Does any US mfr sell real pickup trucks any more?
January 7, 2019 2:40 PM Subscribe
My 2007 Chevy is nearing the end of its useful life. I live on a farm, and need a full 8ft box for hauling stuff, and don't want a long cab or any of the "options" that now seem to mostly be standard. Not finding any trucks like this on the market.
My current truck was bought used in 2010, but when I look through the online inventories of local dealers and even Carvana I'm not finding anything like what I need. Mostly there are cars with a truck skin stretched over them, and a tiny box that looks useful only for making the owners dick seem bigger. I especially do not want all the electronic crap in the middle of the dashboard, a radio will do me fine. Does anyone make real trucks anymore, and how might I go about finding one? Prefer used a few years old, in order to shave the first couple years of depreciation off. Thanks for any help.
My current truck was bought used in 2010, but when I look through the online inventories of local dealers and even Carvana I'm not finding anything like what I need. Mostly there are cars with a truck skin stretched over them, and a tiny box that looks useful only for making the owners dick seem bigger. I especially do not want all the electronic crap in the middle of the dashboard, a radio will do me fine. Does anyone make real trucks anymore, and how might I go about finding one? Prefer used a few years old, in order to shave the first couple years of depreciation off. Thanks for any help.
Ford F150-F350 all come in regular cab, 8 foot bed versions. As Sunday morning said, a "commercial" trim version is probably what you are after. in my area those are often sold by separate "fleet" dealers
posted by Dr. Twist at 2:53 PM on January 7, 2019 [6 favorites]
posted by Dr. Twist at 2:53 PM on January 7, 2019 [6 favorites]
The Chevy Colorado (which is also marketed, more expensively, as the GMC Canyon) comes in a regular cab version. They are seemingly becoming the go-to replacement for Ford Ranger pickups as fleet vehicles, inevitably in white.
I believe this is called the "Work Truck" trim by Chevy, although you can't configure one that way using their online tool. I suspect if you want a new one, you have to go to a Chevy Commercial dealer and then beat them about the head for a while until they stop trying to sell you on some $30k+ cowboy cadillac. But allegedly they do exist and have a reasonable-ish MSRP of just over $20k for the 2019.
There are a few used ones showing on Carmax, although not a ton. Small (for definitions of "small" that are "not gargantuan") pickups are an underserved market right now, IMO.
You might also want to look at the Silverado 1500 Work Truck configuration, which of course is getting into F-150 territory, but there are many more Silverado 1500 Work Trucks on the used market, that I can find in a quick search, than Colorado Work Trucks. I think the Colorado only started to catch on as a fleet vehicle with the death of the Ford Ranger, so there aren't as many of them around yet on the secondary market.
Also, perhaps consider the Nissan Frontier (specifically the "Frontier S" which is the 2-door, not-ridiculously-extended-cab version). It is as much an "American" car as most of the Chevy models, by parts content, final assembly point, and use of obnoxious metric fasteners, at least in the model years and configurations I looked at a while back. That may not save you any grief from the sort of good ol' boys who only think there are two brands of pickup trucks in the world, but it's the honest truth.
posted by Kadin2048 at 3:33 PM on January 7, 2019 [2 favorites]
I believe this is called the "Work Truck" trim by Chevy, although you can't configure one that way using their online tool. I suspect if you want a new one, you have to go to a Chevy Commercial dealer and then beat them about the head for a while until they stop trying to sell you on some $30k+ cowboy cadillac. But allegedly they do exist and have a reasonable-ish MSRP of just over $20k for the 2019.
There are a few used ones showing on Carmax, although not a ton. Small (for definitions of "small" that are "not gargantuan") pickups are an underserved market right now, IMO.
You might also want to look at the Silverado 1500 Work Truck configuration, which of course is getting into F-150 territory, but there are many more Silverado 1500 Work Trucks on the used market, that I can find in a quick search, than Colorado Work Trucks. I think the Colorado only started to catch on as a fleet vehicle with the death of the Ford Ranger, so there aren't as many of them around yet on the secondary market.
