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Hopefully they make a version that isn't absolutely gigantic. I've wanted a basic, no-frills 4x4 pickup truck with a 6 foot bed for years now. Problem is, they'

Hopefully they make a version that isn't absolutely gigantic. I've wanted a basic, no-frills 4x4 pickup truck with a 6 foot bed for years now. Problem is, they're all gigantic. And, they all have back seats! Ford released a new Ranger, which is nearly large as everything else out there. In the late 80's / early 90's there were all types of small trucks on the road (including the ranger). Now, there's zero options in US for something that resembles those vehicles. Currently, I drive a compact SUV (Honda HRV), which does nearly everything I need. But, I have to line the hatch in a tarp when I deal with anything dirty. I'd love a truck version of this car, but the options are just absurdly large.

TylerE 8y ago
Does it have to be a Ford? What about something like the Chevy Colorado?
- abawany 8y ago
  Also, the redesigned Ford Ranger, similar in size to the Colorado, is now available.
  - burlesona 8y ago
    Today’s Ranger and Colorado are about the size that the F-150 and Silverado we’re back in the 90s. The obesity epidemic has hit trucks pretty hard.
    - TylerE 8y ago
      The price of being able to survive a 60mph collision.
      - benj111 8y ago
        But what about the other guy? Survivability should be about crumple zones, air bags, etc, not steamrollering everyone.
remarkEon 8y ago
Second this, with the caveat that the Colorado might be a good small size pickup alternative (I haven’t driven it, and the Nissan Frontier isn’t too big for a 4-door if you don’t insist on buying American).
sandworm101 8y ago
Because the pickup isn't a work vehicle. It is a statement, a bit of fashion. That's where the market is. People want to look like they need a pickup. In reality, they would be better served by a minivan. They are why every truck has back seats. A more honest answer is probably to get the smallish SUV and buy a trailer. An 8'x4' metal trailer, with full wheels, will let you haul the wood/stuff those few times a year you need to. When I was in university I had a small Jeep and a proper trailer. On big climbing/camping trips I could haul more stuff than any pickup. An 8'x4'x2' trailer is bigger than all but the biggest pickup beds. The bed was also lower, which made things like motorcycles much easier to load.
- throwawayjava 8y ago
  Even a sedan will do if you just want the bed. Not ideal, but definitely possible. Used to haul drywall, gravel, lumber, etc. in a little trailer hooked up to my freaking Corolla. Trucks are great because the extra degree of freedom is a PITA, but unless you're towing serious loads they are mostly just the country version of a lexus or BMW.
- jessaustin 8y ago
  Good grief the bed heights are ridiculous now. Forget about reaching over the side and grabbing something without having to climb in: and I'm 6' tall! I've mastered this maneuver where I jump up and land with my stomach over the edge of the bed. It's uncomfortable but I can actually reach something. My father is three inches taller than I am, but it was still something of a revelation for him a couple of weeks ago when he realized what I was doing. Now he's doing it too. It didn't used to be like this, before every pickup had to be 4WD with tall suspensions to handle towing heavy trailers. I'd like to buy an old truck just so I can actually reach my tools. Instead I'm thinking of getting one of those dinky Ford Transit Connects, because it will keep everything dry as well as accessible.
  - Symbiote 8y ago
    > Ford Transit Connects That vehicle, and others like it, is the standard work vehicle for European people with equipment to move. Pickups are very rare. "Transit" is almost a generic word for any van in the UK since the middle sized one is so common. "White van man" is derogatory, usually used when there's one illegally parked or driving carelessly. Anyway, the method is well tested.
cloudwalking 8y ago
You can get a 2 door 6ft bed Tacoma. It does have "back seats" but nobody's going to want to ride in them for more than 10 minutes. You can also get an F150 with just two seats and a 6.5ft bed. But yeah, physically, any pickup today is significantly bigger than one made in the 80s or 90s.
- semi-extrinsic 8y ago
  I dunno, the two-door Nissan Frontier at least looks like a "small 90s pickup"? But the photos could be lying, of course. https://www.autoblog.com/nissan/frontier/ https://www.autoblog.com/nissan/frontier/
  - lostlogin 8y ago
    To those who also didn’t know what this is - Navara is the other name. The old Hilux is sort of similar, and I love those.
toomanybeersies 8y ago
I used to drive a 1982 Datsun 720 truck. It was such a convenient town truck. It had a 1.6 L engine in it (which wasn't very fuel efficient as it was 30 years old), and wasn't any larger than a sedan. Yet you could still fit practically anything you'd ever need in the back. The only disadvantage in the design was that the cab was sized for small Japanese people. I'm only 5'10" and I felt uncomfortable sitting in it for too long, it was also only single cab. It's a shame that compact trucks are no longer a thing. Even the Toyota Hilux is a lot larger and more unwieldy than the models from the 90's. What you really want is something like the ute version of the Ford Falcon or Holden [Chevy] Commodore [1], which they used to make in Australia and sadly have discontinued. [1] https://www.whichcar.com.au/features/ford-xr6t-v-holden-ss-ute https://www.whichcar.com.au/features/ford-xr6t-v-holden-ss-u...
- dwd 8y ago
  It's the same as we used to have panel vans based on the sedan/ute wheelbase but they quietly disappeared and it's now 1t trays with a canopy or high roof vans like a Hiace. Maybe the hot ute will make a comeback someday... https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/honda-civic-type-r-ute-concept-revealed https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/honda-civic-type-r-ute-conc...
burlesona 8y ago
I completely agree with this. The only truck I’ve seen that isn’t quite as absurd is the Honda one, but it’s also got a double cab. I understand the “big macho truck” is part of the appeal for a lot of people, but for work in the city a smaller (1990 size) truck would be a better option.
baddox 8y ago
Why do you want a smaller truck? Is it just to make parking easier? My impression is that the reason the compact truck mostly died off (or got larger) is that the fuel economy of the larger vehicles improved to the point that the smaller trucks had little advantage.
- beatgammit 8y ago
  I heard it was because US regulations were more lax for larger trucks, and the smaller trucks couldn't keep up with the regulations. I'm hopeful that electric trucks can bring back the smaller options.
- grigjd3 8y ago
  Smaller trucks used to be far more affordable while still having the utility. If you're not shuffling a family around, this can be helpful.
Youden 8y ago
I'm curious, would Australian "trucks" (we call them "utes") satisfy your needs if they were sold in the US? Examples: - Holden (GM) Colorado: https://www.holden.com.au/cars/colorado/ls-single-cab-chassis-4x4 https://www.holden.com.au/cars/colorado/ls-single-cab-chassi... - Toyota Hilux: https://www.toyota.com.au/main/hilux https://www.toyota.com.au/main/hilux or Landcruiser 70: https://www.toyota.com.au/main/landcruiser-70 https://www.toyota.com.au/main/landcruiser-70 - Ford Ranger: https://www.ford.com.au/commercial/ranger/compare-models/?intcmp=vhp-return-comp https://www.ford.com.au/commercial/ranger/compare-models/?in... - Nissan Navara: http://www.nissan.com.au/cars-vehicles/np300-navara/range-and-pricing http://www.nissan.com.au/cars-vehicles/np300-navara/range-an... All of these have a single cab option and small beds (relative to American trucks).
- _archon_ 8y ago
  I want a V8 Falcon. A car-based pickup would suit 99.99% of my use cases. They don't exist in the US market unless you buy something >30 yr. old.

