Why isn't there a model of truck available to the consumer that is purely utilitarian?

Question

The majority of trucks on the market, have a pretty lousy ecconomical characteristic. Being gas hogs, because of poor mileage due to having to haul around surplus weight and piss-poor aerodynamics. Most owners of utility vehicles, will on occasion need to have a payload bearing capacity to perform a function necessary for their work, but other times they will use their trucks just to commute to & from point A to B.

It would make more ecconomical sense, to have a vehicle that has the power to tow a trailer, to haul a payload when needed. And Leave the payload-bearing trailer at home or elsewhere, when not needed. To enhance one's ecconomic performance of their truck when just shuttling to errands, that require a minimal payload capacity (which ought to fit in the passenger space or in a smaller utility bay in the vehicle itself.

** Uhm Paul, dearie, I take it that when they were handing out wits - you were at the back of a very long line.

Well, my dad has a big inline 6 diesel, it has great mileabe, partially due to his taking it to a chop shop, and taking out about a third of the length, the bed is only a 1/4 of its original size. Its good for commuting, & he does hitch up a trailer for more serious hauling.
I want to know if I can get something ready made, instead of having to go to a Custom Re-Builder.

I've seen shortened pick-ups in use as utility vehicles at Airports, are these custom made too? You haven't noticed these have you.

Answer 1

Blame government regulations - if you meet roof crush requirements, then blow CAFE requirements, safety ratings - all of these issues conflict with each other.

A small engine "feels" like it's weak, and people won't buy them. look at the 2.2 liter engine - they put them in the smaller Colorado, and no one bought them.

you can't market a vehicle that enough people won't buy.

Answer 2

I have owned diesel pickups that although they were full size and capable of hauling a ton and towing 5+ more would get about 30 mpg on the highway when empty and 15-20 loaded. (the lower number with my 2 horse trailer and 2 large horses) Around town mileage was about 15. (My sports car in comparison got about 34 on the highway, but 13 in town) In town mileage drops because of all of the stop and go driving. (Accelerating, burns the most fuel.)

If you want to haul weight, you need a heavy vehicle. Bigger springs, frame, steering, tires, etc. are going to be heavier. Look at the load capacity on the vehicle sticker found inside most driver's doors against the framing. Small cars usually only have a 600 or so lb rating. That is the TOTAL weight of driver, passengers and cargo that is supposed to be carried. (How many people put 4 or 5 over 150 lb people in a car plus luggage?)

Answer 3

One vehicle just cant do everything. A jack of all trades is a master of none! I have found that with higher gas prices it is more economical to have a truck and an economy car. Each vehicle does its duty well, but in no way could replace the other.

In order to have an engine capable of effectively moving 20k+ lbs. it needs to have a large displacement to produce adequate power at a reasonable rpm. A large engine within it's power range is more efficient than overworking a small engine. (tow a car on a trailer with any small v8 and compare mileage to that of a big v8 or diesel). This can even be seen in hybrids. at 80mph a camry gets better mileage than a prius. (I know the EPA estimates give a better highway mileage for the prius, but that is @ 65mph, by 80 the engine is so overworked it looses it's efficiency.)

What you are describing is just an suv with a flatbed trailer. Lots of people have them. The rav4 is 30 mpg and could move a little trailer, but not a heavy one.

Answer 4

So the engine will be an 8 cylinder that only runs 4 cyclinders when the trailer is detached? Sounds good but I wonder what costs come with an engine that performs like that. And I wonder if it'd be cheaper to just go get a small pickup, like a Ranger or something.

Answer 5

You can't have it both ways friend. Truck makers build what the market requires.

How about YOU designing and marketing the vehicle you describe and see how well it sells. Good luck.

Answer 6

cause trailors are hard to prk (for some) and the technology to make a vehice economical at one point and have the power to pull a heavy load the next is iffy at best

Answer 7

Its because you diphs!t broads started driving trucks, so the manufacturer prettied them up. Truck driving is kind of a white-trash trailer park redneck kind of thing anyhow, isn't it you pretentious darkie?