With the talk of a Transit pickup....
Something many don't know about the Transit van is that they come from the factory with side windows and rear seats. This is to circumvent the Chicken Tax.
A pickup version would be quite a bit more expensive due to falling under the Chicken Tax rule.
Wiki.....
Ford imported all of its first-generation Ford Transit Connect models as "passenger vehicles" by including rear windows, rear seats, and rear seat belts.[1] The vehicles are exported from Turkey on ships owned by Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL), arrive in Baltimore, and are converted back into light trucks at WWL's Vehicle Services Americas, Inc. facility by replacing rear windows with metal panels and removing the rear seats and seat belts.[1] The removed parts are not shipped back to Turkey for reuse, but shredded and recycled in Ohio.[1] The process exploits the loophole in the customs definition of a light truck; as cargo does not need seats with seat belts or rear windows, presence of those items automatically qualifies the vehicle as a "passenger vehicle" and exempts the vehicle from "light truck" status. The process costs Ford hundreds of dollars per van, but saves thousands in taxes.[1] U.S. Customs and Border Protection estimated that between 2002 and 2018 the practice saved Ford $250m in tariffs
Same with the Ram Promaster vans...
Again, Wiki...
Chrysler introduced the Ram ProMaster City, an Americanized version of the Fiat Doblò, in 2015 — building the vehicle at the Tofaş plant in Turkey, importing only passenger configurations and subsequently converting cargo configurations.
The Chicken tax is the same reason that early imported pickups like Toyota and Chevy Luvs had weird beds. They were imported as chassis and upfitted with beds here in America. This greatly reduced the Chicken Tax levied against them.
I'm a nerd about automobile trivia.
Pete. (l33t FS) said:
You know what would rock? A Transit Connect ute.
I reeeeally want a Flex Ute. Transit Connect ute would get the job done as well.
Fingers crossed Ford doesn't drop the ball on the new Ranchero/Courier/Maverick thing. I don't care what they call it as long as it is available with 2 doors, 3 pedals, and a useable bed(6ft min).
parker said:
Unless your commute is to the construction site or farm compact pickups are terrible commuter vehicles. I've done it. Poor fuel economy, uncomfortable, crappy handling, all your stuff is in the open (unless you have a cap/lid) and most importantly no fun to drive. Fiesta ST, GTI or even a Neon back in the day are better at commuting.
I couldn't disagree more. I have a lifetime in pickup commuting. A compact pickup cab is quick to heat and cool, and for commuting purposes I have no need to lug around empty seats or cabin space. Plus the bed is paramount for making junkyard runs, steel yard runs, hardware store runs, etc. When you find that treasure on Craigslist it's great to be able to swing by and pick it up on your drive home. But, then again I'm the guy that carries a thick wad of cash in my wallet at all times because I like to scoop up deals spur of the moment.
Many times I commuted in a car and had to go home and swap it out for my little pickup to go back to pick up something I could have just gotten on the way if I weren't in a car.
And that's why I have arrived at my little minitruck as the perfect commuter back and forth to work.
...we came in?)
gumby (Forum Supporter) said:
Pete. (l33t FS) said:
You know what would rock? A Transit Connect ute.
I reeeeally want a Flex Ute. Transit Connect ute would get the job done as well.
Honda sells a Pilot ute, but people say it's not truck enough.
(isn't this where...
Pete. (l33t FS) said:
Honda sells a Pilot ute, but people say it's not truck enough.
Yeah, I am definitely not "people" as evidenced by the fact that automakers don't produce anything new that I want to buy. If the Ridgeline was available with 2 doors and 3 pedals, I would be interested. I am at a tipping point where I may replace my Ranger with a Ranchero(72-76) when the time comes.
In reply to gumby (Forum Supporter) :
Absolutely must be a '72, they didn't have the fugly bumpers. And what was Ford thinking when they changed the grille?
The fugly bumpers did work on the Ranchero in a brutalist sort of way, in ways that did not work for the Torino (unless you grew up watching Starsky & Hutch I guess), but the '72 was just so.... right, you know?
In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :
'72 is certainly preferred, but they tend to pull a dollar premium that I am not necessarily willing to pay for a truck shaped appliance. I had a '77 a long time ago, talk about huge bumpers! Tucking the front bumper on a '73-76 would be a priority
Dodge had/has Ram Box which is basically lockable boxes in the bedside (actual bed gets narrower to accomodate) but it does have the same downside as tailgates with all the crap built in which is that it drives up repair costs in that area enormously. We will soon reach the day when 10yo pickups total out if you insurance claim a stolen tailgate, imo. I have a friend who had Ramboxes and he bent his tailpipe on something and it melted all the plastic insides of the bedside with the Rambox and i think that cost like $2000 to fix.
