Current pickup truck trends
I was curious about how other people feel about the current trend of pickup trucks shrinking the bed. I have driven trucks since I got my drivers license and back then you had basically 2 choices for a 1/2 ton truck a regular cab with an 8' bed or an extended cab w/8' bed, if you didnt need an 8' bed they had "compact" pickups. Now trucks come with beds that range from 5' to 8'. Personally I fail to see the use of a 5'6" bed on a truck it seems like an expedition or Yukon would be better than a truck with a short bed. I currently have a Ram quad cab with the 6.5' bed, the only reason I have the short bed was because there was no 8' bed trucks available.
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For what I use the truck for, there are times I wish the bed was bigger than 8 foot, and that the truck had more payload capacity. However, if this vehicle was my daily driver I'd probably go nuts - it's a big beast. I smirk at folks trying to tie stuff to the roofs of their Honda Civics at the Home Depot parking lot while I just pile a ton of stuff in the bed. But then it takes me five minutes to jockey my way outta the freakin' parking lot because the truck is soooo long. (Thanks Ford for the reverse sensor.)
I'm sure there's a lotta folks out there who need a vehicle that can haul more stuff than a car and still be their Soccer Mom vehicle too. By how some of these hybrid pickup/suvs are selling it looks like the car manufacturers hit the nail on the head and are able to sell "trucks" to people who normally wouldn't have bought one. It's all in what you need. So while an Explorer Sport Trak with its 4 ft. bed might do it for some folks, it definitely wouldn't work for me.
I agree with the notion that an SUV or minivan would probably be more appropriate, however, SUV's have become almost as feminized as minivans these days. Here in Texas, you're more likely to see a woman driving an SUV than a man.
No, I don't haul stuff around and I don't go camping much. 90% of the time, I won't have anything at all in the bed, so the shorter bed is just fine for me. I guess I can always have something sticking out a couple of times a year if I need to. I'm sure many others are just like me.
My new Ram has the 6.25' bed. My ATV fits in there fine. My Home depot parking trips are no problem (I don't have to schlep around in a football field length truck).
If I need anything longer, I have a bed extender.
Dano
The extra cargo/bed space is a plus for people who do not haul more than 6 people...not to mention items that may give off odors (like trash). COmpromising a shorter bed with more passenger space, while making the truck less than 225" in length, its suits the people who want a 4x4 but with added utility.
GM COULD have had a major hit with the Avalanche with the midgate, if it wasn't for the plastic overloading. It's Ford's chance to make another hit.
Even the newest hybrids don't do everything well enough to get me into one, and I personally never see it happening. So I'll keep my Cherokee for general getting around and my Ram 3/4 ton diesel for big jobs. Of course, sometimes I'm in my Jeep and wish I had my truck and vice versa. I'm gonna look closely at the new Rams with the heavies come out next year. Probably up-grade but still won't be my main vehicle. Can't justify throwing miles on something when the Jeep can get me around quicker and easier when I'm not loaded up.
Avalanche: we had one pull out in front of me the other day and I was driving the Ram with about 12,000# behind me. My wife commented that if we'd have hit them it would have looked like a kid dumped a box of Legos all over the highway. So you're right on the plastic look.
GM's on a roll: aztec, avalanche, I wonder what will be next...?
Generally 17-18mpg empty, 12-18mpg towing 8500#-12,000#. The towing mileage has increased by 1-2mpg since making improvements taking us to around 300hp and 600lb-ft of torque. The low of 12 is on trips across plains states where the speeds reach close to triple figures at times. Unless it's flat, long, and deserted I keep the speeds legal which is where the cummins seems to maximize gas mileage. 55mph seems to be the sweet spot for ultimate mileage. That's where I hit 18mpg with a 12,000# trailer. Had to follow a friend with a gasser that couldn't go much faster than that with a load. I love diesels, wish they were available in more vehicles.
