Pickup Truck Guy: A Brief Psychoanalysis
Dudes who drive pickup trucks: easy to dunk on, but there is A LOT more going on here
---- some of it hilarious, some of it disturbing.
But, strangely, in reviewing the comments on my most recent video on this topic, maybe slightly encouraging?
Let's explore the mindset of pickup truck guy.
I'm not in favor of dictating other people's behavior... because I don't want them dictating mine.
If someone wants to behave stupidly, that's their own lookout.
But I mind when their stupidity turns into danger and expense for others.
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Pickups are foolish. Economically, ecologically, and socially. But people drive them - lots of them. Why? CityNerd takes a look.
I disagree. Pick-ups are essential for farmers and ranchers. Essential for people who like the great outdoors but want a comfortable abode when going fishing. Gardeners who need plants, mulch, and dirt need pick up trucks
Essential for construction trades as well. I have two, used tom have 4, and four trailers. It would be completely unsafe and illegal to attempt to tow these trailers with a car. I can see where this article is going, but, there are absolutely legitimate reasons to drive trucks.
Yes, I forgot about construction, I apologize for that.
My dad always had a pick up truck. We lived out in the sticks and he was always hauling something in his truck....coal, wood, dirt, cows, pigs, sheep, 2 horrible children...
I drove a truck for over 30 years, then I went into sales, became fat and lazy, and required more comfort.
Mr. Giggles has a RAM 1500. I had to drive it back and forth to work for a week and it's quite easy to drive. I thought it might be tough. Our daughter drove it on our way back from Biloxi last month. It was her first time driving it or any large vehicle and she loved driving it. However, she kept looking at the temperature gauge and thought we were doing fine on gas....
Sure. That accounts for maybe 2% of pickups.
How often do campers actually use their pickups in the boonies? These would account for another few
percent. Gonna be hard to get anywhere near the numbers actually on the roads.
The vast majority are used as sedans. Pickups are very bad sedans.
Oh, and... rental for occasional needs?
Oh, I laugh at the doctors, lawyers, and engineers that only drive a truck because it's "cool". Most of them don;t even have a hitch on the back because they don't understand what a pick-up is for.
We go camping at least twice a year. We also take a lot road trips. When you're hauling luggage, grills, and fishing poles you need a truck
they make faux trucks for posers...
The RAM 1500 TRX model is badass, over 700 horse and zero to 60 in 3+ seconds will get you up to highway speeds in no time.
I'm not sure why anyone wants this... but hey! Why not.
Is a monster truck the best way to do this?
I remember the first time I asked Mr G...."heeyyy!!! Does this thing gotta hemi in it?"
Run from cops!
Even for this... a sedan is better.
Ya know....this isn't the place to tell people what they should drive
Cop cars don't work for shit offroad, Mr. Giggles Ram is going to be hard to catch if he goes offroad. So a sedan is based on environment.
Who cares?
Does your car have a back seat? Probably. Do you use it every day? I doubt it. Does it have a trunk? Do you need it every day? Again, I doubt it.
Not every bit of utility in a vehicle needs to be accessed daily for it to have value.
Good to know!
Of course not.
That said... it would be nice if we could avoid burning the planet.
Why not?
Actually, I'm not saying what they should drive. I'm asking them to think hard about the thing they're driving. It appears to me that it's mostly the same thing as a three-pointed star... but even sillier.
Pickup trucks are burning the planet? Ok.
Lots of cop shops now have SUVs or pickups. Cops actually put stuff in the loadbed.
Yes. It's on the news... unless you only watch Fox.
So police are burning up the planet? wouldn't a sedan be better?
It's on the news that pickup trucks in particular - and not any other type of vehicle - are burning (do you mean that figuratively or literally?) the planet?
You need to do some studying up on electric cars and how they pollute. First, what happens to tires hauling all that weight
Is this really what you understood from my post?
OMG...after all the cold weather that we had in January, I heard about people with electric cars couldn't get them started because the battery froze up.
I would consider a hybrid but never an electric vehicle
If that's what you retained from my post...
There's a lot of misinformation going around. The Internet is a great place for that.
On the other hand, with a little effort, you can find genuine facts.
I could give you facts, but I kinda doubt you'd accept them.
Just for info... the country with the highest EV adoption rate is Norway.
It was on the NEWS
I bet they also have battery blankets
Go to Alaska to find out what I'm talking about
Sure... but we both know that that doesn't necessarily make it true.
Seriously?
Rolling coal...
Which is done on purpose with a special mechanism and only in diesel trucks.
Your previous post is kinda an online equivalent.
“Ya know....this isn't the place to tell people what they should drive”
a thousand thumbs up!
Most folks who are homeowners and/or own other properties will eventually need a pickup for trips to the home improvement center every now and then, plus the reasons cited above. I agree that the current crop of trucks are too big and expensive and a lot of them are driven just for show and bragging rights.
