small trucks

[bw]

how do you guys feel about small trucks, i'm just starting so i'll only be pulling a couple of walk behinds, and maybe be doing some light landscaping, i've got a ranger right now, but it's a 4 cylinder and as far as power goes, forget about it, so i would at least get a v-6 long bed 4 x 4. My thinking is gas is getting so damn expensive, i could cut my gas bill if i could cope with a small rig. any help is greatly appreciated

[cjcland]

well i use a 4.0 liter explorer 4x4 and it had done very well for me, i would like to get a full size truck, i just started and i figured i would spend the money i hadon equipment and then get a nice truck i feel that as long as it gets your equipment to the job it ok, dont get my wrong i dream of the day i have a big 4 door diesel but for now im very gratefull to have what i have i read on hear people starting with alot less and they made it so it gives me inspiration......thanks everybody, this site has really given me a good boost, for some reason i have been putting alot more care into my work, i am seeing what it has done for all of you

[geogunn]

it seems to me that if what you are pulling with will pull safely, including stopping, with a full load of equipment, you should be ok.<p>I am a small operator and you dance with those that brung you...OOPS WRONG STORY!!! ...you pull with what you got 'till you can pull with better.<p>I will not be surprised if someone doesn't post here that if you aren't pulling with what they are using, that you are not a professional in this business.<p>for me, when I'm ready for a diesel dualley, I'll get one. 'till then I got 2 4x4's to pull with but my favorite is an E-150 ford with a 300 six banger that'll lug any hill in town with a full trailer.<p>good luck, the best you can do should be fine!<p>GEO

[scottlawns]

i just started lawncare last summer,i started with my old ford ranger....what a nightmare,no power ..hard to stop..breaking down always...so i bought a F350 and now i can pull anything and plow in the winter,i know it cost alot when you are just starting out but with knowing it will start and get the job done i think it will be a lot cheaper in the long run...so if you can swing it get somthing with the power right from the start.if you cant go gentle on those rangers,ive owened about three of them and when i really needed it to do somthing it FAILED!!!!!!!!!

[southside]

From my experience Isuzu make the best light<br>trucks.They are tough as nails,go hard and<br>being diesel are cheap to run.Maybe a good<br>used 2 tonner would suit?

[jrblawncare]

I started with a v-6 Dodge and worked fine for me,but now went up to a 2500.I think it depends on where you live,will you be going up and down hills often....Do you plan to plow if so you want to go BIGGER WITH MORE POWER as Tim would say. good luck <p>----------<br>John <br>

[Lazer]

southside, that might be fine for Phillipenes or Australia! Good luck finding one in the States. :-)<br>

[southside]

Lazer, Surely you have Isuzu or even <br>Mitsubishi light trucks over there?<br>After all Isuzu is owned by GM :)

[AB Lawn Care]

I would suggest you buy a toyota.1 their reliable good on fuel and strong.I know that some of you will read this and say that toyota trucks would not have any power.But I beg to differ.I have a freind you buys toyota trucks(4*4's)and slaps huge tires on them and does no modifacations to other than the tires and takes them off roading.I have have seen him go farther that two fullsize chevy trucks.He was able to go throught 1 and 1/2 feet of mud no problem.And if you still think I am nuts look at any off-roading magisine and you will soon see that toyota trucks are your best choice for a small truck.I personally use ford full size trucks but if I had to buy a small truck,toyota would be at the top of my list.<p>from:Adam<br>AB Lawn Care

[Lee Homan]

bw,<br>Last year I bought a 91' Sierra 1500 off of the local Hertz car lot for $2300.00.<br>It had been used as a fleet vehicle and I believe it was wholesaled to the car lot. The cab was painted white the bed blue and it had a red stripe from the top of the cab down to the rocker panels, not a pretty sight. It came with a 4.3 liter V6 that had 189,000 miles on it. I took it down to Maaco paint got a $500.00 paint job (color: white) Put my magnetic signs on it and it looks just as good as a new one going down the road. Total repairs on it last year were $89.00 for water pump, installed, $50.00 to rod radiator and $350.00 for a new set of tires. I've also taken it on a long trip and use it to haul my 3000 lb camper and haven't had any problems. Even if the motor blew up today with no more than I've got in it, it would be worth replacing or rebuilding. As for performance I live in Alabama and have very few hills to climb but the ones I do it does ok. I would like a little more power but it's not really necessary.<br>Gross vehicle weight with trailer and equip. is 7100 lbs. Hope this helps. Good Luck! <br>

[bdemir]

I agree with a and b that toyota is the way to go for small trucks. If you can get one with a v6 then you should be able to pull a trailer with a couple of walkbehinds. They make the most durable trucks in the world. They are known throughout the world for thier reliablility and durablity.

