Why are trucks so big these days

[MXGOLF]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/new...A16DV5i?cvid=137a6ecbc4b44d3ab0b2f737866daf81


Interesting article about the size of trucks these days.

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[IdahoRanger]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/new...A16DV5i?cvid=137a6ecbc4b44d3ab0b2f737866daf81


Interesting article about the size of trucks these days.

Kind of like when they brought in relaxed fit jeans (more room in the cab), which of course I don't need.

 

[stringbreaker]

This may partially explain .
In 2006, CAFE altered the formula for its 2011 fuel economy targets, by calculating a vehicle’s “footprint”, which is the vehicle’s wheelbase multiplied by its wheel track. The footprint is expressed in square feet, and calculating this value is probably the most transparent part of the regulations. Fuel economy targets are a function of a vehicle’s footprint; the smaller the footprint, the tougher the standards are. A car such as the Honda Fit, with its footprint of 40 square feet, has to achieve 61 mpg CAFE, or 43 mpg IRL by 2025 to comply with regulations. At the opposite end of the spectrum, a full-size truck like the Ford F-150, with a footprint of 75 square feet, only needs to hit 30 mpg CAFE, or 23 mpg IRL, by the same timeframe.

 

[AzScorpion]

Trucks are getting way to big and that's why I love the Ranger. It's really the perfect size for most and about the same size as my first F150 back in '96. It fits in the garage and you can maneuver it very easily. Although some on here just can't seen to park theirs and we won't mention any names now will we? ?

 

[stringbreaker]

Here is the full article I took my first post from. A bit of a read but very interesting. It's all a shell game

 

[HippoTrucker]

This is one of the reasons I ended up buying the 5g ranger instead of the 6g. The 6g is just too wide. It's a minor difference, but on trails the 5g ranger already ends up scraping trees/branches, any wider and I'd have to start getting out the chainsaw.

I really hate this trend of "mid"size trucks getting ever bigger, it's ruining the segment (at least for my needs).

 

[JohnnyO]

A full size wouldn’t fit in my garage or even in my driveway.
Truck is somewhat bigger than my first Ranger, a ‘99. Still, it’s about as long as a 70’s F-150 shortbed.
Couple months ago my wife totaled her minivan. We met my son in the city to borrow his car until we could get a rental. He takes the bus to work and doesn't need his car every day. I’m in his Subaru next to my wife in the truck and I’m thinking that thing is kinda big and intimidating from down here. I still think of it as a small truck.

 

[Radioman]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/new...A16DV5i?cvid=137a6ecbc4b44d3ab0b2f737866daf81


Interesting article about the size of trucks these days.

Interesting maybe, but a fair amount of BS in my opinion

 

[Grumpaw]

Maybe their getting bigger to attract more "HE Men"....
Get your BIG truck now, and impress the gals...."The Bigger Your Truck means The Bigger Your.... IS "
I think it's true....I remember when I had an F-350 Dually Extended Cab, my ..... got HUGE. but when I started to get smaller trucks, my ..... got smaller !!!
Ranger is mid-size, so my ..... got a little bit bigger .

 

[FunInTheSun]

This may partially explain .
In 2006, CAFE altered the formula for its 2011 fuel economy targets, by calculating a vehicle’s “footprint”, which is the vehicle’s wheelbase multiplied by its wheel track. The footprint is expressed in square feet, and calculating this value is probably the most transparent part of the regulations. Fuel economy targets are a function of a vehicle’s footprint; the smaller the footprint, the tougher the standards are. A car such as the Honda Fit, with its footprint of 40 square feet, has to achieve 61 mpg CAFE, or 43 mpg IRL by 2025 to comply with regulations. At the opposite end of the spectrum, a full-size truck like the Ford F-150, with a footprint of 75 square feet, only needs to hit 30 mpg CAFE, or 23 mpg IRL, by the same timeframe.

THIS. 100% THIS.

This is also the year the actual small and mid-size trucks disappeared (4G Ranger) from the US market. No coincidences in politics.

 

[jblc]

Trucks are getting way to big and that's why I love the Ranger. It's really the perfect size for most and about the same size as my first F150 back in '96. It fits in the garage and you can maneuver it very easily. Although some on here just can't seen to park theirs and we won't mention any names now will we? ?

I find it almost the perfect size -- but a tad too cumbersome/large.
I got rid of my '97 (single cab, 7' bed) after 250k trouble-free miles, mainly as a safety upgrade; I couldn't justify not having the latest crash ratings anymore. And the 7' bed which fits my height for sleeping.

For example, one of the things i liked most about the '97 was its maneuverability. It had a tight turn radius, and could u turn almost any road without issue. This always surprised people, and me even after owning it for years If only the 5g had 3ft tighter turn radius

Anyway, the safety and comfort are of course far better for the 5g -- night and day. But the '97 for me was still more practical as an everyday driver (comfort aside).
The maverick seems about right for me, if it had a longer bed Since the bed is too short i still would have gotten the ranger had the maverick still been out.

 

[Highlander]

Clearly the answer... drive a truck... lol

Frank

 

[OrangeStreak]

I was looking for an F-150 when it dawned on me to check my garage dimensions (house built in 85). The 2018 F-150 Extended Cab length would have given me only 1/2" clearance from the front of the garage wall to the inside of the closed garage door! The Ford spec sheet on this truck showed it a little over 19' long... hard to image a vehicle almost 2 stories long Really glad to have opted for the Ranger...a little over 10" clearance to walk in front of it and 10" behind it...really nice fit!

 

[Ewelling]

Trucks are getting way to big and that's why I love the Ranger. It's really the perfect size for most and about the same size as my first F150 back in '96. It fits in the garage and you can maneuver it very easily. Although some on here just can't seen to park theirs and we won't mention any names now will we? ?

Trucks are getting way to big and that's why I love the Ranger. It's really the perfect size for most and about the same size as my first F150 back in '96. It fits in the garage and you can maneuver it very easily. Although some on here just can't seen to park theirs and we won't mention any names now will we? ?

Agreed- my 2020 Ranger is just 2-3 inches shorter and 6 inches narrower than my old 95 F-150 single cab with the 8 ft long bed. Big enough-one of the primary reasons I bought it. Perfect fit in my large garage.

 

[Ewelling]

This is one of the reasons I ended up buying the 5g ranger instead of the 6g. The 6g is just too wide. It's a minor difference, but on trails the 5g ranger already ends up scraping trees/branches, any wider and I'd have to start getting out the chainsaw.

I really hate this trend of "mid"size trucks getting ever bigger, it's ruining the segment (at least for my needs).

Yes, I just read the 6g version will be 2 inches wider-glad I grabbed a nice almost new 5g Ranger.

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