Truck vs SUV

1998 2.7l Tacoma 5spd SR5 4x4 180k - $3000 (Xtracab with topper and rack) needs windshield (unsure about timing chain).

1997 3.2l Isuzu Trooper 5spd 4x4 182k - $2000 - needs shocks, CV axles, sway bar bushings, windshield

I want something I can sleep in when the need arises. I also want something that I can fearlessly get lost in the wilderness without worrying about breaking down. Occasionally take 1-2 friends with us on a hike. The Tacoma is arguably more valuable than the Trooper and a search of Craigslist demonstrates many examples of 250,000+ mile Tacomas, versus very few Troopers with that kind of mileage. A huge aftermarket exists for the Toyota trucks and any shortcoming is usually addresses in the aftermarket. That being said, my Trooper is in excellent condition with exception of the suspension. Burns very little oil, very quiet engine, great interior, it's just a beaut'. I could potentially keep both, but that just seems like a horrible overlap. My wife's Fit is the trusty reliable newer car.

Both will probably get similar fuel efficiency.

Has anyone been happy giving up an SUV in favor of a pickup?

I've owned trucks, and I own a van, but I've never owned an SUV...however, I feel like I should at least make an effort to help you out here.

Trucks are really good at truck-like stuff, but much less so at non-truck-like stuff. So if you want a truck because you plan to haul stuff in the bed, then that would be a good reason to have a truck. While I liked having a topper, climbing in/out of a truck bed with a topper on it sucks...especially if whatever you need has rolled/slid all the way to the front.

I'm pretty sure the Trooper would be better at hauling 4 adults, but I have no idea which would allow a better sleeping arrangement.

A couple other random points:

1.) The Tacoma is 50% more than what you paid for the Trooper. Even if you bought it there's no guarantee you'll get your $2k back out of the Trooper, so in essence the total cost could be even higher.

2.) If you truly can afford to own both for a least a few months maybe it would be a good idea to get the Tacoma, then you can spend time with each and decide which one is the keeper?

3.) Presuming $5k is your total budget, would the $2k Trooper + $3k in parts get you closer to your goals then the $3k Tacoma + $2k in parts?

4.) If you'd rather keep your total investment down, then I'd vote to keep the Trooper. Although you just got it, you already know far more about it's quirks than you do the Tacoma. It also seems to have led a good life. However, if resale value is more important it sounds like the Tacoma might be a better choice.

I'm not sure if any of those points help you out at all or just added to the confusion???

I have both an SUV (Grand Cherokee) and a truck (3/4 ton crew cab). The truck has a roll-up bed cover so that everything inside stays out of sight and dry.

The truck has managed to do everything the SUV has done, including long road trips with 3-4 adults on board. It has not spent any meaningful time off road as that's not its purpose in life, while the Jeep has done some moderate off-roading with a full load. But there's no reason why the truck couldn't.

The SUV cannot do many things the truck can do, including (but not restricted to) hauling transmissions and engine hoists, taking bulky roll bars to the powdercoater or hauling a massive load of stuff home from Ikea over the mountains - with four people on board. I have also used a truck with a topper to take a most spectacular bed full of leaves to the compost drop-off, they were packed in there tight.

Sleeping in a truck bed with a topper is comfy, especially if you toss an air mattress in there. SUVs tend to have smaller flat areas.

I'd happily get rid of that SUV. But I'll never be without a truck.

In reply to Keith Tanner:

Keith, I don't disagree with you, but it seems that while your Grand Cherokee & his Trooper are roughly equal in size/capability, your 3/4-ton crew-cab is a lot more truck than a Tacoma extended-cab? I think the Tacoma has a 6' bed, so that may be ok for camping, but I'm pretty sure it only has 2-doors, and I'm not sure what the rear seating arrangement is in it - does it have full rear seats, or just jump-seats?

Do or will you at any point be hauling smelly, oversize, dirty items with any sort of regularity?

If so definitely a truck.

petegossett wrote: In reply to Keith Tanner: Keith, I don't *disagree* with you, but it seems that while your Grand Cherokee & his Trooper are roughly equal in size/capability, your 3/4-ton crew-cab is a lot more truck than a Tacoma extended-cab? I *think* the Tacoma has a 6' bed, so that may be ok for camping, but I'm pretty sure it only has 2-doors, and I'm not sure what the rear seating arrangement is in it - does it have full rear seats, or just jump-seats?

I also owned a crew cab Tundra and a crew cab Toyota Pickup (the predecessor to the Tacoma). The fact that the 3/4 ton is a lot more truck is why I didn't mention towing capabilities

A Taco Xtracab has forward facing seats in the back, but they're not super-roomy. It is a two-door.

