I had a 1998 Toyota Tacoma with a full length truck bed. I swore I’d drive it until the wheels fell off.

Sometime close to 250,000 miles, the u bolts rusted through on the front wheels. One fell off in a drive thru. Got it fixed and the other one checked. They said it was okay, but the other wheel fell off three weeks later. It had a few other problems - AC was leaky, interior plastic was disintegrating, so I sold it for like $1,000 about five years ago and I’ve regretted not just fixing it up and keeping it ever since. I can’t find a similar size/function truck for less than $8-10k. And new “small” trucks aren’t big enough to haul a sheet of plywood. Neither are some big ones.

> I'd kill for an electric extended bed 2000 ranger size truck.

You could lease an EV Ranger from Ford back then. Some of them still exist.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Ranger_EV

Gemcar's GEM e2 looks very similar to this. And as well as a e4 an e6 (for 4 or 6 passengers) they do EL XD is a work utility version that can carry 1415 lbs or tow 1250.

Check out this badboy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irpe3biuBIU

At 5 horsepower, towing and cargo is going to be fairly limited. I would normally suggest a trailer, but… not for this one.