75% of truck owners tow 1/year or less?

[paulsharvey]

So, I saw this just a minute ago. No idea were it's from, or if it's just made up, and if accurate, what they are considering a "truck", is a Rav4 considered a "truck", when it's really a station wagon?

Sure, I do know most people don't haul that much, but...

75% of truck owners tow a trailer 1/year or less

70% go off road 1/year or less

35% haul something in the bed 1/year or less

I am a light truck user, and have went at one point, like 4 years without a truck at all, using a cheap small SUV, a Toyota Highlander, and frankly towed a trailer with it more than many guys with a 3/4T. I've also used wife's Durango to tow a back hoe during that time.

I now am back to having a 1/2T, and probably tow a trailer generally around 6-8/year; and I would guess haul something in the bed larger then would fit in a car trunk something like 30-50/year. If we count having some old oil jugs, tow straps, and general junk in the bed, I'm 100% using the bed.

Anyway; does the picture/meme/whatever seem remotely right?

I will admit, I like my Ram 1500 crew, 4x4, 6'8" bed; but 80% of the time, something like a Canyon/Colorado/Dakota/Ranger would work for me. The funny part is, probably 2-3 times per year, I find I wish I had more Payload capacity (never really more towing) than my Ram (full pallet of quickcrete, block, ect).

Heck, kinda turns my pride a bit, but if forced too; I could probably get by with a Maverick and trailer most of the time (not that I want too)

Not sure what they mean by going off road either? We talking going wheeling; I don't in my truck anymore; but if we talk loose/wet dirt roads, boat ramps, and other non road surfaces, not sand/mud pits, who's staying on a road surface all year?

 

[ultrarunner]

So, I saw this just a minute ago. No idea were it's from, or if it's just made up, and if accurate, what they are considering a "truck", is a Rav4 considered a "truck", when it's really a station wagon?

Sure, I do know most people don't haul that much, but...

75% of truck owners tow a trailer 1/year or less

70% go off road 1/year or less

35% haul something in the bed 1/year or less

I am a light truck user, and have went at one point, like 4 years without a truck at all, using a cheap small SUV, a Toyota Highlander, and frankly towed a trailer with it more than many guys with a 3/4T. I've also used wife's Durango to tow a back hoe during that time.

I now am back to having a 1/2T, and probably tow a trailer generally around 6-8/year; and I would guess haul something in the bed larger then would fit in a car trunk something like 30-50/year. If we count having some old oil jugs, tow straps, and general junk in the bed, I'm 100% using the bed.

Anyway; does the picture/meme/whatever seem remotely right?

I will admit, I like my Ram 1500 crew, 4x4, 6'8" bed; but 80% of the time, something like a Canyon/Colorado/Dakota/Ranger would work for me. The funny part is, probably 2-3 times per year, I find I wish I had more Payload capacity (never really more towing) than my Ram (full pallet of quickcrete, block, ect).

Heck, kinda turns my pride a bit, but if forced too; I could probably get by with a Maverick and trailer most of the time (not that I want too)View attachment 1345835

Not sure what they mean by going off road either? We talking going wheeling; I don't in my truck anymore; but if we talk loose/wet dirt roads, boat ramps, and other non road surfaces, not sand/mud pits, who's staying on a road surface all year?

Maybe they are living the Scout motto… Be Prepared?

My little Samurai tows my box trailer several times a month and off road in the back 40 about the same..

 

[garry1p]

I would say that's close.
People with boats, painters, plumbers, construction workers and farmers use their trucks like trucks others are daily drivers.

 

[travisbb]

I'd guess those statistics aren't crazy, but they are intentionally misleading.

For example, there are lots of tow-only rigs for RVs which never haul cargo in the bed. Or off-roaders which rarely tow. Lots of pickups never leave the asphalt because nobody wants them driving through the park.

Also those three sets aren't likely overlapping. The percentage of pickups which rarely tows **and** rarely go off-road **and** rarely haul cargo is a much smaller number than that picture wants you to believe. But the percentage which regularly does at least one of those three is quite high.

 

[dodge man]

I’m not surprised. I tow more than once a year usually but maybe 3 times on average. Off-road, I have but it’s been a couple years. I definitely haul stuff several times a year.