Agree 100%. My favorite truck was my '76 Chevy Stepside Short Bed. Did the same 1/2 ton job that these giants do.
I have 2, a Dakota and a Titan.
Lowe's and the others propose delivery... and truck / van rental. This is not a reason for owning a pickup.
It is better to have your own and be able to do things when you want to.
It's more costly, economically, ecologically, and socially. Other than that, you're right.
Not everyone has access to rental vehicles, for example I would have to drive over 3 hours to rent a truck, then over 3 hours to get back home. Luckily I have friend who own trucks and will come over and help when necessary
A few pieces of drywall or plywood or a couple bags of cement are not enough to rent a truck for or have delivered. And just about anyone who's ever had a pickup has hauled kids and the dog in the back, even though that's frowned upon.
Good solution.
Yeah, my non truck owning friends often want me to haul stuff for them. i help them also with my little tractor.
Lol but should you own a little tractor, perhaps renting one to go help others is a better solution.
That's insane. They're literally the most practical vehicle a person could own. I've driven pickups for 30 years. I don't even want to contemplate life without the utility of a truck.
You gonna haul 1200 pounds of brick in a sedan? Plywood? Beams? A christmas tree? A few dozen bags of donated groceries for the hungry? Appliances? Furniture? Tree cuttings? Camping/fishing/hunting supplies? Anything oily, muddy, or smelly? Gonna help someone move? I could go on and on.
That is - unless you're the kind of person who never does anything for themselves or others. You probably hire someone with a truck to do anything you need done, and all you ever worry about is getting yourself from Point A to Point B. Be lazy and flex your excess cash, I guess. I live life. I drive a truck.
Yes. And the truck they drive isn't a monster crew-cab with a leather interior.
So much to unpack.
What makes it a monster and why is that a problem? To me, "monster truck" means higher suspension and bigger tires. I don't know why that's a problem, and it's also a tiny minority of trucks.
What's wrong with a crew cab? You advocate for sedans - a 4-door vehicle with a back seat - but you object to a truck having the same features? Why?
What's wrong with a leather interior? Truck drivers shouldn't be comfortable? Sedans don't come in leather?
At the end of the day, a truck is just a heavy-duty car with some outdoor storage. I don't see the problem.
Be happy.
It's apparent that you actually don't know why you object to trucks.
Be happy.
I am happy. Happy to disagree with the irrational bigotry of hating on trucks and their owners. Happy to educate you on how wrong you are. Happy to talk about how awesome trucks are.
My goodness!
It is what it is.
A pickup is more useful than a car.
Once in a while.
A sedan is cheaper.
Renting is possible.
I really do think you should give up the idea of renting a truck with this crowd, It's gonna get ugly
I don't understand. I'm proposing a reasonable solution.
Are you saying these folks can't accept reason? Surely not
People take their pick up trucks seriously. I just wouldn't push those buttons if I were you
Have to agree with you. For someone buying a car or a truck or a motorcycle, or deciding to not own any of them, is a personal choice that they make for themselves. How is telling someone what type of vehicle they should buy any different than the current crop of stupid zealots who tell women they cannot decide for themselves on an abortion?
Let people decide for themselves.
I haul stuff that would not fit in a car on my truck a lot. In past 2 weeks I hauled a 4 x 8 model train board to and from model train club's show and 2 loads of club's stuff, new kitchen cabinets, drywall sheets, a load of trash , 10' long metal to fix yesterday's storm damage to my greenhouse and some free firewood,
I was able to do all this when it suited me.
That wouldn't fit in the front seat of a Prius?
What MIGHT seen reasonable and logical to an urbanite definitely can appear to be both illogical and down right stupid to those that don't live in a city setting.
I also take their trucks seriously. They are a symptom of indifference to the destruction of the world.
That's kinda serious.....
I have a sedan . . . inside of my truck. I have both front and back seats, and I promise you they are way more comfortable than any sedan you have ridden in. The head and leg room are copious and luxurious. Since space is not a premium, the seats are large and well cushioned. The views out the windows are superior to anything you'd get in a regular car.
Also, how did you decide the sedan is cheaper? Kind of depends on which sedan we're talking about, doesn't it? The Ford F-150 - the most popular vehicle in the country (not just among trucks, but all vehicles) - starts at about $36,000. The Nissan Frontier starts around $30K. That's very reasonable, and there are a lot of sedans that cost more than that - especially if they're electrical.
You wanted to make an environmental/ecological/social argument against trucks, but you advocate renting? You propose driving to and from a rental site - contributing to pollution and traffic - just to pick up another vehicle to drive to whatever task you have for the truck.
C'mon! I live in a small southwestern city. I see what people drive. Oversized pickups with three or four empty seats and a spotless loadbed. Lots of jacked suspensions, oversized chromed wheels, ...
