In the good ole days, pickup trucks were designed to haul and pull stuff from Point A to Point B, with no frills and only enough room for two or three passengers. Fuel economy, passenger comfort, and handling were after-thoughts.


These days, consumers demand more from their trucks, and automakers have responded, auto dealers here say.


People who buy pickup trucks today want it all: a powerful engine, great fuel economy, large towing capacity, a smooth ride, and room for the whole family.


Trucks have to be able to do a lot of different things now, says Bill Duvall, sales manager at Knudtsen Chevrolet Co., in Post Falls. They have to be able to do more than drive back and forth. People want to be able to tow stuff and take the whole family on vacation. Before, it didnt seem to matter.


Demand also is trending toward bigger trucks, especially ones that have all the bells and whistles, even power moon roofs and heated leather seats, dealers here say.


Everybody complains about the price, says Norm Mossoni, Empire Ford Inc.s fleet sales manager. But our most popular truck, the Lariat, is very expensive. They want the creature comforts. They want to be a little different. There is still that one-upmanship with truck owners. They want to have a bigger and better truck than the other guy.


Meanwhile, concerns over rising fuel costs have resulted in consumers buying more pickups equipped with diesel engines, which get better gas mileage than their gasoline counterparts, say dealers.


Also, many truck models now are designed to accommodate up to six people, and to make it easy for passengers to enter or exit the vehicle. Some have gone to four independent doors, rather than having rear doors that open only when the front doors are open.


Women used to take a backseat when it came to pickup design. Now, many manufactures offer adjustable accelerator and brake pedals for shorter drivers. Bill Mallory, GMC sales manager at Robideaux Motors Co., of Coeur dAlene, says GMC started adding adjustable gas and brake pedals in its trucks in the 2003 model year. The pedals can be adjusted up to four inches closer to the driver.


Its for the gals, says Mallory. It has put a lot of gals back into trucks. They used to be too close to the steering wheel, or they couldnt reach the pedals at all.


Virtually all of the truck makers offer two- or four-wheel drive on their various models, though dealers here say customers prefer four-wheel drive because of Northwest winters.


Designs on comfort


Ford, the perennial leader in truck sales, has revamped its F-150 for the 2004 model year to make the mid-sized truck bigger, more powerful, and more comfortable than the previous model, says Andy Keys, general manager of Wendle Motors Inc. of Spokane.


One new feature on the F-150 is whats called tailgate assist, which enables a person to open or close the tailgate with only one finger by applying gentle pressure to it.


Keys says Ford also has redesigned the suspension and interior of its F-150 to reduce engine noise and vibration.


The interiors look like they came out of a European car, says Keys.


The F-150, which is available in six trim lines, has two engine choices: a 5.3-liter, 300-horse, V-8 engine, or a 4.6-liter V-8. The typical F-150 is priced at between $22,000 and $36,000.


In addition to the half-ton F-150, Ford makes a three-quarter ton F-250 and a one-ton F-350.


The heavier-duty models come in multiple trim lines and are available with a variety of engines, ranging from a 4.6-liter V-8 to a 6.8-liter V-10 to a 6.0-liter, V-8 turbo diesel. The F-350 with a turbo diesel can pull a trailer weighing up to 13,000 pounds, or roughly the weight of a full grown male African elephant.


The F-250 ranges in price from $23,000 to $38,000. The F-350 is priced at between $27,000 and $38,000. Keys says the F-250 and F-350 will undergo redesigns in the near future.


Fords light truck, the Ranger, comes in six trim lines and is available with a variety of engines. Overall the Ranger is priced at between $9,000 and $25,000. Keys says the Ranger XLT super cab, priced between $22,000 and $25,000, is the most popular version sold at Wendle Ford. He says the Ranger will undergo minor upgrades for the 2005 model year.


Silverado sales rock solid


Chevrolets three-quarter ton Silverado 2500 is the most popular Chevy full-size truck, it sells says Duvall. Like Ford, Chevy also makes a half-ton and one-ton pickup, called the Silverado 1500 and the 3500, respectively. Silverado trucks generally are priced at between $22,000 and $40,000.


We sell about 50 Silverados a month, says Duvall.


The Silverado comes in multiple trim packages with a variety of engines, ranging from a 5.3-liter, 285-horse, V-8 to a 6.6-liter, 300-horse, turbo diesel. The Silverado 2500 can tow a trailer weighing up 15,000 pounds, says Duvall.


Duvall says customers are concerned about fuel economy and often decide to buy the diesel engine option.


The 2500s with diesel engines are very popular, says Duvall. I cant keep them in stock.


Some Chevy models also have an all-wheel steering option called Quadra- steer, which provides greater maneuverability for getting into tight spots and backing up with a trailer. Duvall says the Quadrasteer option costs about $1,000.


Late in the 2003 model year, Chevy introduced its limited edition convertible pickup, called the SSR. The SSR will be discontinued after the 2005 model year, says Duvall.


The SSR has a 1950s retro-look body design and starts at about $43,000. It has a metal hardtop that retracts into the body of the truck at the push of a button. Its equipped with an aluminum, 300-horse, V-8 engine.


Duvall says Knutdsen has sold all three of the SSR models it has received from Chevrolet.


Were hoping we get more, he says. Weve had a lot of interest about them. Chevy only made about 15,000 of them.


Chevys newest truck, the Colorado, was introduced for the 2004 model year and is an eventual replacement for the mid-sized S-10, says Duvall. The S-10 will be phased out next year.


