Well… Back when a truck wasnt $60+k… Yes thats exactly what people did. They had a truck that guzzled gas and provided the bed space or towing capacity they needed for work, and a daily driver for other things.
From the last time I saw this ‘debate’… ~30% of truck owners use the bed once a year or less, ~75% of owners tow once a year or less, and ~70% go offroad once a year or less.
Now, obviously there are applications where a truck is needed. That can’t be denied… But there are so many applications here that use massive fucking trucks where another country would use a sprinter van or similar vehicle for the exact same application.
You are probably referring a 2013 phone survey of 1200 individuals which purposely split the difference between using the bed and towing making them mutually exclusive. When you didn’t treat them mutually exclusive showed something like 60% of owners used it or lent it out for use at least a few times a year. Or a 2018 report by a trade group axios which didn’t release data, methodology, or anything. It was released to auto trade folks but because of copyright none of the data was released. Just regurgitated media referencing each other.
If you would like to actually link a peer reviewed study on truck use with public data I’m happy to reconsider my position. But I don’t believe that data exists. But again, my position is completely open if something has changed there.
1/2 ton v8 trucks start at 35, 42 nicely configured. Not everyone is buying lariats.
Unless your truck has an 8-foot bed for work, which would actually be longer than the front portion seating a family and therefore useful, it’s a silly waste of money. The point of a truck is hauling things, not people.
If you’re required to have a truck to work you should probably be using one owned by your employer or written off as a business expense if you’re self-employed.
And you need two vehicles if you work and have a family? That’s insane.
Well… Back when a truck wasnt $60+k… Yes thats exactly what people did. They had a truck that guzzled gas and provided the bed space or towing capacity they needed for work, and a daily driver for other things.
From the last time I saw this ‘debate’… ~30% of truck owners use the bed once a year or less, ~75% of owners tow once a year or less, and ~70% go offroad once a year or less.
Now, obviously there are applications where a truck is needed. That can’t be denied… But there are so many applications here that use massive fucking trucks where another country would use a sprinter van or similar vehicle for the exact same application.
Pickup trucks? Not sure why that couldn’t be denied, as the rest of the world don’t really use them and if they do they’re a quarter of the size
It’s a rhetorical device :) I’m more than happy to agree that no-one really needs anything much larger than a kei truck.
Fair enough!
You are probably referring a 2013 phone survey of 1200 individuals which purposely split the difference between using the bed and towing making them mutually exclusive. When you didn’t treat them mutually exclusive showed something like 60% of owners used it or lent it out for use at least a few times a year. Or a 2018 report by a trade group axios which didn’t release data, methodology, or anything. It was released to auto trade folks but because of copyright none of the data was released. Just regurgitated media referencing each other.
If you would like to actually link a peer reviewed study on truck use with public data I’m happy to reconsider my position. But I don’t believe that data exists. But again, my position is completely open if something has changed there.
1/2 ton v8 trucks start at 35, 42 nicely configured. Not everyone is buying lariats.
Unless your truck has an 8-foot bed for work, which would actually be longer than the front portion seating a family and therefore useful, it’s a silly waste of money. The point of a truck is hauling things, not people.
Fifth wheels do have a place. If you’ve never heard of them, then you should probably back off on strong opinions here.
Oh I guess workers don’t tow with them either. It’s insane how you folks invent these artificial restrictions and rules.
You would rather create extra waste than admit folks use them as both in some weird pyrrhic political win.
If you’ve got a two-income household and the worksites are in opposite directions, its pretty normal.
If you’re required to have a truck to work you should probably be using one owned by your employer or written off as a business expense if you’re self-employed.
Well I’m happy you live in a reality where that’s the case. Then ignore that folks do work outside their employment.
Why? Just get a trailer.
Does a trailer tow for me? Cool enough, that might actually be true soon. They have some fancy ev trailer boosters coming out and being developed.
But why would it have to? You already need a car to transport your family, just use that?
You realize most cars, if they are rated for towing can only tow 1500lbs right? Even full size SUVs typically do 5500. I regularly tow about 9000lbs.