A few questions about pickup trucks

[Axing]

Gentlemen, I would like to ask, is pickup trucks very popular in your local area, because I watch some foreign movies, and there is always a pickup truck in the rural shots
Do you have any special rules for pickup trucks, such as pickup trucks are not allowed to enter urban areas in China, and pickup trucks have the same status as trucks
Also, if I'm going to buy a pickup truck, what do I need to look out for?

 

[deezler]

Yes pickup trucks are very, very common as daily-drivers for many people in rural and even suburban areas of the united states. No restrictions on where you can go with them, although some city centers and parking structure sure aren't very fun to navigate.

We like to drive full size, "half-ton" trucks. F150, Ram 1500, Chevy/GMC 1500.

What trucks are common around you there in China? Are there many compact Japanese trucks? Probably some Chinese brands we have never heard of as well.

 

[JeepHead]

Pretty much every family has at least one truck where I am at. The norm around here is 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton trucks. For some weird reason, everyone around here thinks they need a diesel even though they don't tow or haul things. I needed a diesel for a very long time so I was forced to own them but luckily for me, I don't have that need any longer. I absolutely despise modern day diesel trucks with a passion and much prefer gas any day.. A full size truck with a small lift kit is what I prefer to drive. Oh, and it must have mud tires as I don't do all terrain tires...

 

[RobertN]

In the US, pickup trucks are often driven like cars. While many are used for work, or farm etc, many are infrequently used as a "truck".

If you are thinking about a pickup truck, some basic question are:
What is the purpose?
How big of items will you carry ie large items, small items?
How heavy of items will you carry
Will you tow trailer?
If so how big, and how heavy of trailer and load.
Is two wheel drive sufficient, or do you require four wheel drive for rough road, snow, mud?

Answers to questions like that will start to guide you to what you should look for in a pickup style truck.

 

[grsthegreat]

except for my first vehicle in high school, all ive ever owned are pickup trucks. Mind you, back in 1975 a new truck was the more inexpensive vehicle to buy. Now days, they cost more than most luxury cars.

I have 3 vehicles at home. All are pickup trucks.

Edit: i forgot about the 1979 vette i had for a few months. That money pit went back to my brother. Nothing was cheap about that vehicle except for the build quality.

 

[ning]

Gentlemen, I would like to ask, is pickup trucks very popular in your local area, because I watch some foreign movies, and there is always a pickup truck in the rural shots
Do you have any special rules for pickup trucks, such as pickup trucks are not allowed to enter urban areas in China, and pickup trucks have the same status as trucks
Also, if I'm going to buy a pickup truck, what do I need to look out for?

Everyone and their mother has a pickup truck around here... apparently there's almost 5M pickups in California state for a population of about 40M people. Lots of pickups. You often see two pickup trucks in a house's driveway, not counting large SUVs.

American pickup trucks are they way they are because of American travel distances and roads. Our roads tend to be fairly wide (two lane roads are almost always at least 6m wide unless you're in very rarely traveled areas) with gentle curves; Americans think little of driving an hour to get to a job site - and in many parts of the country, 500km trips are regular and 1000km trips not unheard of. As a result, pickups tend to be pretty wide (~2m wide) and long, spacious and comfortable.

Cabover (COE) trucks are entirely a "medium duty" to "heavy duty" thing - there are no American pickups which are COE (Jeep had a "forward control" until 1965), because Americans don't need a shorter vehicle that has an "inferior" ride.

American pickup trucks come with very powerful engines. Typically even the smallest engine offered is more than sufficient for most actual "pickup truck" needs; the lowest output engine that the F-150 is offered with gives this large pickup truck acceleration which would be respectable in the sports car class 40 years ago, and considerably higher output engines are available, though they increase in complexity and fuel consumption and often put the pickup truck solidly into the "medium duty" range of things with GVWR up to 8800kg.

What to look out for? Assuming you're looking at a used vehicle, look out for the same issues as any other used vehicle. A pickup is just another shape of car, really. You can look for signs of overloading by closely inspecting the frame, but in all likelihood unless the truck has been seriously abused you won't see problems there before they're severe.