The Colorado is available in regular cab, extended cab, and crew cab and retails for about $17,000 to $29,000. It is available in four trim packages and two engine options: a 175-horse, 2.8-liter four-cylinder engine, or a 3.5-liter, five-cylinder engine.


Chevy plans to introduce a small sport-utility truck called the Equinox early next year, which is expected to be priced starting at $18,000.


Sport-utility trucks have the interior of a passenger car, or a small sport-utility vehicle, and modest payload capabilities of a pickup. Their pickup beds are smaller than that of a mid-sized truck and are meant to carry lighter loads such as snowboarding equipment or a large ice chest.


The sport-utility market is whats big right now, Duvall says. Its not designed for going off road, or heavy towing.


GMC, meanwhile, offers half-ton (1500), three-quarter ton (2500), and one-ton (3500) pickups in its Sierra pickup line. Its three-quarter ton trucks are the most popular, says Mallory. He says the 2500 HD Sierra crew cab is a popular choice for adults with children because it seats up to six passengers. Its priced at $32,000 to $42,000.


I cant keep them stocked, says Mallory. We have them on back order.


The Sierra is available in regular, extended, or quad cabs, multiple trim lines, and five engine packages. A regular cab has two doors and no back seats. The extended cab has back seats and two rear doors that can open once the front doors are opened. The quad cab has four independent doors and more leg room for passengers.


Duvall says the 6-liter V-8 and the 8.1-liter turbo diesel are the most common sold. Overall, the Sierra line trucks are priced at between $20,000 and $42,000.


GMCs mid-sized pickup is called the Canyon, and is a cousin of Chevrolets Colorado. It has the same engine and suspension packages and is priced at between $18,000 and $23,000. The Canyon was introduced in the 2004 model year as a replacement for the Sonoma, which will be phased out in 2005.


Ram still popular


Dodges Ram truck line comes in half-ton (1500), three-quarter ton (2500), and one-ton (3500) models. Dodge Ram trucks come in a variety of trim lines, two cab sizes, and several engine choices. They are priced at between $24,000 and $35,000.


Dodges Ram 2500 is the top seller says Gary Blosser, a sales supervisor for Dishman Dodge. The Ram 2500 ranges in price from $27,000 to $35,000.


Blosser says the Ram 2500 with a 325-horse diesel engine is extremely popular.


Most people want something that has the ability to haul a lot weight, says Blosser. The diesel engine can smoke the tires with just about anything behind it. But they also want fuel economy.


Dodges mid-sized Dakota pickup will be redesigned for the 2005 model year, due out this fall, says Blosser. The current Dakota is priced at between $20,000 and $27,000. It comes in two cab sizes and multiple trim and engine choices.


Tackling the big three


Nissan introduced the Titan, a full-size pickup, for the 2004 model year, and it ranges in price between $20,000 and $30,000. Mark Jaremko, sales manager at Jaremko Nissan Saab, of Spokane Valley, says the half-ton truck currently is Nissans hottest selling vehicle in the U.S.


Its designed to compete with the big three: Ford, Chevy, and Dodge, says Jaremko.


The 2004 Titan is available in two cab configurations and has a total of six trim packages. The crew cab has slightly more leg room than the king cab, but both can hold up to six passengers.


Jaremko says the Titans 5.6-liter, V-8 engine and five-speed automatic transmission are standard on every model. The Nissan pickup can tow a trailer weighing up to 9,500 pounds.


One of the reasons people are buying it is because the towing capacity and hauling capacity is similar to a three-quarter ton truck, but its less expensive, says Jaremko. Youre getting more truck for your money.


Nissan also makes a mid-sized truck, called the Frontier. It will introduce a redesigned Frontier model this fall. Jaremko says that the redesigned truck will have a bigger engine than the 3.3-liter, 205-horse, V-6 it currently offers.


The 2004 Frontier has four trim packages and is priced at between $15,000 and $26,000.


Toyota offers two pickup trucks in the U.S. market, the Tundra and the Tacoma. The Tundra, its full-sized truck, comes in multiple trim lines and a variety of engines. Matt Dawson, assistant sales manager at Appleway Toyota, says the new Tundra double cab, which has four doors, is priced at between $32,000 and $37,000. Overall, Tundras, are priced at between $24,000 and $37,000.


It has as much room as a full-sized sport-utility vehicle and it can tow 345 more pounds than the F-150, claims Dawson. The four doors on the cab is the new feature.


The Tacoma is a mid-sized truck, which sells for between $17,000 and $22,000. It has multiple trim lines and several engines.


Honda plans to enter the U.S. truck market for the first time with its SUT, a sport-utility truck. Ron Stein, a salesman for Honda of Spokane in the Valley says the SUT is projected to hit the market in the spring of 2005.


Stein says Hondas SUT will be a full-sized, half-ton pickup with at least a 3.5-liter V-6 engine. It will be able to accommodate five passengers and will have a five-foot cargo area.


Its marketed for the cool dads family, says Stein. It will be the hub of all Hondas vehicles.


Mazdas small truck, the B4000 is pretty popular with young adults says Cory Ryan, a salesman at Post Falls Mazda. The B4000 retails for between $20,000 and $30,000.


The young kids like to put big stereo equipment in the cab, says Ryan. The baseline model is the most popular one that we sell.


The B4000 is available in four configurations and has a standard 4.0-liter V-6, which produces 207 horsepower, and has a five-speed manual transmission with the option for a five-speed automatic transmission.


The B4000 can tow a trailer up to 5,500 pounds.