General Unibody Hate?

[SFB]

Discussion topic for the group. There seems to be a lot of hate for the Maverick/Santa Cruz/Ridgeline and statements that they are not 'Real' trucks. A lot of these statements are followed by a comment about the unibody design. I have several questions if y'all are willing to indulge me.

1: Is the unibody design the only reason these vehicles should not be considered 'Real Trucks'?
- If your answer is no, please flesh out the other reasons. I have my own for these specific vehicles as well.
2: If yes, in your mind, how does a unibody design disqualify these vehicles from being trucks (Truck = Ladder frame and nothing else ever)?
3: What if a truck comes along with huge payload, towing, & off-road numbers and is unibody, would you still not consider it a 'real truck'?
4: If all things were the same with the current and beloved 5G ranger, but it was unibody, would it still be a real truck and would you have still bought it?

I'm interested in everyone's opinions and how these opinions came to be.

When Ford went to more aluminum they got heat for it, as for the unibody design, well the original Mustang was unibody, and I think current too! Does this make it any less a car? That said, aircraft are unibody, aircraft are also aluminum and some today plastic! 787 Dreamliner is plastic. I’ve flown plenty, in many types. If unibodies are strong enough for aircraft and aluminum too then I’m sure it’s good enough for cars or trucks. I consider it a pickup or small truck if it has a bed. My 2C

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[TJC]

PLEEEEESE....do not include that "E" in the same photo group with real Mustangs....it is an insult to the Mustang Brand !!!!! Slapping the Mustang name on a make believe electric suv doesn't make it a Mustang.
You shall receive 40 lashes with a used, real Mustang spark plug wire, from a real IC Mustang engine !!!!
None pictured are "true" Mustangs.....can't be "more of a Mustang" Either it is or is not !!!!

Lee Iacocca is rolling over in his grave

 

[SFB]

Yeah, I forgot about that! Changing a timing belt on a transverse mounted 6 cylinder every 100K miles can't be any fun at all. Watched a video and it looks no harder than changing the belt on my 93 Miata.... still no fun at all.

Coyote engine uses a belt to drive the oil pump, inside the engine in oil!

 

[TJC]

My 2003 3.5L V6 Maxima had the water pump internal to the engine. Failure sends coolant into the oil pan. I got rid of it before it became a problem. I had it 20 years, but it only had 105K miles on it. Gave it to a nephew who needed a car and has the skills to repair it.

 

[Dgc333]

Coyote engine uses a belt to drive the oil pump, inside the engine in oil!

The coyote 5.0 oil pump is driven by the crank shaft the same as the Gen 3 Hemi and LS engines.

Here is a picture of the oil pump being removed from the crank.

 

[SFB]

The coyote 5.0 oil pump is driven by the crank shaft the same as the Gen 3 Hemi and LS engines.

Here is a picture of the oil pump being removed from the crank.

https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2021/03/2021-ford-f-150-5-0l-v8-oil-pump/

 

[Dgc333]

https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2021/03/2021-ford-f-150-5-0l-v8-oil-pump/

Well that is interesting, seems the 21 and newer 5.0 in trucks has a belt driven pump. Prior to 21 and all 5.0s, 5.2s in Mustangs have a crank driven oil pump like the picture I posted.

 

[ctechbob]

The latest gen Ridgeline was in my sights...until I verified that the 3.5 V6 still used a rubber band instead of a chain.

I just need something that can haul about 3k on a trailer or thereabouts. I saw Old Blue and fell in love with the color. Took her home.

I will take the rubber band that is designed to be replaced over our timing chains that are not and that require special tools to deal with our non-keyed crank pulled, any day of the week.

And before someone says 'Ford designed the timing chain to last forever'. Tell that to all the 3.5 owners that have to replace timing sets, usually around the 150k-200k mark.

I'm under no delusion that my Ranger is going to make it to the mileage that my 2003 Accord is currently sitting at (280,000 miles) without some form of major engine repair. The Accord has had 2 timing belts, and a handful of o-rings and seals thrown at it the last time I did the timing belt and that is it. It doesn't use oil, starts the first time, and still gets mid to high 20's MPG.

No way the Ranger will repeat that. I'm going to try with an aggressive maintenance schedule, but I'm also being realistic and expecting to have to pay the piper at some point.

 

[ctechbob]

Yeah, I forgot about that! Changing a timing belt on a transverse mounted 6 cylinder every 100K miles can't be any fun at all. Watched a video and it looks no harder than changing the belt on my 93 Miata.... still no fun at all.

If you've done them before it is a 1-2 hour job tops. Honda does a good job with access and being able to get tools in and out (in general), they're really not the huge deal everyone freaks out about.

The hardest thing is usually removing the crank bolt.

 

[TJC]

If you've done them before it is a 1-2 hour job tops. Honda does a good job with access and being able to get tools in and out (in general), they're really not the huge deal everyone freaks out about.

The hardest thing is usually removing the crank bolt.

Good to know.

 

[RAYJAY]

PLEEEEESE....do not include that "E" in the same photo group with real Mustangs....it is an insult to the Mustang Brand !!!!! Slapping the Mustang name on a make believe electric suv doesn't make it a Mustang.
You shall receive 40 lashes with a used, real Mustang spark plug wire, from a real IC Mustang engine !!!!
None pictured are "true" Mustangs.....can't be "more of a Mustang" Either it is or is not !!!!

that is not a mustang ... 1995 SHO Taurus...... with the Yamaha motor.....like this

 

[Eoj]

Handicapable trucks

 

[db_tanker]

If you've done them before it is a 1-2 hour job tops. Honda does a good job with access and being able to get tools in and out (in general), they're really not the huge deal everyone freaks out about.

The hardest thing is usually removing the crank bolt.

But its a 1000.00 dollar maintenance requirement that shouldn't be needed. Honda has gone to chain on their 4 cyl engines but not their V6.

As for Ford using a rubber belt for their oil pumps...yeah I got no answer for that either.

 

[ControlNode]

I'm so basic anything with a bed and a tailgate counts as a truck to me.

It's a truck with a covered bed.

 

[VAMike]

It's a truck with a covered bed.

that's basically any 4 door short bed

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