Cars have a purpose, SUV's have a purpose, and trucks have a purpose.


The 'trick' is to make sure you have the best vehicle that fits ALL of your needs.


The double standard you see being applied is used by those unwilling to bend to meet a portion of their needs and angry at others who did. I don't NEED a truck every day, but I do need some of the capabilities of a truck or SUV more often than not. I picked a truck because I am tired of the SUV world and because it gives better over all performance (mileage and safety) that the SUV I have.


YMMV

Trucks were never designed to go haul a** down a gravel or bad dirt road. They were meant to tow and haul stuff, hence the truck bed and it's assinine to think that someone would be towing or hauling something every day... But, people can't respect other peoples stuff and have no idea the value of a dollar, and don't mind beating the snot out of their 10k+ trucks in the woods. You could argue that they are in fact tools, but those 20k dollars worth of snap on tools, you still wipe down and try not to beat up when you use them because they are all you got and you want to keep the usefulness of them for as long as possible. How is your 50k dollar brand new truck any different?

I don't tow ANYTHING, except for that very rare ghost trailer ;). But, I still need that truck bed for the stuff that I do. In fact, a car just wouldn't work for my habits and neither would an SUV. Plus trucks are just flat out fun, they weigh nothing in the back and it makes winter drifts that much more fun.

The thought process of "That is a waste of a truck because it's not covered in mud or being beaten up" is the reason I can't find a truck that isn't rusted out or full of dents up here for under 5 grand. My truck was 8k, chump change to the cost of a new truck, but it's still a lot of money and I'd like to keep it around for as long as possible and keep it as nice as possible.

The biggest truck stereotype I can't stand and it is completely rooted in truth up here. Is that you NEED a 4wd truck in the winter or you'll die. During a storm, all you see in the ditch is those 4wd trucks. They weigh nothing in the back and 4wd does NOTHING to stop sliding on black ice. During bad storms, I don't even use 4wd unless I need it because the 4wd gives me a false sense of how bad the road actually is until it's too late. I've never gone in the ditch, not once in any vehicle, I've driven and I've only ever used 4wd to help me get going at a stop light or to get through a lot of snow and it gets turned off as soon as I'm done. People fail to realize that older vehicles weren't designed to cruise around in 4wd on the mostly dry pavement for 9 months and then wonder why their T-case chains are stretched, skipping or they need ANTHER set of CV axles. Anyways, done with my random tangent, back on topic.

It is your truck and if you want to use it go to church every Sunday, put 1000 miles a year on it and never put anything in the bed. It is your money, so who cares... besides you'll make someones day 20 years from now when you sell your 20-year-old truck with extremely low miles and in pristine condition.

Meh who cares what other people think, I bought it because I liked it and screw everyone else.
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True on 4WD, people often forget that its primary intent is to get you moving where 2WD will not. It does not increase your ability to handle or stop in poor conditions that necessitate it. Makes sense why people who don't have enough sense to understand the use of a 4WD system misuse it and end up as you said, on the side of the road somewhere or crashing into someone else.

There was a site I came across that showed with easy to understand diagrams some of the concepts, shame I can't find it now but it did really highlight this. Thanks to that I definitely know better than to use 4WD on pavement unless there's something like snow down (and a lot of it) where slippage can occur. Otherwise you're just beating on the drivetrain to get the slippage. Unless you've got a full time 4WD system like the Lariat and above can get, it should stay in 2WD.

I may truly not have a great need to use 4WD almost ever, but I do understand its purpose if the time comes. I was ok with 2WD as long as I could get the ELD, but I found this one and liked it and it ended up having 4WD. Most people probably want AWD but as I'm sure you realize many people don't know that AWD and 4WD are not the same thing.

i like the winter reference above. where i work, people that live less than 5 miles away would complain they "couldn't come because they dont have a 4x4", when the crotchety old bricklayer drove 40 miles in a ford tempo that was more rust than metal. its a quarter inch of snow that will melt by noon, crybabies....

i've discovered some people just want to whine about everything, no matter what. i used to have a truck with a cap on the back, because purchase price & insurance was cheaper than a SUV. "why didn't you just buy a suv?" now, when i lift my current 2wd truck, i will hear "why lift a 2wd?". because i will spend my money however i damn well please, thats why.

i've only noticed dumbass comments like those online, though. haven't seen one person yet with the balls to say something like that to my face.

oh yeah, and to the little old man that owned my truck before me: thank you for never loading anything in the bed, driving on the highway, or having anyone ride with you for the few miles you put on it. the receipts in the glove box were a nice touch as well.
made a great work truck

Actually, 4WD will help with handling; having the front wheels driven will allow the front end to pull the truck in the direction its pointed and keep the rear end in the back, when the same situation in 2WD might result in the ass end trying to pass the nose. Going around corners, same theory applies: the front wheels can actually help pull you through and out of the corner.

It ain't magic, though, and the laws of physics still apply (take particular note if you're running AT tires rather than winter tires in the snow).

And on the original subject: I think the same thing about people driving around in SUVs when they never need true 4WD and ground clearance. If I didn't want the ground clearance and towing capacity and consider the ability to throw a bike or sled in the bed a need, I'd have bought a wagon that would be just as fast, handle a lot better, and get at least somewhat (AWD) or much (FWD) better fuel mileage. But it's your money, spend it as you see fit..it only annoys me because it makes it harder to find a less-expensive used truck without a ton of options on it.

Heres the thing though:


BUY WHAT YOU WANT, USE IT HOW YOU LIKE!!!


Who cares what anyone else has to say? Are they paying for it? Is this 5th grade and we're trying to get cool points? No. Its your stuff. Just enjoy it.


Now, only things I never really got was people lifting 2WD trucks. Or the whole Baja stance with only the front lifted up. But guess what? That's just me and my personal opinion. If you want to install a 12" lift on your 2wd Ranger, I might call you stupid but its your truck. If you want to lift the front end 6 inches and lower the rear, I think its gonna look stupid but that's on you.


Most people hating on trucks are just Prius driving, 50 mph in the fastlane, Whole Foods shopping type who honestly I'm not gonna get along with any ways. I have a Mustang and I like to go fast in it, I have a bike and I like to go fast with it, I have a truck and I want to go offroading in it. But even if I didn't, who cares? Its my stuff and I'll use it however I like.

My God I was listening to that dumbass public radio (BUT ONLY FOR LIKE TWO MINUTES I SWEAR TO GOD)...anyway the woman on there was talking about the hurricane in Fla and Texas , saying YOU need to donate because YOU burn fuel causing the artic ice to melt. You who burn fuel caused the hurricane. I've never punched a woman. She would be the first if I could of reached through the radio.
I had a 2007 spare car that got 38 mpg. I'd park it in the winter and use it in the summer. This year it sit for nearly 3 months , I just liked using my truck so much more. I sold it. I'll drive what I Want. And public radio can shove it.

Exactly. And I am as concerned about my truck using more gas than an econobox as the people in the fleet of private jets that were recently in town for the Mayweather fight were concerned, over 1,000 of them.

And then they drove to the fight in huge limos. Save gas, yeah, right after you.

The ones with double standards have a real mental problem, screw 'em, and their wife or significant other, kids ,dog, cat , mommy and daddy, and yes, even the horse they rode in on.
I'll drive/buy what I like, whether anyone thinks I need it, work it, or whatever.
I've been a car guy for at least 50 years, and have always had the vehicle that I liked. If someone else feels compelled to give it a thumbs up, great. If not, I really don't care. :D