Since my P'up is my sole means of transportation, I want 4wd. I don't want to avoid fishing at a lake because the ramp(s) are bad (Palmer, Seep Lakes, unnamed others). I've always said that there was nothing more useless in snow than a 2wd pickup, tho a RWD van is close. The longer the bed, the worse it is. Some kind of limited slip is essential, even with 4wd. I recall towing my boat eastbound on I-84 with my GMC 4x4 in a driving rain, in 4wd, and 50mph! I was happy to have 4wd. Bad boat launches are a sign of good fishing, didn't you know that? You can launch for free on Lk. WA, if you have 4WD...see the DF&G launch just N. of I-90, over on the Mercer Slough.
My '06 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 is pretty neat. Lots of power (236hp), 6 speed manual gearbox, electric rear axle locker (switch on dash). It's been to Edmonton twice, and Lk. Patagonia, AZ, once. I got the trailer towing gearing, and it's rated to pull 6,000 lbs, which is more than my GMC (5k) was. I haven't tried towing the boat with it yet, but it shouldn't be long. It has towed two other trailers, one it didn't like at all, but I don't know what the weight of that one was. The EPA MPG rating with the towing gears is just 1 mpg better than the '97 GMC (19 vs. 18), but I wouldn't be surprised if the GMC would beat it. But at least, I can feel like I'm doing my part to save gas, right? Oh, looky, there's a gas hog bass boat behind it...oopsy!
As much as I like the Toyota, I would still have the GMC (and be retired!) IF I had ordered it with the 5 speed manual, instead of the weenie automatic POS. In a lot of ways, I miss it very much, and I know it did a better job of towing my current boat than the Toyota ever will. If Rev Chuck sells his Chevy, somebody in WBC oughta buy it from him. C&R, Steve
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