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Vehicle advice needed #8435141 10/31/21 06:25 PM
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Sewer rat Offline OP
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My ranch is about 70 miles each way from home. This time of year I make that trip 3-4 times a week.

My truck which I will be keeping for work is a 3/4 ton crew cab diesel with a flatbed. With current fuel prices each trip is $30-$40 in diesel so I am spending $600 a month on fuel. Not the end of the world but would like to reduce this if possible. The other and main issue is if the wife and two kids go along we fill up the cab and there is no really good place for all our gear with the flatbed. A regular pickup bed would be much better.

My flatbed is my work truck and I have a sports car and my wife a SUV that we drive around. My midlife crisis is over so I want to get rid of the sports car and get a vehicle that is better suited for trips to and from the ranch as that is the bulk of my driving.

It must be 4x4 to get to the ranch and it must hold four people and their guns, luggage, etc. being able to tow heavy isn’t a huge deal as I will still have the flatbed for that when needed. I am thinking maybe a half ton gas truck, maybe something smaller like a Tacoma to save on gas , or maybe even something like a couple door Jeep or Tahoe or suburban?

Aside from this sports car every vehicle I have owned over the past twenty years has been a 3/4 ton diesel.

Any thoughts or recommendations would be great.

Re: Vehicle advice needed [Re: Sewer rat] #8435186 10/31/21 07:51 PM
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Tacoma’s don’t get great fuel mileage. Will this be a cash purchase? Either way, the money spent on another vehicle, plus fuel, insurance, and upkeep, it would be cheaper to just keep driving the flatbed and add stake bed sides to it.


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Re: Vehicle advice needed [Re: Sewer rat] #8435195 10/31/21 08:01 PM
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Does your flatbed have pockets for rails? That's what I did and with some bungee cords problem solved. Best of luck to you, sir!


"I have no idea what WW-III will be fought with, but WW-IV will be fought with sticks and stones."

A. Einstein

Re: Vehicle advice needed [Re: Sewer rat] #8435213 10/31/21 08:27 PM
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It will be a cash purchase. The sports car I am selling / trading in was bought with cash and I have been offered 60k for it. I can certainly make do with the flatbed, I have been doing so. It is just not ideal. Constantly moving work and personal stuff in and out of it and the storage issue. I really don’t even like driving the sports car anymore and I am getting rid of it regardless and I want another vehicle that can more or less be my daily driver and be well suited for trips back and forth to the ranch.

I am a contractor of sorts and just use the flatbed when I am going to jobs. Not like daily 8-5 more like an as needed kind of thing and I like to keep a bunch of stuff for work in it. I like keeping it ready to go for when the need arises but don’t really like driving it around daily.

Re: Vehicle advice needed [Re: Sewer rat] #8435217 10/31/21 08:35 PM
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The flatbed doesn’t have stake pockets. It has built in fold up and down side rails but they are only 4” tall.

When we go to the ranch as a family we might take six rifles with us. Four for regular hunting and two with thermals for hogs at night. I wouldn’t really feel comfortable bungeeing these to the flatbed for the trip. I’m thinking a pickup bed maybe with a cover or the back of a suburban or Jeep would be better.

We have a cabin at the ranch as well and if we are going for the weekend we usually have a bunch of groceries, clothes, etc.

Re: Vehicle advice needed [Re: Sewer rat] #8435271 10/31/21 09:32 PM
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A couple of tool boxes just for the trip to the ranch could hold rifles, gear, clothes, groceries. Strap to flat bed or temporarily fasten.

Re: Vehicle advice needed [Re: Sewer rat] #8435316 10/31/21 10:50 PM
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Even though I am completely against the green scam, I would think the Hybrid F150 or the new Hummer might fit your needs. Pics of the sports car please.


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FJB
Re: Vehicle advice needed [Re: Sewer rat] #8435335 10/31/21 11:23 PM
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You bring this up as a spending too much money on gas issue when in reality you want a group hug substantiatiing making a vehicle purchase when they are quite literally at an all time high. Figure out what you want and then buy it. Unless of course you want to be financially responsible. In that case, sell the sports car you are no longer enamored with and continue to pay the gas and insurance on the vehicle you already bought and paid for.

Re: Vehicle advice needed [Re: Sewer rat] #8435336 10/31/21 11:24 PM
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Go price one of those hybrid 150's and then do the math for yourself.

Re: Vehicle advice needed [Re: Hudbone] #8435425 11/01/21 12:49 AM
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Originally Posted by Hudbone
Go price one of those hybrid 150's and then do the math for yourself.

Are you saying it’s not a break even deal, electric vs gas? Who woulda thunk.



Re: Vehicle advice needed [Re: Hudbone] #8435437 11/01/21 01:07 AM
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Originally Posted by Hudbone
You bring this up as a spending too much money on gas issue when in reality you want a group hug substantiatiing making a vehicle purchase when they are quite literally at an all time high. Figure out what you want and then buy it. Unless of course you want to be financially responsible. In that case, sell the sports car you are no longer enamored with and continue to pay the gas and insurance on the vehicle you already bought and paid for.


