Trucks trucks trucks

[S.Florida Landscapes]

I should have bought a truck long long ago, but have always countinued to buy corollas and vw's.

I am now in the market for a truck. I do not need anything big, thats for sure, but I need something to get the job done.

I have been looking at the Chevy Colorados. Bigger than a ranger (witch would be much to small), smaller than an f-150. Ive test drove 2 or 3 and have really come to like them. Drove two 04's and 1 08.

I still owe 12,000 some odd $ on the corolla I am in now so i'm to far upside down to get a decent apr and payment for right now. Middle of nxt year (hopefully sooner) I will be making a purchase.

I have drove 150's, 1500 chevys and the rangers, I like the 150s, i just dont see me needing such a big truck.

I will still be working full time, 7-5 mon-sunday, at the plant nursery I work at, will be doing side work and deliverys for customers who want it. Ive had so many requests and offers for it over the last 4 years, atleast 3 people a day that The truck would eventaully pay for itself.

So Put simply, I'm not starting my own buisness but will be doing lots and lots of small (and sometimes large) side work. One of the landscapers, who is also young like me, but with a well establishes company of his own has offered for me to go in partners with him when I do finally buy a truck.

What are yoiur opinions of the Colorados? Anyone have one? Any good/bad reports you have heard of?

For my situation and what I will be using it for, give me some ideas and feedback.

thanks guys,

-TN

[billslawn89]

buy the full size truck, then you never have to worry again.

[S.Florida Landscapes]

I wouldnt even say I am worried at all.

Like I said, this will only be side work, never full time.

Plus, the guy i'll being going partners with has a 1500 chevy plus open trailer..

[DLAWNS]

I don't have a Chevy Colorado but I have heard good things about them, and they look pretty cool. I had a Chevy Silverado 1500 and I loved it. I now own a 2500. You can't go wrong with Chevy's, in my opinion.

[S.Florida Landscapes]

THAT is what i was thinking..

Anyone else gots an opinion?

[Tyler7692]

Rangers are tried and true proven machines... Colorados are junk.

Ranger and Dakotas are good trucks.

[Jerry Lee]

i would try to talk u into getting a 2500 and trade the carolla, like u said the truck would pay for itself, and u never know u might be doing alot more than u think cuz u would be making more money doing these installs or w/e ur doing on the side. but that is totally up to u. i just give the advice.

[rods55]

buy a toyota tacoma, do the maintenance and you will get over 200k miles out of it

[DLAWNS]

Rangers are tried and true proven machines... Colorados are junk.

Ranger and Dakotas are good trucks.

I'm not trying to start a Chevy, Ford, Dodge debate because it's everyone's opinion and there is never an answer of what's best. My only argument is that the Colorado's are not junk. The people that I know that have these trucks have hardly any problems with them.

Like rods55 said Tacomas are a great choice, also. I owned one a few years back and I loved it. They will last forever.

[dishboy]

buy a toyota tacoma, do the maintenance and you will get over 200k miles out of it

They tow up to 3500 with the 4 cylinder also, a ranger won't do that with a manual, and if you have to use a auto or six cylinder mpg will suffer. -

[billslawn89]

like i said earlier, buy the full size truck, for the reason of......
you can haul more, :clapping: the gvw is more so the load you are hauling can be greater..its that simple. :clapping: you buy a mid size truck and it will get beat up in no time! you'll be burning more fuel with the mid size truck cuz it will be working harder to haul then the full size truck. :drinkup:

[STIHL GUY]

if you get a small truck and ever decide to grow you will be sorry but if you get a big truck from the start youll thank yourself in the end

[EpicPaul]

I dont get it, all these people buying foreign vehicles, then they come on here and complain about how worried they are about next year.

[bighaydenslawn]

Rangers are tried and true proven machines... Colorados are junk.

Ranger and Dakotas are good trucks.

Very true.

[ed2hess]

I dont get it, all these people buying foreign vehicles, then they come on here and complain about how worried they are about next year.
Maybe they are trying to do their part in busting the unions.

[S.Florida Landscapes]

I only ever drove toyotas (nix the vw I bought last year ((WORST DESCISION OF MY LIFE)) )

I should just stick with it, have never had a problem with any toyota ever owned.

I think I will look around at the toyotas now..

[openbook]

All the toyotas here are american made so I wouln't have a problem with that. Not to hijack the thread but it's the ceo's of the 3 big auto companies who are trying to bust the union.

