Little trucks

[ted655]

My bud has a Ford Super Duty. The price of diesel is finally hitting home with him. He is looking at buying a "little" truck to do the errands & grocery getting. He'd like 30+ MPG. Any ideas? Who is REALLY getting that kind of millage and are you happy, overall, with what you have? Thanks.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Little trucks

Nice dream...

Look at http://www.fueleconomy.gov/ and search by class of vehicle.

 

[ndemge]

Re: Little trucks

My boss has spent the last 6 months chasing little trucks on craigslist. He has a '06 2500HD diesel... and also had enough of $.75 more per gallon.

He FINALLY found (and called fast enough) a 99 5speed 4cyl ranger -mint shape. $2500 He has found a lot of people with over 200k miles on these rangers and mazda clones.

His first tank was 22.6mpg -with a few major hills to climb in his commute.

The best I've heard of *and believe* is 26mpg.

I drive a 3cyl Geo metro 5speed. 70 miles a day.

I log every tank. Best so far has been 46mpg That was with a LOT of effort.
if I'm just concious of my driving, and stay under 65 I can steadily get 40mpg. If I push it hard and drive fast, I can get as low as 34.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Little trucks

I feel his pain, I finally bit the bullet and sold my beloved 2500 Dodge ram. The 11MPG was killing me, I drive almost 65 miles per day. I did my homework and bought a Toyota Tacoma and have not looked back. 6 Cyl and I average about 21 MPG

30 MPG+ in a truck is a tall order to fill.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Little trucks

...hmm, small truck, maximum mileage, minimum of problems. I'd go 4cylinder Toyota in a heartbeat.....probably with a 5 speed manual. You can buy a little ford ranger or little chev sonoma cheaper, but for a reason. I don't think they make the little stuff as well as Toyota has and does. They (big 3) do make pretty good full size stuff tho'. You are going to pay a little more up front for a similar spec truck but you get it back on re-sale day and the travel in between will probably be a more hassle free.
I'd search around for an extended cab tacoma. If he wants maximum mileage try to stay away from the 4-wheel drive stuff.
Just my two bit
BP

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Little trucks

Down-under we are blessed with what we nick-name "Rice Wagons", because the Japs were the 1st to produce them. All manufacturers now make a version.
They are a 1 ton cab chasis and alloy drop side deck. Bench seat for 3.
My Nissan Navara (2wd) is 2.4 L 4cyl, 5 spd mannual and yes, I get over 30mpg.
They also go by the name of "grinners", because that is the only extra they come with, a grim......but that sort of dates me, as now you can option them up to power steer, airconditioning and auto.
I have had 2 in the last 20yrs.....they get an absolute hidding, and just keep going. Every tradesman has at least one.
Cheers
Phillip

 

[ted655]

Re: Little trucks

I told him 30 MPH was a tall order for a pickup. He will probably buy a new "whatever".. That brings another question to mind, & I'm not sure if I should bring it up with him.
He is 70, in great health. Still.....? After the cost & finance charges of a $16K or higher price are prorated into cost per mile, THEN put into an equation of the fuel savings between his diesel & his new truck, is it just cheaper to keep paying the extra in price of diesel? At that age, I'm not sure there would be a break even point, much less a true payback savings. He may actually save money by continuing to drive the Super Duty. He plans to keep it anyway, to pull his boats.
I know it galls us all, "at the time" of fill up to pay the increase. It does us good to "feel" we are saving money, but after some number crunching, we may be throwing good money after bad.
Anyway, thanks, I didn't think there was really a 30 MPH truck in the USA. I promised him I'd ask.

 

[thurps]

Re: Little trucks

Kiwi Phil they sell them by the truckload here in California but you can't liscense them for the road. Offroad or ranches only. I just don't understand it.

 

[ndemge]

Re: Little trucks

Very good point on weather it is truely worth buying another vehicle.

All depends how much you drive.

If you drive 20k miles a year, it's worht it to not put the miles on the much more expensive vehicle.

But if it were like my dad, who is 74.. He bought a brand new Chevy silverado in '97. I think he just hit 48k miles. It would be silly for him to buy another vehicle. ---his truck has the 305.

I spent $2900 to get my 3cyl metro that I have.
With an average 42mpg vrs the 22mpg on the van I was driving....
$975 a year savings on JUST my commute.

 

[island boy]

Re: Little trucks

New GM diesel to get almost 30 mpg in full size trucks!!

