american pickups- what are the like to live with?

[smiffy180]

I cant help but look and think i want one. Obviously insurance wouldnt allow this but a man can dream
So has anyone any experience of using one in the uk?
Did you find them practical in any way?
Oo and how was the running costs? I imagine eye watering....

[Roo]

Insurance is cheap, as is VED.

Parking can be a pain. Other than that no problems.

[smiffy180]

Roo said:

Insurance is cheap, as is VED.

Parking can be a pain. Other than that no problems.

Well at my age not cheap haha. Do they even fit in a normal space!?

[redgriff500]

I've run a few, on LPG they do the equivalent of 30mpg.

Mine were all different types of F150 V8 (3, 5 and 6 seaters) none cost me more than £5k to buy and were bigger, faster, better equipped and cheaper to buy and run than my mates Hi Lux / Navara / Warriors.

Basically as long as you're willing to drive LHD (which isn't a problem in a truck) there is no downside.

[Waugh-terfall]

Big, lazy, unstressed engines = cheap servicing too... Generally.

[smiffy180]

redgriff500 said:

I've run a few, on LPG they do the equivalent of 30mpg.

Mine were all different types of F150 V8 (3, 5 and 6 seaters) none cost me more than £5k to buy and were bigger, faster, better equipped and cheaper to buy and run than my mates Hi Lux / Navara / Warriors.

Basically as long as you're willing to drive LHD (which isn't a problem in a truck) there is no downside.

Thats interesting.... How reliable are they? I cant imagine parts being to easy? Or am i mistaken

[*Al*]

I had a Dodge Ram 5.2 V8 crew cab with the extended 8ft rear bed, fantastic sounding (modded exhaust) and smooth to drive.Big lazy V8 and still miss it.

[Roo]

Reliability? It might only do 250k miles if you abuse it and don't look after it.

Parts are cheap as chips from someone like rockauto.com

[smiffy180]

Ive already asked my fiance; she says yes if i treat her nice tonight
I only wish i could get insured on one! Could a 20/21yr old get insurance? Say sub 3k? Or am i dreaming... As usual

[davepoth]

smiffy180 said:

Thats interesting.... How reliable are they? I cant imagine parts being to easy? Or am i mistaken

They don't break. Engines, boxes and axles are easy since they're very similar to bits for mustangs/camaros/whatever, trim bits are a bit more problematic but pretty much anything can be imported.

Insurance is likely to be reasonable (20 year olds don't crash many yank pickups), and certainly once you turn 21.

[smiffy180]

davepoth said:

smiffy180 said:

Thats interesting.... How reliable are they? I cant imagine parts being to easy? Or am i mistaken

They don't break. Engines, boxes and axles are easy since they're very similar to bits for mustangs/camaros/whatever, trim bits are a bit more problematic but pretty much anything can be imported.

Insurance is likely to be reasonable (20 year olds don't crash many yank pickups), and certainly once you turn 21.

Im already scanning the classifieds. If i can get a reasonable quote i will seriously consider having some fun before no one can afford to run anything!

[Aydena]

I used to have a 1982 Ram D250 Crewcab. Here it is in its favourite place



I used to run it as a daily, MPG's were a bit crap but apart from that the only issue i had was a rotten fuel pickup line and a balljoint collapsing, however when it broke down on both occasions the main issue was recovery, i told the recovery company it was big... heres what they sent...



Never really had many issues parking it, except in gunwharf quays... here it is outside my old house

Edited by Aydena on Tuesday 21st August 22:53

[smiffy180]

Aydena said:

I used to have a 1982 Ram D250 Crewcab. Here it is in its favourite place



I used to run it as a daily, MPG's were a bit crap but apart from that the only issue i had was a rotten fuel pickup line and a balljoint collapsing, however when it broke down on both occasions the main issue was recovery, i told the recovery company it was big... heres what they sent...



Never really had many issues parking it, except in gunwharf quays... here it is outside my old house

Edited by Aydena on Tuesday 21st August 22:53

Jesus thats huge! Did you run lpg at all? What mpg did you get anyway?

[redgriff500]

smiffy180 said:

redgriff500 said:

I've run a few, on LPG they do the equivalent of 30mpg.

Mine were all different types of F150 V8 (3, 5 and 6 seaters) none cost me more than £5k to buy and were bigger, faster, better equipped and cheaper to buy and run than my mates Hi Lux / Navara / Warriors.

Basically as long as you're willing to drive LHD (which isn't a problem in a truck) there is no downside.

Thats interesting.... How reliable are they? I cant imagine parts being to easy? Or am i mistaken

Mine were at the lower end of the market but were all decent spec and decent condition late 90's trucks.

Parts are available in the UK via several dealers or import them yourself.

[AdeTuono]

smiffy180 said:

Roo said:

Insurance is cheap, as is VED.

Parking can be a pain. Other than that no problems.

Well at my age not cheap haha. Do they even fit in a normal space!?

My F350 duallie ranged over 4 spaces at the supermarket. And I always checked hotel car parks on Google Earth before booking when away from home.

[smiffy180]

redgriff500 said:

smiffy180 said:

redgriff500 said:

I've run a few, on LPG they do the equivalent of 30mpg.

Mine were all different types of F150 V8 (3, 5 and 6 seaters) none cost me more than £5k to buy and were bigger, faster, better equipped and cheaper to buy and run than my mates Hi Lux / Navara / Warriors.

Basically as long as you're willing to drive LHD (which isn't a problem in a truck) there is no downside.

Thats interesting.... How reliable are they? I cant imagine parts being to easy? Or am i mistaken

Mine were at the lower end of the market but were all decent spec and decent condition late 90's trucks.

Parts are available in the UK via several dealers or import them yourself.

Cheers for that info, my heart says yes and my head says maybe. I need to go play in one and see what mpg is like for my daily commute. I get about 45mpg in my 1.6 diesel now so if fuel costs were double i think i could cope; any more than that and i may struggle :/

[smiffy180]

AdeTuono said:

smiffy180 said:

Roo said:

Insurance is cheap, as is VED.

Parking can be a pain. Other than that no problems.

Well at my age not cheap haha. Do they even fit in a normal space!?

My F350 duallie ranged over 4 spaces at the supermarket. And I always checked hotel car parks on Google Earth before booking when away from home.

Atleast it wasnt the f650 haha!

[Aydena]

smiffy180 said:

Jesus thats huge! Did you run lpg at all? What mpg did you get anyway?

Nope just petrol (and one occasion of petrol/diesel/old engine oil mix)


It averaged about 9-10 mpg round town and high teens on the motorway thanks to the 3 speed autobox !

Awesome fun though !

[smiffy180]

Aydena said:

smiffy180 said:

Jesus thats huge! Did you run lpg at all? What mpg did you get anyway?

Nope just petrol (and one occasion of petrol/diesel/old engine oil mix)


It averaged about 9-10 mpg round town and high teens on the motorway thanks to the 3 speed autobox !

Awesome fun though !

Well you only live once glad to hear you had fun

[VxDuncan]

I don't think the MPG is that critical if you buy right - a £5k truck will be cheaper to run than an £8k ecoflex corsa over a few years if you factor depreciation. You could probably sell it on for a profit if you buy at the right time.