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Trucks that seat 4-5 people and don't suck...

H8R

Cranky Pants
Nov 10, 2004
13,959
35
I love my Ranger pickup. Love love love it. It's way too small though, now that I haves a baby boy.

What's a good crew-cab style truck that doesn't get single digit MPG?


I don't need an offroad beast, just a good 4-seater with a pickup bed. 2wd is just fine. Mini van IS NOT an option. I need the pickup bed for work, band and bikes.


I like the Nissan Frontier, but I dunno about the quality/durability.

Honda Ridgeline? Ugly but it seems family friendly.


Suggestions?
 

stoney

Part of the unwashed, middle-American horde
Jul 26, 2006
21,516
7,063
Colorado
Ridgeline is the only one I can think of that isn't 12x too big. Possibly a Tacoma quad cab?
 

H8R

Cranky Pants
Nov 10, 2004
13,959
35
Some lawn chairs in the bed?
I suggested strapping the baby's car seat to the roof to get him used to high winds when I take him skydiving for his 1st birthday.


The wife LOVED the idea.
 

Westy

the teste
Nov 22, 2002
54,232
20,009
Sleazattle
I suggested strapping the baby's car seat to the roof to get him used to high winds when I take him skydiving for his 1st birthday.


The wife LOVED the idea.
I think that is illegal. The lawn chair is for her.
 

dhmike

Turbo Monkey
Dec 20, 2006
4,304
43
Boise Idaho
ford f-150 . i get 13 road mph and 15 hwy. great truck mine seats 6 , but one time when i was shuttling i had 8 homies in my truck. i'm on my 2nd f-150 and i think there great trucks . i haven't had any major issues and would reccomend an f-150 like i'm doing now.
 

syadasti

i heart mac
Apr 15, 2002
12,690
290
VT
ford f-150 . i get 13 road mph and 15 hwy. great truck mine seats 6 , but one time when i was shuttling i had 8 homies in my truck. i'm on my 2nd f-150 and i think there great trucks . i haven't had any major issues and would reccomend an f-150 like i'm doing now.
Did you real the whole title:

Trucks that seat 4-5 people and don't suck
:biggrin:
 

ryebread

Monkey
Jun 20, 2007
138
0
Central Oregon
When I was looking for a new truck I had all but settled on a ranger. Then I realized that my 35 pound dog could barely fit in the jump seat area - done. Went with a Frontier. love the 6ft bed and real rear doors. Had it for a year and I'm happy with it. Gas isn't great (20ish) but hey its a 6cyl. pickup.

My last vehicle was a GMC safari AWD. I can't even tell you how much I miss that van. even if it is a mini van. Can't remember the gas mileage though.
 

BurlyShirley

Rex Grossman Will Rise Again
Jul 4, 2002
19,180
17
TN
Get a diesel Eurovan and be done with it Haider.

That's what I plan on getting next and we all know how cool I am.
 

jonKranked

Detective Dookie
Nov 10, 2005
85,559
24,182
media blackout
I rolled a 1996 Dodge Caravan and walked away completely unscathed. The van however, did not fare so well. I got more for it as scrap and parts than if I would have tried to sell it. Win!
 

H8R

Cranky Pants
Nov 10, 2004
13,959
35
Get a diesel Eurovan and be done with it Haider.

That's what I plan on getting next and we all know how cool I am.
Volkswagons are for gay Nazi liberals.


Sprinter if I could afford it. But not on my dime.

:(
 

jimmydean

The Official Meat of Ridemonkey
Sep 10, 2001
40,938
13,133
Portland, OR
Those suck for heavy duty purposes H8R has in mind. Payload capacity is a minute 675 lbs.
Not to mention the gas mileage also sucks.

H8R, what is your budget? I would suggest finding a late 90's extra cab Tacoma in a 4cyl 5 speed. They can be had for for about $6k and get around 20mpg average. Not to mention they run forever and maintain a level of value.

We sat 5 adults in a 2001. It was cozy, but it wasn't as bad as others.
 

BrokenChain

Monkey
Oct 26, 2001
315
0
NWCT
I can't say enough good things about my 2006 Colorado crew cab. It's got the 5 cylinder 4wd Z71 package. I routinely drive from CT to NH, which is 130 miles each way, and I average 23 MPG. I get about 16 MPG in the city. The truck has plenty of power, and I fit comfortably in the back seat (I'm 5'11" and 210lbs). I've owned it since May, and I've put close to 12k miles on it already. I don't see myself getting rid of this truck any time soon.

I did test out the 4 cylinder version, and it was WAY under powered, although the manual transmission was very nice.
 

buildyourown

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2004
4,832
0
South Seattle
I really like my Tacoma Double Cab. It's 2wd, with the long bed. It's a large vehicle but not unmanageable even in downtown driving/parking situations.
It seats 5 comfortably, can haul 8 bikes and enough gear for a small army.
Gets around 18mpg but I've got plus size AT tires and a big, higher-than-cab canopy.
I choose this truck because it was the only thing that fit the bill that wasn't $30k plus. The f-150 was WAY more money than I paid.
 

syadasti

i heart mac
Apr 15, 2002
12,690
290
VT
Honda Element. With trailer hitch. REnt U-haul trialer when you need it for like $30.
How to you fit 5 people in a 4 seat vehicle? Its 675 lbs including people. You are likely to run into the limit with 4 people period. Max towing is only 1500 lbs.
 

BurlyShirley

Rex Grossman Will Rise Again
Jul 4, 2002
19,180
17
TN
There are only a handful of mid-size trucks on the market that fit your criteria. Someone will post that one is good, and then the next post will say it sucks. Frontier, Tacoma, Colorado... it's all pretty much the same crap at this stage.
If buying new however, I would ask that you at least consider buying American. We need all the help we can get.
 

Westy

the teste
Nov 22, 2002
54,232
20,009
Sleazattle
Are you just a one care family? Do you ever really need the truck and to carry the family at the same time?
 

H8R

Cranky Pants
Nov 10, 2004
13,959
35
Are you just a one care family? Do you ever really need the truck and to carry the family at the same time?
The Subie is getting long in the tooth. I want a "do-all" vehicle.

It'd be really nice to seat 4-5 plus gear for local band gigs too.
 

Mike.rider

Monkey
Jun 14, 2003
641
0
renton, WA
how about a Explorer sport trac, the 2001-2005ish are the same chassis as the Ranger 4x4s, decent mileage with the 4.0 and the new ones have the 4.6 V8. that gets 18-22. I have a 2001 ranger and a 2003 explorer the ranger has the 4.0 and the explorer has the 4.6 my truck gets an average of 18 mpg mostly city and the explorer gets about 19. we had it an a long road trip getting 23 mpg. good rigs the both of them.