I also see what our many landscapers drive: small two-seat pickups with their loadbeds full.
This is clearly not about practicality. It's about self-image. That's OK... if it doesn't involve burning the planet..
There's nothing reasonable about assuming that one kind of vehicle - especially the kind of vehicle you personally prefer - is best for all other people.
Ummmm........
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I have no pesonal preference. I understand that different people have different wants and needs. That said, it would be nice to not burn the planet.
So... I presume you googled "average new pickup price", right? You wouldn't try to trick everyone by posting trucks that only go to actual work sites...
Oh, come on. Don't start lying now. You have said repeatedly that you think sedans are best and trucks are foolish.
You have said this non sequitur multiple times now, with no explanation or support. Multiple people have challenged you on it, too. I suspect, at this point, you are just parroting something you heard with no idea of what it really means.
I have no idea what you mean, but you don't need to presume anything. I told you where those prices came from and even included hyperlinks. There's nothing tricky about it.
One thing you need to know about Tacos is that he's honest and doesn't devolve to trickery to get a point across
No, I have not. Please don't invent words I never used.
(In case you're interested, I drive a small SUV.)
Your really gonna hate the fact I have an older F-250, stock , meaning not jacked up or anything, being single , and it being a extended cab means the other seats are usually not used, no different than my Jeep grand Cherokee, I'm usually the only one in it when used.
The only single seater I have is the Harley-Davidson, but they are all fun to drive.
You have continually implied that sedans are best
Please tell me it is a Trackhawk.
Mark... if you're really from Wyoming (which I assume you are) you are not at all representative of our nation's population. Wyoming is an extreme outlier in just about every way. So while your personal case may be significant to you, it most certainly is not significant, statistically.
This is hard to accept: one's own experience may be of no importance other than to oneself.
It's an older model (95) with the straight 6 banger, does what I need .
Something an old motor head can work on if needed.
And you should remember that for yourself.
I just googled "average new pickup price".
Over $60 000.
You explain..
I don't see how... but please allow me to correct that misunderstanding: small is best.
I try to. I never cite my own experience to "prove" anything. If you watched the video, you know that Ray always works with data.
The trackhawks are insane.
Your starting to make me think your a rereg or a second account of another member on the site, same attitudes same biases and pushing the same things, saying your from the same area.
I don't associate with that guy because he is a pompus asshole, too much like myself.
"small is best"
In your opinion , and the data may back up what you claim, but experience , my own included has proven to me that is not always true, and that is just another opinion and they do vary.
You are free to choose what is right for you, but not for anyone else.
Watching one video doesn’t tell us anything about what Ray always does.
Working with data doesn’t mean you reach correct conclusions.
As for me, I couldn’t watch more than a few minutes, but it seemed like he spent the first five or six minutes just being butthurt because some anonymous commenters called him a soy boy. Not much data there - just a bunch of whining. It gave me the impression that the rest of it was going to be pretty emotional. Not worth my time, in that case.
I have a similar impression.
OK
People choose for others all the time. It's a question of topic. You're not allowed to shoot anyone, because most people think that's wrong and they've made it illegal.
That's what laws are for. Arbitration.
I personally don't have that right, but the community does. I'd like to think that people can be persuaded to do what's right.
Even the community doesn't have a say.
Thankfully I don't live in a community inhabited with a bunch of authoritarian busy body pricks and never would.
Where I live, there are an awful lot of them. I haven't actually counted, so I can't say they're a majority... but they're an awful lot...
Look... there's a problem of perception here. I see no possibility of our agreeing on anything. So I won't engage any further with you.
If you mean I care about the planet.. yes.
Do you think climate change is liberal hoax?
Actually, I could shoot someone and it would be perfectly legal here, there just have to be certain criteria met to make it legal.
I don't recommend anyone test that though, they would be more than a little butt hurt.
Usually when I see such trucks , it's being driven by a kid whose parents have or are paying for it, OR. It's a younger person that is making good money for the first time in their lives, and want to spend it on what they want.
What usually happens as they get older, they either have to pay for it themselves in a kids case, or in the case of a younger adult , they gravitate to something that is less flashy but does what they have chosen to do for recreation.
I tend to call it having more money than brains on the parents and the young person's part.
I thought the same thing.
I know exactly who you are talking about.
Did you understand what I said about the community making rules that people must follow?
Oh I understand it, and can mostly agree in some fashion, I just think those that wish to legislate others morality and choices are full of shit and need ostrsized from general society for societies sanity.
Let those who want to be barking moonbats with severe cases of anatomical dwarfism ruminate amongst themselves away from folks with common sense, which isn't that common anymore.
I can't say I know what level of retardation some of these folks occupy, but I can say I admire their dedication and commitment to the subject.
Are laws against murder acceptable?
murder being defined as the unlawful taking of a human life , i would agree.
but there are laws and stipulations where taking of a human life is legal.
defense of ones self or another from serious bodily harm or death would be one of those stipulations and situations .