[Mike's LawnCare Landscape]

You get you a older 1500 4x4 cheap .
I got a 98 last year with a 350 in it and it was only $6000 with 10500 miles on it .
I also have a 98 S-10 That I got new and never drive any more.

So after saying that go with the biger truck.

[S.Florida Landscapes]

The truck won't just be my work truck. It will also be my "going-out"{ truck.

So it will be my ONLY vehicle.

[JMLandscaping]

you need to wiegh in if it will be a daily driver without a load or working at all. I have a tacoma get 25mpg avg

If you are going to buy a small truck fine but get a 4cyl and a stick, if you dont just buy a full size because with a 4x4 v6 mini truck you will get 2 mpg better than a full size v8 4x4

[JMLandscaping]

14 mpg is fine if you are working for yourself pulling a trailer etc but driving to work or out to dinner it is hard to justify my 2wd 4cyl tacoma pulls a 5x10 no problem load it with wood, mulch etc no problem as long as you dont do it every day its fine.

[Lawn Freak]

When we bought our 1500, we looked at a Colorado, they don't haul or tow for crap. I would just go with a full size truck. You will think yourself in the long run.

[Patriot Services]

I have never and will never buy a new truck for this business. First why put yourself in debt needlessly. You will be upside down again in no time due to the wear and tear on your new truck. The market is flooded right now with good clean used trucks for less than 2000.00. That is far less than you will spend in 1 year of making payments. You can write off the cost on your taxes. And you wont cry when you drag a branch down the side. Keep your car for daily driving and try to get out from under the loan. Customers care far more about the quality of your work than than the shiny new dually diesel you drive.:usflag::usflag::usflag:

[TomberLawn]

I have never and will never buy a new truck for this business...And you wont cry when you drag a branch down the side. Keep your car for daily driving and try to get out from under the loan.

Man, I was there this past week. I had 2 trees within 1 inch of my truck on one side and was almost stuck. Got out of that and had a huge shrub/small tree scrape down the whole passenger side. I'm so glad my truck is a 1999 with 112k miles worth of scratches already on it. Being white helps, too.

I would seriously suggest looking at a full size truck. A half ton will be fine, but a compact or mid-size truck will get worn out fast towing a trailer and hauling a bunch of stuff in the bed several times a week. And like someone already mentioned, a full size V6 or V8 truck will probably end up using less gas than a 4 banger struggling all the time.

Here's my suggestion: Keep the Corolla for a daily driver, since trading it would cost you a bundle and it should be a dependable, efficient car for many years to come. Save up some money and buy a used V6 work truck, long bed, for $5000 or less. You can get trucks like this in pretty good shape at small used car lots, private owners, and even auctions. Just be careful at an auction that you check it out really well. With the long bed, you can put a decent sized walk behind in there and haul mulch and other stuff.

Car dealers are hurting to sell vehicles, so if you see something you like, make an offer on it. There was somebody on this forum back during the summer (when gas was over $4) who bought a late model gas F250 from a used car lot. I can't remember the details, but the asking price was like $7000 or less and he got them to take a couple thousand off of that. You could probably end up buying a good truck for less than the amount you are upside down on your car.

Your taxes will be easier to do if you have a vehicle dedicated to the business as well. You can depreciate all of it as a business expense instead of keeping track of mileage that it is used for business purposes and getting $0.485 a mile off your taxable income.

[Coastal Lawn Maintenance]

as every one has said go with the used full size. and keep the service up to date change oil when needed and so on and just about any truck will last u over 200k. i have a 97 f150 that has 215,000 on it and still original engine and transmission. so what ever u get take care of it and keep the service up and the truck will last u a long time

[mobileboy]

NISSAN FRONTIER! I own a 2007 6-speed 4-door and couldn't be happier. It pulls like a standard v-8 full-size and I get 18 mpg in town and 22 on the highway. Don't believe those new epa stickers for minute. They say 14-19 for my truck! I couldn't get that mileage if I red-lined the truck in every gear! As for towing...I pulled a heavy-duty 16 foot flat-bed trailer with Toro Dingo 525 wide track, bucket, cultivator attachment (heavy!), and sod cutter the other day no problem. The trcu is rated to pull 6500 lbs. Plenty for light landscaping work! You can get amazing deals on low-mileage used ones right now due to the leftovers from the $4 gallon scare. Don' toverlook this truck. I also own a 2006 Tacoma and like my Frontier MUCH more in every way (and I've always been a Toyota man).