Wonder how true truckers would feel if they had diesels available in these crew cabs/shorter beds...
I hope it succeeds. There are a lot of interesting features on that truck.
Bob
One neat trick my old boss found,was a ladder rack on a shortbed Ranger. It handled 16' lumber with ease and was much easier to reach than the ladder rack on his 4X4 F250.
As far as new trends in trucks,don't get me started,most of them suck as far as I'm concerned. What happened to trucks being judged by payload,towing capacity,and toughness. Now it's quarter mile times and cup holders. Why would anyone buying a big block gas engine really care about gas mileage,it is either going to suck,or REALLY suck. If your towing cross country you would be crazy not to buy a diesel anyway. But I guess that is what happens when the breed becomes popular...indescriminate breeding.
kinda the same thing with SUV's. their popularity has killed classic designs like the cherokee, or the original '91-'94 explorer. now they are nothing more than big ugly station wagons with 4wd.
Hunter
Oops! This topic is about trucks...
Bob
The huskies love to ride in the truck. I have a kennel for each of them (two).
Toyota only RECENTLY jumped into the market CREATED by your beloved GMC and Ford: Yuppie Trucks.
I really laugh everytime I hear you guys gripe and moan and cry when you talk about new pick-ups, then try to conveniently blame Toyota for all your woes. The Tundra was introduced in 1999, I believe. What was there before 1999? $30K-$60K pickups/SUVs with leather, push-button 4WD, climate control, traction control, navigation systems, cell-phone jacks, heated seats, separate air-conditioner/heater controls, ETC!!! Who made these yuppie-mobiles? GMC and Ford! Cadillac Escalade, Eddie Bauer Edition Expeditions and Excursions, loaded GMC/Ford trucks so plush they would never be worked, etc.
Yes, GMC and Ford truly paved the way for Toyota with the yuppie SUV/truck market. Now even BMW and Mercedes has jumped on the SUV bandwagon in America!
Funny how you guys scoff at the shiny Toyota 4Runner next to you, but don't see the Cadillac Escalade on your other side.
Ignorance and stupidity...
Have a Peaceful and happy holiday.
The smelly garbage post above is the best reason I have seen for the less than five foot boxes.
Harry
1. You can parallel park them. Have you ever tried to parallel park a longbed, extended or Crew cab pickup?
2. You can drive them in parking decks. Most longbed, extended cab pickups cannot maneuver through the typical parking decks.
3. You can do a U-turn. Ever try to do one in an extended cab longbed?
4. You can fit a shortbed in just about any garage. Have you tried to park an extended cab long bed in a regular garage?
5. You can park just about anywhere. With an extended cab, longbed - you must carefully choose where you park.
As far as carrying long items goes - most items which won't fit in a shortbed will not fit in a longbed either - that extra foot and a half does not buy you much.
Most people who drive pickups drive them empty most of the time and have to drive in cities. The extended cab longbed pickup is not very friendly in most cities.
It all boils down to you have to choose your compromises. If you want to drive in any populated areas (and park) - extended cab longbeds are too much of a compromise.
But you'll never hear them mention a word about the Lincoln Blackwood. All their energies are ignorantly focused on Toyotas.
"Lincoln Blackwood fits the Chevy and Ford boys' definition if a completely useless yuppie-truck to a "T.""
Lincoln blackwood and cadillac ext are poor excuses for trucks
I would suggest that if they can't get it right the first year(or second, or third) then all bets are off.
shouldnt this reply go elsewhere
The really bad thing about trucks getting more popular is that they are getting real expensive.
"Isn't a '99 Chev Shakerado that is rated a "used vehicle to avoid" by Consumer Reports some indication?"
NEWS BULLETIN: In 3 weeks it will be 2002. Model year 1999 trucks have been out of production for 3 yrs. Is that all you've got? Why don't you post that line in a new thread called "Worn Out Vehicle Insults and Other Assorted Drivel"?