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The Reason Why Are Trucks Getting Bigger

(toddofmischief.blogspot.com)
173 points yasp | 17 comments | 11 Aug 22 13:06 UTC | HN request time: 0.892s | source | bottom
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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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rayiner ◴[11 Aug 22 14:17 UTC] No.32425982[source]▶
How do you decide what looks “meaner?” This guy fixated on the Chevy Silverado design, but I don’t see what’s wrong with it. It looks more squared off and masculine, and less curvy and feminine, which is a design trend it shares with Apple’s latest MacBook pros. Is Google’s chrome book pixel mean? https://www.zdnet.com/product/google-chromebook-pixel/

I think what you’re actually observing is the counter-reaction to all cars looking like jelly beans due to aerodynamic styling driven by emissions regulations. A squared off looking car stands out in the crowd. I drive a Toyota 4Runner, which looks like an evil Japanese robot, partly for this reason (my wife hates the jellybean trend).

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1. RajT88 ◴[11 Aug 22 14:51 UTC] No.32426603[source]▶
Where I live - which my wife still questions our decision - the giant mean trucks aren't just giant and mean, but they are outfitted with what sounds like a freight train horn, and many myriads of flood lights.

Nobody knows why this is, because most people live in subdivisions and not farms, where you might feasibly need giant mean trucks with flood lights. And yet the big mean, loud, bright trucks are quite popular.

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2. rhexs ◴[11 Aug 22 15:12 UTC] No.32426961[source]▶
Sometimes people are different than you and enjoy different things and it doesn’t inherently mean they’re bad.

Perhaps try adjusting to your new location instead of blaming the locals?

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3. grvdrm ◴[11 Aug 22 15:15 UTC] No.32426996[source]▶
> Nobody knows why this is

But isn't that sort of an easy thing to generalize? (forgive me). It's not about need. It's about want. Everyone surrounding you has a big truck, you need one too. You buy a bigger truck than them, now it's up to everyone else to step and make theirs bigger, meaner, louder, etc. You spit coal out of your exhaust? Cool, now I spit more. Pretty simple human behaviors, unfortunately.

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4. woodruffw ◴[11 Aug 22 15:16 UTC] No.32427022[source]▶
I didn't detect any blame in the GP's comment, nor the claim that "I dislike it and therefore it's inherently bad."

The more accurate reading would be that the GP thinks that it's bad, and that's why they don't like it. But even still, the comment doesn't appear to contain blame, only bewilderment.

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5. ◴[11 Aug 22 15:20 UTC] No.32427075[source]▶
6. tablespoon ◴[11 Aug 22 15:28 UTC] No.32427212[source]▶
> Nobody knows why this is, because most people live in subdivisions and not farms, where you might feasibly need giant mean trucks with flood lights. And yet the big mean, loud, bright trucks are quite popular.

Tail fins used to be a big things on cars, but no one knows why that was, because cars don't fly. /s

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_tailfin

7. guywithahat ◴[11 Aug 22 15:29 UTC] No.32427223[source]▶
I feel like this could also just be based off a "biased" sample set. Like you're more likely to notice a large truck with fog lights, meanwhile the Ford Maverick is sold out for the entire next year and it's fords nicest looking, smallest hybrid truck
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8. switchbak ◴[11 Aug 22 15:29 UTC] No.32427234[source]▶
It's also perfectly valid to hold an opinion and have preferences contrary to those around you.

And these opinions aren't about shoe style, they have consequences on the broader society, and thus are open to criticism for their societal impacts.

9. RajT88 ◴[11 Aug 22 15:30 UTC] No.32427252{3}[source]▶
Tricked out trucks aren't my thing. But I can see the appeal of buying a rugged vehicle and tricking it out.

To the extent that I have an axe to grind with the big truck owners, it's because some (not all, and not always) these big truck drivers:

- Drive aggressively in urban areas - Blast their excessive lights which is a hazard for cars in front of them - Are intentionally disruptive with their giant horns

Put more plainly - assholes seem to be drawn to such things. But I don't think they create assholes.

But for sure, where I live, there are a lot of disruptive assholes with big trucks.

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10. bee_rider ◴[11 Aug 22 15:37 UTC] No.32427368{3}[source]▶
This is definitely anecdotal and subjective, but I'd say the vast majority of trucks I've seen look really angry.

My unscientific guess: there was some sort of big angry truck trend that the people who style these things got stuck on, and the Maverick sells like hotcakes because it is styled for underserved "I want a little classic looking truck" market.

Doubly unscientific guess: A little electric Maverick would sell incredibly well.

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11. hn_user2 ◴[11 Aug 22 15:50 UTC] No.32427557{4}[source]▶
I live in a rural area.

And I'm sure not all big truck owners tailgate. But when I am being tailgated, it is almost always by a big truck.

So it is I think many people shape their view of these vehicles. It could be a tiny percentage of the owners or large trucks, but we remember these interactions of bright lights, a cloud of coal, loud horns, and someone tailgating an inch behind us.

12. rayiner ◴[11 Aug 22 17:24 UTC] No.32429021{4}[source]▶
There’s also lots of assholes in BMW M3s, tricked out Hondas and other Japanese cars, and motor cycles.
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13. RajT88 ◴[11 Aug 22 17:55 UTC] No.32429443{5}[source]▶
Certainly. Just relatively fewer where I live now, compared to the trucks.

Depending on where I've lived in the area, I've experienced the japanese cars more, or the BMW's more. BMW's weren't as bad when I lived in a rich town, but any flavor of SUV was really bad. If I had to pick a brand which was particularly preferred by assholes then, it would have been Lexus.

14. tptacek ◴[11 Aug 22 18:45 UTC] No.32430049{5}[source]▶
Exceeding the asshole-ery level of M3 drivers is a high bar, so, sure.

(Saying this as a former M3 owner!)

15. 411111111111111 ◴[11 Aug 22 19:49 UTC] No.32430868{4}[source]▶
> Doubly unscientific guess: A little electric Maverick would sell incredibly well.

Doubtful, but you'll find out soon I guess.

https://youtu.be/CkoquiSnqbk

16. grvdrm ◴[11 Aug 22 20:45 UTC] No.32431498{3}[source]▶
Oh, absolutely biased! But not just trucks. Works for all kinds of other things. Sports cars too. Nice things. Athletic skills. Etc. People like to one up each other.

So, that's not all truck owners. Just thinking (anecdotally) that lots of "mean" truck owners buy them in part because of one-upping/status-seeking behaviors and wants rather than "I need to tow 12k pounds" requirements.

In my town (just outside NY City), seems like the status vehicle of choice is a 911. Buy one if you want to fit in with all your rich buddies!

17. imtringued ◴[12 Aug 22 06:26 UTC] No.32435226[source]▶
It is a prisoners dilemma, people want safety from all the dangerous cars, so they buy a bigger car to feel safe, this makes other people want even bigger cars than your car so they don't end up being crushed by you. The end result is less safety and more deaths and injuries.