[11mariom]

> Modern US trucks are an absolute atrocity

This.

I'm living in EU, thinking about getting some pickup. Just want to try this kind of vehicle (and I would love to transport my motorcycle, building materials etc). But I want something small - it looks like almost non-existent market here (there are cars like older f150, s10, etc - but very, very limited offers). Everyone gets the big modern trucks, that are unusable in our tight spaces.

[arkh]

> I would love to transport my motorcycle, building materials etc

Just get a Renault Traffic or equivalent. I don't see any advantage pickup trucks would have against a white van when transporting anything.

[11mariom]

I just don't want white (or any other color) van. Let's say - I have some idea for s10 in my head to make it interesting. No way to make Traffic or other Partner interesting car. It'll just look like DHL services in the end anyway.

I want it with all the pros and cons, just to try it.

[arghwhat]

If you really want an open bed, the pickup configuration of any fiat ducato, toyota dyna, mercedes vito or sprinter, etc., will work and have much more space. All 3 sides fold down, and you can even get power tilt or a small crane if you want. The dyna is like a scaled up kei-car.

There's plenty of variation as they're all custom, and as they are work vehicles there should be plenty of cheap used ones on the market. The bed is also just a plate bolted to a steel frame so you can do whatever you want with it easily - adding custom boxes underneath, built-in ramps, changing the floor, whatever. They're also available with tall roofs with openable soft cover.

But as others suggest, used closed vans are also cheap and quite spacious, and on the big end you have the usual choice of a long-body sprinter which could probably fit 3 motorcycles inside with space to spare, with a much lower ramp height needed to get them in/out. Look around - it might not be as sexy, but there's definitely something that fits your need.

[stinos]

I would love to transport my motorcycle, building materials

Something like a Peugeot Partner (just to name something) + a trailer does all of that. With the added benefit that without the trailer attached it's a fairly normal size.

[elzbardico]

Loading a motorcycle in a pickup bed is always a delicate task unless you have dedicated equipment.

Even when I had a pickup truck, I ended up getting a trailer for my motorcycle. In the end, I've got tired of having my luggage getting wet (no such thing as a fail proof bed cover) and replaced the truck with a more sensible minivan.

[martin_a]

My uncle got a Hilux for his gardening business. Seems to work well for driving around lawnmowers and other stuff, also for towing the large self-driving lawnmovers and other heavy equipment.