I'm honestly more impressed with the Ridgeline bed than i am with... any other bed in existence. The dual action tailgate, the lockable drainable trunk in the bed, the power outlets, even the speaker thing. It is the coolest truck bed on the market in my opinion.
I don't get the hate for the Ridgeline. I bet it does everything that you could want a truck to do better then my Ford Ranger.
I also just generally hate driving trucks and would kind of be happy to never own one again.
Cousin_Eddie (Forum Supporter) said:
parker said:
Unless your commute is to the construction site or farm compact pickups are terrible commuter vehicles. I've done it. Poor fuel economy, uncomfortable, crappy handling, all your stuff is in the open (unless you have a cap/lid) and most importantly no fun to drive. Fiesta ST, GTI or even a Neon back in the day are better at commuting.
I couldn't disagree more. I have a lifetime in pickup commuting. A compact pickup cab is quick to heat and cool, and for commuting purposes I have no need to lug around empty seats or cabin space. Plus the bed is paramount for making junkyard runs, steel yard runs, hardware store runs, etc. When you find that treasure on Craigslist it's great to be able to swing by and pick it up on your drive home. But, then again I'm the guy that carries a thick wad of cash in my wallet at all times because I like to scoop up deals spur of the moment.
Many times I commuted in a car and had to go home and swap it out for my little pickup to go back to pick up something I could have just gotten on the way if I weren't in a car.
And that's why I have arrived at my little minitruck as the perfect commuter back and forth to work.
A 2 door pickup has less glass than most cars, and ice doesn't stick to the rear window. Ice removal in wintertime is a breeze. In a B series pickup, you can open up the front air vents and rear sliding window. You get airflow through the cab without the buffeting from open side windows. Awesome.
I do like a nice cushy car for commuting but as a general purpose A to B, it's hard to beat a truck.
IMO, my 2008 Ridgeline is as legitimate a truck as any 1/2 ton quad-cab out there. And it handles like a significantly smaller vehicle. My only beef is that it's a bit of a fuel hog, although the 2nd gen is supposed to be better. When I want a real truck (Defined as one with an 8' bed) I have an old F150 with the unbreakable 300CI I6.
I'm going to do a father/son build of one of the Smythe conversions. Either a Subbie or a VW turbo-Diesel.
Vigo (Forum Supporter) said:
Dodge had/has Ram Box which is basically lockable boxes in the bedside (actual bed gets narrower to accomodate) but it does have the same downside as tailgates with all the crap built in which is that it drives up repair costs in that area enormously. We will soon reach the day when 10yo pickups total out if you insurance claim a stolen tailgate, imo. I have a friend who had Ramboxes and he bent his tailpipe on something and it melted all the plastic insides of the bedside with the Rambox and i think that cost like $2000 to fix.
I doubt it, only because pickups carry value to an incredible degree. I used to have customers who did contracting gigs out of Suburbans and Escalades because used SUVs were silly cheap compared to pickups. People who buy SUVs want new SUVs, people who work contracting gigs want pickups and don't give a crap if it is older because they don't care about imprressing their neighbors and other people they pretend to care about. They might even prefer the previous generation model because of the "if it's new it sucks" factor.
I'm honestly more impressed with the Ridgeline bed than i am with... any other bed in existence. The dual action tailgate, the lockable drainable trunk in the bed, the power outlets, even the speaker thing. It is the coolest truck bed on the market in my opinion.
It's a truck for people who want a truck but are realistic that they don't need to be able to tow a cattle trailer, they just need to haul E36 M3 on occasion.
I wish I could combine some of the cargo and convenience features from all the. brands. I'd love to have the bed side boxes and dual swing tailgate from the new Rams, the rear bumper with inset steps from the Chevy, and the bed floor compartment from Honda in my F150 that has the drive train and chassis I prefer.
I worked in a park a while back, and getting a weed whip or backpack blower out of the back of a new Silverado was about impossible. I'm over 6 foot tall as well. We had an old 95 Silverado before and it was great. Trucks that tall are only good for compensation.
joey48442 said:
I worked in a park a while back, and getting a weed whip or backpack blower out of the back of a new Silverado was about impossible. I'm over 6 foot tall as well. We had an old 95 Silverado before and it was great. Trucks that tall are only good for compensation.
The issue is if you want a newer full size truck, that's what's on the market. So if you buy the full size truck, you are compensating for something now? What lower 8 ft bed truck is available new at the moment?
