Calling all former full-size pickup truck drivers

:lol:

I turned in my '01 F-150 Lariat for the Prius back in May.

To answer your question though, I miss it A BUNCH. Particularly since I'm STILL in MA, and not in Tampa, as I had expected, and winter is around the corner. I guess, like you, I hauled a lot of stuff, but nothing that ever really required "full" use of a bed. I'd take my bike up to the track every now and then, but not nearly enough to justify any significant "hauling".

On the other hand, I take perverse pleasure in driving the Pri... I like it, but what I really like, is not going up to the pump every 3 to 4 days and spending anywhere from $48-$60, I'm sure you know that feeling well... :lol:

So I guess I'd sum it up this way:

I loved the truck, but I'm happy I got the Prius, and thoroughly enjoy driving it. However, I'll admit, should gas drop to something like $1.25, I might very well be back at that Ford dealership... h34r:

 

I got rid of a 2000 GMC Sierra SLT 4x4 to get my Prius. I used to tow a 7,400 lb trailer but sold it when I got sick and tired of towing this contraption behind me, paying to hook it up, etc. Plus I finally built the new home at my hobby farm so really didn't need this tin box anyway.

Also that GMC was a putrid P.O.S. Mine happened to be one of the bad "knockers" or Piston Slap or Carbon Deposits or whatever the hell GM blames it on. 5,000km on the odometer and it was knocking like a diesel, burning oil, etc. All "normal" according to The General. Fah.

As far as "safety" issues bigger isn't always better. Obviousely if an H2 or a Quad Cab blows a red light and t-bones your Prius, the Prius and occupants will end up in a bad way.

Of course, since kinetic energy states that KE=1/2 Mass x velocity squared, the mass of the object must also be managed. As long as your vehicle is bigger and heavier than whatever else you crash into, you will force the smaller lighter object to absorb more of the crash energy.

Put two pickup trucks head on and the results are much different: there is a LOT more energy that must be managed. In an "extreme" case of hitting a very solid and immovable object that won't absorb much or any of the crash forces - say a thick concrete wall or a granite rock cut - the pickup or SUV will do worse than the light car.

Again, in that scenario, the small light car has much less mass so less energy to manage. The heavier pickup or SUV has much more energy to manage in such a crash.

Also consider that many pickups and SUV's are exempt from even minimum government regulations regarding cab strength, so in a rollover the cab gets pancaked. If you look at the stats, pickup trucks and SUV's are involved in a disproportionate number of single vehicle rollover incidents.

Some forum members have suggested I've quoted "rare" or "non real world" crashes. Well, you can point your browser to The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the NHTSA, or other government agencies, to verify this data.

More than likely you will be rear-ended at a stop sign or red light. Physics will again apply: if a large heavy vehicle is rear ended by a small light vehicle, the small light vehicle will receive the most damage. If the small light vehicle is rear ended by the large heavy vehicle, the small light vehicle again will receive the most damage.

At the same red light, have a large heavy vehicle rear ended by another large heavy vehicle: both are heavily damaged. As an extreme example, it doesn't matter what you drive, if you happen to get rear ended by a semi truck, you're toast anyway.

Here are some sites for more information on crash safety:

http://www.hwysafety.org/research/fatality...argetrucks.html

Note the following that for single vehicle fatality, 49% of them in SUV's are due to rollover, compared to 19% in cars.

http://www.hwysafety.org/research/fatality.../occupants.html

For the above link, there are many interesting cohorts for type of vehicle, type of impact, etc that tends to reinforce the fact that a large heavy pickup or SUV is only an "advantage" in a multiple vehicle crash involving smaller vehicles

http://www.safercar.gov/RollRatings2.cfm

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NC...003/809-586.pdf

If you're curious how the Prius does in a "real world" offset crash, it was tested by the New Car Assessment Programme in the EU:

http://www.euroncap.com/content/safety_rat...p?id1=3&id2=193

So overall I'm glad I got rid of my pickup and went to a Prius. Especially given the fact that my Prius spends 90% of its life zipping around in WInnipeg city traffic. Ever try to wrestle a pickup in city traffic? Never again.

 

Perfect question as I am seriously debating trading my 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 QC in on a Prius this week. I only average 12.5 mpg in my truck now and simply have become fed up with that number. Hopefully more people will chime in.

 

The one thing I'll add is that I shudder at the thought that a bigger vehicle is always safer than a smaller one...

I really don't like that sentiment. It may be true to protect those in the cabin, but the more larger vehicles on the road, the collective safety of all of the other motorists and pedestrians out there are lowered.

It's escalation... everyone else has bigger vehicles, so I need a vehicle twice as big to be safe... it's mutually assured destruction...

I don't like that sentiment... there's more to safety than what happens to you and who's in your cabin. What about the pedestrian impact? Etc..

 

Nice to see I could help with a "refinement" of your earlier argument. Jaaaay... Um, could we also get some more formula's, they sound pretty cool too...

 

get a large plastic tub with a tight snap on lid at big box mart

put your gas container in that. put the whole thing in the back of the prius.



Al

psbig box mart is at www.jibjab.com).

 

Don't apply this technique with the dogs though.

