Bring back little trucks!!!

Tarz483
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6344
Joined
2/25/2009
Location
Mankato, MN US
6/2/2019 8:06am
I want to Get a Lowered truck
I live in Minnesota currently so you rarely see them here but even if i just drove it in non snowing seasons.
Plus I want to move to a warmer climate place.
I was thinking regular cab but full size which is still a smaller truck by today's standards.
Something like this
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zippytech
Posts
1483
Joined
9/8/2018
Location
Bethesda, OH US
6/2/2019 9:05am
Bultaco wrote:
Agree completely about smaller and lower. After selling my Dodge Maxi-Van with a 360V8, I drove a little Datsun truck in the mid 70’s. It was...
Agree completely about smaller and lower. After selling my Dodge Maxi-Van with a 360V8, I drove a little Datsun truck in the mid 70’s. It was not the same as an enclosed, put everything in it van....but it carried two (three in a pinch) bikes and riders to the track. And we had the same fun riding.

On another note about the size of current model pickups....it is nearly impossible to buy a pickup with a regular cab and long bed. Toyota does not even offer this anymore. I suppose this is function of selling what the market is buying, but I do remember hearing before the Japanese became car giants, GM saying: “We will tell America what they want to drive”.

Makes sense , we can only buy what they sell for the most part
braaap707
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317
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11/29/2015
Location
Charlton City, MA US
6/2/2019 9:14am
This is a sweet thread! I had just s10's from when I was 16 till about 21. After that I bought my 16 Gmc sierra 1500 single cab. I love it. I was initially buy a Colorado but for literally the same kinda money I could have my 1500. Don't regret my choice one bit. I do wish I had the V8 Sad but overall great truck and I fit 3 bikes and gear no problem
2
RF145
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501
Joined
5/31/2013
Location
Rutherford, NJ US
6/2/2019 9:45am
A thread where not one person is 6’4”.
Full size is the only size.
Love my RAM 1500, and at thousands less the my beloved GMC and with more creature comforts.
I jammed myself into smaller vehicles for years cause I wanted to save pennies on fuel.
I get 19.9 on the highway with my RAM (2017) with bike and gear.
When I was younger, it was easier to fold myself up to fit into my Tacoma, but if I had a do over, my older wiser self would have slapped my cheap ass self and showed me the light.

The Shop

zippytech
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1483
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9/8/2018
Location
Bethesda, OH US
6/2/2019 9:45am
My biggest bitch about the full size trucks is the height. I have a 2000 sonoma that 2 wheel drive and I have never drug any where I have been, so why do they make them so tall? Just to climb in and out of it and look cool?
6/2/2019 5:05pm Edited Date/Time 6/2/2019 5:05pm
Wtf, 16K for an old Tacoma? Woohoo Or am I reading something wrong?

Maybe my mother in law will be excited about selling her late husband's truck. 1997 Tacoma V6 A/T 4x4 x-cab, tow pkg, 235K. Terrible paint, old tires. Runs fine, it took me to the track this morning.
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Holigan
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6/18/2008
Location
Dallas, TX US
6/2/2019 5:11pm
Almost have one ready...


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MudPup545
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1700
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11/14/2014
Location
Imlay City, MI US
6/2/2019 5:25pm
I can assure you that my wages and/or pension is only about 10% of the total cost of the vehicle. And the UAW agreed to a tierd system of wages years ago. The new hires coming in get paid quite a bit less than us old timers. No pension either with a greatly reduced benefit package. For many years getting hired into one of the ""Big 3" around here was considered a dream job. Now, not so much. Kids can make a better wage without having to throw iron as we call it as a factory rat.
1
6/2/2019 5:49pm
I have three of the small trucks, 99 tacoma and a 98 and 99 S10s had a Chevy luv that I dropped a V8 in years ago also.



The Black S10 just got nailed by a tree in the last snow storm.


2
Nacho724
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28
Joined
2/8/2017
Location
Citrus Springs, FL US
6/2/2019 8:25pm

Just downsized from a Nissan Titan to a Tacoma perfect for little mans pw. I haven’t had my bike loaded up yet.
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6/2/2019 9:39pm
Boomslang wrote:
Popular in South Africa and if you have a beer gut then you ain't gonna fit in... [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2019/06/01/351540/s1200_fc4455da63bbbe8490a94c8a095bc7c4.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2019/06/01/351538/s1200_nissan_1400_champ_07.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2019/06/01/351539/s1200_nissan_1400_1400_champ_2004_id_61453106_type_small.jpeg.jpg[/img] When I started racing minibikes in...
Popular in South Africa and if you have a beer gut then you ain't gonna fit in...





When I started racing minibikes in the early 1980's my oldman and myself hit the circuit in one of these Nissan 1400 pickups. Two bikes, gear, cooler, toolbox, gas...we got it done on the cheap. Great memories.
Bigfoot wrote:
Nice. Now tell us about the truck.

