4 ms·

Anecdotally we started exceeding the towing capacity of our Tacoma. As a result, in 2022 we purchased an F-150. In other words we bought the top selling vehicle

Anecdotally we started exceeding the towing capacity of our Tacoma. As a result, in 2022 we purchased an F-150. In other words we bought the top selling vehicle because our hauling needs changed.

s0rce 4y ago
Ok? Most people don't haul enough to warrent buying their own tow vehicle, just rent one for the few times a year you need it. Also, many smaller SUVs can tow a range of loads that most people need. If you exceed this then get a truck.
- fargle 4y ago
  > If you exceed this then get a truck. Which he just said he did...
  - Symbiote 4y ago
    It would be more useful if he'd said what he was towing.
    - fargle 4y ago
      It doesn't matter what specifically he is towing, he stated he needed the higher towing capacity. You made the argument that you believed people should rent a truck or use a smaller SUV to tow most loads. And only get a truck if they needed higher towing capacity. Your point appears to be "I agree with his vehicle choice".
      - Symbiote 4y ago
        Discussions are boring when they are simple assertions with no background or detail. It's also very common for people to argue they need these large vehicles for activities they aspire to do more often, but in practise only do once or twice a year.
        fargle 4y ago
        > Discussions are boring when they are simple assertions with no background or detail. I think I agree. For example: A simple assertion of the form "It would be more useful if he'd said what he was towing." by itself is boring. It'd much more be interested why you need to know why someone who said "hey I was driving a Tacoma and needed more towing capacity so I got a bigger truck" needs to explain in more detail what he was towing to you. Is it so we could have a discussion of how his boat or RV or whatever is or is not acceptable and rational to you? That would be a more interesting subject. Perhaps you'd like to check the math or google the towing limits or have a discussion about suspension upgrades? It would make a much more enlightening, dare I say entertaining, discussion to have included on what basis, morality, etc. you presume to have questions about his truck buying decisions and whether they were warranted or ethical. You must have an interesting job to be an expert on this.
      - s0rce 4y ago
        Only if you need it frequently, they make terrible daily drivers.
        fargle 4y ago
        Would it be OK to buy a truck for very infrequent towing, but then only use it when hauling or towing. Perhaps bicycling or running to work on a normal daily basis? Or having a responsible vehicle such as an EV or hybrid? Or maybe an E-Bike? I wouldn't want to inadvertently do something immoral like improper daily use of an inappropriate tool.
        defrost 4y ago
        It really depends what you are towing - a full length triple axle low trailer with a shipping container full of car parts, a mega house on wheels caravan? I grew up in one of the more remote parts of Australia and now live in sparsely populated rural part of W.Australia - we get by pretty well in a six cylinder family car both on and off road .. and we tow regularly mid sized caravans and a thirty year old double axle trailer (built from the chassis beams of an old nine tonne truck) loaded up with whatever (tonnes of fire wood, tonnes of sheep shit for the garden, white goods from the city, fallen trees, hay bales, etc). Oversize Toorak Tractor US Trucks are mostly overkill, but I do recommend a good set of Hayman Reese anti sway bars for more positive control. https://www.caravanparts.com.au/hayman-reese-weight-distribution-guide/ https://www.caravanparts.com.au/hayman-reese-weight-distribu...
        fargle 4y ago
        +1 for the "Toorak Tractor" - I've never heard that before.
        defrost 4y ago
        I first heard it circa 1984 | 85 (ish) .. which highlights just how many decades we've been mocking oversized gas guzzling vehicles for. On the plus side I probably won't see the end of another four decades of rampant consumption for no fit purpose. Fingers crossed habits changed (don't hold yor breath!).
- mikrotikker 4y ago
  Also note that some places restrict by law how much you can tow. For instance I heard in Canada most vehicles are limited to 220lbs. That's the govt basically guaranteeing SUV sales.
throw0101b 4y ago
> Anecdotally And anecdotally I see most (90%) large vehicles without a trailer tow hitch at all.
- fargle 4y ago
  Anecdotally I see a majority (90%+) people commenting on HN living in relatively urban areas and perhaps this is why you see trucks as wasteful - the closest thing to a working pickup truck they see is fellow commuters in vehicles that have never been off pavement without even a tow hitch, etc. Perhaps visit the "flyover" parts of the land sometime.
  - mikrotikker 4y ago
    Exactly, it's an urban vs rural thing. You're likely to need 4wd rurally, you don't have much options apart from a truck.
    - throw0101b 4y ago
      > Despite any TV ads you see with F-150s in a rural or country setting, the vast majority of these new trucks are in large and medium-sized cities. * https://hedgescompany.com/blog/2018/10/pickup-truck-owner-demographics/ https://hedgescompany.com/blog/2018/10/pickup-truck-owner-de...
      - mikrotikker 4y ago
        Yea I agree, fine to smack SUVs down in cities, but taking them away completing is not productive.
  - llampx 4y ago
    Perhaps take a look at how many trucks and SUVs are sold and exclusively operated within cities, vs on farms or other rural areas.
    - fargle 4y ago

