Truck Model Roundup
Pickups: Smallish Trucks, Lots of Work
Tom Berg
Equipment Editor
Like the horse-drawn "buckboards" that preceded them in North America, pickup trucks are so useful as carriers of passengers and cargo that they are now found in much of the rest of the world. A notable exception is Western Europe, where small cabovers and vans do the commercial work, and compact station wagons and vans are big enough for "civilians."
Pickups account for about half of the Class 1 and 2 truck market here, according to Steve Latin-Kasper, director of market data and research for the National Truck Equipment Assn., who cites a 1997 survey done by the U.S. Bureau of the Census. Others are sport-utility vehicles, vans and various types of specialty trucks.
Common wisdom says most pickups are bought by consumers, and that's true in Class 1.
Still, 22% of those answering the '97 Census survey said they use their Class 1 trucks commercially. And a surprising 53% of Class 2 truck owners checked the "commercial" box in filling out the form.
The info is now more than 5 years old, and Latin-Kasper hopes Congress will appropriate the money to allow the Census Bureau to do the one it planned for 2002.
That form is more detailed and will show much more about truck types and uses.
Many Uses
In trucking, pickups with factory beds carry parts and supplies in support of larger freighters. In other industries, pickups support specialized machinery and equipment and are driven by workers and supervisors on and off job sites.
Of course, many types of specialized bodies are fitted to pickup chassis — pickups without beds — for work in many endeavors.
Heavier duty cab-chassis are built bare from the frame back, and sometimes pickup beds are removed and replaced with specialized bodies.
The distinction between commercial and personal-use has blurred in recent years with many pickups being used for both work and pleasure, manufacturers say. And equipment content is richer: Air conditioning is all but standard, and heavier duty models have become more fancy and comfortable. Bare-bones cabs are still offered, but an increasing percentage of "work trucks"are dressed up with carpet, cushy upholstery, power windows and locks, and powerful audio systems. People want a nicer place to work and travel, and they want to haul family members off-duty.
Powerful Engines
The same is true of powertrains: Gasoline engines are more efficient and powerful, and automatic transmissions have been beefed up, both to correct deficiencies of the early to mid-1990s and to take higher engine outputs. And diesels dominate in heavier pickups: Seven out of 10 buyers of Class 2 and higher pickups spec diesel engines and four-wheel-drive, manufacturers report.
Some buyers may actually drive the high miles and haul the heavy loads that justify the diesels' hefty purchase prices, and even venture onto rough terrain where extra traction is required. But the majority of people simply want such equipment and are willing to pay for it.
One profitable segment for manufacturers and dealers is recreational — people who tow high-and-heavy travel, horse and off-road vehicle trailers. They can really use extra power and capacity in their trucks, even if they really could somehow live their lives without such hobbies.
A number of mini- and midsize pickups, which generally gross under 5,000 pounds, are work trucks. But most minis spend the majority of their time in personal use. So in this roundup, we concentrate on full-size pickups in Class 1, with a cutoff of 6,000 pounds GVW and a payload (including passengers) of about 1,500 pounds, and Class 2, with payload of 1,500 to 2,500 pounds and GVW up to 10,000 pounds.
Big Three Dominates
Product offerings show that the traditional Big Three automakers' domestic trucks — Dodge, Ford and General Motors — still dominate the full-size pickup business. Since the late 1980s they have leap-frogged over each other with increasingly advanced models using more powerful and efficient engines and drivetrains.
Competition has shortened model cycles and improved the vehicles' capabilities, comfort and longevity. Like all automotive products, prices have shot up in the last 10 to 15 years, and most manufacturers lately have resorted to rebates and cheap or no-cost financing to keeps sales going.
Toyota of America has elbowed its way into the full-size market with its 7/8-size Tundra. It, too, is built in the USA (Princeton, Ind.), and by 2004, more Tundras will come out of a new plant (in San Antonio). And Nissan USA just unveiled its Titan full-size pickup with a full-size V-8 engine — 5.7 liters and "more than 300 horsepower," according to Nissan's preliminary announcement. More on that when it's actually out.
DODGE
The second-generation Ram 1500 gets the new 345-cubic-inch/5.7-liter Hemi Magnum gasoline V-8, which replaced the venerable 360-ci/5.9-l V-8 for 2003. The '03 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups got the 1500's enlarged and restyled (for '02) cabs and interiors (including side airbags), along with new HD frames, steering and other improvements. HD gasoline engines include the new Hemi V-8 and 8-liter V-10.
