Lighter pickups coming soon- but geez have they gotten fat!

[user removed]

Bought a 99 F150 manual and a V6 to build my first house. Averaged 20 MPG and most I hauled was 2k pounds. The rear springs were 1 inch from the bump stops at that payload.

It weighed 3800 pounds empty. Sold it when the house was finished. Sold the house 3.5years later for a 165k free and clear profit.

Bought a Tundra when I built the second house, V6 and AT. Averaged 19 MPG and sold it when the house was finished. 160k in the house and it is assessed at 330k today.

My brother has a 10k capacity dump trailer and a truck that can haul it around. Hasn't been used in months, since the local dumps will pick up and haul all of the trash even tons of construction debris.

regards
Mech

[tim3058]

Originally Posted by instarx

Used to frequent a diesel truck forum when I had one, and I can tell you that the "truck guys" are very interested in fuel economy. The main reason no one buys 30 mpg full-sized trucks is because no one makes one, not because "they don't want one".

Absolutely they don't want one - If people are throwing down $30k-40k on a 14mpg big rig, they just told the automaker thats what they want, not 30mpg. If they buy a 2wd stick shift 4 cyl Ranger or Colorado, they send a different message. If they truly wanted better fuel mileage, the automakers would provide it - its free market (or should be). In a marketplace where the Gov't isn't subsidizing failed automakers, they have no choice but to make their customers happy or go under.

[cujet]

Originally Posted by tim3058

Absolutely they don't want one - If people are throwing down $30k-40k on a 14mpg big rig, they just told the automaker thats what they want, not 30mpg. If they buy a 2wd stick shift 4 cyl Ranger or Colorado, they send a different message. If they truly wanted better fuel mileage, the automakers would provide it - its free market (or should be). In a marketplace where the Gov't isn't subsidizing failed automakers, they have no choice but to make their customers happy or go under.

Oh come on. It's clear that small pickups can't haul the goods. It's also clear that manufacturers cannot extract more energy out of the fuel. I don't know where you live and buy your vehicles, but Ford is really trying to make a capable truck that gets good mileage.

Big, capable trucks cannot achieve 30MPG with current technology. There simply is not enough energy in the fuel to do that kind of work.

23MPG, yes, that's realistic.

I cannot tow my 26 foot travel trailer with a Colorado, 4 cylinder, 5 speed manual.

[robchalmers]

Originally Posted by tim3058

Absolutely they don't want one - If people are throwing down $30k-40k on a 14mpg big rig, they just told the automaker thats what they want, not 30mpg. If they buy a 2wd stick shift 4 cyl Ranger or Colorado, they send a different message. If they truly wanted better fuel mileage, the automakers would provide it - its free market (or should be). In a marketplace where the Gov't isn't subsidizing failed automakers, they have no choice but to make their customers happy or go under.

when was the last time you were hungry, near a McDonalds, gone in and ordered a pizza? you can only buy whats on the menu!
if they don't have a 30MPG truck with the features you want, they can't really just wave a wand....

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Clev

And it MUST have 400hp. A 1992 Suburban did 0-60 in about 11.4 seconds, but the 2011 model (at 5,800 pounds!!) does it in a little over 8 seconds. Seriously, people?

It is very strange, then, that I never observe this in the real world. The Insight is supposed to do 0-60 in 10-11 sec, yet when I'm at a red light next to one of these things, when it turns green, somehow I seem to be a hundred yards down the road before the behemoth has crossed the intersection - and that's without me even trying!

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by cujet

Oh come on. It's clear that small pickups can't haul the goods.

BS! I do it all the time with my Toyota.

Big, capable trucks cannot achieve 30MPG with current technology. There simply is not enough energy in the fuel to do that kind of work.

That might be true if the truck was working all the time, but most of the time it's running around empty. So look at your "big, capable truck" and figure out how much of its weight is functional, and how much is parasitic, devoted to making it LOOK big & tough. So much of the fuel goes not to hauling the load, but just moving all the the excess weight of styling. Then there's the parasitic drag from having it jacked up so high, which in turn decreases its utility as a truck...

I cannot tow my 26 foot travel trailer with a Colorado, 4 cylinder, 5 speed manual.

Probably true, but that gets us into why you feel the need for a 26 foot travel trailer. I can haul my 20 pounds or so of tent & camping gear on a bike, or in a backpack, and I bet I have more fun, and experience less aggravation, than you do :-)

[Clev]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

It is very strange, then, that I never observe this in the real world. The Insight is supposed to do 0-60 in 10-11 sec, yet when I'm at a red light next to one of these things, when it turns green, somehow I seem to be a hundred yards down the road before the behemoth has crossed the intersection - and that's without me even trying!

That's because people look at the sticker and say, "Oh, 21 mpg! That's reasonable." Then after the first fill-up they have to adjust their driving because they're seeing single digits in the real world.

[Clev]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

Probably true, but that gets us into why you feel the need for a 26 foot travel trailer. I can haul my 20 pounds or so of tent & camping gear on a bike, or in a backpack, and I bet I have more fun, and experience less aggravation, than you do :-)

I can't begrudge people their toys, but at least he's a sensible truck owner. My complaint is about those who put 20,000 miles a year on a huge empty truck because their concerned about their image (and use the travel trailer as an excuse.) As I mentioned, I have a 4x4 Ranger that gets terrible mileage (see my garage), but it sees 2000 miles a year or less, and will be sold as soon as I can get off this mountain.

[cujet]

I said: "Oh come on. It's clear that small pickups can't haul the goods."

Originally Posted by jamesqf

BS! I do it all the time with my Toyota.

I hope you know I was kidding a bit, hence the smiley face.

It's obvious to anyone who looks at the situation, there is massive room for improvement. Engine size, turbocharging, transmission, aerodynamics, drivetrain, shape, weight, etc, etc........

[cujet]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

Probably true, but that gets us into why you feel the need for a 26 foot travel trailer. I can haul my 20 pounds or so of tent & camping gear on a bike, or in a backpack, and I bet I have more fun, and experience less aggravation, than you do :-)

OK, I see your point.

However, the goal of all of this, as far as I am concerned, is to achieve an excellent quality of life without excess waste.

Efficient large vehicles are part of that equation. Not riding a bicycle in the snow, with grizzly bears pawing at my 20 pound tent.