Help me decide...Next truck

[johngottfredson]

Alright, here's the skinny - I have a sweet 2002 F-350 7.3 CC SB with a small lift, 34's, 140k, and locked front and rear. Its solid mechanically, I love the looks of it, and it is a great truck. Here's a pic:


HOWEVER, it is a big truck. My business needs have changed (I no longer tow heavy), and I am thinking about downsizing to a more appropriately sized truck.

My criteria:

- MPG - high teens...low 20's?
- 4wd, good off-roading potential (narrow trails, not crazy rock crawling). This thing is too big for what I like to do...
- Capable of hauling a pair of dirt bikes in the bed
- Drop dead reliable
- Smaller size - I might consider a half ton, but it would be extended cab at most
- Committed Followers - I love owning vehicles that have enough online support to help me diagnose little problems. I'm not a great mechanic, and having other people provide that free information is invaluable to me
- Clean, good looking. I use this to meet with clients, and it needs to pass as professional
- Prefer modern highway safety features and road manners. This will be my daily driver

Budget: $15-18

Misc.: My other vehicle is a 97 Land Cruiser, currently stock, that will be receiving a 2" lift and 33's in the near future. Great for family camping, it is the wife's DD.

My thoughts:

My gut reaction is to look for a Tacoma. However, I get a sick feeling in my stomach whenever I price them out. Especially because I bought a new one in 2004 that I paid $21k for, and anything with decent miles is selling in the high teens ten years later. I swear these thing appreciate in value. Conversely, I bought my (original retail ~$50k?) LX450 with 125k on it for $7k, and I arguably overpaid. So, clearly build quality alone is not what is propping the price up on the Tacoma's, and I hate paying the "Tacoma Tax" without being convinced that there are no other solutions out there.

I've been impressed with the land cruisers I have owned, and would love to find the truck version of comparable build quality that can be had at a good value. I love my Ford, and if I can't find a smaller truck that I'll love just as much as the ford and my cruiser I'll stick where I'm at and be happy about it.

All thoughts are appreciated.

John

 

[Kevin B.]

You want a pre-Tacoma Toyota pickup. There's still a Toyota Tax on them, but not nearly as bad. Find one with the 22RE and a five speed and you'll get your mileage requirement and everything else too.

 

[rholbrook]

Come up a bunch more and I will sell you my 2012 Eco-Boost F150. You would love it and it is LOADED with all the goodies.

 

[johngottfredson]

You want a pre-Tacoma Toyota pickup. There's still a Toyota Tax on them, but not nearly as bad. Find one with the 22RE and a five speed and you'll get your mileage requirement and everything else too.

Interesting idea. Since this is my daily driver my default was to look for something with airbags, but I might take a look at some classic toyota pickups and see how I feel. Also, I do meet with clients so I need something that isn't all rusted and dinged up, so it might be tough to find a minty 22RE pickup. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll look into it.

John

 

[johngottfredson]

Come up a bunch more and I will sell you my 2012 Eco-Boost F150. You would love it and it is LOADED with all the goodies.

Hmmm....Define 'a bunch more.' I'm hoping to not take out a loan for a vehicle, so I'm somewhat limited on price. I'd be interested to hear your testimonial on the eco-boost f150's.

John

 

[Jesser04]

Hmmm....Define 'a bunch more.' I'm hoping to not take out a loan for a vehicle, so I'm somewhat limited on price. I'd be interested to hear your testimonial on the eco-boost f150's.

John

my buddy has one we drove home from the gorge last weekend. I was driving a 2015 duramax both pulling boats of comparable weight and drag he out pulled me on the sisters but only got 7.5 on the way home and I got 11.4. His brother has the 5.0 and consistently gets 1 mpg better daily driving. My .02 they run like hell but there is nothing Eco about them.

 

[Spork]

What about an early Tundra with the suicide rear doors?

 

[johngottfredson]

my buddy has one we drove home from the gorge last weekend. I was driving a 2015 duramax both pulling boats of comparable weight and drag he out pulled me on the sisters but only got 7.5 on the way home and I got 11.4. His brother has the 5.0 and consistently gets 1 mpg better daily driving. My .02 they run like hell but there is nothing Eco about them.

Interesting, I thought they were supposed to bring down crazy good mileage. Pulling power is not that big of a need for me, which is why I'm considering moving to a smaller truck. Smaller size, reliability, value for the money, all rank much higher. I will say that a half-ton outpulling a duramax is pretty surprising, no matter how much fuel they used to do it.

 

[johngottfredson]

What about an early Tundra with the suicide rear doors?

This is definitely a contender. My Grandpa has a 2002 limited set up like this, 50k gentle miles, but my parents pulled rank with him so they are buying it next year. Hmmm...maybe I can create some mischief on that deal and come away with it...

 

[johngottfredson]

I like the ext cab 1st gen tundras because they are basically the same dimensions as the newer tacomas, with a great little 8 cyl engine

 

[Jesser04]

Interesting, I thought they were supposed to bring down crazy good mileage. Pulling power is not that big of a need for me, which is why I'm considering moving to a smaller truck. Smaller size, reliability, value for the money, all rank much higher. I will say that a half-ton outpulling a duramax is pretty surprising, no matter how much fuel they used to do it.

We were pulling 6000 pounds add another 10,000 to it and I'd be telling a different story. This same truck has out pulled a new cummins and f-450. Under 6000-7000 pounds they flat run.

 

[Jesser04]

I'm a big fan of the 1st gen tundra great truck with great power. My only complaint is I feel like I'm sitting in a car when I sit in the drivers seat of them.

 

[TRD270]

Thoughts on a Tacoma, I had a second gen extended cab briefly. You mentioned wanting to haul around dirt bikes on occasion, if you go the second gen Taco route plan on air bags or helper springs. With my buddies two stroke and my WR450 in the bed I was bouncing off the bump stops the whole time.

 

[johngottfredson]

Thoughts on a Tacoma, I had a second gen extended cab briefly. You mentioned wanting to haul around dirt bikes on occasion, if you go the second gen Taco route plan on air bags or helper springs. With my buddies two stroke and my WR450 in the bed I was bouncing off the bump stops the whole time.

Wow, that is surprising. My understanding is the second gen was given significantly more power - I assumed payload capacity would have been bumped up as well for the bigger truck.

 

[sawtooth4x4]

This seems perfect

 

[TRD270]

Wow, that is surprising. My understanding is the second gen was given significantly more power - I assumed payload capacity would have been bumped up as well for the bigger truck.

Had plenty of power, just didn't have the load capacity

 

[johngottfredson]

This seems perfect

View attachment 94238

It's funny, until I remembered how I paused a little too long by an el camino in the parking lot the other day...

 

[DAA]

This seems perfect

View attachment 94238

I had one. Great car. Two dirt bikes would be a non-starter though.

- DAA

 

[jackjoh]

I would go with, ah shucks, it would just start an argument.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

You might find a 4-door short bed f150 a few years old with the 5.0 or maybe even the eco boost in that price range, we have both in our extended family and they have had zero issues with them.