New truck questions

[BRTreedogs]

I work literally 2 miles from my house so I was thinking a small truck so it wouldn't kill me in gas.
If I am being honest with myself I really want a f250 super duty. It is just my wife and I, the kids are grown up.
So my wife wants a camper and I want an off road jeep to go to different off road parks.

I am 57 my wife is 58 so this will probably be one of the last trucks I buy, so I kinda think the aluminum body ford would be best so it won't rust out in a couple years and look new longer.

What the hell are you talking about?
If you drove a big block truck that got 4 mpg that would be one gallon a day.

If you worked 5 days a week for 52 weeks and burned one gallon per day at $5 gallon that would be $1300 a year total cost in fuel.

 

[Thinkingman]

I work literally 2 miles from my house so I was thinking a small truck so it wouldn't kill me in gas.
If I am being honest with myself I really want a f250 super duty. It is just my wife and I, the kids are grown up.
So my wife wants a camper and I want an off road jeep to go to different off road parks.

I am 57 my wife is 58 so this will probably be one of the last trucks I buy, so I kinda think the aluminum body ford would be best so it won't rust out in a couple years and look new longer.

Cars, trucks and diesels especially don't do well for short trips where the engine/fluid temps don't reach and sustain their working levels.
A 2 mile commute would kill a diesel.
There was a previous post about modern vehicles not having longevity...Couldn't be further from the truth. Modern metallurgy is miles ahead of what was available 30 years ago.
An aluminum Ford will last as long as you take care of it.
The frame rust and bed rust recalls for Toyota are a good example.

 

[TX_hunter]

My advice, if you want a fuel efficient commuter (which you don't need for a 2 mile commute), buy a small cheap car. Don't try to compromise on the truck. MPG still won't be good, and the truck probably won't be what you want in a truck.
Also don't do a 2 mile commute in a modern diesel as already mentioned.

If I lived in the mountains, super close to where I wanted to hunt and knew I had to go through small trails, I would consider a small truck/suv for a hunting rig.

But for me, every hunt is a road trip (some longer than others). So an F350 with an 8 foot bed is perfect. Comfortable on the highway, roomy, 80mph+ cruising no problem. And you don't have to play tetris with your hunting gear. You're not making it down a side by side trail, but can still do dirt roads, cross mud etc no problem.

 

[roosiebull]

I have started to look at new trucks to replace my Ram 1500 two wheel drive.
It's been a good truck but the warranty is about up.

So the trucks I have looked at an f250 but don't really think I need that big of truck.

Also looked at a Colorado and Ranger.

Leaning toward the ranger because it seemed to be a comfortable truck and has hi and low range transfer case.

Colorado was nice but seemed to be more noisy and has "all wheel drive"instead of true 4wd.
Both trucks are 4cyl turbos automatics.
This truck will be going to be used for deer, elk, antelope hunting.
Does any one have any long term use of one of these.

I just traded in my 2018 Colorado zr2 for a 24 taco. The Chevy (have had 2 Colorado zr2’s) is my favorite vehicle I have ever driven, they are literally the perfect pickup for me, insanely capable and fun to drive.

The only problem is, at just over 100k, it was falling apart… literally. I was at the point that I either had to trade it in and lose my ass, or fix it, which was going to be expensive, maybe over 10k, and probably a really long time in the shop, so I traded it in, it depreciated about $25k in the 3 years I had it. I absolutely love the Colorado zr2, but reliability is the #1 feature I need in a pickup. I don’t know that I could ever buy another Chevy unless it was new and I only planned on keeping it a couple years, but I’m at the point I just want to pay off a pickup and keep it… hence the Tacoma purchase.

The rangers are nice pickups too, but I think I will just stick with Toyota, every time I stray from Toyota I get my ass kicked with reliability, could be bad luck, but it’s a clear trend

 

[roosiebull]

I don't really get the midsized truck market. They cost almost as much as a half ton and get similar fuel mileage. Might as well just stick with a half ton that is actually useful as a truck.

Full size offer me no benefits, I hate them unless I’m towing something over 5k, which is rare, and my wife has a tundra. I traded in my first zr2 for it to pull my big boat, and that was my second tundra, and I hate driving them, especially in the mountains.

If it wasn’t for needing space for the family and dogs, I would be driving a gen 2 Tacoma standard cab, the smaller the better for me… a 2 door bronco would also be nice for me, but I don’t think I want another domestic brand pickup

 

[wapitibob]

Daily driver, commute was maybe 2 miles each way, and it did that for half it's life. The other half, the commute was about 4 miles each way. Never towed or hauled anything more than a few times/year. Never let it idle to cool down after driving, and never added aftermarket gadgetry. Nothing wrong with it when I sold it, not even a rattle.
The problem with diesels is people driving them like a gasser.

 

[displacedtexan]

I'm in the camp that doesn't understand gf ton trucks... All the downsides of a 3/4 ton or bigger, but much less capability.

I need a 3/4 ton for my lifestyle. F250 4x4 diesel.

Good friend of mine got an EcoBoost Ranger as soon as they hit the lots. He puts 30k plus on it a year, lots with me in it, or following/leading.

I really like that little thing. He loves it.

I feel like if you aren't positive you need a 3/4 ton, you don't.

 

[tony]

I have a 2021 ranger 4 door, tremor package (no longer offered)
Had an issue with a broken wire that shut the truck down. Fixed under warranty, no issues since then.
64,000 miles, average 23-25 mpg.

Known issues in the 2019-2023 line - transmissions and the AC/heat. The blend door actuator goes bad. Dash usually has to come out for a repair.

I drove F150s most my life with one tacoma. I don't pull or haul much so the mid size truck works just fine.
If your commute is that short, I'd echo a small car and keep what you have.

 

[EdP]

Small car or 2 door Wrangler for the commute, real truck for long trips.