Steve_Jones said:
joey48442 said:
I worked in a park a while back, and getting a weed whip or backpack blower out of the back of a new Silverado was about impossible. I'm over 6 foot tall as well. We had an old 95 Silverado before and it was great. Trucks that tall are only good for compensation.
The issue is if you want a newer full size truck, that's what's on the market. So if you buy the full size truck, you are compensating for something now? What lower 8 ft bed truck is available new at the moment?
Now we know where the squatted truck trend started.
dxman92
HalfDork
5/16/20 10:45 a.m.
Nissan NV200s would make a great parts runner. I always enjoyed driving those when I worked at a dealer.
The only somewhat non full size truck I'd drive is a Nissan Frontier since you get it with a 4 pot and manual ( going away for 2021). Shame they don't make a crew cab 4x4 diesel manual combo.
Ill just go the utility trailer route if I never need to haul stuff. My 07 Honda Fit hauled tons of trash and metal scrap inside it just fine.
Steve_Jones said:
joey48442 said:
I worked in a park a while back, and getting a weed whip or backpack blower out of the back of a new Silverado was about impossible. I'm over 6 foot tall as well. We had an old 95 Silverado before and it was great. Trucks that tall are only good for compensation.
The issue is if you want a newer full size truck, that's what's on the market. So if you buy the full size truck, you are compensating for something now? What lower 8 ft bed truck is available new at the moment?
Yup, that's how it is. If you have something that seems excessive to other people, they may assume you're compensating for something, or you're an idiot, or whatever other negative things they assume. Never do they assume you bought it because it's what you want and its your money so that's perfectly okay too. LoL
"If you have something that seems excessive to other people, they may assume you're compensating for something, or you're an idiot, or whatever other negative things they assume. Never do they assume you bought it because it's what you want and its your money so that's perfectly okay too. LoL"
People can be idiots. I used to run around in a 2nd gen 4runner. I liked everything about that vehicle but the motor, which was both slow and thirsty. A good friend was running around in a Suburban, which managed to be more powerful, less thirsty and half again larger. But in my urban, liberal area the suburban got us stinkeyes sometimes......
How about a Mini Pick-up , probably fits in a Modern full size bed !
In reply to Kreb (Forum Supporter) :
Along those lines... I have a moder , oversize 4dr pickup with a short "useless" bed. I love it. Comfy, capable; fun.
yupididit said:
Steve_Jones said:
joey48442 said:
I worked in a park a while back, and getting a weed whip or backpack blower out of the back of a new Silverado was about impossible. I'm over 6 foot tall as well. We had an old 95 Silverado before and it was great. Trucks that tall are only good for compensation.
The issue is if you want a newer full size truck, that's what's on the market. So if you buy the full size truck, you are compensating for something now? What lower 8 ft bed truck is available new at the moment?
Yup, that's how it is. If you have something that seems excessive to other people, they may assume you're compensating for something, or you're an idiot, or whatever other negative things they assume. Never do they assume you bought it because it's what you want and its your money so that's perfectly okay too. LoL
But it's a design that works less well. The obsession with big stuff for the sake of big is stupid. Kenworth big? Cool. F350 big? Cool. F150 that needs a ladder to get groceries out of the box? Stupid.
But it works great for me so whats the problem?
By the same argument Miatas are an absolutely horrible design because i can't sit in one with the roof closed.
Streetwiseguy said:
yupididit said:
Steve_Jones said:
joey48442 said:
I worked in a park a while back, and getting a weed whip or backpack blower out of the back of a new Silverado was about impossible. I'm over 6 foot tall as well. We had an old 95 Silverado before and it was great. Trucks that tall are only good for compensation.
The issue is if you want a newer full size truck, that's what's on the market. So if you buy the full size truck, you are compensating for something now? What lower 8 ft bed truck is available new at the moment?
Yup, that's how it is. If you have something that seems excessive to other people, they may assume you're compensating for something, or you're an idiot, or whatever other negative things they assume. Never do they assume you bought it because it's what you want and its your money so that's perfectly okay too. LoL
But it's a design that works less well. The obsession with big stuff for the sake of big is stupid. Kenworth big? Cool. F350 big? Cool. F150 that needs a ladder to get groceries out of the box? Stupid.
I like big E36 M3 and think they're cool. Especially trucks and houses. Guess I'm stupid, oops!
Its cheaper to do a 2" lift to a Ridgeline making it look less weenie then properly lowering a full size 4wd truck to have a usable bed height and not need a ladder to get in/out of either the bed or the cab.
