[Closed] Pickup truck for everyday use?

Okay, I'll bite here. Why would you buy a vehicle that's between 500kg and 700kg heavier than the equivalent estate car JUST for the 3% of journeys that you specifically want the feature of the bed for? Would it not be better to either buy a drybag for the inside or to have roof bars and a topbox for a normal car? Half a tonne?! Minimum!

Aside from this, I've never driven one, but have two friends who had them. One was a Warrier, the other was a Navara. The former hated his Warrier with a passion and bought a Rangerover, The latter had a love/hate relationship with his Navara. He seemed to like that he could somewhat mistreat it, but also hated that it was very utilitarian. He still has one, he thinks it "suits him" which it kinda does. He'll likely buy another.

On the downsides you forget about green housing the planet faster than you would with a hatch with a liner for you your wet or muddy stuff.

You know there's a problem, do something positive rather than going from bad to worse.

Buy a van.

Reliability, they seem to never break down, am I right?

my mates broke down the middle...

The most economical pickups are shown after testing at about 46 or 47 mpg.

downhill, with a following wind. Maybe.

Having admired my mate's Ranger for a while, I let my head rule my heart and bought a SWB Tourneo Custom 9 seater instead. It's not a decision I've regretted, to the point that I recently traded it for a new LWB model. If you find the double bench seat uncomfy as a passenger, look for one with the two single seats up front.

40+ years of kayaking here, chucking wet / muddy / sandy kit in the back of the car.
Best solution - a trug. Way cheaper than a pickup and more reliable too.

Best solution – a trug.

I use a large ikea tub to the same end

Wouldn't a bodyboard and kit need securing in the back of a pickup? A wet wetsuit might not fly out but anything less dense than that could.

The truck based ones are way less comfortable, slower , less economical and worse performance than a car. If you really want one, get a car based ute (holden maloo, skoda and proton have done them too) and then the compromises are minimised.

Or, given none of your kit is large, just get a saloon and a plastic boot liner? Completely separate from the body of the car so no stinking, secure, can be hosed out..

I have a Navara for work. It’s great for that-stinky wet climbing and chainsaw kit, fuel cans etc are in the bed (with a full canopy) & I go in the front. Muddy horrible sites easily coped with too & the winch also gets used a fair bit for work.
Great for towing too

Would t have one as my daily driver if I didn’t absolutely need what it does.
Pretty nice to drive compared to a Defender or maybe a tractor but bouncy and vague, noisy at motorway speeds & not very economical.
Definitely a tool for a job but not sure it’s the right tool for your job...

not had one myself, but friends have. unless you need one for trade use the general impression i was given by friends is that they wouldn't bother again fpr one or more pf the following - thirsty, cramped crew cabs in the back, flat bed was really easy to break into with a cover on, uncomfortable ride without a load, agricultural to drive compared to cars and many vans, pain in the ass to park in many situations

What you really want is a 67 El Camino.
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1320022

Great tax dodge, but how long is your body board? Will it fit inside the back space if you have a canopy on?

I'v driven a few over the years and they do a great job, if it doesn't involve driving on the main roads. I personally don't get the need for them as a van seems to be far more practical, certainly capable if fitting more bikes inside a van than you can a pick-up.

Easy enough to get the back of a van fitted with a plastic covering that would be easy to sweep or hose out - leave the windows open a crack to air/vent the car to prevent the smells from hanging around.

Better fuel economy in anything but a pick-up. The Navara might have the 2wd drive option, but assuming it is a switch in the car to go from 4wd to 2wd, then you are still lugging the weight of the 4wd drive system around with you - so no real advantage at all.

They are great for towing things, but I reckon they really are a poor compromise for the vast majority of people who appear to be buying them for tax reasons; lifestyle image; the false belief that they really are the ultimate vehicle for the weekend shopping and the occasional use of something about 'out there'.

I'm not a fan of them for most people, but for a working environment, they can be the difference between getting the job done and needing to call someone to get you out and then get the job done.

They have their use and their place but it isn't really on a driveway of a house (in my opinion).

the redneck daft man brain tells me I want a Ford Wildtrack for similar reasons, car up front and muddy stuff in the rear (I just read that back, i'll stand by it)

The mpg, baby seals and the supermarket parking puts me off a bit and I'd also have to get in the mindset to always park in a child and baby/disabled space whenever possible......or at least they do round here.

I had a Ford Ranger for a few years, used mainly for collecting firewood and towing a big caravan.

I. LOVED. IT!

Big bouncy tyres gave a superbly smooth ride, lots of torque, slightly elevated driving position for good visibility.

