Don’t ask me what the scenario is where The Autopian is somehow empowered to force everyone to get a pickup truck and why we’re not forcing you to buy something more on-brand for us (for example, the weirdest shitbox within your Facebook Marketplace range settings), but go with me here.
You’re getting a pickup truck. Whether or not you need one doesn’t matter. Heck, let’s even say it’s on the government’s dime, so don’t worry about whatever your cash flow situation is. You’re getting a pickup truck. And by “pickup truck,” I mean anything with a bed that a regular person would say is a pickup truck, even if they have to squint a bit. So, no utes, but Autopian Asks isn’t very big on rules, so don’t expect the Comment Cops to bust in if you start talking cars with beds attached.
That said, some people– probably not you, but some people – will decry trucks like the Ford Maverick, Honda Ridgeline, and Hyundai Santa Cruz as mere cars with beds attached, because they’re not body-on-frame and don’t have a solid rear axle. To which I say: nah, they’re pickup trucks. And of those three, it’s probably the Maverick for me, even though I chose a Ridgeline for the topshot. I’m not a big fan of driving pickups when they aren’t actively doing truck things, so the more car-like a truck is, the better. And the lower the better, too.
But that’s just me. Maybe this is your chance to get a mucho-macho lifted truck just for lulz. Perhaps you’d like to go full cowboy Cadillac, since value and practicality are only as much of the discussion as you want them to be. Or maybe … I dunno, I’m asking.
If you must have a truck lest you run afoul of the truck-having police, which do you choose?
Top graphic image: Honda
Brand new? Probably a Nissan Frontier
Used: 4.0/6MT Tacoma, or my get my Duramax Canyon back
Already have a 2025 F-150 (which I love), but for a daily driver, I’ll take an early 90’s single cab Ranger with manual transmission.
My DD is a ’23 Hyundai Santa Cruz and that’s really all the truck I need. And the 2.5 liter turbo has enough grunt to put a smile on my face by burning up dinosaurs using the loud pedal. It’s a real outlier here in Texas where a 3″ lifted F-150 seems to be the basic and most folks go up from there.
Roughly 80% of the vehicles in my average neighborhood are full-sized pickups with 4 doors and 4WD. Dodge and Ford dominate, with Chevy and Toyota represented as well. Nothing Nissan. At least half have some lift, and nearly every one some customization.
I have a 2011 Tacoma. Can you buy a nice performance wagon instead (not a Mercedes).
Money no object, time no limit?
Then I’ll take one of the classics that were converted into tow trucks during WW2. Make mine a Duesenberg SJ. Or maybe a Marmon V16.
A 1988 Toyota Hilux diesel, though preferably one that hasn’t already been washed out to sea, set on fire, and dropped off an apartment building.
That last of its kind diesel Dodge ram that Mercedes wrote about with the super long stick shift. Iza truck.
I completely went off the headline and didn’t read the article, so I thought this is what truck I’d want the Autopian to build.
Honestly if I had to get a new truck it would be some form of Kei Truck.
I hope we’ll get them imported new and street legal snow tires for them in the US.
I love the efficiency of the Maverick but it’s still too damn big, I wish it was a single cab cabover, that would get me to buy one tomorrow
If money was no object, I’d love an R1T.
If I can buy something that hasn’t been produced (and money is still no object), the Scout Terra looks pretty great.
If I’m being realistic, a Ranger Raptor is a tempting swap for my Bronco.
Give me a small S-10 in black with the gold trim.
I’d make the choice I already made: Maverick hybrid AWD with 4k towing. I’m guessing the gov’t isn’t paying for gas. This truck does everything I need, and gets great fuel economy while doing it. I’ve put 37k miles on mine in 13 months. No regrets.
Since I already have a Maverick, Uncle Sam can buy me a mint 1964 International pickup with the 304, 4-speed manual, and limited slip rear end. I’ll pay for the rustproofing.
Would a ICON BR half top derelict style count as a short bed pickup? If not one from their 4×4 C Series.
If it has to be something mass produced cut and pasting my reply from the todays Showdown.
