Ask the Car People.SM


Pickups - Mating Aesthetics with Functionality - READ ONLY

18 messages,  Last post on Dec 10, 2004 at 2:49 PM

You are in the Pickups - Archived Discussions Forum.

This discussion is ARCHIVED. To reactivate the discussion, post a request in the Javascript runtime error--TypeError: obj has no properties-- see logJsError437.html for a stack trace discussion.

What is this discussion about? Exterior, Interior, Truck

Messages Page 2 of 2

#9 of 18 Re: Now if you want to haul a LOT of stuff... [xwesx] by dustyk

Nov 18, 2004 (5:30 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Nov 18, 2004 1:09 pm)
Looking at the picture of that deep-walled Titan made me ponder.
 
I've owned several full-size pick-ups, but since purchasing my Dakota in '03, I cannot think of ever going back to a full-size truck now. For one, the lift-over on the Dakota is nice and low. Despite having a smaller dimensional box, I have yet to be daunted by any chore or task. The Dakota's box size, although I thought would be too small, has fit the bill in every instance.
 
Looks are not usually my number one concern when purchasing a new vehicle, but the flatsided Transformer's look of the Titan does pause me enough. The deepened box only makes it uglier, in my opinion.
 
Dusty

#10 of 18 Wasn't shooting for beauty... by PFFlyer@Edmunds HOST

Nov 18, 2004 (6:04 pm)

Sometimes I just like to have a bit of fun playing "what if" with the vehicles! Sure could pile a lot of stuff in that bed tho...LOL
 
I don't think the body work on the Titan turns me off as much as the Frontier did with that "rivet look" on the wheel wells. I'm not overly fond of the looks of the side mirrors on the Titan, although that probably wouldn't stop me from buying it if the Titan fit my needs and desires in a truck.
 
PF Flyer
Host
Pickups & News & Views Message Boards
 
Subaru Crew chat is on TONIGHT. Check out the schedule

#11 of 18 Re: Wasn't shooting for beauty... [pf_flyer] by xwesx

Nov 18, 2004 (7:04 pm)

Replying to: PFFlyer@Edmunds (Nov 18, 2004 6:04 pm)
Yeah, you sure could, but you could probably fit just as much in a bed that was longer and squatter (height-wise).....
 
I hated the "rivet look" on monotone Frontier models, but it looked nice on the dual color versions, esp with a roof rack and skid plate/brush guard. The '01 model my father owns has an impressive amount of ground clearance for a little truck - very capable off-roader; much more so than a stock Ranger 4x4.
 
Anyhow, I agree, Dusty. The ability to load cargo over the sides of the truck's bed is quite important. Another big plus to my '69 Chevy's step side. Now, this isn't one of those barely useable modern-day step sides. This thing has STEPS on it and they work wonderfully. It isn't the prettiest design in the world, but it is enormously functional. Considering all the comments I get on it ('67-'72 stepsides are rare around here, especially the long beds), there must be some aesthetic value to it. Another great feature of my truck is that the tail gate swings all the way down to a vertical position - completely out of the way. Granted, I don't have a rear bumper on it, but like I said... on some discussion... the truck is entirely original. This feature is great for off-loading gravel and it saves my tailgate from a lot of unnecessary dents and dings. If more height is needed in the bed, it's not too difficult to add 2' solid rails around it to give the depth. Most trucks can't carry more material weight than their beds can hold (like gravel, sand, soil), and solid items can be secured with a couple of tie downs... which again, can be secured at ANY POINT along the length of my step side.
 
Regarding the full vs mid size pickups.... I'm split. I've considered replacing my '96 Subaru with a Frontier because of many reasons, but the biggest of which is the versatility of being able to tow a real trailer and/or load and the flexibility an open bed adds. Being a one-car family (daily use - I only use the '69 for real work), a flexible, reliable vehicle is a must.... that's why I bought the Subaru in the first place! A mid-size is a much more practical all-purpose vehicle / daily driver than a full-size unless you are going to be working the truck daily. I know many people who down-graded from a full-size crew to a mid-size crew or F-150 w/ the mini-bed when they became available just because of the reasons I mentioned above.
 