Downsides
It was a planet raper
Legroom in the back was poor once the kids got older than about 6
The load bed was good for logs and chainsaws, but poor for almost everything else - stuff slid about, bikes wouldn't easily go in with the canopy on - could get 6 bikes in with the front wheels off though.

I'm not sure I'd have another one.

the redneck daft man brain tells me I want a Ford Wildtrack

On the downsides you forget about green housing the planet faster than you would with a hatch with a liner for you your wet or muddy stuff.

You know there’s a problem, do something positive rather than going from bad to worse.

I've never wanted a pcikup before. But then I saw this. Coolest looking vehicle ever. If I win the lotto I'd have this and a Singer Porsche.

https://www.alphamotorinc.com/wolf

(yes its another startup american EV company, who has so far produced only renders, but use your imagination)

It sounds like a van would do the things you like the idea of better TBH.

Just imagine if they made a pickup but with proper back seats and a real maasive boot....

24 MPG and £500 road tax.

I miss it.

@mcmoonter to the forum please

Hang on I've found his pic, hope he doesn't mind.

My old boss bought a Dodge Ram SRT to put his motocross bike in the back to go to meetings, but the wing across the back put paid to that. It ended its days wrapped around a tree a few weeks after he got rid - 8 litre V10 and no weight over the back do not a performance vehicle make.

Have a pick up ..... Does about 2000miles between MOT

Most of those towing .

Would I buy one if I had to drive it every day.....would I hell.

For the ops use case ....naw not a chance.

I had a Nissan Navara for three years or so. Had the cab put on the back.

It was great for big journeys, carrying stuff, biking but eventually became a pain for day to day use. Car parks, parking etc.

I went back to a hatchback and then onto an estate. Much better overall.

Practice a bit of kit hygiene and use a plastic box and a boot liner.

Do you want a vehicle that tells other road users that you are an utter ballbag? Buy a Ford Ranger.

Does the OP have working cats?

We had to ditch the hatchback and buy a pickup when we got working cats.

My mate bought a Nissan Navara. Over the next 3 years he replaced so many parts that he'd essentially bought two Navara's.

When everything was brand new and running like a dream the chassis snapped.

I'd have a Skoda Fun or a V70 (ideally V70R) conversion

I think you might be better off with an estate or a van like a t5?

Mate has a Mitzubishi trojan for work, and the bed is ok for lugging lumps of wood and tools, for his work, bit it's not big enough to put a bike in without taking a wheel off, and then having to strap it down.

Also the back seats are so small they may aswell not be there.

Nissan Navara Tekna here, had it about 5 months replacing Shogunsport. Not happy with it. We have quite specific requirements - must be able to tow 3 tonnes (horse box), room for 3 kids and dog + bikes.

Longer than a supermarket parking space, awkward to manoevre, restricted rear view (with canopy rear view is through 3 glass windows). It also seems prone to niggling electrical problems.

I'd like to get rid of it but need the towing capacity. I've had Discoverys and don't want to go back. If the only option is another pickup, I'm thinking get a small car for local use and keep Navara just for towing (expensive option).

I’ve sat in a sporty VW Transporter on long journeys and found it a bit cramped and I’m only 174cm

I smell a stinky Troll... Or a man that likes to travel stood up ?

🤔

What about a car derived van?
i.e. astra van or similar.

Should be cheaper and have better MPG with a big enough load bed for body boards, beach gear and bikes.

Only downside I can see is if you need to accommodate more than one passenger then a crew cab pickup arguably makes better sense, or if you need to move bigger items...

TBH you're probably best off getting a normal hatchback or whatever for daily use and setting aside budget for a weekending skip car (assuming you're working with the budget for a new/nearly new pickup to start with), something like an older common MPV pre 2010 zaffira/galaxy/S-max and removing the rear seats. It won't have had as hard a life as a used van or be as expensive on parts and service as a posh new pickup...

Or if you really must have a pickup truck - Cybertruck?

We have a '67 plated L200 with a mid range spec. 4 proper doors, nice interior with enough room for 2 adults and 2 large teenagers. Heated seats, blu tooth, selectable hi/low/4wd etc. Its a nice place to be. We have a hard back cover as without it safe storage of things is difficult. Its the family car, Wife uses it as her everyday drive but we live in semi rural Derbyshire and have a small holding with animals including horses so this helps justify it as we do treat it as a farm vehicle and tow loads. Living in a city I think it would feel big.
Struggle to think of a downside really, it really suits us. Every car involves some compromises and we are happy to accept them as the benefits far outweigh the negatives.

Since the fall of ISIS, there must be a glut of Toyota HiLUX on the market?

