Pickup trucks

THEY'RE AMONG THE BEST-SELLING and most versatile vehicles in the U.S., used on farms and construction sites to haul goods of all shapes and sizes, to transport people in rural areas, and many other tasks. Pickup trucks are truly the work-horses of 20th century America -- not plush, but sturdy, dependable, and efficient for their intended uses.

How popular are they? Well, consumers buy about 3 million new pickups each year. That's one out of every five new vehicles sold in the U.S.

Pickups are built for work, and their construction reflects that. Unlike passenger cars which employ "unibody" construction, pickups are built on heavy steel frame rails, with stronger stronger suspensions as well. There's extra ground clearance for driving off-road and over rough terrain. Many pickups offer heavy-duty engines and transmissions, for hauling heavy loads and towing, or other features to suit user needs. New models also provide more safety features, such as as dual air bags, improved side-impact protection and anti-lock brakes.

Compact pickups: This vehicle concept -- smaller, lighter versions of the standard pickup truck -- became popular in the late 1970's and early 1980's. While consumer demand for very small pickups has slowed in recent years, compact pickups continue to attract about 1 million buyers each year. Most compact pickups have 4-cylinder engines (some with optional 6-cylinder) and moderate-sized cargo beds. Many now offer extended cabs, with small rear seats for children or cargo. While compact pickups lack the hauling power of full-sized pickups, they are usually priced less and provide higher fuel economy levels. For motorists who haul loads of moderate size and weight, a compact pickup may be just right.

Compact pickup models include: Ford Ranger; Chevy S-10 and GMC Sonoma; Dodge Dakota; Toyota Tacoma; Isuzu Hombre; Nissan Frontier; and Mazda B2000.

Full-size pickups: These "traditional" pickups are built for larger or heavier cargo loads, and continue to serve those important transport needs. All come with 6- or 8-cylinder engines, heavy-duty transmissions, strong suspension, and large cargo beds. Many also offer optional extended cabs (for extra passengers), additional doors (for access to extended cabs) and extended beds (for long loads). Standard pickups remain big sellers, about 2 million a year, in a competitive market. They are frequently purchased for commercial uses, including farming, ranching, construction, landscaping, and are really "tools of the trade" for those businesses. While their gas mileage ratings are lower than compact pickups, these vehicles are quite efficient for the work they do

Full-size pickups come in different configurations, varying primarily in hauling capability. Pickups are often classified by users and manufacturers as "½-ton," "¾-ton," or "1-ton," referring to how much cargo the vehicle can safely haul. The government frequently uses a different system: "gross vehicle weight rating" (GVWR), the combined weight of the truck, passengers and cargo.

Standard pickup models include: Ford F-series; Chevrolet Silverado and C/K-series; GMC Sierra and C/K-series; Dodge Ram series; Toyota Tundra.

Federal standards: Here's what the government requires on pickups and other light trucks:

• Safety -- Pickups and other light trucks provide some natural safety advantages for occupants in crash protection, because of the vehicle's size and weight. Because most pickups have higher ground clearance, drivers should avoid sharp turns, and occupants should always wear safety belts. In addition, Federal safety standards for new light trucks have been strengthened in recent years, and are now similar to those for cars. Dual air bags and improved side-impact protection were phased in during the mid-90's and are now standard equipment.

• Emissions -- The Federal government sets tough limits on harmful tailpipe emissions from light trucks, as well as for cars. Those standards were tightened in the 1980's, further tightened during 1994-96, and many new trucks meet the even stricter voluntary "NLEV" standards (see emissions info). Emission limits for smaller light trucks (under 6000 lbs. GVWR) are now similar to cars. There are separate standards for larger vehicles (6000-8500 lbs. GVWR) with bigger engines, because of the extra work those truck engines must do, but emissions are still quite low.

• Fuel economy -- Light trucks incorporate many modern fuel-saving technologies, although basic truck functions limit the use of some techniques used in passenger cars (such as FWD, smaller engines and extreme aerodynamic styling). Gas mileage varies among pickup trucks, depending largely on vehicle size, weight and engine (see consumer guides). Pickups and other trucks under 8500 lbs. GVWR are subject to the Federal "light truck" average fuel economy standard, 20.7 mpg for MY1997-2001.