Heavy Duty Owners Without A Purpose

Stranger ranger · October 25, 2010

i bought mine for the simple fact i wanted a 5 speed standard and the half tons do not offer it. I don't tow a lot but when I do its not even extremely big. 8k prob max, camping season. I tow a jeep or a ranger here and there, not at the same time, but would a half ton do it? sure would. I just like the higher stance of a hd. I'm hard on equipment unloaded so it works out for me. I"ll prob keep buying 3/4 tons for the rest of my life just for that reason, will I always need one, probably not.

High Mileage · January 8, 2012

Let's get to the nub of this. It isn't who's buying the trucks so much as who the manufacturers and dealerships are catering to that chaps my a$$. Look at what happened the 1st time fuel went up to $4/gallon. The yuppies and such where trading in their trucks on more fuel efficient cars left and right. You would have thought the the factory and dealers would have learned from this and gone back to their roots. The customer that actually needs a truck and is a repeat customer on probably a 6 year average. But no they didn't learn or even pay a bit of attention. We just went through another $4/gallon gas spike. Go to any dealership and all you'll find them loading the lots with is crew cab golf carts. Yes I said it "Golf Cart"! Anything less than an 8'bed is a glorified golf cart. A person who actually uses a truck on a daily basis needs an 8'bed and prefers a regular cab. If you find a truck on the lot with an 8'bed and a regular cab it is the most stripped down vehicle available. I'm in my truck 3 to 4 hours a day. I don't need carpet or leather but I do want cruise control, power widows, power locks and all the powertrain upgrades. But good luck finding a real truck on the lot at any dealership. I'm not trying to put anyone down for buying what they think they wanted because most of you on this site have never been given the option of buying a real truck because they won't put them on the lots. So I don't look at other drivers in their rigs with envy. More likely I feel pitty just knowing that they will have trown $20k down the drain when they trade it in next year on a Civic.

jro909 · January 9, 2012

Let's get to the nub of this. It isn't who's buying the trucks so much as who the manufacturers and dealerships are catering to that chaps my a$$. Look at what happened the 1st time fuel went up to $4/gallon. The yuppies and such where trading in their trucks on more fuel efficient cars left and right. You would have thought the the factory and dealers would have learned from this and gone back to their roots. The customer that actually needs a truck and is a repeat customer on probably a 6 year average. But no they didn't learn or even pay a bit of attention. We just went through another $4/gallon gas spike. Go to any dealership and all you'll find them loading the lots with is crew cab golf carts. Yes I said it "Golf Cart"! Anything less than an 8'bed is a glorified golf cart. A person who actually uses a truck on a daily basis needs an 8'bed and prefers a regular cab. If you find a truck on the lot with an 8'bed and a regular cab it is the most stripped down vehicle available. I'm in my truck 3 to 4 hours a day. I don't need carpet or leather but I do want cruise control, power widows, power locks and all the powertrain upgrades. But good luck finding a real truck on the lot at any dealership. I'm not trying to put anyone down for buying what they think they wanted because most of you on this site have never been given the option of buying a real truck because they won't put them on the lots. So I don't look at other drivers in their rigs with envy. More likely I feel pitty just knowing that they will have trown $20k down the drain when they trade it in next year on a Civic.

people that really love having their a truck whether its for work or just to drive don't go insane over gas prices...its about sacrifice, do i like paying up the ass for gas? no but i love having a truck and driving it so i accept getting sodomized by the gas pump...the people that do ditch trucks for small roller skates(civics,small fuel efficient cars) probably regret it daily...i know folks that got rid of their trucks because of gas prices and guess who they call when they can't fit more then a shoe box in their car

MikeNH · January 9, 2012

Sorry but saying a real truck is one with a reg cab, 8' bed and no options is stupid.

00Silverado4x4 · January 9, 2012

Sorry but saying a real truck is one with a reg cab, 8' bed and no options is stupid.

I respectfully disagree, still have an old '76 Chevy (reg cab, 8' bed, 4wd, manual everything except power steering & brakes) that isn't even automatic & it has been used to do all kinds of work. Hauling fire wood, rock, gravel, camping gear, dragging fallen trees, etc. Options are nice but do not define a "real truck". To me a real truck is the one you like & does the job you need it to do no matter its version or options & you the owner have no regrets.

music · January 9, 2012

Sorry but saying a real truck is one with a reg cab, 8' bed and no options is stupid.

