Pickup Philosophy Question

[RoyJackson]

Well, a Subaru outback or Forester are not big cars, and with the AWD will probably take you skiing with no problem. Add a ski rack or case on top and you would still have room in the back for other gear. The downside is, although small, they don't get great mileage. They are very popular as daily drivers around here with our snow and hills.

Anyways, if you can take the skiing requirement off the big SUV/truck, you may have an easier choice, maybe get by with 4X2 which saves a bunch.

Yep, there's a lot of room in those Outbacks and 25 MPG for most driving.

 

[Bird]

I don't think they do any skiing, but one of my wife's brothers lives in the north edge of West Virginia and he and his wife both drive Subaru SUVs. I think she has an Outback and he has a Tribeca.

We have a dealer in our area, but it doesn't seem like I see many Subarus, but in 1991 when I spent the summer in Alaska, I was surprised at seeing so many there.

 

[s219]

Well, a Subaru outback or Forester are not big cars, and with the AWD will probably take you skiing with no problem. Add a ski rack or case on top and you would still have room in the back for other gear. The downside is, although small, they don't get great mileage. They are very popular as daily drivers around here with our snow and hills.

Anyways, if you can take the skiing requirement off the big SUV/truck, you may have an easier choice, maybe get by with 4X2 which saves a bunch.

We have owned a Forester and three Outbacks over the years -- they have all been outstanding ski vehicles and great for suburban life. Unfortunately, towing a tractor pushed me into a bigger SUV last year, but I have to say I do like the comfort. Also get 20-23mpg, which isn't bad, though it plummets to 14-16mpg when I tow the tractor!

 

[sixdogs]

You are thinking about it backwards. Its not having something to haul and in need of a truck.

Rather its having a truck and in need of something to haul

You will find all sorts of uses for a truck. (at least I do). And would never be without one.

Need a sheet of plywood and a few 2x4's......forget it without a truck.
Need to seed some grass and need a few bales of straw.....
towing a trailer....
Firewood....

And how in the heck are you supposed to go tailgating withtout a truck??

I think we have a winner here and that is the answer we all should be looking for.
Plus, my wife feels way safer in a pickup and now prefers it over a car. Who would have thunk it?

 

[RoyJackson]

We have a dealer in our area, but it doesn't seem like I see many Subarus, but in 1991 when I spent the summer in Alaska, I was surprised at seeing so many there.

There's not a lot of need for All Wheel Drive in the south...but those Suby's surely are popular in the Northeast!
Frankly, I'd rather drive my Suby in the snow then the F-150.

 

[chkntrktr]

Yeah, I know. A few years ago my brothers were going to move a portable storage building and were going to do it with a 16' tandem axle trailer pulled by a Chevrolet Suburban. At that time, it was 50 miles to the U-Haul rental place and one of my brothers was by there in his little Chevy S10, so he thought he'd go ahead and pick up the trailer. No go. He told them he'd just be pulling it empty that 50 miles and then use the Suburban, but nope, they refused to rent it to him until he took the Suburban to get it; just an extra hundred miles for the Suburban.

But in 1962-63, the only thing U-Haul required was money; the rental fee.:laughing: I think they'd have been happy to rent it to you if you had a donkey to pull it.:laughing:

It's all about liability now. I'm sure a lot of people would sue if something bad happened. Too bad some of the travel trailer salespeople don't make sure their customers have vehicles with the right towing capabilities. I had one tell me that the limits were understated on pickups, they would pull a lot more than the book says.

 

[JD435Bill]

I've had at least one and sometimes 2 trucks on the road in the last 37 years straight. I couldn't even imagine not having one. Anytime I had just one and would be working on it, therefore temporalily not available, I almost felt like a fish out of water.

Bill

 

[jomar215]

All this talk of pick up trucks has made me reminiscent of my old fave - big green. Alas, we parted ways when I threw a rod on the highway like 10 days before moving 6 states away ... The wife was not happy about that one, my cell phone battery died as I was pulling off to the side and I didn't show up until 3.5 hours later in the passenger seat of a tow truck. I can smile about it now, but I still sorely miss my old friend ......

 

[heviduty]

All this talk of pick up trucks has made me reminiscent of my old fave - big green. Alas, we parted ways when I threw a rod on the highway like 10 days before moving 6 states away ... The wife was not happy about that one, my cell phone battery died as I was pulling off to the side and I didn't show up until 3.5 hours later in the passenger seat of a tow truck. I can smile about it now, but I still sorely miss my old friend ......

View attachment 280128

Is that a Unimog?

 

[WM75Guy]

We could not be without our trucks. My wife and I both drive 4WD pickups. We are both nurses so there is no calling in when the weather is bad. She traded in her Yukon so no more "I need the truck to tow the horsetrailer", a 3 horse slantload GN. Her 2008 has a sunroof so she's happy. We both haul feed and farm stuff on a frequent basis. No more having to take out the back seats in the Yukon to haul stuff.

We get a new vehicle every 5 years. We will buy another Yukon or Acadia for her to drive next year. Smaller and easier to get around, something to take trips in. I plan on keeping both trucks, my 2003 just turned 175,000 miles.