So... can we agree that the community may make rules that apply to all, even if not all consent?
on that matter of murder we agree, likely wont agree on much more because im not a soy drinking , cheese eating surrender monkey anarchist .
besides we dont live in a true democracy , where majority rules . we do live in a constitutional republic where the rights of the minority are protected from such a true democracy .
At least outis is not advocating for $10 per gallon gas.
So... the question is now: where to set the lines...
If you think I owe you an apology, just say so. I would be equally harsh with the three-pointed star people, whose vehicles are almost as asocial as pickups.
What was the purpose of the string of insults? I don't think any of them apply to me...
you dont owe me a damn thing , just like i dont owe you a thing , if the truth is an insult , then maybe its the views you post that need re evaluation . just remember your version of the truth is only yours and yours alone , i taught my kids when 2 people talk , there are 3 versions of the truth , the truth from one side , the truth from the other , and somewhere in the middle , the real truth , and i told them try and keep your truth closer to the middle no matter how you feel .
here is the line i think , accept that simple fact people will disagree , and likely call you out for it ,if they dont feel what you say is the truth , its no insult , or skin off anyones nose to disagree.
with that enjoy the rest of your day .
Why are you angry?
If that's your perception , like a few other things you believe, it's wrong in this case.
OK... sorry 'bout that.
Getting back to "where should the line be", my opinion is "where most people think it should be".
Ok, well, since popular opinion is what matters, according to this list , the Top 3 most popular vehicles in the country are all pickup trucks.
According to this other list, the most popular vehicle in the country is - again - a pickup truck. So is the second most popular vehicle. Numbers 3 and 4 are SUVs, and 5 and 6 are also pickup trucks.
That should settle the matter, I would think.
You haven’t given me much to agree or disagree on. You say trucks are foolish. I give several examples of how useful they are, and you ignore it. You say trucks are a problem, but you can’t define how, and you won’t clarify why you have reached this conclusion. It’s up to you to have a conversation, but that requires actual content. Your feelings are not much to go on.
Well you pretty much hit that one on the head, 90% of it was a bitch gripe and complaint session for being considered a metrosexual ( my word), not worth the time invested to watch for opinion piece and complaints.
That is why I bought my Little Red Express Truck. as my college graduation present to me. And 45 years later I still like it. Dodge only made 2,000 of them in 1978 and they came without catalytic converters. Not the most practical truck, but it is still cool. I drove it the snow once and bought my Powerwagon from a friend next week.
Did you watch the video?
I repeatedly stated that in rural areas, pickups may be useful, but that rural areas are now a small fraction of America. Pickups are too big, consume too much fuel, and are pedestrian killers.
Working pickups are a fraction of all pickups. Most pickups are Marlboro-Man macho symbols.
This is all repetition.
You're quoting out of context. Please don't. That looks like intentionally changing topics, which would not be correct.
population wise maybe , but area wise ... i call not bullshit , but bull fucking shit .
I have driven semi in all of the continental states , and area wise there is definitely more of what i call rural than urban ,
personally most of the roads i have driven on there has been a higher population density of jack rabbits than people , just the way i like it , any more than 10 people to the square mile and i feel crowded . and i tell people they wouldnt like it here because they would be on their own if they screw up . never trust google maps off the main interstates . it will get you dead .
I don't understand what you're saying. Of course Western states have low population density. Long distances. It's a problem.
Higher density would allow bullet trains... but certainly not in Wyoming. So individual. transportation is needed.
I like comfort, so I drive a small SUV that's quiet and comfortable at 80 mph in our immense Southwest, getting reasonable mileage. It's old, but nice, so I'll keep it until it dies.
cant say im surprised you dont understand , but then again , im not the one allowing my own personal biases and preference dictate my opinion on what others should do because i think thats whats right ..
ever look up a population density map? ones i have seen show that the majority of the population live within 2-3 hrs drive from the coasts , thats 150 to 200 miles usually.
Low population density is not strictly a western states thing , i can drop you in the middle of boston and tell you to drive 30 mins west north or south on the interstate and get off the highway and you wouldnt describe the area you end up in as urban , or suburban , even some of the suburban areas look mostly rural, i will grant with more population than most western states densities .
Rail travel, high speed or bullet trains will never become the norm in the states like in japan or in europe , simply because the US populus view rail travel differently that and there just isnt the infrastructure needed for it because rail is viewed as for freight , to move cargo, and no one wants to pay for the needed upgrades for passenger service .
rail can be faster than cars , but it is much slower than flying , and people deciding on rail travel are not particularly interested in saving time , but use it more or less for its scenic value , I will also grant that some urban areas do have commuter passenger service within their boundries , but there are other factors involved for how they get used .
from how you describe your small SUV , its not a car but its not a truck, its a cross over somewhere in between , but as you say it suits your needs and preferences . i can get the comfort ,quietness and yes even the fuekl economy in any of the 3 i desire , it goes back to what i said about personal preference and what I decide i need .
