I’ve been looking for a used pickup (ebay, classifieds) and I’m perplexed by the amoun of short bed trucks out there. I see it at the lumber yard etc. Seems to make sense only if it’s dedicated to pulling a trailer.
General Motors web sit even lists the bed sizes as short, which looks all of 5 feet, standard, about 6.5 feet and long (what I call standard) 8′.
Seems to me if you’re buying something for hauling, you’d want the most capacity.
Curious what the reason would be other than too impatient to not order/find the long one.
Mike
Replies
Lot of guys in my area have shortbed extracabs (NOT the crew cab) with a rack so they can haul lumber and ladders. Lumberyards deliver, there's no reason to haul a large pile of material. For the odd situation where you need two hundred sixteen-footers on a Sunday - well, I guess you could alwyas borrow a trailer.
There's a couple long-box crew cab trucks around here, and they are too long. Don't fit in the driveway, in the parking lot, in any standard parking space, and the frame tends to sag over time to boot.
There's also been an increasing trend to use long-body vans. GMC Savana or similar, no windows, outfitted with tool racks and van shelving. You can carry 12' material in one if I'm not mistaken.
I have to agree about the vans. I have a gmc Step van W/18' long cargo area. But I see daily loads hanging out these 6 1/2' boxes and it just seems kind of pointless. Plus they're not hard to park.
Mike
I'll bet all the shortbeds you are seeing have extended cabs. They seem to be the preferred type. The problem is that when you marry an 8 foot box to the extended cab, you end up with a vehicle with a long wheelbase and a large turning radius.
You don't see many of those at all, an extended cab with a full size box. Owners of them will joke that you need a truck stop lot in order to turn around.
So the owners compromise the box size in order to get the cab, in order to have a truck they can park in the lot at the mall.
I'll agree to that, I bought a new truck about 2 years ago, I would have liked the extended cab, but wanted/needed the long bed, I test drove an extended cab with an 8' bed a few times and it was to much of a pita to park, turn, etc.
I ended up with an 04 F150 with an 8' bed. The 04's have a small extended cab, about 10" or so in back of the seats, just enough space for a few things or a small amount of luggage/baggage when traveling.
Mine's an '05 F150 4x4 standard cab 8-foot box, replaced the '98 F150 2WD I had. Room enough behind the seat now for the dog.
You make your dog ride in the back seat? What a snob ;)
Same as mine, I also have the heavy service package, what kind of milage are you getting?
I've always wondered why "pickups' period. Unsafe for tools and materials. Open to the weather. Less room. Looks cool though.The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides, I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace. I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.
Re: ... "why "pickups' period."For light service work a pickup is, IMHO, the way to go. For real light or occasional work a simple cross-bed box is good. Add a couple of low side boxes and you have a decent light service work truck. Service bodies take it to the next level and of course the larger the truck the larger the service body or boxes that will fit.I have worked out of a couple of vans and it always impresses me how much time it takes to get in and out of a van to get tools and materials.Of course there are some vans set up with side hatches that allow access to some tools and light materials quickly. If well set up so the most used T&M are easy to get to from the outside they might give a pickup with a service body a run for their money.Perhaps the "Open to the weather" aspect is not all bad. I have noted that vans tend to have their center isle end up as a 'catch-all' area. The vehicular equivalent of the kitchen drawer. It is easy to just have stuff tossed in. It it out of the weather, secure and so fairly easy to let it slide. Do the same in a truck and it becomes fairly self cleaning, it falls out on the road or get ruined by rain.
A strong motivator to sort it out and get it into tool boxes or secured.Of course a strict, strong willed and disciplined lead man might be able to keep a van well organized. Most, from what I have seen, don't.Some of this comes down to trade. Electricians can more easily work out of a service body partly because the majority of our tools are small enough to fit into a tool box. Most of our bulky materials can ride in the weather without harm. The really bulky stuff ride only once. From the supply house to the job.Carpenters seem to have more bulky tools like portable table and chop saws. Stuff you have to transport between jobs and won't do well to leave out in the rain. Similarly the finish wood, bulk nails for hammer or gun and other materials are better kept dry.
You're thinking carpenters only. A van would be difficult for me, since I often haul ton pallets of copper 10' long and copper fabrications the same length. I don't do service out of my p/u, just haul materials and scaffold, etc. Which by the way, I have a kingcab with a short (6 1/2') bed and it suits me fine. I had a kingcab with an 8' bed previously and it was hard to manuever. I pull trailers a lot and the short bed makes trailering a lot easier. On the other hand, three of my subs have enclosed trucks ( a van, a Yulon, and a Suburban), which makes me need a p/u even more to get fabrications to them. They can't haul 5 sq of standing seam pans.Birth, school, work, death.....................
http://grantlogan.net/
I've always wondered why "pickups' period?
Having lived, and worked, with both, I find the pickup more "user freindly".
Vans can be a PIA getting yourself, and tools, in and out of. Specially some of the larger tools.....chopsaw, tablesaw.
I think it was 4lorn who mentioned orginization. Unless you're meticulous about putting everything back in its spot in the van at the end of the day, it can become a real mess......and quickly.
The pickup, pretty much forces you to do just that.
I've also always found loading and unloading sheet goods infinetly easier in a pickup.
All what you're used to I suppose. (But the rattling and clanking of tools coming from the back of the van drives me crazy.)
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
I think you n me have been through this before
Be a Dejavu'
andy stills nash & youngThe secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides, I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace. I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.
"...meticulous about putting everything back in its spot in the van at the end of the day, it can become a real mess......and quickly."
You should have seen the pickup I saw today...you couldn't have gotten a paper bag out of it. Shop Vac hanging on the top, cord buried, table saw on its side, who knows how many other tools, but the cords were sometimes visible. It even looked like it had a cement mixer sticking up, but I was going too fast to be sure. I guess it could be its on burglar alarm. You would make a heckuva racket trying to steal anything from that truck.
john
"You should have seen the pickup I saw today" ...This brings up another advantage with pick-up truck. Easy unloading. Drop the tailgate. Gun the engine in reverse and hit the brake. Unloaded. A bit less dramatic, and fun, if they have a dump bed.Depending on what is on-site reloading can also be easy. A few scoops with the front-end loader and they are off.Makes for less organization than I like but, based on what I see on the highways, it remains a popular system with some tradesmen for their pick-ups.
> I've always wondered why "pickups' period.
History and tradition: The pickup truck originated as a light duty farm vehicle, for picking up crops that were harvested and boxed in the field. They were mass produced, and therefore affordable, so people started using them for all kinds of things.
