Lighest Truck As A TOAD
Considering a small truck as a TOAD...would like the bed as additional storage...truck doesn't need to be brand new...an older truck line that has a good reputation will be fine...what is the approxim...
Forum Discussion
In 2009 we drove new Ranger, Tacoma and Frontier. All 4-cyl, 5-spd, 2-wd, base model. Nissan had the tortuus back seat called King Cab. They've stopped offering the standard short work truck cab. Ranger and Tacoma had the sort cab.
Ranger just seemed "eager to please." Spunky acceleration (2.3L) and tight turning, lots of underhood access. But the seats and ride were uncomfortable. Then we hit a hump in the road. When we Came Down (that's right, at least the rear of the truck went airborne), the front wheels were in our lane but one of the rear wheels was in the lane next to us.
Taooma shocked me by not impressing me at all. Biggest engine (2.7) but not as lively as the Ranger. The real deal breaker was "towing not recommended" but I was disappointed in what I went into this thinking was the best compact pickup.
Frontier base model looked dressed up. Carpet, cloth, CD radio and raised height like most of the Tacomas. Only one of the 3 with 4-wheel disc brakes. Tacoma we drove was a "low boy." Drove over "Mount Ranger" with the bounce you'd expect in a truck but stayed put on road and in lane. 2.5L ran stronger than Tacoma even though we had the bigger cab and a third person aboard. But not as strong as the Ranger ran. Edmunds.com review said it "drives like a larger truck" and I think that's accurate. I read that it "shares parts" with Titan. I don't know Which Parts but maybe that's why the Frontier has an annoying drawback - Very large turning circle for a compact truck. I drove a Dodge 1500 4x4 (short cab, short box) that turned tighter! Wheelbase matters, and possibly if Ranger and Tacoma had been stretched for the extended cab it've been the same.
Ranger was the Price Leader as you might expect, but equipped the same, the trucks carried very close to the same prices. At 12,000 miles and the 4th year, I still really like the truck.
Ranger just seemed "eager to please." Spunky acceleration (2.3L) and tight turning, lots of underhood access. But the seats and ride were uncomfortable. Then we hit a hump in the road. When we Came Down (that's right, at least the rear of the truck went airborne), the front wheels were in our lane but one of the rear wheels was in the lane next to us.
Taooma shocked me by not impressing me at all. Biggest engine (2.7) but not as lively as the Ranger. The real deal breaker was "towing not recommended" but I was disappointed in what I went into this thinking was the best compact pickup.
Frontier base model looked dressed up. Carpet, cloth, CD radio and raised height like most of the Tacomas. Only one of the 3 with 4-wheel disc brakes. Tacoma we drove was a "low boy." Drove over "Mount Ranger" with the bounce you'd expect in a truck but stayed put on road and in lane. 2.5L ran stronger than Tacoma even though we had the bigger cab and a third person aboard. But not as strong as the Ranger ran. Edmunds.com review said it "drives like a larger truck" and I think that's accurate. I read that it "shares parts" with Titan. I don't know Which Parts but maybe that's why the Frontier has an annoying drawback - Very large turning circle for a compact truck. I drove a Dodge 1500 4x4 (short cab, short box) that turned tighter! Wheelbase matters, and possibly if Ranger and Tacoma had been stretched for the extended cab it've been the same.
Ranger was the Price Leader as you might expect, but equipped the same, the trucks carried very close to the same prices. At 12,000 miles and the 4th year, I still really like the truck.
