My '99 F150 with a 5 speed and the 4.2v6 can get in the low 20's mpg if you keep the speeds reasonable.
Recommend a pickup truck around 25mpg?
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Practically I'd say get a old boat trailer for your Ion and haul 20' boards or whatever you want.
If you are mechanically adventurous and don't need to go on the interstate often(maybe never). You could look into the japanese minitrucks, guys report good mileage(30mpg+ at reasonable speeds around town. WO on the highway gets down to ford ranger mileage quickly though.
If you are mechanically adventurous and don't need to go on the interstate often(maybe never). You could look into the japanese minitrucks, guys report good mileage(30mpg+ at reasonable speeds around town. WO on the highway gets down to ford ranger mileage quickly though.
JTK
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Originally Posted By: eljefino
Those japanese minitrucks aren't street legal in the states..
Those are so darn cool it's a shame. Heck, if it's legal to cruise the streets on a 50cc Chinese scooter, why not let these be on the roads?
Joel
Those japanese minitrucks aren't street legal in the states..
Those are so darn cool it's a shame. Heck, if it's legal to cruise the streets on a 50cc Chinese scooter, why not let these be on the roads?
Joel
For what you need, a Duratec 2.3 Ranger automatic would probably work fine. 25 MPG should not be too hard to reach. Some people with manual transmission models get as high as 30 MPG. So far the Duratecs seem to be very reliable.
Forget getting 25 MPG with a 3.0 automatic. Maybe on the highway you could, but in mixed driving it probably won't happen. The 3.0 does have more torque than the 2.3, but horsepower is close.
The Ranger has been the only compact with a long bed option (7') since the S-Series went out of production.
Originally Posted By: JTK
Going from a Saturn Ion to a Ford Ranger sized bed isn't much of an improvement in cargo hauling capacity.
Would you want to do this with an Ion?
Forget getting 25 MPG with a 3.0 automatic. Maybe on the highway you could, but in mixed driving it probably won't happen. The 3.0 does have more torque than the 2.3, but horsepower is close.
The Ranger has been the only compact with a long bed option (7') since the S-Series went out of production.
Originally Posted By: JTK
Going from a Saturn Ion to a Ford Ranger sized bed isn't much of an improvement in cargo hauling capacity.
Would you want to do this with an Ion?
I like the little '99 S-10.
In ten years, it's needed nothing but a set of tires (dry rotted), and fluids and filters. It's only got 44K miles on it though.
I don't know much about the gas mileage - it's geared pretty low, but it might do 25 on the highway at 55-60 or so.
I notice when I am out getting firewood that the S-10 holds more than the guys loading similar vintage Rangers.
Rangers are pretty tough little trucks, also. I had one for employees to use and they never succeeded in killing it (despite valiant attempts), until one of them totalled it, so one of those would probably work well for you, also.
Just make sure you get a one owner, no prior business use, truck.
In ten years, it's needed nothing but a set of tires (dry rotted), and fluids and filters. It's only got 44K miles on it though.
I don't know much about the gas mileage - it's geared pretty low, but it might do 25 on the highway at 55-60 or so.
I notice when I am out getting firewood that the S-10 holds more than the guys loading similar vintage Rangers.
Rangers are pretty tough little trucks, also. I had one for employees to use and they never succeeded in killing it (despite valiant attempts), until one of them totalled it, so one of those would probably work well for you, also.
Just make sure you get a one owner, no prior business use, truck.
Originally Posted By: Nick R
Wow, the LN2 in a truck, even a small one? Even more gutless than mine, I would imagine. Probably couldn't haul/tow very much.
The 2.2 for sure defines gutless, but you'd be surprised what it will haul in an S-10. I've loaded mine down with firewood, family members have hauled appliances, paving stone, blah, pretty much anything you can get in the bed, it will haul. I've seen family members load it so heavily that I was worried about the rear axle breaking.
Not fast, but it will haul it. Mine has the 5 speed and it is truly a dreadful transmission. I'd rather have a slushbox.
Wow, the LN2 in a truck, even a small one? Even more gutless than mine, I would imagine. Probably couldn't haul/tow very much.
The 2.2 for sure defines gutless, but you'd be surprised what it will haul in an S-10. I've loaded mine down with firewood, family members have hauled appliances, paving stone, blah, pretty much anything you can get in the bed, it will haul. I've seen family members load it so heavily that I was worried about the rear axle breaking.
Not fast, but it will haul it. Mine has the 5 speed and it is truly a dreadful transmission. I'd rather have a slushbox.
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The 4 cylinder duratec ranger has become quite popular since the gas crunch.
It is tough to find a decent one, and people are asking 8-10 grand for a 5-6 year old truck.
For that price, I could be into a full size truck..
I'll keep looking but I'm quite discouraged what these little 4 cylinder trucks are going for.
It is tough to find a decent one, and people are asking 8-10 grand for a 5-6 year old truck.
For that price, I could be into a full size truck..
I'll keep looking but I'm quite discouraged what these little 4 cylinder trucks are going for.
Originally Posted By: tig1
I now have a trailer instead of a truck. It's not as convienant as a truck but much less cost. Also my trailer has the large fold down tail gate which makes it great for loading large items or large roll ons like mowers or such. I roll a Miller Bobcat welder(600lbs) and gas tanks on mine. For things like that a trailer is more handy than a truck.