You're right that because they're not secure, they're useless for storage. I figure mine's strictly a material moving machine. Nothing worth stealing ever stays in it.
It's a short cab long bed 1985 F-350 dually with a rack, 4.10 rear end, and 460 V-8. Turning radius is smaller than you'd think, the main parking problem is width.
-- J.S.
Ya know John, thats EXACTLY how I've always seen pickups in my mind. As a farm vehicle. Where you can pile stuff up a mile high and unload easy.
In spite of all the responses about my question I still don't really buy into it...not for me anyway. A van can and should be as organized as a pickup...can be even "more" organized. If you have to be forced because it's a pickup then maybe that says something else to you. Work on you...than your P.U.
If its your business and thats important to you than buy a roll out bed to put in for a bill or so. Then you have a pickup and a secure dry vehicle to work out of.
I saw a utility truck today that look too cool for words. Wasnt huge. Just right but man did that thing look organized and as secure and dry as a Brinks truck. To me thats the ultimate work vehicle.
And "seeyou" is also right. For certain trades I can see a p.u but not for carps....but thats jus' me. One other thing too...I can go on the Parkway here in NY cause I'm not considered a work vehicle. Another reason I never get commercial plates.
Be well John
andyThe secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides, I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace. I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.
> I saw a utility truck today that look too cool for words. Wasnt huge. Just right but man did that thing look organized and as secure and dry as a Brinks truck.
Back in the 1960's, there was a motion picture rental company called CineMobile that had the most organized truck system ever. The trucks were sort of like those bottled water or soft drink trucks for size, and had compartments about 3-4 ft wide down both sides. Every bay had its own roll-up door and shelving for whatever it was supposed to contain. Down the middle, accessible from the back, was a long narrow bay for dolly track and boom poles, butterfly frames, etc. No space wasted on aisles inside the truck, when they rolled, it was solid equipment in there. They were ideal for big city shoots.
-- J.S.
There's also four wheel drive to consider.....where I live, I'd never consider a 2x for work. I considered moving to a van for a while, and I realise there are some advantages, there are too many times things are piled high (wouldn't mind having both though). I know you can get a 4x van, but rare and expensive from I've read.Cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
Re: Why Pickups?
The interesting thing that they don't have them in Europe or Japan. In europe, its either panel vans or full size box truck. In Japan, they have these little mini-pick-up things, but not anything larger. The rest of the world seems to have adopted the pickup. How many times have you seen a completely overloaded Toyota pickup in Afghanistan or Iraq?
Erich
Re: Why Pickups?
The interesting thing that they don't have them in Europe...
Nuff said.....pickup it is.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
perfect response. stinky
The interesting thing that they don't have them in Europe or Japan.
Somewhere around here I have a picture of a VW Golf Diesel pulling a cow in a trailer down the main road between Brcko and Sarajevo.
For the farm work it was always one of those old Gravely tractor type deals pulling a home made wagon. It wasn't uncommon to pass one on the way to Tuzla in the morning and pass it again on the way back to Camp McGovern in the evening and know the driver had been slowing traffic to a crawl all day long.
Almost forgot. Once while walking down thru Lukavac on patrol We stopped in front of the police station and thats when a Dodge 2500 with a lift kit, 33" tires and Pennsylvania plates drove by. Took a minute to figure it out but then we realized, Brown and Root employees lived off post.
Edited 1/21/2006 10:49 pm ET by robert
While helping my daughter renovate an old house in Europe, the mason had the mercedes "Sprinter" but the back of it was like a pick-up. Really looked like a workhorse.
Looks cool though
Yep, that's why I gotta truck....
I could only afford one vehicle, and I can't see that being a big ole' van...
yeah I'm vain like that.
yeah I'm vain like that.
LOL....gotta confess....it plays more of a part than I'd like to admit. But beyond that....I just don't like driving a van. I mean....if I gotta spend a good portion of my day running here and there, I oughtta be comfortable/happy in the vehicle I'm using.
(Besides...it's not often the young hotties are lookin' to see whose rollin' up next to 'em in that van!)
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
(Besides...it's not often the young hotties are lookin' to see whose rollin' up next to 'em in that van!)
I used to be in the same Boat until I started using this,
ROFLMAO! (literally!)
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
yeah I'm vain like that.
LOL....gotta confess....it plays more of a part than I'd like to admit. But beyond that....I just don't like driving a van. I mean....if I gotta spend a good portion of my day running here and there, I oughtta be comfortable/happy in the vehicle I'm using.
(Besides...it's not often the young hotties are lookin' to see whose rollin' up next to 'em in that van!)>>>>>>>>>>>
Nowwwwww yer finally being honest bro.
All the reasons above were the only ones that had me even remotly entertaining the idea of a dual cab p.u.
A van isn't any fun at all...why do you think they call it work : )
Be chauffered by hot tail : )~
andyThe secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides, I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace. I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.
I'm glad it was just for Jay...I'm as bald as a billiard cue and I am usually more interested in keeping those hotties from running over me. Van or no van.
I've used PUs vans, even a short stint with a Isuzu box van (rented) that I ran back and forth from Houston to Dallas. Loud but good on diesel. Been said before, everything has its short comings. I like my tools under lock and key, but I know that only slows a determined thief down for a few minutes.
Besides...it's not often the young hotties are lookin' to see whose rollin' up next to 'em in that van!)
The week my youngest daughter was born the wife and I traded our VW Corrado in on a Ford Windstar. The Corrado had kind of a cult following and I lost track of how many teenage girls asked if they could go for a ride or maybe even drive. And that includes the hot little semi-goth 18 year old at the video rental place.
Wanna guess how many hot young girls ask for rides in a Windstar?
http://www.edmunds.com/used/1991/volkswagen/corrado/6174/photogallery.html?pg_type=Coupe
I don't need to guess.....I own a Caravan! LOL
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
it really depends on your needs. if you are in the trades and haul sheet goods on a regular basis you can't get by without an 8' bed. for me, an 6' bed offers the capability to haul sheet goods on the occasional weekend and the added passenger space of a true 4 door cabin.
I also was in the market for a regular bed truck . I could not find one . I found a long bed van., Bought it and I love it.
TRIGGER
Short bed units are one of those things that sound good in theory but don't shake out.
The segway scooter in another. We already have a highly efficient two wheeled vehicle suitable for most situations. It's called a bicycle and for the price of one battery powered, computer controlled monstrosity you can buy the whole neighborhood bikes.
And if people haven't noticed the general expanding girth of Americans it might do them some good to do some pedalling instead of standing on a platform and letting the batteries have all the fun. One of the funniest photos I have seen is a guy of something like 400 pounds riding a segway.
