I've always daily'd a 1/2 ton truck, never imagined not having one. Recently, I've been inclined to pursue something like a 4Runner instead and I'm wondering if anyone has switched away from a truck, if you've had any regrets, and what to consider.

I really only "need" a truck a few times per year, transporting large/heavy items in the bed. The heaviest towing is a 21 ft fish/ski boat, and off-roading capability is helpful about 10 times any given year. I think I'd miss the tailgate to sit on and use as a workbench more than anything…after all that's where dead animals go.

I think it would be similar to when I switched from a traditional bifold wallet to a Ridge wallet. For a few weeks, I felt naked, but after a while I almost couldn't imagine going back.

Lastly, how can I make sure people still know I'm a badass? Would I need to get some poser overlanding mods and a blue stripe merican flag sticker?

Can you get a YETI sticker?

I went away from a 1/2 ton truck for 3 years. Regretted every second of it. Have another truck in order now.

Truck and Accord. No need for much in between unless it's a Jeep.

Haven't regretted the move from 1/2 ton truck to full size SUV. Not much anyway. Get a hitch mount cargo basket to help with stuff too dirty to go in the back. Then all you're missing is hauling very large loads. Borrow a truck or buy/rent/borrow a utility trailer when needed.

Pluses of seating up to 8 and having more covered cargo space for luggage and stuff more than compensates.

I went from a truck to a 2014 4Runner and missed the truck… went back to a truck. Went into another 2017 4Runner but again messed a truck. Haven't gone back.

From truck to fun econohunk's; MAZDASPEED3 and WRX. No regrets, but we did keep the old truck for going to the range and hardware store, etc...

The daily commute is fun and enjoyable, rather than something I have to do to go to some place I have to be.

Motracicletraficificker said:

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I went away from a 1/2 ton truck for 3 years. Regretted every second of it. Have another truck in order now.

Truck and Accord. No need for much in between unless it's a Jeep BRONCO.

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Sorry, I just had to do it.

Drove a truck in early part of the century, then a Tahoe for about 12 years. Went back to a 1/2 ton. Would be lying if I said I didn't wish I still had the Tahoe. I have a hitch carrier and a 10ft trailer, so there wasn't much the Tahoe couldn't do utility wise that the truck does, and it provided a lot more in terms of comfort and storage, place for a dog inside etc.

I would be looking to get rid of the 4 runner about a week in.

4runner punches above its weight in many categories.

but the "you never know" category is why you will need a pick up of some kind.

I'm kind of in the same boat, and I'm HEAVILY considering the switch from a 1/2 ton a full size SUV. I drive a lot and my company pays for most of my vehicle. I've got 2 more years on my current truck before I have to switch. My truck bed is empty about 95% of the time, and I rarely carry something I couldn't fit in the back of our Expy Max. If I switch I'll probably pick up a small trailer for "just in case" stuff. Luckily I have a couple of years to figure it out.

From one druggist to another...

Minivan...

These days with the $19.99/day rental trucks from U-Haul, Home Depot, etc., you can get most of what you need done that way when necessary.

Earlier this year, I jackhammered up a sidewalk in my backyard. Hauling off two full pickup loads of concrete cost me less than $50 in pickup rental fees at U-Haul. I felt really bad about how much concrete I put in the back of that rental 1/2 ton. But since it wasn't my truck, I didn't feel real bad.

If I open the rear window glass, I've had no trouble hauling 8 foot lumber in my Ford Expedition.

I kept the old Tacoma to take off the trash, haul crap, etc. it will run forever.

I got a car to commute.

Best of both worlds. Didn't really need a truck for a daily driver, but did need a truck weekly.

Drove a pickup for 48 years. Got a Telluride this year. No regrets.

Yep cargo basket, cargo liner, and rent a uhaul truck or trailer when you need it. All you'll really "miss" is people asking to borrow your truck or help you move stuff all the time

HollywoodBQ said:

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If I open the rear window glass, I've had no trouble hauling 8 foot lumber in my Ford Expedition.

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LOL. My wife's Sienna eats full sheets of plywood for lunch and picks it's teeth with 10' dimensional lumber with all the doors and windows closed.

Half all ragrets, half no ragrets, and 1 vote for minivan.

Maybe I should have asked about trading in my S5 for ND2 RF instead!

Had a 97 F150 I bought new for 22/23 years. The last 9 years of that truck's life (with me) I bought a 2012 Ford Fusion for commuting about 80 miles/day and used the truck on the weekends for deer lease, fishing trips, and when I needed a truck. Fusion started experiencing end of value/life unless fixed (drove it hard but maintained it). Got rid of both and bought a new 2020 Tacoma TRD Off Road in May 2020 when dealers would still deal and for 0% interest. Liked the F150, obviously as kept it that long, but driving the Fusion was different as I had never had a car, but having everything easily in reach was nice. The Tacoma was a combination of the best of both worlds.

Besides getting a new truck at a really good time, missing out on the shortage and getting 0% with a "deal", the Tacoma has fit my needs better than I ever expected. Truck enough when I need it, drives like a champ, easy to maneuver, everything in reach inside the cabin and fits in the garage.

Wife has a 4runner Limited, and it has been fantastic as well.

OP, you might want to consider the Tacoma as well, but the 4runner is a good vehicle if you choose it.

Switched from truck to mid size SUV 10 years ago when my first kid was born and have never looked back. Rent a trailer the few times a year you need to haul stuff and enjoy your better gas mileage and ease of parking.

AggieDruggist89 said:

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From one druggist to another...

Minivan...

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How did neither of you think to pick PharmersPhight as a user name?

M-Neezy said:

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AggieDruggist89 said:

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From one druggist to another...

