| Author | Message | ||
     Ezblast |
Durability, longevity, and operational upkeep cost - ability to haull a Buell or two down the road in the bed - lol GT - JBOTDS! EZ  | ||
| Liquorwhere |
Only one thing to say about trucks...I need more cowbell | ||
| Bads1 |
Honda Element | ||
| Johntman |
Chevrolet silverado! If you're not going to haul anything too heavy you can get by with the 4.8 V-8 and get really good gas mileage for a truck. I get about 18mpg around town and 22 mpg on the highway. Find another truck with a V-8 that can get that gas mileage. And the only maintenance I had to do is oil changes. | ||
| Rick_a |
I've got a thing for the Chevy Colorado I-5. It'd suit those purposes. A bit underpowered but I don't need 350+ horsepower to haul a bike and some tools. Hey Bad, that ain't no truck, man! | ||
| Johntman |
The only thing with the colorado I-5 is my 4.8 V-8 gets about same gas mileage, with way more power. | ||
| Rick_a |
I used to own an S10 with wide Camaro alloys. I liked sliding it sideways and throwing it around every now and then. Not as do-able in a full size truck! | ||
| Xl1200r |
A Honda Element is about as much truck as the Buell itself. | ||
| Johntman |
I had a 02 extended cab Z-71 with the 5.3 I used to throw it around and slide it sideways! | ||
| Ezblast |
So the Silverado is better than the rest in gas mialage as well as durability? Even than Dodge? I had a S10 with low profile wide mags, a definately fun ride - but now I'm looking for a worker. GT - JBOTDS! EZ (Message edited by ezblast on March 01, 2007) | ||
| Chasespeed |
Well, have had 3 isuzu's.. a 93 Trooper with 300k plus on it when it was stoklen.... And my 2 Rodeos... a 99 with 150k plus, (whihc I MIGHT get back from my ex-wife) and MY 2000 with only 50k on it, and bling... Anyway, other than oil changes, adn regular maint, these things are great... The 99 is turning 33s, and has been for 2 years, with no unusual wear(4.5 incehs of lift), and the troop had 35s... Anyway, baring that, I would go with the Isuzu veriosn of the colorado/canyon... IDENTICAL trucks, except, MUCH MUCH cheaper... something liek 6k difference....BUT, all the optins are the same, EXCEPT, I dont think the Z-71(or what ever its called now), is available... Chase | ||
| Rick_a |
My hat off to you sir. | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Been looking at the Dodge Dakota for myself lately, will need the gate down to fit my bike in since I'll get the Quad cab. It's low enough to get the bike a lot easier than my dad's f150. I think the bed is longer on the reg and extended cab. They have a 5.9 available but I don't need that big an engine... The 4.8L was a new engine from the ground up in 2002, with a tranny designed for it at the same time. I've not read a bad review yet. It's rated as a half ton, just doesn't have all the extra metal, so mileage is decent, especially compared to the full sized trucks. I've always owned Fords so I've really mulled it over, but will not be happy with a 6cyl Ranger and the F series are too big for my needs... just my $.02. | ||
| Wardog3187 |
Be different, get a right hand drive Land Rover.  | ||
| Danny_h__jesternut |
Tail gates on pickups are jest a bit high, requiring a long ramp to get bikes in the bed. Never did like that, though I did it often enough. To day my prefered method is a nice SUV. Chevy Blazer, leather interior, all the toys, with a 4.3 V6, towing a uitality trailer. Easy loading and unloading. | ||
| Bullseye |
I used to haul my MX bikes (2 at a time) to the track in an S-10. I found that the lower 2wd (not the extreme) was perfect stepping height to put things away without needing a step or anything. The 4.3 was plenty powerful and with an extended cab all the gear fit behind the seat. Only sold it to get 4wd and a family hauler. I don't recommend a 2500hd Crew they are WAY too tall to load bikes alone, it can be done but its scary. | ||
| Daves |
as long as it says Ford on it you'll be ok  | ||
| Hughlysses |