[Brad]

I used to have an '88 Toyota 4X4 pickup with a 4 cylinder and 5 speed. Pretty basic truck with the exception of air conditioning. At the time I had it I was commuting 150 miles a day round trip. Most of the trip was interstate and 2 lane highway driving, with about 4-5 miles urban. In the summer with the air I averaged 25-27 mpg. I think I put a fuel filter on it at approx 150,000, had the valve clearance checked at 95,000, with a re-check at around 150,000, with no adjustments needed. Put a couple of differential seals in the unit as the breather would plug and I was very lax about keeping it clean. That ran about $30.00 per instance. I sold the vehicle at 225,000 miles and to the best of my knowledge it is still running as well as it was when I sold it. Since I am no longer making the commute, I decided I could spend a little less on a vehicle and still get some comforts. I purchased a '97 S-10 extended cab with 4.3, buckets, etc... I've had it almost 3 years, it has 17,000 miles on it, and if I could find a good used Toyota 4X4 at a reasonable price, I'd unload this truck in a &quot;heartbeat&quot;. Nothing wrong with it, but just don't feel it is as strongly built or as tough as the Toyota. Granted this vehicle will move, runs fine, does pull a lightly loaded trailer, looks good, etc, but I feel that it isn't condusive to the work. It is very much at home going to the mall or up to the local Menard's. Gas mileage isn't much to write home about. Maybe 23 on the highway is the best I have ever gotten. All things considered with my experience, if both of these trucks were hooked up to BW's setup, the Toyota with the 4 cyl and manual trans would be just as dependable and capable as the S-10. <p>I do not know about Toyota 6 cyl. engines today. I know that in the late 80's and maybe early 90's they were prone to an engine failure of some sort, (lifters, cam-shaft, heads, etc....) that was fairly expensive to repair, but once that was done, the engine was back in good shape, and I don't think the problem would re-occur.... <p>Just the opinion of a former/future Toyota owner.....<p>Brad

[MOW ED]

I have been using a 91 chev s10 with a 6cyl 4.3l efi w/4sp auto overdrive. Around the city it is great and on the highway it will pull at highway speed. Only problem is I got a 5 ft gate w/tight expanded metal on it and if I got a headwind I have to use 3rd. Otherwise its tough. I just wish I could put a dump bed or box on it.

[kountryscape]

hey izuzu trucks the stub nose ones is what their talking about . there made in janesville , wisconsin they also make w-4's which is the chevy version. they have alot of these in those truck mag. ive even seen them with plows on them they look good put a grain type dump on them tow a 16' drop gate trailer with it and have a plow on it what a well rounded truck they even have crew cabs and are under cdl weight limits. they cost between 20,000 to 30,000 complete with box.it just might be my next truck i have an s-10 that can and can't handle the loads sometimes i see people look when im going threw town with a 150 bricks in the bed and towing 3 yards of mulch in the trailer i look like a chevy commercial. or an ediot i don't know hey if you can afford it get a truck not a wheel barrow small truck that is. <br>

[bdemir]

mitsubishi also makes a good truck if you are willing to spend 30 to 40k. Also i own a 99 toyota truck and have owned them before but i have never owned one with a v6 but im sure if you can get one after 92 that it should be a workhorse. I sold mine at 167 thousand miles and it never had a problem.

[bw]

thanks for all your help fella's, it sounds like on my budget a toyota is the way to go, but how expensive is it to repair them when something does go wrong, i heard it was expensive??? also i'm going to have to get an extended cab, which small trucks have the longest bed with the extended cab? as you can tell my problem is i want a damn 1 ton big ass truck but have the budget for a ford pinto(i'm just starting out)

[bdemir]

they are average to fix unless is major like a trans then its costly. if you have a mechanic examine it you should be fine. make sure to check the front end suspension and rust under frame if you live in a northern climate.