Why doesn't anybody make a small truck with a 6.5 foot bed?

[toylandcruiser]

True. Could look at like this...they figured it out long ago...no real reason to invest more into it. Like Harley they just sit back and collect profits now.

Other manufactures do offer a more, but how much of that is just gimmicks to sell more trucks? I know I am luddite, but I find the amount of fluff that people need on vehicles rather ridiculous.

I was following a short box '72 Chevy today...and thought to myself..."man, that is all you need right there...sweet and simple" something about the smell of carbureted non-catted V8. Not good for the environment, but hey!

drove past the new Toyota dealer here... 8 new frames sitting in the back lot. Not sure about you, but having a frame NOT rust out in 10 years is a "gimmick to sell more trucks" that I can get behind.

You’re such a tool

 

[Clutch]

.

Is that your Tundra? That is impressive.

So to kinda steer this thread back on topic...RCLB Tundra is probably the only RC I could do. 6.5' beds are "ok"...but a true 8' is where it is at. And speaking of innovating, it is about the only one that has some useful storage space behind the seat. Ram RC's aren't bad, but it is about half of the Tundra's. But the RC Tundras didn't sell well so they killed it. Looks like Ram killed their RC 1/2 tons too. Don't see the '19's available in that configuration.

 

[toylandcruiser]

.

Is that your Tundra? That is impressive.

So to kinda steer this thread back on topic...RCLB Tundra is probably the only RC I could do. 6.5' beds are "ok"...but a true 8' is where it is at. And speaking of innovating, it is about the only one that has some useful storage space behind the seat. Ram RC's aren't bad, but it is about half of the Tundra's. But the RC Tundras didn't sell well so they killed it. Looks like Ram killed their RC 1/2 tons too. Don't see the '19's available in that configuration.

Not mine. But it’s a 5.7 on tundra talk.

 

[plainjaneFJC]

You’re such a tool

You are very sensitive when someone questions Toyota.

 

[bkg]

Yeah that is BS. Toyota always did have the market cornered on rust.

Mine still looks good.

But you do know my '76 F250's frame rusted, broke in half, it was only 14 years old when it did it. Floor pan and bed rusted out long before that. Ford did nothing about it.


Oh you know the gimmicks I am talking about...heated mirrors, heated steering wheels, 20 point self adjusting power seats, self braking, auto parking, lane sensors, automatic transmissions, va-jay-jay warmers, and all the other BS fluff...

Of the 4 Toyota’s I currently own... my f350 has the most “tech.” I hear you, though. I look at the new ram with the 64” flat screen tv for a dash, dial-transmission selector and wonder if we have jumped

You’re such a tool

And a familiar tune comes on the radio....

 

[DaveInDenver]

Consumer preference, it's the law of demand.

 

[Clutch]

Of the 4 Toyota’s I currently own... my f350 has the most “tech.” I hear you, though. I look at the new ram with the 64” flat screen tv for a dash, dial-transmission selector and wonder if we have jumped

Drove out to see the sunset last night...looking at my dash compared to the new stuff. Lights, wipers, climate control and a radio...and that is about it. I go sit in the new stuff and think gee-bus I don’t know what most of that stuff does...that is A LOT of buttons! Just a matter of time before we aren’t allowed to drive our own vehicles anyway....

 

[bkg]

Consumer preference, it's the law of demand.

I suspect fleet sales is the primary consumer of the basic truck. I’m seeing more and more wrapped xtra cab tacoma’s On trailers here in mid-TN. Some regular cab titan’s as well.

 

[Buliwyf]

5+ seats > a place to sleep.

Being able to sleep in a small trucks bed isn't very high on the manufacturers cut sheet. And last timeI checked, the little trucks ain't so little. 4" thinner than a Superduty, wheel well lip, to wheel well lip.

Yeah that is BS. Toyota always did have the market cornered on rust.

Mine still looks good.

But you do know my '76 F250's frame rusted, broke in half, it was only 14 years old when it did it. Floor pan and bed rusted out long before that. Ford did nothing about it.


Oh you know the gimmicks I am talking about...heated mirrors, heated steering wheels, 20 point self adjusting power seats, self braking, auto parking, lane sensors, automatic transmissions, va-jay-jay warmers, and all the other BS fluff...

But how did the frame on your Model T hold up??? 1976 was a while ago. A current frame on any of the one ton trucks is thick enough, that failing due to corrosion, is operator error. It doesn't take much effort to spot, clean up, and repaint bad spots before they become troublesome.

The Toyota frames are warranty defective. It's beyond normal rust and failures. Two different situations completely.

I'm with you on the gimmicks though. I hate the upper trim Dodges and Fords. Just a bunch of nonsense that fails. Some people love to spout off about resale value, but a Platinum only has more resale value than an XLT if all of those features still work (unlikely), and the poor leather seats aren't wrinkled or crack badly (good luck with that). And in the CAM Buss world, some of those extra features can shut down the truck when they fail. (the plug of death at the rear, on the 2017 Superduty for example, can wreck critical system operation at the front of the truck)

That's why well used Suburbans and Excursions are so cheap, their interiors are often in very bad shape. Making a perfectly good truck, feel like it's a million miles old.