But, I could never replace my '69 with a mid-size pickup or even a 1/2 ton. I would squash a mid-size with some of the loads I have hauled with my pickup. I have a photo I should post if I can find it.... I have 52 4'x8' sheets of 3/4" OSB in the bed and am hauling a 26' triple axle trailer with over 12K pounds of building materials - the entire first floor of my house. I expect I will make a similar trip with it again either this coming summer or the next, and while that is extreme, I haul many loads every year that a mid-size just couldn't survive. My favorite load is backing my Polaris 6-wheeler into the bed and closing the tailgate.
 
So thus far it looks like a bed with good accessiblity is important. What else is a must in a pickup?
 
-Wes-

#12 of 18 by ateixeira

Nov 19, 2004 (8:25 am)

I think Toyota uses a deeper bed in some Tundras, doesn't it?
 
-juice

#13 of 18 Re: [ateixeira] by xwesx

Nov 19, 2004 (10:48 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Nov 19, 2004 8:25 am)
I am not sure.... I've never looked twice at the Tundras - they are too big for a small pickup and too small for a full-size (yet are priced as if they were a full-size). Oh, and the tail lights on the new ones.... hideous; they make the Titan's light clusters look charming.

#14 of 18 What about Length? by xwesx

Dec 07, 2004 (11:40 am)

Well, apparently there is a saying out there: Size doesn't matter. To what does that apply, anyway? In any real discussion, size always matters.
 
Who out there has an opinion or story to share about size? Do you find crew cabs too cumbersome? Are short boxes useful on a 3/4 or 1 ton?
 
From arguments I have read in other threads, the shortbox is a better option if most of the weight the truck hauls is on a trailer versus in the bed of the truck. I can see the point, but what about those times when you need to get two pallets of landscaping stones and you only have your truck? Two pallets will fit in an 8' bed, but not a 6'.... isn't it worth it to haul that extra 2' around just in case?

#15 of 18 by ateixeira

Dec 07, 2004 (11:42 am)

Depends on where you park regularly. And what it'll cost you.
 
You can rent a pickup from UHaul for $20 a day on those occasions.
 
-juice

#16 of 18 Re: What about Length? [xwesx] by xwesx

Dec 08, 2004 (12:09 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Dec 07, 2004 11:40 am)
I suppose, but coming from AK, I have found few to no places where I could not park a full length p/u. I'm sure there are those folks who do not feel entirely comfortable driving around in a vehicle of that size, and if so, it is a good point to argue. But if the driving adeptness is there and the purchase price differential is not significant between the long and short box models...
 
What sort of restrictions on parking or price of parking would one be likely to find with a large pickup in your area, juice?

#17 of 18 by ateixeira

Dec 09, 2004 (8:44 am)

I commute to DC, so size does matter.
 
I stopped in Georgetown on the way home the other day, the only parking spots available were for compacts. Besides that you had to parallel park in the street, and good luck finding a large enough spot during rush hour.
 
Turning cycle is also an issue, you can't do a U-turn on many of the roads here unless you have 4 wheel steering that some GM pickups offer (great idea BTW).
 
Having said that, you're more likely to see pickups in rural or at least suburban environments, and there you're probably fine.
 
-juice

#18 of 18 Re: [ateixeira] by xwesx

Dec 10, 2004 (2:49 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Dec 09, 2004 8:44 am)
Ah, I guess I had not picked up on that (DC) before. I have been there once at a conference and have no interest in ever going back. One of my favorite past times is avoiding cities. lol
 
Thankfully, I imagine that the likelihood of me driving in a real city with a full-size truck is slim. I did take my '69 on an 11,000 mile journey from AK to OR to PA and back in July '99, but at 17 feet, it's the truck equivalent of a coupe except it handles better. After I made it to Indiana, mine was the oldest rig on the road by about 20 years and being canary yellow, I felt as though I stuck out like a pumpkin in a bushel of plums....

Messages Page 2 of 2

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement