I listened to this video and realised what happened: Personal luxury coupes were cool in the 60s but by the 80s they were not the same thing anymore. Same with trucks; they were cool and functional in the 70s/80s. But now they are just cumbersome luxo-boats for suburban people.
Agree completely, needed a truck for home today's trucks are too big for what I need, yet not enough space. Took a while but I found a 98 ranger with only 73000 miles, and plenty of paperwork with it. Bought it for 3500 and haven't regretted a minute. My 5th truck over all these years, from a 92 F150, and 3 old school Rangers and 1 mazda B series. Reliable, small enough to comfortably drive, big enough to haul and tow. Perfect.
That's a great find! I do have a 2004 Ranger that is mainly a project and an excuse for my boys and I to bond in the garage. 175K miles and it still runs great!
I've a lot to say on this. Your last sentence was poignant. I'm a contractor. The truck segment has left me behind. As over the last 25 years trucks have become statement family vehicles the manufacturers have largely chased that market and those higher profit margins. I bought a new 18 Silverado 2500HD W/T, regular cab, long bed 4x4, gas. It replaced an 03 of the same spec. In my opinion, that is as trucky as truck gets. Imagine this. I use it to tow heavy weights, haul heavy payloads, plus myself and even strap things to the cap. Real truck stuff. I'm not saying other cab configurations aren't real trucks but the decreasing size of the bed to accommodate more passengers tells you the mission of the vehicle.
my dad faced that he was in construction his last and current truck is a 2002 F 350 with a utillity box that dumps he wanted a newer truck but it was better to reengine the old one and just run it to retierment.
Even my '08 Ridgeline that I bought with over 217,000 miles on it came with an electronic torsion controller for towing, and the bed was scratched to hell. For something that's "not a real truck", it sure served that purpose.
You're a minority of the truck owners. 90%, more like 95% of the truck owners never use their trucks for what they are meant to be. The days of the big trucks are over. The truck price and the gasoline price basically killed it. I'll never buy a full size truck again
You hit upon the problem early on - the only good reason to own a truck is to that it can perform tasks that nothing else can. I own 2 trucks - 1 large and one small. The criteria was the ability to haul dirt bikes - the small one for day trips to riding areas and the large one to tow a trailer with the bikes in the back of the truck along with firewood etc, etc. Now too many of the trucks can't even perform these duties, but they have all the drawbacks of trucks without the utility. We went thru the same thing with sport utilities; unless you actually intend to use them off-road, there is absolutely no advantage over a minivan, which is more comfortable, more economical, etc, etc. It's just trendy. Guess I just don't follow trends.
love love love your presentation...trucks today resemble large luxury suv types....versus solid options for moving large items...now they are just bloated overpriced and useless......pay us $80k....ummmm.....smaller trucks for about$10k are the best bargains going........however...most are 20 to 30 years old....but....good on gas...you can park in any spot...and your resale is the same as what you paid........you did an amazing job of explaining your thought process......good job!!!! i do think the new maverick is a step in the right direction....
We live on a farm, use our 2011 Ford 3.5L twin turbo 4X4 truck to pull an 8000 pound camper, also use the truck to pull a flatbed trailer with tractor and ATVs on it, also use it to haul feed and firewood sometime. With all that said, I hear you Jon, even with all we use a truck for,. it still only has 50,000 miles on it after what, about 12 years. Our daily driver is a Subaru Outback. Fifty years ago in my younger days, I only drove a truck because it was a chick magnet, now I am kind of past that, LOL
My best years behind the wheel (nearly two decades) were spent in two full-size Dodge B2500 passenger vans. Both were equipped with high-quality convertible seating (a factory option) that allowed for conventional benches, a full-size bed, and a booth-like eating area. Our vehicle choice wasn't considered cool in the 80s and 90s, but I FELT cool for having made the most rewarding vehicle decision of my life. As you know, those vans were based on Dodge's pickup chassis, and my wife and I enjoyed that big-truck command of the road. We're older now, and sometimes we chat about getting a full-size luxury truck (likely our last chance to join the cool set!), but although we do lots of hauling, we prefer to keep everything INSIDE, away from freezing or scorching temperatures. So, a minivan has been our vehicle of choice since 2004. Thanks for a great video. No doubt, truck manufacturers are cringing at your wise, pragmatic approach to vehicle selection!
I install residential kitchen appliances for a living. Been doing this for 20+ years. All of my full sized trucks have been Ram 1500s in the quad cab configuration with 2wd. My first one was a 2001, second a 2000, basically identical, then I got a 2012, and now a 2022. Really the main difference I see as far as size is concerned has to do with the ride height. My early ones had no running boards and no problem with getting in and out. The later ones do have running boards. Also there is a couple of inches difference in the bed/tailgate height, which really makes a difference when loading heavy appliances into it. I will say, I still prefer my current truck over the older ones for too many reasons to list. Keep up the good work!
In '95 I bought a 30k mile 1992, 4 cylinder, 25mpg, 5 speed, 2wd, extracab Mazda B2200, my "widdle wed wacing twuck", for maybe $8k(?). It was the perfect size, speed, capacity, through 200,000 trouble free miles. Boy, I miss that little twuck, um, I mean, truck....
I grew up with trucks. My first car was actually a 2001 Chevy Silverado 1500 that my grandmother got from one of her friends and gave to me. I tow cars periodically and haul junkyard parts, scrap metal, and the like. But I am too young and broke to afford a modern truck. Also I do 100% of maintenence and repairs myself, so I have a rule of not buying anything I don't want to work on myself. What did I do? I bought a 1996 Honda Passport (Isuzu Rodeo) for $700 at an auction. V6, 4wd, 5 speed manual, comparatively small dimensions. It will go offroad, it will tow other cars, and it will haul whatever I need.
I would suggest the Tacoma, Frontier, 11 or older Ranger/Mazda B 2300 - 4000 1st gen Colorado/Canyon/Isuzu I series, Dodge/Ram Dakota extended or crew cab, Automatic or Manual, 4x4 or RWD not the off-road packages. The infotainment can be upgraded, you can add satellite radio, you can add a backup camera and with the exception of Toyota you should be able to find something with under 100K miles for under $20K with a 4, 5 or 6 cylinder engine. The V8’s aren’t really necessary in my opinion. I have a 2011 Chevy Colorado Crew Cab with the Z71 off-road package and made the mentioned upgrades and prior to that we had a regular cab 96 ranger with a 7 ft bed and RWD. If you get an extended cab you have some adjustment to move around in your cab and get a 6 foot bed. Mid 00s to early 10s can get you the perfect blend of size options and upgrades are easy for tech, you can still get gen z anti-theft devices aka a manual transmission and no turbos to fail.
I have a 2015 Tacoma and a 2000 Tundra. The Tundra is an extended cab Limited trim with the 4.7L V-8 and four wheel drive with the off road package. It works like a truck and rides like one, too. At 260,000 miles the transmission cooler failed and it was time for a timing belt replacement anyway. Since I was going to need a truck before the Tundra would be road ready, I went looking for a replacement. The new Tundra physically wouldn’t fit in my garage, nor would any other half ton truck. So I began looking at the “mid-size” trucks like the Tacoma and Frontier. I ended up with a 2015 Tacoma that I had to custom order. The salesman kept asking, “Are you sure?” every couple of option boxes, but when we were done I had an extended cab, V-6, six speed manual, four wheel drive Tacoma. I deliberately skipped the TRD package because I didn’t want the harsher ride or the showy decals on the bed. When it arrived, I parked the two side by side and confirmed (I had measured everything already) that sure enough, today’s “mid-size” Tacoma is the exact same size in almost every measurement as the “full-size” Tundra of 2000.
I have a pontiac vibe 300k miles. When you fold down the back seats it has 7ish ft bed. I've hulled 25 bags of malch at a time. 10ft pvc pipes. 6 bails of heay. Moved a full sofa. These new trucks are luxury vehicles. Not trucks. I had a guy yell at me bc he didn't want the bed scratched when loading furnature into a 22- f150. Bro it's a truck...
I’m 56 and when the original Ford Ranger truck came out I always wanted one. I was happy when Ford Brought it back. But that died when I seen it . The rear end is as tall as a Ford Super duty truck. All the trucks are ridiculously tall. It’s a pain in the ass to work with them now. The reasonable truck is a Maverick but Ford jacked up the price of that too. I’m on my fifth full size truck. 2006 f150. I find a utility trailer is easier for hauling things. I’m thinking a Subaru outback maybe as a replacement. If I worked the trades I don’t see anything good for that anymore. I wish they built them like they use to. Getting around in the winter is a main reason to have a truck where I live. Always liked the old school look of the Subaru with their low belt line.
My grandad had a Ford Explorer truck and although it had a really short bed, at least the truck was compact. This video shows all the more reason why the Maverick truck is such a popular choice nowadays.
I currently daily a 95 Ford Ranger, but long term I'd love to find a first gen Explorer Sport Trac and swap the Explorer body onto my Ranger frame (they're the same platform and wheelbase).
That is one reason I bought a new 22 hybrid Ford Maverick. I would like another 6 inches on the bed length but for the price and size I have made it work. I had in the past a Mighty Max, S-10, Ranger, Isuzu all great trucks but now those trucks have become midsize and even the 2 wheel drive versions are too tall. There is a market for more compact trucks the Maverick and Santa Cruz are selling.
Jon, Appreciate this video on Trucks. Your right they have gotten too big and expensive. I still have my dad's 99 Dakota with 30k on it garage kept. It sits a lot, but I pull it out when I need to, going to the dump, buying appliances and furniture, helping people move etc. I use it for what it is. And daily something else.
Anytime needed a truck to move lumber ,home renovation materials or to make a run to the dump , its honestly cheaper to use the van rental at the renovation store or get a garbage bin brought to my home to throw the garbage out in, even when I was moving I just rented a van for a day and it’s cheaper then buying a new truck, insurance, and fuel and maintenance.
My first vehicle was an 02 F150 regular cab long bed, 2wd, v6. Drove the wheels off that truck. After that I bought a ford fiesta (needed something good on gas). After college I had 2 95 ram 2500 diesel pickups and an 04 3/4 ton quad cab over the span of a few years. While I did use them for hauling a trailer it was 1-2 dozen times a year. I’ve gotten to the point in life I didn’t need them. I now drive a 95 ford ranger that’s in great shape. 2wd, 4cyl 5 speed, cheap, decent I’m gas, and if I need a backseat my wife has a car for that. The next truck I will get will probably be the newer ford mavericks. Checked every box for me, 4 door, great gas mileage(hybrid), ok bed space, and is easier on the wallet than a full size truck.
None of the trucks on sale today appeal to me. I owned an 85 Ford Ranger 5-speed regular cab 7 foot bed. White with red stripes. Red interior. Loved it as a young man. I was in the Air Force at the time. I didn't need that truck. But that was my vehicle. Now, if I need a truck, I will rent it for the day I need it.
Jon, one of the benefits of not owning a truck is no one will ask for help when they move ;) In the past 3 years ive only needed a truck twice and one time my dad helped me and the other i rented one from u-haul.
When I moved recently, my buddy let me borrow one of his vehicles. It was either an F150, or a Nissan Pathfinder. I went for the Pathfinder. Knocking down the back rows gave me a “bed” of the same size, and was able to stack things on eachother Tetris-esque without any worry. If I borrowed his truck, it would have been a whole different story.
@@ronhoover5516 True, one of the biggest uses those little rwd trucks saw was hauling off the garbage, because you don't want to put it inside a vehicle.
Agree! 80~00 S-10, Ranger 2 pax, 6' bed, park in compact space, updated to 2024 features is what I want! There may be a place for a 9 passenger, 20' long 4' bed, able to tow a 40' trailer but it's not my driveway
I have an 07’ 100 series Land Cruiser and an 08’ Taco. Both have been great. If I was buying a new vehicle today I’d get one of the outgoing 5th gen 4Runners with the NA 4L V6.
