Help me brainstorm the perfect truck

[mikeyjd]

OK. So here's where I am at in my research stage:

1. I probably don't "need" 4wd (although it would be convenient at times. chains will likely work fine)

2. I want a Diesel (I plan on a DIY wvo conversion down the road)

3. I probably don't need to tow anything over 5000 pounds ( a full smaller work/utility trailer or popup camper)

4. It only needs 2 seats (although I like bigger cabs for the luxury of it)


These findings are moving me toward a vw rabbit caddy with a beefed upped suspension
(double up the leaf springs was said to make it similar payload to a 1ton) and perhaps a locking differential. What do you guys think of the caddy idea? Potential shortfalls include?

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by slowmover

I think we should distinguish what is meant by "off road".

And indeed, what we mean by "road" :-) I never really drive off road (except occasionally to do things like load wood), but many of the roads I do drive are rough dirt and fairly steep. There have been occasions, for instance when getting wood in the mountains after a bit of snow, that I've had to put chains on the front wheels in 4WD.

In which case truck spec rules out 30-mpg (short of some world-truck Japanese diesel which are not sold here) for on-road economy.

I disagree, since I average about 27 mpg in a stock Toyota 4WD, which I almost never drive unless some part of the trip is with load or on rough dirt, or both. With a few aeromods 30 mpg highway should be doable.

[Frank Lee]

These findings are moving me toward a vw rabbit caddy

This finding is moving me to declare we have been led on a wild goose chase, as once upon a time the parameters stated something compact like a Ranger was too small to be suitable and anything less than 4x4 wouldn't do the job. Now a subcompact fwd coupe with a modified roof is best. You really haven't defined what it is this thing is supposed to do well. Get a Metro or a Leaf and put a Harbor Fright trailer behind it.

[mikeyjd]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

This finding is moving me to declare we have been led on a wild goose chase, as once upon a time the parameters stated something compact like a Ranger was too small to be suitable. Now a subcompact coupe with a modified roof is best. You really haven't defined what it is this thing is supposed to do well. Get a Metro or a Leaf and put a Harbor Fright trailer behind it.

I want to be able to haul 1 ton in the bed and a 1-2 ton in a trailer simultaneously. I know that I assumed a ranger wasn't beefy enough at the outset of this thread, but i'm learning that smaller doesn't have to mean "not enough". Sorry for wasting your time Frank

I'd still like to hear some input about whether or not a vw rabbit has any issues that would prevent it from being up to the task, and if the idea of doubled up leaf springs and locking differential would be a good idea (just wondering as to whether the frame is hardy enough to keep up with the suspension here and if theres any reason a locking differential wont work or would be counter productive). thanks to all who have posted thus far, it has really helped shorten my research/learning curve allot (even though i'm just scratching the surface in that regard). Thanks again. Off to read some more articles

[Frank Lee]

OK, if you are tall I'd suggest sitting in a Caddy ASAP to see if you can even get inside it- I can't find comfort in them from the severe lack of being able to move and recline the seat far enough back- and go from there.

An '80 can hold 1100lbs.

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by mikeyjd

1. I probably don't "need" 4wd (although it would be convenient at times. chains will likely work fine)

2. I want a Diesel (I plan on a DIY wvo conversion down the road)

4. It only needs 2 seats (although I like bigger cabs for the luxury of it)

1 Yes I know a jeep guy was was tired of buying $950 sets of mud tires for his jeep every year, so he bought highway tires and put chains on them the one or 2 times a month he would go trail riding.
He claims the chains on highway tires trick work better than any mud tire he tired. Also the highway tires are hundreds of dollars per set cheaper and they are lasting years, not just a year.

2 Make sure the diesel engine's fuel system is WVO friendly.

4 Always go with the extended cab unless this is going to be a second vehicle. They give you a place to seat a second person and still have a place to put your tool boxes.

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by mikeyjd

I want to be able to haul 1 ton in the bed and a 1-2 ton in a trailer simultaneously. I know that I assumed a ranger wasn't beefy enough at the outset of this thread, but i'm learning that smaller doesn't have to mean "not enough". Sorry for wasting your time Frank

I saw a 90s ranger with 15 to 20 bags 60lb bags of concrete in the bed at lowes.
It looked really bad.

Me and my friend have put at least a 1000lb of green fire wood in the bed of his tacoma, it held it quite well. But he replaced the old shocks and springs with new factory springs some time around 2006.
With out wood sides to add hight to the sides of the bed you cant put enough green waste/product the bed to over load it.
You would only be able to over load it would be with dirt, sand, bags of concrete, packs of shingles and stuff like that I think.
We found that a full bed of green wood and my trailer loaded with nearly a half cord of green wood seemed to be about the limit of what the tacoma should pull and that was only because braking and stopping got scarry at times.
If the trailer had trailer brakes then we would need a bigger trailer.

[mikeyjd]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

OK, if you are tall I'd suggest sitting in a Caddy ASAP to see if you can even get inside it- I can't find comfort in them from the severe lack of being able to move and recline the seat far enough back- and go from there.

An '80 can hold 1100lbs.

Good suggestion about the comfort factor. I don't like sitting to upright myself. 1100 lbs wont do at all which is why i was thinking of doubling the leaf springs. Maybe the 1.6l non-turbo would be underpowered at this point though. I do already have a 1.3l ford festiva so there wouldn't be much point in getting a metro for me since i already get around 50 mpg. The issue with using it for towing would be suspension (400lbs bottoms it out). I guess at that point i'd be back to looking at the original idea of something like a Toyota Hilux, Or maybe i save my money for a while and try to get a nice cummins and hypermile/mod the crap out of it like diesel_dave. Theres really allot to think about here. Thanks for your candor Frank. I appreciate your sceptical approach. Off to do more research, and see if anything else strikes a cord of possibility. Thanks for the support guys.

[mikeyjd]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

I saw a 90s ranger with 15 to 20 bags 60lb bags of concrete in the bed at lowes.
It looked really bad.

Me and my friend have put at least a 1000lb of green fire wood in the bed of his tacoma, it held it quite well. But he replaced the old shocks and springs with new factory springs some time around 2006.
With out wood sides to add hight to the sides of the bed you cant put enough green waste/product the bed to over load it.
You would only be able to over load it would be with dirt, sand, bags of concrete, packs of shingles and stuff like that I think.
We found that a full bed of green wood and my trailer loaded with nearly a half cord of green wood seemed to be about the limit of what the tacoma should pull and that was only because braking and stopping got scarry at times.
If the trailer had trailer brakes then we would need a bigger trailer.

Much appreciated info there. This is what I wanted to hear.

[Frank Lee]

I saw a 90s ranger with 15 to 20 bags 60lb bags of concrete in the bed at lowes.
It looked really bad.

Me and my friend have put at least a 1000lb of green fire wood in the bed of his tacoma, it held it quite well. But he replaced the old shocks and springs with new factory springs some time around 2006.

So a decades old truck sagged more under comparable load to a truck with fresh springs? That's not much of a damning indictment of the old one.