Even though the Senate has now passed a new energy bill that includes requirements for fleet fuel economy average of 35mpg by 2020 we still have a ways to go before the House passes it, the bill gets reconciled and ultimately signed into law. Nonetheless, the car makers have to get down to work and start cranking up the fuel economy of their vehicles, especially the larger trucks. All three of the domestic automakers have announced plans to add new diesel engines for their light duty trucks by the end of the decade with GM announcing a 4.5L V-8 and Chrysler last week mentioning plans to add a new smaller Cummins diesel to their Ram 1500 models.
I know it's not for awhile but it is something for your friend to look at in the future.

 

[KM2]

Re: Little trucks

I had a little 92 s10 reg cab short box with a 2.8 v6 and 5 speed. I could get 28 mpg on the highway, average was more like 25. I had a tonneau cover on the bed, that helped the mpg a little. I had to replace a alternator at 100k and that was about it, except for bodywork on numerous occations but that wasn't the trucks fault.

 

[Caveman Charlie]

Re: Little trucks

Kiwi Phil they sell them by the truckload here in California but you can't liscense them for the road. Offroad or ranches only. I just don't understand it.

To sell a vehicle for the US roads it now has to have air bags.

Soon, if not already, it has to have a automatic low tire pressure warning device too.

 

[ocb_dave_ocb]

Re: Little trucks

My ridgeline gets 18-20 mpg on the hwy some people have noted up to 22mpg
1-16 in town.. Our Kia gets about 21-23 city and about 26-28 hwy

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Little trucks

At one time or another I've owned most all of the small trucks and the only one that came close to the 30 MPG mark was an 84 Mazda (Ford) stick at 28 or 29. The best My Nissan stick got was 24, Chevy A/T got 20, Toyota stick 22, these were all 2 wheel drive models. The full sized 4X4s get within a few MPG of the small rigs, so I just get a full sized with everthing. I drive around the country for living, about 50,000 miles a year, my full sized and loaded with an A/T Chevy 4X4 got about 18.5 to 19, Ford F150 6 cyl stick 2wd got 20, Chevy Trailblazer 6 cyl 4X4 (on my 3rd one) gets 20.5, full sized Chevy van 2wd V8 19MPG, GMC Safari V6 20.5 MPG. I also have an F150 4X4 V8, but I haven't checked it yet, but my friends with them say they get about 19 or 20 on the highway.

The cost for fuel is slightly higher to drive a full sized rig, but at the end of the year, even at the higher fuel cost now, it really doesn't add up to as much as you might think. Plus it's far less costly to own one rig than two, so just get the one you need and live with the a couple of hundred bucks (if that) more for gas spread over the year. Now if you have a full sized Diesel the mileage can be better than the import PU's, plus it will pull or haul anything you may even think of getting. The best way to save money is to have only one rig and drive less.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Little trucks

thrups.
are we both on the same track. Probably my written description was poor.
This is what I meant.
This is Toyota Workmate at $17,999, (the luxurious one) with a 2.7L petrol 4cyl.
Self employed have a Aust Business No.(ABN) to be able to trade, and with that you get them from around $14,999, mind you that has a 2.4L motor, and if memory serves me correctly, a choice of 3 colours: white, white or maybe something a little different: white
Ford, GM, Mazda,Nissan,Toyota,Mitzbushi, even Tata make them.
Only 3 nice things about them
1. real hard to break
2. they use little fuel
3. mechanically simple and cheap to repair.

I'm surprised you blokes don't have then available.
Cheers
Phillip

 

[NeverEnough02]

Re: Little trucks

A lot of new full size GM owners are reporting close to 28 mpg with the new V-8 cutout technology. Kiwi, you are 100% correct, we get none of the goods. We are just starting to get small domestic diesels. 2009 for GM and late 09 for Dodge while ford is getting them in 2010. The smaller diesles are going to have more power than the early 2000's larger diesels with much better fuel economy. I have always wanted a Toyota Prado (not availible in the usa) Its the big Lexus SUV but you can get it with a 2.8 turbo diesel and a 6 speed manual. Sounds like it would sell like crazy over here but we do not get them. They have most lexus luxury options too! I would say keep the diesel and put some parts on it. Those banks kits will improve economy and power a lot! Then he wont have insurance, inspections, reg, and maint on a second truck.

 

[ted655]

Re: Little trucks

Thanks all. He came & read all the posts & it was a great help. He now has a perspective that would not have been there in his way of thinking.
Not sure what he will do, but he certainly sees more sides of the issue. Thanks.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Little trucks

Oh yea my little 97 Nissan pickup with 30000 miles on it and a 5 speed 4 banger only gets 23 city, 19 highway. 30mpg in a truck isn't going to happen.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Little trucks

30mpg in a truck isn't going to happen.

Maybe not in a modern truck, but the old (mid-late '80s) Isuzu Pup and VW Rabbit trucks (early '80s) get ~ 40 and 45 mpg respectively. You can always find them for sale on eBay...