If you havent guessed by now , just because im mark in wyoming , doesnt mean i havent left the state , yes i grew up just outside a major metropolitan real city for 21 years, as a semi driver been in all of the lower 48, even traveled outside the country of a couple occasions, some with more people and some places the only thing to talk to is a local goat with nothing to look at as far as the eye could see.
I am where i am because this is where i choose to be .
Too big for what? What makes a vehicle “too big?”
There’s nothing wrong reducing fuel consumption, but who decided what constitutes “too much fuel?”
Sure. Because of the high, blunt front end, a truck is more likely to kill a pedestrian than a low, sloped front car - if it hits a pedestrian. That’s where the connection ends. This is also true for bigger cars, generally. That includes SUVs, vans, and large sedans. I haven’t seen any data that says driving a truck makes it more likely you will hit a pedestrian in the first place.
Instead of worrying about trucks, maybe make it a felony to walk in the street. Build crosswalks under or over the road.
For context, pedestrian deaths number about 6 or 7,000 every year - a fraction of the 50,000 or so pedestrian injuries, and also a fraction of the 40,000 or so deaths from car accidents.
Killing a pedestrian requires a couple things that have nothing to do with trucks. First, you need a human being in the road. Surely, some responsibility for that belongs to the pedestrian. Second, about half of these deaths involve alcohol. Maybe ban alcohol?
Again, that has nothing to do with choosing a truck as your vehicle.
As a pedestrian, getting hit by any vehicle is going to suck. It’s like arguing over which caliber gun you’d like to be shot with.
Instead of banning trucks, maybe ban alcohol. Or make it a felony to walk in the street.
I still don't understand. We agree that Western states have low population density, so they'll never have bullet trains. WE AGREE.
NHV (noise, harshness, vibration) are not as good in trucks as cars. Fuel economy is not as good. Emissions are worse.
So the question is, how useful is the loadbed? The people around here who actually work with their pickups, rarely have monsters, nor crew-cabs. They have smaller trucks, loaded to the gills.
So... my own conclusion, which of course no one is required to agree with, is that big pickups are above all status symbols. That would be be OK - it's part of many car purchases. But the big pickups don't exist in a vacuum.
Burning the planet is a terrible way to stoke one's own ego.
Bullet trains would work crossing the west They would need local passenger trains as feeders and to cover intermediate stations. In the 1940s they were running 80-100 mph with steam locomotives, jointed rail, telegraph communication and on same tracks with freight trains.
Hmmm, so your of the impression that the load bed /cargo area has to be in use the majority of the time to justify getting a P/U , and i can take it that if that space isnt being used to its optimal potential , , that would negate the reasons for having one . i disagree and dont think so .
Do you use the cargo area of your small cross over a majority of the time ? same difference to me . I would bet dollars to doughnuts , those with trucks actually use that area more than you use the one in your cross over without having to use any of your rental or delivery suggestions .
can you install or does your cross over have a ball hitch for trailer towing ? something small like a low to the ground utility trailer? keep in mind you will have a max tongue weight for that ball hitch you likely shouldn't exceed , P/U has that usually , and they also can have a ball hitch hidden in the bed and also be able to accommodate a fifth wheel adapter popular with many of the larger campers and trailers, the choice of which to have depends on the amount of weight and its distribution
A simple bumper ball hitch only tows so much a bed ball on a goose neck can haul more and distribute the weight better by changing center of gravity , a fifth wheel hitch basically will change the truck into the tractor portion of a semi and is usually the most stable of the bunch allowing to haul more weight .
How useful is it ? i can only state how i have used them , what use to be a standard 8 ft bed ( they are usually6 ft now ), when i was cutting my own firewood , if i stacked it correctly , i could get a cord of wood in the cargo area , thats 128 cu ft of wood i would usually get about 10 cords to make it through our winters and to have a buffer so i didnt run out during the spring mud season so thats roughly 2 months of weekend use right there , Summer camping with the family , also used to scout hunting areas during the off season hauling different trailers or campers plus everything one would bring to keep kids occupied , there is the entire summer , then of course hunting season , both going to and coming from a hunt area hauling gear , atvs , and if one has some success, a place to put what one has harvested , me i left the cargo box empty and hauled the atvs on a bumper pull trailer , so do most of my friends .
winter driving speaks for itself , when small sedans and crossovers and some actual SUVs are being automatic lane changers due to conditions and here , the wind , the pickup if driven sensibly isnt doing that .
Not everyone will have the finances to have multiple vehicles , so they choose the vehicle that best suits their needs to a performance level they can both accept and afford . that makes it their choices , not any one individuals or even societies outside themselves .
