# Sedan + trailer or small pickup truck? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Tags:** pickup\ **Created:** [October 3, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sedan-trailer-or-small-pickup-truck/37533 "2009-10-03T20:41:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jenzwick](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jenzwick/32/1459_2.png) [@jenzwick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jenzwick)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sedan-trailer-or-small-pickup-truck/37533/1 "2009-10-03T20:41:34Z")
Hello brilliant, skilled, and helpful people, My 1999 Honda Odessey is now permanently broken, which is very sad. I am an artist and used that vehicle as a sort of enclosed pickup truck (perfect in rainy Seattle), for hauling around props, plywood, etc. I now need to get a different vehicle. With gas prices on the rise, I’m torn between a sedan with a trailer, or a small pickup. What do you recommend? Is there a small sedan that will help me save $ on gas, but still be capable of hauling around a buncha plywood and so on? Or do I need to get a small pickup? Thank you, oh wise ones! -jenny ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 11:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sedan-trailer-or-small-pickup-truck/37533/2 "2009-10-03T23:20:49Z")
Dealing with a trailer can be a big pain in the @ss…A 4 or small 6 cylinder pick-up with a topper makes for a low-cost utility vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![GSN\_fan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@GSN\_fan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GSN_fan)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 11:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sedan-trailer-or-small-pickup-truck/37533/3 "2009-10-03T23:47:18Z")
Most sedans aren’t meant to tow trailers. ---
**Author:** ![bscar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar/32/34_2.png) [@bscar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 12:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sedan-trailer-or-small-pickup-truck/37533/4 "2009-10-04T00:29:18Z")
If you loved your Odessey, why not get a newer one? A few car makers still produce minivans that you could try out. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 1:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sedan-trailer-or-small-pickup-truck/37533/5 "2009-10-04T01:04:01Z")
What about a Dodge Sprinter? You can get a 2005 for $15,000 and mileage will be better than the Odyssey. It’s a tall van and probably won’t fit in a garage. It will carry everything you need and then some. It is available as either a passenger van or cargo van. ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 1:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sedan-trailer-or-small-pickup-truck/37533/6 "2009-10-04T01:53:42Z")
Used police cruisers make pretty good tow vehicles if you don’t tow too much, but they aren’t what I would call fuel efficient. I think you should either buy a Sienna, another Odyssey, or a used police cruiser. Basically, you need to choose between fuel economy and towing capacity. You can’t have both. ---
**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 1:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sedan-trailer-or-small-pickup-truck/37533/7 "2009-10-04T13:07:24Z")
Though I’m huge fan of PUs, the loading is no where near as convenient as a van. Pick ups are more for “heavy” work than better space utilization. If towing heavier trailers or carrying lots of weight, I would recommend a PU. Otherwise, stay with the van. Honda Element and like smaller copies are another option. If you’re not real comfortable with backing a trailer or work in or about a city, trailers are a real hassle. Besides, since the dawn of the van (VW bus), the van and the artist would seem a good match. Enjoy your new Odessey !