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Comment by H1Supreme | Hacker News Reader

Hopefully they make a version that isn't absolutely gigantic. I've wanted a basic, no-frills 4x4 pickup truck with a 6 foot bed for years now. Problem is, they're all gigantic. And, they all have back seats!

Ford released a new Ranger, which is nearly large as everything else out there. In the late 80's / early 90's there were all types of small trucks on the road (including the ranger). Now, there's zero options in US for something that resembles those vehicles.

Currently, I drive a compact SUV (Honda HRV), which does nearly everything I need. But, I have to line the hatch in a tarp when I deal with anything dirty. I'd love a truck version of this car, but the options are just absurdly large.

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I used to drive a 1982 Datsun 720 truck. It was such a convenient town truck.

It had a 1.6 L engine in it (which wasn't very fuel efficient as it was 30 years old), and wasn't any larger than a sedan. Yet you could still fit practically anything you'd ever need in the back. The only disadvantage in the design was that the cab was sized for small Japanese people. I'm only 5'10" and I felt uncomfortable sitting in it for too long, it was also only single cab.

It's a shame that compact trucks are no longer a thing. Even the Toyota Hilux is a lot larger and more unwieldy than the models from the 90's.

What you really want is something like the ute version of the Ford Falcon or Holden [Chevy] Commodore [1], which they used to make in Australia and sadly have discontinued.

[1] https://www.whichcar.com.au/features/ford-xr6t-v-holden-ss-u...

It's the same as we used to have panel vans based on the sedan/ute wheelbase but they quietly disappeared and it's now 1t trays with a canopy or high roof vans like a Hiace.

Maybe the hot ute will make a comeback someday...

https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/honda-civic-type-r-ute-conc...

I'm curious, would Australian "trucks" (we call them "utes") satisfy your needs if they were sold in the US?

Examples:

- Holden (GM) Colorado: https://www.holden.com.au/cars/colorado/ls-single-cab-chassi...

- Toyota Hilux: https://www.toyota.com.au/main/hilux or Landcruiser 70: https://www.toyota.com.au/main/landcruiser-70

- Ford Ranger: https://www.ford.com.au/commercial/ranger/compare-models/?in...

- Nissan Navara: http://www.nissan.com.au/cars-vehicles/np300-navara/range-an...

All of these have a single cab option and small beds (relative to American trucks).

I want a V8 Falcon. A car-based pickup would suit 99.99% of my use cases. They don't exist in the US market unless you buy something >30 yr. old.

Because the pickup isn't a work vehicle. It is a statement, a bit of fashion. That's where the market is. People want to look like they need a pickup. In reality, they would be better served by a minivan. They are why every truck has back seats.

A more honest answer is probably to get the smallish SUV and buy a trailer. An 8'x4' metal trailer, with full wheels, will let you haul the wood/stuff those few times a year you need to. When I was in university I had a small Jeep and a proper trailer. On big climbing/camping trips I could haul more stuff than any pickup. An 8'x4'x2' trailer is bigger than all but the biggest pickup beds. The bed was also lower, which made things like motorcycles much easier to load.

Even a sedan will do if you just want the bed. Not ideal, but definitely possible. Used to haul drywall, gravel, lumber, etc. in a little trailer hooked up to my freaking Corolla.

Trucks are great because the extra degree of freedom is a PITA, but unless you're towing serious loads they are mostly just the country version of a lexus or BMW.

Good grief the bed heights are ridiculous now. Forget about reaching over the side and grabbing something without having to climb in: and I'm 6' tall! I've mastered this maneuver where I jump up and land with my stomach over the edge of the bed. It's uncomfortable but I can actually reach something. My father is three inches taller than I am, but it was still something of a revelation for him a couple of weeks ago when he realized what I was doing. Now he's doing it too.

It didn't used to be like this, before every pickup had to be 4WD with tall suspensions to handle towing heavy trailers. I'd like to buy an old truck just so I can actually reach my tools. Instead I'm thinking of getting one of those dinky Ford Transit Connects, because it will keep everything dry as well as accessible.

> Ford Transit Connects

That vehicle, and others like it, is the standard work vehicle for European people with equipment to move. Pickups are very rare.

"Transit" is almost a generic word for any van in the UK since the middle sized one is so common. "White van man" is derogatory, usually used when there's one illegally parked or driving carelessly.

Anyway, the method is well tested.

Over here in Europe there's good variety in the van market, which is functionally equivalent to the Pickup market in the US.

