Truck for her and for pulling

Krav

Krav

Joined
Jun 6, 2013
Messages
13,275
I'm getting a used truck for my wife after I trade in the challenger. She doesn't want any thing to big,
I will be using it to pull a trailer on weekends with 2 atvs and a dirt bike.
I was thinking dodge 1500 or she was looking at Nissan (can't remember the model)
Al around $15,000 to $18,000.

Any advice is appreciated
 
You can get a used Chevy 1500 for that price with a reasonable amount of miles on it. And they will pull pretty much everything you need it too
 
If all your going to be pulling is a small trailer with a couple atvs and a dirt bike you can pull that much with about anything these days. I don't know much about the newer Dodge 2wd trucks but they're 4x4s are pretty stout trucks. The Nissan is probably a smaller truck though and plenty big enough to tow what you want yet small enough to be easy for the wife to feel comfortable with.
 
Thanks, I want a Chevy, but the wifey doesn't want it. I wasn't sure if these trucks would be o.k. Pulling this weight. Sounds like it will be fine. I was pulling this trailer with the atv in my work van (Chevy express 1500 rebuilt trans) 176,000 miles and I don't want to push it, seems like its a bit of a strain on her.
Since it will be her primary vehicle she has to be comfortable. This weekend we are going to test drive some trucks, and get this done, ill keep you posted.
Thanks for your input
 
I would have you consider a Chevy Colorado Crew Cab.

I have a 2006 model, it has 100,000 miles on it, I bought it new.

Mine is a Z71 but it is only 2 wheel drive, so it has the off road suspension, but without the 4x4 mechanicals, which means it weighs less, has better driving feel and gets better mileage than would a 4x4 model.

I have the 3.5l inline 5, and it has been a GREAT engine. It is peppy enough and has decent torque. The steering is nice with good feel, and the throttle tip-in is awesome.

With 4 doors and a REAL back seat, the truck can be used like a family sedan, and the back seats to fit adults comfortably. The large rear compartment also allows you to stow some gear without worrying about it getting wet etc.

The bed is a bit small, but for most people's needs it is just fine.

I get 18mpg on average, and I get 23 on the highway.

I just loaned my truck to my daughter-in-law for a couple of weeks while I was working on her old Toyota Avalon, an she fell in love with the truck (and looked cute driving it).

Towing capability is more than fine for the small utility type trailers you are thinking you will pull. One of my friends put helper springs and heavy shocks on the rear of his Colorado and then used the truck to pull his Corvette on a car trailer to auto-crosses etc.

After 100,000 miles, my truck has zero rattles or squeaks, is quiet and comfortable to drive and ride in, and still drives beautifully.

I plan on putting at least another 100k on it, and one of my friends at work recently traded his Colorado with over 170k miles and it was still running and driving fine.

I have had the full sized chevy trucks in the past - they are fine, but the economy goes way down with the larger truck.

Good luck!

best

mqqn
 
I think Chevy makes the best riding pick up there is. They ride like a car, but still haul a load. And if it is a daily user, I think that is important. That said, my wife still does not like driving mine. But she is a nervous driver anyway.
 
And it has to be able to fit 3 people comfortabley, 4 doors. We will see ? I'm going to try to get her in a Chevy ....
Probably wont happen thou.
 
I have a 2007 Toyota Tundra (the big one) with the 5.7L V-8. With it's large cab and 4 doors, it will hold 4 adults easily. I have pulled a 14K pound trailer with it but, that's not for novices and requires some upgrades in the suspension and tires.

With the 6.5' bed and P-rates tires, it rides pretty close to a car and got me 17MPG around town. Rated to pull a 10K+ trailer, it is plenty stout in factory spec for anything a normal homeowner or small businessman would need. The full size pickups like this one can be a little intimidating for most people in a shopping mall parking lot but, the visibility on the road is fantastic.

My smaller Nissan Frontier got WORSE gas mileage than my current larger and heavier Toyota Tundra.
 
Toyota would work too, but the price range is higher, or I'll have to get something with more miles on it to get the price where I would like
 
Yota or Ford f150. Beware the Nissan full size. I have two friends with them and the cuss the mileage and rear axle. Apparently the rear axle wheel bearing are press on all the way to the pumpkin gears and have created numerous known issues. The repair is expensive and most shops have to send it out to a specialty shop to have the bearing pressed on due to the long shaft. Just what I have observed and heard more than one owner complain about. They all have qwerks, just some less expensive.
 
Dodge is the only truck in this class that has coil springs instead of leaf if I remember correctly. The usually get picked for the best ride in a truck in many polls. I have one and they do have a comfortable ride. I pull a camper and their is plenty of power for that, however because of the coil springs they do tend to squat like a little girl when you get some weight on the rear. I countered that by adding air bags to the coils. Just put some air to the bags when towing and let it out when not.
 
I've heard about poor mileage in the Nissans, but never drove one.
I had a Mitsubishi Raider (basically a Dodge Dakota) and HATED it!
I now have an Avalanche with a V8 that actually gets better mileage than the gutless V6 Raider.
The Avalanche will switch to V4 mode at cruising speed to save gas, I'm not sure if that feature is on other Chevy trucks.
The 1998 Chevy V6 1500 in college was an awesome little truck and I regret trading it.
I think a Chevy or Toyota V6 will tow 2 ATVs and a dirt bike just fine. Any V8 would do it no problem.
If you go Dodge then get a V8, that Dodge/Mitsu V6 I had could barely motivate the truck itself, muchless haul anything.

Try everything and gather data, you'd be suprised that the difference in mileage between engines is not that great. You'll get way better towing ability from a V8 without much, if any, sacrifice in mpg these days. Case in point; mqqn gets 18/23 from his 5cyl compact truck and I typically get 18-20 from my Avalanch. I've maintained 21mpg on the interstate while hauling my motorcycle 400+miles on multiple occasions. (edit: this could also just be driving style, I might be able to squeeze 20/25 out of his truck and he might not get over 17 from mine. The instant MPG gauge is your friend)
 
Last edited:
Krav said:
I'm getting a used truck for my wife after I trade in the challenger. She doesn't want any thing to big,
I will be using it to pull a trailer on weekends with 2 atvs and a dirt bike.
I was thinking dodge 1500 or she was looking at Nissan (can't remember the model)
Al around $15,000 to $18,000.

Any advice is appreciated
Click to expand...

you are going to need a big v8 to do that kind of pulling. a Nissan is not going to cut it.
 
I had frame flex in my Nissan once with an apartment move. That's one scary experience I won't be repeating, EVER.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top