Why are trucks so big?

[D2Cat]

 

[Botamon]

Because some of us need a WORK truck, not just a grocery hauler.

 

[Lil Foot]

Best truck I ever owned. (and best vehicle also )

'78 Toyota long bed 2wd, 20R, 4spd, 431,000+ miles over 17 years, put in one clutch, an aftermarket carb, exhaust manifold studs twice, 3 sets of brakes.
Bought it used with 4K miles.
It hauled tons of materials over the years, thousands of trips to the cabin, and pulled an Apache tent trailer all over the country.
Traded it off when the AC compressor died. (dumb)

 

[RCW]

I had a '74 Datsun Pickup that was indestructible. Lord knows I tried. Not intentionally but got everything out of it I could get.

Used to haul loads nearly the weight of the truck. Often towed our firewood trailer with 2+ facecords on. Both made braking "interesting" to say the least.

Also had an '86 Ford Ranger (Mazda?) that worked real hard. First brand new vehicle I ever bought......hit a deer 6 days in. Got 5 more with that truck.....

 

[Lil Foot]

Oops, forgot the shocks I replaced at about 200K.

 

[ken erickson]

This was the first truck after my spinal cord injury and full time wheelchair use. 1986 Mazda B2600 4x4. I was considering this truck or a Toyota and the Mazda sat a few inches lower and about $2000 cheaper. I was used to a 72 Ford F250 4x4 highboy. What a difference in size and height!

The Mazda was full ladder frame and nimble and sure footed. Problem was the Mitsubishi 2.6 engine. Head gasket failures plus 1986 was carbureted and choked off with emissions. Snakes nest of vacuum hoses. Mazda came out with a drivability kit, which did not solve the stumbling from a stop sign under certain conditions. This model was not made in 1988 and when it was re-introduced in 1989 it was fuel injected. ARRRRG, taught me to not buy a first year production, LOL.

Did manage to hit a bit over 220k and by then the Missouri rust bunnies had done a job on the box, plus needed more room for the family and kids.

 

[jimh406]

I agree with Botamon. My F450 is big to haul what I carry in it.

 

[Donystoy]

I have been asked numerous times over the years why I have never owned a pickup truck considering all the construction work I have done. I have always had a larger suv along with a tandem trailer. A lot more versatile than just a pickup. Hard to haul two tons of gravel or 20 foot lvl’s in a pickup.

 

[McMXi]

I have always had a larger suv along with a tandem trailer. A lot more versatile than just a pickup.

I can't agree with that statement at all, in part because many of us that have trucks also have trailers. I use a trailer when I need to, but I can also put a lot of stuff in the bed without needing a trailer. A crew cab pick up is about as good as it gets in my world. Six people can fit in the truck comfortably, there's room for a lot of gear or material in the bed, I can also pull a trailer if I want and so on.

@jimh406, I missed that you have an F-450. That's cool. I'll be towing with mine tomorrow for the first time. I'm thinking that after tomorrow I won't be doing much towing with the '02 F-250.

 

[Poohbear]

I agree with Botamon. My F450 is big to haul what I carry in it.

I like my F450 for towing my 20K GVWR RV. I have never heard anyone say they have too much truck.
I had a 79 Toyota that never left me but dang it was bad for the back

 

[Donystoy]

I can't agree with that statement at all, in part because many of us that have trucks also have trailers. I use a trailer when I need to, but I can also put a lot of stuff in the bed without needing a trailer. A crew cab pick up is about as good as it gets in my world. Six people can fit in the truck comfortably, there's room for a lot of gear or material in the bed,

Everyone’s use is different. I have had large vans as well and just have no desire to have a huge vehicle with the smaller parking lot spaces as well as difficulty parking in an average garage.

 

[Lil Foot]

 

[lugbolt]

I own an F250 crew cab short bed 4x4

you can't park it in "tight" parking lots
it weighs 8,000 lbs with me in it
it is heavy
it is slow
it is hard to park
it is harder to get out of parking spots
It costs more to insure and cost more in taxes (mostly due to the weight since DMV wants to go by weight)
it costs $200 every oil change (and rising as we speak)
It is noisy
tires don't last long due to weight
doesn't get great fuel mileage (diesel mileage), maybe 17.5-18 mpg at best

I have had several japanese mini trucks over the years and none of them were really useful other than for light duty stuff. All of them rusted, what I thought was prematurely. But I always bought them used, with mostly unknown history.

I guess I'll be that one person who says my truck is too big

only time I really "love it" is when I look at new F150's and get sticker shock, and when there is snow/ice/sleet on the ground. And when I need to haul more than about 7500 lb which is rare nowadays. In those times I'm glad I have it. Most other times I could use a 150 just fine and am considering selling this one and going back to a 150.

 

[The Evil Twin]

I think trucks got smaller. Now they are going back to the original size.

 

[mikester]

View attachment 153791

Real man's pickup truck

I think I'd buy one of these Slate EV's for the farm - at $20K it's cheaper than many UTV's - assuming the price really is $20K

 

[xrocketengineer]

Well, I thought that my full size 2008 Nissan Titan was big until I went to Lowes a few months ago...

 

[lynnmor]

 

[D2Cat]

I have one truck that is considered an antique, almost. 2001 dodge, 216K, diesel. Bought it when I pulled a trailer several times a week. Now mostly set, but still enjoy using it when hauling hay. One thing I despise is having to shut it off when going through the drive through at the bank or eating place!

 

[GreensvilleJay]

My '97 F150 regular cab, short box has served me well for over 1/4 century. FITS in the driveway yet can haul 7000# ponypoop when needed. Only has 150,000KM on it so will outlive me.
Gal down the road bout a GMC 4 door 8'booxed 2500 Denali Diesel... $130,000 CDN. Crazy....

 

[lugbolt]

I have one truck that is considered an antique, almost. 2001 dodge, 216K, diesel. Bought it when I pulled a trailer several times a week. Now mostly set, but still enjoy using it when hauling hay. One thing I despise is having to shut it off when going through the drive through at the bank or eating place!

I have a 2003 F250 7.3 I can relate.

I put a tuner in it a while back, really the only reason I did was because the original owner had a flash tuner in it and it died. The one I put on it over-writes the flash tuner. I run it almost exclusively on stock tune. BUT....it also has a "whisper mode" where it drops the RPM way back to around 500, and it's a LOT quieter. I can actually leave it running at the drive through.