It’s really not a spending too much on gas issue. I just realize I have a 3/4 ton diesel for when I need to pull a trailer and if it is bigger than that I have a semi so I have the hauling covered so why not get something smaller and more fuel efficient. When I bought the sports car we didn’t own the ranch and it was ideal for running around town. Now most my driving not related to work is going back and forth to the ranch so I want to sell the car and get something more suited for that.

I fully realize vehicles are priced crazy now but since I am selling one to buy another it doesn’t sting so bad. As to being financially responsible we have been 100% debt free including our house and the ranch and vehicles for 12 years. We definitely blow some money on things that aren’t necessary but we can afford and enjoy it.

The whole point of my thread is just looking for advice on vehicles ideal for going back and forth to the hunting place. I honestly have had nothing but 3/4 ton diesels so am seeking advice in other options as I don’t really think I need a 3/4 ton diesel for what I want to do.

Re: Vehicle advice needed [Re: Sewer rat] #8435487 11/01/21 02:06 AM
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Expedition EL. We have a regular sized Expedition and get 20 mpg on the hiway. Plenty of room in the cargo area, holds 5 adults w/o the third row seat.



Re: Vehicle advice needed [Re: Sewer rat] #8435916 11/01/21 05:12 PM
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might look at one of the half ton running the diesel engine. I know Chevy and Dodge both have their so called ECO diesels that get really good fuel mileage, pushing 30 mpg depending on how heavy of a foot you have. I am considering looking at the Tahoe with the ECO diesel as my wife's daily driver if I can talk her out of her Traverse. Those half ton diesels have nice features, plenty of interior room, come in 4 wheel drive with a bed you could get a cover for carrying stuff securely. Just a thought.

someone on here has one of the Dodge's that can likely chime in on how they are liking theirs.


"everyone that lives dies but not everyone who dies lived..."

~PMK~
Re: Vehicle advice needed [Re: Sewer rat] #8436020 11/01/21 07:12 PM
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Have a ram 1500 ecodiesel and love it. I’ve gotten as high as 32 mpg out of it on an empty trip to the ranch. My FIL has a chevy 1/2 ton with the little diesel, I like his a lot to and it’s also easy on the fuel. I would also consider the GM 2.7 turbo and Ford 2.7 ecoboost for better mileage full size trucks.


It's hell eatin em live
Re: Vehicle advice needed [Re: Sewer rat] #8436040 11/01/21 07:42 PM
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I have a 2017 f150 with the 2.7 ecoboost and have been extremely pleased.2.5 in lift in front and 1 in lift in back gives just a little extra clearance and is much more helpful at the ranch.

Re: Vehicle advice needed [Re: Sewer rat] #8436077 11/01/21 08:16 PM
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Thanks guys. I never thought about the eco diesels. Those might be a great option. We have a bulk diesel tank (not red) so a diesel is appealing

Re: Vehicle advice needed [Re: Sewer rat] #8436087 11/01/21 08:31 PM
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Look into a Jeep Cherokee or Grand Cherokee. 4wd, will haul 4 people and gear and get mileage into the 20’s

If y’all haul a lot of gear get a 1500 or a Colorado/Canyon diesel with a camper shell.

I drive a 3/4 diesel and I get it, it’s nice to have a little runabout


For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
Re: Vehicle advice needed [Re: Sewer rat] #8436223 11/01/21 11:08 PM
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The new Tundra is coming out soon…TTV6 much like the ecoboost, but won’t fail you.

TRD Pro model Q1 2022….hybridized 3.5 TTV6. Performance figures slightly better than the Ford hybrid.

I swore off Ford after 3 bad ecoboost experiences and absolutely hate that Toyota is going the same direction, but at least they fully understand hybrids, I wouldn’t doubt several hundred thousand mile ability.

Re: Vehicle advice needed [Re: Sewer rat] #8436914 11/02/21 04:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Sewer rat
The sports car I am selling / trading in was bought with cash and I have been offered 60k for it.



worthless

Charlie


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Re: Vehicle advice needed [Re: Sewer rat] #8437063 11/02/21 07:29 PM
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[Linked Image]

It’s a 2019 Hell cat. I don’t drive it much and it is dirty. I probably haven’t washed it in over a year.

Re: Vehicle advice needed [Re: Sewer rat] #8437574 11/03/21 03:50 AM
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Very nice ride!

Charlie


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Re: Vehicle advice needed [Re: Sewer rat] #8437711 11/03/21 12:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Sewer rat
[Linked Image]

It’s a 2019 Hell cat. I don’t drive it much and it is dirty. I probably haven’t washed it in over a year.


You have good taste in "midlife crisis" toys!


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Re: Vehicle advice needed [Re: Sewer rat] #8437733 11/03/21 12:41 PM
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Cant speak for a tacoma but I drive a pretty modified frontier...It consistently gets about 13 MPGs and the bed is 5x5 square. I keep a camper shell on it or bed rack with a RTT. The bed fills up real fast and I want something a bit bigger.

Re: Vehicle advice needed [Re: Sewer rat] #8437831 11/03/21 02:18 PM
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I'd go with nothing less than a 1/2 ton or a Expedition EL/Suburban.


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Re: Vehicle advice needed [Re: Sewer rat] #8437851 11/03/21 02:30 PM
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minivan my guy...

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