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Just wondering how many drive a small truck? I see many ford chevy dodge threads but not many Toyota or nissan Ranger or S10 threads. I don't need a big truck 99% of the time so I bought a small truck for a daily driver/comuter, old 97 nissan 2wd, needs some TLC and a timing gear kit but other than that it's ok. Runs fine. It didn't run when I got it, dude said he thought it was the fuel pump cause we put gas in the throttle body and it would fire but then die. I dropped the tank and it was light as a feather, shoulda checked that first, it was out of gas lol.

Seems everyone I know that drives a Toyota or Nissan truck puts crazy amounts of miles on them. My neighbor has a 95 nissan with over 300k on it and the speedo cable has been broke for 3 years. My uncle and cousin have Toyotas with 300 on each of their trucks and with minimal repairs, mostly just maintenance. 26 mpg is rather appealing to me also so I'm in a compact truck now, I'm liking it so far. It has 210k and if I can get another 100k out of it I will gladly take it to the crusher and go get another small truck.

...The Toyotas are pretty good trucks but I don't think they are any better than the Ranger for quite a bit less money.

I have two trucks, a 2000 F350 and a 2000 Ford Ranger; both 4x4s. The Ranger is nice for light trips, getting around in parking lots and one-day hunting trips. I much prefer my F350 but it's nice to have two trucks.

I recently had to pull a U-haul trailer to Utah with my Ranger as my turbo went out on the big truck just prior to leaving. I had to get off the throttle on every hill or I would overheat. The little trucks just aren't made to do heavy lifting.

Most overpriced truck out there is the Tacoma. They are like Harleys; everyone thinks they have to have one whether it is merited or not. My Son-in-law has had 4 of them in the past two years, my son has one and I have spent a few hours in Jeffs (see post above).

I get almost the same mileage in the F350 as the Ranger. Diesel fuel is now cheaper than gas here. I can pull anything with the F350. I could scarcely live without the big truck and make do with the little one for the tasks I can.

The Toyotas are pretty good trucks but I don't think they are any better than the Ranger for quite a bit less money.

How comfortable are the newer Tacomas for long distance driving. It seems their seats sit really low to be comfortable.

I'm on my 5th Tacoma. Bought my first in 2000. I now have a 2014. These trucks are amazing. The most miles I put on one was 110,000. I never had any problems with any of them. I do the scheduled maintenance religiously. I can't imagine not owning a Taco. They cost more than most other small trucks but for me the quality and resale value justifies the cost. As far as I'm concerned you just can't go wrong with a Tacoma. They have always got me to my hunting and fishing spots and back.

Bob

Still think something the size of today's Tacoma, with a small turbo diesel, would be outstanding. Sadly, no Hi-Lux for the USA.....

How comfortable are the newer Tacomas for long distance driving. It seems their seats sit really low to be comfortable.

I have/had 2 TRD's and test drove a standard Tacoma before I bought the TRD. No comparison in seats. I can drive 500 miles and get out of the truck not crumpled over . I am AVerage height 5'11 with long legs .

Some guys work some guys play you can tell by the truck they drive

Realizing that in today's world all trucks are substantially better than the good old days...

My experience differs a bit about overpriced. I think I posted earlier about the 2WD '86 we owned. We paid $1800 for it with 150K miles on it and drove it for another 130K before having to replace anything other than "normal wear" items like tires, a clutch, brakes. Then after the rebuild we had it for another 30K or so before I sold it in great running shape except it was ready for a clutch (gee, 330K and it needed it's 2nd replacement clutch since new) . Seems like a pretty good buy to me.

And the one I own now, '01 4WD. Bought in 2009 or so at 130K for $11000 and now has 215K on it with no issues other than I need to replace the cat converters. As mentioned, the oil analysis just came back all parameters normal, it's time to change differential oil and maybe coolant and get the brakes checked.

I also tow a bit with mine, living away from my wife and all for eight months a year. When I go "home" and come back up here to work, I tow a 5x8 cargo trailer, usually with 1200 or so lbs of stuff in there along with maybe another 1000 under the camper shell. Tools, reloading gear, bullets, ammo, etc tend to weigh a bunch. I live in a canyon, the road to the top is 4-5 miles of 9% grade and there's more of those even once I get on top. Then there were the highways down to Cali and back I used to have to take (different ones depending on weather) with places like Whitebird hill on US 95, the grade up from Redding to Mt Shasta, The "hill" from Clarkston to Pomeroy WA, and some years the grade (both ways) up to Donner Summit on I80. Even with the 2.7L 4cyl in my truck I've never had it overheat.

So for me at least "MY" Tacomas, have not been overpriced. As they say, YMMV. I couldn't be happier.

Dennis, in case you haven't checked, take a look at you radiator hoses under load. It's usually not visible under "normal" conditions but sometimes the return hose on the suction side of the water pump can collapse. I know, it's happened to me more than once. Runs fine until one puts a good load on it. Then that hose collapses and it overheats. Hope that helps.

(Oh, I wish I could afford two trucks! That would solve a lot of problems)

Dennis, also enjoy your hunts this fall. I checked last night (night before?) and it looks like we still don't have computer access for the spring draws yet. Have you heard anything? Was supposed to be "Mid Sept" according to the G&F website.

Again, thanks all for your input. Interesting thread so far.

Geno