The 2nd generation Dodge Dakota is the perfect size pickup for most people. You could get it in regular cab, extended cab, and Quad cab versions. They weren't cramped like a mini truck and you can park them easier than full size pickups. They were solid trucks. I wish my dad had purchased one instead of the 2005 (3rd generation) Dakota he bought new. I bought it from him a couple years ago and it's a good truck, but I hate the front end styling. The 4.7 isn't near as good as the 5.2/5.9 either.
For many years I owned an old house with a big lot. I needed a pickup to haul building and yard materials. Sometimes a primary vehicle, sometimes as a second or third vehicle. My current 97 Chevy 1500 W/T short bed does everything that I need as a third vehicle now. I agree that trucks have become too large, too expensive and too luxurious.
I needed something to run around that's more economical than my '91 F350 (which I got, long bed, specifically for heavy hauling and big bulky loads that today's trucks simply don't have room for). I greatly prefer a pickup to a car or SUV, and I like it to have legs under it (do not like it to sit low). I was not at all interested in newer trucks for all the reasons you speak of... they aren't trucks, they're old style land boats with an open trunk, and there's so much plastic inside that there's no cab room anymore. Landed on a 2000 Ranger 4x4. Came out of Walmart and was amused to note that it was the smallest vehicle in the entire parking lot, yet it is still a _truck_ -- it looks, drives, and feels like a truck, not like an oversized car. (Tho I admit I don't much like the rack-and-pinion steering, but wasn't finding better without.)
I agree 100%. i own an auto body shop. and im baffled by how large modern trucks dimensions are. and how backwards the engineeriong has become. They’re made to accommodate mulyiple people. Heavy towing. But not for hauling anything in the bed. My daily driver is an 86 Bronco. which i absolutely love! It has a rear seat that folds and flips. or can be removed by pullingh two pins. the bed area is then just about 6”. tailgate folded down allows 4x8 sheets of plywood. dimensioins are perfect. turniung radius is nice and tight. has all the modern ammenities like cruise, AC, cup holders, captains chairs with arm rests (which are much more comfortable than modern trucks seats). It also has the bonus of the removable rear roof section. maybe you should lookm into a 70’s to mid 90’s full size (medium by todays standards) Ford, Chevy, or Dodge. they are ultra reliable. and extremely easy to work on.
Very interesting video. I have a 2012 F-250 Lariat crew cab shortbed that I bought to use in business with my brother. After a while I went in a different direction in terms of work, but I couldn't part with it and from time to time I do wonder if having a smaller truck would actually be more practical for the little bit that I do use it, but buying a smaller truck would be more expensive than just holding on the F-250 for the light usage it receives. You are so right. These machines have gotten too large.
I've never been a fan of full size trucks . I always bought small pickups when I was in my 20s and 30s it has now become a race to see who can make the biggest behemoth with the most gadgets on the road
I purchased a 2011 Honda Ridgeline in 2018 from the original owner with 68,000 miles on it for $17,500. I don't drive it much and it does do what I want it to do very well. Reliable and easy to drive. I don't do heavy towing or loads. Has very comfortable 5 passenger seating for long trips if needed. I agree with you, trucks have become too big and expensive to buy and own.
I childishly didn’t respect the Ridgeline when it came out, for not being a “real” truck. It took me several years to come around to the realization that they are a great all around vehicle that would suit my actual needs perfectly. Would definitely buy one now if the right deal came along.
@@daninva6458 It's funny how people like to put down the Ridgeline but I know four people who own them and three of them use it as a truck regularly. It's a lot more useful than given credit for.
@@daninva6458 at least you have a broader perspective now. I like the Ridgeline but it is pricey and mpg are not impressive. The Maverick (all these years later) seems like a better buy, though I would prefer the Honda for its reputation.
I have a toyota t100. I do mostly all the repairs myself. Its a 95. 30 years old next year. Still runs and drives just fine. 350xxx on the automatic tranny. Still shifts like a dream. They dont make em like they used to
Also, your comments on trucks is spot on. But all of them are not as much ENJOYMENT as the older ones-the older ones being mostly real work trucks. WTF? Also the older trucks were like a clean canvas , bare bones ready to customize yourself. Even base model Jeeps are too big. You made the right choice, Jon. Find an old restored one.
I'm 58, and I've owned 37 vehicles, of which 5 were trucks. I want a truck now so bad I can taste it. The reality is that I drive around so much that I would spend upwards of $500 or more of fuel a month, including a payment of $700+. That is $1,300 a month, or it could be $1,500 or $1,700! That's a mortgage payment. That's why I can't buy a truck. 😊
@@Trapper4265 Frugal/Cheap/poor and I can do some work on cars myself. Plus both my parents and my 5 siblings also have had cars last 8-10 years or more regularly.
@@davestvwatching2408 Hear that. 69 and only on my 5th, two of which were hand-me-downs, and I still own #4 and #5. #2 was new and went 34 years, got #4 and #5 both used, presently 33 and 24 years old. It just croggles me that anyone considers a vehicle under voting age to be "old". :)
Jon thank you for the interesting discussion. My takeaway is, "buyers shop for cars & trucks based on specs, but purchase based on how they feel." As an owner of a 1995 Ford Ranger, any time I make a repair or upgrade, I'm reminded about how it feels to drive and how it "just fits". It's smaller and lighter than more modern trucks. It still gets 19mpg, hauls 1500lbs, tows 5000lbs (or more if I'm careful). No it's not as fast, not as luxurious, not as smooth as something newer. But for doing truck things, it does 99% of what I need it to do.
Had my 2021 Chevy Colorado z71 for about a year now. First newish truck. Had a 98 s10 years ago in high school (actually a Sonoma) but that was a bit of a junker. I have experienced many of the same things you have. The impracticality of the short bed is probably the biggest one. We can fit almost 8ft long cargo in my wife’s compact SUV by putting the seats down. I bought a 12x12 ft roll of carpet a few months after I got my truck last year and made it home with proper tie downs but it was a ridiculous sight and felt stupid. I really have liked my Colorado. I like that it’s a little narrower than a full sized and therefore more maneuverable in a parking lot or on narrow streets and paths. I like the 4x4 (I’m in Midwest with harsh winters and snow) and I like the crew cab but the image of a utility vehicle that trucks once were is gone. The 8ft bed is replaced by crew cabs now and the amount of creature comforts is ridiculous (mine comes with heated seats and back, lane departure and park sensors, leather interiors, and heated steering wheel!). Trucks are really just the modern day muscle car and that’s not an insult. What red blooded American man doesn’t like muscle cars. But they aren’t utilitarian working man vehicles anymore. They are so goddamned expensive that I don’t even like taking my z71 off road because I owe so much money on it. Feels like I can’t enjoy having a cheap 4x4 work truck or fun off-roader in this day and age. I know I can go buy an old hunk of junk from 20+ years ago but it’s not gonna be a daily driver. Anyways. Those are my pros and cons I’ve experienced. Dad has a big ole Silverado and I leaned towards one of those but also felt they were too heavy and wide. I like the midsized segment better right now.
My work group uses a F250. It carries four or five of us around the city with all our equipment. The last thing I want to do after work is get into a bloated truck.
I owned small Toyota and Nissan trucks in the 1980's, and even now I'm holding on to my RWD 1997 Toyota Tacoma as a second vehicle. Nowadays, the Ford hybrid Maverick looks enticing but even it is bigger than I'd like. And, now I don't really need a truck - I've done all the remodeling and landscaping I'll ever do. As usual, I'm out of step with the current market - I'd rather have a hatchback like my 2012 Prius than a family-hauler SUV.
This is a good take Jon. In all honesty, I probably NEED a truck about as much as you do. Still, my truck is the last vehicle I would sell. I bought a 2000 Tundra right before prices went through the roof. If I got rid of it, I couldn’t convince myself to pay the premium to buy another one. It’s tall, thirsty, loud, and doesn’t handle all that well. Love that truck😂
I also have a desire for a truck in my fleet at all times, but my wants and needs and financials just haven't been able to all align at the same time to make it happen. I've owned some in the past, but they never really stuck around long for one reason or another. The older trucks, although fun, just aren't very efficient or quiet or comfortable IMHO. Fun to have around as toys and projects, but not something I really want to deal with as a regular form of transportation (I had a 71 Ford Bumpside). I had a late 00's Dakota, and it was nearly perfect for me: It had a good amount of bed space, small enough to be easily maneuverable, cab was big enough that I could fit comfortably with no complaints.... but the drivetrain was terrible; It drank gas like nobody's business and the old slushbox auto never knew what it wanted to do. Realistically, a Maverick Hybrid AWD is the perfect truck for me. It's efficient, easy to maneuver, enough room inside for me, and a blossoming aftermarket from what I've been seeing. Problem is I'm cheap, and on rare occasions I do have to tow one of my project cars with my steel car hauler and it's just not up to that. There's no other hybrid truck on the market I would personally be interested in (The F150 is good but still not something I want to drive every day). I would love an EV truck, but the Lightning suffers from the same size and maneuverability problems as the F150, the Rivian is too expensive and I've never been that into the styling, the GM twins are just enormous and insanely heavy, and the Cybertruck is too expensive.
Trucks were more useful and fun when people could ride in the back. It didn't matter if it was just a 2 seater cab. I'm not advocating for this now due to how unsafe it was, but it's one reason I have an SUV now. I find that an SUV with a 10 foot utility trailer is very useful. I use the trailer once every couple months when I need a "truck bed". The trailer is lower to the ground with a ramp so it's much easier to use than a truck. Also I don't have to worry about damaging my vehicle when I'm using a trailer.
Excellent insight and thoughts. 2nd vehicle owned was a new Ford 1971 p/u. You are right. To buy a truck it must be to a purpose. Mine was to install a camper shell and explore the likes of Idaho and Montana. But, after that was done the 11 mpg just could not be rationalized any longer so I traded it for a Chevy Chevette. A vehicle with a very different purpose. Cheers, Jon!
I've only owned two pickup trucks in my life: a '69 Dodge that I owned briefly when I was in college (sold it because my then-girlfriend didn't like it - she preferred my '70 Dart Swinger) and a '65 Falcon Ranchero that I bought as a "fun" car, mainly to take to car shows, but ended up using as my daily driver for seven years (sold it when it was 44 years old and it had 519K on the odometer to a fellow who was planning to restore it and had the skills to address the tinworms that had been munching on the rear fenders). But I've owned a '96 Windstar and multiple Country Squires, all of which could handle 4x8 sheets of plywood with the tailgate folded down, and my Dad's last car was a '79 Catalina wagon with similar capacity. Now I drive a 2019 Ford Flex - technically a wagon, not an SUV (it's titled as a wagon).but without as much capacity for hauling as the Country Squires. Our older son drives an F150 with 4 wheel drive, a crew cab and a 6 1/2 foot bed, but he's a single parent with five children and needs the big cab to take all of them and the 4WD to handle the snow where he lives.
My last truck was a '89 dodge 1 ton dually which was used for truck stuff. I recently sold it but now I find a truck sized hole in my heart. But the new ones are too darn fussy and the beds are too small. Not trucky enough. A dilemma for sure.
I've always bought the compact and now mid size trucks. I bought my first full sized truck 2015 Toyota Tundra. I don't care for it. I got rid of it and bought me a 2023 Honda Ridgeline RTL. Great truck Remember, 95% of all truck drivers never use their trucks for what they are built for.
I’ve had a truck, a new 1990 Nissan Hardbody. I also learned that trucks cause hard feelings, I was always being asked to borrow the truck or to help somebody move and god forbid if I was busy and couldn’t help or lend the truck! No thank you, no more trucks for me! Lol!
Totally agree. Was thinking about buying an F150 with long bed to haul two dirt bikes. Did two test drives and realized it was way too big for daily driving. I’ll stick to my utility trailer behind my Ford Flex.