 

[Axing]

Yes pickup trucks are very, very common as daily-drivers for many people in rural and even suburban areas of the united states. No restrictions on where you can go with them, although some city centers and parking structure sure aren't very fun to navigate.

We like to drive full size, "half-ton" trucks. F150, Ram 1500, Chevy/GMC 1500.

What trucks are common around you there in China? Are there many compact Japanese trucks? Probably some Chinese brands we have never heard of as well.

There are two popular Japanese pickup brands in China: Zhengzhou Nissan and Suzuki, both of which are joint ventures between China and Japan. In recent years, the sales of Japanese pickups in China have significantly declined, and currently, the best-selling pickup in China is "Great Wall" pickup.
Sir, I would like to ask what 'half-ton' pickup truck means. Does it refer to the load limit?

 

[Axing]

Everyone and their mother has a pickup truck around here... apparently there's almost 5M pickups in California state for a population of about 40M people. Lots of pickups. You often see two pickup trucks in a house's driveway, not counting large SUVs.

American pickup trucks are they way they are because of American travel distances and roads. Our roads tend to be fairly wide (two lane roads are almost always at least 6m wide unless you're in very rarely traveled areas) with gentle curves; Americans think little of driving an hour to get to a job site - and in many parts of the country, 500km trips are regular and 1000km trips not unheard of. As a result, pickups tend to be pretty wide (~2m wide) and long, spacious and comfortable.

Cabover (COE) trucks are entirely a "medium duty" to "heavy duty" thing - there are no American pickups which are COE (Jeep had a "forward control" until 1965), because Americans don't need a shorter vehicle that has an "inferior" ride.

American pickup trucks come with very powerful engines. Typically even the smallest engine offered is more than sufficient for most actual "pickup truck" needs; the lowest output engine that the F-150 is offered with gives this large pickup truck acceleration which would be respectable in the sports car class 40 years ago, and considerably higher output engines are available, though they increase in complexity and fuel consumption and often put the pickup truck solidly into the "medium duty" range of things with GVWR up to 8800kg.

What to look out for? Assuming you're looking at a used vehicle, look out for the same issues as any other used vehicle. A pickup is just another shape of car, really. You can look for signs of overloading by closely inspecting the frame, but in all likelihood unless the truck has been seriously abused you won't see problems there before they're severe.

Sir, the F-150 is considered a luxury vehicle on our side, and it feels completely out of reach for me. I am planning to purchase a full-size domestic pickup truck, as I sometimes need to transport fertilizer to the mountains to fertilize eucalyptus trees. I will choose a diesel engine because it provides better power for transporting on mountain roads; of course, the fact that gasoline is more expensive than diesel is also an important reason. Thank you for sharing interesting things about pickup trucks.

 

[Axing]

In the US, pickup trucks are often driven like cars. While many are used for work, or farm etc, many are infrequently used as a "truck".

If you are thinking about a pickup truck, some basic question are:
What is the purpose?
How big of items will you carry ie large items, small items?
How heavy of items will you carry
Will you tow trailer?
If so how big, and how heavy of trailer and load.
Is two wheel drive sufficient, or do you require four wheel drive for rough road, snow, mud?

Answers to questions like that will start to guide you to what you should look for in a pickup style truck.

Thank you for your guidance.

 

[Axing]

Pretty much every family has at least one truck where I am at. The norm around here is 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton trucks. For some weird reason, everyone around here thinks they need a diesel even though they don't tow or haul things. I needed a diesel for a very long time so I was forced to own them but luckily for me, I don't have that need any longer. I absolutely despise modern day diesel trucks with a passion and much prefer gas any day.. A full size truck with a small lift kit is what I prefer to drive. Oh, and it must have mud tires as I don't do all terrain tires...

I think I would still choose a diesel generator because diesel is cheaper than gasoline by two yuan per liter, and diesel is more economical. Of course, the National VI compliant diesel engine will have a set of troublesome after-treatment devices.

