Hello!!
I've been driving a 1990 civic hatchback for about 4 years now. It has treated me very well, even though I don't return the favor. I average 35mpg and drive about 30,000 miles per year. I use it like a pickup truck. I even welded a luggage rack directly to the roof. You should see the looks I get hauling around lumber, boxes, you name it.... I use it daily to drive to work 90 miles round trip, and most days, I run errands for work, loading up "The Workhorse" (its nickname) with tons of stuff and driving all over Denver.

I am thinking of switching to a mini truck to make life easier. Please give some input to help me with my decision.

My priorities and concerns are:
1. MPG - I am on a strict budget and can't afford to spend a lot in gas, especially as gas keeps going up. 30+ mpg is really the minimum for me.

2. Snow. I live at 8200 feet in the mountains west of Denver. My civic is FWD and with studded snow tires does great. I also have a 200ft dirt driveway with a steep grade, which is covered in snow and ice for about 5 months a year.

3. Hauling stuff. I haul stuff daily. Sometimes its stuff that can't get wet. So a topper would be nice. But I also haul long lumber a lot, so I would need a rack of some sort.

4. Kids. I pickup my 2 boys on the way home from work 1-2 days a week. Its way out of my way to go home first, then go get them, not to mention a huge waste of time. So I need to be able to install 2 car seats (they are 3 weeks and 2.5 yrs old). I have read its legal to have car seats in Colorado in the front seat of a pickup (that has no backseats). This is a 12 mile drive with them, on a country road. But, I am thinking it would need to be a bench seat up front to even get 2 carseats in there?

5. Reliability. I don't have the money or time to spend on repairs.

6. Cost of vehicle. I can't afford much. Definitely under 5k.

Questions:
1. Which model and year truck? I have read the 22RE engine is best in the 80's pickups. Is that right?
2. Do they come with bench seats up front?
3. How does the 2wd do in snow? If I had studded snow tires do you think I could manage, or would I be stuck in my house not even getting out of the driveway in winter?
4. Can you get a 4x4 that will get 30mpg?
5. If I got one of those "extended cabs" would that help the car seat situation? The ones I've seen from that vintage are just 2 door trucks with a little room behind the seats. Can a car seat even fit back there? I have read its dangerous to put a carseat back there, true?
6. Any other tips or suggestions?

Thanks!

 

Hey, welcome. I'm sorry that I can't help much with your questions, but I do think you can put car seats in the front as long at there are no airbags or the airbags are turned off, although it wouldn't be the most ideal set up. Are you near Evergreen and Conifer? I lived there for a couple of months. There are quite a few older Toyota pickups around Denver my first was a 1982 that I got in Aurora for $200, I didn't get to hold onto it that long because I had to move. Well, hopefully you can get some answers to your questions, these guys are usually very helpful.

 

i honestly wouldn't recommend it if you have to have two children in car seats in it.

 

Yea two kids in these tiny trucks is kinda sketchy these are solid trucks but collision wise they don't stand much of a chance against newer cars and trucks specially side impact . An extended cab can hold two seats I think it be a little safer I would think ..u might wanna look at 96 and up Tacomas ext cabs and pre runners sense u have to deal with snow and mud hauling and ruffer terain might cost a bit more but reliability and tad bit more roomy than the older version toyotas

 

Welcome to TM - I have a '70 Hilux in good condition for sale but it's 2WD. I have the same problem as you - I live in snow country and need a 4WD. Maybe a Toyota from the 1980's would be good.