So as i said in my very first post , it comes down to personal preference and desires and what one feels they need to accomplish what they intend to do , ego or showing off aside .
That's precisely my point. A guy in Wyoming probably has much greater need of a loadbed than most of us. But Wyoming is the smallest state, in population.
Your personal experience is significant to you. But it isn't significant, statistically. My experience isn't statistically significant, either... but my county probably has more pickups than yours, simply because my county probably has more people than yours.
So what I see here may not be statistically significant, but it's more so than what you see.
You live in a genuinely rural area. Eighty percent of Americans live in urban / suburban metro areas. What you see every day is not "normal" for America, regardless of how "normal" it is for Wyoming
I'm a big fan of bullet trains... but they have a fairly specific optimum range. Five hundred miles is their maximum. More than that, and the airplane wins.
There are several regions where bullet trains would be effective, but (unless there some tech revolution) not transcontinental
I wouldnt matter if i live in Wyoming or in Boston where i grew up , my interests and recreational hobbies would stay the same , so i would still have a need for one no matter where i lived and it would still have been used in the same ways
population density doesnt matter ..
Just looked it up , fremont co wy has a pop of 39.2 k
P/U in wyoming carry a special truck plate issued sequentially and each county issues their own , my 250s plate is 22xxx
my grand cherokee has car plates , again issues sequentially and it is 38xxx
and thats not counting vanity lates ......
kinda tells me people tend to have more than one vehicle .
Ah, yes. Boston is well-known for hunting, fishing, mountain-climbing, ...
Actually, it does matter... a lot. It's one of the keys to planning.
“I like comfort, so I drive a small SUV that's quiet and comfortable at 80 mph in our immense Southwest, getting reasonable mileage.”
I’m surprised you don’t drive a bev. Just randomly picking a small suv, the chevy trax/buick encore, it gets about 23-24 city and 29-31 highway. That’s not great for such a small vehicle but is representative of small ice powered suv’s. Does one really need a small suv when there are much more fuel efficient vehicles available? And at 80 mph no vehicle gets the epa highway rating. If you slow down that would slow down the “burning of our planet.”
You have been critical of truck owners yet haven’t even mentioned the fact that you aren’t doing your part. Why not walk the walk and get a bev or a more fuel efficient vehicle? Until then you are actively “burning up the planet.” Although there is debate about how much cleaner bev’s are than todays ice vehicles.
I've had this car for a decade, so its resale value is way, way less than its utility value. If I was thinking about buying a new car, it would probably be an EV, but that's not reasonable, economically.
I get it with the ev’s. They are more expensive. Charging is an issue. Range is usually lower than epa estimates. Extremes in weather has a negative effect on battery health and battery life. The tech just isn’t there yet. And even when it is do we really want to rely on china for our transportation needs?
but you could get a much more fuel efficient vehicle, like a sedan, that would be easier on the planet and wouldn’t break the bank.
EVs are more expensive... in the States. As usual, American manufacturers took the short-term view, loading their EVs up with superfluous tech, and making customers pay a max. Now those manufacturers are stuck, because they can't backtrack. Meanwhile, the Chinese are making EVs at all price points, from cheap to luxury. Europe gets some nice EVs at acceptable prices.
Charging is an issue... for a small fraction of users. The average American drives 30 miles per day. So even "short range" EVs would do. A home charger more than covers needs. Sure, a traveling salesman needs hundreds of miles of range... but do traveling salesmen exist any more? Crazy long range is the EV equivalent of a big-block - it gives bragging rights.
The nation with the highest adoption rate is Norway. It's cold there.
I agree about China. So I really have it in for Stellantis. They make some really nice EVs for Europe... but don't sell them here.
Never heard if the white or green mnts how about the Berkshires? Can hunt hike camp fish and do all sorts of the things I do here there,Maine is more rural than Wyoming is , and all those destinations are within a 2-3 hr drive of the Boston garden.
For the type of social(ist) planning you are considering , i suggest moving to europe, because you likely definitely won't get the consent co opeation or compliance your ideal outcome would require.
I was scrolling my news feed and in the video section a caption caught ,y eye, "Tesla truck makes creek crossing resulting in the vehicles electrical system shorting out"
So I watched it to see if the driver screwed up somehow.
4inches of water crossing a dirt road, driver did the typical truck splash , but not as hard as they could have , Tesla made it across and then all the lights started flashing the thing hopped a couple times and died, not to be restarted.the road was a graded dirt road typical of here, the water crossing also typical one would encounter, driver wasn't mudding or hotrodding like an ice truck would.
My conclusion was not exactly a good thing in what would be typical usage round here, and it did cement the idea I came to early on that evs are not a good choice , nor will I ever own one, it just is not suited to my needs or desires, so why waste the money.
Look... I'd like to continue... but if you're going to insist that Massachusetts and Wyoming are similar, I give up.