I agree with most of your perspectives, and I own a 2022 GMC 2500hd, gas, regular cab, 4x4. One aspect not mentioned is that trucks, in general, will last much longer than a car as well as retain more of their value with higher miles. I would not want a truck with a short bed and don't really understand the appeal unless you only use the vehicle for towing. My wife and I own the truck amd a Rav4 hybrid. When possible we use the Rav4 and the truck stays in the garage. We do lots of landscaping and gardening and having a near 4000lb payload helps a bunch with soil, gravel, amd stone, etc. I ordered the truck with no power options, vinyl seats, rubber floor, but got a few line items such as cruise, uprated alternator and spray in bed liner. Total cost was 45k for a vehicle that realistically should last the rest of my life, me being 50. Sight limes do such and I would hate to drive it in a city.
I'm with you, Jon. I was recently/am still looking for a decent used truck but find that used options in my area fall into 2 camps: Newer 'statement" trucks that offer too little for too much $ (but are nice), or older work trucks that are functional but not as nice. I like the Maverick but it is expensive, and their towing capacity isn't high enough. Ridgeline's a bit too expensive for me but I get its appeal. I finally put the whole thing on hold bc I finally came to the realization that it was ultimately a want and not a need, and in this market today it didn't make sense.
I've determined my course of action is to wait for Toyota, Ram, and/or Honda to come out with a small-ish truck to compete with the Maverick, then wait a couple of more years for a used one.
I used to live in a rural area where you had to haul your own trash to the dump, I heated my house with firewood and with pellet a stove, so owning a truck was kind of a necessity. I owned the last year of the square body vent window Ford f-150s. It was a 1996 with a straight 6 and a manual transmission. That was a far better truck than anything that they've got on the market these days. Sadly after about 330,000 miles the frame rotted through and I ended up having to sell it to somebody who was using it for parts to fix up his F-150. Fun fact, the straight six lives on in that other truck. I do not live in a rural area anymore and I have zero need for a truck 99% of the time. On the rare occasions that I do need a truck, there's u-haul. Why should I pay all the extra money to have a vehicle that has a lousy gas mileage that is way less practical than a sedan for most of my needs and that costs more to insure and feed, when I can rent a truck at will whenever I need one? It's far less costly especially when you consider the enormous amount of money that I save in fuel, insurance, and registration costs for a vehicle that I would have very little use for performing its primary function? The problem with trucks these days is that they are not actually built to be useful they are built to be status symbols. Trucks today or what a Buick or a Mercury was in the 1960s. A mid-level status symbol. Not fully top-of-the-line luxury, but a way for you to peacock and communicate to others that you are well off and can afford to spend extra for the same or less utility. No thanks, I'll keep my money. Especially since modern trucks are trying to be fat, bloated sports sedans with nearly useless vestigal beds that are utterly useless compared to my old regular cab long bed 1990s F-150.
@chriss1757 The guy I sold it to had a 1990 F150 Stepside with a blown up 302. He wanted a straight six and pulled the engine and transmission from my truck to put in his. He pulled it apart to freshen it up before installing it and the bearings were like new and the cylinders still had cross hatch. He asked me if I was sure it was the original engine because he couldn't believe it had 330,000 miles on it. The only thing that showed any wear was the fiber cam gear, which he replaced with an aluminum one. I changed the oil every 5,000 miles and used either Mobil 1 or Rotella synthetic 10W-30. Even the cam lobes were in brand new spec. It is still running around today. I'd take that engine any day over any Ford engine in current production.
Vestigial truck beds, best description ever. When I was looking for a heavy hauler, one absolute criterion was full width 8 foot bed. And that's why I didn't look any later than 1997. Ended up with a '91 F350 dually crew cab (and I love it, except when I go to park). The "new" (2000) Ranger I got as a runabout has a short bed, but I don't intend it for big loads. Even so, it's still six feet, and that's more than some of these new trucks have. WTF, it's the smallest truck in the lot and still has more bed space? What is wrong with these people?? And I hate all the plastic filling up the cab. My old F350, you can stretch out, there's nothing interfering with my sight lines, and it would haul six linebackers without crowding. My sister has the bigger Toyota crew cab and it's got maybe 2/3rds as much room inside, two in front and three kids in the back, and that's cramped.
This is the precise dilemma that I have been in for a long while now. I want a pickup truck, but can't justify a 1/2 ton with a turbo engine that is "eh" for daily driving. I, personally, have narrowed my research down to a '22-'24 Nissan Frontier S 4x4 with the extended cab, long bed, and towing package. If I can find one out there, I will gladly buy it. Its midsized, good for daily use, and has the capability of that "just in case" moment haulingis needed.
I understand completely, I was just so taken with the houses ,flags, lawns and lack of vehicles parked on the street. I live in Tucson in a nice neighborhood but it doesn't remotely compare.
i feel like what most people who wants a "smaller, more economical truck" need is not a truck but a van. sure you can't put tall things inside and you probably don't want to sit together with anything dirty or smelly, but for ordinary people i think even the toyota sienna would be more than enough.
The problem is Toyota Siennas are expensive, almost as much as a truck-a quick search of new inventory yields a result in the high-$40k/low $50k range. And used ones are hard to find and typically carry the "Toyota tax" as we;;.
I agree that trucks are just too large anymore. I have no desire to pilot a dreadnought down the street and then needing a set of tugboats to park it. Even "midsized" is too big. I have a friend with a Tacoma and that thing seems as large as the 92 C-1500 I had for years. What I really miss is that '88 Toyota 1 Ton I had and never should have sold. It was small, reasonably fuel efficient (I could never crack 30 MPG on the highway, but I got awful close, a lot) and not difficult to park. I even towed a pop up camper with it. I would love to have something that size again, but not that old. I get by nowadays towing a 5'x8' trailer with 'Ol Sturdy, my 2010 CR-V when I need to. I should probably just invest in a small utility trailer for those times.
Trucks today especially the crew cabs with all the bells and whistles and outrageous high price are nothing more than big cars with a bed. To me they are no longer used as a work vehicle it’s more of a status symbol that a lot of people can’t really afford. That’s why I still have my 1989 Toyota extended cab pickup truck which is nothing fancy. It’s the right size for me and it’s still going strong it’s never let me down. I’ve used it for everything like a good reliable truck should be used.
I've wanted to do a video on this for a while, but I can't quite put the thoughts all together (into something I think people would watch). Modern trucks and big-ol' SUVs are nothing more than the modern interpreation of the old land yachts of old. Big, heavy, big engines and in my opinion great highway ride. Big cars are gone, and simply be replaced with the more modern version.
Thats why the value of 20 and 30 year old trucks has increased tremendously in recent years. Its cheaper to buy an old truck, refurbish it, and keep it on the road for years to come, than to deal woth the over priced, over engineered junk of today. This trend has to break some time, doesn't it?
My grandpa was one of those guys that would sell a car when it needed tires or brakes 😂😂. My dad said that if a tire popped or the brakes needed replacement he would "lose confidence" 😂😂 which is funny because my dad is the exact opposite (he has a '90 GMC c1500 with over 660k mi that he bought newi😅) My grandpa wasn't doing this with cheap beaters either. He was a Olds/Buick/Cadillac man until the 80s when he became a Mercedes man and drove them exclusively until he passed away in '93. One of his best friends owned a used car dealership, so he would always buy 1 or 2 year old car with low mileage and his buddy always gave him a screamin' deal. Sorry for the ramble but your comment about your friend with the s10 triggered these memories. If I were you I would've bought a truck. You don't know it yet since you've never owned one, but once you own a truck, you can't live without one and you'll find yourself always owning one. I had to do without a pickup fot a few years after owning one and i found myself missing it on a daily basis, there was always a chore that would pop up where a truck was required or would be a lot easier with a truck. They're tougher to find back where you live but I think you need a 80s-early 2000s that is somewhat clean or at least not rotted, but a driver that isnt a mint creampuff that you don't always have to be concerned about scratching or denting. Idk. If you find a clean older truck back there, don't overthink it and pounce on it
That is sure true -- if you're a pickup person, a car just won't do. For a while I had my ancient F100 and my mom's luxury Chrysler... and guess which one I preferred to drive. Yeah, the truck. I'd never go back to a car, even if I didn't regularly need a truck to haul stuff. I don't even like SUVs, they're not the same as a truck. But it has to be a real truck (even if it's a little truck) not a giant pile of plastic with no room inside and hardly enough bed for two sacks of feed.
I am with you....trucks are too large. I have a 2002 Silverado 1/2 ton 2wd WT I bought new, as a tool when was 21, and still have it today. I call it the grandpop truck since it is low and easy to get in and out to drive and load/ unload. I can easily buy a new truck now but don't like the jack'ed up high in the air offering only with extended or crew cabs...therefore I will keep mine. I would like a low 1/2 ton Gm truck with a regular cab...but they are not made.
my brother worked at a chevy dealership & probably had 3 or 4 s10 trucks the best was a v6 stick shift he traded it off on a 90's something with an extended cab.
I drove a Maverick once and I really liked it... But my folks bought a brand new Bronco about a year ago and have driven it several times... I have concluded that I would actually be happier with a Bronco rather than a Maverick ...
Grew up in farming community, so trucks were normal fare. Buy the way, I always get a kick out of Americans gas milage, when they've the cheapest gasoline in the world. Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.
Interesting video. Myself have owned trucks. A 96 Dodge, 04 F150 Heritage (new year, old bodystyle), 95 F150. Trucks are useful, growing up we always had a truck. My dad has always had a truck. His first truck was a 1970 F100, he drove trucks for the school district working maintenance. I learned to drive stick on his 1990 Nissan. He also owned a 97 Dodge Ram and 2011 Chevy Silverado. The funny thing is Ive Ive owned a 1990 Jimmy, a 91 Cherokee, a 86 and a 01 Safari. Plus a bunch of coups and sedans. But its vans and wagons I find useful more than a truck. If I were to buy a truck now, I would find an old school truck from 20-50 ago. You can haul with a van and tow pretty decent amount of stuff including people if that is your thing. 😊 Awesome video ❤
The manufacturers are making trucks more bigger & luxurious as they believe the truck is becoming the family hauler instead of the sedan. It used to be unless you haul things, you didn't need a truck. Of course, Toyota makes the most durable long-lasting trucks
Look at that RAM you have a picture of in the video, with the cover over the bed, and think to yourself "jacked up full size sedan." You'll have trouble looking at it the same way again. So much to unpack. I have had 3 trucks. But I find that, when I buy a truck, there is tremendous peer pressure. I'm supposed to want a huge truck with a huge cab and 4WD! I need the biggest motor too! So when I look at a 6 cylinder, RWD, regular cab or extended cab truck, I subconsciously think "what will people say? Will they laugh at me? Am I doing "truck" wrong?" Often, it has led me to buy another vehicle that won't be so scrutinized. Also, when I've had a truck, I've always avoided using it as a daily driver. Because they are big and inconvenient to park. And I can never find one like I want, since they all have to have 4wd, crew cabs, and big motors where I live. I mean, its snows 3 or 4 times a year here! Got to have that 4WD! Even though 30 years ago, when it snowed more, almost nobody had it. I agree with the sentiment I've seen here and elsewhere. Trucks are not designed for work anymore. They are bloated luxury vehicles for suburbanites! And now they are too expensive for people who actually need them to work!
Great comment! Yes, over the years I've come to realize the full sized trucks are the modern version of the old full sized sedans. Comfortable, near-luxury, and (I find) great highway ride. And I'm not opposed to that, but the step-in height is a deal-breaker for me. And the "am I doing truck wrong" - THAT's a title for a future video! :) While I have come to the conclusion that a Chevy LUV with a 5 speed and 4wd is perfect, there will be those who say "why not get a *real* truck?". You hear the same thing about the Maverick these days. Luckily, I'm old enough to know I just don't care what others think like that! ;)
What will people say about your stripped down old truck?? They'll stop you in the parking lot and say, "WHERE DID YOU GET THAT TRUCK? DO YOU WANT TO SELL IT??"
