If you do it about once a week or more, then you do need it. If you need it any less than once a week, congrats it’s a status symbol. How do I know? Because the numbers don’t lie, and if you only actually haul monthly - or even every 2 weeks, it’s actually phenomenally cheaper to rent a truck from either a rental shop or something Home Depot. Trucks are crazy expensive, their fuel already was astronomical before, and now it’s even worse. It’s much much cheaper to have a modest sedan/van than it is to own a truck.
Speaking of vans, it’s actually more spacious and more carrying capacity to own a decent van than it is to own a truck. Go ahead, test out my knowledge. Vans have more carrying capacity, better fuel mileage, they’re closer to the ground so they’re easier to load, and they’re even covered so you don’t need a topper or tool box that takes up even more space.
So in short, if you haul less than once a week, you should have rented and saved a few dozen thousand dollars. If you haul more frequently than weekly, you probably should have bought a van.
teslekova@sh.itjust.works 13 hours ago
Why didn’t you buy one with a lower height but the same load capacity? Safer and makes loading stuff easier.
Us Australians look at weird American raised utes and scratch our heads in puzzlement. You’ve got a higher driver position, granted, but it’s also a higher centre of gravity, it’s harder to park in garages and underground car parks, it’s harder to see pedestrians, it’s harder to load stuff into the tray, etc.
You clearly aren’t just driving it to look pretty, like many people that we both probably get annoyed by. What’s the story?
Sir_Kevin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 hours ago
Good luck finding one in the US. I miss my old 95 Ranger.
Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 13 hours ago
The fact that they never brought the Holden Ute over to the US as a new El Camino is frustrating.
STUNT_GRANNY@lemmy.world 11 hours ago
We came close, it was gonna be brought over as a Pontiac like with the Commodore/G8, but then that brand went away.
Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 11 hours ago
And we wonder why GM needs bailed out all the time.
mrgoosmoos@lemmy.ca 13 hours ago
I think it’s pricing
I got a friend who bought a RAM last year. he was previously hauling construction equipment in his partner’s crossover and his own sedan. a pickup was an appropriate buy
HOWEVER he got a RAM (thankfully no LED headlights, though they are mounted way too high still), and tbh I’m not really sure what his alternatives were. “small” pickups like the Maverick are too small, and expensive
also he’s like 6’4" 250+lb so he physically needs a bigger cabin lol
RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world 4 hours ago
They also have more size configuration options, per model. RAM is one of the only brands that offer single cabs and 8 foot beds, for example.
RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world 13 hours ago
Honestly, it just seemed like the best option. Admittedly, it’s also fun to drive, but yes parking can be a pain. But where I live accommodates it pretty well.