Male insecurity is part of it, but public policy is a bigger part: specifically, the "chicken tax" and CAFE loopholes. Fix those, so that manufacturers are actually allowed and incentivized to make small trucks that people want (and disincentivized against making gigantic ones their "flagship" models), and the problem would greatly diminish.
this post was submitted on 18 Jul 2024
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This would require legislators to act against their own financial interests.
If argue another thing that is fighting against Kai trucks is the fact that I'm told that there is a dealership feedback loop. For example the reason why cars are rather black and white now is because dealerships viewed that those colors sold better. Same thing with auto transmissions. However we are now finding those cars are selling better is because there are more of them, and there are more of them because they sell better. I suspect the same thing is happening with big trucks. Bigger luxury trucks are selling better than small trucks because there are more big luxury trucks, and there are more big luxury trucks because they sell better. This feedback loop exists because dealerships force consumers to select from what they have when you want to buy a new car. When you look at the second hand market you'll find colorful manual small trucks sell better than colorless automatic luxury trucks.
Could global warming also be a factor in white cars becoming more popular? They don't get nearly as hot in the summer which is huge
Possibly tho I personally doubt it. My local area is pretty conservative so not a lot of people care about climate change and I don't have a sizable population of climate consurned people to know in person. But from what I've observed online people who do care about climate change don't talk about car color at all. Instead they are more concerned about cars being electric. On top of all that cars today are pretty disposable and gas has been in the process of getting phased out. So it's entirely possible that by the time car color becomes a concern most folks probably would have gone through 20 different cars by then. That's all without mentioning how AC has become a standard feature on even low end econo boxes. But hey not everyone thinks rationally just look at the entire premise of mith busters.
Loosen passenger safety regulations while they’re at it. It’s become insane. Cars are safe enough for occupants, and have been for two decades at least.
Meanwhile, maybe we can make pedestrian safety more of a priority.
Why not both?
Passenger safety features have become very expensive and make cars less maintainable and therefore more wasteful. Backup cameras and parking sensors and merging sensors/indicators.
For all the people saying "I just want a small pickup to do x" I'll point you to the recommendation at the end:
If you are only towing, off-roading, or hauling once a year, or never, it might be wise to consider a smaller vehicle, and rent or borrow a truck when you really need a truck. There are tens of millions of them out there. There are even amazing services like Turo or ZipCar out there that grant you access to a vehicle for just the time you want it, and may even deliver it to your door.
Have americans never heard of a trailer? It's made for that exact use case and you don't have to lug it around for years for the one time you need to use it. They are also super cheap to rent.
Exact reason why I really want to put a hitch receiver on my lil BMW z3. Half because it makes it more practical, and half because I just think it looks funny with a big trailer attached to it. Also I have hauled firewood with a trailer designed for a truck attached to a tiny Yamaha big Bear from the 80s. That if a lil 1 cylinder ATV can do that a 6 cylinder BMW z3 can absolutely haul a couch or two so long as there's a spot to attach a trailer.
It's not the go, it's the whoah. You need hookups for brakes on the trailer itself, lights, turn signals. That's to augment what you're covering up with the back of the trailer, or the lack of mass in the tow vehicle, and the added weight in the rear can really stress the OEM brakes.
Annoyingly, many vehicles sold in the U.S. don’t have a tow rating except for large SUV’s and trucks. It makes it difficult to know if you can safely tow a trailer with your small crossover.
I owned a Honda HR-V a few years ago. In Europe, it was rated for around 1,500 lbs. In the U.S., they just slap “not recommended for towing” on it and tell you to buy something larger.
Thank you. That explains so much. I hear this "towing stuff" reason so often and I could never figure put what huge things people think they need to tow that isn't possible with a normal car.
I was amazed recently how hard it was to find a proper small truck. Just wanted something to carry my bicycle so I could try some different trails that are farther from my house.
