Why a fullsize?

[MGH-PA]

So I've been posting this on a few forums to get some opinions out there, so I'd like to see what you guys think:

I frequent a hunting forum in addition to this one, and made a post concerning fullsize trucks. I'm somewhat of a lone man out over there driving a Toyota, since a lot of them drive the big three, however, I was curious as to what their stance was on this issue. You can see my thread here:

Fullsize Truck Question...an odd one.

Basically, I'm wondering...what's this DRIVE to want to own a fullsize (especially outdoorsman). I'm counting myself in that one as well. I do love my 05 Tacoma, but in all reality, I wanted a fullsize truck, but gas mileage was the only deal breaker, but is that really a good enough reason? Wondering WHY I feel I would rather have one though...can't figure it out except for the size issue (and no I don't have a self-confidence issue ).

Oh, check some of the mpg figures being thrown out by some of the posters...24mpg in the new chevys? Don't think so...


It's funny, I really have contemplated getting a fullsize, and I've crunched numbers, and tonight I did it again...it's actually kind of crazy:

Assuming I drive ~12,000 miles a year which is normal

Driving a fullsize averaging 16mpg (think that's reasonable?)
Driving my tacoma averaging 19mpg (that's about what I get now in the warm temps...in the winter it was 18, but I assume the fullsize would drop as well).

So with that 12,000 miles, I would be using:

750 gallons of gas with the fullsize
631.5 gallons of gas with my tacoma

At $4.00/gallon (not there yet here...it's about $3.39), annual fuel cost:

$3000 for the fullsize

$2526 for the tacoma

Difference of $474 a yr.

Spread over 12 months, that's $39.50 a month. So roughly the cost of my cell phone bill. So, really the mileage difference isn't a matter of life and death really. $474 a year is a decent chunk, but in the end, not a ton.

Thoughts?

[jpsmith]

My dad owns full size trucks and I don't know why. He's the outdoorsman to end all outdoorsmen. He spends every weekend year 'round at his hunting cabin with his German Shorthair. His current truck is a regular cab Ram 1500. He has a cap on it so his dog crate can go back there. But I don't know why he needs the size. Perhaps it's just convention for him. In the 70s & 80s he drove International Scouts and pre-XJ Cherokees and Wagoneers (the big ones). In 1994 he bough a brand new XJ Cherokee and couldn't stand how small it was. Perhaps his being 6'6" had something to do with it. Within a year he traded it even trade for an F150 with 500 miles on it. He's been driving full-size trucks since. Given how he uses the truck, he could totally get by with a mid-size such as a Tacoma, Dakota, or Frontier. Definitely not a smaller one such as a Ranger or Colaradoanyonero. He has a Canyon for work and hates it. But it's a 2wd junker.

Now my father-in-law on the other hand, he needs a full-size truck, but not always. He currently has an '06 Tundra and a '97 Chevy 2500. The 2500 sees a ton of work with 3000lbs+ in its bed and he uses it to tow his skid-steer. But the Tundra is more or less a daily driver. Before it he had a couple of Dakotas. The Tundra was just a replacement for his Dakota when he got sandwiched between a couple of light dump trucks.

[demoncleaner]

There are + and - to everything.

With a Tacoma, you can haul 75% of what you could in a full size. If you really need the extra capacity or towing capability, then a full size is a better choice.

Otherwise, enjoy the better handling & manuverablility (on/off-road/parking), 2-4 more miles per gallon, and of course a 6spd manual option.

[El Rocanrolero]

as an outdoors man (but not a hunter) i absolutely love the fact that my tacoma will go ANYWHERE i want it to. i have been through more secluded back woods middle of nowhere places than i knew existed, and all thanks to the tacomas versatility. there is absolutely no way a fullsize is going to get you through a forest, which i can see being extremely useful when you don't feel like walking that buck out of there by yourself. As you know driving the truck in town is a breeze, there is no parallel parking spot i can't handle in it.
my opinion, unless you need the extra hauling capacities, the tacomas versatility and fun more than make up for it's "small" stature

[TX RN]

I am 6' and 235 lbs. I traded a perfectly fine (paid off) 06' 4 cyl, 5 spd SR5 Pre Runner for my 07' Tundra 4x2 DC. I did not like the interior smallness of the truck. My left leg pressed on the drivers door. The 4 cyl/5 spd combo was fine for the power and hauling I needed. The mpg ran about 20 in town and 24 hwy at 70 mph +. It was fairly comfortable for longer trips.