Anecdotally we started exceeding the towing capacity of our Tacoma. As a result, in 2022 we purchased an F-150. In other words we bought the top selling vehicle because our hauling needs changed.

s0rce 4y ago

Ok? Most people don't haul enough to warrent buying their own tow vehicle, just rent one for the few times a year you need it. Also, many smaller SUVs can tow a range of loads that most people need. If you exceed this then get a truck.

fargle 4y ago
> If you exceed this then get a truck. Which he just said he did...
- Symbiote 4y ago
  It would be more useful if he'd said what he was towing.
  - fargle 4y ago
    It doesn't matter what specifically he is towing, he stated he needed the higher towing capacity. You made the argument that you believed people should rent a truck or use a smaller SUV to tow most loads. And only get a truck if they needed higher towing capacity. Your point appears to be "I agree with his vehicle choice".
    - Symbiote 4y ago
      Discussions are boring when they are simple assertions with no background or detail. It's also very common for people to argue they need these large vehicles for activities they aspire to do more often, but in practise only do once or twice a year.
      - fargle 4y ago
        > Discussions are boring when they are simple assertions with no background or detail. I think I agree. For example: A simple assertion of the form "It would be more useful if he'd said what he was towing." by itself is boring. It'd much more be interested why you need to know why someone who said "hey I was driving a Tacoma and needed more towing capacity so I got a bigger truck" needs to explain in more detail what he was towing to you. Is it so we could have a discussion of how his boat or RV or whatever is or is not acceptable and rational to you? That would be a more interesting subject. Perhaps you'd like to check the math or google the towing limits or have a discussion about suspension upgrades? It would make a much more enlightening, dare I say entertaining, discussion to have included on what basis, morality, etc. you presume to have questions about his truck buying decisions and whether they were warranted or ethical. You must have an interesting job to be an expert on this.
    - s0rce 4y ago
      Only if you need it frequently, they make terrible daily drivers.
      - fargle 4y ago
        Would it be OK to buy a truck for very infrequent towing, but then only use it when hauling or towing. Perhaps bicycling or running to work on a normal daily basis? Or having a responsible vehicle such as an EV or hybrid? Or maybe an E-Bike? I wouldn't want to inadvertently do something immoral like improper daily use of an inappropriate tool.
        defrost 4y ago
        It really depends what you are towing - a full length triple axle low trailer with a shipping container full of car parts, a mega house on wheels caravan? I grew up in one of the more remote parts of Australia and now live in sparsely populated rural part of W.Australia - we get by pretty well in a six cylinder family car both on and off road .. and we tow regularly mid sized caravans and a thirty year old double axle trailer (built from the chassis beams of an old nine tonne truck) loaded up with whatever (tonnes of fire wood, tonnes of sheep shit for the garden, white goods from the city, fallen trees, hay bales, etc). Oversize Toorak Tractor US Trucks are mostly overkill, but I do recommend a good set of Hayman Reese anti sway bars for more positive control. https://www.caravanparts.com.au/hayman-reese-weight-distribution-guide/ https://www.caravanparts.com.au/hayman-reese-weight-distribu...
        fargle 4y ago
        +1 for the "Toorak Tractor" - I've never heard that before.
        defrost 4y ago
        I first heard it circa 1984 | 85 (ish) .. which highlights just how many decades we've been mocking oversized gas guzzling vehicles for. On the plus side I probably won't see the end of another four decades of rampant consumption for no fit purpose. Fingers crossed habits changed (don't hold yor breath!).
mikrotikker 4y ago
Also note that some places restrict by law how much you can tow. For instance I heard in Canada most vehicles are limited to 220lbs. That's the govt basically guaranteeing SUV sales.

throw0101b 4y ago

> Anecdotally And anecdotally I see most (90%) large vehicles without a trailer tow hitch at all.

fargle 4y ago
Anecdotally I see a majority (90%+) people commenting on HN living in relatively urban areas and perhaps this is why you see trucks as wasteful - the closest thing to a working pickup truck they see is fellow commuters in vehicles that have never been off pavement without even a tow hitch, etc. Perhaps visit the "flyover" parts of the land sometime.
- mikrotikker 4y ago
  Exactly, it's an urban vs rural thing. You're likely to need 4wd rurally, you don't have much options apart from a truck.
  - throw0101b 4y ago
    > Despite any TV ads you see with F-150s in a rural or country setting, the vast majority of these new trucks are in large and medium-sized cities. * https://hedgescompany.com/blog/2018/10/pickup-truck-owner-demographics/ https://hedgescompany.com/blog/2018/10/pickup-truck-owner-de...
    - mikrotikker 4y ago
      Yea I agree, fine to smack SUVs down in cities, but taking them away completing is not productive.
- llampx 4y ago
  Perhaps take a look at how many trucks and SUVs are sold and exclusively operated within cities, vs on farms or other rural areas.
  - fargle 4y ago