TylerE 8y ago

Does it have to be a Ford? What about something like the Chevy Colorado?

abawany 8y ago
Also, the redesigned Ford Ranger, similar in size to the Colorado, is now available.
- burlesona 8y ago
  Today’s Ranger and Colorado are about the size that the F-150 and Silverado we’re back in the 90s. The obesity epidemic has hit trucks pretty hard.
  - TylerE 8y ago
    The price of being able to survive a 60mph collision.
    - benj111 8y ago
      But what about the other guy? Survivability should be about crumple zones, air bags, etc, not steamrollering everyone.

remarkEon 8y ago

Second this, with the caveat that the Colorado might be a good small size pickup alternative (I haven’t driven it, and the Nissan Frontier isn’t too big for a 4-door if you don’t insist on buying American).

sandworm101 8y ago

Because the pickup isn't a work vehicle. It is a statement, a bit of fashion. That's where the market is. People want to look like they need a pickup. In reality, they would be better served by a minivan. They are why every truck has back seats. A more honest answer is probably to get the smallish SUV and buy a trailer. An 8'x4' metal trailer, with full wheels, will let you haul the wood/stuff those few times a year you need to. When I was in university I had a small Jeep and a proper trailer. On big climbing/camping trips I could haul more stuff than any pickup. An 8'x4'x2' trailer is bigger than all but the biggest pickup beds. The bed was also lower, which made things like motorcycles much easier to load.