All the new trucks are huge and the old small trucks are expensive. Ended up with a “mid-sized” Nissan and it’s bigger than the F-150s all my friends had growing up. I still want an old Ford Ranger or something but they’re just too damn expensive now.
What's wrong with these?
Americans somehow can't imagine using any other car than a pickup truck for transporting things.
Meanwhile in Europe: 
They are literally the worst bike racks. Nearly everything is wrong with them
(Hitch mounted bike racks are great)
You can put a hitch on a Corolla too.
Of course
Just the first image result I got, didn't mean the specific model.
I mean... look at it. It just screams NEEEEERRRRD
Jokes aside I've never liked those things. I've had a variety of rear mounting bike racks and maybe one or two worked well.
I didn’t have a vehicle prior to the purchase, just used my bike or grabbed a ride from someone. Probably should’ve just got a small car and a rack but it’s paid for itself during our recent move so it worked out.
Ford Maverick?
We have two of these at work. I'm almost certain I could carry more in a hatchback.
Why not just rent one?
It'll probably take a bit more time and planning up front but you'll probably save on car payments and gas for a utility you'll only use once a month.
I want a small truck with a big bed so I can carry stuff. A Toyota Hilux Champ looks like my dream truck, but we can't have nice things.
Hear me out. You actually want a minivan.
Or a cargo van if you're feeling fancy. You can get cargo vans electric too. They aren't nice, they're definitely built to just haul stuff. But they're really good at just hauling stuff.
If you're looking for cheap find an old used minivan and lay the seats down. You can fit a lot in an old minivan. 4*8 sheets are not a problem for most.
The advantage of a cargo van is that everything you carry is protected from the elements and theft.
Its interesting to see the cultural difference between the US and Europe. In Europe pickup truck are quite rare but cargo vans are everywhere.
Ok hear me out get a minivan and sawzall the back off turning it into a compact truck
Id put a /s if I wasn't thinking of putting this on my bucket list
I went to a demolition derby where one event required minivans, and a later event required pickup trucks, and somebody did exactly that between the two events. Good fun.
Most. Then there's furniture and appliances, which I have used vans for and it's not great. What I actually want is a Hilux Champ. I would accept any small pickup with a BIG bed.
Until the thing you're moving is 1 inch taller or longer than your van, sure.
If the goal is to regularly move furniture, and you want a standard height vehicle (not a tall box van), a pickup truck is more interesting.
(Vans are great though for many other jobs)
I mean, I've moved quite a bit in a mini van, you'd be surprised what will fit in there. There are very few things I haven't been able to get in to the back of a minivan. Modern pick up trucks do not have the cargo capacity a minivan does.
And if you're worried about it, cargo vans will absolutely be able to handle it. Just about anything you buy is going to be built to a size to accommodate shipping it.
And, any big box store will happily rent you a pickup truck should that need ever arise. 25 bucks for the few hours you need it, if you're really worried about it.
I just want something to ferry around thrift store furniture lol
I've been looking at the Subaru Baja
If you're in the US you can import 90s models. I was just looking today for a Daihatsu midget single seat truck.
I'd love an el cameno, or something similar. I'd like to be able to see something on the side of the road and pick it up while still having the car size and mpg
Kei trucks exist
They're making them illegal in a lot of states. Texas recently de-banned them but could reverse that decision at any time. They would be an ideal choice otherwise.
Why illegal?
Likely side by side companies lobbying
I actually just traded out of my F-150 for an all-electric crossover. Lemmy has informed me that this was a terrible move for the environment.
All cars are bad. The car you already own is less bad than a brand new car
So i should keep my Sherman tank?
Didn't own it.
I rented a Ford F-150 from U-haul. It was $19 plus insurance and gas. That was the smallest truck they offered. I think in total, I paid about $90 after everything was done and hauled a bunch of stuff. Even if I had to do that 4 times a year, which I don't, it's still cheaper than buying a whole truck.