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My car is developing more and more problems now that the miles are up there. They have all been relatively easy to fix (except for the blown head gasket at 70K miles despite regular maintenance, thanks Honda...) but I think it's worth it to buy a new car now.

I'm torn between a four door passenger car in case I ever want to try Uber, a regular pick up truck (slightly more expensive), an imported truck like this <broken link removed> (hard to find parts for??) or a van (camping, road trips, etc.).

I think a regular pick up truck has the most utility as I can put a cap on it and use it as a camper, haul a cargo trailer or boat, and haul junk for cash during hard times (or when I buy a new rental, right now I have to hire someone for this because I don't have a truck...).
 
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I haven't been able to get by without a pickup truck either. I tow my boat several times per month and I like to be out in the woods. If you tow more than 3000 pounds or need more tongue weight, a truck is a must. I have a Toyota Tundra 4-door with 6 1/2 foot bed. I use it more as a 4-door vehicle than as a hauler, so the back seat is important. But, when I need to go buy big and heavy things, gather firewood, or keep something nasty out of my cab, the bed is a godsend. I use a lot of 1-piece fishing rods too. Saves tips by putting them in the bed.

Unless an SUV is built on a truck frame and has selectable 4-wheel drive, its just a tall car. That being said, if I didn't have my truck, I'd have a Toyota 4Runner. My dad has one and it goes wherever you want it to go. Its comfortable and tows fairly well.
 
Another vote for a tacoma if you don't need a heavy duty tow rig. I've had three of them. My current one is a 2011 double cab long bed. I have a camper top for the bed that I leave on unless I'm hauling wood or something. The camper top has a roof rack in it for hauling kayaks and such. The bed is 6ft long. I need new shocks and will probably lift it about 2" when I put new ones on it. I towed our 21 ft RV here from VA with it. With the tow package, it's rated for 6500 lbs. The 4wd works great in these trucks. I have an ARB winch bumper with a 10k winch on it. The plastic bed interior is really slippery, but I have a bedrug in it when I'm not hauling wood and such. It keeps stuff in place, and I could sleep on it in a pinch. I have waterproof seat covers and the heavy duty floor mats in it. With the way I have it accessorized, I can set it up for pretty much anything I want to do. I think it's the best vehicle there is for an outdoorsman unless one needs heavier towing.
 
Id recommend a pre 2016 Tacoma. The newer ones have really strange shifting points and it seems like they have to rev really high to reach the advertised torque. Its great for gas mileage, but poor for truck stuff.
 
I too have not been able to get by and do the things I love to do without a pickup.

3RD Gen Dodges (2002 - 2008) are very reliable. From 2004 & up, you can get them with a HEMI engine which will do everything you could ever ask for in a truck. My last 4 pickups were Rams, a 1999 1/2Twith the 5.9L Magnum gas engine, a 2007 MegaCab 3/4T with the 5.7L HEMI, a 2014 3/4T Big Horn with the 6.4L HEMI and the current truck, a 2017 3/4T Laramie with the Cummins 6.7L diesel.

So if you decide you need a full size pickup, don't over look the Ram.

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I think its funny that people assume that you must endure the penalty of manual labor because you own a truck. It brings a generally nasty response out of me.

Co-worker: "Hey, you've got a truck. You like beer and pizza?"

Me: "Maybe, why?"

Co-worker: "Well I'm moving into an apartm..."

Me: "Sorry, I'll be busy."

Co-worker: "Well I didn't say when..."

Me: "Busy."

Co-worker: "Well, if I can get someone to help can I just borrow your truck?"

Me: "Nope, it'll be busy too."
 
Co-worker: "Hey, you've got a truck, right? And you like beer and pizza?"

Me: "Maybe, why do you ask?"

Co-worker: "Well I'm moving into an apartm..."

Me: "Sorry, I'll be busy."

Co-worker: "Well I didn't say when..."

Me: "Sorry, busy."

Co-worker: "Well, I can get someone else to help, so can I just borrow your truck?"

Me: "Nope, it'll be busy too."

I usually respond with, "Motherf***er, you got some G**D*** nerve! Use your little b**** a** car!"
 
I really like trucks, but only have a need to use the open truck bed a few times a year. With all the rain we have here, I have always chosen to go with an SUV as everything is covered and dry. If I could afford it, I would have a truck also, but that is not in the cards right now. If I had space to park a utility trailer to haul yard debris or other stuff that won't fit in the back of the 4runner, I would get one.
 
Thumbs down for the Tacoma. Underwhelming performance from a cookie-cutter truck. I've owned many trucks, and TBO ATM I own a 2017 WRX and a 2005 Ranger standard cab 2WD.

The last big truck I owned was a 2005 Dodge 3500 4x4 dually crew cab.
 

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