400 lb bicycle rider would look funny too. Looks normal on a Harley though.
on a harley it's called "aerodynamics"
p
I thought about taking the bed off my toyota and making a flat bed, just so I can haul plywood. The tailgate is 3 ft 9 so they dont lay flat.. 2+3=7
Last summer I was working on a roof for a few weeks and everyday would see this older gent coming up this hill on a segway. Always with a helmet, a smile and a wave.
Few weeks later I was at a different house in the neighborhood working a porch when he went by and saw me. He stopped and chatted a bit then asked me if I wanted to try it. Roar!
Well yeah, earlier I was have tempted to ask.
It was really a pretty cool machine. I think some kind of gyro in there to keep it upright if I'm not mistaken. Seems it might have a place with the elderly in some instances.
What set you off on the segway from a short bed truck?
be pullin' wheelies
'Nemo me impune lacesset'No one will provoke me with impunity
Edited 1/15/2006 9:27 pm ET by razzman
I live not far from where the Segways are assembled, and have had a couple tours through the place with a chance to try them out for a few minutes.
They definitely are cool, and I'd love to have one for a few hours to really play with, but couldn't think of a good reason to actually own one. Same attitude I have about a Hummer.
The "gyro" in the Segway is actually a solid-state inertial sensor, which tells the brains of the unit what the attitude and acceleration of the unit is. The computer then moves the wheels backwards or forwards to keep the wheels under the center of gravity. When you lean forwards, the wheels go forwards. Lean back, and it goes backwards. To stay in position, it constantly jogs back & forth to keep you upright.
They also make the I-Bot wheelchair, which uses the same technology to allow the wheelchair to stand up on 2 wheels to put the occupant at eye level with standing persons, and allows it to climb stairs.
Interesting answers. We already have a older gmc with the ex cab and long box. Mywife doesn't have trouble paarking. The most important things for me is w/ an long bed you can haul and keep it covered/secure with a cap.
mike
I've had both short and long bed pickups. I now come down solid on the side of the 8' bed. I can haul longer material. I can haul ladders more easily. I can camp in the back more easily!At certain moments, say at a gas station, I do miss my old 2wd 86 Nissan! It got 34 mpg when it was new.I had to shop a lot to find my '02 F150 reg cab 8' bed 4x4. Got lulcky to find one with 35k on it for $14k. That was one year ago and the first hassle I've had is that I have to drive to the dealer tomorrow for a 1/2 hour (they say!) job to fix a recall item.Just put a new set of BF Goodrich All Terrain TAs on it. What a great improvement over the squishy highway tires it had on it.I've never driven my truck into a city, so don't care much about parking issues.Life and suffering are inseparable.
my 2 cents
1988 K2500 Chevy w/ 200k(k=4 wheel drive)w/ extended cab, class 5 hitch, 8ft bed, cap w/toolboxes on sides , fisher minute mount 7.5 ft plow, hydraulic off engine (similar to power steering pump) - jasper remanufactured engine (5.7/350 ci) at 180k miles - rebuild tranny at 175k and 199k - about 12 mpg in city - 15-18 mpg on highway (long trips - more than 50 miles) now - having "said" all that - short bed is fine for occasionally carrying, "light" work, when I/we have real work to do, my truck gets used short bed is better for parkingbefore you buy the "truck" - figure out what you're going to use it for - if it's going to be your primary work truck and you do a lot of hauling 8 ft material - then go for the 8ft bed, if it's doing occasional work and hauling, get the short bed,
All...... short bed long bed......don't think anybody has said anything about the hauling capacity of ladder racks. I drive a ranger ext. cab 4 wd and have had some pretty weird loads topside, the big thing is to "know your limitations" and sometimes a $35.00 delivery fee is a "good thing"......god bless Martha Stewart" :)
Nails said,
"hauling capacity of ladder racks." (snip...) "the big thing is to "know your limitations" and sometimes a $35.00 delivery fee is a "good thing" Whew!!! Do I agree with that. :)))My rack is 13ft long and supposedly will handle 750lbs. Trust me, you don't want that much up there. Man what a monster in the curves at 60+mph. It will scare the bejesus out of ya! LOL:)))I do use my rack alot. Mainly for those few extras that you need like a few 20ft sticks of copper, or the occasional 2x?x12 to 16 footer. Oh and don't forget my ladders and scaffolds they ride the rack as well.LOL:))) Have a great one,
MKEl planeamiento pobre en su parte no constituye una emergencia en mi parte
Heard an interview on local radio (London, Ontario) this week. 14-yr-old girl who has had bilateral leg amputations (she didn't say why). Although she has prosthetic legs, getting around is very difficult, and riding a bicycle impossible. Wheelchair less than desireable for someone her age. But she gets around on a Segway. Gives her back independence, allows her to go 'bike' riding with friends and family. Because of her, the city council has passed a by-law that allows (certified) disabled persons to use their segways on the sidewalks.
How did I go from short-bed to segway. They both occupy slots on my 'Ideas which seem good at the time list' slightly below jumping off a three story building while holding an umbrella. Long ago I found a 'train of thought' on rails to be confining. So I mounted my train on a air cushion so it slides around like a Air Hockey puck with only the soft bounds of the universe, or another player, to deflect its course.Didn't mean Segways don't have uses. People with real medical problems using a segway is ok by me. Best use of one by a healthy person was a bomb squad loaded down with his full blast suit and tools using one to get to the bomb and back out of range. But, as I understand it, the vast majority of segways are not being bought by people who can't get around otherwise. At something like $5000 a pop they are being snapped up by well heeled and healthy folks. A considerable number of who could really use the exercise.We return to your normally scheduled broadcast: Shortbeds.I drive a Ranger. Part of the reason I got the one I did, as opposed to a short bed, was that fitting a standard 4'x8' isn't too difficult. Has to go over the wheel wells so I have a couple of 2x4s precut. And I have to drop the tailgate, even more that I have a cross-bed tool box, but given thirty seconds I'm good to go for sheet goods. Now my Ranger can't tote too many sheets given its load capacity and, given that I have a small but efficient engine, I wouldn't want to carry a load too far but for home repair and what an electrician needs it is good enough. Entirely sufficient. While a short-bed unit would come up .... well ... short.