You can probably buy the larger, roomier Tundra for the same price as a Tacoma. The Tundra is a bit lost between the compact pickups and the full size, but I found it a very useful size. It has a bigger cab with real seats and suicide doors and the V8 versions provide good power. The only reason I sold mine was because of the amount of time I spend working the truck hard in the middle of nowhere and 170,000 miles was getting beyond my comfort zone - and because Cummins. At 170k, the Toyota was flawless. The only failure I ever had was the starter, the week I listed it for sale.

In reply to Keith Tanner:

I thought you'd had a Tacoma, but when you didn't mention it I figured I was wrong.

I dont feel like the Tacoma brings anything valuable enough to ditch the Trooper.

I've tried living without a truck. It was so miserable I tracked my last truck down and bought it back. It's just so darn nice to have a space of "I don't give a crap" to haul the stuff you wouldn't want inside your SUV (dead deer, paint cans, etc etc etc)

And that's just the last couple months

As far as "rugged reliability" goes, my last stint of ownership went more like this:

305,000 miles and counting. 10 years of ownership interrupted by a 3-year hiatus where she almost died while I was overseas

Can you sleep in the back of it comfortably? Well, I wasn't always married...

I say pick up a pickup and never look back

I made money on the Trooper just owning it for a few weeks so I decided buying the Tacoma was a safe bet.

We'll see what life is like with a pickup.

Do yourself a favor and NEVER type "curb alert" in craigslist, and never never never browse the free section

Truck.

I've had many, many trucks.

I've had many, many SUVs.

I've never had anything quite so tiny and cute as a Tacoma or a Trooper.

Pretty sure my experience is not too useful here.

I'd spend a lot of time being really annoyed at a small truck and what it can't do, pretty much every day that ends in "Y".

Tell us what you think as you gain some experience for comparison.

Just a simple thought. Whether both choices needs upgrade and fixes, here's my two cents about it. Choose SUV if you need a vehicle for passengers. Choose a truck if you need to put in different load.

Suv and a 4x8 trailer. It's like having a pickup bed that you can leave at home while you're taking the family out.

Everybody always suggests a trailer, but trailers take up space, which isn't always available.

I've got a garage, and that's the limit to my outdoor space. No yard. No free parking spots. No trailers allowed on property except for while in use.

Now, I did remove the topper and currently have it on an old bed-frame stored at the back of my garage. Its got wheels/tires/tool stored underneath and a bunch of boxes on top.

So far I've hauled two couches, two tables, and a bunch of other stuff that would've been anoying to haul in an SUV, but I already know that I'll miss an SUV when I want to camp out in the forest and don't feel like sleeping on the ground.

I may keep the Tacoma long enough to get everything in good working order and sell it for a profit with eyes on a Montero.

Update: Already found the limits of a truck's usefulness.

I've really enjoyed having it, and it drives so much better than the Trooper did. I've used it to haul lumber, a few couches, beds, and a lot of stuff that would probably mess up the interior of a SUV.

That being said, I already understand why people get quad-cab trucks. Unless you've got a people hauler with ground clearance, there isn't a good way to haul people into the back country and haul stuff.

We've got friends coming into town who want to see the backcountry, and I'm afraid my wife's Fit won't do it, and the Tacoma's rear "seat" are horrible. My wife was complaining after just 45 minutes of sitting back there.

Now that school is back in session I may try selling the Tacoma in favor of a Econoline or AstroSafari, or try finding a low mileage Montero without leaking valve seals.

My issue that i found with trucks is somewhat similar. I don't want a full size. Small ones are more often than not found with standard cabs. It's just SWMBO and i, so from a people-hauling perspective, not a big deal.

However, i can't put a cooler behind the seat. Anything i need to bring with me needs to go in the bed, which is inconvenient and/or damaging to whatever i'm bringing, which would mean i'd want/need a topper. At which point, i've now just made an inconvenient SUV.

I prefer SUVs personally, but i understand that there's certain things trucks are just better at. In a world where i can't have both, i'll compromise in the SUV direction.

Swanky's new ride - either the best or worst of both worlds...

I'd probably do ok with a smaller quad cab that also had a 6' bed. I'm not sure if many of those exist in a non-full-size platform.

Honestly the Avalanche kinda interests me because its pass-thru rear door.

In reply to Keith Tanner:

This will sound stupid... but on paper one of those would work. In real life, i just find them WAYYY too stupid looking to even want one.

There were quad cab S10s i think. Strange looking, but i like them better.

I just won't own a late S10 because i hate them.