The Blurry Future of the Mid-Size Truck Segment?

I like this look a lot!

 

I had a '95 Suburban and an '06 CCSB 4x4 Duramax.

Hated parking those beasts. I'd do my damnedest to catch an end spot where I could drive straight in and back straight out.
Angled parking wasn't bad. Straight-in parking was a bitch because a) the drives aren't wide enough to park a Prius without at least one reverse-align-forward sequence b) idiot drivers hanging 3 feet out of their stall c) idiot drivers putting their tires ON the white line d) idiot drivers crowding and not giving you room to maneuver into a parking spot.

At home, I'd back in.

 

I still disagree, because you park them side by side, anyone but a blind man can see the 1st Tundra was a small truck in the full size category.

What I'd really like to see is actual volumetric data. I could care less about the cab, I bought a truck because a need the use of the bed, and it seems to me they keep getting smaller all the way around. My coworker has a 1986 Silverado long bed, it's freakin huge. I don't see any bed on any truck out there period with that amount of volume.

Now I have another coworker that just bought a new blue and silver F-150. When I park my Tacoma next to it, it's pretty obvious my Taco is only a little truck, and doesn't even approach full size.

I look at a lot of comments and it's clear people are missing the point of a truck. If you don't care about what the bed can fit, go buy an SUV. The whole purpose of a truck is to have a bed to haul and to be able to tow. Some people don't need to tow 10k pounds however, or throw a ton of gravel in the bed, thus the need for a mid size truck. You want creature comforts ? Go buy an SUV. Big or small, the whole concept of why trucks were ever marketed in the first place is slowly being lost, it seems to me

 

I guess all those 70's and 80's crew cab chevy's and fords aren't really real...

 

doesn't matter
---
the sum total of
parts and components wear and longevity,
and off-road ability,
in the Tacoma, still wins above any other light truck

it all depends on what you use it for. if I was a contractor making money
with the truck it'd be an F-150 I could beat the tar out of and dispose in 3 years...

the Taco is my keeper, will own it at least 14 years if fire/total wreck doesn't take it
I use to to haul delicate stuff (glass and music electronics) over hill and dale, where most
4wd would hang up... or not make it at all without serious damage to bodywork or cargo

 

One problem here and that is the manufacturer. Jeeps are junk since Chrysler took them over. Just look at the problems all of their models exeprience. Some of them are downright comical unless you own one. Like the faulty valve in the gas inlet that refuses to let you fill the tank. My ex fell in love with a 2008 Liberty. I had to get her the loan on it and I am paying it off per the decree. At 75k she basically had to rebuild the front end. At 60k she complained that her drivers side window switch did not work. I did not want to take a chance that the problem was not the switch so I had her order one. I took the switch out of the panel and found out that the wiring connector was not fully seated. JUNK, JUNK, JUNK

 

The AMC era Jeeps aren't any more innocent either. I had a 80 CJ5 and it nickel and dimed me to death. Most all Jeeps need more love to keep on the road, just the way they are. Even the vintage ones were Heeps in lots of ways.

 

Thing I think that is killing the midsize and compact trucks is the fact that for a few thousand dollars more you can be in a fullsize easy. That and like the OP said, fullsize trucks are getting better gas milage every year. My old man used to have a 02 Duramax diesel and it would get 25mpg on the highway at 65 without a load. Even with 8,000lbs hooked to the bumper it would typically manage 15. Kinda sad that those numbers are the average mileage for small trucks like Tacomas and a big ass honking diesel 3/4 ton gets the same or better. That is what is killing the small truck segment I personally believe.

 

Yep, I think you're spot on.

 

Agree!

 

My understanding is that Ford actually corrected the issue in 2012, rather than issuing a TSB.

 

So jeep has been talking about bringing out the "Gladiator"

http://www.futureamericancars.com/jeep/2013-jeep-gladiator/

It is basically the above. But instead of a V6 duramax that should be in it thy want to put the Fiat 2.8 liter diesel in it. This will be a huge mistake.

 

The front end looks like Chevy's minivan.

 

Not bad, but looks a bit like the Hummer truck from the side.

 

Ehh... I've seen better looking Jeep trucks.

 

We shall see what the 3rd gen Taco has in store as far as mpg and hp.

 

If you like square things with big wheels this has that and raises you two wheels and another axel.

 

I used to have a 72 jeep j4000. That thing was a tank. Sunk a lot of money into it though.

 

This is what I am missing in life. I want it! Not really!