Seems like everyone in the U.S. loves big-ass trucks these days, but dang, I'd rather spend my disposable income on motorcycles. I just can't see spending ~$35-40k on a "work" vehicle that gets 15 MPG at best. Don't forget similarly expensive insurance and taxes too. I'm on my second Ford Ranger. I'd still be driving the first with 200k miles on it by now, but I inherited this one after my father-in-law passed away. My first was a 1991 extended cab with 3 L V-6 and a 5 speed; I've hauled 2 full size bikes in it without any problems. It got 25 MPG on the highway. In 15 years and 190,000 miles, the only non-wear items I had to replace were the water pump at 120,000 miles (after a failed try to switch to long-life "pink" antifreeze), and the clutch slave cylinder at 185,000 miles (went ahead and replaced the entire clutch assembly while I was in there). My "new" truck is a 2001 bare-bones Ranger. With fully independent front suspension, it drives better than the old one. So far, I've got 25k miles on it with no problems. IMHO- buy the smallest truck that'll do the job. (Message edited by hughlysses on March 02, 2007) | ||
| Liquorwhere |
Littlebuggels...don't buy that Dakota, get the mitsubishi raider..same exact truck, longer warranty, and cheaper...my buddy sells them, the V6 has as much power as the V8 with better mileage and the cost is about $4000.00 from Dakota to Raider...check it out before you buy. | ||
| Interceptor |
As long as it says CHEVY you will be GREAT!  | ||
| Wolf102 |
gmc or chevy is the way to go.toyota is good to.93000 miles on my gmc and no problems.123000 on my tacoma and no problems.i like the gmc better. it gets the same gas mileage as the toyota. | ||
| Djkaplan |
I love my GMC 1500 Stepside, and it's what I use to haul my M2 in - I can even raise the tailgate with the bike loaded... but the height limits where I can unload. I have to find a high spot to back up to, to use my folding ramp. It's scary as hell riding up the ramp on flat ground and there is no way for one person can unload the bike on flat ground. I've been fortunate that almost everywhere I transport my bike, I've been able to find a good high spot so I can easily walk the bike up and down. | ||
| Kdan |
Honda Element +1 There is nothing I've not been able to with my Element and a $400 trailer that I've felt I needed a truck for. I get 25 MPG and a wash and wear interior. Not to mention a 7 speaker stereo with MP3 capability and 1600 watts output! | ||
| Ceejay |
My brother has an 03 Ranger ext. cab-215,000 with only tires and oil. has hauled my bike great, nice low bed, carrys canoes, fishing, camping stuff well, probably do alright with a trailer too. Gets 23mpg with the six auto. | ||
| Buellshyter |
I believe he said haul IN THE BED....a Honda Element has NO bed. | ||
| Kdan |
I've hauled a Blast inside. | ||
| Court |
I bought another Ford F-150 XLT SuperCab. Tough to argue with the reputation America's #1 selling truck has earned. Cheap and does everything I want. I can put two Buells in the bed and close the tailgate and I can seat 6 inside. Duh. . . | ||
| Wolf102 |
my uncle has an f150 with almost 200000 miles on it but he has had to replace most of the truck.a ford will last along time if you keep on repairing it. | ||
| Jayvee |
Consumer Reports rates the Ford Ranger as the best overall performer, and as reliable as anything out there. I have one, perfectly reliable so far, but only have 145,000 miles on it, just getting broken in. Chevy's might be good, but much more popular with thieves, according the list of most stolen vehicles. Ranger is way way down the list, I guess it just doesn't have the right cachet for stealers. Does that make it an "honest truck"? The Chevy SSR would be really cool, but expensive, maybe not so practical. I think they might have stopped making them too. There might be some other brands out there, but honestly can't think of any I would consider purchasing. | ||
| Mbsween |
Littlebuggles, I have 30k on my 04 dakota. Its the club cab with the 3.7L 6, its the SXT model (4wd, air, cdplayer,but no power locks or windows). I have the 5 speed. Power is okay, but really tails off at upper speeds (say above 85 mph). Other than that its dead nuts reliable, gets between 16 -21 MPG and holds 2 bikes in the bed (my X1 and KZ750 fit). The liftgate is pretty high, but once you get used to the ramp its not too bad. Back seat is useless for anyone taller than 5'2". Holds leathers and such just fine. The quad cab shortens the bed up a bunch, I wish mine was 1/2 a foot longer, then I could close the gate with the bikes in it. Then again its fits nicely in the garage, it wouldn't if it were much longer. My 0.02 matt |