If you've been to north America in the last 5 years, you'd think 60% of people on the road are in the building trade. Pickups are a trend for people who never transport anything more space consuming that the weekly food shop. We are talking the massive things with 5 litre V8s in them. Also kitted out with luxury interiors that you wouldn't dare get dirty. The utility of a pickup is undeniable, the downside is they don't drive well, the ride isn't great, you cant take more than one friend with you unless you get the extra cab, which means you usually get less box length. They are a massive compromise.

Or if you really must have a pickup truck – Cybertruck?

I would hang on for the Rivian or the Nikola Badger personally 😉

I own a Wildtrak 2.0 BiTurbo and a Transit Custom.
If I could only have one , it would be the van. Van is more roomy inside , more secure. Ok its higher, but its shorter than the pickup. Mines got a tailgate , so makes loading a bit of a pain.

The pickup is ideal for going to remote sites. It drives better with a bit of load in the back, and its fairly refined and is comfortable sat on the motorway as 70 . Flick it into S and it will keep up with the boy racers between lights 🙂
I have a pull out bed , which makes it far more useful as you don't need to climb in the bed to retrieve things that have rolled to the back.

Im changing the Wildtrak to a Discovery Sport PHEV soon, have you got a spare £25K +VAT kicking around 😉

Yes, I have one for everyday use. Isuzu DMax. I hate how uneconomical it is (30mpg is realistic but it’s on mud tyres - 32mpg prob on road tyres). I like it, but it gets used off-road and for carrying loads so works.

Had a Navara before it (new shape). Hated pretty much every single thing about it, but perhaps the most painful was dealing with Nissan.

Would I have one to chuck a bodyboard and wetsuit in once a month? Not a hope in hell!

If you absolutely need to move about half a ton of crap, or something stinky occasionally and don't want it in the cab with you. Get a trailer.

Canoeist/Sea Kayak here and trug lover. Wet kit goes in and when I get home I just use the hose to wash the stuff out. Once all dry goes back in the trug for storage.

If you want to get a pickup go for it but I honestly don’t think it’s the best tool for water sports side of things.

If you really want separation between kit and passengers a small crew van might be a better choice.

£5 on a garden tub for a normal car vs £10k ona car and thousanda extra on fuel and a much worse drive. Yeah not the best idea really.

We are talking the massive things with 5 litre V8s in them.

Aw bless. My Father in Law's truck had a 9l V10 and did 8mpg on a good day. You see loads of them on the road but in fairness to Ford they don't make them any more. They've gone with V6s and turbos.

Have had a few at work, don’t recall any of them doing more than 30mpg average and most were in the 20’s. No storage in the cab, slow and interesting handling. Expensive tyres too. They look cool though and great for a bit of off road fun.
We’ve got vans now, transit customs. Great interior and no scene tax. Fit normal sized people as the seats go back further than a VW.

You need a tasteful one like this one I saw in Sunny Leith

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51084547216_bd41664aa5_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51084547216_bd41664aa5_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2kQaE8s ]160030109_10157902242523388_4697909578509243667_n[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/25846484@N04/ ]TandemJeremy[/url], on Flickr

I got to drive the Navarra, HiLux, Mitsubishi L200 and the Ranger at various times over the last five years, one of the perks of working in vehicle logistics, and I found all of them, bar one, to have a very bouncy and choppy ride, the exception being the Ranger, it seems to be a bit more civilised.
However, I’d never entertain the idea of buying one, unless I was hauling loads of logs or other stuff that could sit in the bed, which is highly unlikely!
I’d look for a 4x4 van, or a Mitsubishi Delica, just as big, but much safer for keeping kit in, and to kip in!

I've got a 2018 Hilux. It's great for what I do, it spends a lot of time off road, with a dog cage more or less permanently installed in the back. It's got an Aeroklas canopy and a load liner which means it can be filled with stuff I don't want with me in the cab. The double cab is spacious, with room for four or five adults. It's well equipped, sort of, but not exactly luxurious. It does 33-34mpg on a steady motorway run, but averages 28 mpg as a runabout.

If you want it for surfboards and stuff, that's fine, unless your surfboard is longer than 1.45m. The "luxury" of the double cab means you only get a load bed of 1475mm. You'll need roofrails.

Compared with a Navara, the Hilux is a much better ride. It's switchable 4wd, so you get RWD most of the time. The suspension takes a bit of getting used to, but it's a step-change up from most other pickups.

Oh, and you can fit a 30cal machine gun or anti-aircraft missile launcher on the back and thrash it round the desert. You can't do that with T6.

