What is the most comfortable, small pickup truck to ride in?

Keith

I had a 1985 S10 that rode real nice!

I havent drove them all but I really like my new ford ranger.

I run a full size regular cab 1/2 ton for work

It's a small truck to me , I'm 6'5"

Don't those little trucks come with a full size price tag ?

Ok, I’ll ask specific for my own interest, anyone own a Toyota Tacoma? How’s it ride?

The paid off one. Lol

I ordered a new Tacoma that I'm picking up Thursday. I'll let you know Friday.

My 08 dodge dakota is very comfortable. has a v8 so plenty of ponies. It has 4wd but off road capability is a bit limited. My old 98 ranger would go anywhere but was a bit rough. My jeep gladiator is very comfortable. V6 but pretty good horsepower. lots of cabin room but smallish bed. Its also loud. I dont have super aggresive tires on it so its just not real quiet inside.

Is the Gladiator Jeeps truck? And thanks for an honest review.

I bought a Tacoma 2 months ago. Seems to ride good enough for me. It's not Cadillac but for sure better than our Ford work trucks.

If your going used the first generation tundra. It's more comfortable and around the same size as the new tacomas.

My 22 Tacoma rides really nice. Decent fuel mileage but not real peppy.

yes wannabe. it will go anyplace that ranger would.

Thanks.
How’s the 4x4 and AC on the Tacomas? That’s all I care about. Heat would be nice but I can put on clothes to get warm.

When I bought my '18 Chevy 1500, I really wanted a Tacoma. After driving it and pricing it, there was no contest. The 'yota rode like a logging truck, got worse gas mileage, has less towing and cargo capacity and cost the same, or slightly more. Mebbe, things have changed since then?

It's the best stock 4x4 I've ever had for off road. I had a TRD off rd package 2021.

Personally I think they ride like crap and are nit very comfortable. But they are top notch reliable and there’s a reason there’s a whole following of them as off road vehicles kinda like the truck version of a Jeep.

I’ll add if things like towing or cargo capacity are super important to you they aren’t great in that area. Fuel economy is nothing to be excited with. Cost is high. Where they shine is overall lifetimecost. And off road they’ll take you places you really shouldn’t be going.

Chevy , Ford , dodge
Taco dead last! Seats too close to floor board

I ran an old 88 Dakota for many years on many long lines across the country. Rode some long road miles with 3 guys nice ride for me. the guy in the middle not so much.

Best ride on the market. You'll love it!

Back in the day I owned a Nissan Hardbody, an 86.5 model I bought in 87. At 330K the speedometer had to be replaced…I put another 200L miles on it before trading it in. No frills 4x4 pickup. Sorta like my 23yr old F150 I have now with 455K miles.
Just afraid todays trucks won’t last like the old ones.

I’m a D50 guy great trucks to work out of you just need 3 to make one good truck. LOL Down in MO picking up another one to take back to SD, the one tomorrow makes 5 D50 trucks to make a project or two out of.

My wife and daughter both have new Honda AWD pickups that they like a lot. My wife traded her 2 yr old Tacoma in on hers and likes the Honda much better. They both do all road driving, pulling small campers etc.

Things haven't changed at all. They ride rough,guzzle fuel but they don't nickle an dime you to death like an American vehicle. Very reliable but costs a pretty penny to fix em. I'll take the reliability for my dd. If I need a work truck I'll borrow one

2018 Tacoma access cab (2 Door) dependable yes ride not great I have the off-road model V6 one for all of the traction options. It’s a soft ride to me the rough comes from bottoming out it seems like even with the fancy yellow shocks. Starts, runs with real tires it goes about anywhere crawl control and locking rear axle. Put M/T tires on it it’s loud in the cab going down the road. The V6 has power if empty but pulling an empty trailer is a struggle it’s set up to pull itself period. Put a case of pop in the bed and your losing MPG the more weight the more noticeable it gets.

I’m pulling a aluminum Uhaul car trailer home with a mini truck on it Wed will see how that works out for me I’ll let you know.

Another d50?

I drive a 2011 Tacoma for my work truck. It is a TRD model and for what I use it for it is great. Short turning radius and narrow to get through the woods and tight spots, posi rear end, good 4 wheel drive, just big enough for all my equipment, adequate horsepower with a v6 and has been very reliable, no major repairs.
I would never own one for my personal vehicle, rough ride, poor mpg (14-15) for a small truck, not enough room for me. In winter time when you are bundled up it is tight for elbow room, especially with 2 people. Driving with a pair of size 13 Ice Kings on your feet is a challenge with an automatic transmission, it would be comical with a standard and a clutch.
Just my 2 cents, I bet the new ones are a lot nicer but it is hard to wear one out and that sure is a big plus.