Now my Ranger can't tote too many sheets given its load capacity and, given that I have a small but efficient engine, I wouldn't want to carry a load too far but for home repair and what an electrician needs it is good enough. Entirely sufficient.
hmm... - my electrician friend drives a fortified E-350 and has to unload it before putting it up on the rack - too heavy - think I remember him saying 8800 pounds -
have a feeling he does a bit different type of electricity than you - amazing what he pulls out of that machine -
I've got an extended E-350, but with the safety screen can only haul 10' stuff before it's hanging out the back - short wheel base too, so if you hang too much weight off the back it can be an adventure to steer - I use the semi-retired minivan for everything I can -
"there's enough for everyone"
Re: "my electrician friend drives a fortified E-350 and has to unload it before putting it up on the rack "...Difference is that my Ranger is not a service truck. I may drive it out to an existing large job or, occasionally, do some estimating or light service work. But much beyond replacing a receptacle I would have to pick up the wire on the way to the job. Usually I only work out of my truck for friends, neighbors or the odd desperate situation. A service truck is a completely different piece of work. It is expected to carry a journeyman and helper with virtually every tool they need to do the work in virtually any conceivable material or situation. Ladders, power tools, benders, personal tools, digging tools and habitability supplies like water, snacks in case a meal gets missed and a spare tee shirt, jacket, hat, raincoat and gloves for both men. Throw in material enough to complete any small service job or get a large job started while a materials man or delivery is on the way to deliver the balance.An F-250, or equivalent, with a service body and ladder rack fully loaded can easily break 7000 pounds. I think a F-350 is overkill but some use them as service trucks. IMO they are only appropriate as a 'large job' truck which get less mileage. A mystery how they pay for the fuel if they are using one to jitterbug around on small service jobs.
Bought an '05 F150 with "super" (not crew) and an 8' bed. It is the LONGEST truck Ford makes, at 20.5' a few feet longer than any 250 or350's. I love it, but in working on a design for my own house, I'm suddenly making major revisions in garage size, driveway turnaround, etc. Yikes it needs alot of room!
They put them on there so the truck looks goofy. If my ext cab/short bed has as bad of a turning radius as it does, I don't even want to think about the long bed.
I have a '90 Silverado, extended cab with the short bed. With the gate down, the edge is 8' and I have a couple of 2x6's back there for raising the rear of my lumber so it isn't likely to slide out. Also, since I have a bed liner, the 2x6's fit into notches so they rest vertically and are then used as dividers.
Highfigh,
You mentioned turning radius. Whats that? LOL:))
Try a 96 F350 CrewCab longbed 4x4 Turbo Diesel. There is no such thing as turning radius. You either make two consecutive left turns or two right turns to go the other way. LOL:))
Parking is a breeze as long as you don't mind walking and have a pull through spot.
Fuel mileage, 10mpg whether empty or pullin/haulin a load.
All in all a great truck. I would highly recommend one to anyone LOL:))
MKEl planeamiento pobre en su parte no constituye una emergencia en mi parte
Remember, two wrongs don't make a right but three lefts do.
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
ROTFLMAO!!!!! :)))))
El planeamiento pobre en su parte no constituye una emergencia en mi parte
Edited 1/16/2006 3:20 pm by MiKro
All depends on your use. I work out of mine and love it. I have no problem hauling whatever I need to haul. It sure parks easier, looks better in proportion. What I think looks wierd is the short narrow bed, like the styleside. Sometimes I would consider a long bed. Another response says that you need a long bed to routinely haul sheet goods. I would disagree. Tailgate down and one strap hauls all the ply or osb you would want to haul yourself. Unless you are running a supercharged 454 and going for 0-60 in 6 sec you should be ok.
If I want to haul 12'drywall I can put two 2x4s in and haul them. If you are going for bulk then go longbed. Unless you are hauling rocks you will weight out before you cube out with a shortbed. I have a slide out platform in my bed that I can pull out and haul pretty long stuff and work off it with saw/clamps. etc.
my comment about a 8' bed for sheet goods applied to that being routine...meaning more than once a week. i have hauled plenty in my short bed without incident. if i made my living in a framing or dw i would prefer a long bed for convienence.
Don't forget toolboxes, and the type you like.I like my toolbox being below the rail, with the toolbox in the bed, my longbed is then ~6.5 feet usable space.It is an extended cab, and it is good to plan ahead for parking, like being able to pull thru slots in a parking lot so you don't have to backup
bobl Volo, non valeo
Baloney detecter
just get'n my 1992 f350 non turbo 7.3 diesel broken in just passed 180k... duelly is the norm around here but we have wide roads and a "traffic jam" is take'n over 10 min to go 5 miles... extended cab and long wb... cross box and one side box... plus it pulls the bobcat or forklift & trailer when needed.... if i take it easy i get 15mpg... my lexus lx450 gets worse...
all those truck things with the 4ft bed are for folks who really don't need a truck... aren't they just suv's with the back 4ft of roof cut off anyway?
p
Got a '94 F-150 last summer for 4 grand and couldn't be happier. Having a full sized bed is definitely a boon to hauling job site stuff.
If you're looking for a truck for the trades, don't settle for anything less than an 8' bed.
Carl
Edited 1/15/2006 10:25 pm ET by hfhcarp10
A '94 F-150 aye?
Has the oilpan already been replaced?
How many miles you got on there?
be owning a '95.
'Nemo me impune lacesset'No one will provoke me with impunity
87 grand - what up with the oill pan?
Carl
Where are you located?
You know certain models of vehicles have certain similar characteristics and '94 and '95 F-150s inline 6s had a problem with the oil pans rusting out.
And depending on where yer located the gastanks have a tendency to leak.
be a barer of good news
'Nemo me impune lacesset'No one will provoke me with impunity
I vote for the short bed unless you are hauling long stuff daily. I have and F-350 super cab, short bed 4 x 4 and love it. It's great to drive in traffic and I park in the city less than I haul anything I'd need a long bed for but I still think the short bed is great. It is my first one and all my next trucks will be short beds. It's empty weight is around 7,000 pounds and that helps it stick nicely to the road. I have a couple of trailers and on the rare times I need to pick up something big myself the trailers are handy. You can drop them at the jobsite and unload as you need. My other reason for the 350 was that I live on a deadend dirt road that is way down the list of snow priority here and the 350 does great with a plow.
You're right Razzman. I have a '95 F150 5 spd. 6 cyl. with 99000 on it. My rear gas tank has a leak. I just don't use it. I guess I should keep my eye on the oil pan.
Friend of mine has a '94 and had the same problem. I did hear the 6 cyl.'s are great engines and that my truck would rust out before the engine died.
Wolfman
This truck was a company truck when I got it. Guy told me they had stopped and went into a convenient store. When they came out they were surprised with a big pile of oil underneath the truck. They had no foreknowledge of anything being wrong. Pan was empty and had to be towed to a shop nearby for a new pan.
