ZTMAN
Silver Member
I learned to drive on a 1972 Plymouth Fury. The monster was 18 feet long. My current f150 super crew is slightly smaller.
I've had a smaller truck ( Toyota Tundra ), a standard size ( Ford F-150 ) and now a larger one ( Ram 2500 Power Wagon ). I liked them all and each had/has their place & function.
The Power Wagon ( Taco Wagon )'s place is purely FUN. Very little work - a whole lot of play/fun. At 79 I'm reliving my youth.
I suppose it is possible to order one but you seldom see "WORK" trucks being offered by the manufacturers like years ago when they actually advertised work trucks (plain, rubber mats, manual widows, etc.), now it seems all the ads are about the "bells and whistles".
Our most liked pickups have been the 1984ish Dodge Rampage and the 1996 Toyota Tacoma. The present 2005 Tacoma that we got back around 2008 has had only about 6-7k miles on it because we DON'T LIKE TO DRIVE IT. We liked the Rampage and earlier Tacoma. Toyota just kept making the T100 and renamed it "Tacoma"I've often wondered in recent years how is it that American (& foreign) full size pick up trucks have become so large, luxury laden, and overwhelmingly expensive almost requiring a 2nd mortgage to purchase. (i'm not talking about those who make a living from their pickups, just everyday owners who cruise the country, malls, & trips to Lowes...)
What is your take? this is observation only, we all have our preferences. I'm talking sheer size & price. I travel narrow dirt roads almost daily, & drive very defensively around blind curves knowing most current pickups almost aggressively consume 2/3 or more of the road while insulated with power & luxury. That's ok, but puts me at risk. Most of the time i just pull off to the side...
So has it been the result of 1) modern owners actually needing all if it? 2) or is it Americans love affair with bigger, better, & more technology laden? I also note that the size of the payload bed continues to shrink all the while. (some 4 full size door models can't even carry a sheet of ply)
Personally i feel both are true: we now use pickups for in a wider range of activities, & want having it packed into one large size. But dang, the price & size
Hey, just as a simple metaphor to compare: look at the vat sized drink tumblers now served @ fast foods. do we really need it?
On the flip side, i've also noticed that especially since '08 crash, Detroit has done an outstanding job of producing more fuel efficient & modest sized passenger vehicles...strange. So tell me about the big pickup truck size craze. Again, not dumping, just observing.
Apologize in advance if this seems like an inane post, but i'm blown away every day of what the full size pickup has now become. best regards