In the early 80's about everyone offered diesel mini trucks, Ford had diesel Rangers it was a Toyo-Koyo (Mazda engine)about the same engine they used in the diesel Escorts/Lynx and Tempo/Topaz. Mitisibushi had a turbo diesel and I think Dodge sold a version of it as the Ram 50. GM had S body pickups available with an Isuzu sourced diesel, probably the same engine available in the diesel Chevette and the Isuzu I-Mark/Gemini/Opel (US). Of course Isuzu offered pick ups and Troopers with the same diesel engine. Volkswagen had their Rabbit truck and Datsun/Nissan and Toyota both offered diesel mini trucks. With that being said these trucks are all 20+ years old and the diesels tended to be bought by people that were going to use them. They sold very few of them in the USA and most of them have been pretty well used up by now, the ones that haven't demand a premium price as a novelty or collector vehicle. If you want one with the majority of the metal still there you might plan an extended vacation to the Southwest USA and look for one.
Moving into the 2000's Jeep offered Liberties and Grand Cherokees in Diesel and Dodge is offering a 1/2 ton Diesel this year.
When working down in Florida we promoted one of our truck drivers into management as part of his job he had to do customer service visits with our customers. This required him getting a newer vehicle. He choose a S-10 truck. After about a month we needed a centrifuge picked up over on the Atlantic coast and he was sent to get it with one of the company 1/2 tons, a new Chevy with a V-6, five speed and highway rear end ratios, he was a little upset the 1/2 ton got about the same mileage as his S-10. Last time I bought pick-up trucks for the county some supervisors where upset I choose F-150 Crew Cabs. I had to explain the alternatives were Dodge Dakotas that cost more and had lower EPA fuel mileage estimates and lower resale values or GM S series trucks that were less money got a little better fuel mileage but had dismal resale values and could only be bought off the state contract the delivery cost from Milwaukee increased the cost above the F-150s
Has other have eluded a Mini van will give you cheap to purchase, space, reasonable gas mileage and can carry about as much as most mini trucks. You're in Minnesota another alternative might be to go to Canada where diesels are a little more common and import one but you'll have to check into rules about importing non-compliant vehicles and find out what duty, if any, you'll have to pay.
Two wheel drive mini/midi truck might serve your needs but stay with the smaller engine and stick shift if possible, Full sized 1/2 ton 2WD regular cab with the small engine and a stick shift might get you in the 20MPG highway range.
The other option would be a grow your own deal. I always thought something in the nature of a Mercedes 300D engine swapped into a Ranger or Dakota with a 5 speed would make a pretty good truck. Other possibilities would be a Cummins 4BT swapped into a half ton with a stick shift. I've seen a few step vans with 4BTs. I'm not sure about durability but GM did offer the 6.2 diesel in 1/2 tons but finding one that isn't all trashed might be a challenge especially in a 2wd.
Subaru Brat/Baja? or even an older Outback or Forester?
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Today's Featured Article - Listening to Your Tractor - by Curtis Von Fange. Years ago there was a TV show about a talking car. Unless you are from another planet, physically or otherwise, I don’t think our internal combustion buddies will talk and tell us their problems. But, on the other hand, there is a secret language that our mechanical companions readily do speak. It is an interesting form of communication that involves all the senses of the listener. In this series we are going to investigate and learn the basic rudimentary skills of understanding this lingo.
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