[misterp266]

Have you wondered why nobody offers a small pick up truck anymore? They will lie and tell you that there’s no demand. Every year trucks get bigger and bigger even if they have a 5’ useless bed. They are also priced out of reach for a lot of people. No more basic small regular cab pick up with a 6’ bed that the majority of people could afford.
I own a 2011 Colorado regular cab short bed. I no longer need a big truck but I still want a truck. Now it needs to last forever because of the convoluted CAFE rules that all manufacturers need to follow. The basic formula is, wheelbase times track divided by 144 to give you the trucks “footprint”. Plot that against the graph below and you’ll see why small trucks no longer work. My Colorado footprint is 44.4. In 2023 that would be required to get about 41MPG. It gets about 20.
The bigger the footprint, the lower the MPG requirement.
It’s wrong!

[Sirrotica]

Another point that demonstrates that lawmakers don't have a backround to enact all laws. Anything that is operating smoothly will be rendered a mess with gov't oversight. If the gov't had to operate as a business, they would be bankrupt within 6 months.

The great Ronald Regan quote, "I'm from the US gov't, and I'm here to help you"...........LMAO

I've often wondered why all the newer trucks have acres of passenger room, with a bed that is about the same size as a 1960s full size passenger car trunk......... My 71, and 1976 Grand Safari SW could at least hold 4X8 pieces of sheeting with the tailgate closed.

Thanks for making that known.

[Scarebird]

Simply put - it does not cost that much more to build a full size truck vs. something the size of a old Ford Ranger, but the manufacturers can charge quite a bit more.

[b-man]

Find an older ‘80s or ‘90s Toyota small pickup, search in one of the southwestern states for a rust-free example. Plenty of parts are available for them and they run forever.

Don’t rule out buying a good used small pickup, otherwise you might be waiting a long time until things change and they start producing small trucks again.

I have a very old ‘66 VW pickup that’s powered by a 50 hp 1600, it’s not very freeway capable by modern standards. Around town it will haul a ton plus no problem (1 ton factory rating) with a bed that’s almost 9’ long, completely flat and 5’ wide. Currently waiting on new a 2180cc engine ($8k) that will almost triple the stock horsepower and make it freeway friendly. Cruising 65 or 70 is about as fast as I want to drive it, having the ability to climb freeway grades without downshifting into 3rd and going 45 mph will be awesome.

[carbking]

Very happy with my "new" shop truck, which my Dad bought new in 1998; a Ford Ranger.

I would be delighted had he waited until he could have got the 4.0 engine versus the 3.0.

I'm with B-Man on this one; lots of good used small trucks out there.

And thanks for sharing the "formula"; makes almost as much sense as what is called "taxable horsepower" It really WAS quite accurate in 1911

Jon

[59safaricat]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azI3...st=WL&index=17

I have to carry a big stick and beat people away every time I drive my mid 80's Toyota truck, I'm just waiting for some idiot to steal it at this point. Everyone keeps haggling me to buy it. What can I purchase today that averages 30 MPG (would get 36 MPG on the highway in the 55 MPH days) with a 7 foot bed that's low to the ground making it incredibly easy to move large items myself? Yeah, nothing.

I also can't stand the short bed trend going on. WTF am I going to do with a 4 or 5 foot bed? Anything smaller than a 6 foot bed is just useless. 7 foot beds need to make a comeback with smaller trucks.

Finding parts for these trucks is not exactly easy anymore. Good luck trying to find an Air Flow Meter, Auxiliary Air Valve, Ignition module, and other electrical parts/sensors. I stocked up over 20 years ago by wandering through junkyards and purchasing brand new genuine Toyota parts for cheap on Ebay with the foresight of knowing it would lead this so I'm good but a new owner would be up a creek if something failed.

[misterp266]

I already have a small truck which is working fine, 145k. I just thought that it might be nice to get a new truck and wanted to know why there are none.

I may replace it one day with an old truck. ‘50s or ‘60s short bed. For now, I’m good.

[The Champ]

Originally Posted by b-man

Find an older ‘80s or ‘90s Toyota small pickup, search in one of the southwestern states for a rust-free example. Plenty of parts are available for them and they run forever.

If you find one, don't bring it up north unless it's a summer only truck.

I had a 1985 SR5 extended cab. It ran very well, but the frame and box were toast in short order in snow country. And the replacement body parts weren't any better - in 1991 one of my coworkers slid into my truck and took out the driver's side box. Had the whole truck repainted and the whole box side replaced, but that rusted out too.

