.
We can only discuss @mimico_polak 's new shed for so long...

 

[timtune]

There’s a reason F150 is the most popular vehicle in Canada.

RAM trucks are nice…but according to Reddit every RAM driver is automatically an a$$hole.

And in the US they're are the most likely to get a DUI

 

[Evoex]

99% going to get a ridgeline to replace the X5, likely in the fall or spring.

Winter/rainy day vehicle and will also tow the cottage toys/track bike in the bed.

A smaller truck makes sense for me because I don’t haul that much **** and I don’t have to change my current parking situation. Ridgeline specifically because of its bed utility, drives more like a car and comfort.

Just realized in one year I’ll have gone from 0 Honda vehicles to 2/3.

FML

 

[crankcall]

when my Bronco hits 3 yrs I'll be back in an F150 4x4 , this time 1 1/2 cab and 8ft box. Slide in camper will be with it. Plan is tow 5x10 enclosed trailer with bicycle, street legal enduro , kayak and a BBq .
nothing against chev, hate RAM trucks , Honda is great if it would do what I need . Bang for the buck for me is F150 , this will be my 4th

 

[Jampy00]

99% going to get a ridgeline to replace the X5, likely in the fall or spring.

Winter/rainy day vehicle and will also tow the cottage toys/track bike in the bed.

A smaller truck makes sense for me because I don’t haul that much **** and I don’t have to change my current parking situation. Ridgeline specifically because of its bed utility, drives more like a car and comfort.

Just realized in one year I’ll have gone from 0 Honda vehicles to 2/3.

FML

Yea, as I think this through I think a mid-sized might be the best option for me as well.
While I know I'll have to carry some larger loads, they will be few and far between.

 

[mimico_polak]

And in the US they're are the most likely to get a DUI

Unfortunately I've also read this.

 

[Hardwrkr13]

Haven't met many people who've had Ram's that were happy with it's reliability. Nicest looking imo but I won't get one. GM seems to have their transmission issues of a few years ago solved so I'll be between those and the F150. F150 is my choice in terms of reliability but the bland styling makes it hard to drop close to $100k on one.
Mid-size can do what most people need a truck for and are better on fuel (most anyways). If you're out in the countryside and don't travel far to commute I'd go full-size. Those are both me as well and I'll be going full size.
You may not like the idea of storing a trailer but sounds like you've got lots of room and having a $1000 trailer on hand to haul the bigger stuff is a lot cheaper than a expensive new truck. I'll have a truck when my SUV finally dies but much of the bigger stuff will still get hauled in my 5x8' trailer because it's much more convenient (bikes, sleds, long lumber, riding mower, etc).

 

[GreyGhost]

Haven't met many people who've had Ram's that were happy with it's reliability. Nicest looking imo but I won't get one. GM seems to have their transmission issues of a few years ago solved so I'll be between those and the F150. F150 is my choice in terms of reliability but the bland styling makes it hard to drop close to $100k on one.
Mid-size can do what most people need a truck for and are better on fuel (most anyways). If you're out in the countryside and don't travel far to commute I'd go full-size. Those are both me as well and I'll be going full size.
You may not like the idea of storing a trailer but sounds like you've got lots of room and having a $1000 trailer on hand to haul the bigger stuff is a lot cheaper than a expensive new truck. I'll have a truck when my SUV finally dies but much of the bigger stuff will still get hauled in my 5x8' trailer because it's much more convenient (bikes, sleds, long lumber, riding mower, etc).

The other problem with new trucks costing close to 100K is you don't want to do truck stuff with it in case you wound it. You don't really want to go bouncing through the forest to get firewood and come out with the truck scratched and dented. At first glance you think it is convenient but then you realize it is not really fit for purpose. A kubota or tractor with a trailer is a far more useful vehicle on the property (obviously not great off the property although I have driven a tractor quite a ways when I needed to).

 

[Lightcycle]

You don't really want to go bouncing through the forest to get firewood and come out with the truck scratched and dented.

Red neck pinstriping!

 

[Gary]

I'm 5+ yrs into a Ridgeline, and I'll buy another one.
Nothing has gone wrong. Everything works.
It's comfortable, & fine on long rides.
4x8 whatevers fit with room to spare......tailgate down.
Only ½ yard at a time..... dirt, gravel, etc.
Gas mileage isn't great in the city, but better than the f150 I had. Reasonable on the hwy
If you're not using it for work, it's as close to ideal as you're going to get, imo.

 

[mimico_polak]

I'm 5+ yrs into a Ridgeline, and I'll buy another one.
Nothing has gone wrong. Everything works.
It's comfortable, & fine on long rides.
4x8 whatevers fit with room to spare......tailgate down.
Only ½ yard at a time..... dirt, gravel, etc.
Gas mileage isn't great in the city, but better than the f150 I had. Reasonable on the hwy
If you're not using it for work, it's as close to ideal as you're going to get, imo.

