Ford F150-I'm Done.

[ovrszd]

I'm not exactly sure what you mean on this post... ?

What I mean is that the average buyer isn't going to work his truck hard. So the average American buyer would be more inclined to consider a Toyota or Nissan because "Hey, I'm not going to work it hard anyway so those foreign jobs will meet my needs". This allowed Toyota and Nissan to squeeze into the market and offer trucks that meet or exceed the Big Three models and build a following. Those buyers would be much harder pressed to accept the new guys on the block if their intention was to pull a 25K load frequently.

 

[roadhunter]

We have 2 GMC's, one Duramax and the other a Sonoma. I told my wife the other day I was thinking about selling them both and buying a Ford. She said "I think it's time we both start seeing other men". I'm keeping both GMC's.

 

[ovrszd]

I think some of you big time truckers are a little hard on "1/2 ton" trucks. There are a lot of us here who need a lot more than a suburban 2nd car but will never need to tow 15k. I have a 7K trailer but seldom load it much over 5K gross. I regularly haul materials 1k to 2k. I'm getting by with a Dodge Dakota but looking forward to trade for a F150. I can't imagine why I would want anything more.

I know some of you love your GMs and Toyotas but I'd have trouble looking myself in the mirror if I was driving anything other than a Ford or a Dodge. However, I recognize that it's my personal issue.

No big time trucker here. Your statement above that I highlighted puts you in the tiny minority of 1/2 ton truck owners/buyers.

 

[TSO]

What I mean is that the average buyer isn't going to work his truck hard. So the average American buyer would be more inclined to consider a Toyota or Nissan because "Hey, I'm not going to work it hard anyway so those foreign jobs will meet my needs". This allowed Toyota and Nissan to squeeze into the market and offer trucks that meet or exceed the Big Three models and build a following. Those buyers would be much harder pressed to accept the new guys on the block if their intention was to pull a 25K load frequently.

I'll have to disagree with you on that... Why would anyone choose a 1/2 ton from any automaker, over another, if they think it's less of a truck than the competition...?

 

[ovrszd]

ovrszd; Go back and read my post #71 on pg 8; I think towing 14,000 + pound loads, on less than pool table level roads, is a pretty good testament to the viability of a Tundra 1/2 ton truck. I can assure you, my '05 Ford, 5.4 could not have done it effectively, if at all


ovrsde

As I said to Kenny above, you are a tiny minority.

Maybe we should do a poll. But then those that never even get their bed dirty are probably not going to respond.

Drive into any city mall parking lot and look around. They are parked EVERYWHERE. Most don't even have a trailer hitch, or gravel chip, or scratch in the bed (bed is covered). And they outnumber us dramatically!!!!

 

[ovrszd]

I'll have to disagree with you on that... Why would anyone choose a 1/2 ton from any automaker, over another, if they think it's less of a truck than the competition...?

Maybe it's their perception. Kinda like why would you consider a Massey tractor when there are many posters on TBN that will tell you they are less of a tractor than the competition.

 

[Shaneard]

As I said to Kenny above, you are a tiny minority.

Maybe we should do a poll. But then those that never even get their bed dirty are probably not going to respond.

Drive into any city mall parking lot and look around. They are parked EVERYWHERE. Most don't even have a trailer hitch, or gravel chip, or scratch in the bed (bed is covered). And they outnumber us dramatically!!!!

I never have understood the people who buy a pickup then cover the bed, why not just get the SUV you wanted to begin with?

 

[dodge man]

I'm not exactly sure what you mean on this post... ?

When the Tundra redesign occurred in 2007, it completely changed the playing field for 1/2 ton trucks. That was the first time a 1/2 ton came standard with 381hp/401tq (or anywhere close to it) and offered a standard 6-spd auto. It was much stronger (for that segment) as a towing vehicle due to that powertrain. It forced Ford to run to the drawing tables and phase out the fairly reliable but underpowered modular engines (4.6 & 5.4... And I had the 5.4 in my 04 F150, it was a dog)...

Since the Tundra's entry, look at the way that the big three changed their powertrains to compete.... And we're all better for it now as consumers.

I agree that most 1/2 ton truck owners don't use their trucks anywhere near their capacity.

Regarding sales numbers... I think it has much more to do with brand loyalty and xenophobia than any other factor. Many people can't even be objective enough to recognize that, for example, the Tundra is designed in Ann Arbor, Mi and built in Texas (formerly Indiana) with as many or more domestic parts content than the other trucks in the segment. I think Toyota's marketing department dropped the ball by not advertising that fact, instead of their overly gratuitous commercials (climbing a circulator ramp with fire shooting everywhere LOL) at the time.

Speaking of gratuitous advertising... This was a pretty eye opening wake up call for the 1/2 ton segment back in 2007 (assuming that the trucks were actually "comparatively equipped" as stated):

Tundra versus the Competition (full version) - YouTube

As I recall, Dodge came out with the Hemi in 2003, and while I don't know the exact numbers, its at least close to the numbers you listed for the Tundra.

 

[roadhunter]

I never have understood the people who buy a pickup then cover the bed, why not just get the SUV you wanted to begin with?

Maybe not to southerners but further north its' nice to keep snow out of the bed and secure things yet still allow the use of the bed for tasks that require an open top. I used to give my brother grief about his but I must admit it is nice when we are out hunting to have everything out of the snow yet when we are done hauling the deer we can go wash out the bed at the carwash. Try that with an SUV.

 

[Ford850]

I never have understood the people who buy a pickup then cover the bed, why not just get the SUV you wanted to begin with?

Hey now, I resemble that remark. I have a roll-up tonneau cover on mine and I love it. Keeps the bed clean and dry for tools or anything, and only take 5 seconds to remove. It's fantastic in the winter, when I always have a clean dry bed when I need it, instead of a frozen block of snow and ice. It also provides a good deal of theft protection simply because you can't see what's in there. I've had trucks with caps, naked trucks, and now this tonneau, and this is the best of all worlds. At least for me.