With gas prices through the roof, fewer families are buying full-size pickups to drive to work and haul the kids around.

But if you still need a big truck for your plumbing business, or to pull a big trailer, there are some big discounts out there.

Our favorites for 2009 are the Chevrolet Silverado, Toyota Tundra and Honda Ridgeline. They're guaranteed to provide the three Ps of pickups -- power, pulling and practicality.

None of these pickups will get great gas mileage, but we've also looked for models that offer the best fuel economy, too.

Although sticker prices can run $40,000 or more on tricked out crew cab trucks with V8 engines, our recommendations should satisfy most buyers for about $30,000.

And as we said, no one is paying sticker for a pickup these days. Your actual cost will be thousands less.(Here's where to find all of the latest deals.)

Chevrolet Silverado

The 2009 Silverado is as solid and refined as any truck out there.

Its strong frame and improved steering makes it surprisingly responsive and pleasant to drive.

The cabin is well-soundproofed, making it quiet even at high speeds. Nice touches that make this truck easy to live with include locking under-seat storage, wide-opening rear access doors and a split rear seat that folds up to carry groceries or whatever more easily.

Silverados will tow up to 10,700 pounds and the maximum payload (the combined weight of cargo and passengers) varies from 1,496 to 1,909 pounds.

If you need four-wheel drive, a dash-mounted dial allows you to select two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive that can be used all the time or four-wheel drive designed for particularly slippery conditions. There's also low-range for low-speed, off-road driving.

Prices for the 2009 Silverado 1500 with a barebones, regular cab and two-wheel drive start at $19,020 with a 4.3 liter, 195 h.p. V6. At the other end of the price scale a fancy four-wheel with the Crew Cab and 367 h.p. 6.0 liter V8 is about $42,000 and with some options can easily bust through $45,000. Both prices include the destination charge.

As with most full-size pickups, there are too many choices -- cargo bed and cab sizes, suspensions and trim levels. We recommend the LT1 version, with an extended cab, standard bed, four-wheel drive and the 315-h.p., 5.3-liter engine and optional $890 safety package with air curtains for head protection in side-impact crashes. That would bring the price to $33,615.

When you don't need maximum power the "active fuel management" system shuts down four of the eight cylinders to save gas. Its E.P.A. rating is 14 m.p.g. city and 19 m.p.g. highway.

The big Crew Cabs now have a six-speed automatic transmission while the extended and regular cabs continue with the old four-speed. Chevrolet says those models will get the six-speed early next year. The extra gears are likely to result in better acceleration while increasing the highway fuel economy to 20 m.p.g.

Toyota Tundra

Toyota's full-size pickup is finally big enough to compete with the domestics. It comes with three cab and bed sizes, three engines and a five- or six-speed automatic transmission.

The cabin is quiet and comfortable. For a big truck, the Tundra handles well. The only serious complaint is a brake pedal that feels a bit soft. But the big, four-wheel disc brakes still do a good job of stopping it.

The Tundra's four-wheel-drive system is called "part-time." It can be used on a dry surface, Toyota says, but it may cause increased wear and poorer fuel economy. Ideally, it should be used only when there are slippery conditions.

One safety disadvantage is that when four-wheel drive is engaged, it disengages the electronic stability control, which detects and tries to correct for skids. It seems to us that when the road is slippery enough for four-wheel drive, drivers also want the electronic stability control working. The Silveradoâ??s system does work with four-wheel drive, which is a clear advantage.

The Tundra can tow up to 10,800 pounds and carry a maximum payload (the combined weight of cargo and passengers) of between 1,350 and 1,990 pounds. So this model, like the Silverado, is for those who need a good dose of power and payload capabilities.

Prices on the 2009 Tundra have not been released yet. But the 2008 models start around $23,135 for a two-wheel drive regular cab with the 236 h.p. 4.0 liter V6. The most expensive model, the incredibly spacious CrewMax with four-wheel drive, the 5.7-liter V8 and Limited trim is about $43,000. All prices include the destination charge.

We recommend the standard Double Cab version with a regular suspension. Like most standard suspensions on pickups, it is a bit bouncy when the truck isn't carrying a load. But it's less jarring on rough surfaces, a worthwhile trade-off. However, dealers in some regions make it hard to get this combination because they automatically order the firmer, off-road suspension.

Go with the standard bed, four-wheel drive and the 381-h.p., 5.7-liter V8 with the six-speed automatic -- a wonderful power train that makes it accelerate like a much lighter vehicle. The price is just under $30,000.

This model is rated at 13 m.p.g. city and 17 m.p.g. highway. That's the worst fuel economy of our favorites, putting a dent in Toyota's environmentally friendly reputation. However, it is only one mile-per-gallon worse than the 276-horsepower 4.7 liter V8.

But while Tundra's prices are higher than Silverado's, it comes with all of the important safety gear, such as electronic stability control and side curtain air bags, as standard equipment.

Honda Ridgeline

The Ridgeline doesn't try to be as rough and tough as the big Chevy and Toyota trucks. It's intended for light-duty work and heavy-duty family use.

Instead of the classic body-on-frame construction used for most pickups, the Ridgeline is built more like a car, with a frame integrated into the body. As a result, it's the most pleasantly car-like of our three favorites to drive, offering a comfortable ride and reassuring, friendly handling.

The cab comes in one size, and there is so much room, it feels more like a mid-size SUV than a pickup. The Ridgeline also has almost two inches more rear legroom than our Silverado or Tundra choices. That doesn't sound like much, but it makes a difference. Like the Silverado and Tundra, the rear seat bottoms fold up for carrying cargo instead of people.

Although its bed is the shortest of the three -- 5 feet long, or 6 feet with the tailgate down -- it can carry 1,000 pounds and meet the DIY needs of many pickup owners.

As you might expect, Honda was particularly keen to please recreational haulers. The bed has built-in indentations for motorcycle tires and enough room to carry two of the largest off-road motorcycles or a full-size ATV (with the tailgate down).

Honda also came up with an industry first -- a lockable, weather-resistant trunk built into the trunk bed. It's big enough to hold a 72-quart cooler, three golf bags or some luggage. Another unique feature is a tailgate that can swing down or open to the side to make loading easier.

The only engine, a 250-h.p., 3.5-liter V6 with a five-speed automatic transmission, allows the Ridgeline to tow 5,000 pounds. Its payload (the combined weight of cargo and passengers) is 1,546 pounds, except on the model with the navigation system and then it is about 50 pounds less.

Despite the V6, the fuel economy isn't great -- an estimated 15 m.p.g. city and 20 m.p.g. highway, according to the new EPA estimates. Still, it's better than the V8s in the Silverado and Tundra.

Even the least-expensive model comes with a full load of safety gear, including electronic stability control and side curtain air bags. Four-wheel drive also is standard.

The Ridgeline starts at $28,670 including destination charge, and runs up to $37,000 for the fanciest model with leather upholstery and a navigation system. We recommend the entry-level RT version priced at $28,670.

By Cheryl and Christopher Jensen

Interest.com Contributing Editors

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