Using A Light-duty V6 Truck As A Work Truck... No Problem?

EZ Mode

I'm simply wondering if a V6 truck (6 foot bed) can meet the needs of a new (and rather small) carpentry business. I'm looking for a few pointers from guys who use or have used a 6-cylinder truck with a 6-foot bed (think Nissan Frontier) for their carpentry business. Being sick of lay-offs and working for hacks, I've finally gone off on my own with a buddy of mine (he's got a Dodge Ram 1500 long bed so it's not like I'll be stuck without a way to transport heavier materials) doing carpentry, but I don't think my Altima sedan gives a professional look ; however, I travel extensively so my primary concern is MPG.

I won't need to carry more than a few sheets of rock at a time, lumber, trim, heavier tools etc, so for those with V6 trucks, do you find that it meets your needs for lugging all your crap around, and if not, at what point did you have to break down and buy something more powerful? Also, can a lighter truck comfortably handle a 5'x10' or 6'x10' box trailer (if loaded within reason)? Finally, will supercharging a V6 truck give it enough oomph to make the S.C.ing worthwhile or at the point is the fuel efficiency between a supercharged V6 and a V8 negligible?

Thanks in advance.

Norrrrrrrrrrrrm

Both trucks are good for different reasons. I had a little 95 nissan when I moved back east. I needed a truck that was dependable and economical. It was an extended which I highly recommend for any truck! You will need the storage! It was a v6 and got great mpg's.It was a larger engine pulling a smaller body so less strain on the engine, it basically coasted down the road. I bought a nice fiber shell at the j-yard and had it painted to match for $100. The shell will save you tons of money so your tools don't walk away. I got some yakima racks and mouted them on the top to carry longer lumber and it worked great. It was a cool little truck.
Sold it.
Bought a tacoma.
Bought a trailer and had difficulty pulling my trailer. Burned alot of gas doing so. They said it could handle it but i was not happy, nor the truck.
Fortunately/unfortunately I totaled the tacoma.
Bought a tundra....ooooh yeah.
The tundra pulls my trailer with ease. The v8 actually gets better mileage than the tundra6 because like the nissan it is less strain for the larger engine to pull the body weight around town of the 6.

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Norman Sharp
http://www.sharpimprovements.com

RobertCDF

I had a V6 ranger 6' bed for the first 2 years of my business (and 1 year framing before I went on my own) I HATED it everyday. It was underpowered and not enough room. I pulled my 6x12 EMPTY with the ranger 1 time it only got above 40 MPH when going down hill.

I now own a 99 F-250 with a diesel and get about 14 MPG all the time. It is in the shop right now so I grabbed my dads older toyota V6 shotbed and I FRICKING HATE IT. Never enough room and not enough power.

My advise is to get a diesel if you ever want to pull anything, really they are the best for pulling. There is no such thing as too much truck but there is such a thing as not enough truck. The nice thing about diesels is the mileage does not drop when towing. If you drive it nice you can get 18 or so on average but what fun is it to have a turbo and never use it.

If your really stuck on a small truck then get at least an 8' bed and I highly recomend a flatbed with stake sides. Flatbeds have so much more usable room.

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Robert Shaw
Colorado Springs Custom Decks
Colorado Custom Decks
Custom Composite Decks

BAREIN

if you only need a 2 wheel drive truck, get a newer full size with a 6 cylinder and a 5 sp manual tranny. These are almost as economical as the mini trucks plus you can haul bigger loads and pull bigger trailers when you need to. you can get them very reasonable will get just over 20mpg and with the 5sp will have o.k. power. As soon as you go to an auto with these trucks they will lose the mpg and the power
If you are thinking of starting out with a nissan, don't be talked into a diesel, there great when you need a pull truck but they are expensive to buy, own, and maintain
Look for a late 90's chevy or ford like i described (I don't know much about the Dodge 6's) or an early 2000's you will find nice ones for about $5,000. Also inline 6 300 fords will last forever when taken care of.

kdrf636

My work truck and daily driver is a 4 cylinder extended cab GMC Canyon. Other than only having a 6.5 foot bed I have yet to be limited bt it. It's a big 4 at 2.9 literes and has gobs of torque in the low end. It gets good MPG and only cost me $16,000. I actually wanted a Sierra 1500, but I couldn't pass this deal up. It's still new with only 2K on it, but so far no complaints. It's also avail with a 5 cylinder - I'm not a carpenter, but I can haul big spools of cable & wire, conduit, and all the equipment I have to install without any fuss. YMMV

thom

If you're going to carry sheet goods you need a minimum 8' bed with 4' between the wheel wells.

I started with a 3/4 ton, then got a dually, then another dually, then another dually.