Zim

Went from an 86 K20 to an 89 S10, to now an 01 S10 and love the S10's, very zippy, plenty of 'nads for hauling cargo, and I'll never buy another truck without the extended cab with a 3d door! Hadda get used to climbing down into the s10, instead of up into the k20.

I’ll get a pic up when we get loaded today I found this one at a smaller junk yard during the turkey season the guy was not sure he even had one but he had 2 this is a 1990 D50 V6 in good shape body wise I need to drag it back to SD and see what’s wrong with it.

I have a ‘94 and a 2017 that came with the Bilsteen suspension, Huge difference in ride and comfort.

I love my tacoma, it's an 09 trd offroad. I have put almost 5000 miles on it this month. I really don't understand the comments about the ride. Coming from 3/4 ton trucks the tacoma rides like an absolute dream

Get the trd offroad Wanna Be. That rear locker is the best thing since sliced bread. A lot of times that you would typically be putting it in 4wd you can just flip the locker on and crawl right out

I use mine as a trapping truck, daily driver, hunting truck etc etc. It has a hard life and all I have ever done is change the oil and filters and rotate the tires. Every skid plate under the truck is dented to pieces. It has been places that 9 out of 10 guys wouldn't go

I did a 3000 mile trip to Vermont a couple weeks back. 2000 miles of that was interstate driving at 80mph with some stop and go traffic. 1000 miles of it was driving down dirt roads scouting for turkeys. I averaged 18-19mpg on the trip, which is what I usually average. Best tank was 21.5mpg. The guys who claim lower fuel mileage must have a lead foot

There is not another small pickup on the market that will match the reliability and longevity of the tacoma

I like my Tacoma, I've had 6 I think over the years, where I trap lot's of dead ends, love the turning radius. I also think the Tacoma holds it's value better than most.The ride is ok, not as good as a full size.

Had a 2013 and have a 2018 now and the 13 the ac pump was all I had to
Replace however I’m at the shop now waiting on my ac pump to be filled on my
2018! Very annoying as the cost is over 1100 to replace and recharge it.

What's your take on the Gladiator Dan,I was interested before they came out.I don't know anybody that owns one.

I rented a Gladiator in San Diego for a duck hunting trip in El Centro. Only put 5 or 600 miles on it. It had the upgraded fox suspension and rode pretty good. Over 70 mph the soft top would catch air in the front and the truck sounded like it was about to fly apart. The interior was very tight and cramped. Typical jeep doors that don't stay open when you open them. I can't stand a door that closes on me when getting in and out. I guess it was neat, but if reliability and comfort are of any concern it is probably at the bottom of the list

I've had 7 Toyotas over the yrs an not one has got the mileage a vehicle with like sized engine of another breed would get.

I’ll get a pic up when we get loaded today I found this one at a smaller junk yard during the turkey season the guy was not sure he even had one but he had 2 this is a 1990 D50 V6 in good shape body wise I need to drag it back to SD and see what’s wrong with it. [/quote]


Solid cab rocker panels are solid “the weak point on these truck’s” interior is clean for its age.

I have only had 3 so maybe you know something I don't. What small v6 gas pickup is out there that averages better than 18-19 mpg?

To the OP. You specifically asked about ride and I am pretty sure that you know none of the trucks recommended in most of these posts will ride soft and easy. Take a Honda AWD for a test drive at 80 on a freeway, you will be amazed.

To the op. You specifically asked about a truck, and I am pretty sure you know anything Honda is not a real truck. You are welcome to test drive one, but should probably hand over your man-card first.

All joking aside, Ive had a Tacoma for about 7 years. Ive ridden in nicer riding trucks, and Ive ridden in worse. Its surely not bad enough that I think about it when Im riding around. One thing's for sure, its beeen the most reliable vehicle Ive owned...knock on wood.

My 2018 Chevy 1/2 ton 4x4 crew cab with a V8 averages better than 20 MPG. I do a lot of driving, it now has over 180k on it, bought new in Aug. 2018. I've poured way too much money in it on a tranny and lifter repairs and not happy about that, but it rides nice. To do it again, I'd spring for the extended warranty.

^^^^^that there boys is why I drive a yota. Hurts to buy em an fix em but they go an go. I've had the 2.4 2.7 4cylinders an 3.0 3.4 3.5 an 4.0 6cyl. Only the 3.0 an 3.5 have ever hit 20+ mpg ever.

If it rides nice it's not a real truck.

I've driven the smaller Toyotas (Tacomas) for years, I love their durability, but their seats suck, always have. I swear the chiropractors have some sort of kick-back deal going with Toyota.

I can drive as long as I want in my Dodge Ram 3500 and when I step out of it I can't even tell I've been driving for hours.

My vote is the 2011 Tacoma since I've slept in mine 7 nights every month for almost 10 years. Recline the seat, one pillow behind the head, one pillow under the arms and one pillow tucked under the gas/brake pedals to rest the feet on.