From the 5 trucks I've owned the one that felt the best in size, easiest to get in and out, maneuver and put things in the bed was a 99 Ranger Super Cab 2WD. My 4th gen Ram 2WD was a good middle ground because it had the 6'4" bed and the quad cab for stuff and regular sized passengers but now I need 4WD so an F150 with running boards for my 5'1" wife it is... But now with a family that old Ranger was no longer an option so
You talked about buying a pickup. Back in the 90s I was looking for a vehicle I wanted a SUV but they were too expensive so I looked at pickups. I thought about a Dakota. They wanted a lot of money for what you got. For just a little more money I could buy a Ram. I bought the Ram. Still own it. 28+ years later.
And in my videos on the older "compact" trucks, that's what I came to realize. The old Rangers, S-10s, and Dakotas all creeped up in price until many consumers thought they should just get the bigger truck. And manufacturers then said "nobody wants smaller trucks". Or MAYBE the "smaller" trucks weren't right for the market that existed?
I want to own a truck simply to say I owned one. It would be handy with a few of my needs. But dont need one that much. As a kid, I wanted to own every body type of car. Still havent had a truck. I doubt Ill make that goal. I have yet to find something more comfortable than a full-size truck. They are so large and comfy. I understand why they make popular dad cars. Sad you can't buy a midsize truck worth its space. Even though they are so large, they have horrid back seats
Pickups have their place. I have an old Toyota I use for occasional dump runs and yard work. Every time I’ve tried to use a pickup as a daily I ended up putting a cap on it, which means I have a gas guzzling bad-riding car with a leaky shed tacked on to the back. And even that’s ok if the price is low. But see, it isn’t low anymore….
I drive a small 6.5 year old small hatchback I bought brand new and I put a trailer hitch on it . I built a small trailer for the 3 times a year I need to haul something oversized. I love driving a small car. OH and it get 42 mpg on the highway and it's not a hybrid
the new nissan fronter looks interesting there mid size and you can get them in a + cab configuration giving you a decent bed size.not sure how good they are. years ago i ended up buying a 72 ford f250 sports custom droped some money in it that truck and it was awsome exept at the gas pump. today one might be better off buying a 80s or 90s truck and restoring or refreshing it.
Bought a 2022 Maverick, base xl with the 4k towing package. Honestly isn’t much more expensive than the 2011 fusion that I traded in. And if the family is going somewhere, we use my Wife’s 2011 Escape. Yea it gets worse mileage, but it is smaller and the cargo space is out of the weather
Yet some people luagh at me in my 21 Chrysler 300. Yeah it's aged but that thing fells refine af, and they got that ZF 8 Speed Tuned to perfection. All the shifts are precise and fast, so it never feels underpowered,and I get 30mpg with a full trunk on the highway,and 22mpg in the city, all day long. Plus 3.6 pentstar is really responsive and a lot more reliable than the general repulpublic thinks, which is now in its 3rd generation.
I have a 2024 Subaru Crosstrek currently, which I got because it felt similar to my Honda fit(which Honda no longer makes) in utility, but with better off-road ability. However priorities have changed and I would love a vehicle like the old Subaru Baja, but nothing like it really exists. The closest thing would be a ford maverick in my opinion. Would love it, especially with the new hybrid all wheel drive, but I’m sure ford will be ford and basically make it unobtainable 😑
Agree completely. Trucks are way too big, way too complicated and way too expensive. Why do we need such massively huge displays in the center of the instrument panel? My dad had a 72 Chevy single cab bench seat, 2 wheel drive, with an 8 ft bed. Total work truck. Strong and dependable. It was loved like another member of the family.
The maverick and Santa Cruz are the only reasonable trucks, I would add the Honda Ridgeline, but it’s overpriced and maybe a little too large. If Honda made a smaller ridgeline sport or whatever they’d call it I’m sure it would be an amazing truck. I don’t understand why Subaru, Toyota, etc aren’t making small trucks considering the huge sales success that the maverick has been.
Smart Jon. Way overpriced. Most ppl rarely use the back of it anyway....so it's usually wasted space. Want to haul big things, use a three row or large two row SUV....fully protected from the elements and theft. The most utilitarian daily driver ever ...the minivan!!
I fish. Waders and other inevitably stinky fishing equipment belong in a pickup truck box. An SUV would adopt these smells and there’s nothing I could do about it. Plus, the clearance on my pickup is incredibly helpful more often than I had expected.
Story Time incoming. I bought my first truck for some home improvement projects back in 1999 ended up with an 84 S10 long bed single cab 2WD I ended up really enjoying myself driving it but it was purchased with one purpose and chosen because it was priced cheap I found myself wanting to keep it but not what I had, so I ended up buying a used Extended Cab 2WD 1998 S10 with a 4.3V6 (actually badged as an Izusu Hombre) Sold the work truck S10 for a profit oddly enough after the project put the money into modifying the new truck I was into the whole lowered mini truck scene but it was always my second vehicle my Integra which I still own was my daily driver for years. Work situation changed I ended up using my truck for work and unfortunately it just wore out ended up replacing it with a relatively cheap 99 Silverado Z71 extended Cab 3dr (it’s now 2012 so it’s kinda an old truck at this point too) It ended up splitting work duties with the Bronco I had as a project (and 3rd vehicle) for a couple years until I changed jobs again and sold the Bronco for a Commuter car (still own the commuter car so yeah I’ve still got 3 vehicles) so once again I find myself with a really good truck bought for a job I don’t have anymore and it’s kinda an eyesore with faded peeling paint etc ended up putting 100K relatively trouble free miles on it on top of the 120K it had from when I bought it (I highly recommend these GMT800 series trucks at over 200K and minimal maintenance no leaks engine and trans ran perfectly just looked like hell) I ended up with my current 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor my first new vehicle ever it’s power and towing were the same as my outgoing Silverado and with a similar foot print it’s still to long to park in my garage and driveway but it does just barely fit inside so I can at least do some maintenance myself and it fits in my street parking spaces without taking up two spots or being so wide cars knock my mirrors off on our narrow streets. I’ve got plenty of ❄️🎲🗻🏕️trips to Tahoe planned with this truck just like with my second truck I bought this one for me to enjoy.
Trucks HAVE paced right along with ego though. You can commend the manufacturers on that, if nothing else. I've owned a few trucks in my life (I'm 54). In fact, my first vehicle was a 1965 F100 short bed. After that I owned a 1978 F100, and now I have a 2004 Tacoma TRD I bought back in 2007, and I inherited my grandfather's 1989 C1500. The worst part of newer trucks is that the top of the bed is at almost 6' because of the completely impractical egotistical trends of the wagon wheels. This has forced the necessity of expensive upgrades like the Rubik's Cube tailgates on the Chevy's and such. My grandfather's old truck is a long bed, I can haul ANYTHING I want in that vast real estate, and the bed rail is at less than a 5' height...perfectly serviceable to reach over into without a ladder. Not to mention that it's the old-school 350 Chevy and not the much more expensive and less-well-designed LS, and is dead-reliable and cheap. For the rest of my life I'll strive to only own older, say mid-early-2000's and back, well-maintained vehicles of all types, because modern trends aren't something a practical person should follow if they'd rather have usability and value.
Oooh. Had a '78 F100 myself (one of the last ones made that year, apparently they were down to spare parts as it had an F150 rear end on it). Two-tone green. Go to any Ford dealer and ask for puke-green touch-up paint, they know what you mean. Had it 34 years and still miss that truck. The thing drove like an extension of my body. Someday maybe I'll own another, I do have an eye out. That's how much I loved that truck. Now have a '91 F350 and a 2000 Ranger and they'll last me another 20 years, after which I probably won't be driving anyway. :D
I have never wanted a truck. I've driven some that I had fun with, some that there was something about it that I appreciated, but I have never intended to buy one. Today's trucks are built on an inhuman scale. Then most of them no longer have an 8 foot bed. Too many of them are better at doing car things than at doing truck things. I've never needed one, either, for more than about one day out of five years. At that rate, I am better off going to U-haul when that day arrives, and pocketing the money not spent on the extra gas, and larger monthly payments. I have bought only one car due to a specific need. I needed the best fuel efficiency, so I bought a Prius. Anything else I owned was bought for whatever reason suited me at the moment. Except for the LeBaron...
Yes! I cannot fathom why Stellantis stopped offering the Chrysler TC/Dodge GC twins. The Pacifica's too expensive and its cheaper variant, the Voyager, still isn't the value the older breadbox ones were.
Oh, I've thought it many times. I really just want a small truck, but they don't make those any more (Maverick is the closest). There is however a sweet used black Frontier down the road from me that has been tempting....
I wanted a truck on top of my suv but when I realized peeps will ask to help them move stuff or even worse borrow it, im out. And of course the extra costs that don't pay for themselves; renting a truck when I need one is fine
I'm in a similar situation wrt hauling needs with the twist that there's a Lowes right next door to where I work. I've never needed anything that I couldn't get home in my Honda Fit.
I'm going to be a bit insulting and say me and my Prius thank you for not buying a modern pickup. I see many older gentlemen who perhaps have driven American sedans in the past like a Taurus or Grand Prix or a LeSabre have now bought a new pickup. They've saved up for many years and the old sedans are just not available. I see so many of these older men clipping other cars, or coming real close. Also parking way over the lines. It may be fine on the road I don't really see anything bad in that case.
This was a really great video & hit home with me. We're about the same age. I had 2 Ford trucks in the 90s, a 2000 Lariat & a 95 Dodge Ram. Loved them all & haven't owned one since because of gas prices. I've wanted one for a long time now. Like you, it would mostly sit & because weekend truck. Almost talked myself into a few. I don't mind the size & it would definitely be used. I'll never pay those prices for a new truck. As badly as I want one, I'm not sure the payment & insurance would be worth it. I really don't need one & currently I simply rent a uhaul or truck from Home Depot & it works perfectly. I wouldn't own anything but American cars in the 90s. But then I owned my last POS Chevy 06 Impala Lutz. Beautiful car but everything leaked & the suspension was garbage in the winter. I now daily a '13 Lexus with over 200k miles & it runs like it's brand new. I'll only buy a Toyota, Lexus or Honda for my everyday car other than my classic Lincoln. I would buy an American Truck. Still pondering one or a wagon. But I really can't talk myself into pulling the trigger. Very similar life experiences between us, thanks for the trip down memory lane & probably talking myself out of buying a truck. LoL
I listened to this video and realised what happened:
Personal luxury coupes were cool in the 60s but by the 80s they were not the same thing anymore.
Same with trucks; they were cool and functional in the 70s/80s. But now they are just cumbersome luxo-boats for suburban people.
Hmm, interesting. I wonder if the truck market would turn like the luxury coupes.
The price tag + 5ft beds is just an awful combination
Agree completely, needed a truck for home today's trucks are too big for what I need, yet not enough space. Took a while but I found a 98 ranger with only 73000 miles, and plenty of paperwork with it. Bought it for 3500 and haven't regretted a minute. My 5th truck over all these years, from a 92 F150, and 3 old school Rangers and 1 mazda B series. Reliable, small enough to comfortably drive, big enough to haul and tow. Perfect.
That's a great find! I do have a 2004 Ranger that is mainly a project and an excuse for my boys and I to bond in the garage. 175K miles and it still runs great!
I've a lot to say on this. Your last sentence was poignant. I'm a contractor. The truck segment has left me behind. As over the last 25 years trucks have become statement family vehicles the manufacturers have largely chased that market and those higher profit margins. I bought a new 18 Silverado 2500HD W/T, regular cab, long bed 4x4, gas. It replaced an 03 of the same spec. In my opinion, that is as trucky as truck gets. Imagine this. I use it to tow heavy weights, haul heavy payloads, plus myself and even strap things to the cap. Real truck stuff. I'm not saying other cab configurations aren't real trucks but the decreasing size of the bed to accommodate more passengers tells you the mission of the vehicle.
my dad faced that he was in construction his last and current truck is a 2002 F 350 with a utillity box that dumps he wanted a newer truck but it was better to reengine the old one and just run it to retierment.
Even my '08 Ridgeline that I bought with over 217,000 miles on it came with an electronic torsion controller for towing, and the bed was scratched to hell.
For something that's "not a real truck", it sure served that purpose.
