Hooniverse Asks: Which truck models should return?

Big trucks are here. They’re only getting bigger too. Thankfully though, the amount of smaller truck offerings has increased. For every Silverado, F-150, Titan, and Tundra, there’s a Colorado, Ranger, Frontier, and Tacoma. Sorry Ram loyalists, you’ll stick with the full-size rigs and you’ll like it. Those aforementioned smaller models, however, are mid-size trucks. Here in the US truck market, we don’t have any real compact truck options. Hell, outside of fleet sales, you can barely find any single cab offerings. Maybe a few currently gone truck models should make a return.

2019 Ford Ranger – Ready to take away some Tacoma marketshare?

Chrysler could bring us a new Dakota. And then eventually stuff the Hellcat engine in there, because fuck yeah why not? If Jeep ever trots out that diesel Wrangler, Ram could borrow the engine for a reborn Dakota as well. Ford could go smaller than the new (to us) Ranger. It’s time to revive the Courier name, which could actually happen if the joint venture with Volkswagen really goes somewhere. As for Chevrolet? I think they could show compact truck fans some Luv.

Do you think there’s a market for compact pickups? If so, which truck models would you like to see return to production? Sound off below.

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43 responses to “Hooniverse Asks: Which truck models should return?”

  1. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    The problem with compact trucks is that due to the economies of scale, you end up getting 60-75% of a full size truck for 90-95% of the price of a full size truck. The overall size of today’s full size trucks is a joke, but the small/mid-size trucks like the Colorado still won’t fit a 4’X8′ piece of plywood or a 48″ deck lawn mower between the wheel wells, close, but not quite (the current Colorado is 44.4″). This is a measurement that a lot of people, myself included use to judge a pick up. Also, now days there are only a few MPG (<5) difference between the full size V-8 and the compact/mid size V-6. It is a long way from the difference between a Chevy C-10 that gets 10mpg and a Chevy LUV that gets 25mpg.

    1. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      I think your classification of the current Colorado/Ranger/Tacoma as “small/mid” is incorrect. These are absolutely midsize trucks, and closer in dimensions to full than compact size. The discontinued true compact pickups were considerably smaller and cheaper.

      Comparing a 2011 Ranger, 2019 Ranger, and 2019 F150 (all 2WD XLT supercabs, base engines, and 6′-6.5′ beds), here are the percentage comparisons of the Rangers to the F150:

      Measurement: Ranger 2011 / Ranger 2019 (vs F150)
      Bed volume: 60% / 83%
      Bed width: 83% / 94%
      Bed width between wheel wells: 80% / 89%
      Overall length: 88% / 91%
      Curb weight: 72% / 94%
      Payload: 73% / 95%
      Price: 59% / 74% (2011 adjusted to 2019 dollars)

      So, depending on how you choose to compare them, the compact truck is between 60-88% of the full-sized truck for 59% of the cost. The mid-sizer is between 83-95% of the full-sized truck for 74% of the cost. Those are both relatively excellent deals.

      Now, I can’t argue with your 4’x8′ statement, but dimensions never prevented me from hauling plywood in my short box ’97 Ranger (I just tipped it on its side, and rarely got more than a dozen sheets at a time anyway). Nor can I completely fault your mpg argument. However, the 2011 Ranger I compared here weighs nearly 1000 lbs less than the 2019 Ranger and a new compact could use the same engine to pull less weight or use a thriftier engine to begin with. Either might net mpg gains.

      Regardless, there is a market for a true compact pickup that doesn’t involve hauling lumber or riding lawn mowers. When my kids are out of the house, I would happily use a compact pickup as a daily driver, one that could also haul things that I would be reluctant to stuff into the trunk of a car or the hatch of an SUV or minivan.

      Bring back the Courier!

      1. P161911 Avatar
        P161911

        At least on GM the big difference comes down to rebates and discounts. I went and did the build and price thing for a Silverado vs. a Colorado. The Silverado has a $3,000 rebate. The Colorado has a $1,000 rebate. The MSRP vs. the real world price is much closer than the MSRP would suggest. An extended cab V-6 Silverado WT is currently $30,795 after rebates. A Colorado V-6 WT extended cab is $26,380 or 86% of the price of the Silveado. Dealer discounts can close that gap even more. And when you start looking at something like a LT, just checked a local dealers website, the Colorado LT 2WD was $33k, the Silverado LT 2WD was $35k (same cab configuration). Local Ford dealer was $32k for a XLT Ranger, $35k for a XLT F-150. So back to about 90% of the price of the full size model.