Mine is 5X8. Lots of room.
I disagree that a trailer is less convenient. For one thing, the bed of a typical trailer is only about 15"-18" off the ground, so any lifting you have to do is not so strenuous as loading into a pickup.
IMO the only people who really need a pickup are farmers and contractors -- most everyone else can get by with a flatbed trailer, and almost any car even a sub-compact can tow 1000-1500 pounds or maybe even 2000 pounds if the driver is careful.
With my trailer I have hauled household goods, firewood, a new water heater from Lowe's, a mower and a snow blower on many occasions, and made a few trips to the landfill. When I am not towing, my Golf TDI is averaging around 45 mpg... there are no pickups that can do that, and I do not have a pickup sitting in my driveway which is only used a few times per year.
I now have a trailer instead of a truck. It's not as convienant as a truck but much less cost. Also my trailer has the large fold down tail gate which makes it great for loading large items or large roll ons like mowers or such. I roll a Miller Bobcat welder(600lbs) and gas tanks on mine. For things like that a trailer is more handy than a truck.
Mine is 5X8. Lots of room.
I disagree that a trailer is less convenient. For one thing, the bed of a typical trailer is only about 15"-18" off the ground, so any lifting you have to do is not so strenuous as loading into a pickup.
IMO the only people who really need a pickup are farmers and contractors -- most everyone else can get by with a flatbed trailer, and almost any car even a sub-compact can tow 1000-1500 pounds or maybe even 2000 pounds if the driver is careful.
With my trailer I have hauled household goods, firewood, a new water heater from Lowe's, a mower and a snow blower on many occasions, and made a few trips to the landfill. When I am not towing, my Golf TDI is averaging around 45 mpg... there are no pickups that can do that, and I do not have a pickup sitting in my driveway which is only used a few times per year.
Originally Posted By: Tornado Red
Originally Posted By: tig1
I now have a trailer instead of a truck. It's not as convienant as a truck but much less cost. Also my trailer has the large fold down tail gate which makes it great for loading large items or large roll ons like mowers or such. I roll a Miller Bobcat welder(600lbs) and gas tanks on mine. For things like that a trailer is more handy than a truck.
Mine is 5X8. Lots of room.
I disagree that a trailer is less convenient. For one thing, the bed of a typical trailer is only about 15"-18" off the ground, so any lifting you have to do is not so strenuous as loading into a pickup.
IMO the only people who really need a pickup are farmers and contractors -- most everyone else can get by with a flatbed trailer, and almost any car even a sub-compact can tow 1000-1500 pounds or maybe even 2000 pounds if the driver is careful.
With my trailer I have hauled household goods, firewood, a new water heater from Lowe's, a mower and a snow blower on many occasions, and made a few trips to the landfill. When I am not towing, my Golf TDI is averaging around 45 mpg... there are no pickups that can do that, and I do not have a pickup sitting in my driveway which is only used a few times per year.
I disagree that pickups are only good for farmers and contractors. For me, my Ranger works great. I have a tendency to find things on Craigslist, from leaf blowers to ATVs, and the Ranger is perfect for hauling them home. I also make frequent trips to Home Depot and Lowe's for everything from wood, to dirt, to cleaning supplies. The Ranger works great for that too. A trailer would take up a lot of space and would require more effort for impromptu Craigslist transactions. On the other hand, the truck takes up barely more room than a car and gets used all the time anyway. For the type of driving I mostly do, I wouldn't get much better fuel economy with a car. I get 19-21 MPG driving around town and only go on the interstate maybe once or twice a week.
Originally Posted By: tig1
I now have a trailer instead of a truck. It's not as convienant as a truck but much less cost. Also my trailer has the large fold down tail gate which makes it great for loading large items or large roll ons like mowers or such. I roll a Miller Bobcat welder(600lbs) and gas tanks on mine. For things like that a trailer is more handy than a truck.
Mine is 5X8. Lots of room.
I disagree that a trailer is less convenient. For one thing, the bed of a typical trailer is only about 15"-18" off the ground, so any lifting you have to do is not so strenuous as loading into a pickup.
IMO the only people who really need a pickup are farmers and contractors -- most everyone else can get by with a flatbed trailer, and almost any car even a sub-compact can tow 1000-1500 pounds or maybe even 2000 pounds if the driver is careful.
With my trailer I have hauled household goods, firewood, a new water heater from Lowe's, a mower and a snow blower on many occasions, and made a few trips to the landfill. When I am not towing, my Golf TDI is averaging around 45 mpg... there are no pickups that can do that, and I do not have a pickup sitting in my driveway which is only used a few times per year.
I disagree that pickups are only good for farmers and contractors. For me, my Ranger works great. I have a tendency to find things on Craigslist, from leaf blowers to ATVs, and the Ranger is perfect for hauling them home. I also make frequent trips to Home Depot and Lowe's for everything from wood, to dirt, to cleaning supplies. The Ranger works great for that too. A trailer would take up a lot of space and would require more effort for impromptu Craigslist transactions. On the other hand, the truck takes up barely more room than a car and gets used all the time anyway. For the type of driving I mostly do, I wouldn't get much better fuel economy with a car. I get 19-21 MPG driving around town and only go on the interstate maybe once or twice a week.
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