July 18, 2026
Gas, grit, and comment-section chaos
REO Trucks I4 4WD Pickup Truck Starts at $21,500
Cheap new gas truck drops — and the internet instantly asks if it’s real
TLDR: REO says it will build a cheap new pickup starting at $21,500, with reservations open now and deliveries years away. Commenters are torn between loving the simple old-school idea, mocking the dreamy timeline, and wondering if the whole thing is even real.
A Texas startup says it wants to bring back the simple, affordable pickup truck with the REO Runabout, a bare-bones model starting at $21,500 and asking just $25 refundable to reserve a spot. The pitch is pure anti-future shock: gas engine, four-wheel drive, real buttons, no dealers, no subscriptions, and a promise of easy repairs. In a car world full of giant price tags and electric hype, that sounds like catnip for frustrated truck fans. But the comments? Absolutely split between intrigued and deeply suspicious.
The loudest reaction was basically: wait, a brand-new gas truck in 2026? Seriously? One commenter called it "weird" to launch a gasoline truck while battery-powered trucks are already crowding the conversation. Others went straight for the wallet math, asking what’s actually special about a $21,500 gas truck when used pickups already exist. Then came the vibe check: the slick website made at least one person wonder if the whole thing was “even real,” while another brutally summed it up in one word: “fiction.” Ouch.
And because the internet never misses a chance to turn doubt into comedy, the jokes rolled in fast. One commenter skipped the launch entirely to say they’re saving up for the “2030 Speedwagon,” which sounds less like a truck and more like a meme-powered muscle fantasy. So yes, REO has announced a cheap, old-school pickup — but the real launch event happened in the comments, where hope, skepticism, and sarcasm all showed up in the same cab.
Key Points
- •REO Trucks says reservations are open for the Runabout pickup with a $25 refundable deposit.
- •The Runabout T4X is listed at a starting price of $21,500 and is described as a 2-seat, 2-door truck with a steel drop-side flatbed.
- •The page specifies a gasoline inline-four engine, mechanical 4WD, 6-speed manual or automatic transmission, about 600 miles of range per tank, and a claimed 500,000-mile powertrain life.
- •REO's published timeline targets a full model reveal in Q4 2026, pilot builds and validation in 2027, order conversion in 2028, and first deliveries in late 2028 or 2029.
- •The article compares the Runabout with the Ford Maverick and Slate Truck on price, powertrain, range, refueling time, seating, towing, and drivetrain.