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You are looking at this the wrong way. The mystery is not why old trucks were so small, but instead it is why are today's trucks so large?
Old pickups still had a bed large enough for a sheet of plywood. They were more than big enough for light contractor use (plumber, electrician) or a gentleman's truck (think Lariat). Anyone that needed more would buy a super duty type of truck.
But today's half ton can tow 7500 lbs or more.
I want to see a 4000 lb half ton that gets 25 MPG or more every day. Not a 5000 lb truck that with a tailwind gets 23 MPG on the highway.
Sure, there are more but there always were
and there are more people.
They didn't have the large 5th wheels with 3 slides or a lot of large TT like we do now, nor was was it as poplar back then.
Today folks want to tow a 35ft 5er and take the family along.
hey, lets make trucks luxury vehicles
Trucks were seen as utility vehicles and not a rig to take the family to a football game or to drive to work in the city.
Weren't the beds of the trucks about the same size (inside bed width, length, and depth)? Part of what I've seen change is the desire to make a truck a family vehicle (enough cab space to haul a family) with luxury trim and options. Trucks from not too far back seem almost the same size as modern midsize trucks. At one time trucks were made with rubberized flooring and vinyl seats to make it so the owner can hose out the inside of the truck cab after a long day of work. Even those micro-trucks of the 70s and early 80s were functional for light duty work. I wonder if the big and bulky body of today's trucks have anything to do with crash safety requirements of today?
Its not that they were so small its that everything these days is overkill. Those trucks served there purpose as a utility vehicle to haul what you needed while taking a beating. You had a pickup and a family car...trucks these days have become the family vehicles that cost more and are nicer than many cars on the road. WIth the increased usage and safety standars like sailordave said I think thats one of the reasons they have gotten so big.
Its not that they were so small its that everything these days is overkill. Those trucks served there purpose as a utility vehicle to haul what you needed while taking a beating. You had a pickup and a family car...trucks these days have become the family vehicles that cost more and are nicer than many cars on the road. WIth the increased usage and safety standars like sailordave said I think thats one of the reasons they have gotten so big.
and they've become morbidly obese. Older trucks weighed about the same as some of today's family sedans which have reached the 4,000 lbs or more level. Besides safety, other things adding to the vehicle weight and size is sound proofing. Trucks weren't smooth quiet riding vehicles they are today. I remember when the only four door truck you saw was a commercial fleet duty truck (usually a dually) used by a work crew on the job. They weren't built for comfort. They did have working heaters, but you were lucky if they had AC. I've seen some with rusted off fenders but still going strong hauling firewood, dirt, gravel, roofing materials, etc. I've seen people use those micro-trucks for light duty work like lawn care, general repair, and light deliveries. Amazingly, those little trucks could still tow even with those little engines (though not big loads). Such a truck engineered today could get fantastic fuel economy if they don't get in a pissing match for amount of weight it can tow.
Sure, there are more but there always were
and there are more people.
They didn't have the large 5th wheels with 3 slides or a lot of large TT like we do now, nor was was it as poplar back then.
Today folks want to tow a 35ft 5er and take the family along.
hey, lets make trucks luxury vehicles
Trucks were seen as utility vehicles and not a rig to take the family to a football game or to drive to work in the city.
Anyone with a 5th wheel trailer can buy a SuperDuty truck. No need to build that capacity into a halfton.
I think travel trailers on a per capita basis are less popular now than before.
We bought a new TT to replace our old one this spring.
I asked the sales guy about his sales numbers.
He said surprisingly sales are up on all models (5ers or TT's)
When you drive by the lot ther are always different trailers/campers on it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hoffdano
I think travel trailers on a per capita basis are less popular now than before.
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