On Saturday was at my dealer getting my free for life service and they had a F-150 Black Widow with the 700HP supercharger option alongside a Raptor R and I was daydreaming. After 33+ years of having pickups do I still need need to be climbing up into a truck or should I go for the lowered 4×4 on 24’s?
Since I am an avid offroader, I have an affinity for the Ram Power Wagon and F250 Tremor, but I know full well I’d not be happy with either of them (or a F150 Raptor or Ram TRX/RHO) on a regular basis due to size and difficulty in using them on tight trails I favor (that my Jeep does great on).
So next would be a Ranger Raptor or Colorado ZR2/Canyon AT4X, which I think would work fine and I’d probably fairly happy with. But honestly, I think the Ridgeline really is all the truck I need anymore.
I already have a 1996 Ford F-150 and use a 2018 Ram 2500 for work, but if it’s on someone else’s dollar I’m getting the cleanest, lowest mile, rust free original 1992-1998 K1500 Silverado (or Sierra 1500) I can find. Cue the 90s country and Bob Seger
If I’ve got my practical hat on, I’d get a 2017-2022 F-250 XLT or Lariat 4×4, preferably a Supercab short bed
I’ve already got an AWD hybrid Maverick so I’ll take an OBS Chevy/GMC with a manual trans and a V8.
I’m already heavily considering a Slate for sometime in 2027, so sign me up I guess.
Well, my current garage is a 2004 chevy 2500hd, a 1989 toyota pickup, and I have a reservation for a slate. So, its gotta be a Brat or nothing for me. (it doesn’t need to be new, does it?)
The Slate. It is the only regular-cab model available with crank windows in 2026.
I currently drive a 2010 GMC Canyon regular-cab 2WD 5-speed pickup with crank windows, so it wouldn’t be all that different other than the switch to electric.
3 finalists for my personal consideration
1. Telo, yes it looks weird, however I happen to like weird cars And to me a pick-up is a tool 1st and has to be about its capabilities
2. Ford Fairlaine? Ev pickup, especially if it ends up with a midget
3. Outside consideration… VW 4 door duca that has been ev converted, like the one from Electric Classic Cars in Wales. Doesn’t have to be a 2nd generation, in fact I think I’d prefer it to be a Vanagon based one or even a late 90s Eurovan Duca (again ev converted)
Already have one: F-150 Lightning
1980 Chevy Silverado, black over silver
For some reason I am not aware of I have always wanted a Toyota Dyna,so this is my chance I guess.
For reasons I don’t fully understand, I’ve always had a fondness for small trucks with tiny wheels, so I’ll take a late 70s/early 80s HiLux with 12″ rims.
Oh, not an Austin Mini pickup?
I’m holding out for a Telo.
Sadly probably the closest thing to new street legal Kei trucks we’ll get in the US, so I’m with you.
There is Mutiny Motors, although currently they’re selling nothing but T-shirts.
Free and no rules on other vehicles you can retain?
Easy, TRX. Stupid Grin inducing trophy truck level truck is actually pretty decent for other basic truck stuff.
The Mav is really more of a UTE Pete, sorry, it is not truck gang worthy.
I’m so tired of “the Maverick is not a truck” comments. Looks like a truck, hauls like a truck, tows like a truck… therefore, truck.
Don’t hit me with the unibody is not a truck. The 1961-63 Ford F100 was a unibody.
Payload? Well over a half ton. Up to 1400lbs on some models. That’s truck level.
Towing? 4000lbs is a little on the light end, it’ll haul a Model A or a Crosley on a U-Haul just fine.
Drive axle? Granted, FWD is a little unorthodox, but it gets the job done. My Mav is AWD, as are many trucks.
The “Mav is not a truck” people seem to have elastic definitions of truck. Now if you want to define truck as “costs too much, takes up too much space, uses too much gas” – fine, the Mav isn’t your kind of truck.
I respect it highly as a pickup, but to me it’s still not a truck.
I would have bought it instead of my current truck if I didn’t need the towing.
To me:
Unibody: Pickup
BOF: Truck
Solid rear Axle: Truck
IRS: Pickup