I now find the roomy Tundra to be a major gas hog. 12 mpg around town and 17 hwy if I drive like a blue hair. It is very comfortable and drives like Caddilac. I am considering selling the truck and jumping back into an identical Taco or finding a T-100 with decent mileage. The 5.7 is an awesomely powerful engine. It will snap your head back and flat out scoot. The automatinc transmission is BORING! I am a manual transmission fan. I've read about issues with the six speed and the 4.0 only gets a little better mileage than the 5.7. I need a truck for all the leisure and home improvement things I do. Heck, it's Texas. Trucks are a way of life. I do not require a "full sized" 4x4 truck though.

So to answer your question. No, a full sized truck is not necessary for me and my needs. It seems once the new truck excitement wears off, you have a gas pig that is loosing value by the day. I find myself riding my motorcycle more to avoid driving my truck and paying .28 cents a mile in fuel.

[TRDSport]

I traded in a 2000 Tundra AC V8 2wd w/ 100,000+ miles on it for a 2007 Tacoma DBL cab longbed prerunner. I was averaging 15.5-16mpg in the Tundra with all city driving. I now average 19mpg in the Tacoma with a few tanks going north of 20mpg. I haul stuff more often than I tow and the Tacoma does everything I need it to do. If I were to go back to a Tundra, I would probably look into a 2005/2006 Dbl cab.

[Cargun]

I'm a long time fan of the Toyota mini-trucks. But I could never not own a fullsize pickup too. The new Taco's are more midsize, splitting the difference between the two. I can see where a lot of people could get along with a midsize truck (those that don't tow or haul large/heavy loads). As to why they buy fullsizes... I think there are a few different factors. The big 3 all make good fullsize trucks. Toyota is the only one that makes as good compact truck, so if they don't like the Tacoma, or don't want to buy a Toyota, fullsize is the next logical choice. Interior comfort is a big one, even the new Tacos are kind of cramped inside, but many people probably don't know the new Tacos are way nicer and cushier than the old Toyota's everyone is used to. V8 engine. The Taco's are right up there with fullsize pickups in price, maybe more expensive when you take rebates into account. And for Chevy buyers, they really don't get much worse fuel economy than the Taco's. I know 3 people with 5.3 ext. cab non-AFM 4x4's that claim 20 mpg on the highway. The new AFM engines should be even better.

[ThirdHorseman]

I chose the full-size for interior space (lots of long trips), bed capacity, and the V8.

[dave33]

Honestly, I see the big-3 full-size truck thing to be good old fashion dogma. What were brought up to believe in: "Good Ol American Steel!"

Fed up with my last piece of "American Steel" pre-maturly falling apart, and not one to follow the dogma, it will be a long time (if) before I own another big-3. With that said, "Cargun" has a few good points about the small truck market.

If you really are doing a lot of hauling, I can see the purpose of a full-size. But for feeding my outdoorsy Jones, I thing the compact truck has the full size beat by a mile. Being narrower and better turning radius, I see my buddies in thier "1500's" swearing in my rear view when we're off-roading.
The V6 Taco is quieter than the 1500's, seems like I see a bit more deer, grouse, and occasional porcupine stuck to the tire .

[MGH-PA]

Another point/opinion of mine. I was eyeing up some 05 Sierras and Silverados, and although they are very efficient for fullsizes, I KNOW I wouldn't be as happy appearance wise. I know looks shouldn't matter a ton, but in my opinion the Tacoma is probably one of the nicest looking trucks on the market (both fullsize and midsize). That's one thing I love about the Tacomas...looks sharp.

I just got off the phone with my brother-in-law who owns an 05 1500, and we were discussing this. I told him I wanted to be able to drive a fullsize for like a week or two and see what kind of mpg I can get, and he told me flat out, "honestly, in all reality you can expect about 15-16mpg everyday running around driving in my truck...I can get 20mpg on highway trips pretty easy, but for everyday driving, about 15-16...the way I drive, I get about 14" He's very honest, and I believe him, and with those numbers, I'm not sure I could justify the switch. There are times (going to occur even more in the next year or so if/when I begin building my home) when I will want a fullsize, BUT, for carrying building materials, I can always use a trailer (I do have the tow package). So who knows...I'm still undecided, but I'm also in no hurry to trade yet.