        1. Zentropy Avatar
          Zentropy

          I think the reality is that the new “midsize” is really the right size for many buyers, and perhaps auto manufacturers can’t expect people to pay premium dollar for a full-size truck when there are better options. If anything, they may be cannibalizing some of their full-size sales in order to tap into the market that– for years now– Toyota has claimed almost without challenge.

          This only makes the case for the return of a legitimate compact pickup even more significant, because there’s still a niche not being filled that many (like me) would be happy to fill if I had options. If a compact pickup could serve the same needs I might have in buying a mid-size, then even if I’m only saving 10%, its better than paying up for something I won’t ever utilize to its fullest. It’s the same reason I don’t buy a “supersized” value meal that gives me 25% more food at 10% more cost– I don’t need it.

  2. GTXcellent Avatar
    GTXcellent

    Pretty sure I answered this yesterday, but you just Keep Pushin’
    I Can’t Fight This Feeling anymore, but In My Dreams, REO’s sweet little Speed Wagon would be Back On the Road Again, Here With Me.
    https://cdn3.mecum.com/auctions/ca0817/ca0817-299977/images/ca0817-299977_2.jpg?1500298595000
    I Wish You Were There (I couldn’t figure out how to use this one, but it’s far and away my favorite REO Speedwagon song so I had to include it)

    1. Vairship Avatar
      Vairship

      I wish I were there (driving that fine REO) too!

    2. crank_case Avatar
      crank_case

      You have great taste in trucks and awful taste in records. 😀

      1. GTXcellent Avatar
        GTXcellent

        Funny, both you and the MiSSus share the same wrong opinion. 😉

        1. crank_case Avatar
          crank_case

          So you’ve actually terrible taste in trucks? https://media0.giphy.com/media/l0NhZ0aUSE8fXag12/giphy.gif

  3. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    The defunct truck that would closest meet my needs (short of a massively discounted Gladiator because I think they’re neat) would be a Baja, although an Avalanche-style midgate would be nice.

    https://images.autotrader.com/scaler/620/420/cms/content/articles/oversteer/2016/08-aug/08-29/256614.jpg

    That said, if the Brat’s jumpseats had a LATCH setup, would that still count as child endangerment?

  4. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    The GAZ M415 was only available for two years, but you can almost hear the Soviet banjo play just looking at it:

    https://i.ibb.co/f8MnmXF/20190502-180212.jpg

    The world needs more GAZ.

    1. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      Shouldn’t be too hard to recreate one with a 1934 Ford pickup kit. Just need the grill, badges, and fenders. Confuse the hell out of the local cruise in crowd.

  5. Batshitbox Avatar
    Batshitbox

    “Commando” (Remember that Commando Cody is not the same guy as Commander Cody.)

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/17984a6ce7d9b93d01c74389b0bc493e207148bc73bdb4f0a2da48ef93ac026b.jpg

    1. GTXcellent Avatar
      GTXcellent

      You mean this guy didn’t sing Hot Rod Lincoln?
      https://filesofjerryblake.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/aline-towne-radar-men-final.jpg?w=750

    2. 0A5599 Avatar
      0A5599

      Speaking of which, a certain now-returned Hoon needs to start writing about the whereabouts of this one.
      http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yvQm7PIagF0/Twn5HwY1qMI/AAAAAAAARQA/GTCZfqDE3sA/s1600/the+pick+008.jpg

  6. smalleyxb122 Avatar
    smalleyxb122

    No one has said El Camino yet? It’s like I don’t even know you people.

    With that said, I’ll throw in a vote for the H3T Alpha.

    https://blog.consumerguide.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/06/09hummerh3ta1-1024×557.jpg

    1. Batshitbox Avatar
      Batshitbox

      I thought about Ranchero and El Camino, then when I thought of Rampage I realized it would be the RAM Rampage.

      1. P161911 Avatar
        P161911

        How about a Chrysler Scamp then? (since all the Plymounths defaulted to Chryslers.)

