I went to a new car show in greenville Sc today.All the factorys had thier new trucks on display.I could not stand next to the bed and reach the bed floor over the bed sides,I am 5-11,you would have to be 7 ft tall to reach in and pick something out.I don't understand why these truck have become so tall and large.If you park a 60s or 70s truck next to a 2012 the old truck looks small.What is the reason that they make them so hard to use? if you wanted something out of the bed you need to drop the tail gate and crawl inside,and if you had a tool box on them you couldn't even see inside. It is all trucks even 2 wheel drive,What do you do if ,if your a carpenter,or plumer ? A ladder rack would be 9 ft or better.

 

My uncle bought a new Duramax. It sits so tall, he can no longer put his ATV in the back.
The irony of old trucks vs. new trucks is that the load rating is still the same. That F1? yeah it's a half ton. That brand new F150? yeah, that's a half ton, too.

 

That's why my other truck is an S10.

 

That's not quite right, they make F-150's now with payloads up to 3100#, and towing to 11,000 depending what packages you add. Which is part of the reason even the Base trucks are so bloated, they have to accomodate a huge range of options.

But I agree overall, they're dumping the Ranger and the "base level" regular cab truck weighs around 4,000 lbs. totally stripped. You'd think they would be coming out with the modern equivalents of the VW Rabbit pickup, the old Ranger & S-10, etc. Something small and economical.

BTW I saw on TV that the business tax credits for trucks over 7500 GVW expire in March; watch sales go in the toilet.

 

You are right, Ross, but they still CALL it a half ton. Just like my wife's jeans used to be smaller, even though they are the same labeled size, lol.

I guess the question would be, if a 1/2 ton has a 3/4 ton rating, does it still make a sound?

 

This is why I had rather haul something in my F-1 than my modern trucks anyday. They're much taller obviously, but not wider. Don't believe me? Park your F-150 next to an F-1. Mine looks to be possibly 6 inches wider than my 97 F-150. My F-250 is so ridiculously tall that it has a built-in step that comes out of the tailgate.

 

 

I think if you look at the history of trucks in general this will explain alot of it.
Back in the day if you owned a truck it was used. Now a truck is a family car that you can put an atv in the bed or pull a trailer. Along with that seems like most people I run across are 100% dead set on raising a truck and lowering is stuipd.
I think my 2003 2500 Chevy could be a bit lower. It is a 2wd, and not extremely tall, but taller then I have ever had and more then I am used to.
I will add I do not "use" my truck everyday and when I do I am nowhere near the full capabilites of the truck. That is when I pull the trailer and even then I am under the capacity of the truck. Good for me though it will last longer.

I will also agree a 1/2 ton is a 1/2 ton is a 1/2 ton. However since 2000 or so ratings have gone up alot. I think alot of that is the diesel wars if you will. Raising capacities and tow ratings, gas engines also being more powerful and efficent. Ratings have gone up on everything.

Can't remeber now but my 40 F1 is supposed to be 4,xxx some pounds empty. My 96 Silverado is just under 5k with normal everyday stuff in it. My 96 is rated at 7,2 or 7,600 pounds GVWR. Don't know don't care I have a 3/4 for the "heavy" stuff. But point being If I can rember my Ford is rated at somewhere around 6k GVWR.
So a 1/2 ton is a 1/2 ton, but newer will carry more weight, even though they weigh more they can hold more.

I still don't like the height thing. If you actually use a truck just means you have to lift stuff higher. Generally the people that use them have to lift heavy stuff. Sucks. Guess maybe lowering kits may be in my future.

 

What ever happend to the plain jane? You remember , Totally stripped no carpet, no radio, no heater,no hub caps, no right hand mirror no nothing. Is it just to get the price up? Or are we just so spoiled nobody just wants a work truck anymore?

 

It's America - Bigger is better

 

i need higher big tires i spend all day pulling a trailer in and out of the ditches but it is a pain getting stuff outta the back

 

Yup, the days of swinging your hand carry toolbox over the side of your truck are long gone.....that is unless you don't mind dinging the heck out of the side of the truck.

Bobby

 

What gets me is the price tag.

Does a work-truck really need all of the fancy wood-grained dash, power-everything, heated seats w/full recline, and all of that jazz? Can you even buy one without all of the extras? ( I don't know, I can't afford anything newer than 10 years old)

Give me a simple truck from years past that I ain't afraid to throw a stack of plywood into, thank you.

 

They used to offer different trim levels - XL, XLT, ETC - I have always bought the XL versions, Radio, Heat/Air and Power nothing - Not because I'm cheap, I just didn't need or want the extra stuff - My Trucks/Vans/SUV's were always used as work vehicles - I needed to haul stuff, Get off-road, all-weather, and emergency response capable - Pluse tow my boat and take me to back road fishin' holes - Oh I forgot to mention hauling car/truck parts (I even got chastized by a Service Manager because I had scratch marks on the skid plates) - I just can't see the new stuff meeting these requirements.