Help with small pickup choice

Tom Dunlap

Tom Dunlap

Here from the beginning
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Retired in Minneapolis
I've got the itch for a winter build project.

For years I've driven mostly vans. A couple of pickups with shells on them too. The reason I like a van is that all of my stuff is secure and I can use the van for camping. Much more floor space and enclosed cubic space that a pickup.

My GMC Safari is big enough for a bed but not cooking space. Besides, at 6'2" I spend a lot of time crawling.

The idea that I have is to find a small pickup, take off the box, fabricate a flatbed, then build a camper shell with a pop top of some sort. The shell would be removable if I needed the flatbed.

I'm so unfamilar with pickups though. I do know that I want one smaller than an F150 size. I see many makes and models that are smaller but seem to have the load capacity that I'll need.

What brands, drivetrain, motor/trans have stood up for you?

The camper would be spartan. Bed, Coleman stove, water jug, gear. My kayak would go on top.

Something along this line:

http://home.earthlink.net/~g.teague/

I like the back end of this but the curves up front are too much work and wasted space.

http://www.mikenchell.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=27592&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

There are some Tiny Trailer builders who are using two sheets of 2" foam for walls and ceiling. They cover them with canvas just like canoes or airplanes then use a variety of paint/epoxy coatings to seal the whole works. Lightweight, insulated and strong all in one material.

But, first things first...what pickup to look at?

Any help?!
 
Always liked Ford Ranger...never owned one personally but all my future vehicles will be a Ford.

Sorry that doesn't help you much Tom
 
My next door neighbor found a mid 80's Isuzu Pup long bed diesel pickup. He did some body work, and threw new belts,hoses, mounts (all the wearable stuff), put a topper on it and painted it all work-truck white. He's getting 45 mpg in the city, running the ac, and 50 on the highway.

He's basically getting the same mpg with a small pickup truck full of flooring and rolls of carpet, that I get on my motorcycle.
 
I drive a Nissan Frontier and absolutely love the truck. I seems like whatever truck you go for you'll want a 6cyl. It sounds like all the stuff you want to do combined with wind drag from the box will strain a 4cyl.
 
Well thanks Tom for the invite to reply to this thread. I drive a Isuzu 3.0 liter diesel pick-up truck as gas prices and the equivalent mileage gas vehicles give are horrible. They sell an american version chevy made in mexico with equivalent engine and chassis also, but it only comes in automatic which I dislike in a truck. Bio diesel is the fuel of the future especially with oil reserves running out, if only they can bring it's production costs down.My three man tree crew roll in this baby ( pic included ). I have no chipper, the place s I do a lot of tree work for have no where close for it and it's running cost far outweigh it's advantages so we drag, cut and load the 6m cubed dump truck by hand. But here we are fit, no body fat to be seen and our ages are 24,34,44 and 65. We do tree work the old fashion way except when it comes to climbing and rigging. No spikes in pruning. Blocks for big wood etc. Off topic now by treebuzz makes me enthusiastic for treework and how different it is in America as compared with the Caribbean. Sorry for rambling Paul.
 
My truck can pull a 4meter cubed dump box that my friend owns full of wood to the dump which has an awfully steep hill no prob. Paul. we can cram that baby full to the hilt like seasoning as we say here.
 
Mine is 4 cylinders Tom but nuff power. Real reliable engine. I think it will make a fantastic camper and inside is very roomy I am 6' and I don't have the seat fully back by far. Paul.
 
I'm looking at extended cabs not four doors.

Keeping as much frame open for the deck is important. I might consider building a deck extension. Once I decide on a truck then i can start to sketch up the camper.
 
I've got a 2011 Ranger right now, and its pretty alright. Ford hasn't done much to change the ranger in like 20 years besides wheel flares, sirius and an aux port, so if new flashy stuff isn't what your into, the ranger is a good choice. I got the "extended" cab with the jump seats, which gives me that little bit of room for gear and such that I don't want to throw into the bed if it's full. I've stuck a few people back there but it's cramped and uncomfortable, mainly have it for gear. The 6cyl. engine has a decent amount of power for a wee truck, pulled our big boat around this past summer and barely knew it was there. 5 speed manual tranny also helps.