  7. SlowJoeCrow Avatar
    SlowJoeCrow

    A truly small truly cheap truck would fit a lot of needs for work vehicles and basic transportation. The 4×8 sheet of material issue was solved years ago by the Ford Ranger. The bed had recesses to take 2×6 planks so you could carry 4×8 sheets above the wheel wells. Either that or offer a dropside flatbed option.Something like the old Ranger or HiLux would be ideal, and go slabsided and squared off like the old Courier/B Series.
    As an aside there is a Ford Courier in production today that is a VW Caddy style pickup or van based on the Ford Fiesta

    1. crank_case Avatar
      crank_case

      I’m not sure the courier is still being made – My wife used to have the use of Ford Transit Connect, which was LWB version that could take two standard Euro Pallets, while still not taking up much more roadspace than a Focus.

  8. 0A5599 Avatar
    0A5599

    It didn’t sell well, but that’s because it was ahead of it’s time.

    https://horsepowermemories.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/car-and-driver-september-1991.jpg

    1. smalleyxb122 Avatar
      smalleyxb122

      I love the “(left)” in the caption. We can all be thankful for that helpful clarification.

    2. neight428 Avatar
      neight428

      The Colorado/Canyon is so much bigger than the S10/S15, but I’d still like to see it go.

      1. smalleyxb122 Avatar
        smalleyxb122

        It would be better if it were a factory offering (and cheaper), but we do now have the option of a Canyon-based Syclone.
        http://gmauthority.com/blog/2019/04/tuner-delivers-the-new-gmc-syclone-fans-have-been-asking-for/

        1. Zentropy Avatar
          Zentropy

          That is pretty sweet! Too bad a modern bare-bones 4WD Canyon Syclone will cost you over $70k (for reference, the ’91 Syclone stickered for just over $48k in today’s dollars). That makes the Pioneer F-150 Lightning Tribute with its 650-hp V8 seem like a comparative bargain at $57k.

      2. P161911 Avatar
        P161911

        They could just use the engine from the Cadillac ATS-V, same basic V-6 the Colorado/Canyon already comes with.. 464 HP should be sufficient. I would also love to see an Impala SS with this engine.

  9. neight428 Avatar
    neight428

    Ford has its new Explorer RWD platform that it will need to base 62 different models off of to make a profit. No reason at all that we can’t have a Ute/Ranchero version with the Explorer ST’s drivetrain.

    1. Maymar Avatar
      Maymar

      Given that the bloom is already starting to fall off the new Ranger (now that it’s hitting comparison tests), I wonder if an Explorer based replacement in 2-3 years would make sense. They don’t seem like they’re pursuing massive fleet sales, so going for a Honda Ridgeline equivalent (without the minivan stigma) could work for the weekend warrior crowd (at least the ones who couldn’t just be sold into an F-150 anyhow).

    2. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      For a guy who generally dislikes SUVs, I’m pretty excited about the Explorer going back to RWD– I hope they make all kinds of vehicles using that platform. A new RWD Flex Ecoboost would be sweet.

    1. crank_case Avatar
      crank_case

      FSO, for the man that finds Ladas too Bourgeois.

  10. Desmo Avatar
    Desmo

    Mercedes G Class Pickup. I know they are still selling one in Australia, but that one is different and even has another bed.
    MB G Professional

    1. Desmo Avatar
      Desmo

      Sorry for the large picture, I don’t know haw to make it smaller…

    2. neight428 Avatar
      neight428

      A utilitarian G-Wagen would sell well here, trouble is, the tarted up versions sell too well to give up the margins on the luxury options.

  11. Vairship Avatar
    Vairship

    The Ford Courier would be nice (and they could probably make one based on a chopped Transit Connect), but have you no LUV for the PUP? https://cdn.bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/00M0M_j6Ks1bNKYcs_600x4501.jpg

    Or would you prefer something a little more Stout? https://ccmarketplace.azureedge.net/cc-temp/listing/95/9307/6092394-1967-toyota-stout-std.jpg

  12. pinglualu Avatar

    Thundra is one of the most amazing trucks I have witnessed.
    Seriously the old ones are no match to the new ones . I bet non of them include car charges in em (:
    apart from that really loved reading this 🙂 very informative and fun.
    Thanks.

  13. crank_case Avatar
    crank_case

    If only for the Gran Turismo Nostalgia factor

    https://cdn.bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/a-45.jpg

    1. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      This overwhelms me on too many levels.

  14. Tank Avatar
    Tank

    I definitely vote for a Ranchero/el camino. I was almost in agreement with another commenter… until he said we should bring back the H3 Alpha, no that thing needs to die