If you're going to carry weight or pull a heavy trailer, a dually is cheaper. It doesn't keep breaking.

pegasush

I have a setup with a v6 Ranger and tool trailer. Works ok, not great, and don't plan on any highway miles - definite lack of hp. Caveats - 4wd is a must if you work in snow or mud, mileage is no better than a full size truck. But, any tool that costs $50k new, better pay pretty substantial returns - and a truck doesn't even come close.

masterk

BAREIN
You are right, the ford 300 in-line 6 is a beast. I had an 86 and 91 then switched to vans. They no longer make this engine, it lasted to long. I know that most won't believe me but the scrap yard does not over pay you. I had 2700 pounds of alum. and copper coils on my 86, went 2 1/2 miles to the scrap yard. I made it, but I have to admit I was worried.

dlcj

A v6 will be fine to start but look for a full size deisel if you going to haul or tow anything heavy. If more concerned with mpg then get a toyota or chevy 4 cyl and have heavy materials delieverd to job site. My dad pulls our 5x10 tool trailer with a 87 ford 150 v8 without much trouble. 2 years ago i moved 60 miles away from him but we still work together in his town so i bought a 91 s10 2.5 4cyl auto short bed for the commute. Sense i moved i have bought almost as many tools as he has and carry them in a oversized full size truck box set long ways in the bed. I get 25-28 mpg. I plan on building a low profile ladder rack soon. O and i paid only $200 for the truck at a auction. For the heavy stuff or when i just want to look like a big dog, i also have a 03 chevy 2500 duramax 4x4 crewcab short bed loaded with all options and fitted with the edge power programmer. Its a freaking hot rod! I paid $10,000 for that truck!

Chris Johnson

Truer words have not been spoken, I drove small and reg P/U trucks for the first 12 years in this business and literally destroyed 9 trucks in the same time period. Went to a 1 ton and haven't gone back...I only get rid of them when I want new, nothing wrong with the truck.


P.S. If you EVER read a CARFAX report buying an older small truck or 1/2 ton and my name is one it, DON"T buy it, I got rid of it for a reason

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Chris

s. donato

i have a dodge dakota V8 quad cab w/5 foot bed that i have been using for 3-4 years i recently got new leaf springs for the rear due to significant sag.

i have a fiberglass cap with roof rack and racks in the bed to hold just about everything. back seat comes in handy for overflow.

i would say the V8 is the only reason i haven't sold it b/c with out that i couldn't see it having enough power to go up and down the hills near me.

i don't think a v6 will be enough for carrying around. and the bed length is a pest i do have the pass through windows from the cab to the cap so some long trim goes through there but most get strapped to the roof rack.

i agree with the others saying to get a 8' bed - i know i wish i did... but hindsight is 20/20. i hope to be selling it soon.

good luck.

EZ Mode

thanks a ton to all of you for the responses. i think i'm still stuck on a V6 truck for now but I have a better understanding how within a couple of years i'll need something bigger. I'd consider a newer V8 but they're not in my price range, yet. gotta' start somewhere I guess... thanks again.

dlcj

I'd consider a newer V8 but they're not in my price range, yet. gotta' start somewhere I guess... thanks again.[/QUOTE]
no new truck is in my price range not a good one anyway.

3Kings Plumbing

I bought an 06 F150 shortbed with V6 ,AT, Tilt, Cruise, AC, and with tow package (intercooler) it had 4,960 miles on it I get around 14-16 mpg. I payed 12,500 for it. It's a regular cab but those little doors in the back make it nice to get to things behind the seat. I haul 10' pieces of pipe in the back. I plan to get a rack for it soon. The rack I want to get is 155" long with the short bed it should reach from my tailgate to over my windshield wipers. Then I can carry 20' piece of pipe. But for the most part I have my suppliers deliver for my big jobs.

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Have A Blessed Day!

ChainsawCharlie

I have a 2007 Frontier four door. Only the five foot bed though. I pull a 10 foot landscape trailer, no problem. I yanked the back seat out and built tool boxes and a mini desk, so to speak. It also serves as a mobile "office".

I have a Yakima rack system where the back rack goes in the hitch, the front one over the cab. It's designed for kayaks but I've hauled small lumber loads and plenty of PVC with it.

EZ Mode

Good to hear, that's exactly what I want to do with the backseat also. Thanks for the response!

vital151

i have a chevy 3500 box truck by my dad was a carpenter/painter all his life and he had 6 cyl trucks all the time, says he wouldn't change a thing.

3-D Mason

When I started on my own I had a partner who had all the heaver equip. 4 mo into it he decided it wasn't right for him and he backed out, I decided to push on and I'm glad I did , but that first year I was driving a 89 ford ranger 4 cyl. 2x4 6" bed and it didnt have power steering, it got 20+ mpg and I overloaded it on a regular basis. It worked for a year and I was able to buy a 3/4 ton and now have upgraded again to a 1 ton, my biggest concern in the ranger was plotting my course to and from the jobsite when I had it loaded so I didnt have to pull out on any hills ( it was a 5 speed)

BKFranks

I don't think there's anything wrong with the 6 cyl. Especially if you do a ton of driving. I was thinking about selling my 3/4 ton crew cab for a 1/2 ton with a 6 cyl. The only thing I would make sure to get would be a 8 foot bed to carry plywood. My truck now only gets 11 mph. If I could get 17-20 would be a big improvement.

You'll only need to move to a 3/4 ton if you plan to load a bunch of heavy material in there. A few sheets of plywood and some tools, you'd be ok with a 1/2 ton.

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2ndGen

"99 F-250 with a diesel"

argh! argh! argh! argh!


As you can tell, I'm partial to Super Duty Ford Trucks!

I'm in the market for a 2000 that I'll use for work this year then go on to build it up with at least an 8" Superlift and 38"+ tires!