I had to put a sheet of 3/4" 4x8 plywood in the box to make the truck functional - otherwise anyone walking in the bed or anything heavy would fall through what was left of the floor.

Ended up donating the truck to the Rawhide Boys Ranch (Bart Starr's camp for problem young men) for the tax deduction.

[hurryinhoosier62]

I had a ‘91 Mazda B2200 I loved. It got 30-32 mpg on the highway (five speed), could carry anything I could get into the bed and the cab was roomy enough for my NFL defensive tackle body. It made it through three Wisconsin winter before body rot began to appear. I loaned to my nephew shortly after we moved back here to IN the first time (2007). He totaled it in a car accident. I kept it for awhile while I located the parts to repair it, but could not find a serviceable core support. Mazda quoted me twenty-six weeks to get a new one from Japan. I then chose to scrap her. The last time I saw her at our local Pull-A-Part nothing was left but the rust out core support and the frame.

[pontiacstogo]

The number 1 selling vehicles in NZ (and Australia too I think) are 'utes'. These are very much a small truck. For the most part they are all 4 door and most are diesel - they include the Ford Ranger, Nissan Navara, Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi Triton etc. Ranger here;

https://www.ford.co.nz/showroom/futu...en-ranger.html

Fullsize trucks are available here, but not very common. A Ram1500 Express starts at $99K

https://www.ramtrucks.co.nz/

[Dave R]

1980 GMC single cab/8 foot box for me. I remember when it was a “big” truck. Now it’s seems like a small truck compared to what they’re pumping out today. My only requirement of a truck is an 8 foot box and a tow hitch. Bonus if it’s a manual transmission.

[72projectbird]

I made one of my full size truck relatively small...

[mgarblik]

I think one of the smallest new pickups is a Ford Maverick. They were $19,999.00 in 2022. Very stripped down for that price and I think a 5 1/2' bed. But a small pickup none the less. Hybrid gasoline power plant standard. Nearly 40 MPG. If you feel you need a new pickup, that's one of the only choices.

[misterp266]

Originally Posted by 72projectbird

I made one of my full size truck relatively small...

My last truck was a black ‘01 GMC short bed fleetside. Dropped 4/6.

[HoovDaddy]

Originally Posted by 59safaricat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azI3...st=WL&index=17

I have to carry a big stick and beat people away every time I drive my mid 80's Toyota truck, I'm just waiting for some idiot to steal it at this point. Everyone keeps haggling me to buy it.

Same here. 2 days ago I sold my '96 GMC Sierra standard cab short box. In Michigan those trucks have turned to dust, but I bought this from Texas 8 years ago, nice truck that everyone wants to buy. Easy sale on the first day of the ad.

Speaking of small trucks, I just bought a new Ranger 4X4 extended cab with a 6' bed. 2023 is the last year for a small cab Ranger from Ford. That leaves Toyota and Nissan as the only small truck, small cab builders next year. I really wanted a new full size standard cab/short box 4X4 but none in stock within 500 miles and a 4-6 month order time.

[Mr Anonymous]

Coworker has a new Maverick. Loves it! I've ridden in it a handful of times, I kinda like it.

[Cammer-6]

only new vehicle ive bought is an 01 S10
still have it.

[ta6point6]

I think what this guy is saying is closer to the facts. The dealers do not make a lot of money selling small trucks they make money on larger truck sales. The dealers have marked trucks up so high people can not afford them or willing to pay 100k. That is all dealers Chevy Ford and Dodge with dealer markups it is insane what they are asking for vehicles.
Speaking of trucks look at this beauty I had seen at a garage sale
https://youtu.be/8uAX0oWRW7c

[The Champ]

Originally Posted by ta6point6

I think what this guy is saying is closer to the facts. The dealers do not make a lot of money selling small trucks they make money on larger truck sales. The dealers have marked trucks up so high people can not afford them or willing to pay 100k. That is all dealers Chevy Ford and Dodge with dealer markups it is insane what they are asking for vehicles.

I don't know about dealers in your area, but my local Chevy dealer doesn't have a single truck with a dealer markup. All are discounted off sticker, with most of them having 4 - 5,000 off.

Pricing after advertised discount ranges from $48,000 - 73,000.00.

That said, I would like to see a smaller, less expensive option before I'd buy another truck.

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by misterp266

My last truck was a black ‘01 GMC short bed fleetside. Dropped 4/6.

My man!

Mine is a 2000 with a 5/7. Rides better than a stock height truck lol