While back I read a post here from a mechanic who described how to repair a leaky tank with a 3M adhesive. Had plans to attempt that and even got the stuff.
In the meantime to keep my single tank from leaking less I would keep the gas at a low level in tank. I understand that is not the best way to treat an old fuel pump.
So I'm readying to leave a job at twilight in a city, ladders hanging out the back and the truck won't start. AAA tows me 60miles to home and it's the fuel pump inside the tank.
Steel tank delivered to your door $90. If you have to take the tank out anyway forget the patch stuff. Do it once and be done with it.
Edited to add the 94 and 95 model years were known specifically for rusting oilpans.
be always learning stuff the hard way.
'Nemo me impune lacesset'No one will provoke me with impunity
Edited 1/16/2006 12:27 pm ET by razzman
Michigan, so if there is a potential problem with rust, it's sure to show up in wintry, salty Mich
It isn't the pan itself so much as the Gasket. Almost every mid 90's F150 I've seen including my own has had the Oil Pan Gasket replaced after the original all silicone one squeezezs out and leaks.
Although, I have seen some less than on the up and up shops hit the owner up for a new oil pan.
Mine was replaced at about 90K miles. The truck went from there until 313K without another oil system related problem.
When it starts it usually looks like a bad rear main seal.
How much to replace the oil pan? Could that be the reason for the fuel smell? Every time I walk around my truck, I smell gas..........look under (8' bed) and find not a visible leak.
regards, Carl
MIne just needed the GAsket and it was around $300 for the whole thing. It won't smell like fuel but it sure will smell like burned oil. SLide inderneath and see if you see a drip from where the transmission meets the engine. Thats the first sign.
Will do - so far, no oil in driveway.
I'd call the ratchet bros but I'm afraid they'd just give me a bunch of ####!
last word on Ford P/U is that the 150 with 5 on floor XLT type, is damn fun to drive.
great thread
Carl
View Image
'Nemo me impune lacesset'No one will provoke me with impunity
Hey Carl ,
I had the same thing happen with my 91 E-250 . Found a bunch of pin holes on the top of the tank . Gas would just lay on top and smell . Had the same problem with the leaky oil pan . I believe the mechanic told me the oil pan was actually made out of aluminum .
DAVE
I have a 91 F250 with the small V8, 4 seed manual with OD. Only 150,000 miles, but I haven't been driving it to and from work for the last 3 years. Rebuilt the transmission at 94,000, and finally put load leveler heavey duty shocks on it after blowing out three sets of Monroe HD shocks.
I haul just about any thing I want the 8' bed, and when my tool box is in there I still have the 8' under the box (10'+ with the tail gate down) and 6'+ behind the box. Put my tool box in a 6' bed and I would only have 4' behind it. I would have needed to make two trips to haul the 90 concrete block from HD on Sunday last summer in one of those short bed trucks.
I do like the extra cabs, and my next work truck will be a long bed with that feature.
I've got 6 1/2 acreas out here to park and turn around on. I don't do malls in a PU truck. I leave that to the pretty boy wannabes :)
Dave
Funny you should mention the oil pan. A few days ago, my 94 F150 was in for an oil change and my mechanic says it needs a new pan. Only 82K miles, but New England road salt may be the culprit.
Curious what the reason would be other than too impatient to not order/find the long one.
They look sporty, looks cool, looks manly. 90% of pickups sold are never used to haul anything so the manfg. build trucks to sell to the masses. the working sap is just out of luck as long boxes are pretty much special orders.
Well, we have an extended cab Ranger and a Toyota van with racks on top. The Toyota carries more and bigger stuff than the Ranger. But the Ranger is 4WD and useful for going places the van can't. The Ranger is also good for things like sand, cinder and gravel that is put in with a front loader. Hard to do that with a van roof in the way!
We keep thinking about replacing one or the other of them, but between the two, we can't decide which one we use more. Once the TR6 is restored and driveable, we will probably have to figure out another parking space in the driveway - or clear out the carport enough that we can actually park a car in there.
All the folks that have short bed pickups that I know don't use them as pickups, just sort of a mutated sedan.
What year Toyota van do you have???? How do you have it outfitted. I just picked up an '89 which I am planning on trying to outfit with roof racks and shelving on the inside to use as a work van. Planning on trying to go to this from full size (8' bed) ext cab. Live by the sword, die by the sword....but choose your sword wisely.
I know what you mean. When I bought my first pickup (still have it, an '01 Tundra) I needed and wanted the extended cab (which the mfg. calls Access Cab), but they didn't even offer it with an 8' bed. I either had to do without the extended cab, or settle for a 6.5' bed.
I think they are appealing to a lot of folks that seldom need to haul anything substantial on a regular basis. This is the only reason why I can think the Sportrac F-150 or Lowlander even exists.
haul anything substantial on a regular basis
Which is not entirely illogical. I've a buddy who float fishes (a lot). The float tubes never quite ever rode right in the back of his old explorer. But they do quite nicely in the back of the 4x4 SporTrak (and air dry on the way home).
The sportrak is still among the ugliest vehicles on the road today, IMHO. Sticking those big ugly cleats on the outside of the boxette doesn't make it look any prettier, either. (What is with the krellboids putting tool boxes in the SporTraks anyway?)
Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
A Little off subject: But it tickles the crap out of me to see Suburban and Excursions (You know the one's with the soccer ball sticker) pull into a huge, almost empty parking lot and try to maneuver into the front parking place. Back and forth, back and forth, inch a little back up again. Then when they finally get the land yacht to a stop nobody can open there door. Out comes the cute little soccer mom in her jogging suit. Probably just came from the gym, but cannot walk across a parking lot
I pulled into a parking lot a few weeks ago and one was trying to backthe land yacht into a spot , there where two spots so I pulled into the open spot closest to me got out and headed acrosss the parking lot . she finally parked, tracked me down and cussed me out for not waiting for her to park before I pulled in made my day
You gotta watch she might be packin!
I have a Ram 1500 with the Quad cab and an 8' bed.....I don't find it it hard to turn or park mostly.....every once in a while I have to jog a little to get out of where someone has boxed me in, but I had to do that sometimes with my Ford standard cab too.
I'm still moving materials around enough that I often find myself thinking 'glad I didn't get the short bed'. Ditto every time I load the 16.5' kayak in there. The long bed wasn't hard to find either; see a fair number around. I also don't see any of the frames sagging the way they used to either.Cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
I like an 8' box too Mike. I had to have my dealer really dig around for me this past summer to come up with an '05 F-350 diesel, extended cab, with 8' bed. I wanted an extended cab for the dog and definitely wanted an 8' bed as I was also having them put a Reading utility body on it. The utility boxes made for a 6' body just don't hold much and I think they look silly on an extended cab. As someone else said, they look like an SUV with a pick-up bed as an afterthought.