 

[Buliwyf]

Yeah, I won't do cloth either. Vinyl, or leather. I went vinyl, I might go Katskins later. Way better quality than OEM, similar price, even with labor.

 

[Clutch]

But how did the frame on your Model T hold up???

There is a Model T on CL right now...so I am guessing pretty good!

https://boise.craigslist.org/cto/d/1925-model-ford/6628852799.html

The Toyota frames are warranty defective. It's beyond normal rust and failures. Two different situations completely.

It is...all because they farmed out the frames to dana. Damn shame they don't build their trucks in Japan anymore.

Oh I know it is two different situations completely, it was a bit of a joke. I had that 76 back in PA, where you expected things to rust out...were lucky to get 10 years out of it. My uncle bought the same truck the same time my dad bought his, brand new. His didn't last as long as ours. We had that truck painted 3 times, floor pan repair a couple and one bed replacement.

It does suck for Toyota, but at least they are covering their asses...not sure Ford would do the same...if you ever read any of Larry's threads on Fords warranties...

I'm with you on the gimmicks though. I hate the upper trim Dodges and Fords. Just a bunch of nonsense that fails. Some people love to spout off about resale value, but a Platinum only has more resale value than an XLT if all of those features still work (unlikely), and the poor leather seats aren't wrinkled or crack badly (good luck with that). And in the CAM Buss world, some of those extra features can shut down the truck when they fail. (the plug of death at the rear, on the 2017 Superduty for example, can wreck critical system operation at the front of the truck)

That's why well used Suburbans and Excursions are so cheap, their interiors are often in very bad shape. Making a perfectly good truck, feel like it's a million miles old.

Is the new leather...even real leather? Like you said...see them that aren't really that old and they are cracked and ripped. That 76 was bought as a work truck....when the interior got too bad we used to hose it out...can't do that with the new stuff, heck I can't even do that with my Toyota.

Think the only leather I could do would be something like this. Looks burly enough that you could use and abuse it.

https://www.resurrectionlandcruiser...e-red-menace-1962-stage-3-patina-restoration/

 

[Buliwyf]

The American cars usually have real leather down the center, and fake along the sides.

Hyundai has fake leather. But I love it. Thicker, stiffer, still comfortable. Lasts forever, never wrinkles. Might be the same kind of fake leather used in power boats. I prefer fake leather most of the time.

 

[Clutch]

The American cars usually have real leather down the center, and fake along the sides.

Hyundai has fake leather. But I love it. Thicker, stiffer, still comfortable. Lasts forever, never wrinkles. Might be the same kind of fake leather used in power boats. I prefer fake leather most of the time.

I have been in some vehicles with the fake leather...seems delicate to me. Well at least to hold up to my abuse. I am usually covered in dirt, mud, sawdust, and concrete dust.

I remember jumping in one of my dirt bike buddy's F250 with my moto boots still on...

He said "those aren't allowed in here."

I am like "are you kidding!? "this is a truck, right!?" He made me take them off... (**********' wimp)

 

[plainjaneFJC]

5+ seats > a place to sleep.

Being able to sleep in a small trucks bed isn't very high on the manufacturers cut sheet. And last timeI checked, the little trucks ain't so little. 4" thinner than a Superduty, wheel well lip, to wheel well lip.




But how did the frame on your Model T hold up??? 1976 was a while ago. A current frame on any of the one ton trucks is thick enough, that failing due to corrosion, is operator error. It doesn't take much effort to spot, clean up, and repaint bad spots before they become troublesome.

The Toyota frames are warranty defective. It's beyond normal rust and failures. Two different situations completely.

I'm with you on the gimmicks though. I hate the upper trim Dodges and Fords. Just a bunch of nonsense that fails. Some people love to spout off about resale value, but a Platinum only has more resale value than an XLT if all of those features still work (unlikely), and the poor leather seats aren't wrinkled or crack badly (good luck with that). And in the CAM Buss world, some of those extra features can shut down the truck when they fail. (the plug of death at the rear, on the 2017 Superduty for example, can wreck critical system operation at the front of the truck)

That's why well used Suburbans and Excursions are so cheap, their interiors are often in very bad shape. Making a perfectly good truck, feel like it's a million miles old.

Whats the 2017 plug of death?

 

[Buliwyf]

The '17 Fords have a rubber sealed plug behind the spare tire. If you hold a pressure washer directly on that plug, it'll corrode and jack up the CAM Buss communication for all kinds of stuff. Radio will start changing channels while the tailgate opens and closes, then you can go into failure mode even.

Generally, it follows the yuppie edition trucks that get driven through car washes too often. None of my vehicles are allowed to go into a car washer that pressure washes the under side. I do that gently myself, at a regular spray and wash.

It's amazing what yuppies can do to mess up a perfectly good ride. Mercedes and BMW's terrible warranty claim rate, is starting to make more sense.