I respectfully disagree, still have an old '76 Chevy (reg cab, 8' bed, 4wd, manual everything except power steering & brakes) that isn't even automatic & it has been used to do all kinds of work. Hauling fire wood, rock, gravel, camping gear, dragging fallen trees, etc. Options are nice but do not define a "real truck". To me a real truck is the one you like & does the job you need it to do no matter its version or options & you the owner have no regrets.

I think you're actually agreeing... i.e., you don't *have* to have an 8' bed to call it a "real truck". Any truck that meets your needs will do...

00Silverado4x4 · January 9, 2012

Oops. Now that I'm reading with brain turned on yes I was agreeing. Sorry Mike.

Mizz · January 9, 2012

I have a 2500 and have not towed anything with it so far other than a atv once. Will I get another 2500? You bet! I love my 2500 and my next one will be a crew cab dmax 2500 that I don't "need"but I am going to get it anyway just so I have a truck I cannot outgrow. Plus I have a buddy that owns a hotshot business and if things ever get slow at my work I will already have a good truck for being a hotshot driver.

Morgan1986 · January 20, 2012

My mind set is if they have the money all power to them. Do people really need big houses or swiming pools or hot tubs or atvs . no but people love them. Some people want a big heavy powerful truck even if they dont really need them . Who cares . More power to them . I dont own anything that i would tow that is heavy right now . Would i want a hd 2500 durmax allison HELL YES . I only have a 4.3l reg cab manual 5sp loaded up the box where its sitting on its bumpers before a bigger truck would of been nicer . I towed some friends crap and box was loaded a bigger truck would of been nicer for more stoping power . Did it tow things fine yes it did for my needs but I want more than my needs . This question is like do you want a house with 0.2 achers or a house with 25 achers on it . Most people dont even need 1500s never mind HD trucks we buy them becuase its what we want and if you are going to look down at a guy becuase he worked his ass off or went to school for along time with many sleepless nights studying and he wants a HD truck lowered with stupid spinners on his wheels all the power for him lol . that would be one ugly uless truck btw .

SouthCo · January 20, 2012

To me kind of a dumb topic. Does someone need a lambo that does over a 100mph? Nope but if they have the money, they can spend it as they want. We live in the great old USA. Buy what you want as long as you can afford it. So if someone disses you for having a diesel HD that you may not need they are probably envious. Just my humble opinion.

kstruckcountry · January 22, 2012

LOL "you should only be able to buy (insert name of your preferred truck config here)"

It doesn't matter. Now, a Peterbilt is a "real truck". And IMO, so is a Ford Ranger. Maybe I don't want to lean over to roll up the pass. window. Maybe I want to carry more than 3 people. Maybe I want to hear my music through nice speakers while I sit in a power seat. People have preferences. A truck is a truck, and mine suits me just fine.

djmercer1 · January 22, 2012

Let's get to the nub of this. It isn't who's buying the trucks so much as who the manufacturers and dealerships are catering to that chaps my a$$. Look at what happened the 1st time fuel went up to $4/gallon. The yuppies and such where trading in their trucks on more fuel efficient cars left and right. You would have thought the the factory and dealers would have learned from this and gone back to their roots. The customer that actually needs a truck and is a repeat customer on probably a 6 year average. But no they didn't learn or even pay a bit of attention. We just went through another $4/gallon gas spike. Go to any dealership and all you'll find them loading the lots with is crew cab golf carts. Yes I said it "Golf Cart"! Anything less than an 8'bed is a glorified golf cart. A person who actually uses a truck on a daily basis needs an 8'bed and prefers a regular cab. If you find a truck on the lot with an 8'bed and a regular cab it is the most stripped down vehicle available. I'm in my truck 3 to 4 hours a day. I don't need carpet or leather but I do want cruise control, power widows, power locks and all the powertrain upgrades. But good luck finding a real truck on the lot at any dealership. I'm not trying to put anyone down for buying what they think they wanted because most of you on this site have never been given the option of buying a real truck because they won't put them on the lots. So I don't look at other drivers in their rigs with envy. More likely I feel pitty just knowing that they will have trown $20k down the drain when they trade it in next year on a Civic.

