Small trucks

[matt]

I need a truck to haul a couple sport bikes around.

Mid to late 90s, have a couple grand to spend.

Dodge Dakota
Ford Ranger
Chevy S10

I'm guessing the Dakota is the only one with a decent sized bed?

Anyone have any suggestions as to which I should be looking for?

[HiTheNameIsBJ]

If you can find an s10 long bed go for that. I've owned a couple as have friends, great trucks, and can be had for nothing

[Asbradley21]

I have a late 90's Mazda b3000 (rebadged ford ranger) and I like it just fine, does fine towing shit, a decent size bed. It just works.

[HiTheNameIsBJ]

^yea those are pretty nice trucks. My buddy has one, and my dad had a b4000, the only issues my friend had with the 3000 is for some reason freeze out plugs kept popping out. A different one each time, also 1 injector would keep going bad. He would replace it and the replacement would go bad 6 months later.

[RainierHooker]

Find yourself a nice un-fecked-with Toyota. The four cylender ones have all the torque you'll ever need, and the 6-cylender ones are maybe even excessive. Best of all they will last for eons...

[hugh jass]

a couple of sport bikes? thats a really full load for a compact pickup. you will be bumping handlebars and fairings pretty badly. have you considered a used f150? if you're considering a dakota an f150 is bigger and a much better truck.

[lennon]

a couple of sport bikes? thats a really full load for a compact pickup. you will be bumping handlebars and fairings pretty badly. have you considered a used f150? if you're considering a dakota an f150 is bigger and a much better truck.

i agree with this

[hugh jass]

another option is get whatever truck you want and find a used kendon trailer to tow the bikes around. racing season is just about over and you can probably find a used trailer somewhere around the south. they fold up and can be stored just about anywhere. my friend has one we use for track days when we don't feel like loading bikes in my truck and its an amazing trailer.

[matt]

800lbs is a full load for a small truck? That's like three fat guys...

I guess I can look into a bigger truck. I have pulled two R1200Ss from the back of a titan before, so if those wide-ass motherfuckers can fit in a slightly bigger truck, a couple ducs should be no big deal.

[Aptyp]

i had a 99 Ranger and it was awesome, same thing as Mazda.

[mrsleeve]

I concur get a good used 1/2 ton, I am a chevy guy and have many s-10 and full size never really had any issues other than normal wear items on any of them.

For you late 90s GM 1/2 ton will serve you well.

[hugh jass]

800lbs is a full load for a small truck? That's like three fat guys...

I guess I can look into a bigger truck. I have pulled two R1200Ss from the back of a titan before, so if those wide-ass motherfuckers can fit in a slightly bigger truck, a couple ducs should be no big deal.

its not the weight, its the size. the beds are pretty small width-wise and it will be a really tight fit to securely them properly without having them rub on each other, the truck bed fenders, etc. the loading and unloading will just be pretty ugly. 2 dirt bikes in a compact is a tight fit, and sport bikes are even bigger with more parts that don't like to rub together. especially italian bikes.

[matt]

I see what you're saying.

We have trailers I can borrow from work. Maybe that's the key.

[e30lov]

a phantom dakota r/t with a cam sounds f'in sweet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybFHmZxcAyg

that should be enough power, haha.

But i would look into a 90s f150-250 dirt cheap and great for towing if you happen to find one thats not rusted out

[jp_slick]

I would suggest a nissan hardbody