@@MrRAGE-md5rj I will always say that 90% of the people who buy F150s actually need a Ridgeline. Without a doubt.
Hard to find normal F series pickups with no back seat (a truck not an SUV with a short bed) and a long bed. One you can actually use as a truck.
You're a minority of the truck owners.
90%, more like 95% of the truck owners never use their trucks for what they are meant to be. The days of the big trucks are over. The truck price and the gasoline price basically killed it.
I'll never buy a full size truck again
I've owned a pickup truck since 1985 when I bought a brand-new 1986 Toyota 4 WD truck which cost $8,500 ($216.68 x 48 months).
You hit upon the problem early on - the only good reason to own a truck is to that it can perform tasks that nothing else can. I own 2 trucks - 1 large and one small. The criteria was the ability to haul dirt bikes - the small one for day trips to riding areas and the large one to tow a trailer with the bikes in the back of the truck along with firewood etc, etc. Now too many of the trucks can't even perform these duties, but they have all the drawbacks of trucks without the utility. We went thru the same thing with sport utilities; unless you actually intend to use them off-road, there is absolutely no advantage over a minivan, which is more comfortable, more economical, etc, etc. It's just trendy. Guess I just don't follow trends.
love love love your presentation...trucks today resemble large luxury suv types....versus solid options for moving large items...now they are just bloated overpriced and useless......pay us $80k....ummmm.....smaller trucks for about$10k are the best bargains going........however...most are 20 to 30 years old....but....good on gas...you can park in any spot...and your resale is the same as what you paid........you did an amazing job of explaining your thought process......good job!!!! i do think the new maverick is a step in the right direction....
We live on a farm, use our 2011 Ford 3.5L twin turbo 4X4 truck to pull an 8000 pound camper, also use the truck to pull a flatbed trailer with tractor and ATVs on it, also use it to haul feed and firewood sometime. With all that said, I hear you Jon, even with all we use a truck for,. it still only has 50,000 miles on it after what, about 12 years. Our daily driver is a Subaru Outback. Fifty years ago in my younger days, I only drove a truck because it was a chick magnet, now I am kind of past that, LOL
My best years behind the wheel (nearly two decades) were spent in two full-size Dodge B2500 passenger vans. Both were equipped with high-quality convertible seating (a factory option) that allowed for conventional benches, a full-size bed, and a booth-like eating area. Our vehicle choice wasn't considered cool in the 80s and 90s, but I FELT cool for having made the most rewarding vehicle decision of my life. As you know, those vans were based on Dodge's pickup chassis, and my wife and I enjoyed that big-truck command of the road. We're older now, and sometimes we chat about getting a full-size luxury truck (likely our last chance to join the cool set!), but although we do lots of hauling, we prefer to keep everything INSIDE, away from freezing or scorching temperatures. So, a minivan has been our vehicle of choice since 2004. Thanks for a great video. No doubt, truck manufacturers are cringing at your wise, pragmatic approach to vehicle selection!
I install residential kitchen appliances for a living. Been doing this for 20+ years. All of my full sized trucks have been Ram 1500s in the quad cab configuration with 2wd. My first one was a 2001, second a 2000, basically identical, then I got a 2012, and now a 2022. Really the main difference I see as far as size is concerned has to do with the ride height. My early ones had no running boards and no problem with getting in and out. The later ones do have running boards.
Also there is a couple of inches difference in the bed/tailgate height, which really makes a difference when loading heavy appliances into it.
I will say, I still prefer my current truck over the older ones for too many reasons to list.
Keep up the good work!
In '95 I bought a 30k mile 1992, 4 cylinder, 25mpg, 5 speed, 2wd, extracab Mazda B2200, my "widdle wed wacing twuck", for maybe $8k(?). It was the perfect size, speed, capacity, through 200,000 trouble free miles. Boy, I miss that little twuck, um, I mean, truck....
Mazda F***ing RANGERS!
I grew up with trucks. My first car was actually a 2001 Chevy Silverado 1500 that my grandmother got from one of her friends and gave to me.
I tow cars periodically and haul junkyard parts, scrap metal, and the like. But I am too young and broke to afford a modern truck. Also I do 100% of maintenence and repairs myself, so I have a rule of not buying anything I don't want to work on myself. What did I do? I bought a 1996 Honda Passport (Isuzu Rodeo) for $700 at an auction. V6, 4wd, 5 speed manual, comparatively small dimensions. It will go offroad, it will tow other cars, and it will haul whatever I need.
I would suggest the Tacoma, Frontier, 11 or older Ranger/Mazda B 2300 - 4000 1st gen Colorado/Canyon/Isuzu I series, Dodge/Ram Dakota extended or crew cab, Automatic or Manual, 4x4 or RWD not the off-road packages. The infotainment can be upgraded, you can add satellite radio, you can add a backup camera and with the exception of Toyota you should be able to find something with under 100K miles for under $20K with a 4, 5 or 6 cylinder engine. The V8’s aren’t really necessary in my opinion. I have a 2011 Chevy Colorado Crew Cab with the Z71 off-road package and made the mentioned upgrades and prior to that we had a regular cab 96 ranger with a 7 ft bed and RWD. If you get an extended cab you have some adjustment to move around in your cab and get a 6 foot bed. Mid 00s to early 10s can get you the perfect blend of size options and upgrades are easy for tech, you can still get gen z anti-theft devices aka a manual transmission and no turbos to fail.
I have a 2015 Tacoma and a 2000 Tundra. The Tundra is an extended cab Limited trim with the 4.7L V-8 and four wheel drive with the off road package. It works like a truck and rides like one, too. At 260,000 miles the transmission cooler failed and it was time for a timing belt replacement anyway. Since I was going to need a truck before the Tundra would be road ready, I went looking for a replacement. The new Tundra physically wouldn’t fit in my garage, nor would any other half ton truck. So I began looking at the “mid-size” trucks like the Tacoma and Frontier. I ended up with a 2015 Tacoma that I had to custom order. The salesman kept asking, “Are you sure?” every couple of option boxes, but when we were done I had an extended cab, V-6, six speed manual, four wheel drive Tacoma. I deliberately skipped the TRD package because I didn’t want the harsher ride or the showy decals on the bed. When it arrived, I parked the two side by side and confirmed (I had measured everything already) that sure enough, today’s “mid-size” Tacoma is the exact same size in almost every measurement as the “full-size” Tundra of 2000.
I have a pontiac vibe 300k miles.
When you fold down the back seats it has 7ish ft bed.
I've hulled 25 bags of malch at a time. 10ft pvc pipes. 6 bails of heay.
Moved a full sofa.
These new trucks are luxury vehicles. Not trucks.
I had a guy yell at me bc he didn't want the bed scratched when loading furnature into a 22- f150.
Bro it's a truck...
I’m 56 and when the original Ford Ranger truck came out I always wanted one. I was happy when Ford Brought it back. But that died when I seen it . The rear end is as tall as a Ford Super duty truck. All the trucks are ridiculously tall. It’s a pain in the ass to work with them now. The reasonable truck is a Maverick but Ford jacked up the price of that too. I’m on my fifth full size truck. 2006 f150. I find a utility trailer is easier for hauling things. I’m thinking a Subaru outback maybe as a replacement. If I worked the trades I don’t see anything good for that anymore. I wish they built them like they use to. Getting around in the winter is a main reason to have a truck where I live. Always liked the old school look of the Subaru with their low belt line.
My grandad had a Ford Explorer truck and although it had a really short bed, at least the truck was compact. This video shows all the more reason why the Maverick truck is such a popular choice nowadays.
I currently daily a 95 Ford Ranger, but long term I'd love to find a first gen Explorer Sport Trac and swap the Explorer body onto my Ranger frame (they're the same platform and wheelbase).
@@rhekmanCool idea. I didn’t know they had the same wheelbase.👍
That is one reason I bought a new 22 hybrid Ford Maverick. I would like another 6 inches on the bed length but for the price and size I have made it work. I had in the past a Mighty Max, S-10, Ranger, Isuzu all great trucks but now those trucks have become midsize and even the 2 wheel drive versions are too tall. There is a market for more compact trucks the Maverick and Santa Cruz are selling.
@@jeffreysproul3436Yeah, the Maverick is a life saver for those who look for a compact truck. I wish we had more competitors from GM and Mopar.
Jon, Appreciate this video on Trucks. Your right they have gotten too big and expensive. I still have my dad's 99 Dakota with 30k on it garage kept. It sits a lot, but I pull it out when I need to, going to the dump, buying appliances and furniture, helping people move etc. I use it for what it is. And daily something else.
Anytime needed a truck to move lumber ,home renovation materials or to make a run to the dump , its honestly cheaper to use the van rental at the renovation store or get a garbage bin brought to my home to throw the garbage out in, even when I was moving I just rented a van for a day and it’s cheaper then buying a new truck, insurance, and fuel and maintenance.
My first vehicle was an 02 F150 regular cab long bed, 2wd, v6. Drove the wheels off that truck. After that I bought a ford fiesta (needed something good on gas). After college I had 2 95 ram 2500 diesel pickups and an 04 3/4 ton quad cab over the span of a few years. While I did use them for hauling a trailer it was 1-2 dozen times a year. I’ve gotten to the point in life I didn’t need them. I now drive a 95 ford ranger that’s in great shape. 2wd, 4cyl 5 speed, cheap, decent I’m gas, and if I need a backseat my wife has a car for that. The next truck I will get will probably be the newer ford mavericks. Checked every box for me, 4 door, great gas mileage(hybrid), ok bed space, and is easier on the wallet than a full size truck.
None of the trucks on sale today appeal to me. I owned an 85 Ford Ranger 5-speed regular cab 7 foot bed. White with red stripes. Red interior. Loved it as a young man. I was in the Air Force at the time. I didn't need that truck. But that was my vehicle. Now, if I need a truck, I will rent it for the day I need it.
Yep, couldn't be less interested in a modern full sized truck.
Even if I was I cant afford one XD
Jon, one of the benefits of not owning a truck is no one will ask for help when they move ;)
In the past 3 years ive only needed a truck twice and one time my dad helped me and the other i rented one from u-haul.
It's okay - nobody asks me to help them move now. Why? It's because i have no friends. LOL
@@AllCarswithJon That is one of the benefits of being a male 50+! LOL
@@AllCarswithJon That's because you have no trucks. :D
@@AllCarswithJon same here & thats ok
When I moved recently, my buddy let me borrow one of his vehicles. It was either an F150, or a Nissan Pathfinder. I went for the Pathfinder. Knocking down the back rows gave me a “bed” of the same size, and was able to stack things on eachother Tetris-esque without any worry. If I borrowed his truck, it would have been a whole different story.
That's OK but over time it gets hard to keep the interior in good condition by throwing everything & anything back there. We do it sometimes though.
@@ronhoover5516 True, one of the biggest uses those little rwd trucks saw was hauling off the garbage, because you don't want to put it inside a vehicle.
Agree! 80~00 S-10, Ranger 2 pax, 6' bed, park in compact space, updated to 2024 features is what I want! There may be a place for a 9 passenger, 20' long 4' bed, able to tow a 40' trailer but it's not my driveway
I have an 07’ 100 series Land Cruiser and an 08’ Taco. Both have been great. If I was buying a new vehicle today I’d get one of the outgoing 5th gen 4Runners with the NA 4L V6.
The 2nd generation Dodge Dakota is the perfect size pickup for most people. You could get it in regular cab, extended cab, and Quad cab versions. They weren't cramped like a mini truck and you can park them easier than full size pickups. They were solid trucks. I wish my dad had purchased one instead of the 2005 (3rd generation) Dakota he bought new. I bought it from him a couple years ago and it's a good truck, but I hate the front end styling. The 4.7 isn't near as good as the 5.2/5.9 either.
My father bought a late 90's Ranger because he felt he "needed" it. He got rid of it after less than a year and went back to sedans.
Proud of your decision Jon! Thumbnail caption also gives me 80s drug PSA vibes "Say NO To Giant Trucks"
Just Say No. Absolutely burned in my brain.
