MotorTrend has lost it !!!

[jimh406]

The Maverick Hybrid has 0 lbs tow rating!

Most modern pickup trucks are just an SUV with a mini outdoor storage bin designed to fit in suburban garages. In other words a pseudo or poser-truck. IMHO it's not a pickup truck unless it has an 8 foot box and you can carry a full sheet of plywood with the gate closed.

The Maverick Hybrid has a tow rating of 2000 lbs. Of course, you have to have the tow package.

I'm not sure why you need the gate closed to carry plywood. There are other ways to secure plywood besides just the gate. In practice, I think most people only need a sheet or two from the big box stores at a time, and that's far better than a car. It would be way more useful than a trunk or small SUV. There are pictures of what it looks like with some people carrying 10 or more sheets in one load.

That being said, I have on the other extreme with a F450 diesel. It's not a daily driver, so I'm ok with it bigger in every way than almost any pickup. There are disadvantages of having such a big capable truck.

If I only needed truck capability some of the time for my daily driver, the Maverick Hybrid would be on the top of my list. The cab is on the small side, but most smaller SUVs are the same. It's it's own class of vehicle that has some truck features.

 

[Shawn T. W]

Remember the Subaru Brat and later Baja?

Or the VW Rabbit Pickup ... Handy little runabouts, not for major hauling!

 

[chim]

Remember the Subaru Brat and later Baja?

Or the VW Rabbit Pickup ... Handy little runabouts, not for major hauling!

Years ago the company had a VW Rabbit diesel for a cheap runner. I used it one day to go for lunch. It was THE most gutless vehicle I ever drove.

It had less power than a new Chevette I test drove. The salesman was a friend who rode along. When I mentioned the lack of power he said "you gotta drive these little things like you're mad at them".

 

[McMXi]

Based on what I see on the road here thats mild by local standards.

I had "reasonably sized" Goodrich A/T's on mine and it was a real "go in the snow" machine. A wee bit better than my Jeeps and far better than any of the Dakota's or 150's

That photo kind of reminded me of one of my favorites - the Dodge Power Wagon. Woof!

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Dan

Now that's all kind of awesome. Stacey David did something like this but only bigger!!

Stacey David's Sgt. Rock | 1941 Military 1/2-ton Dodge 4×4 pickup truck

All of a sudden in the lifted truck world, size began to matter. A few years ago, 4 to 6″ of lift and 35″ tall tires was a big truck. Now 8 to 10″ of lift and 38 to 40″ tall tires is becoming more common and people wanted to know how to do this safely and legally (which don’t always go...

staceydavid.com

 

[ken erickson]

One of the best "trucks" I ever owned was a Dodge Power Ram D50. That little rebadged Mitubishi 4WD mountain goat was agile as hell and had more guts than a lot of bigger ones I have owned. If I could find a modern day equivalent I would be sorely tempted.

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Nice truck!
I know what you mean, my Mazda B2600 4 x4 that I purchased new was extremely sure footed off road. Full ladder frame, lock out hubs , conventional transfer case. Nimble in comparison to my 72 bump side F250 highboy.

Mine had a 2.6 Mitsubishi carb engine and was a bit problematic with head gaskets and drivability issues. Other than that I considered it a "pickup" , had a 6 foot box , long enough I could could craw in the back and sleep when I had the camper shell on. Extended cab gave me room to throw my chair behind me with the jump seats up.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Nice truck!
I know what you mean, my Mazda B2600 4 x4 that I purchased new was extremely sure footed off road. Full ladder frame, lock out hubs , conventional transfer case. Nimble in comparison to my 72 bump side F250 highboy.

Mine had a 2.6 Mitsubishi carb engine and was a bit problematic with head gaskets and drivability issues. Other than that I considered it a "pickup" , had a 6 foot box , long enough I could could craw in the back and sleep when I had the camper shell on. Extended cab gave me room to throw my chair behind me with the jump seats up.
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Those trucks were virtually identical!!

My boys still have fond memories of trips between our Fairfax Va home and the new property we bought here in Md. They rode inside the camper cap covered box along with the chainsaw, tools, gas cans, snd camping gear

The Power Ram used the 2.6L G54B Mitsubishi engine. Mine spun a balance shaft bearing roaching the block else I might still own it

Dan

 

[TheOldHokie]

As a very young child I spent a lot of time playing on these. Probably explains my affinity for Power Wagons . A enterprising local farmer purchased half a dozen post WWII and housed them in a building right next to my grandmothers house. He purchased lime by the railroad car load and had a unloading conveyer setup on a nearby siding were he hauled the lime to other farmers. If Grandma wasnt pulling me off the hopper cars or conveyer she was pulling me out of a cab.

Dan