Nissan 1400 Bakkie uses a rear wheel drive and can attain fast acceleration from 0-100km/h or 0-60mph in 16.5 seconds. Has 2 doors, passenger capacity of 3. Engine uses gasoline fuel, has 4 cylinders, displacement of 1397cc, can give a maximum power of 64hp. Has a combined fuel consumption of 0.24mpg. Has a maximum fuel capacity of 11.89 gallons.

Transmission: Manual, 5 speed
Top speed: 146 km/h (90.72 mph)
Acceleration 0-100 km/h (0-60 mph): 16.5 s
Wheel drive: Rear
Number of doors: 2
Number of seats: 3
Wheelbase: 2310 mm (90.94 inc)
Length: 3850 mm (151.57 inc)
Width: 1430 mm (56.3 inc)
Height: 1500 mm (59.06 inc)
Towing weight: 772 kg (1702



sumdood
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8622
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3/11/2013
Location
San Clemente, CA US
Fantasy
6/2/2019 10:25pm
MudPup545 wrote:
Ford is bringing back a small/compact truck.
Bring back these and I'll buy 2

3
Rohr144
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236
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10/17/2017
Location
Wentzville, MO US
6/2/2019 10:28pm
My little 4 cylinder Ford Ranger gets it done no problem. Only thing I wish for was more room in the cab.
1
lappedrider
Posts
1530
Joined
8/26/2006
Location
Tooele, UT US
6/2/2019 10:29pm
RF145 wrote:
A thread where not one person is 6’4”. Full size is the only size. Love my RAM 1500, and at thousands less the my beloved GMC...
A thread where not one person is 6’4”.
Full size is the only size.
Love my RAM 1500, and at thousands less the my beloved GMC and with more creature comforts.
I jammed myself into smaller vehicles for years cause I wanted to save pennies on fuel.
I get 19.9 on the highway with my RAM (2017) with bike and gear.
When I was younger, it was easier to fold myself up to fit into my Tacoma, but if I had a do over, my older wiser self would have slapped my cheap ass self and showed me the light.
6’4” 240lbs, I went bigger when I started making money. Tundra and F-series. Now that I am wiser I realized that my dad was right. Buy the vehicle that makes the most sense. I even got a mini dog.
5
devotid
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12/16/2018
Location
Saginaw, MI US
6/2/2019 10:40pm
I used to carry my 99 YZ250 (MC wanna be back then. ) in this all the time.


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Reedo
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51
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10/10/2008
Location
Wellington NZ
6/3/2019 12:43am

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mxsixty
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82
Joined
9/11/2016
Location
AU
6/3/2019 1:58am
We call em Ute's in Australia




3
DanDunes818
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6979
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Location
Portland, OR US
6/3/2019 2:02am
mike117 wrote:
Used to (and still do) love little trucks like this... long enough bed to hold a bike, much lower to the ground than today's trucks which...
Used to (and still do) love little trucks like this... long enough bed to hold a bike, much lower to the ground than today's trucks which makes loading much easier (especially for short guys like me), good mileage, etc. I've got a 2012 Nissan Frontier which I think is officially the "smallest" truck made now. Still quite a bit larger than the small trucks from 20-30 years ago.

Growing up in the late '70's early '80's my pops had a Yellow Datsun and I absolutely loved that little truck. At 9-10-year-old I remember how proud I was to start loading my YZ 60 by myself. Long ramp and a milk crate for a step-stool (later my bike stand at the track) and I could do it. Unfortunately, from then on my pops expected me to load it every time and I will admit that a few pairs of bars got bent in the process.
1
6/3/2019 3:21am
'94(?) 1.8 4cyl, vinyl bench seat, no air-con, no power steering, just kept going.


Looked a bit like this



3
rossi46
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Location
AU
6/3/2019 3:31am
We have these in

Australia
6
Turbojez
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Location
PL
6/3/2019 4:07am
You'd love my '98 Felicia. It's rusted through but it doesn't matter. What does matter is it has red seatbelts bros.

6/3/2019 4:36am
Anybody remember the Dodge D 50 (Mitsubishi Mighty Max)? I’ll have to see if I can dig up a pick when I get home. Reg cab, reg box, 5-speed 4-banger. Didn’t even need a ramp to load my 1997 CR125.
Loved the mini trucks when I was younger. Over the years had three S-10’s, a slammed Ranger, and that good ol D 50.
Kid seats killed the mini truck for me. Now a full size crew cab is the min. requirement. 😞
1
Bramlett321
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1070
Joined
9/14/2012
Location
Texarkana, TX US
6/3/2019 4:46am
Scott_Bate wrote:
They do a 2WD Toyota Hilux here in Australia. They have an alloy tray or a style side tray both can fit up to 3 bikes...
They do a 2WD Toyota Hilux here in Australia. They have an alloy tray or a style side tray both can fit up to 3 bikes in with tailgate up.