 

All good questions I think. I was able to keep my old pickup so I have both and I'll use the truck when it snows or when I get gas for the lawn mower. If you absolutely have to haul lawn mower gas in a Prius I would suggest leaving the windows down and buying it as close to home as you can. As far as dogs are concerned I have one (obviously) and I figure I can clean up anything he does. There is even a vacuum cleaner topic around here somwhere. I haven't bought seatcovers (yet) I just put a blanket over the rear seat and taught him to stay back there.

I have always considered automotive safety from the point of view that, if I have to choose, it is better to plan on avoiding an accident than surviving one. That means it is mostly up to the driver, and a smaller more manuverable car may be a plus. If you do have a wreck, and I realize somtimes they can't be avoided, the prius may be a pretty safe car to be in. Just my opinion based on what I've read here and other places. Thankfully I have no personal experience with that.

Good luck with your decision and be sure to let us know what you decide, and why.

 

what is a true reason why you are even considering Prius?

 

Great question, Another thing to consider on trading/selling a truck right now is, nobody really wants'em. I just sold my 2004 Avalanche. I put it on cars.com in September. I sold it Nov 9th and had only 2 calls on it. The first one being a scammer trying to steal it. If you can afford to keep a truck around, AND get a Prius, you will be much happier. Drive the doodoo out of the Prius and use the truck when needed. We kept my wifes Tahoe she loves, sold the Avalanche, and have an '06 Prius on the way. If you still love your truck, you will be very insulted at what they will offer you trade-in, Anywhere. Also with all the new Gov regulations on Auto companys, in a couple years, nothing will meet the EPA, and these trucks now will be even worth less.

 

Just a testimonial as to the "hauling" power of the Prius. We recently easily packed two weeks worth of camping supplies into it and took it to the mountains to check the gas mpg, the power, and the comfort (leaving the truck and 5th wheel at home.) We got 52 & 53 mpg, loaded, in the mountains. It consistently kept up with, or passed, traffic. We were not a bit crowded inside and because the back seats were folded down, we were able to get into the whole back end from both the doors and the hatch. Yes, we kept the truck because of the camper and we probably would miss it some if we got rid of it, but we sure don't drive it much. When we go biking, we have to take it, but it sure kills us to do that!

 

Well it was not a pick up but I had a Ford Explorer that I used to go on logging roads for camping and hulling a pop up camper trailer. The Explorer was paid for and has 110k on it so I kept it for a third car and for off road use. You can see from my atvar that you can use the Prius to transport Newfs.

 

Stranger,
We like our Prius for all of the reasons listed above. As neat a car as it is, I would never have it as our only vehicle. My wife drives it and I drive an Avalanche and sometimes grab a Dodge Quad Cab 4x4 that my business owns. Neither of us like the Prius for long (250 miles or longer) trips. We will take the Avalanche for anything longer. If we had to choose one car, it would be our Avalanche, a mini van or a crew cab Pick-up. You can list all of the pros and cons for a large vehicle vs the Prius and call me spoiled or what ever, but there is no way the Prius can give us the comfort and pleasure of a larger truck/van. We got all caught up in the hype of the Prius and sold our mini-van when we bought our 05 Tideland. Although we enjoy it for running around town and short trips, there is not a day goes by that my wife doesn't yearn to have her Town & Country van back.

Just being honest, Doug

 

Truck is a 1994 F-150 supercab, I purchased the truck new in 1993, 140K miles. Didn't bother trying a trade-in, kept it as a 3rd vehicle, it gets used about once a month, nothing beats a full-size truck for large hauling, but 30 gal. of gas to go 450 miles sucked. Prius is great, and will haul most things I need. I miss the height off the ground, and lots of leg room, but love the Prius. Also am enjoying having A/C and CC.

 

I'm suffering the same dilemma- truck or Prius. I've got an 02 Tundra I really enjoy driving and feeling safe in. It's got weight and power in the 4.7 V8- but the trade off is the fuel mileage. I don't use it to haul anything very often but I've owned nothing but trucks for so many years and miss having one when I don't (I owned a Monte Carlo and a Prelude once). I get what you're feeling all to well.
Oh, what to do!
I think the future is getting to best fuel economy. I don't want to have to depend on the oil companies for my having to get to work everyday. I can't stand going to the gas station and watch my money go down the drain. ding ding ding! I haven't filled up to the top for months now - I put in $40 worth and get 1/2 tank. I don't think the price of gas is going down again to where it had been, at least not by very much and not for very long.
I might be time to give into your intuition and go for the cost saving ways. Whether it be a Prius or Camery- whatever. I feel gas should not take priority in deciding if you can afford to drive somewhere. If you get 50 mpg just go!
I'm gonna miss my truck.
Let us know what you decide!
olcorral

 

I haven't gotten my Prius yet (waiting on 2006), but my neighbor has a 2004 and is renovating his house and hauls a lot of stuff on his roof racks, also uses it for windsurfing. You might already know this, if you put a receiver hitch on it there are different attachments for them that might be helpful, from trays and baskets to load carrying extenders for extra long lumber, etc. If you haul gas, you might want to consider a quality metal container or small boat gas tanks from say West Marine since they seal better and are more durable. Also for really dirty hauling (gravel) just rent a truck for the day and beat it up.