I was pleasantly surprised hauling that mini truck back to SD this week (700 miles) I rented a Uhaul car hauler it pulled better then my 12 foot utility trailer did empty. 65-70 !PH it pulled the hills well also the trailer one way, insurance and taxes $240 sure beats pulling a trailer both ways.

When we moved my mom to Kansas we rented a UHaul van truck. Sister drove my moms van and I towed her car with the UHaul boxvan truck pulling a UHaul car dolly. No problems except gas consumption. I did keep my foot in it though. 5 over all the way. Sisters car is front wheel drive so didnt have to pull the driveshaft.

Looks like less then a tank more to get back pulling the car hauler I was expecting 2 extra tanks minimum.

my wife's full-size ford , gets better mileage than most small truck's she gets 23-25, highway, and 18-20 around town, i took it hog hunting and got 26mpg running 75

the new GMC Canyon-very comfortable seats-they completely re-designed their mid size trucks-I have been a Tacoma guy all my life-GM knocked this new Canyon's design out of the park-too bad ya cannot get a long box( yet)

I believe the comfort part, it's the durability part that we wont know for years to come .....and im not holding my breath.

Yep drove 4 different ones over 12 years span . Injured my back and went to chevy Silverado. Better mileage . Better ride. FULL sized pick-up. NEVER looked back
My wife finally got her dream car in 2011. Toyota highlander. We drove to bowling green (118 miles) and neither could straighten up. Traded it to buick enclave 2 weeks later !!!

For the original question TOYOTA'S SUCK !!!!! Guy didn't ask which one would run longer.
Trapper KECK Just buy from a dealer like ours here. If you let them service it they put a 150,000 15 years warranty on the drive train. 8 year electronics and interior plan cost me 1200. If I tear the seat with a screw driver in my back pocket it's covered.

YOU BETTER CALL TOYOTA !! They will give you over one million for that truck. I had a 09 I traded in on a chevy. If I drove it 80 mph 13-14 mpg was the best. You can't go by their computer that tells it on the dash . Fill it up write the mileage down fill it up again and do the math. Only reason I left tacomas was milege and benefits of a full sized pick up. Some on here knock the chevy crew cab because of the small bed. BUT they are driving a Tacoma with eve smaller bed !!!

Mine doesn't tell me fuel mileage on the dash. I calculate each tank by hand and keep an excel sheet for all of my trucks showing fuel mileage and service records. It has the same size tires as stock and a camper shell that is the same height as the cab. 4wd v6 trd offroad.

I have fuel mileage records for almost 170,000 miles and I have never gotten 13 or 14 mpg. My worst tank, not towing, is in the high 16's. Average is in the high 18's almost 19.

Maybe you have a lead foot jybrd, lol

Most trucks made today are not bought to go off-road really if you see a drift or low spot good luck. I had to laugh when I bought the 2018 TDR Off Road with crawl control and locking rear end that package came with a pile of stuff you don’t really need. The biggest joke was the M/S tires that are just highway tires you won’t go anywhere on an icy hill zero traction with them things.

Now plop some aggressive tires on the Toy and it goes anywhere some places you probably should not but it gets you to where you’re going.

Law Dog I use the heck out of my rear locker on mine. One of my favorite things on the truck

I just picked up my new Tacoma this morning. Seems to ride decent-about like the Dodge with air ride I traded for it. Don't know what fuel mileage will be yet as its only got 30 miles on it!
It took a little longer to get because I wanted the 6 foot box and most of them are 5ft. Lots of bells and whistles I'll have to figure out. I think I'm going to like it fine.

There’s your secret…camper shell. When I got one on the F150 the first thing I noticed was the RPM’s at my normal running speed, it was lower with the camper shell, which gave me better mpg.

I was taking about other stuff you have to get with the Off Road package, I have never tried to make coffee in the bed of my truck yet, my phone won’t charge on the pad under the radio not the right type. All kinds of electronics I have no clue about and the constant beeping drives me crazy stuff like that.

My F-150 will go thru a lot of snow in 4x4 with the posi-trac engaged.Weight in the bed of course.

18 -19 not towing !!?? You proved my point All three chevy FULL SIZED pickups I have owned will get 22-26 ALL DAY everyday not towing !!! 60 mph is 26 75-80 is 22

Take a road trip (over 100 miles) and get back to us on comfort !!!

I know A.nissan frontier is.more comfortable.and has more room than a.toyota Tacoma.

I dont.know about rangers or colorados

Can't be worse than my Silverado company truck. I drive it about 1000 miles a week and can never get comfortable in it.

You guys have to realize alot of your better mileage is a result of good blacktop roads.....way more gravel/dirt rds around here than paved