Oh, and those catchy cartoons on how a bill becomes a law. :)
For many years I owned an old house with a big lot. I needed a pickup to haul building and yard materials. Sometimes a primary vehicle, sometimes as a second or third vehicle. My current 97 Chevy 1500 W/T short bed does everything that I need as a third vehicle now.
I agree that trucks have become too large, too expensive and too luxurious.
I needed something to run around that's more economical than my '91 F350 (which I got, long bed, specifically for heavy hauling and big bulky loads that today's trucks simply don't have room for). I greatly prefer a pickup to a car or SUV, and I like it to have legs under it (do not like it to sit low). I was not at all interested in newer trucks for all the reasons you speak of... they aren't trucks, they're old style land boats with an open trunk, and there's so much plastic inside that there's no cab room anymore. Landed on a 2000 Ranger 4x4. Came out of Walmart and was amused to note that it was the smallest vehicle in the entire parking lot, yet it is still a _truck_ -- it looks, drives, and feels like a truck, not like an oversized car. (Tho I admit I don't much like the rack-and-pinion steering, but wasn't finding better without.)
I agree 100%. i own an auto body shop. and im baffled by how large modern trucks dimensions are. and how backwards the engineeriong has become. They’re made to accommodate mulyiple people. Heavy towing. But not for hauling anything in the bed. My daily driver is an 86 Bronco. which i absolutely love! It has a rear seat that folds and flips. or can be removed by pullingh two pins. the bed area is then just about 6”. tailgate folded down allows 4x8 sheets of plywood. dimensioins are perfect. turniung radius is nice and tight. has all the modern ammenities like cruise, AC, cup holders, captains chairs with arm rests (which are much more comfortable than modern trucks seats). It also has the bonus of the removable rear roof section. maybe you should lookm into a 70’s to mid 90’s full size (medium by todays standards) Ford, Chevy, or Dodge. they are ultra reliable. and extremely easy to work on.
Very interesting video.
I have a 2012 F-250 Lariat crew cab shortbed that I bought to use in business with my brother.
After a while I went in a different direction in terms of work, but I couldn't part with it and from time to time I do wonder if having a smaller truck would actually be more practical for the little bit that I do use it, but buying a smaller truck would be more expensive than just holding on the F-250 for the light usage it receives.
You are so right. These machines have gotten too large.
Thanks for the comment.
And yet, I get comments constantly that modern trucks are not bigger than trucks of the past. :)
I've never been a fan of full size trucks . I always bought small pickups when I was in my 20s and 30s it has now become a race to see who can make the biggest behemoth with the most gadgets on the road
There's one of the problems, it's not a truck, it's a gadget fest. Me, I use it as a truck, not a mobile entertainment center!
I purchased a 2011 Honda Ridgeline in 2018 from the original owner with 68,000 miles on it for $17,500. I don't drive it much and it does do what I want it to do very well. Reliable and easy to drive. I don't do heavy towing or loads. Has very comfortable 5 passenger seating for long trips if needed. I agree with you, trucks have become too big and expensive to buy and own.
I childishly didn’t respect the Ridgeline when it came out, for not being a “real” truck. It took me several years to come around to the realization that they are a great all around vehicle that would suit my actual needs perfectly. Would definitely buy one now if the right deal came along.
@@daninva6458 It's funny how people like to put down the Ridgeline but I know four people who own them and three of them use it as a truck regularly. It's a lot more useful than given credit for.
@@daninva6458 at least you have a broader perspective now. I like the Ridgeline but it is pricey and mpg are not impressive. The Maverick (all these years later) seems like a better buy, though I would prefer the Honda for its reputation.
I have a toyota t100. I do mostly all the repairs myself. Its a 95. 30 years old next year. Still runs and drives just fine. 350xxx on the automatic tranny. Still shifts like a dream. They dont make em like they used to
Also, your comments on trucks is spot on. But all of them are not as much ENJOYMENT as the older ones-the older ones being mostly real work trucks. WTF? Also the older trucks were like a clean canvas , bare bones ready to customize yourself. Even base model Jeeps are too big. You made the right choice, Jon. Find an old restored one.
I'm 58, and I've owned 37 vehicles, of which 5 were trucks. I want a truck now so bad I can taste it. The reality is that I drive around so much that I would spend upwards of $500 or more of fuel a month, including a payment of $700+. That is $1,300 a month, or it could be $1,500 or $1,700! That's a mortgage payment. That's why I can't buy a truck. 😊
Hmmm, I'm 57 and have owned 6 cars. And I only actually bought 3 of them.
@@davestvwatching2408 Apparently, you are much smarter than I am in more ways than one I've gathered. Haha 😄
@@Trapper4265 Frugal/Cheap/poor and I can do some work on cars myself. Plus both my parents and my 5 siblings also have had cars last 8-10 years or more regularly.
@@davestvwatching2408 Hear that. 69 and only on my 5th, two of which were hand-me-downs, and I still own #4 and #5. #2 was new and went 34 years, got #4 and #5 both used, presently 33 and 24 years old. It just croggles me that anyone considers a vehicle under voting age to be "old". :)
Jon thank you for the interesting discussion. My takeaway is, "buyers shop for cars & trucks based on specs, but purchase based on how they feel."
As an owner of a 1995 Ford Ranger, any time I make a repair or upgrade, I'm reminded about how it feels to drive and how it "just fits". It's smaller and lighter than more modern trucks. It still gets 19mpg, hauls 1500lbs, tows 5000lbs (or more if I'm careful). No it's not as fast, not as luxurious, not as smooth as something newer. But for doing truck things, it does 99% of what I need it to do.
Over the years I've owned a Mazda B2000 and a Dodge Dakota quad cab V8 and was happy with both.
@davidwill1320 I had an 84 B2000. One of the best trucks I've ever had.
Had my 2021 Chevy Colorado z71 for about a year now. First newish truck. Had a 98 s10 years ago in high school (actually a Sonoma) but that was a bit of a junker. I have experienced many of the same things you have. The impracticality of the short bed is probably the biggest one. We can fit almost 8ft long cargo in my wife’s compact SUV by putting the seats down. I bought a 12x12 ft roll of carpet a few months after I got my truck last year and made it home with proper tie downs but it was a ridiculous sight and felt stupid. I really have liked my Colorado. I like that it’s a little narrower than a full sized and therefore more maneuverable in a parking lot or on narrow streets and paths. I like the 4x4 (I’m in Midwest with harsh winters and snow) and I like the crew cab but the image of a utility vehicle that trucks once were is gone. The 8ft bed is replaced by crew cabs now and the amount of creature comforts is ridiculous (mine comes with heated seats and back, lane departure and park sensors, leather interiors, and heated steering wheel!). Trucks are really just the modern day muscle car and that’s not an insult. What red blooded American man doesn’t like muscle cars. But they aren’t utilitarian working man vehicles anymore. They are so goddamned expensive that I don’t even like taking my z71 off road because I owe so much money on it. Feels like I can’t enjoy having a cheap 4x4 work truck or fun off-roader in this day and age. I know I can go buy an old hunk of junk from 20+ years ago but it’s not gonna be a daily driver. Anyways. Those are my pros and cons I’ve experienced. Dad has a big ole Silverado and I leaned towards one of those but also felt they were too heavy and wide. I like the midsized segment better right now.
My work group uses a F250. It carries four or five of us around the city with all our equipment. The last thing I want to do after work is get into a bloated truck.
I owned small Toyota and Nissan trucks in the 1980's, and even now I'm holding on to my RWD 1997 Toyota Tacoma as a second vehicle. Nowadays, the Ford hybrid Maverick looks enticing but even it is bigger than I'd like. And, now I don't really need a truck - I've done all the remodeling and landscaping I'll ever do. As usual, I'm out of step with the current market - I'd rather have a hatchback like my 2012 Prius than a family-hauler SUV.
This is a good take Jon. In all honesty, I probably NEED a truck about as much as you do. Still, my truck is the last vehicle I would sell. I bought a 2000 Tundra right before prices went through the roof. If I got rid of it, I couldn’t convince myself to pay the premium to buy another one. It’s tall, thirsty, loud, and doesn’t handle all that well. Love that truck😂
I also have a desire for a truck in my fleet at all times, but my wants and needs and financials just haven't been able to all align at the same time to make it happen. I've owned some in the past, but they never really stuck around long for one reason or another.
The older trucks, although fun, just aren't very efficient or quiet or comfortable IMHO. Fun to have around as toys and projects, but not something I really want to deal with as a regular form of transportation (I had a 71 Ford Bumpside). I had a late 00's Dakota, and it was nearly perfect for me: It had a good amount of bed space, small enough to be easily maneuverable, cab was big enough that I could fit comfortably with no complaints.... but the drivetrain was terrible; It drank gas like nobody's business and the old slushbox auto never knew what it wanted to do.
Realistically, a Maverick Hybrid AWD is the perfect truck for me. It's efficient, easy to maneuver, enough room inside for me, and a blossoming aftermarket from what I've been seeing. Problem is I'm cheap, and on rare occasions I do have to tow one of my project cars with my steel car hauler and it's just not up to that. There's no other hybrid truck on the market I would personally be interested in (The F150 is good but still not something I want to drive every day). I would love an EV truck, but the Lightning suffers from the same size and maneuverability problems as the F150, the Rivian is too expensive and I've never been that into the styling, the GM twins are just enormous and insanely heavy, and the Cybertruck is too expensive.
Trucks were more useful and fun when people could ride in the back. It didn't matter if it was just a 2 seater cab. I'm not advocating for this now due to how unsafe it was, but it's one reason I have an SUV now. I find that an SUV with a 10 foot utility trailer is very useful. I use the trailer once every couple months when I need a "truck bed". The trailer is lower to the ground with a ramp so it's much easier to use than a truck. Also I don't have to worry about damaging my vehicle when I'm using a trailer.
Excellent insight and thoughts. 2nd vehicle owned was a new Ford 1971 p/u. You are right. To buy a truck it must be to a purpose. Mine was to install a camper shell and explore the likes of Idaho and Montana. But, after that was done the 11 mpg just could not be rationalized any longer so I traded it for a Chevy Chevette. A vehicle with a very different purpose. Cheers, Jon!
Thanks for sharing!
Looking at those big, two story, McMansions in the background and thinking the same thing. Too big, too expensive.
I've only owned two pickup trucks in my life: a '69 Dodge that I owned briefly when I was in college (sold it because my then-girlfriend didn't like it - she preferred my '70 Dart Swinger) and a '65 Falcon Ranchero that I bought as a "fun" car, mainly to take to car shows, but ended up using as my daily driver for seven years (sold it when it was 44 years old and it had 519K on the odometer to a fellow who was planning to restore it and had the skills to address the tinworms that had been munching on the rear fenders). But I've owned a '96 Windstar and multiple Country Squires, all of which could handle 4x8 sheets of plywood with the tailgate folded down, and my Dad's last car was a '79 Catalina wagon with similar capacity. Now I drive a 2019 Ford Flex - technically a wagon, not an SUV (it's titled as a wagon).but without as much capacity for hauling as the Country Squires. Our older son drives an F150 with 4 wheel drive, a crew cab and a 6 1/2 foot bed, but he's a single parent with five children and needs the big cab to take all of them and the 4WD to handle the snow where he lives.
My last truck was a '89 dodge 1 ton dually which was used for truck stuff. I recently sold it but now I find a truck sized hole in my heart. But the new ones are too darn fussy and the beds are too small. Not trucky enough. A dilemma for sure.
I've always bought the compact and now mid size trucks. I bought my first full sized truck 2015 Toyota Tundra. I don't care for it. I got rid of it and bought me a 2023 Honda Ridgeline RTL. Great truck
Remember, 95% of all truck drivers never use their trucks for what they are built for.
I still only drive cars too.
You are absolutely RIGHT!
I’ve had a truck, a new 1990 Nissan Hardbody. I also learned that trucks cause hard feelings, I was always being asked to borrow the truck or to help somebody move and god forbid if I was busy and couldn’t help or lend the truck! No thank you, no more trucks for me! Lol!
