Why our trucks are so big

[son of a ..sven]

My buddy and I have discussed this a lot. Living in Charlotte it’s one of the reasons I went with the Maverick. Just traversing parking lots and decks in a full size truck is a complete pain around here. And even when you park perfectly, some other Jack hole parks right on top of you and dings your doors. The Maverick is a lot smaller and gives me more room within parking spaces. My buddy is thinking about selling his full size Nissan and getting a Hybrid Maverick now. Less gas, easier to navigate, still covers a lot of bases. The Maverick is a Swiss Army knife of vehicles. Pretty good at everything.

Happened to me the other day..not the door ding, but two jacked up big pickups parked on either side of me in the HD parking lot. Backing out with a mountain on either side even with the back up camera is a minor panic..yeah, I am getting old.

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[Oscarcat]

Ford was able to do it with the hybrid Mav. And the EB.

Contractors and the trades need F250's and RAMS etc. Most of the jacked up PU's I see are about ego, a guy thing. Sure, there are those who pull toy haulers and trailers, but look at the demand for the Mav.

Now tell me why other mfgs can't do it?

 

[White Thunder]

BOOHOO

 

[Crash11]

CAFE is not EPA, it's NHTSA. This guy is completely misinformed and preying on people's need to think they know more than someone else. Manufacturers have the ability to build and sell anything they want, but their job is to make money. SUV's make more money right now. Small trucks aren't profitable because demand just isn't there in the US. Our gas is too cheap, and SUVs are much more "in".

 

[MetalsGeek]

At some point, I wonder if anyone will get the bright idea that electricity does not (yet) come primarily from environmentally perfect sources, so BEVs should have a KWH/mi standard too. If you include the environmental damage from all sources in the lifetime of a vehicle, BEVs don't look so great either. A good first step would be to revamp the CAFE standards to promote smaller vehicles.

 

[Old Young Man]

I traded a 22 Gladiator High Altitude in on my Tremor. I like higher trucks, and the visibility that comes along. My wife, a ex semi driver assured me it would be no problem for her as a one car couple. But it was a problem and it had to go. I didn’t need that much of a 4x4, or needed to tow or haul. I just liked it. I like the maverick and in crowded lots it’s easier for us. Always had full size trucks, this makes more sense for our life now.

 

[Oscarcat]

What about a 21st century trucklet w/ extended cab instead of the limited market for a single cab? There should be more of a demand all around.

It is always romantic to look back, but if you recall the original compact trucks, the ride was terrible, the power was lacking, the brakes were poor, the overall comfort level didn't exist. Yes they were simple but expectations have increased.

I never would have taken a road trip in my first truck, a used 1981 Datsun King Cab 5 speed with factory A/C. It was great for doing little truck things but lacked creature comforts most of us expect.

 

[Timothyd]

At some point, I wonder if anyone will get the bright idea that electricity does not (yet) come primarily from environmentally perfect sources, so BEVs should have a KWH/mi standard too. If you include the environmental damage from all sources in the lifetime of a vehicle, BEVs don't look so great either. A good first step would be to revamp the CAFE standards to promote smaller vehicles.

Yes, we need to go on a diet all around. Perfection is elusive.

 

[Gonzo chris]

Vehicle size has become an arms race and a means to circumvent EPA regulations. This is fairly well discussed.

The fact that someone can walk into a dealership and buy a 9,000 pound, 1,000 HP, AWD explosive battery on wheels, with a regular license, is absolutely insane. I have spent countless hours driving a 9,000 pound vehicle around for work. It requires a completely different mindset to drive a vehicle of that weight. Yet, these people can drive in with a Civic and drive out with the aforementioned truck with zero experience.

We have a problem in the USA. My Maverick has already been hit once because the person driving couldn't see over their hood.

I'm 6'2" and a coworker of mine has a GMC Denali diesel where the top of the hood is up to my eyeballs

 

[Gonzo chris]

I confess I haven't watched the video yet but doesn't a lot of it have to do with the fact that a truck over a certain size isn't included in the corporate average fuel economy? I mean I guess that doesn't explain them getting ever larger and larger. I think just as easy to make a giant truck as a normal size one and apparently people will pay more for it.

 

[James K]

Vehicle size has become an arms race and a means to circumvent EPA regulations. This is fairly well discussed.

The fact that someone can walk into a dealership and buy a 9,000 pound, 1,000 HP, AWD explosive battery on wheels, with a regular license, is absolutely insane. I have spent countless hours driving a 9,000 pound vehicle around for work. It requires a completely different mindset to drive a vehicle of that weight. Yet, these people can drive in with a Civic and drive out with the aforementioned truck with zero experience.

We have a problem in the USA. My Maverick has already been hit once because the person driving couldn't see over their hood.

We also have 3 times the drivers on the road as when I got my license and only 10% more roads. That formula increases aggravation among drivers who often don't weigh the risk of stupid moves to save half a second. Funny, but when I was in public school we used to talk about population explosion as a risk to humankind. That's not discussed these days.

 

[Dad]

I traded a 22 Gladiator High Altitude in on my Tremor. I like higher trucks, and the visibility that comes along. My wife, a ex semi driver assured me it would be no problem for her as a one car couple. But it was a problem and it had to go. I didn’t need that much of a 4x4, or needed to tow or haul. I just liked it. I like the maverick and in crowded lots it’s easier for us. Always had full size trucks, this makes more sense for our life now.

Your last line is such a truism. Seems we are living longer and yet we still need to do projects and what not wherein we need a truck exactly like the Maverick.

 

[MetalsGeek]

I confess I haven't watched the video yet but doesn't a lot of it have to do with the fact that a truck over a certain size isn't included in the corporate average fuel economy? I mean I guess that doesn't explain them getting ever larger and larger. I think just as easy to make a giant truck as a normal size one and apparently people will pay more for it.

Not to beat you up, but you really should watch the video before commenting on it, eh?

 

[Gonzo chris]

Not to beat you up, but you really should watch the video before commenting on it, eh?

I'll watch it but I know why they're huge already

 

[Old Young Man]

What made the small pick ups popular was need for two car families. Both parents working, Handyman Dad needed a truck, single cab for that for work and home. A sedan was owned for the wife and family traveling. Now you get a double cab for the family and a cheap sedan car for the wife to go to work. Families can’t afford a big SUV and a truck. With the price of vehicles, if a small cheap pickup comes out, then the family can afford a nice SUV for family outings.

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