Assuming you're talking full sized pick-ups. Here's my personal take
and observations. Based on 1988 to 1999 model years. Single rear
wheel. More Ford comments cuz that's what I usually end up with.

Chevy.
No load to half loaded, runs smooth and sweet.
350 engine. What more can you say?
Avoid early Detroit Diesel versions.

Dodge.
Cummins Diesel - too cool.
Odd electrical accessory issues.
Injector issues in early 90's.
Not impressed with the suspension with any sort of load. These things
really squat down.

Ford.
No load to half loaded, you're driving a truck and you know it.
(Bounce, slam, thud).
50% to 120% load drives clean and smooth.
Twin I-beam front ends give better weight capacity but chew up front
tires. Expect 50% normal life out of them.
4.9L straight six will simply NOT die. I know, I've tried. No
horsepower, but torque to spare. Around 20mpg with a 5spd.
5.0 and 4.6 are solid runners. 5.8 (351) is a workhorse.
Various Navistar Diesels that are decent but change designs from year
to year.
The 90's E4OD? auto transmission prone to go out every 50-100k miles.

Basically, it depends on your need.
If you need a tool crib on wheels that stays fairly heavily loaded,
get a Ford.
If you'll be running emtpy 90% of the time and only occasionally load
it, grab the Chevy.
Either will happily haul trailers all day in just about any
configuration.
I really can't recommend the Dodge with the exception of a dedicated
heavy trailer hauler, then that Cummins might sway me.

JT


On Tue, 15 Jan 2008 11:25:27 -0800 (PST), Too_Many_Tools
wrote:

I am considering getting my next pickup truck...what is in your
opinion the best candidate for a frugal and practical pickup truck?

Thanks

TMT

Thren wrote:
Assuming you're talking full sized pick-ups. Here's my personal take
and observations. Based on 1988 to 1999 model years. Single rear
wheel. More Ford comments cuz that's what I usually end up with.

-- snip --
On Tue, 15 Jan 2008 11:25:27 -0800 (PST), Too_Many_Tools
wrote:

I am considering getting my next pickup truck...what is in your
opinion the best candidate for a frugal and practical pickup truck?

Thanks

TMT

I just can't add to this -- all the trucks that I've ever driven have
had at least two wheels in back (one on the right, one on the left).

Where do you find tricycle pick-up trucks?

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Do you need to implement control loops in software?
"Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" gives you just what it says.
See details at http://www.wescottdesign.com/actfes/actfes.html

Right here-
http://www.bajajusa.com/Photos%20&%2...ckup_Truck.jpg

Course, in asia and europe, you can get bigger ones.

http://www.vtl.piaggio.com/tmpianale.htm