Totally agree. Was thinking about buying an F150 with long bed to haul two dirt bikes. Did two test drives and realized it was way too big for daily driving. I’ll stick to my utility trailer behind my Ford Flex.
I agree with most of your perspectives, and I own a 2022 GMC 2500hd, gas, regular cab, 4x4. One aspect not mentioned is that trucks, in general, will last much longer than a car as well as retain more of their value with higher miles. I would not want a truck with a short bed and don't really understand the appeal unless you only use the vehicle for towing. My wife and I own the truck amd a Rav4 hybrid. When possible we use the Rav4 and the truck stays in the garage. We do lots of landscaping and gardening and having a near 4000lb payload helps a bunch with soil, gravel, amd stone, etc. I ordered the truck with no power options, vinyl seats, rubber floor, but got a few line items such as cruise, uprated alternator and spray in bed liner. Total cost was 45k for a vehicle that realistically should last the rest of my life, me being 50.
Sight limes do such and I would hate to drive it in a city.
as a city slicker, i love the back drop of anywhere usa, i miss the suburbs.
I'm guessing this is somewhere in North Carolina and I imagine suburbia wraps for miles in the area.
I'm with you, Jon. I was recently/am still looking for a decent used truck but find that used options in my area fall into 2 camps: Newer 'statement" trucks that offer too little for too much $ (but are nice), or older work trucks that are functional but not as nice. I like the Maverick but it is expensive, and their towing capacity isn't high enough. Ridgeline's a bit too expensive for me but I get its appeal. I finally put the whole thing on hold bc I finally came to the realization that it was ultimately a want and not a need, and in this market today it didn't make sense.
I've determined my course of action is to wait for Toyota, Ram, and/or Honda to come out with a small-ish truck to compete with the Maverick, then wait a couple of more years for a used one.
I used to live in a rural area where you had to haul your own trash to the dump, I heated my house with firewood and with pellet a stove, so owning a truck was kind of a necessity. I owned the last year of the square body vent window Ford f-150s. It was a 1996 with a straight 6 and a manual transmission. That was a far better truck than anything that they've got on the market these days.
Sadly after about 330,000 miles the frame rotted through and I ended up having to sell it to somebody who was using it for parts to fix up his F-150. Fun fact, the straight six lives on in that other truck.
I do not live in a rural area anymore and I have zero need for a truck 99% of the time. On the rare occasions that I do need a truck, there's u-haul. Why should I pay all the extra money to have a vehicle that has a lousy gas mileage that is way less practical than a sedan for most of my needs and that costs more to insure and feed, when I can rent a truck at will whenever I need one? It's far less costly especially when you consider the enormous amount of money that I save in fuel, insurance, and registration costs for a vehicle that I would have very little use for performing its primary function?
The problem with trucks these days is that they are not actually built to be useful they are built to be status symbols. Trucks today or what a Buick or a Mercury was in the 1960s. A mid-level status symbol. Not fully top-of-the-line luxury, but a way for you to peacock and communicate to others that you are well off and can afford to spend extra for the same or less utility. No thanks, I'll keep my money. Especially since modern trucks are trying to be fat, bloated sports sedans with nearly useless vestigal beds that are utterly useless compared to my old regular cab long bed 1990s F-150.
The Ford straight six is considered an immortal engine. Taken care of, they will run forever. Totally agree with you.
@chriss1757 The guy I sold it to had a 1990 F150 Stepside with a blown up 302. He wanted a straight six and pulled the engine and transmission from my truck to put in his. He pulled it apart to freshen it up before installing it and the bearings were like new and the cylinders still had cross hatch. He asked me if I was sure it was the original engine because he couldn't believe it had 330,000 miles on it. The only thing that showed any wear was the fiber cam gear, which he replaced with an aluminum one. I changed the oil every 5,000 miles and used either Mobil 1 or Rotella synthetic 10W-30. Even the cam lobes were in brand new spec. It is still running around today. I'd take that engine any day over any Ford engine in current production.
Vestigial truck beds, best description ever.
When I was looking for a heavy hauler, one absolute criterion was full width 8 foot bed. And that's why I didn't look any later than 1997. Ended up with a '91 F350 dually crew cab (and I love it, except when I go to park). The "new" (2000) Ranger I got as a runabout has a short bed, but I don't intend it for big loads. Even so, it's still six feet, and that's more than some of these new trucks have. WTF, it's the smallest truck in the lot and still has more bed space? What is wrong with these people??
And I hate all the plastic filling up the cab. My old F350, you can stretch out, there's nothing interfering with my sight lines, and it would haul six linebackers without crowding. My sister has the bigger Toyota crew cab and it's got maybe 2/3rds as much room inside, two in front and three kids in the back, and that's cramped.
This is the precise dilemma that I have been in for a long while now. I want a pickup truck, but can't justify a 1/2 ton with a turbo engine that is "eh" for daily driving. I, personally, have narrowed my research down to a '22-'24 Nissan Frontier S 4x4 with the extended cab, long bed, and towing package. If I can find one out there, I will gladly buy it. Its midsized, good for daily use, and has the capability of that "just in case" moment haulingis needed.
I understand completely, I was just so taken with the houses ,flags, lawns and lack of vehicles parked on the street. I live in Tucson in a nice neighborhood but it doesn't remotely compare.
Noticed that myself. Pride of ownership and patriots.
i feel like what most people who wants a "smaller, more economical truck" need is not a truck but a van. sure you can't put tall things inside and you probably don't want to sit together with anything dirty or smelly, but for ordinary people i think even the toyota sienna would be more than enough.
The problem is Toyota Siennas are expensive, almost as much as a truck-a quick search of new inventory yields a result in the high-$40k/low $50k range. And used ones are hard to find and typically carry the "Toyota tax" as we;;.
I agree that trucks are just too large anymore. I have no desire to pilot a dreadnought down the street and then needing a set of tugboats to park it. Even "midsized" is too big. I have a friend with a Tacoma and that thing seems as large as the 92 C-1500 I had for years. What I really miss is that '88 Toyota 1 Ton I had and never should have sold. It was small, reasonably fuel efficient (I could never crack 30 MPG on the highway, but I got awful close, a lot) and not difficult to park. I even towed a pop up camper with it. I would love to have something that size again, but not that old. I get by nowadays towing a 5'x8' trailer with 'Ol Sturdy, my 2010 CR-V when I need to. I should probably just invest in a small utility trailer for those times.
Trucks today especially the crew cabs with all the bells and whistles and outrageous high price are nothing more than big cars with a bed. To me they are no longer used as a work vehicle it’s more of a status symbol that a lot of people can’t really afford. That’s why I still have my 1989 Toyota extended cab pickup truck which is nothing fancy. It’s the right size for me and it’s still going strong it’s never let me down. I’ve used it for everything like a good reliable truck should be used.
I've wanted to do a video on this for a while, but I can't quite put the thoughts all together (into something I think people would watch).
Modern trucks and big-ol' SUVs are nothing more than the modern interpreation of the old land yachts of old. Big, heavy, big engines and in my opinion great highway ride.
Big cars are gone, and simply be replaced with the more modern version.
Thats why the value of 20 and 30 year old trucks has increased tremendously in recent years. Its cheaper to buy an old truck, refurbish it, and keep it on the road for years to come, than to deal woth the over priced, over engineered junk of today. This trend has to break some time, doesn't it?
My grandpa was one of those guys that would sell a car when it needed tires or brakes 😂😂. My dad said that if a tire popped or the brakes needed replacement he would "lose confidence" 😂😂 which is funny because my dad is the exact opposite (he has a '90 GMC c1500 with over 660k mi that he bought newi😅) My grandpa wasn't doing this with cheap beaters either. He was a Olds/Buick/Cadillac man until the 80s when he became a Mercedes man and drove them exclusively until he passed away in '93. One of his best friends owned a used car dealership, so he would always buy 1 or 2 year old car with low mileage and his buddy always gave him a screamin' deal. Sorry for the ramble but your comment about your friend with the s10 triggered these memories.
If I were you I would've bought a truck. You don't know it yet since you've never owned one, but once you own a truck, you can't live without one and you'll find yourself always owning one. I had to do without a pickup fot a few years after owning one and i found myself missing it on a daily basis, there was always a chore that would pop up where a truck was required or would be a lot easier with a truck. They're tougher to find back where you live but I think you need a 80s-early 2000s that is somewhat clean or at least not rotted, but a driver that isnt a mint creampuff that you don't always have to be concerned about scratching or denting. Idk. If you find a clean older truck back there, don't overthink it and pounce on it
That is sure true -- if you're a pickup person, a car just won't do. For a while I had my ancient F100 and my mom's luxury Chrysler... and guess which one I preferred to drive. Yeah, the truck. I'd never go back to a car, even if I didn't regularly need a truck to haul stuff. I don't even like SUVs, they're not the same as a truck. But it has to be a real truck (even if it's a little truck) not a giant pile of plastic with no room inside and hardly enough bed for two sacks of feed.
I am with you....trucks are too large. I have a 2002 Silverado 1/2 ton 2wd WT I bought new, as a tool when was 21, and still have it today.
I call it the grandpop truck since it is low and easy to get in and out to drive and load/ unload.
I can easily buy a new truck now but don't like the jack'ed up high in the air offering only with extended or crew cabs...therefore I will keep mine.
I would like a low 1/2 ton Gm truck with a regular cab...but they are not made.
my brother worked at a chevy dealership & probably had 3 or 4 s10 trucks the best was a v6 stick shift he traded it off on a 90's something with an extended cab.
I drove a Maverick once and I really liked it... But my folks bought a brand new Bronco about a year ago and have driven it several times... I have concluded that I would actually be happier with a Bronco rather than a Maverick
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Grew up in farming community, so trucks were normal fare. Buy the way, I always get a kick out of Americans gas milage, when they've the cheapest gasoline in the world. Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.
Interesting video. Myself have owned trucks. A 96 Dodge, 04 F150 Heritage (new year, old bodystyle), 95 F150. Trucks are useful, growing up we always had a truck. My dad has always had a truck. His first truck was a 1970 F100, he drove trucks for the school district working maintenance. I learned to drive stick on his 1990 Nissan. He also owned a 97 Dodge Ram and 2011 Chevy Silverado. The funny thing is Ive Ive owned a 1990 Jimmy, a 91 Cherokee, a 86 and a 01 Safari. Plus a bunch of coups and sedans. But its vans and wagons I find useful more than a truck. If I were to buy a truck now, I would find an old school truck from 20-50 ago. You can haul with a van and tow pretty decent amount of stuff including people if that is your thing. 😊
Awesome video ❤
The manufacturers are making trucks more bigger & luxurious as they believe the truck is becoming the family hauler instead of the sedan. It used to be unless you haul things, you didn't need a truck. Of course, Toyota makes the most durable long-lasting trucks
Look at that RAM you have a picture of in the video, with the cover over the bed, and think to yourself "jacked up full size sedan." You'll have trouble looking at it the same way again. So much to unpack. I have had 3 trucks. But I find that, when I buy a truck, there is tremendous peer pressure. I'm supposed to want a huge truck with a huge cab and 4WD! I need the biggest motor too! So when I look at a 6 cylinder, RWD, regular cab or extended cab truck, I subconsciously think "what will people say? Will they laugh at me? Am I doing "truck" wrong?" Often, it has led me to buy another vehicle that won't be so scrutinized. Also, when I've had a truck, I've always avoided using it as a daily driver. Because they are big and inconvenient to park. And I can never find one like I want, since they all have to have 4wd, crew cabs, and big motors where I live. I mean, its snows 3 or 4 times a year here! Got to have that 4WD! Even though 30 years ago, when it snowed more, almost nobody had it. I agree with the sentiment I've seen here and elsewhere. Trucks are not designed for work anymore. They are bloated luxury vehicles for suburbanites! And now they are too expensive for people who actually need them to work!
Great comment!
