Family Thinking of Buying a Pickup Truck: Which Is Best? (insurance, vehicle)

[Soviet]

We're doing it. We're finally becoming Texans after living in San Antonio for 17 years. We're thinking of purchasing a pickup truck. Thing is, used trucks are so expensive! Wow! This truck is just going to be a pure workhorse, it's really not going to get that many miles put on it with us. It will be kept outside in the driveway so it's important that it doesn't leak any oil.

Do you think I should get a Toyota Tacoma with 200,000 miles or so? Or 1990's Ford F-250 diesel in case I want to tow something? What would you recommend? Which pickup models have the most reliable engines? The 7.3L Powerstroke diesel? What's the best, off the tops of your heads? Thanks in advance!

[bagster]

If you have over two in the family, don't get a Tacoma. They don't have enough room in the back seat for a malnourished midget. You can get a double cab Tacoma, but then you only have about a four foot bed. If space if no object, a Tacoma would be your best bet, provided your towing is light duty.

[unit731]

There is no correct answer.

Ford people will state Ford. Chevrolet people will state Chevrolet, Dodge people will state Dodge/RAM, etc.

There are many posts here on how to find a good used car. Read up.

My used half ton 4X4 pickup truck had 38,000 miles on it when I purchased it. One owner. Clear Carfax. No accidents. Immaculate both inside and outside. Zero rust. Never used commercially. Cost: $11,000. Rides, drives, looks like a new truck.


The brand made no difference to me. Everything for me was condition and miles on odometer. If the truck had been a Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, Dodge/RAM, Toyota, or Nissan - made no difference to me.

Some just don't get it about purchasing any used vehicles.

[Vic Romano]

When you say "workhorse", what do you mean? Describe what you will be doing.

[Stonepa]

Originally Posted by bagster

If you have over two in the family, don't get a Tacoma. They don't have enough room in the back seat for a malnourished midget. You can get a double cab Tacoma, but then you only have about a four foot bed. If space if no object, a Tacoma would be your best bet, provided your towing is light duty.

You can buy a Double Cab Tacoma with a short (5 ft) or full sized (6ft) bed. Not 8ft but are you actually going to want a vehicle that big?

[Electrician4you]

What are you doing with the truck? You may be ok with a 1/2 ton long bed.

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

I say get an old Japanese truck, but expect it to leak oil. Just get a cheap, dependable old Japanese vehicle and park it on the street, if you don't want oil in your driveway.

[sunsprit]

not enough information to give you a meaningful answer.

"workhorse"?

towing capacity needed? there's a huge difference in trucks such as the Tacoma and a 3/4 ton diesel F-250.

cargo capacity needed?

for many folk, any of the small pick-ups of older vintage … such as a Ford Ranger, even with a 4-cylinder minimal HP engine (or comparable from so many makers) … is more than sufficient for the occasional yard maintenance/utility chores and can haul a modest sized trailer or boat. At a significantly lower cost for ownership than a full-size pick-up, too.

OTOH, if you're seeking to tow a sizable GN trailer/load … you'll need the towing capacity/brakes/suspension of the larger pick-ups.

So, OP … what's your profile for your truck use?

PS: the diesel 3/4 ton and heavier duty pick-up trucks come at a premium price because they have benefits which can be captured if you actually use them for their intended use … heavy hauling. If you don't need to do this very frequently, such as folk like me with a farm/ranch that haul livestock trailers or heavy farm equipment, then the truck is wasted expense sitting in your driveway. Even with the cost disparity/mile of a gasoline fueled truck compared to a diesel for hauling, if you're only going to use it "infrequently" for modest distances/loads … the gasoline powered truck will be the "better buy" for your purposes. Bear in mind that the capabilities of the diesel truck don't come cheaply if you don't use them. I've got neighbors who use their gasoline powered 1T pick-up truck for only 3 trips per year … to livestock auctions where they sell/buy their year's production of lambs and buy replacement ewes/rams; while the fuel mileage is much less than they would get with a diesel powered version of the truck, it simply doesn't come near penciling out to own/operate the diesel truck. 12 mpg vs 15 mpg for the 2,000 miles/year they put on the truck.

[wawa1992]

Are there ever going to be more than two people in the truck? Get a crew cab.

If it's just generally going to be you driving the truck, maybe with your wife or a kid in the passenger seat, you might could get by with a regular cab. There's little point to an extended cab.

And never put a kid (especially a teen) in the jump seats of an extended cab. It's unsafe, very uncomfortable, and you will be hearing about it occasionally even decades from now, long after the kid you made sit in the jump seat has long been able to drive themselves. If there are going to be people in the back seat, it needs to be a proper back seat with 3 point seat belts.

As for the type of truck, a Ford F-150 would probably be the best for a crew cab. They're roomy on the inside, are very capable for truck duties, are very reliable and it's easy to find parts. Huge supply of used models. Why do you think they've been the best selling vehicle for 40 years? Because they're really good trucks! Toyota Tundras and Chevy/GMC full size trucks are also good choices.

If you can deal with a regular cab, I'd get an older (but 1984 or newer) Toyota small truck. Avoid the pre-1984 models (they did HORRIBLE in crash tests).

[GeoffD]

A receiver hitch and a utility trailer are the better solution for most people. Sit down and do the cost of ownership for a pickup rotting in the driveway. Registration. Insurance. Maintenance. Depreciation. Unless you need it as a tow vehicle, a 4x8 cargo trailer works fine for Home Depot and yard debris runs.