• grue@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    Male insecurity is part of it, but public policy is a bigger part: specifically, the “chicken tax” and CAFE loopholes. Fix those, so that manufacturers are actually allowed and incentivized to make small trucks that people want (and disincentivized against making gigantic ones their “flagship” models), and the problem would greatly diminish.

    • Bye@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      Loosen passenger safety regulations while they’re at it. It’s become insane. Cars are safe enough for occupants, and have been for two decades at least.

      Meanwhile, maybe we can make pedestrian safety more of a priority.

        • Bye@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          Passenger safety features have become very expensive and make cars less maintainable and therefore more wasteful. Backup cameras and parking sensors and merging sensors/indicators.

  • Not_mikey@slrpnk.net
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    4 months ago

    For all the people saying “I just want a small pickup to do x” I’ll point you to the recommendation at the end:

    If you are only towing, off-roading, or hauling once a year, or never, it might be wise to consider a smaller vehicle, and rent or borrow a truck when you really need a truck. There are tens of millions of them out there. There are even amazing services like Turo or ZipCar out there that grant you access to a vehicle for just the time you want it, and may even deliver it to your door.

  • agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works
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    4 months ago

    I want a small truck with a big bed so I can carry stuff. A Toyota Hilux Champ looks like my dream truck, but we can’t have nice things.

    • Wogi@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      Hear me out. You actually want a minivan.

      Or a cargo van if you’re feeling fancy. You can get cargo vans electric too. They aren’t nice, they’re definitely built to just haul stuff. But they’re really good at just hauling stuff.

      If you’re looking for cheap find an old used minivan and lay the seats down. You can fit a lot in an old minivan. 4*8 sheets are not a problem for most.

      • GBU_28@lemm.ee
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        4 months ago

        Until the thing you’re moving is 1 inch taller or longer than your van, sure.

        If the goal is to regularly move furniture, and you want a standard height vehicle (not a tall box van), a pickup truck is more interesting.

        (Vans are great though for many other jobs)

        • Wogi@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          I mean, I’ve moved quite a bit in a mini van, you’d be surprised what will fit in there. There are very few things I haven’t been able to get in to the back of a minivan. Modern pick up trucks do not have the cargo capacity a minivan does.

          And if you’re worried about it, cargo vans will absolutely be able to handle it. Just about anything you buy is going to be built to a size to accommodate shipping it.

          And, any big box store will happily rent you a pickup truck should that need ever arise. 25 bucks for the few hours you need it, if you’re really worried about it.

      • agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works
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        4 months ago

        Most. Then there’s furniture and appliances, which I have used vans for and it’s not great. What I actually want is a Hilux Champ. I would accept any small pickup with a BIG bed.

    • Infynis@midwest.social
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      4 months ago

      I just want something to ferry around thrift store furniture lol

      I’ve been looking at the Subaru Baja

  • emerica@sh.itjust.works
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    4 months ago

    I was amazed recently how hard it was to find a proper small truck. Just wanted something to carry my bicycle so I could try some different trails that are farther from my house.

    All the new trucks are huge and the old small trucks are expensive. Ended up with a “mid-sized” Nissan and it’s bigger than the F-150s all my friends had growing up. I still want an old Ford Ranger or something but they’re just too damn expensive now.

  • Omega_Man@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    I actually just traded out of my F-150 for an all-electric crossover. Lemmy has informed me that this was a terrible move for the environment.