 

[zzvyb6]

If you don't have the ability to shop for large useful stuff and bring it home, you are limited in your options for business, pleasure, and entertainment. Keep as a daily driver or a special needs vehicle. The other reason is for crash safety. You're likely to walk away even with a head-on collision. That may be important to you if you have 'loved ones' in the family.

 

[AntiqueIron]

Gentlemen, I would like to ask, is pickup trucks very popular in your local area, because I watch some foreign movies, and there is always a pickup truck in the rural shots
Do you have any special rules for pickup trucks, such as pickup trucks are not allowed to enter urban areas in China, and pickup trucks have the same status as trucks
Also, if I'm going to buy a pickup truck, what do I need to look out for?

I find that a pickup truck is one of those things where once you have it, you find things to do with it you haven’t considered. I drive a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, with the heavy towing package rated for 9,000 lbs. I’ve hauled implements home from sales, sand to coat my driveway in winter, lumber to burn piles, and I plan to rent a dump trailer for a day at some point to get 12 ton of crushed stone for my driveway and 4 yards of horse manure which I will use for food plots.

4WD is a useful feature if you plan to be driving off road. It’s something I am very grateful to have when I need it, but 90% of the time, I don’t use it.

More payload is a nice feature, to a point. More payload also means more mass, greater maintenance costs, greater fuel consumption, higher upfront cost. I find a 1/2 ton truck can do almost everything for most people and is still comfortable enough to drive.

I don’t like plowing with pickups, and I would never buy one that has done plowing work to daily drive. Plows are really hard on the frame and the transmission because of the constant forward and reverse. Usually they face more corrosion also.

I’m of the opinion that anything over 10k lbs that needs to be transported regularly, get a used single axle class 6 truck. I feel it would handle the weight a lot better than a HD pickup and will cost a bit less.

 

[D'oh]

There are two popular Japanese pickup brands in China: Zhengzhou Nissan and Suzuki, both of which are joint ventures between China and Japan. In recent years, the sales of Japanese pickups in China have significantly declined, and currently, the best-selling pickup in China is "Great Wall" pickup.
Sir, I would like to ask what 'half-ton' pickup truck means. Does it refer to the load limit?

Chinese Trucks would be considered 1/4 ton Trucks here, Ranger, Canyon, Taco. 1/2 ton Trucks are a Nominal Rating, most will have a Payload of 1400-1600lbs/600-700 kgs.

Tucks are very handy for many things, we here in North America ae spoiled though on Fuel Prices, and Drive heavier Trucs than really needed. But for hauling even a 25L Gas Can, it can be done without stinking up the Cabin. Most here have Boats over 1500kg, Campersm or something to Towm that a Unibodied Vehicle just wouldn't handle.

The offerings look very interesting in China, much smaller than we are used to or even call a Pick Up. But if Diesel is that much cheape the King Kong Cannon would be on my list

 

[gengine]

I live in rural Wyoming, in a town of around 180 people. There is a pickup in every driveway, used daily. My pickups, I have 3, all are diesels, and 3/4 ton. Most of the miles on the odometer are pulling trailers. One of them has over 400,000 miles, and honestly 350,000 miles had a trailer hooked up. I've even had 30,000 lbs. on a trailer behind that pickup more than once. These pickups were bought for work, and that is what they are expected to do, even if it is a little abusive for what they were designed for. When they are not needed, they sit, and I have two other vehicles, one is an SUV, the other is a Mazda pickup (1/2 ton maybe?) that are the get around vehicles. All this being said is not for my ego, just a glimpse of my reality. The closest city to me is 60,000 people, 170 miles away. It is almost 400 miles to the closest city that has more than 100,000 people in their population count. My business and ranch are almost big enough to need a semi, but too small to justify one.

 

[dstig1]

The Mazda would be a rebadged Ford Ranger from when Mazda and Ford were doing stuff jointly.

 

[RobertN]

Sir, I would like to ask what 'half-ton' pickup truck means. Does it refer to the load limit?

In the early history of pickups, they were rated as half-ton, three quarter ton, and one-ton. A half-ton was capable of hauling 1000lbs(450kg).