I like the 8' box because by the time I put a spare trailer tire in there, set up the transfer tank, and extinguisher... there's still not enough room left. The ladder racks also have a greater capacity when set up over the 8' box as opposed to a 6' box.
I guess it's tougher to park, but I really don't ever try to get a front row either. If you're willing to walk a couple extra feet, you can usually have two spots if you really think you need it. I mean, how far do we walk in a normal workday anyway? What's another 50' or so? I don't even bother trying to squeeze in next to someone. It's a PIA for me and not really fair to them either. Work trucks take enough abuse without some disgruntled fat azz mom dinging up my truck with her grocery cart.
It's a work truck, after all. We don't do much Christmas shopping or grocery shopping with it. :)
I guess if I worked in a city much, I'd probably reconsider how I "pack" for work.
Dieselpig,
Read somewhere recently that F-250 and 350 extended cab short beds outsell long beds by an astounding margin. Even more so with the diesel engine.
Turns out that most of them are used for towing a fifth-wheel type camper or a horse trailer or some other type of trailer. Hit a nice campground near you and you'll see a ton of them. Drop off the big camper and you've got a nice extended cab to go see the sites in.
Few actually get used for work.
Around my area it's easy to find a Dodge Quadcab with a long bed. A Chevy or GMC is a little harder. You would have to look long and hard for a Ford Extended cab long bed anything. A few places specializing in work or commercial vehicles have em.
I have two long bed (8') used pickups with a regular cab. Also have a utility box truck, regular cab with all those boxes on it and a rack.
One other truck as a rack. I wouldn't do without an 8' bed to carry sheetgoods, gangbox, etc. even if we get most of our lumber delivered, there is always a need for something.
As well, I wouldn't take one of those hogs to the mall. My 7.3 gets 11 mpg, the '79 with a 300 ci 6 cyl gets about 15 on a good day and the utility box with a 351 gets about 12.
No, I'll take the Volvo to the mall and leave the truck at home.
1997 F150 supercab, 8 foot bed 120,000 miles,(3rd F150 in this setup) never a problem parking! Got a leer cap to keep it dry. Sometimes wish it had a 10' bed! Salesman tried to sell me a short bed, what a waste of time!
Im going to respond to this thread with out reading the other replies.
I like a short wheelbase reg cab . It holds a front mount box and side boxes . Its really the cats meow for pulling trailers as you guessed. Rack it up and it will hual ladders plus long lumber & pipe. They turn backwards on a dime so to speak. Well enough to loose the 1 1/2 feet if you have a trailer. Even the long ben wont haul what a trailer will.
In these times we work in today its getting where you cant haul all the toiols on a pick up any way. Vans are used to haul more tools and now thats not enough . IMO. So now we are seeing the box trailers with the drop tail gate we can walk up and down with dollies. They make them in every lenght. Well,... a short wheel base truck is needed to back one .
Tim
Anyone see this beast yet?
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2006/dodge/rampickup2500/100626342/photogallery.html?pg_type=Truck
Saw one Sunday on the lot. BACK seat reclines. Beds just aboutt he standard 6.5 ft shortbed. It's huge.
Click on the four door MAXI cab picture.
Edited 1/16/2006 10:33 pm ET by robert
i saw one of those at the 2005 chicago auto show last february when they first announced that it would be going into production as a 2006. it is massive, but these two (international cxt 4x4 and chevy kodiak 4500 4x4) make it look kinda small.
I used to drive one of those Kodiak 4500's for work. In most ways, i disliked it- the gas tank was too small (they offer a larger one, so it's not really their fault, but still) and it wasn't very comfortable (I sometimes drove 2000 miles out to a job site, and then back at the end of the week). It got 8 miles a gallon whether the truck/trailer combo weighed 24,000 lbs, and it got about the same when it weighed 12,000 lbs. But that truck is actually shorter than the quad-cab long-bed F-350 we had, and the turning radius is much shorter. it was way easier to drive in the city and to park.
Not something I would normally want to drive, but it's great if you need a truck that size.
zak
I have a shortbed dodge dakota and love it. Four doors---good for hauling family and lumber yards deliver the big stuff. I've even had a few 12 or 16 footers sticking out the back with a few flags on occassion. I also have to drive and park frequently in the city---and this works. No way a double cab with a full bed works there.
Every vehicle has its pros and cons. If you don't haul a family around, then skip the four-door.
have a dodge ram 1999 pickup (49,000 miles) with 8 foot bed 1500 for sale, however i am in pa but you can email at [email protected] if interested.
Dan
I had an 87 Ford F250 2WD with an 8' bed- nice truck, cramped cab, hauled anything I wanted, a carbureted 351 that sucked gas like no tomorrow. Had sidemount toolboxes and a big rack I built myself.
Moved on to a shortbed Ranger stripper special. Brand new 2000 in 2001, $10,300 out the door. Four cylinder, stick, rubber floor, A/C and a radio. The bed got a whole lot smaller once I put that toolbox in there. The truck got around 19 mpg. Kept it for a couple of years, moved on again.
I liked the small Ranger, but wanted an extended cab. Looked at the cost and MPG ratings, then I went and looked at vans.
Bought an Astro 2WD cargo. Much more room than any Ranger, costs less than the extended cab Ranger and is rated at the same MPG. Too bad they don't make em anymore. I figured it was a good compromise between a full size van and another truck. Some ways yes, some no.
I have driven a couple of extended cab full size trucks with an 8' bed, and there is no getting around the fact that that is a big truck. No thanks for me.
Next one for me is a Sprinter- 140" wheelbase and 10' material is nice and dry inside.
The manufacturers aren't making it any easier, either. It used to be possible to get an extended cab Ranger with a 4 cylinder- not anymore. I found a new one in 2001, but it didn't have AC, and they weren't dealing on the price. All they want to sell are fully optioned trucks- something I do not want to buy.
Shortbeds....can't figger `em for the life of me.
While I'm sure there's a legitimate market for them, it seems the vast majority of the ones I come across are owned by folks who want the "balls" of a pickup, but don't truly need a truck. (I laugh my azz off everytime I see someone I know is in the trades, pulling out of the lumber yard with two feet of plywood popping through the rear of the cap on a rainy day.)
I went crazy last year looking for a new pickup with what I had always previously considered a standard package. I'm not big on the bells and whistles when it comes to work vehicles, but in order to find a truck with 4WD, quad cab and an 8' bed, I ended up buying more options than I had ever wanted.