Always forget about the Ridgeline! Would def prefer that over the Maverick or Ranger.

Pretty much an Odyssey in pickup truck guise.

 

[TK4]

And now for something completely different.
I had the use of a GMC dually for a while (towing a heavy trailer for work), when it was 4 months old it spit out an upper ball joint, launched the right front wheel 100 feet down a sidewalk and right turned into a bridge abutment. All this while unladen and at a speed of about 20 kmh. Thank goodness it didn't kill someone or I was towing down a highway at the time. I will NEVER buy another GM product.

 

[GreyGhost]

And now for something completely different.
I had the use of a GMC dually for a while (towing a heavy trailer for work), when it was 4 months old it spit out an upper ball joint, launched the right front wheel 100 feet down a sidewalk and right turned into a bridge abutment. All this while unladen and at a speed of about 20 kmh. Thank goodness it didn't kill someone or I was towing down a highway at the time. I will NEVER buy another GM product.

That's probably an assembly issue not a design issue. Any brand could have that happen.

 

[TK4]

That's probably an assembly issue not a design issue. Any brand could have that happen.

It apparently was a quality control issue - known problem, a few of them did that.
To be fair, GM paid completely for the repair (why wouldn't they ?) but it put me off permanently.

 

[Mikedezo44]

+1 for trailer if you are going to use it less than once or twice a month for actual truck stuff. Looks like you have plenty of room for a 5x8 trailer. I don't know how the average guy making 50 or 60 grand a year would afford fuel in a pickup truck these days without some sort of side hustle to help pay for gas.
I just put in $120 last night for barely over half a tank. To fill would've been $215 but I have a long delivery drive tomorrow and didn't want to carry the extra weight

 

[matthew]

Unfortunately I've also read this.

Ram 2500 Drivers Have the Most DUIs, More Than Twice the National Average: Report

Roughly 1 in 22 Ram 2500 drivers have been cited with a DUI before, a study claims.

www.thedrive.com

 

[Kawyman]

Haven't met many people who've had Ram's that were happy with it's reliability. Nicest looking imo but I won't get one. GM seems to have their transmission issues of a few years ago solved so I'll be between those and the F150. F150 is my choice in terms of reliability but the bland styling makes it hard to drop close to $100k on one.
Mid-size can do what most people need a truck for and are better on fuel (most anyways). If you're out in the countryside and don't travel far to commute I'd go full-size. Those are both me as well and I'll be going full size.
You may not like the idea of storing a trailer but sounds like you've got lots of room and having a $1000 trailer on hand to haul the bigger stuff is a lot cheaper than a expensive new truck. I'll have a truck when my SUV finally dies but much of the bigger stuff will still get hauled in my 5x8' trailer because it's much more convenient (bikes, sleds, long lumber, riding mower, etc).

 

[Kawyman]

I’ve had 3 rams, 2014 V8 crew cab 4x4 traded in for 2020 new body style Ram crew cab v6 4x4, traded in for wife’s CRV, and I wanted to back to a truck, so just picked up a 2014 V8 sport crew cab. Love the Ram, repairs are no more then any another truck. The best thing I’ve learned is I NEVER drive in the MDS eco mode crap.. use the gear selector to pick the 8 gear and it is always in V8 mode. Gas mileage is 12.2/100km. The MDS and eco mode 4 cylinder mode is what kills the hemi with the cam/lifter failure. The cams don’t get the oil moving around enough on short drives and that’s what fails the engine. V8 mode all day long and no Hemi tick and no issues. Love the Ram and you can get decent deals on the classic style. 2014 - 2023/24

 

[Kawyman]

I’ve had 3 rams, 2014 V8 crew cab 4x4 traded in for 2020 new body style Ram crew cab v6 4x4, traded in for wife’s CRV, and I wanted to back to a truck, so just picked up a 2014 V8 sport crew cab. Love the Ram, repairs are no more then any another truck. The best thing I’ve learned is I NEVER drive in the MDS eco mode crap.. use the gear selector to pick the 8 gear and it is always in V8 mode. Gas mileage is 12.2/100km. The MDS and eco mode 4 cylinder mode is what kills the hemi with the cam/lifter failure. The cams don’t get the oil moving around enough on short drives and that’s what fails the engine. V8 mode all day long and no Hemi tick and no issues. Love the Ram and you can get decent deals on the classic style. 2014 - 2023/24

And another bonus for the classic Ram, there’s no push button start, fob goes in a while in the dash. Hopefully car thieves want new style rams with push button start vs the key fob classic 9year old truck.