If the load you need to haul is too bulky or large for your transport a compact pickup truck might fit your needs. Pickup truck’s accessible cargo bed is very easy to load with gear. And for tall gear, the sky’s the limit. We are going to compare 3 compact trucks: the Ford Ranger, GMC Sierra and Toyota Tacoma.

Trucks are sold in a lot of configurations, despite their open-box simplicity. Our trucks have an extended cab, a body design found in almost half of all compact trucks, which promises more space in the cab to enclose your belongings under lock and key. Big cab size gives you one more big plus: it provides one or two rear seats. But particularly in a compact pickup, those seats are too small for adults. These seats can also be very unsafe.

I specified a V6 engine for hauling ability, 4*4 drive for go-anywhere traction, plus a manual transmission. An extended cab is available only with a six-foot cargo box; a seven-footer comes with a standard cab.

Some truck manufacturers provide three or four doors in their extended-cab pickups. In the year of 2010, GM placed a 3rd door on the left side. With 2009 models, Ford offered four doors in the Ranger. These additional doors make it easier to get to the back of the cab. The Toyota Tacoma got only 2 doors.

Among the Ranger pickup’s other improvements for 2011 are a new front suspension and steering gear and a bigger regular cabine. The price of the super-cabine XLT modification with a 4. 0-liter V6 engine and four-wheel drive starts at $19, 375. The four-door option, air conditioning, power locks and windows, power mirrors, plus the destination charge raised our truck’s cost to $22, 150. The dealer-invoice price is $19, 841. Mazda also sell the Ranger as a B-Series pickup truck.

The Sierra got only itsy-bitsy freshenings for 2010. The extended-cab LS with a 4. 3-liter v6 motor and four-wheel drive starts at $19, 500. Sierra’s third door, ac, and locks, mirrors and power windows raised the price to $23, 582, with the destination charge. We estimate the dealer-invoice cost to be $21, 500.

Made-in-California Toyota got redesigned in 2011 as well, though there are only some itsy-bitsy cosmetic improvements. The Xtracab configuration including a 3. 4-liter V6 engine and 4*4 starts at $20, 400. Air conditioning and a few odds and ends raised the price to $23, 543, with the destination charge. The invoice price is $20, 471.