[RCBS]

Originally Posted by dave33

Honestly, I see the big-3 full-size truck thing to be good old fashion dogma. What were brought up to believe in: "Good Ol American Steel!"

you nailed it. we were all brought up to believe that dodge chevy & fords are not just the best, but the only thing you should drive if you're a "true American". i think this dogma applies to a lot more than just trucks these days. america is not "first" in much of anything anymore...manufacturing, health care, economy...but the people that live here "wouldn't trade it for anything else". most of the people who will make this statement, have never seen or known anything else about the world other than what they see on network TV, which i'm sure is not biased at all. my point is that America needs to wake up. we aren't the best anymore. i've not traveled the world or anything, hell i don't even have a passport, but i'm smart enough to know that just because "that's the way it's always been" is changing to "this is how it's gonna be". sorry for soapbox.

[kathyricks]

Originally Posted by MGH-PA

I'm wondering...what's this DRIVE to want to own a fullsize (especially outdoorsman).

It's mostly a social status thing. Just like V8 vs V6, 3/4 ton vs 1/2 ton and 4WD vs 2WD is mostly a social status thing. 4WD pickups ride rougher, are more costly to maintain, gets substantially worse fuel economy, and 4WD is rarely needed for traction, but you are perceived as more of a "successful, confident, masculine man" if you drive a 4WD both in the eyes of your male peers and the ladies. For a short man it's especially important to own a full size 4WD to help make yourself acceptable in social circles.

The worst possible combination is a clean shaven (people think wimpy and unmasculine) short man (people think unsuccessful or intellectual nerd type) driving a 2WD 4 cylinder compact pickup (people think poor or wimpy, choir boy type)

[dave33]

Originally Posted by RCBS

i think this dogma applies to a lot more than just trucks these days. america is not "first" in much of anything anymore...manufacturing, health care, economy...but the people that live here "wouldn't trade it for anything else". most of the people who will make this statement, have never seen or known anything else about the world other than what they see on network TV, which i'm sure is not biased at all. my point is that America needs to wake up. we aren't the best anymore. i've not traveled the world or anything, hell i don't even have a passport, but i'm smart enough to know that just because "that's the way it's always been" is changing to "this is how it's gonna be". sorry for soapbox.

I've been to ten other countries, some for months at a time, so I've seen how people live in other parts of the world, and I agree with you 100%. We can no longer rest and brag on the laurels that the previous generations laid for us. There has been quite a few times I've returned to the US dissapointed in our infrastructure, technical finesse, business leadership and government. We as Americans need to work to be the best again - we can do better.

*supporting the soapbox - social commentary*

[WilsonTheDog]

Originally Posted by RCBS

you nailed it. we were all brought up to believe that dodge chevy & fords are not just the best, but the only thing you should drive if you're a "true American". i think this dogma applies to a lot more than just trucks these days. america is not "first" in much of anything anymore...manufacturing, health care, economy...but the people that live here "wouldn't trade it for anything else". most of the people who will make this statement, have never seen or known anything else about the world other than what they see on network TV, which i'm sure is not biased at all. my point is that America needs to wake up. we aren't the best anymore. i've not traveled the world or anything, hell i don't even have a passport, but i'm smart enough to know that just because "that's the way it's always been" is changing to "this is how it's gonna be". sorry for soapbox.

Seriously, how can you comment on such things when you've never traveled?

I'll put it this way: What's your definition of "first"? What criteria is used to come to that conclusion? We DO have the best system of government, a democratic republic (socialism and communism are miserable failures time and time again). We DO have the best healthcare system in the world (since you haven't been to Europe, you don't understand that in the UK you typically wait 6 months for a doctors appointment or up to a year for an MRI; I have friends who come here once a year for vacation and healthcare). Economy, we've had unprecedented growth in the last few years. Sure, things have slowed down in the last year but come one, stop reading the paper and watching the news because all you get is doomsday predictions that are simply unrealistic. For example, do you honestly think that 95% of the population being employed is bad? Check out France where an 8% unemployment rate is cause for celebration. When was the last time a news organization made money giving us good news?

I will agree with your initial statement regarding the domestics. I personally will not buy something just because it's American made. I'll buy what I WANT and what's best for ME, not what's best for Joe Blow the Detroit factory worker making $35/hour to pop some rivets on an assembly line.

Come on, folks. Life is great here. Turn off the TV and live it.

[Angus_NB]

You can't seriously believe that you have the best health care system? Other systems do have flaws but the US system is based on $$$. It may be ok for those with $$$ but ask those without.

Back on topic. I agree that the size of truck you buy has a lot to do with status and advertisement. It can be broken down even further. Why buy a 4x4 DC when a PreRunner AC would have probably done the job?