I drive a 20 plate ranger wild track for work towing fuel tanks and generators around the country.
As said above it drives better towing 2,5 tonnes than it does empty.
Would I have one, not a chance.

Run two new shape Navaras for the last three years, no failures of any description both average 35mpg and they have a five year 100k warranty- both just went through Mots last month with nothing more than tyres and front discs.

Driving wise they are not an SUV they are good on motorways and amazing in snow and mud, mine also tows about a ton on a regular basis.

The question is if it wasn't tax efficient (lets not forget Rishis 130%) would i drive one? Probably not but currently a New Tekna is £22k if you shop about, we get the VAT back and 130% on the tax so they stand us just north of 16k each with a five year warranty. They will fetch 12k or more after 3 years. Thats 100 quid a month and personal tax and fuel card is less than that a month.
They are very cheap for a limited company, hence so many about

I’d look for a 4×4 van, or a Mitsubishi Delica, just as big, but much safer for keeping kit in, and to kip in!

For a 4*4 van you'd be needing double the budget and for a delicia worth having in the UK you'd need a time machine

I ran an L200 as a shooting / stalking / everything motor for 8 yrs or so.

As an everyday car ? nope, no chance.
Get a transit custom if you need somit like that.

I've got a '17 plate Navara Tekna. 125,000 miles with no issues until today when the a/c failed! It drives OK, parking is a trial, but it has a cool all-round camera, which helps. I tow regularly with it and get about 30mpg overall. It's OK inside, leather seats etc. Very comfy and a good view out (as long as you don't have a cabin on the back!), but ride is a wee bit jiggly. 7 speed autobox is good, if a bit slow. Engine and box are Renault. It's RWD, not front, btw. 4WD only for low speeds, really. Would I have one if I didn't need it for work? No, not a chance. I had a Freelander2 before, which also did 125,000 miles with no major issues. Superior vehicle in every way.

63 Reg Ranger here. Got it when it was a year old. Very happy. Used daily, no biggie parking as I don’t live in toy town! Site visits, towing, family stuff, carrying loose logs, trips to the alpes or the beach, carrying a zodiac and outboard. Kids like it in the back, we had more car sick episodes in the Passat we had for a few years. Not sure why anyone would need a “better handling” car. Who do think you are, Ari Vattenen? The roads are too busy and pot holed for making progress. OP, get one, you won’t loose money on it. They hold value well.

.

Unless it has a work logo on the side or is covered in mud and battered, or has an animal in the back, it'l also make you look like a nobber.

No offence taken molgrips.

Unless it has a work logo on the side or is covered in mud and battered, or has an animal in the back,

Does it have to be a working cat for VAT relief?

Estate car, roof rails, fish box. A surfer with a ute is a farmer. It looks good but very impractical and expensive.

An estate doesn't have the rad bro factor though does it? Especially if you add a raceface tailgate pad for more gnar.

I'm in Oz, where the biggest selling vehicle is the Hilux and every other car is a utility (pick-up).

It took me a few years living here for it to feel right - especially from a security perspective (stuff doesn't get nicked as much here), but now i wouldn't be without one.

My everyday car is a Mitsubishi Triton (L200 in UK i think?). Fuel economy isn't bad compared to the competition, but not great compared with 'normal' cars.

They drive pretty much the same as a standard car, parking is really the same if you have any kind of spatial awareness, and i've done a few very long drives in it (Queensland to Victoria and Queensland to Tasmania).

Best of all, in the 70,000 miles i've driven it (on top of the 60,000 before me) it hasn't had a single problem. Zilch.

However it's so convenient for camping. I've got roof racks on the top for a pod and racks over the tub at the back so i can fit four bikes inside the footprint, with all the camping gear including fridge underneath the bikes.

Another Australian here.

My 7.5ft surfboard fits into my Honda HRV (based on a honda Jazz chassis) - and my wetsuit goes in a trug in the boot. Works perfectly. The only thing that's a bit annoying is that the boot lid (when open) is about an inch too low to stand under without ducking.

You don't need a pickup because of bodyboarding - sorry 🙂 Unless you plan to upgrade to real surfing at any point? Lol. And even then a regular hatchback is fine.

What'd put me off having one in the UK is the security of the storage area. Not really an issue over here in Australia, but I'd worry every time I stopped off at the service station in the UK

Ford is about to release a new, unibody pickup called the Maverick that will likely be smaller and more efficient than the current Ranger (and will likely come in a hybrid as it's built on the same C2 platform as the Escape, which has a hybrid). If you want a pickup for the light duty stuff you describe, I'd see it as the ticket.