Bye
LMFAO, New England states as a whole do have some very similar places as Wyoming, I could pick up and move to any of them and still do there what I do here , and have close to the same solitude, the major difference is only the population density, no way I would find a small town there that only has 6 people to the square mile , unless I moved into Maine's allegash north woods region , problem there, no roads. I definitely know of any number of towns in those states that have less populations than the county I do live in .
Haven't checked , but I would venture a guess all 6 NE states would fit inside wyo state lines , it takes me longer to drive across wyo than it does to hit all 6 of those states.
Anywho, it is what it is, it's just what you make of it.
“Charging is an issue... for a small fraction of users.”
You mean ,,,,,,,for a small fraction of current users. Current users obviously have the money to buy an ev. Current users are most likely a person that owns a house that can afford a level 2 charger in their garage. How do you think that will work out for widespread adoption? What about the millions that live in apartments? They’re kinda screwed, huh. What about people that don’t have a level 2 charger in their home? Sure they can get one installed but can they afford it? I’ve read it costs, on average $1200 to $2400 to have one installed. And then there’s the problem of houses with a maxed out circuit panel, meaning they cannot add a large additional load, such as a level 2 charger, to the electrical system on their house without upgrading the circuit panel to a larger panel. That usually costs $4000, on the low end, and up. And we haven’t even talked about the grid, which would need major investment to handle the additional load. Maybe someday ev’s will be viable for everybody, but that day is a long way off.
i also find it interesting that you urge truck owners to get rid of their trucks to save the planet while you do nothing in your own sphere to save the planet. Even if you can’t afford an ev you could get a newer sedan that gets much better mileage than your suv, and you could slow down which produces less emissions. I’m not telling you to do either one as i believe in to each their own, live and let live, but what you are doing is not a good look.
I haven’t heard of that one, i’ll have to look it up. I have heard of a pretty new hyundai ioniq that ran over some debris in the road that caused scratches and a small dent in the undercarriage that covers the battery. The fix was to replace the battery at a cost of $60,000, more than the car was worth, so insurance scrapped it.
Ev’s have been totaled for fender benders. There are many examples of things like that and who pays for it? We all do with higher rates.
recently i’ve seen articles about the rate of toxic particles coming off the tires of ev’s at a much higher rate than ice vehicles because of the extra weight of the batteries. Those particles end up in waterways.
I agree, as it stands ev’s are not a good choice for me, and many many others judging by automakers hitting the brakes on ev production. The tech will evolve and get better and maybe someday they will become mainstream. But as i said before, do we really want to be dependent on a country like china for our transportation needs? I don’t.
Actually... a level 1 charger is sufficient for most people.
Disinformation
If they want to limit their travels to work and back, or stay within a 30 or so mile range of their 120v outlet. I wouldn’t say that is sufficient for most.
What is? Can you be more [specific?deleted][✘]
Strawman
[deleted][✘]
A car is good for hauling kids, groceries, and dogs around.
Back in 97 i did something most of you would likely have paid money to see.
I was working a gravel pit , driving an hour and a half one way for work , so I had an "economical" commuter car, a 1990 GEO Metro hatchback. Keep in mind I'm 6'4"and 200 + pounds.
Elk season was on and my only hunting during the week was to stop on my way home, last day of the season was a week day, and I harvested a 300 # cow elk. This was in bear and wolf country ,so leaving it overnight was out of the question, the elk got quick quartered and loaded into the metro and was driven home.
To make turns I had to pull the e brake to get the front end to make contact and make the turn real slow.
Car was definitely over it's approved weight limit and rating .
LOL! Yes, that is a sight I would have liked to see
When we first moved to Arkansas in 1997, we only had one car and I needed one to get back and forth to work, drop off and pick up kids from day care and do most of the grocery shopping. Oh! And taking the dog to the groomer. I got a brand new Chevy Geo. It was ok, I got a stick shift because it was cheaper. It had a hatch where I put the groceries but probably where I should have put the kids. I didn't have a big dog, but she was more comfortable when I put the back seat down.
I now drive a sub compact SUV (Ford Ecosport) but I'm pretty sure I'm going back to an Escape
I think the weight rating was something like 900 pounds, my weight , plus work coveralls and boots, some specialty tools I would not leave on the job , add now all the hunting gear, that little 3 banger was working it without the elk and still getting 30 mpg.
a friend of mine has an old prius hatchback that he calls his truck. that thing is huge on the inside...
I have several pickups in addition to my 1968 Charger.
1978 Dodge Little Red Express Truck I bought this for my college graduation present. I read about them and drove by the Chrysler dealer when they were unloading it and went in and bought it. Still runs good and needs a few things and paint job would make it look real good. As is worth at least 5 times what I paid for it new.
2 1997 Dodge Dakota pickups. one runs good and other runs OK but keeping for parts
1975 Dodge Powerwagon, Had for 40 years. Restored and painted HEMI Orange. 440, 4 speed, 4 wheel drive. 5/4 ton i used to push snow with it and wore it out and put a newer cab and bed on it. Getting motor rebuilt.
