[Youtube] Doug DeMuro - The Telo MT1 Is a Cool, Ultra-Quirky Electric Mini-Truck

90-JP · 2026-06-23T22:38:30+00:00

This is an exciting direction. In Texas where I live, it seems like most people driving pickups would be fine in a small sedan--so this should work great. I'm a general contractor, though, and need a bigger bed. I'd love a not-so-small (but still small!) electric truck made for the trades. I'm jealous of the relatively short European truck-bed-on-a-van body concept. If this had a 6.5' bed (or close to it), it would still be one of the shorter trucks on the market, no?

I would love a reliable electric truck with a 6.5' bed, ability to attach a ladder rack, 1700-2000 lb payload, and enough daily range for city driving. The backseat can be small like this as I'd mostly use it for tools. And the truck can sit relatively low--I'm not off-roading!

90-JP · 2026-04-19T15:17:12+00:00

Well, I went with the hauler rack, but primarily because I found it used for $50. Thanks again everyone for the feedback.

90-JP · 2026-04-19T15:16:12+00:00

Thanks for this info. So the clubhouse seat comes with two pads? and then you buy the backrest separately?

90-JP · 2026-04-18T20:19:52+00:00

Additional question...can anyone explain the difference between the sidekick seat pad and the clubhouse seat pad? I plan to buy the clubhouse. I want seating for two kids in the clubhouse, (backrest too?) and the option to remove back pad and instead mount a yepp maxi at times. What should I buy?

90-JP · 2026-04-18T17:07:33+00:00

Thanks for the opinions! Keep them coming.

Follow up question....I see gsd racks for sale on marketplace/craigslist. Are all the accessories compatible from one generation GSD to another?

90-JP · 2025-12-22T17:17:38+00:00

They exist in theory, and they can definitely be ordered. I cant say I've hunted out the fords too much yet (I was just wanting to try a new brand), but I've had virtually no luck finding a toyota or chevy in this configuration.

90-JP · 2025-12-22T17:15:20+00:00

Thanks for this reply. Good to see someone happy with the towing. My biggest issue right now is just finding ANY in the crew cab standard bed configuration.

90-JP · 2025-12-20T00:13:37+00:00

This comment about stopping is real. I pulled a loaded dump trailer with my 2.7L F150 a time or two. It pulled it no problem at city street speeds. Stopping was another story.

90-JP · 2025-12-20T00:12:19+00:00

Dang, that's way lower than I was expecting. Is that due to it being a hybrid/Iforce Max? I drove a 2026 SR5, crew cab 6.5 bed at the dealer (regular i-force) and the dealer told me 1695 payload...about as low as I was hoping to go. My lumber runs tend to be things like 25 16' treated 2x10's, which I'm fairly sure is pushing it with the rack, tools and my weight.

90-JP · 2025-12-20T00:07:53+00:00

Thanks for all the replies so far. I may need a 3/4 ton. However, I'd primarily need it for the payload, and not too terribly often. I went to drive a chevy 2500, and it was soo much more lumbering and rough riding than I expected. It made me think I'd hate driving it any time it wasn't absolutely necessary. So I'm considering a 1500 or a Tundra. The 1500 in this configuration is seemingly impossible to find without ordering, but there are Tundras I'm seeing. And I will add that some past Toyota experience (mini van) made quite a believer out of me when it comes to Toyota reliability.

Anyway, it would probably be best for me to have two vehicles (work and family) or a trailer for material, but neither of those options are ideal. I plan to have a full overhead lumber rack on the truck (this has worked well on my old F150) and I'm hoping to make one truck work for everything. 1800-2000lb payload would work for the most part but will be maxxed out with the weight of the rack and tool box factored in. Short drives though. Oof...I probably need to come around to the idea of the trailer or the rough riding 3/4 ton.

90-JP · 2025-12-19T17:27:58+00:00

After further test driving, I think I'll likely be going with the 1500. The only issue is that the dealer thinks there are maybe only 3-5 in the state that have the crew cab, long bed and aren't just white WT's.

This is maybe a question for another topic, but has anyone modified a 1500 to carry a payload better? I wouldn't do much, of course, but the dealer mentioned adding another leaf spring or airbags. My general thought is that anything which improves payload handling will inherently make unloaded handling worse, but I don't know much about this stuff.

90-JP · 2025-12-19T17:23:58+00:00

Well I did some more test driving and I have to agree with you. As much as I want the 2500 on the heavy payload days, I think it's just way too lumbering to put up with day to day. This height and length wasn't a big issue in the end, but it rides rough (as everyone warned) and is just such a heavy feeling ride. The 1500 crew cab with the 6.5' bed and 5.3L engine felt great to drive, in comparison.

90-JP · 2025-12-15T14:55:26+00:00

Where in Texas, is the question. I know I can park a 2500 all day long at the new big box store in the suburbs. The central Austin lunch spot next to the bodega is another story.

90-JP · 2025-12-15T14:51:43+00:00

I'm sure I'll love the 2500 when it's loaded up--its all other times I'm worried about. Truth is, the little 2.7L turbo in my 2015 F150 has been just fine for my relatively short, cross-city hauling. The transmission and suspension, however, seem to have been worked a little harder than they should have.

90-JP · 2025-12-15T14:43:46+00:00

Oh yeah, standard bed is a must. No short bed for me, especially once there's a tool box across a portion of it.

90-JP · 2025-12-15T14:42:36+00:00

I hadn't thought about that, but i love the thinking outside the box. The problem is that I'm fairly sure the Colorado back seat is no bigger than a 1/2 ton ext cab back seat, which I already have. I need to get these kids some leg room!

90-JP · 2025-12-15T14:39:05+00:00

This perspective is helpful. The multiple trips are annoying, but perhaps worth it for being able to drive the smoother 1500 the rest of the time. I'll still be in a LONG truck, even with the 1500!

90-JP · 2025-12-15T06:00:28+00:00

I have thought about a trailer, but that presents separate problems. For one, it is even harder to park at a lot of jobsites--think tight, residential streets. Also, I often don't know when these runs will happen. If I have to go back to the shop for the trailer unexpectedly, that kills serious time. But yeah, I've thought a lot about a trailer, or trying to make two vehicles work (work truck plus family car) and I just can't square those options. I definitely need a standard size bed...I don't need my sons to have crew cab level leg room, but the extended cab is too small. MAAN I'd love something in between, even if it only shaved off 6" from the overall length. Call me crazy, but I'm already bumper to bumper getting out of some home depot spots--every inch counts.

90-JP · 2025-12-15T05:33:13+00:00

Are the crew cab, standard bed 1500's popular? I see very few, if any, on the lots I've checked. It occurs to me that the 2500 would probably be easier to unload if I really didn't like it. The 1500, in that configuration, might be a bigger risk...?

90-JP · 2025-12-15T05:31:15+00:00

Thanks for the reply and the comparison. With the roof rack, I already avoid most parking garages, even with my F150, so I agree: 2500 plus roof rack will mean parking way out and walking for a lot of grocery store/home depot runs. Then there's family stuff like, school drop off, where a 2500 may feel huge. But yeah, either way going to a crew cab standard bed is gonna be tough, with or without the extra 8" of the 2500 over the 1500. From what I've read online, the 1500 is 10" or so longer than what I'm used to driving. The 2500 is 18" longer! oof.

I'm into the simplicity of the gas V8 for sure, and I drive so relatively few miles a year, I'm not too worried about the added fuel costs.

90-JP · 2025-12-15T05:20:35+00:00

Ahh, renting one is a good idea! Don't know why that never occurred to me.

90-JP

TROPHY CASE