pickup truck size

[Renze]

So - I have no use for a car. I need something that can haul a lot of "stuff". This is my world:
View attachment 703106

All right, but on a full tank of 70 liters of diesel, i can drive 1300km or 800 miles.. or 500 miles when i tow a 3 ton trailer. I have no use for a pickup truck, i can haul clean goods in the boot or dirty (and/or heavy) goods on the trailer.

About 5% of my mileage is with a trailer, i dont want to haul a bed along when i dont need one.

 

[ptsg]

Well i dont have a pickup truck... their larger frontal profile, diffs and transfercases to add weight and friction (fuel consumption and road tax) make it unattractive in Europe to use as commuter vehicle.

I don't know if it differs in Holland or not, but here in Portugal, other than the extra fuel consumption, which is not that much more, it's very attractive to own a pick up truck. Those are registered as goods vehicles and pay like €53 on the yearly road tax, very anywhere from €150 to €250 on the common car or SUV, depending on the displacement and emissions output.

 

[goeduck]

That's right, you and I live in two different worlds.

I had an appointment with my eye doctor last week which meant a round of 350 miles (~ 563 kilometers). That's because there are no eye doctors anywhere closer to me, nor a Home Depot where I can buy building supplies, etc. Between my place and Reno, the nearest "city" 175 miles away where the doctors live and the shopping is, are but 3 tiny towns where all you can buy is fuel and a snack. So - when I have to make a "town" run my truck comes back fully loaded...sometimes I even take a trailer to haul everything.
So - I have no use for a car. I need something that can haul a lot of "stuff". This is my world:
View attachment 703106

Amazing picture. Beautiful

 

[3930dave]

I don't know if it differs in Holland or not, but here in Portugal, other than the extra fuel consumption, which is not that much more, it's very attractive to own a pick up truck. Those are registered as goods vehicles and pay like €53 on the yearly road tax, very anywhere from €150 to €250 on the common car or SUV, depending on the displacement and emissions output.

Aside from heavy towing, many commercial users here will opt for full-size vans - high volume of secure storage that is well suited for shelving, workbenches etc.

We have some crazy-tall high roof (factory production, not customized) vans available here now...... tall enough that I wouldn't want to drive one empty through a bad Winter storm !

I see a lot of 4x4 Mercedes Sprinter vans here lately - nice for Winter, and job site visits. GM used to have a full-size 4x4 van option, but I'm not sure if that's still in production.....

Rgds, D.

 

[Renze]

I don't know if it differs in Holland or not, but here in Portugal, other than the extra fuel consumption, which is not that much more, it's very attractive to own a pick up truck. Those are registered as goods vehicles and pay like €53 on the yearly road tax, very anywhere from €150 to €250 on the common car or SUV, depending on the displacement and emissions output.

They changed that rule, now vans and pickuos are taxed as passenger cars, but you can deduct that if you have a VAT number: meaning that a VW Caddy is no longer attractive as a commuter vehicle... let alone a heavy pickup truck.

A former colleague of mine, who started his own heavy equipment repair shop, is fond of US pickup trucks and bought a 2nd gen Ram Cummins to drive in the weekends. For work, he puts his tools in a Citroën Berlingo...

The Dodge he has on commercial license plate, he got a commercial drivers license for it, in order to avoid tax on heavy passenger vehicles.

 

[Renze]

Aside from heavy towing, many commercial users here will opt for full-size vans - high volume of secure storage that is well suited for shelving, workbenches etc.

We have some crazy-tall high roof (factory production, not customized) vans available here now...... tall enough that I wouldn't want to drive one empty through a bad Winter storm !

I see a lot of 4x4 Mercedes Sprinter vans here lately - nice for Winter, and job site visits. GM used to have a full-size 4x4 van option, but I'm not sure if that's still in production.....

Rgds, D.

Yes, America is slowly adopting European vans, now they become available with decent power and a lean Diesel.

In the early 80s when Mercedes had just taken over the vans of Hanomag-Henschel, they came with a 50hp diesel in it. 20 years ago during my apprenticeship we had a big Sprinter (tall and long roof version) whose base engine was a 70hp diesel... it was useless on the highway, weaving into a traffic lane on the on-ramp was often dangerous. Those were a far cry from the current 319 Sprinter with 190hp and, most important, bags of torque...

Yes, high and tall roof options are a challenge in strong crosswinds: but you guys get the 2500 and 3500, not even a 1500 (Sprinter 200 in Europe) those are spooky in long and tall execution...

Merc has a great ESP which counters crosswind jolts pretty good, which makes driving in strong crosswinds absolutely safer..

 

[blee03]

This video is about Ram but it tells the story as to why full size pickups are so popular.

 

[3930dave]

I found wind-up windows......

HiLo, and Mech dff lock

Too bad I'd have to move to the UK, and grey-market it in......

I miss the Suzuki's here..... very popular, and some still live on in BC (less salt on roads), scrambling along goat-paths.....

Rgds, D.

 

[lman]

The price of fuel will downsize vehicles unless you're a millionaire.

 

[BravoXray]

The first ones to ***** about fuel prices are the ones that drive like they're on a race track all the time.