Fuel mileage sucks, I get about 600km to a 72L tank (I do mostly highway), and I've noticed that it's starting to go down after having 32,000km on it and owning it for like 7 months (That's with me driving like a grandpa at 105km/h). There are some weird sounds coming from underneath the hood already, that I'm going to get checked out next service, and the multifunction switch was recalled (which I had done). Minor stuff.

The bed has 6 torx bolts so that the bed can easily be removed and/or put on. If your looking for that extra piece of mind for cargo weight get the FX4 and not the sport 4x4 that I have, higher trim though so a higher price tag. The sport trim has better suspension than the regular trim (There is only 4 trims available). An added bonus to cleaning is you can pull the seats out and hose it down as it has the rubber matting. However, mine is starting to lift in some places, so the dealer is going to have to pony up and fix that.

Personally if I had the little bit of extra money I was saving for, and the Golf didn't crap out on me when it did, and Ford wasn't having a good sale, I would have gotten a Tacoma. Very reliable trucks I hear, comfortable, powerful and sporty (the Ranger still looks like a truck in the 80's and feels rather cheaply made), and WAY higher re-sale value. If you got the money to shell out for an FX4 buy a base-mid model Tacoma. If you got money to shell out for either why not get a full size?

PS. I couldn't be bothered to do the conversion, sorry that the numbers sound like jibberish.
 
I use a Mac so I bump the left corner and a unit converters pops up! No gibberish!

years ago I had a 4cyl Ranger XLT extended. It was a very utilitarian pickup. I sold it to a worker who sold it to his Dad!

Staying smaller than the F150 size saves in the long run...as long as I have the GVW numbers in my favor. Being a little lower makes loading the kayak easier. Potentially better mileage, but not guaranteed of course.

In the end, I may end up at a full size though.

This guy has built something close to what I have in mind:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rdraider72/6323219161/in/photostream/
 
I've got a 99 ford ranger extended cab, 4x4. 280K miles. Standard trans. I've hit 6 deer with it, 2 trees (black ice) and have basically treated it like a red headed step child. Runs like a dream. Rangers are a tough truck IMO.
 
Sounds like you need to read, if you haven't already, -Travels with Charley- by John Steinbeck. Builds a camper for his truck and hits the road for a year or so with his dog. Great book.

I have a 4cyl '94 Toyota 4WD pickup, 130k. Last year before the Tacoma. The only think I'd trade it for would be a diesel Hi-Lux like Viking mentioned. I bet you need more than 4 cylinders though. The only tradeoff with a 6cyl Toyota pickup is that they don't have the 22R engine that will live forever! But man, a well taken care of Toyota pickup is hard to beat. I actually used to have a newer, smaller body style Tacoma, a 2000 year model, I think. That had the 22R as well, and felt like a bit more of a horse than my '94 for some reason...I'm no mechanic, so I don't know why that would be...
 
I read 'Travels' many years ago!

Since I might have a heavy load and pull a trailer once in a while I think that a V6 is in order. Unless the HP of a diesel will come up.
 
Hey Tom
Dodge Dakota has been a great mid size truck for us since 98.
Like a big dog in a small body, like Jack Russels Terriers.
We went with the 4.7l 8cyl because the 3.9l struggles up a hill loaded with chips, gear, and chipper or full up w wood and trailer. It will do it but it strains.
I hear they are beeing discontinued. Built in Warren Michigan, Cambridge is a Dakota town, we see lots of them
I have so many good things to say about Dakotas and only a few minor complaints(nothing too costly)
I really like the VW trucks and vans but they are scarce here.
Keep an eye open and hopefully a good deal falls in your lap. January and February seems to be the best deals runnin especially on hardeer to move models like manuals or low options, odd colours etc if you want to buy new.
My last Dakota we bought brnd new and kept it for 12 yrs.
Really miss it.
 
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