1977 Dodge pickup army surplus M880 runs but parts for 75. probably going to sell this one
and 1970 Army surplus Duce and Half 6x6 with 10 new tires. Why? The school I used to work at had 2 and sold it to me cheap and I wanted a real big truck.
I like my trucks, they are useful and i have fun with them. And I don't have that much money in them.
we'd all be f'n millionaires if we'd kept all the heavy metal we paid almost nothing for in the 60's and 70's.
Only reason that really counts is personal preference, and that would be determined by ones individual lifestyle and needs.
Some places I drive , with what I bring with me, I wouldn't do with a sedan or SUV, let alone with the electric version of a pick up, they just are not made to handle some of those conditions.
That all being said, one can also pick and choose if they are limited to a single vehicle, what will cover the majority of their driving conditions they will encounter throughout the year.
Sure... if you live on your own planet. Unfortunately, most of us have to share the one we live on.
Then I suggest you stay in your own little urban habitate to stay happy and leave others to their own choices that make sense to them.
Thing I laugh at is they say 97% of all species that have inhabited this rock we call home has gone extinct, and it simply a matter of time before humans turn will come up and there isn't a damn thing any human can do to change that. Those that think they can are worthy of ridicule.
I will quote my favorite saying to those worried about climate change.
The climate on this rock has been changing since day one , and it has not always been hospitable to HUMAN existence, matter of fact the amount of time humans and their naked mole rat predesesors have been able to live on it is but a brief qweef in the planets existance, nothing they did made the planet more inhabitable , and nothing they can do will change the fact the planet will become uninhabitable to the species.
But you do you, right up until you try and dictate how others will do themselves.
There have been several "extinction events" - the last one being the one that killed most of the dinosaurs, 67 million years ago. An extinction event is defined as the extinction of 75% of life.
So the end-of-anthropocene extinction event won't kill all life on Earth.
No need to worry.
Since burning up the planet is being discussed; the biggest contributor is overpopulation. I don't see government or advocates talking much about that (I have raised this issue several times) .
I bought my Powerwagon Pickup used and it came with a snowplow, that was not reason I got it but soon found out I could make extra money pushing snow.
I haven't bought new off the lot in 40 years now, last one I did was an 86 full-sized blazer and I thought it was over priced then at $13k.
There's just something women like about a Pickup Man
You know there's something women like about a Pickup Man
The late, great Joe Diffie
Commuting in a big crew cab pickup is conspicuous consumption...
Agree, along with many other things that people do
I have always had a pickup since 1974, I bought an old Dodge pickup cheap to haul things and drive instead of my Roadrunner. I use my Jeep Cherokee and Dakota as daily drivers about the same.
Living in a semi isolated rural small town on the AZ/Mexico border makes pickups a must for some, especially the ranchers and farmers living out in the valley that surrounds my town on three sides. Lots of dirt roads that are upgraded and rough. In town alone roughly 3/4 of the population own pickups myself included with my 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 4 dr. I like the idea of being able to haul stuff when I need to.
Of course. I agreed from the start. But what percentage of pickups are concerned, here? It's a tiny number, compared to the bulk of these machines, in metro regions (urban and suburban).
and why can't those people drive what they want? Cities also bring environmental costs.
I can't figure out any way to keep tailpipe gases in the county where they're produced.
Cities are pretty bad, particularly in North America, where they are so car-centric. Tha town where I live is typical. After a long pause for COVID, home-building is gang-busters. All cookie-cutter single-family units, absolutely requiring a car for everything. Home-hunters have no choice at all. Only single-family is legal.
Overpopulation is pushing all the new building and is burning up the planet .
It's obvious from the article and the comments that no one has ever owned, driven, or admired a Rez Car, AKA, Rezmobile or NDN car. When one owns one it is spoken about in a reverent tone as they have the ability to herd cattle or pigs, carry loads of hay or stinking stuff, and can be used as a tool truck/tow truck or van or a school bus. Some have the ability to move forward or reverse, this would be a unique find. They do not require insurance coverage or repairs, it's all backyard mechanics and they can only be Indians, we have a special talent for fixing stuff.
They are so famous that songs have been written about them and movies made about them. They are uniquely American (Indian).
Here is the song done by cuz's, Keith, Joey, Reel Indians.
49 on shinobs.
Watch the movie ''Smoke Signals'' to see the reverse NDN car.
HEHEHEHEHEHE, you counting me in that or am I the outlier ?
All my cars are Rez cars , you know where i live ......
You would be an outlier, Mark....LOL
hahahahaha , yeah but at least my mama says im special , , now if its special ed or not i dont know .
I googled "Rez Car".
Diverse, to say the least!
LOL, one of the better ones to say the least.