There may be an unmet demand in the US for some of the smaller vehicles. Most of the big car manufacturers here in Europe offer vans: Ford, Vauxhall/Opel, Mercedes, Renault

Here's some examples if you're interested in looking at some of them -

Smaller car-vans - like the Ford Fiesta, and Vauxhall/Opel Corsa both have (or used to have) van variants.

Small dedicated vans - like the Ford Transit Connect, Vauxhall/Opel Combo and Volkswagen Caddy

Regular vans - like the Ford Transit Custom, the Vauxhall/Opel Vivaro, VW Transporter

The Larger vans like the Mercedes Sprinter and Ford Transit you may be more familiar with.

In the UK where I am - Rural postmen, as an example use case, make heavy use of vans like the Transit Connect and Vauxhall Combo as the fleet vehicle of choice.

Regular Tradesmen (plumbers, builders, plasterers) for example tend to use tall panel vans like the Transit or VW Crafter as their weapon of choice.

The pickup truck isn't a work vehicle? Wow do we live in different worlds.

He's exaggerating, but there are countless pickups on the road that have never towed a trailer, driven off pavement, or hauled a load of dirt.

And there are countless pickups that have.

Broad generalizations like that are just silly. You don’t even have to prove them wrong, they’re just a flawed premise.

Is that really as common as people make it out to be? It's rare I see a pick-up with a pristine receiver or bed where I am. sure there's the occasional "show truck" with 6" lift and 40" tires, but those aren't common.

It's probably really regional. Totally anecdotal but for example most shiny "show trucks" I see running around seem to sport TX plates, while WY plates seem to adorn late model trucks that have been used hard.

It seems like the prime habitat for "status" trucks would be areas with strong rural blue collar background, but plenty of wealth flowing today. Cultural significance combined with the wealth to afford $70k trucks.

I understand your point but the pickup does have utility over the minivan because the bed is walled and outside the cabin. I own a minivan, though, and agree it’s extremely useful, and similarly to the earlier comment asking for a more utilitarian pickup, I wouldn’t mind more utilitarian vans instead of the parent-friendly trends towards safety and nice back seats at a higher price point.

>the bed is walled and outside the cabin That is the times where a trailer come in handy. Driving a big pickup every day because you need the bed once a month is only a fashion statement telling the world "I don't care about the environment". Even most hatchback can town a decent sized trailer

A pickup has additional utility over a trailer because it’s more maneuverable, can fit into a parking space, etc. I also think once a month isn’t necessarily too infrequent depending on the work done, but pickup owners seem to use their beds more often during seasonal weather.

I wonder if there would be a market for a company to do aftermarket conversions of the Ford Transit Connect into a Ridgeline-esque pickup truck.

Too bad Ford doesn't import the even smaller Transit Courier, though...

I completely agree with this. The only truck I’ve seen that isn’t quite as absurd is the Honda one, but it’s also got a double cab.

I understand the “big macho truck” is part of the appeal for a lot of people, but for work in the city a smaller (1990 size) truck would be a better option.

Why do you want a smaller truck? Is it just to make parking easier? My impression is that the reason the compact truck mostly died off (or got larger) is that the fuel economy of the larger vehicles improved to the point that the smaller trucks had little advantage.

I heard it was because US regulations were more lax for larger trucks, and the smaller trucks couldn't keep up with the regulations.

I'm hopeful that electric trucks can bring back the smaller options.

Smaller trucks used to be far more affordable while still having the utility. If you're not shuffling a family around, this can be helpful.

Does it have to be a Ford? What about something like the Chevy Colorado?

Also, the redesigned Ford Ranger, similar in size to the Colorado, is now available.

Today’s Ranger and Colorado are about the size that the F-150 and Silverado we’re back in the 90s. The obesity epidemic has hit trucks pretty hard.

The price of being able to survive a 60mph collision.

But what about the other guy?

Survivability should be about crumple zones, air bags, etc, not steamrollering everyone.

You can get a 2 door 6ft bed Tacoma. It does have "back seats" but nobody's going to want to ride in them for more than 10 minutes. You can also get an F150 with just two seats and a 6.5ft bed. But yeah, physically, any pickup today is significantly bigger than one made in the 80s or 90s.

I dunno, the two-door Nissan Frontier at least looks like a "small 90s pickup"? But the photos could be lying, of course.

https://www.autoblog.com/nissan/frontier/

To those who also didn’t know what this is - Navara is the other name.

The old Hilux is sort of similar, and I love those.

Second this, with the caveat that the Colorado might be a good small size pickup alternative (I haven’t driven it, and the Nissan Frontier isn’t too big for a 4-door if you don’t insist on buying American).

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