My first pickup when starting out many moons back was Dodge Dakota. Wouldn't have been my first choice in vehicles.....but was the only small pickup available with an 8' bed at the time. I'd buy it again tomorrow were I have to do it all over again.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
My favorite is the super tricked out four wheelers that have every concieveable off road do da and havelisted in the for sale as "never off road". As far as parking goes, I'm teaching my 12 year old daughter to drive in our ex cab long box GMC.
Mike
I went crazy last year looking for a new pickup with what I had always previously considered a standard package. I'm not big on the bells and whistles when it comes to work vehicles
I agree. I wanted AC, but in order to get it I ended up with 18" rims, power windows, and (here's the real killer) CARPET. Who thinks this stuff up? I love my truck and there's no mistaking it for anything except a work truck.... but why the carpet? There's no way to avoid totally trashing it. It's like Velcro. Always full of mud, sawdust, and dog hair. Much like myself, come to think of it. Gimme a rubber floor any day.View Image
Diesel,
get yourself a full rubber carpet replacement kit. I put one in our GMC, Hoseable is great. You have to remove some trim and the seats but the time investment is worth it.
Mike
Mike, where would I get something like that? JC Whitney or something? Sound like just what I need. I put fake neoprene seat covers over the cloth seats already. I got in the new truck on about the second day I owned it with grease on my forearm and ruined an arm rest. Cloth seats don't work so good for me either.View Image
Try Whitney, I got mine about 8 yrs ago. PITA to put in (seats). Y ou'll prob need some special sockets for the seats.
I'd lend you mine but too far away!
Mike.
When I had my Range Rover I used Husky liners, they work great, but not cheap.
http://www.huskyliners.com
View Image--------------------------
It's only satisfying if you eat it.
I resisted automatic transmissions 'til I realized it was easier to talk on the phone with one. I also hated power windows until I realized it was easier to dis someone on your right if you 'em. If you're gonna keep the truck 'til its almost dead like I do, who cares if there's mud on the carpet. How's the addition coming? Haven't seen any updates. Did I miss them, or did you have to make some money in the middle of the project like I always have to do?Birth, school, work, death.....................
http://grantlogan.net/
I guess you're right about the truck. But I do like to clean it up once in awhile and I'd much rather hose out the mud than vaccum and shampoo. ;)
Addition is coming along great. Just about done. Electrician is coming back this week, possibly tomorrow, to hang the last couple fixtures. Carpet goes down Monday AM. Painter will be back Tuesday for a touch-up. And then it's ours. Feels like it's been about three years. Now we have to start the work downstairs. But I'm pretty booked up, so it'll be another month or so before we start the process again.
I've been back to work for a long time now. I only took 4 weeks off (basically all of September) to frame it and wrap up the exterior. Since then I've been working on it nights and weekends. We subbed a lot out. Electrical, plumbing, board and plaster, HVAC, tile, carpet. All I've really done is the frame, deck and porch, exterior and interior trim and line up and manage the subs. At points it's felt like two full-time jobs between running the framing and running my house. In fact at one point I had my own house and two other frames going on at the same time. But all in all, it's gone very very well and has gone about as well as I could have hoped for. Minus a couple hiccups.
Thanks for asking bro. View Image
Hey dieselpig,If you're not up for the full rubber-floor replacement, I'm seconding dustinf's recommendation of the Huskyliners. I put them in my truck, and it seems like I'm always knee-deep in mud and crud. The trays have a lip on them so that all the crud and slush stays in the tray . . . just pull them out, dump them out, and give 'em a quick hose-down. (Getting fancy and using Armor All on them can make for some interesting entrances and exits . . .:-))I ordered mine from Cabela's : http://www.cabelas.comI also covered my cloth seats with Wet Okole custom seat covers . . . a little pricey, but well worth it. They scrub up well. (Also from Cabela's.)sojourner
I actually have Ford's own version of those mats. Supposedly hold a quart of liquid or something like that. They do work pretty good. But I'm a bit of a slob. I get in the truck with mud up to the knees and by the time I get out of the truck it's on the steering wheel.
You mentioned Armor-All mishaps. We finished a frame last Thursday. Two days earlier than I expected. So I gave my guys a paid day off on Friday. Two of 'em showed up at my house on Friday late morning and offered to clean out and re-stock the truck and the trailer. One thing led to another and since it was like 55 degrees out we scrubbed down the whole rig good. Vacuumed the carpets, cleaned the windows... the whole nine yards. Apparently someone thought it would be a good idea to ArmorAll the plastic cab steps. I looked like a Jack-azz getting out at the gas station Saturday morning. Looked like Kramer coming into Jerry's apartment.View Image
I'm not sure if GM still makes them, but they used to make a 1500, or 2500 W/T. It was a plain jane work truck(hence the W/T). I had a '94 1500, and beat the snot out of it. 5 speed manual, bench seat, crank up windows, and rubber floor. The only "options" it had was A/C, and FM radio. --------------------------
It's only satisfying if you eat it.
I like'em BIG and POWERFUL........Traded my 10 YO F350 Crew Cab 4x4 longebed Diesel in last week for a new dodge..1 ton longbed quad cab 4x4 with a diesel. Ford was a Lariat...power everything..carpet ...the works...new Dodge is the same. Lot's of creature comforts.
I keep them clean, and stay on top of the wax and maintenance, they reside in a heated garage when not on the job.......course when I traded the Ford in, I worked a below invoice deal, then took $3500 in rebates and then brought up the trade......10 years ago I paid 30K for the Ford, last week they gave me 13K....after 150K miles. New truck was just slightly over 36K...not much of an increase in 10 years.
The good thing about America...you can do what you see fit, drive what you want and feel good doing it.
In the off hours I can sport around in a porsche 911....but it sucks for hauling anything...kinda like those mini pickups that max out with 300# in the bed.
Years ago we fought the diesel thing here...seems we do it every few...still buy them even though I only tow on the weekends in the summer, and then usually only 5K,
Keith
I may not make my living in construction; but I do buy enough stuff that I refuse to have anything but a long bed pickup. I currently have a F-250 Super-Duty extended cab with the 8' box, and is it as maneuverable as a car? No, of course not; but I'm glad I have it, and I just plan on parking in the boonies at Despot and Doh's. I kind of regret not getting a crew cab to have some more interior space for junk. I also refuse to have a cross bed toolbox, because that turns my long bed into a short bed as far as I'm concerned.
