[67malibu]

From the criticism I've read, the new hybrids just aren't worth it. If you look at the actual numbers (even those claimed) the mileage is only a fraction better (~10%.) You can gain at least that with exhaust, induction and electronic mods on a regular truck (I went from 13/17 mpg on my '88 to 16/20 in legal form.) How much horsepower is needed? Not much actually for a truck to work. The old 305's were 160 horsepower and we've used them to pull things they weren't supposed to (12,000 lb ditch witch for example.) My dad put 272,000 miles on that abused 305 ('81) and it could have kept going but he saw the cheap targetmaster 350s and wanted one (the '96 and '02s he owns also factored into that.) Today's V6s will do what a 1/2 ton truck is supposed to be able to do. Sure you won't win a drag race but trucks don't "need" stump pullers, even though we all crave them. Acceleration with a load could be dissapointing but you'll get there. As for gas mileage, trucks have to weigh so much in order to tow. That extra weight costs you in gas, simple fact. Do what you can to optimize the mileage within reason and that's about all you can do. It's the price we pay to drive what we want (I'm of the there's no replacement for displacement crowd personally.)