50mpg truck

[Sven7]

Originally Posted by Stan

Where can one find those prices? I've been looking for years here in Northern California (where car prices are generally very reasonable), and haven't seen a road-worthy example for below about $3000 since well below the 2008 oil price inflation.

Sorry, I forgot how expensive Caddies are, especially diesels. VWVortex lists a lot of engine swaps and other hot rodded examples. The best bet would be watching CL for someone who doesn't know what they have.

Or get a diesel Rabbit and carry whatever you want in it. Since the OP never told us any specific reason to have a pickup, I'm guessing it's not necessary.

Originally Posted by jamesqf

I think you've got that backwards: a lot of truck owners are just using them as station wagons.

There are a lot of things that a truck will do that station wagons can't, because they lack the ground clearance to handle rough roads. If you get a station wagon that will pull a trailer hauling significant weight, such as a load of logs for firewood, a two-horse trailer, or even a good-sized load of hay, then that station wagon is going to be almost as large & thirsty as a truck (in fact, it'll probably be a fairly large SUV), and you will be driving it all the time and getting lousy mpg.

There are limitations to both, but like I said, since the OP never told us what he needs it for, he probably doesn't actually need it. My family has two wagons and a Yukon. The wagons can carry all the wood chips and horse feed we need, and they still get much better mileage.

Not many people "need" the ground clearance, either. How many people do you know that actually go two-tracking? A Subaru Outback will do that.

I just don't buy the argument for the pickup as anything but a lifestyle vehicle.

[morphector]

Can you import kei truck where you live?

These would get around 40-50mpg with a 660cc engine!


these are worth between 5-7000$

mini4x4.ca

[wagonef8]

Here is Wagon from hondacivicwagon.com I also have a hitch on my wagon and building a trailer from a parts crx I bought

[radioranger]

you could probably get t down to 23 or 24 hundred pounds then aero the tail and optimize the engine, most engines run too rich to keep the cat hot i understand, so lean it out a bit and electric fan etc, also modify the nose and tail sections as much as you can , then you should be able to get close to 40 mpg all the time on the highway . 50 mpg could be a reach .

[Christ]

Swap the 2.3 for a Mazda FE diesel and the 5 speed trans from a B-series pickup if it's a Ranger.

If it's a S10, swap the engine for a 1.7 diesel from Isuzu, it already bolts to the OEM transmission if it was originally a 4 cylinder.

[oil pan 4]

I like trailers over pick up trucks because you can get a used trailer and destroy it and be out a few hundred dollars. I find it pretty difficult to destroy a trailer.
Trailers are very easy to repair, the parts are cheap and universal.
If you have a pickup truck every one wants you to help them move, you don't have that problem when you have a trailer.
If you scratch or dent a trailer, who cares its a trailer.
Small trailers don't need insurance here.
Most states do not require trailers don't to be inspected, unless they have brakes.

Originally Posted by euromodder

We more or less try to balance our trailers - with a slight front bias so it still rests on its front wheel or skid when unhooked.

If any one here bothers to read the hitch or trailer instructions most OEMs call for the trailer to be loaded so that at least 10% of the total gross trailer weight rests on the vehicle hitch and that the trailer tounge be as close to level as possible or pointing slightly down.
Most people ignore these two things, mainly that last part.

[baldlobo]

i question weather the 1.7 isuzu diesel will bolt up to the north american gm metric pattern.

i know the s10 was sold with a isuzu 2.2l diesel.

[t vago]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

If you scratch or dent a trailer, who cares its a trailer.

Used to be that people felt the same way about trucks. That is, before trucks ceased to be just utility vehicles. Oh, well. My truck has a good number of dents and dings and scratches from hauling stuff around.

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

I think you've got that backwards: a lot of truck owners are just using them as station wagons.

And still it means the same thing

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

If any one here bothers to read the hitch or trailer instructions most OEMs call for the trailer to be loaded so that at least 10% of the total gross trailer weight rests on the vehicle hitch and that the trailer tounge be as close to level as possible or pointing slightly down.
Most people ignore these two things, mainly that last part.

That's the habit in the US.

My car can pull a 700kg GW trailer without brakes, or 1300kg GW with brakes.
Yet it's only allowed to have 75 kg on the hitch.

Most European passenger cars are only rated for 50 to 75 kg hitch load.