Yes, over the years I've come to realize the full sized trucks are the modern version of the old full sized sedans. Comfortable, near-luxury, and (I find) great highway ride. And I'm not opposed to that, but the step-in height is a deal-breaker for me.
And the "am I doing truck wrong" - THAT's a title for a future video! :) While I have come to the conclusion that a Chevy LUV with a 5 speed and 4wd is perfect, there will be those who say "why not get a *real* truck?". You hear the same thing about the Maverick these days. Luckily, I'm old enough to know I just don't care what others think like that! ;)
What will people say about your stripped down old truck?? They'll stop you in the parking lot and say, "WHERE DID YOU GET THAT TRUCK? DO YOU WANT TO SELL IT??"
I can fit so much stuff in my 1999 suburban. Absolutely love that car
If you want a truck, try a Toyota 4Runner first. Much more practical in my opinion
From the 5 trucks I've owned the one that felt the best in size, easiest to get in and out, maneuver and put things in the bed was a 99 Ranger Super Cab 2WD.
My 4th gen Ram 2WD was a good middle ground because it had the 6'4" bed and the quad cab for stuff and regular sized passengers but now I need 4WD so an F150 with running boards for my 5'1" wife it is...
But now with a family that old Ranger was no longer an option so
You talked about buying a pickup. Back in the 90s I was looking for a vehicle I wanted a SUV but they were too expensive so I looked at pickups. I thought about a Dakota. They wanted a lot of money for what you got. For just a little more money I could buy a Ram. I bought the Ram. Still own it. 28+ years later.
And in my videos on the older "compact" trucks, that's what I came to realize. The old Rangers, S-10s, and Dakotas all creeped up in price until many consumers thought they should just get the bigger truck. And manufacturers then said "nobody wants smaller trucks".
Or MAYBE the "smaller" trucks weren't right for the market that existed?
I want to own a truck simply to say I owned one. It would be handy with a few of my needs. But dont need one that much. As a kid, I wanted to own every body type of car. Still havent had a truck. I doubt Ill make that goal.
I have yet to find something more comfortable than a full-size truck. They are so large and comfy. I understand why they make popular dad cars.
Sad you can't buy a midsize truck worth its space. Even though they are so large, they have horrid back seats
I would love a 2011 ford ranger or fair priced minivan but have to settle for a Hyundai Kona. Added a tow hitch. Just rent a U-Haul when we need it.
Pickups have their place. I have an old Toyota I use for occasional dump runs and yard work. Every time I’ve tried to use a pickup as a daily I ended up putting a cap on it, which means I have a gas guzzling bad-riding car with a leaky shed tacked on to the back. And even that’s ok if the price is low. But see, it isn’t low anymore….
I drive a small 6.5 year old small hatchback I bought brand new and I put a trailer hitch on it . I built a small trailer for the 3 times a year I need to haul something oversized. I love driving a small car. OH and it get 42 mpg on the highway and it's not a hybrid
Right on
the new nissan fronter looks interesting there mid size and you can get them in a + cab configuration giving you a decent bed size.not sure how good they are. years ago i ended up buying a 72 ford f250 sports custom droped some money in it that truck and it was awsome exept at the gas pump. today one might be better off buying a 80s or 90s truck and restoring or refreshing it.
Bought a 2022 Maverick, base xl with the 4k towing package. Honestly isn’t much more expensive than the 2011 fusion that I traded in. And if the family is going somewhere, we use my Wife’s 2011 Escape. Yea it gets worse mileage, but it is smaller and the cargo space is out of the weather
Really? I find it shocking your Mav was as cheap as a 2011 Fusion.
Right with you. Older tacomas, 90s full size, and the hilux would be oeefect for me.
Yet some people luagh at me in my 21 Chrysler 300. Yeah it's aged but that thing fells refine af, and they got that ZF 8 Speed Tuned to perfection. All the shifts are precise and fast, so it never feels underpowered,and I get 30mpg with a full trunk on the highway,and 22mpg in the city, all day long. Plus 3.6 pentstar is really responsive and a lot more reliable than the general repulpublic thinks, which is now in its 3rd generation.
I have a 2024 Subaru Crosstrek currently, which I got because it felt similar to my Honda fit(which Honda no longer makes) in utility, but with better off-road ability. However priorities have changed and I would love a vehicle like the old Subaru Baja, but nothing like it really exists. The closest thing would be a ford maverick in my opinion. Would love it, especially with the new hybrid all wheel drive, but I’m sure ford will be ford and basically make it unobtainable 😑
Congrats on not spending $50,000 on a piece of junk.
Agree completely. Trucks are way too big, way too complicated and way too expensive. Why do we need such massively huge displays in the center of the instrument panel? My dad had a 72 Chevy single cab bench seat, 2 wheel drive, with an 8 ft bed. Total work truck. Strong and dependable. It was loved like another member of the family.
The maverick and Santa Cruz are the only reasonable trucks, I would add the Honda Ridgeline, but it’s overpriced and maybe a little too large. If Honda made a smaller ridgeline sport or whatever they’d call it I’m sure it would be an amazing truck.
I don’t understand why Subaru, Toyota, etc aren’t making small trucks considering the huge sales success that the maverick has been.
Smart Jon. Way overpriced. Most ppl rarely use the back of it anyway....so it's usually wasted space. Want to haul big things, use a three row or large two row SUV....fully protected from the elements and theft. The most utilitarian daily driver ever ...the minivan!!
Except we were going to get a deal on this truck. Seriously, really fairly priced... but at the last moment we still said no.
I fish. Waders and other inevitably stinky fishing equipment belong in a pickup truck box. An SUV would adopt these smells and there’s nothing I could do about it. Plus, the clearance on my pickup is incredibly helpful more often than I had expected.
Story Time incoming.
I bought my first truck for some home improvement projects back in 1999 ended up with an 84 S10 long bed single cab 2WD I ended up really enjoying myself driving it but it was purchased with one purpose and chosen because it was priced cheap I found myself wanting to keep it but not what I had, so I ended up buying a used Extended Cab 2WD 1998 S10 with a 4.3V6 (actually badged as an Izusu Hombre) Sold the work truck S10 for a profit oddly enough after the project put the money into modifying the new truck I was into the whole lowered mini truck scene but it was always my second vehicle my Integra which I still own was my daily driver for years. Work situation changed I ended up using my truck for work and unfortunately it just wore out ended up replacing it with a relatively cheap 99 Silverado Z71 extended Cab 3dr (it’s now 2012 so it’s kinda an old truck at this point too) It ended up splitting work duties with the Bronco I had as a project (and 3rd vehicle) for a couple years until I changed jobs again and sold the Bronco for a Commuter car (still own the commuter car so yeah I’ve still got 3 vehicles) so once again I find myself with a really good truck bought for a job I don’t have anymore and it’s kinda an eyesore with faded peeling paint etc ended up putting 100K relatively trouble free miles on it on top of the 120K it had from when I bought it (I highly recommend these GMT800 series trucks at over 200K and minimal maintenance no leaks engine and trans ran perfectly just looked like hell) I ended up with my current 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor my first new vehicle ever it’s power and towing were the same as my outgoing Silverado and with a similar foot print it’s still to long to park in my garage and driveway but it does just barely fit inside so I can at least do some maintenance myself and it fits in my street parking spaces without taking up two spots or being so wide cars knock my mirrors off on our narrow streets. I’ve got plenty of ❄️🎲🗻🏕️trips to Tahoe planned with this truck just like with my second truck I bought this one for me to enjoy.
Trucks HAVE paced right along with ego though. You can commend the manufacturers on that, if nothing else.
I've owned a few trucks in my life (I'm 54). In fact, my first vehicle was a 1965 F100 short bed. After that I owned a 1978 F100, and now I have a 2004 Tacoma TRD I bought back in 2007, and I inherited my grandfather's 1989 C1500.
The worst part of newer trucks is that the top of the bed is at almost 6' because of the completely impractical egotistical trends of the wagon wheels. This has forced the necessity of expensive upgrades like the Rubik's Cube tailgates on the Chevy's and such. My grandfather's old truck is a long bed, I can haul ANYTHING I want in that vast real estate, and the bed rail is at less than a 5' height...perfectly serviceable to reach over into without a ladder. Not to mention that it's the old-school 350 Chevy and not the much more expensive and less-well-designed LS, and is dead-reliable and cheap.
For the rest of my life I'll strive to only own older, say mid-early-2000's and back, well-maintained vehicles of all types, because modern trends aren't something a practical person should follow if they'd rather have usability and value.
Oooh. Had a '78 F100 myself (one of the last ones made that year, apparently they were down to spare parts as it had an F150 rear end on it). Two-tone green. Go to any Ford dealer and ask for puke-green touch-up paint, they know what you mean. Had it 34 years and still miss that truck. The thing drove like an extension of my body. Someday maybe I'll own another, I do have an eye out. That's how much I loved that truck.
Now have a '91 F350 and a 2000 Ranger and they'll last me another 20 years, after which I probably won't be driving anyway. :D
@@Reziac mine was probably earlier as it had round headlights. Just a basic truck, but that's my point. It didn't try to be all things to all people.
I have never wanted a truck. I've driven some that I had fun with, some that there was something about it that I appreciated, but I have never intended to buy one.
Today's trucks are built on an inhuman scale. Then most of them no longer have an 8 foot bed. Too many of them are better at doing car things than at doing truck things.
I've never needed one, either, for more than about one day out of five years. At that rate, I am better off going to U-haul when that day arrives, and pocketing the money not spent on the extra gas, and larger monthly payments.
I have bought only one car due to a specific need. I needed the best fuel efficiency, so I bought a Prius. Anything else I owned was bought for whatever reason suited me at the moment. Except for the LeBaron...
The most practical vehicle I found for my family was a minivan.
Yes! I cannot fathom why Stellantis stopped offering the Chrysler TC/Dodge GC twins. The Pacifica's too expensive and its cheaper variant, the Voyager, still isn't the value the older breadbox ones were.
Sounds like you are a mid size buyer. I recommend looking at a Frontier, available with a 6’ bed as well.
Oh, I've thought it many times. I really just want a small truck, but they don't make those any more (Maverick is the closest).
There is however a sweet used black Frontier down the road from me that has been tempting....
I wanted a truck on top of my suv but when I realized peeps will ask to help them move stuff or even worse borrow it, im out. And of course the extra costs that don't pay for themselves; renting a truck when I need one is fine
I'm in a similar situation wrt hauling needs with the twist that there's a Lowes right next door to where I work. I've never needed anything that I couldn't get home in my Honda Fit.
I'm going to be a bit insulting and say me and my Prius thank you for not buying a modern pickup. I see many older gentlemen who perhaps have driven American sedans in the past like a Taurus or Grand Prix or a LeSabre have now bought a new pickup. They've saved up for many years and the old sedans are just not available. I see so many of these older men clipping other cars, or coming real close. Also parking way over the lines. It may be fine on the road I don't really see anything bad in that case.
This was a really great video & hit home with me. We're about the same age. I had 2 Ford trucks in the 90s, a 2000 Lariat & a 95 Dodge Ram. Loved them all & haven't owned one since because of gas prices. I've wanted one for a long time now. Like you, it would mostly sit & because weekend truck. Almost talked myself into a few. I don't mind the size & it would definitely be used. I'll never pay those prices for a new truck. As badly as I want one, I'm not sure the payment & insurance would be worth it. I really don't need one & currently I simply rent a uhaul or truck from Home Depot & it works perfectly. I wouldn't own anything but American cars in the 90s. But then I owned my last POS Chevy 06 Impala Lutz. Beautiful car but everything leaked & the suspension was garbage in the winter. I now daily a '13 Lexus with over 200k miles & it runs like it's brand new. I'll only buy a Toyota, Lexus or Honda for my everyday car other than my classic Lincoln. I would buy an American Truck. Still pondering one or a wagon. But I really can't talk myself into pulling the trigger. Very similar life experiences between us, thanks for the trip down memory lane & probably talking myself out of buying a truck. LoL
Crew cab short bed is THE most useless truck configuration, it’s also the most popular, go figure.