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The Reason Why Are Trucks Getting Bigger

(toddofmischief.blogspot.com)
173 points yasp | 5 comments | 11 Aug 22 13:06 UTC | HN request time: 0.766s | source
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woodruffw ◴[11 Aug 22 13:50 UTC] No.32425520[source]▶
The author makes a correct observation (trucks are getting bigger to circumvent emissions guidelines, not solely out of ego), but fails to address the underlying market demand: as trucks have gotten bigger, they've also gotten "meaner"[1]. Emissions requirements don't require a truck to look like it's going to beat you up.

In other words: consumer ego (wanting to drive a big, mean looking truck) is an underlying pressure in the market, even if the sufficient mover for the current size explosion is emissions dodging.

[1]: https://jalopnik.com/we-need-to-talk-about-truck-design-righ...

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jeffbee ◴[11 Aug 22 14:01 UTC] No.32425714[source]▶
Truck design used to be such that you pretended to be a working man. Now, you just show everyone how big a jerk you are. There's an entire brand of truck rims that are just called "Hostile". Anyone who would buy such a thing should just be followed everywhere by the cops. http://www.hostilewheels.com/

I think the article would have done well to also discuss America's general lack of vehicle safety inspections. There's a reason people don't drive around in lifted pickups with ridiculous wheels in Germany.

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nsxwolf ◴[11 Aug 22 14:08 UTC] No.32425823[source]▶
They're just... wheels.
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1. montalbano ◴[11 Aug 22 14:31 UTC] No.32426248[source]▶
Blind spots increase with truck height.

google has many studies and articles on the dangers of this but a link to get you started

https://www.consumerreports.org/car-safety/the-hidden-danger...

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2. dimensionc132 ◴[11 Aug 22 15:00 UTC] No.32426780[source]▶
thank goodness we have these tiny technological devices called cameras, that can be installed in the front and rear of these mean bad trucks, so that the driver can see inside the blind spots.

now those poor babies, children and vertically challenged adults will be safe as safe can be... yipeee

3. vondur ◴[11 Aug 22 15:16 UTC] No.32427016[source]▶
Most of the newer trucks have front facing cameras because of that. I have a "Mid Size" truck which sits fairly high. Since it doesn't have front cameras, I often back into parking spots so I can make use of my rear view camera to assist.
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4. cjrp ◴[11 Aug 22 15:22 UTC] No.32427104[source]▶
Seems kind of crazy, adding a front camera (which the driver might not even look at) rather than just scaling down the front so they can see pedestrians with their eyes.
5. aoeusnth1 ◴[11 Aug 22 17:33 UTC] No.32429157[source]▶
Are the operators expected to drive by looking at cameras, or by looking out of their windows?