Another thing I don't like about short bed trucks is that the gas tank is smaller on them. When I bought my F-250, the long bed came with a 38 gallon tank, and the short bed came with a 29 gallon tank. My V-10 gets about 13.5 MPG on average, and I'm glad to have the extra 94.5 miles of range thanks to the larger tank.
Don't get me started about what I think of the 4-doors and a box pickups (e.g. Avalanche, Dakota, Super-Crew, Ridgeline, et al) as that would consume a whole other posting.
What would I want in my next Ford pickup? A crew cab with a 10' box and 4-wheel steering with the 4-wheel drive. I buy enough stuff that comes in 10' sticks that it would be nice to have them lie flat on the pickup box floor without lowering the tailgate. Heck, with a 10' box, I just may consider a crossbed toolbox as an option. I know GM has a 4-wheel steer option on one of their pickups, and I have driven it; but since I can't stand GM products, that is not an option for me.
Amen brother. I've often thought of custom fabbing a 10' or more bed. Avalanche and it's like are nothing but large sedans w/ big trunks (no dirt please) LOL'
Mike
According to the 2006 GM Car & Truck Guide, Chevy and GMC deleted Quadrasteer (4 wheel steering system built by Delphi) and the sportside box from their trucks for 2006. I seem to remember hearing that Quadrasteer didn't have any mechanical problems, they just couldn't sell enough of them (at $2000+ the last time I heard down from over $4000 when it first came out) to make it financially viable.If you don't like the Avalanche, Dakota, Super-Crew, Ridgeline, etc., I wonder what you'd have to say about the Lincoln Mark LT.
Thanks for the update on GM's discontinuing the Quadrasteer option. I had a hunch that they did since I hadn't heard them advertise it lately. I also knew it was pricey; but I didn't know they were discounting them that heavily to get rid of inventory.
Since I'm not a GM fan, I find it hard to be objective concerning their products; but my observation is that whenever GM does come up with a good idea, the accountants get into the picture and gut it to the point of being a shell of what it could have been. My accountant wife and I have debates from time to time on how much influence bean counters should have in the engineering and design process. As a former mechanical designer, my feeling is keep them away from the creative process before they dilute it down to nothing. Of course she feels that us engineering and design types have no clue regarding budgets and cost controls. Anyway, I digress.
The Lincoln Mark LT to me is a gussied up F-150 just as Cadillac Escalades are gussied up Avalanches, Tahoes and Yukons. I like my pickup to be comfy; but I also realize that it's meant to do work. I use my truck; but I don't abuse it. However, I would never buy a "King's Ranch" trim level for a Ford pickup because it's too nice inside to go anywhere nasty if need be.
I haven't seen anyone talk about getting an 8' bed with a cap with boxes along the side. Alot of contractors seem to be going that route along here. I also wondered if anyone has this configuration with a slide out product like Extendobed. This can be manufactured in many different configurations. The slide out obviously keeps you from having to crawl around on hands and knees to reach everything in the front of the bed. Just curious if anyone has input. I currently have a 6' bed and looking to upgrade.
I had a shell on my first pickup, and I swore never again to have one as it was more of a nuisance than it was worth.
My feeling is if one wants an enclosed work vehicle, then get a van. The Sprinters that Freightliner and Dodge are marketing look promising based on my web surfing. The looks of the Sprinter makes me think that they are the same vans marketed in Europe under the Mercedes-Benz name, which would make sense since Daimler owns all three brands mentioned.
Trucks are great I'd love to get my self one-got my heart set on an F-150 and am going back and forth on the whole ext cab vs. long bed--but then I'm a homo (home Owner) who would need it only for light construction projects.
Right now I have an old Volvo 240 station wagon and to be honest I love it for hauling stuff--with the seats down and lumbr pushed up right to the dash I can easily carry 16ft pieces of lumber in fact it's what I used to get the lumber for my deck although I made more than one trip--the only drawback is that the suspension is pretty weak and it low rides if I put a lot in it --1000lbs is it's limit
All i'm saying is that the 240 could be a cheap alternative to a truck.
cjeTake what you want, leave the rest
> -got my heart set on an F-150
If you really use it for hauling stuff, go for at least F-250. The F-150 is made mostly for people who want to be seen driving an empty truck. Great fit if you're in the styrofoam business, too. But for lumber and sheetrock, a used F-250 will hold up better than a new F-150.
-- J.S.
or a F150 with the heavy service package, which is what I bought and it has no problem hauling anything I've put it in including granite c-tops and 20 bags of CC.
With the heavy service package the 150 specs out right at the same capacities as a stock 250
That said, I would have bought a 250 had they not been a year away from redesigning them when I bought my truck.
how about a f150,fx4,18"wheels,extended cab ,short box,moon roof, centre console with shifter, power windows & seat,2 tone, running boards, trailer package,auto with overdrive,fog lamps,temp & compass in dash,air to rear seat, electric rear side windows (for the dog),heated mirrors and rear window ,plus a plow package on the front .....your basic go to work truck in fire engine red.(sits in my laneway)
I own a shortbed pickup and I'd never ever get a long bed. It is 6 1/2 feet long with the tailgate up and 8 feet long with the tailgate down.. having a long box would only get you another 1 1/2 feet for a total of 8 & 9 1/2
But that additional length comes at a real cost. First in the overal size of the truck, finding a parking spot long enough to fit get's harder, my short box will park in a space reserved for compact cars. and actually be shorter than most compacts. (regular cab)
Gas mileage is worse with a long box.. sure the added weight of those 1 1/2 feet hurt a tiny bit but the main problem is that the air bubble that develops over the cab will break up with an 8 foot bed and won't in a 6 1/2 foot bed.
(no lowering the,TAILGATE HURTS GAS MILEAGE !)
The more compact your vehical the easier itis to manuvere around and on crowded construction sites and the more practical it is to live with..
I own a 16 inch circular saw.. yes I could cut the same wood trim with it that I do with my little trim saw but it's awkward so I use the smallest saw that will do the job.. Same witha truck!
In case you are wondering I use mine both to sell equipment to contractors and in building my timberframe. I regularly haul 10 and 12 foot long timbers with it!
Only once I start to haultimbers over 12 feet do I use a trailer... I can carry over a thousand bd ft. of wood at a time with my short box and once empty I put up the tailgate and park it inmy garage.. While that's not remarkable in and of itself right now there are two trucks,a SUV, three race cars,a sports car, big tool boxs racks and racks of spare parts a 12 inch tablesaw, a bandsaw, a shaper a 8 inch jointer a 20 planer, a 12 1/2 pLANER (TABLETOP) I drill press
AW heck!!!!!!!
More cars machinery tools and wood than any body should have it all fits in my garage but wouldn't with a longer pickup!