Man I'd give a finger to have one of those with the Hilux in it here in the states!! Love those trucks and so versatile.
6/3/2019 4:56am
I really do love the Aussie Utes, They got the best of both worlds Smile



20
mx900
Posts
116
Joined
12/31/2014
Location
Decatur, IL US
Fantasy
6/3/2019 5:41am
Anybody remember the Dodge D 50 (Mitsubishi Mighty Max)? I’ll have to see if I can dig up a pick when I get home. Reg cab...
Anybody remember the Dodge D 50 (Mitsubishi Mighty Max)? I’ll have to see if I can dig up a pick when I get home. Reg cab, reg box, 5-speed 4-banger. Didn’t even need a ramp to load my 1997 CR125.
Loved the mini trucks when I was younger. Over the years had three S-10’s, a slammed Ranger, and that good ol D 50.
Kid seats killed the mini truck for me. Now a full size crew cab is the min. requirement. 😞
A D50 was my first truck! It was perfect when it was worn out I bought a 87 Mighty Max. 2.6 L 4 banger with 5 speed . power nothing! I drove it 275,000 miles I wish I would have kept it and for sure would buy another one like it today.
During the D 50 days most of the companies had shared small trucks or their own. EVERYONE I KNEW HAD ONE AND STILL TALKS ABOUT WHY THEY STILL DONT SELL THEM>

Dodge had the D50.Mitsubishi
Chevy had the luv or early s 10 made by Isuzu
Ford had ranger made by Mazda

My Mighty max was incredible loaded with two bikes, gear, tools and gas cans it would roll at 90 easy. I may still have a copy of my ticket to prove it. lol The only problem I had with it was when I bought it the dealer put in a bed liner and on the way home it lifted up and blew out because they did not mount it. I stopped had to drag it back to the truck threw it in mounted it myself and all good.

While these were great trucks some were not as good as mine. A friend of mine had a four wheel drive ranger. One time we were traveling to the races and I asked how fast he goes and he told me he holds it to the floor. We took off with me in the lead and I looked up and could not even see him. lol Top speed was about 75.

The best was a friend of mine who I will not say who it is but if you race motocross in Missouri and for sure the State Series you know who he is. Sorry Steve lol. He had a diesel long bed two wheel drive Chevy or Isuzu. Top speed might have been 65 if was driven off a cliff. It was white and got in a hail storm that dented it all up so we called it the Golf Ball. Still many miles were put on that thing going riding and racing. Man those were good times.
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6/3/2019 11:02am
It's the US govt that has killed small trucks with regulations.

There's something called the CAFE target curve for light trucks (F150's are considered light trucks). It uses the wheelbase multiplied by the vehicle's track to find the fuel economy needed. However, it's not a straight line, and truly small trucks would need to get very similar numbers as small cars. With the aerodynamic and weight advantages of a car it's almost impossible to achieve these kinds of results with a truck.

Like so many other parts of our lives, the over-reaching US govt has screwed this part up too.
8
Steve125
Posts
1409
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11/24/2010
Location
CT US
6/3/2019 11:18am
My buddy is selling this Suzuki 4x4. Right hand drive. So cool. I want it.

2
Bromley686
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146
Joined
2/8/2017
Location
Las Vegas, NV US
6/3/2019 12:14pm
I tried doing a little of both. I got an 03 S10 but put a 5.3 V8 in it with a manual trans. I get better gas mileage than the old 4 cylinder since the motor barely has to work to move the truck. When I keep my foot out of it that is.

11
JM485
Posts
5782
Joined
10/1/2013
Location
Davis, CA US
6/3/2019 12:29pm
EZZA 95B wrote:
'94(?) 1.8 4cyl, vinyl bench seat, no air-con, no power steering, just kept going. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2019/06/03/352056/s1200_17_10_09_1457.jpg[/img] Looked a bit like this [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2019/06/03/352057/s1200_1991_Toyota_HiLux_RN85R_2_door_cab_chassis_2015_07_10.jpg[/img]
'94(?) 1.8 4cyl, vinyl bench seat, no air-con, no power steering, just kept going.


Looked a bit like this



Look at that beautiful lawn you parked on you asshole!!!Tongue
3
JBecker 72
Posts
1800
Joined
3/25/2014
Location
Eastern Panhandle, WV US
6/3/2019 2:01pm Edited Date/Time 6/3/2019 2:04pm
I miss my 89 Pickup. It was totally rust free and ran awesome. I sold it for $3k and used it for a down payment on my 2015 Tundra (which I freakin love btw). I wish I had kept it. I also used to have an 89 4Runner and really regret letting that go, but it was the 3.0 V6 and had major issues. If I had swapped in a 3.4 V6 it would have been perfect, but no money at the time.

I will get another 80’s Toyota eventually.



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