throwawayjava 8y ago
Even a sedan will do if you just want the bed. Not ideal, but definitely possible. Used to haul drywall, gravel, lumber, etc. in a little trailer hooked up to my freaking Corolla. Trucks are great because the extra degree of freedom is a PITA, but unless you're towing serious loads they are mostly just the country version of a lexus or BMW.
jessaustin 8y ago
Good grief the bed heights are ridiculous now. Forget about reaching over the side and grabbing something without having to climb in: and I'm 6' tall! I've mastered this maneuver where I jump up and land with my stomach over the edge of the bed. It's uncomfortable but I can actually reach something. My father is three inches taller than I am, but it was still something of a revelation for him a couple of weeks ago when he realized what I was doing. Now he's doing it too. It didn't used to be like this, before every pickup had to be 4WD with tall suspensions to handle towing heavy trailers. I'd like to buy an old truck just so I can actually reach my tools. Instead I'm thinking of getting one of those dinky Ford Transit Connects, because it will keep everything dry as well as accessible.
- Symbiote 8y ago
  > Ford Transit Connects That vehicle, and others like it, is the standard work vehicle for European people with equipment to move. Pickups are very rare. "Transit" is almost a generic word for any van in the UK since the middle sized one is so common. "White van man" is derogatory, usually used when there's one illegally parked or driving carelessly. Anyway, the method is well tested.

cloudwalking 8y ago

You can get a 2 door 6ft bed Tacoma. It does have "back seats" but nobody's going to want to ride in them for more than 10 minutes. You can also get an F150 with just two seats and a 6.5ft bed. But yeah, physically, any pickup today is significantly bigger than one made in the 80s or 90s.

semi-extrinsic 8y ago
I dunno, the two-door Nissan Frontier at least looks like a "small 90s pickup"? But the photos could be lying, of course. https://www.autoblog.com/nissan/frontier/ https://www.autoblog.com/nissan/frontier/
- lostlogin 8y ago
  To those who also didn’t know what this is - Navara is the other name. The old Hilux is sort of similar, and I love those.

toomanybeersies 8y ago

I used to drive a 1982 Datsun 720 truck. It was such a convenient town truck. It had a 1.6 L engine in it (which wasn't very fuel efficient as it was 30 years old), and wasn't any larger than a sedan. Yet you could still fit practically anything you'd ever need in the back. The only disadvantage in the design was that the cab was sized for small Japanese people. I'm only 5'10" and I felt uncomfortable sitting in it for too long, it was also only single cab. It's a shame that compact trucks are no longer a thing. Even the Toyota Hilux is a lot larger and more unwieldy than the models from the 90's. What you really want is something like the ute version of the Ford Falcon or Holden [Chevy] Commodore [1], which they used to make in Australia and sadly have discontinued. [1] https://www.whichcar.com.au/features/ford-xr6t-v-holden-ss-ute https://www.whichcar.com.au/features/ford-xr6t-v-holden-ss-u...

dwd 8y ago
It's the same as we used to have panel vans based on the sedan/ute wheelbase but they quietly disappeared and it's now 1t trays with a canopy or high roof vans like a Hiace. Maybe the hot ute will make a comeback someday... https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/honda-civic-type-r-ute-concept-revealed https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/honda-civic-type-r-ute-conc...

burlesona 8y ago

I completely agree with this. The only truck I’ve seen that isn’t quite as absurd is the Honda one, but it’s also got a double cab. I understand the “big macho truck” is part of the appeal for a lot of people, but for work in the city a smaller (1990 size) truck would be a better option.

baddox 8y ago

Why do you want a smaller truck? Is it just to make parking easier? My impression is that the reason the compact truck mostly died off (or got larger) is that the fuel economy of the larger vehicles improved to the point that the smaller trucks had little advantage.

beatgammit 8y ago
I heard it was because US regulations were more lax for larger trucks, and the smaller trucks couldn't keep up with the regulations. I'm hopeful that electric trucks can bring back the smaller options.
grigjd3 8y ago
Smaller trucks used to be far more affordable while still having the utility. If you're not shuffling a family around, this can be helpful.

Youden 8y ago

I'm curious, would Australian "trucks" (we call them "utes") satisfy your needs if they were sold in the US? Examples: - Holden (GM) Colorado: https://www.holden.com.au/cars/colorado/ls-single-cab-chassis-4x4 https://www.holden.com.au/cars/colorado/ls-single-cab-chassi... - Toyota Hilux: https://www.toyota.com.au/main/hilux https://www.toyota.com.au/main/hilux or Landcruiser 70: https://www.toyota.com.au/main/landcruiser-70 https://www.toyota.com.au/main/landcruiser-70 - Ford Ranger: https://www.ford.com.au/commercial/ranger/compare-models/?intcmp=vhp-return-comp https://www.ford.com.au/commercial/ranger/compare-models/?in... - Nissan Navara: http://www.nissan.com.au/cars-vehicles/np300-navara/range-and-pricing http://www.nissan.com.au/cars-vehicles/np300-navara/range-an... All of these have a single cab option and small beds (relative to American trucks).

_archon_ 8y ago
I want a V8 Falcon. A car-based pickup would suit 99.99% of my use cases. They don't exist in the US market unless you buy something >30 yr. old.