Minivan...

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How did neither of you think to pick PharmersPhight as a user name?

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Went from a half ton to a Honda Civic for three years. Enjoyed the hell out of that car! Wife drove a Tahoe so we used that and a utility trailer if we ever needed to haul something.

Eventually I missed the truck height, ride and ability to go off road. Went to an F250 diesel mainly to haul an RV. I do miss the ease of whipping into stores, parking spots and the 30 mpg.

My advice. Keep the truck and buy a fun sporty car.

Edit- because I sounded like Joe Biden.

Yesterday said:

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Went from a half ton to a Honda Civic for three years. Enjoyed the hell out of that car! Wife drive a Tahoe so used that and a utility trailer if we ever need to haul something.

Eventually I missed the truck height, ride and ability to go off road. Went to an F250 diesel mainly to haul an RV. I do miss the ease of whipping into stores, parking spots and the 30 mpg.

My advice. Keep the truck and buy a run sporty car.

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This person gets it. You usually need a truck for the weekends or that errand etc. I went this direct route (kept on going from truck to car to SUV etc) and it is the best combo.

I drive a truck from when I was 17 y.o. until 37 y.o.....replaced my last Silverado with Sequoia and then the Sequoia with a 4Runner.

The only way I see myself going back is if we get an travel trailer down the road that would require it.

reproag said:

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Motracicletraficificker said:

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I went away from a 1/2 ton truck for 3 years. Regretted every second of it. Have another truck in order now.

Truck and Accord. No need for much in between unless it's a Jeep BRONCO.

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Sorry, I just had to do it.

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Lol. Yeah honestly we're moving on from
Jeeps into UTVs. UTVs are tearing up the Jeep trails so much faster it's kinda of a brutal ride in a jeep off road now. UTV absorb the junk much softer.

M-Neezy said:

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AggieDruggist89 said:

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From one druggist to another...

Minivan...

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How did neither of you think to pick PharmersPhight as a user name?

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Do you think if we had that much creativity, we'd be counting pills today!!!!

lb3 said:

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HollywoodBQ said:

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If I open the rear window glass, I've had no trouble hauling 8 foot lumber in my Ford Expedition.

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LOL. My wife's Sienna eats full sheets of plywood for lunch and picks it's teeth with 10' dimensional lumber with all the doors and windows closed.

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I don't think I can do a 4'x8' sheet of plywood inside the Expy. Got the roof rack of course.

I open the rear window for the 8' lumber because I like to rest it behind the driver's seat rather than bring it up to the dashboard.

I've driven a 3/4 ton diesel 4x4s for over 10 years. This summer, I sold my 2018 F250 for a good amount and bought an 2004 Toyota Landcruiser. I had wanted one anyway as a project, so I took advantage of the crazy used truck market to do so. I'll get back in a truck once (if?) the market normalizes.

First think I did was a small lift and mud tires. This is an offroad capable SUV. I took the third row seating out and added a weathertech mat. Everything that was in the toolbox on my truck stays in the back of the Landcruiser. Definitely less space overall, but more space inside. I actually enjoyed it the one time I've gotten to go hunting this season because I didn't have to worry about anything being exposed to the elements.

I have access to my father-in-law's F350 if needed.

Man I don't think I could function without a truck. It would certainly make my life more annoying 3-5 times a week. I tried a sports car before we had kids and pretended like it was fine using my wife's 4Runner with our utility trailer but once I got a truck I swore I would never go back.

My wife asked my this week on a camping trip when I was going to get a suburban/excursion because the kids were being annoying sitting side by side in my truck and I told her I will never be without a truck. She thinks I got snipped because I just didn't want 4 kids, but in reality it's because I like a truck with a center console.

Truck beds keep getting smaller. I like the looks of the ford ranger but that bed is useless. I use my explorer like a truck. It hauls just about anything and what it won't haul I can put on my 12' utility trailer pulled by the explorer. I can tow my boats with the explorer. I've considered an F150 but I always ask myself why and there's not a good answer.

I'm in a car now and going back to a truck. Probably sooner rather than later. I no longer feel safe on the road in a car. Several recent near misses. Never had that feeling in trucks or SUVs. Went to a car because I needed a good highway vehicle several years ago that I no longer need. Heck, I don't even drive the miles I drove then (60-ish % now).

I can't wrap my head around the American need to drive a pick up truck.

Today's trucks have pitiful beds. They are basically already SUV's but with a tiny, almost useless bed tacked on. And oh yeah, anything in the bed can't be locked up, so you buy a lockable cover which just makes that bed space both too small AND awkward to use.

Get a small trailer for the 8 times a year you need to haul something. A tiny 5x8 trailer is already like twice as much usable payload vs a 1/2 ton truck bed plus it's 10 times easier to load and unload.


Buy whatever SUV you want. If you need to haul something that doesn't fit, buy a trailer. Problems solved.

Agree with the short bed comments. Most of the people I see with short bed trucks look like they probably "really need to drive a truck" but if you look at the bed and it doesn't have a liner or powder coating, it's pretty obvious nothing has ever been hauled in the bed. The paint looks brand new.

You can still get an 8 foot bed. But the market trends towards crew cab 1/2 tons with 5.5 ft beds. And today's payload capacities are way higher than in the past. Trucks aren't getting less capable, just a broader group of folks are buying them.

I could easily get away without a 1/2 ton truck, but there are just too many off chances at work I need to toss 700 lbs on a pallet that's taller than the bedsides and haul between branches or to a jobsite.

Yes, we could hire someone else to do it, but I'm too much of a customer service guy to just give up that capability.

Now, if I didn't work in the field I work in, I would absolutely have an AWD wagon