you are full of it--why do you have to give up the comforts and drive a standard cab truck to have a real truck? if i was to make and arguement, i would say that the crew cabs and extended cabs with creature comforts are more truck than the standard cabs becasue they can carry more passengers longer than you barebones reg cab while still carry the payload...

in any event, even if i didnt need my truck for trailering or payload i would still have a 2500/3500-->its most important cargo is my 2 kids, and size does win in a accident(moose or other passenger vehicle)....

Kack · January 24, 2012

I've had a half ton, and now a 3/4 ton. Probably won't go back to a 1/2 ton ever again. Trailer is hooked to my truck about once a week. ATV gets loaded in the back, tractor in the bed, "stuff" in the bed. I tow a 5k boat twice a year and my rock crawling rig 10 times per year. My truck is used like a truck. I DD a gas getter to work and it makes me appreciate the HD even more every time I get in the seat. Running loaded with a rock rig, ATV, Dirtbike, tools, generator, camping gear, grills, tents, coolers, ice, beeer, and water is just soooo much nicer in the HD than the 1/2 ton. Feels less mushy, stops better, goes better and not constantly thinking about that weenie little 8.5" ring gear and semi floating rear axle shafts just makes everything better.

Go the HD!

With that being said. Every time I see a punk kid in a Stoopid Duty or Dmax with 20 in rims and 40's with a surfboard or bike in the back I want to stop and punch them for ruining a perfectly good truck and making it useless.

tbhuge · January 24, 2012

To me I haul the most valuable cargo a man can carry, I haul my 2 kids on a regular basis in my truck. Thus I have to have a crew cab with 2 truck seats. I don't like the 5'8" bed so I have the 6'5" bed. I have a 2006 1500HD. An 8' bed will not fit in my garage. I have about 6" to spare with this truck. I drive my truck daily as a driver and haul on occassions. At times I wish I had a diesel for the better gas mileage, but the 6.0 is working just fine for my needs. Do I use my truck to its full potential of offroading and hauling big stuff and towing the max payload it can handle....no. So what. Its mine, I have the option to haul stuff when I want, and it is a safe vehicle for my family the most precious cargo there is.......

94blackcamaroz28 · January 25, 2012

Well hopefully I dont get stepped on in this topic. In my honest opinion a person should just buy what they like. In 2007 I bought a 02 Silverado 3500 LT Dually Duramax. Drove the truck for 4 years and absolutely loved it. Towed a car trailer a few times and hauled the atv's without any problem. Got rid of it due to the injector problems. Decided that I would get back to a 1/2 ton gas silverado. In April of last year I bought a brand new Silverado Lt1500 ECSB 4x4. It looked nice and had some create comforts but wasn't loaded by any means. The price of the truck made me sick, absolutely ridiculous how much they cost nowadays. Tried towing the enclosed car trailer empty and boy it was quite a workout for the 5.3. Don't get me wrong, the truck rode like a car and towed okay but just wasn't what I wanted. Absolutely hated the AFM system. The AFM mated with the 6speed auto drove my wife and I absolutely nuts. Didn't buy a truck to worry about gas mileage why would I want the computer deciding to shut off 4 cylinders.

Anyways, 9 months later I traded the 1/2 ton in on a 08 Silverado 3500 LTZ dually dirtymax. I absolutely love it! Do I tow much, no. Do I get great fuel mileage, no. Is it economical, no. Is it what I wanted, absolutely!

We do have a Tahoe we drive around most of the time but I find myself driving the 3500 as a daily driver. I realize that It's not meant for a daily driver, it's meant for towing and being a workhorse. Personally I don't really care what vehicles are made for. It's truly in what a person wants.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. I truly don't care what people buy and what they drive, it's their choice.

What I don't understand is why people care what other people have or drive. Does it really matter?

Should a contractor drive a car to work, probably not. Should woman drive a corvette to go grocery shopping, doubt it. But it's what they want so why judge them?