 

[ericm979]

Just from trucks I see on the road, if anything the towing/hauling numbers seem high. Yes there are some trucks that are towing or hauling stuff all the time or often. But there are an awful lot of lifestyle trucks that are empty.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Not surprised at all. When I bought my last pickup, I first looked at used models. I went to several dealers and the beds of ALL the trucks I saw were like new. No rust or dents, and very few scratches in the paint. I asked one of the salesman if they repaint or touch up the beds. He laughed and said they don't have to. 90% of the trades they take come in looking like this.

 

[Birdhunter1]

And here I sit and often have 2-3 trailers hooked to my truck in a week, sometimes 2-3 in a day and playing musical traliers between jobs. In the bed, feed, seed, toolboxes, hay, gas cans and once in a while a deer or two.

 

[WM75Guy]

Those numbers sound high but it is better to be prepared as Ultrarunner said. My 3500HD is my tow vehicle. With 5 trailers it tows several times a month. It hauls feed several times a month in the bed, plus an occasional trash run to the dump. With the factory spray in bed liner, the bed still looks good. All three vehicles are 4WD/AWD for wintertime, no offroad driving unless you count thru the yard to hook up a trailer or unload feed. The Mule does the offroad stuff.

 

[JasperFrank]

If you own a boat,.....
I always had vans with tow packs.

 

[Runner]

Here is the article that is the source of the meme:

Many Pickup Owners Admit They Don't Actually Need Trucks

A report on bigger, more dangerous trucks features interesting survey data

www.insidehook.com

As expected, a hit piece from people who don't think you should be allowed to buy the vehicle you want because, in their opinion, you don't need it. You know, the kind that drive a Prius then ask to borrow your truck to move.

 

[grsthegreat]

Not me….im off road many times a month. Mind you, its mostly work related.

 

[kozal01]

Trucks are just practical for so many things besides towing. I tow a few thousand miles a year with my F-150 and the bed is usually always full of something I need to haul around, but its also great for road trips with the family. The backseat is huge, bigger than any mini van or small to mid size SUV, its comfortable to drive, gets decent mileage and is quick. Can also throw a literal ton of luggage in the bed under the bed cover. I will never not have a truck.

 

[paulsharvey]

Ok kinda figured it was a hit piece that cherry picked data to prove a pre determined view. But, I will say, for many people, a 5x10 trailer and a small SUV can be a practical answer to the problem of $50k trucks.

 

[Hay Dude]

Not me….im off road many times a month. Mind you, its mostly work related.

View attachment 1345877

View attachment 1345878

Me, too.
In fact, I can’t find good enough off road tires.

I found these, but $3,500 for a set of 6.

 

[paulsharvey]

Now, just for arguments sake, I'm off road every day in the work car, a Ford Explorer AWD/4wd, and it's only issue is the low ground clearance, but for work, I'm not pulling trailers or general carrying anything more than measuring wheels/levels/plans.

My understanding, my work is trying to replace the mixed fleet of F150/Explorers. with all Mavericks. We did have some Ford Escapes I think, but I'm pretty sure they have gotten rid of them already.

 

[Runner]

99% of the time I get what I need done with this:

...but for those other times...

But that doesn't mean I need to tell other people they should only be driving a car that gets 40mpg, just because mine does.

 

[grsthegreat]

99% of the time I get what I need done with this:
View attachment 1345932
...but for those other times...
View attachment 1345933
View attachment 1345934
But that doesn't mean I need to tell other people they should only be driving a car that gets 40mpg, just because mine does.

A friend of mine has that exact same trailer. Did you steal his.

 

[grsthegreat]

I finally swapped out my 30 year old service truck to the F150. I tested out the 4x4 high and low range a few days ago. Worked great on the goat trails up here

 

[Runner]

A friend of mine has that exact same trailer. Did you steal his.

No, my Dad made that trailer in 1968 from scrap metal and parts from a wrecked Morris Minor. He would be ASTOUNDED to know that it was still licensed and in daily use 56 years later. He passed away in 1992, but I smile every time I use it, knowing what a kick he would get out of knowing I was still using it.