You could wheelspin into the Hossegor carpark in a blaze of sound, stickers and spots but you'd have to wait till the coast is clear before you go round the back and pull out your shark biscuit.

Bill has a point you'll look like the guy i saw drive past in peebles in his Mitsubishi Walloper with all the bikes hooked on the tailgate in the enduro style... A clapped out 90s mointainbike, a ladies shopper and kids bike.

“Mitsubishi Walloper” 🤣
Proper tickled me that

Ford is about to release a new, unibody pickup called the Maverick that will likely be smaller and more efficient than the current Ranger (and will likely come in a hybrid as it’s built on the same C2 platform as the Escape, which has a hybrid). If you want a pickup for the light duty stuff you describe, I’d see it as the ticket.

Early publicity shots just in...

They drive pretty much the same as a standard car, parking is really the same

Was your last car in the uk an Austin Allegro ?

Forgot that I used to drive a pick-up actually.

Brilliant little thing, but may not be the lifestyle statement you're after OP.

Have the responses changed your mind, out of interest?

World's fugliest thing (not fugliest pickup, not fugliest car, just fugliest thing)

This is what the OP needs

Best pickup ever

Other than the colour of that one
I quite liked a jumbuck

Hateful machines which unless you need it daily for specific job are a compromise in pretty much every way

I have just handed back a Mercedes X250 Element (Yes i know the Navara jokes). The wow factor lasted about 24hrs and i wanted to hand it back for 12mths. I was last offered a pickup as a company car about 15 years ago when i worked for Ford and i offered my resignation rather than accept. I hoped things had moved on this time.

Fuel economy - 25mpg. Don't kid yourself its any better.
Comfort - Huge step up. Dirty trousers every time i stepped in off the side bars. Banged your head or jammed your legs into steering wheel every time. Uncomfortable legs out seating position. Rear passengers feel like they are sat on the roof. Poor leg room.
Drive - Wallowy bag of shite
Safety - **** everyone else, my 2t bohemouth will kill everyone else in an accident, who cares
Load space - Ask my wife what she thinks of climbing into the load be to retrive the weeks shopping? Does nothing well compared to a nice estate car.

Honestly, i would tax these vehicles out of existence unless you need it for work.

You see loads of them on the road but in fairness to Ford they don’t make them any more. They’ve gone with V6s and turbos.

Ford north America will still happily supply you with a 5l v8 400hp 12,000lb towing machine. And that's in the f150. If you really want a pickup you want an f250 or f350 duallie. Baby robins will commit hari-kari on your massively oversized front grill.
At least dodge stopped making the ram with the viper engine in it.

these are my reasons;
1. I go away on bodyboarding weekends once a month or couple of months and I love the idea of being able to throw all my wet gear in the back, instead of having my boot stinking of salt and sea, and then be able to hose or rinse out the whole back bed area.
2. I would like one of the full roof coverings over the bed.
3. Also like the idea of throwing muddy wet bike gear in the back.
4. Regards bikes, either a rack on the back or on the top.

1. A better solution is Really Useful Boxes. We have three that we can fit a full family of wet canoe kit in, put lid on and there is no damp or smell escape. We then hose out whole box at home.
2. An estate car, people carrier or van has this in place already -usually more secure as well.
3. See my suggestions for the Really Useful Box and add in Ikea bags.
4. Again an Estate, people carrier or small van can do this at less cost to buy and run, financially and environmentally.

There is a guy near me who drives a Ford Sierra pickup. It is too many layers of awesome.

Nothing else to add to this thread other than when I read your requirements, you described needing a van with bulkhead or an estate with plastic boxes in the boot as described by Matt above.

So OP, Whatcha gonna do?

Aw bless. My Father in Law’s truck had a 9l V10 and did 8mpg on a good day. You see loads of them on the road but in fairness to Ford they don’t make them any more. They’ve gone with V6s and turbos.

Ford released a new 7.3L pushrod petrol V8 in 2019. They still have the 6.7 v8 diesel powerstroke and 6.2 flex fuel.

What you need is a VW Saveiro

So OP, Whatcha gonna do?

Probably currently too shocked at the price of vans to respond.

What you need is a VW Saveiro

Love the "Robust" badge.

😀

World’s fugliest thing (not fugliest pickup, not fugliest car, just fugliest thing)

Not seen the SSangyong Musso then ?

 

cromolyolly
Free Member

If you’ve been to north America in the last 5 years, you’d think 60% of people on the road are in the building trade.

The top 3 selling vehicles over there are the Ford F series, Chevy Silverado and Dodge Ram. Makes a bit of a joke of us lot piddling around with our 1 litre 3 pots.