work vehicle?

[carpenter_jai]

Hi Everyone,

Ok, the time has come for me to admit that my metro isn't going to hack it as a work vehicle. I need something that can haul pluwood and 14 foot 2x10's. I like my metro for being good on gas, small and fun. Anybody have any suggestions for a truck, not more than 20 years old that would be good for light hauling, say under 500 lbs?

Thanks for any suggestions,

Jai

[geozukigti]

Lol, I'd honestly find an old toyota t-100. Those are in-destructable, and get decent mileage.

[stamar]

yes you want a small japanese truck

evn though they are a bad deal often on the used market you want a toyota truck around 90-91

before the tacoma model but after efi.

[frets14]

Hey CJ, I wouldn't be too quick to knock your little Metro as a work vehicle. Have you ever thought of adding a trailer hitch on your Metro so that you can use a two-wheel utility trailer. If you're not having to travel great distances, a small car with a trailer can be a great asset. I built my entire garage with material that I brought in with my utility trailer and a VW diesel Rabbit. Since than I've had hitches on an '88 Civic wagon and an '89 Metro. I've hauled brush and lumber and plywood and shingles... about anything a homeowner might need. I even towed a rented trencher across town with my Metro! I live in a flat section of Ohio and I don't haul anything too heavy, but your Metro might still be useful on your job if you give it a chance. Steve

[carpenter_jai]

A hitch, huh? I didn't think that was possible on unibodies. I'll have to look into that, as, as I don't really want a truck, and if I did buy one, I'd still keep my metro insured to drive on weekends. Thanks everybody for the suggestions! I'm open to others as well, as people want alot of denairo for those trucks.

Jai

[frets14]

Don't plan on going out and finding one factory made. You'll probably have to get creative and assemble something yourself. With a little ingenuity, it can be done. It's not that difficult.... Steve

[carpenter_jai]

Ok, so let's say I do get a hitch, how much can I realistically pull without damaging the suspension? My weight limit is supposedly 680 lbs or so. Take my weight out of that and I can carry 500 lbs. I know from experience that only 2 of my friends in the car make the muffler hit the control rod on bumps, and the car is very sluggish, and this is with 100 bls to spare.

Jai

[stamar]

um a truck thats good to look for cheap is the dodge 50

made by mitsubishi. I mean learn the used car market I guess.

that truck sold reasonably well and is fairly reliable, it doesnt get good gas mileage. people think its a dodge so its resale value is low...

isuzu is alright too.

if you have to go way back those old datsun trucks were great great. and great on gas. that might be exactly what you mean. had a 1.3 liter ohc engine and were bullet proof. a lot like a metro really. i mean slow as hell though. like from the early 70s. back then datsun was king definitely, toyota was the crap.
do you live in an area with rust?

i mean i cant even recomend a model really. each vehicle is a different story.

[frets14]

With a trailer, the load weight is distributed on the trailer axle rather than over the car's suspension. If you load the trailer correctly then there should be only a light load on the tongue at the ball hitch. Your biggest concern is what load can the car pull with out hurting the clutch or tearing up your brakes. The biggest load I carried was a gas driven trencher that I rented. I suppose it weighed about as much as the car. I pulled it across town to my house then loaded it up and took it about 3 miles to my brother-in-law's before returning it to the rental office.