Over the decades, pickup became larger and more capable, but are still referred to as half-ton, three quarter ton, and one-ton. For instance, the 150/1500 series pickups from Ford/RAM/Chevrolet are part of the half-ton class, even though they can haul considerably more weight now. A 2025 Ford F150 in some configurations can haul 2400lbs, much more than half a ton.

The 250/2500 series pickups are still referred to as three quarter-ton. The 350/3500 series pickups are still referred to as one-ton. Again, the modern US pickups can haul significantly more than three quarter(1500lbs) or one(2000lbs) ton

It is really an outdated reference, even though it is still frequently used here in the US.

 

[Axing]

In the early history of pickups, they were rated as half-ton, three quarter ton, and one-ton. A half-ton was capable of hauling 1000lbs(450kg).

Over the decades, pickup became larger and more capable, but are still referred to as half-ton, three quarter ton, and one-ton. For instance, the 150/1500 series pickups from Ford/RAM/Chevrolet are part of the half-ton class, even though they can haul considerably more weight now. A 2025 Ford F150 in some configurations can haul 2400lbs, much more than half a ton.

The 250/2500 series pickups are still referred to as three quarter-ton. The 350/3500 series pickups are still referred to as one-ton. Again, the modern US pickups can haul significantly more than three quarter(1500lbs) or one(2000lbs) ton

It is really an outdated reference, even though it is still frequently used here in the US.

Thank you for your guidance.
In China, Ford has a joint venture with a company called Jiangling, producing the Ford Ranger. After Jiangling absorbed some of Ford's technology, they produced a pickup truck called 'Jiangling Avenue'. I think it should be a 1/4 ton pickup, and I am also interested in this vehicle.
As for why I don't buy the Ford Ranger, first of all, it's expensive, and secondly, there is no version with a steel plate suspension; only a combination of spring suspension with a Watt linkage, which is not suitable for my working conditions.

 

[drssg]

Sir, the F-150 is considered a luxury vehicle on our side, and it feels completely out of reach for me. I am planning to purchase a full-size domestic pickup truck, as I sometimes need to transport fertilizer to the mountains to fertilize eucalyptus trees. I will choose a diesel engine because it provides better power for transporting on mountain roads; of course, the fact that gasoline is more expensive than diesel is also an important reason. Thank you for sharing interesting things about pickup trucks.

That's an interesting comment about the diesel engine. For a Ford, the diesel engine is a $10-13K option. The only reason to pay that is if you truly NEED the extra torque from the diesel engine. It would require a LOT of use to see a financial benefit from fuel costs or longevity.

 

[Axing]

That's an interesting comment about the diesel engine. For a Ford, the diesel engine is a $10-13K option. The only reason to pay that is if you truly NEED the extra torque from the diesel engine. It would require a LOT of use to see a financial benefit from fuel costs or longevity.

Choosing an engine on our side does not require extra payment.

 

[JRH02]

The wife has her Ford F250 (6.2L V8) and I have a F350 (6.2L V8). We regularly bring a thousand pounds of livestock feed home from the feed store. Today I have a dozen 4x8' sheets of OSB and some steel roofing on the list. Last week I filled the 100 gallon transfer tank with off road diesel. So, yeah, we always use our pickups for hauling.

We live far into a canyon and access to home is via private roads or more descriptive is what they are: old logging roads. The road is a one width two track and VERY steep in several places and its base is large stone and boulders made from heavy equipment many, many years ago. It is 4WD all year around. It is VERY rough at 10mph and takes 20 minutes in the best of weather to get to the highway two miles away. In the winter we don't chance it and chain all 4 wheels especially on the way home because that's the climbing part.

So here comes the mandate for our road vehicles being pickups in addition to hauling, 4WD and ground clearance: longevity and toughness. Something of a lighter duty just wouldn't hold up or would break. There is a lot of satisfaction to having a 3/4 and 1 ton rigs and in knowing that they are perfectly capable to make out and back home whether empty or hauling whatever size load.

Once in town is not fun to get in and out of parking spots but it's worth the inconvenience. So we LOVE that old logging trail. It really cuts down on people cruising around, snooping, thieving, poaching or road hunting. There are easier places for them to go. Woo-hoo!