Also, perhaps consider the Nissan Frontier (specifically the "Frontier S" which is the 2-door, not-ridiculously-extended-cab version). It is as much an "American" car as most of the Chevy models, by parts content, final assembly point, and use of obnoxious metric fasteners, at least in the model years and configurations I looked at a while back. That may not save you any grief from the sort of good ol' boys who only think there are two brands of pickup trucks in the world, but it's the honest truth.
posted by Kadin2048 at 3:33 PM on January 7, 2019 [2 favorites]
The Ford ranger is coming back as a 2019 model, if you want something smaller than an f150.
posted by TheAdamist at 4:21 PM on January 7, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by TheAdamist at 4:21 PM on January 7, 2019 [3 favorites]
Sadly the new Ranger maxes out at a 6' bed.
posted by nicwolff at 5:06 PM on January 7, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by nicwolff at 5:06 PM on January 7, 2019 [1 favorite]
To add, Toyota Tundras are actually built in the US, and they also have a “work truck” - vinyl and cloth interior, long bed option, tow package, V8; the frilliest option that’s standard with this model is a backup camera. I have been eyeing one for a few years, but like one of the posters above mentioned, you gotta go to the dealership and explain that’s the truck you want. It’s usually considered a fleet vehicle, but Toyota dealerships will sell them.
posted by sara is disenchanted at 7:33 PM on January 7, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by sara is disenchanted at 7:33 PM on January 7, 2019 [1 favorite]
We own a 2004 Toyota Tundra short bed with a towing package. Great with a bed extender or towing a flatbed trailer. We had Ford F-150s before this, and a Dodge Ram.
Do your research online.
Go to the dealer, say this is what I want and I can get it at this price if I bring a friend with me to pick it up from out of state. Can you match that price today if I write a check?
Hold firm. Be prepared to drive. It's your money.
We can still haul more lumber and supplies in the 2004 Honda Odyssey. We are hanging onto it until it goes to that great junkyard in the sky.
The latest model is too expensive. For that price I would get a used Class C motor home.
We went with a Toyota RAV4 hybrid for the gas mileage.
posted by TrishaU at 9:08 PM on January 7, 2019
Do your research online.
Go to the dealer, say this is what I want and I can get it at this price if I bring a friend with me to pick it up from out of state. Can you match that price today if I write a check?
Hold firm. Be prepared to drive. It's your money.
We can still haul more lumber and supplies in the 2004 Honda Odyssey. We are hanging onto it until it goes to that great junkyard in the sky.
The latest model is too expensive. For that price I would get a used Class C motor home.
We went with a Toyota RAV4 hybrid for the gas mileage.
posted by TrishaU at 9:08 PM on January 7, 2019
Agreed that I think your keyword is "fleet" -- I bought a 9-year-old off-fleet F250 and it's great, bare-bones and no frills.
posted by AzraelBrown at 6:06 AM on January 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by AzraelBrown at 6:06 AM on January 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
It looks like you are not in my area, but you aren't really *that* far from my area either. We have a local Truck Headquarters auto sales place that sells only trucks. Take a look at their inventory and see if any of those models fit your needs. Then that can help you narrow down options elsewhere or make a roadtrip.
My dad's truck preferences sound similar to yours. He *did* want a big cab, though, to haul adult children. He has a base model Ford F-150 without too many bells and whistles (but all that electronic stuff in the center console seems to be just what comes with everything these days), but with a full sized box. Good luck.
posted by jillithd at 8:00 AM on January 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
My dad's truck preferences sound similar to yours. He *did* want a big cab, though, to haul adult children. He has a base model Ford F-150 without too many bells and whistles (but all that electronic stuff in the center console seems to be just what comes with everything these days), but with a full sized box. Good luck.
posted by jillithd at 8:00 AM on January 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
Regarding electronics: backup cameras are now mandatory for new cars. Often they are combined with in-dash "infotainment" systems. Normally that would signal fancy-trim accessory but it now is required for the base model.
From wikipedia:
"On March 31, 2014, four years past its deadline, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that it would require all automobiles sold in the United States built beginning in May 2018 to include backup cameras."
posted by sol at 9:02 AM on January 8, 2019
From wikipedia:
"On March 31, 2014, four years past its deadline, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that it would require all automobiles sold in the United States built beginning in May 2018 to include backup cameras."
posted by sol at 9:02 AM on January 8, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Sunday Morning at 2:50 PM on January 7, 2019 [3 favorites]