The Dodge-Cummins Turbodiesel is completely revamped with new 24-valve heads, electronic fuel system and other advancements for greater quietness and efficiency. It doesn't use EGR, while Cummins' other ISB diesels for medium-duty trucks do. A High Output version makes 305 hp and 555 lbs-ft. of torque, but only with a ZF 6-speed manual (a beefed-up automatic is on the way) and not in California (which gets only the standard 250-hp/460-lbs-ft. rating). The 1500 and 2500HD (plus the heavier 3500HD) share two cab styles: 2-door Regular and 4-door Quad; the shorter 4-door Club Cab is gone.
FORD
The F150 soldiers into its seventh and apparently final model year. It will be replaced this fall with a completely redesigned F150. The current model boasts a measurably quieter interior, and more upscale interior trim and audio packages. A 7700 Payload option on certain models boosts GVW to 7,700 pounds (about 1,000 to 1,200 pounds more than standard), and includes a 4,150-pound front axle on 4x4s bought for snow plowing. The 7,700 package replaced the F150-based F250 in 2000.
Gasoline engines are a 4.2-liter V-6, and 4.6- and 5.4-liter V-8s.
The '03 F250 SuperDuty has larger cabs and a heftier chassis. Cabs have also been quieted and can be trimmed as fancy as the F150, or more practically with vinyl seat covers. A locking tailgate is standard on all F series trucks. Gasoline engines for SuperDuties up to F550 are the 5.4 V-8 and 6.8-liter V-10 with ZF six-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmissions, with PTO mounting available on both.
A new International-built 6-liter Power Stroke V-8 diesel (replacing the 7.3) is the current power and torque king of light trucks, with 325 hp and 560 lbs-ft.; it can be ordered with a new 5-speed TorqShift electronic automatic with tow/haul mode, or a ZF 6-speed manual.
All Ford F-series can be had with 2-door Regular Cab, 4-door SuperCab or 4-door Crew Cab, plus the more stylish 4-door F150 SuperCrew.
GENERAL MOTORS
Except for slight differences in front-end styling, '03 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 and 2500 series pickups share all chassis, powertrain and body features.
New for '03 is a 1500 Heavy Duty using the 2500's rear suspension and axle, but it's available only with a 4-door crewcab.
The 1500HD can be ordered with Quadrasteer four-wheel steering, as can the 1500 Extended Cab and 2500 series models; Quadrasteer is standard on upscale GMC Denali trucks and SUVs. Vortec gasoline power in the 1500 are the 4.3-liter V-6, and 4.8- and 5.3-liter V-8s, with 5-speed NV manual or 4-speed Hydra-matic transmissions.
The 2500, 2500HD and 3500 models can be ordered with 5.3-, 6- and 8.1-liter gasoline V-8s, mated with 5- or 6-speed NV manual or 4-speed Hydra-matic or 5-speed Allison automatics. The 6.6-liter DuraMax diesel V-8 comes with a 6-speed NV manual or 5-speed Allison.
Cab types are the 2-door Regular, 3-door Extended and 4-door Crew. New for '03 are a multiplexed electrical system, redesigned instrument clusters, optional dual-mode manual or automatic HVAC systems, and eight-button remote controls on the steering wheel. On-Star locating system and XM satellite radio are among many new or recent options to GM trucks.
TOYOTA
The light-duty, full-size Tundra pickup continues into '03 with well-appointed interiors and generally high equipment content. A 2-door Regular cab with 3.4-liter V-6 is a price leader, while a 4.7-liter V-8 is optional. Either comes with 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmissions. The more upscale 4-door Access Cab, equivalent to the domestics' extended cabs, comes only with the V-8 and automatic.
A restyled Tundra, perhaps with more power, is in the works, and production is being expanded to match increasing sales. Coming this fall is a new 4-door Double Cab, with high levels of comfort and many convenience items as standard.
Most Tundras are bought by consumers willing to pay premium prices demanded by dealers because of Toyota's impeccable reputation for build quality, reliability and longevity. But Toyota touts the Tundra's ability to work hard, too, and some are seen on construction sites and in other commercial situations.
