The future of "trucks"

[mazdarotary]

Hey guys,



This may sound funny coming from a proud Cummins owner,but the more I look at it. the more I really like some of the features on the new Honda "truck". I put the quotation marks because it really isn't a true truck,but it is close. Do you guys think that in the future we will be seeing the independent rear suspension like in the Ridgeline on 1/2 ton trucks,or maybe even higher capacity units?It makes sense to me. Also what do you guys think of the unit body construction?I like it personally,but think it may not be a great idea for larger trucks,fifth wheel setups,or in bed camper setups obviously. How about the trunk in the bed idea?I wonder why it hasn't been thought of before(again not a great idea for a real working truck,and 5ers,etc). It seems as though with a little thinking out of the box the big three(or 5 counting Toyota,and Nissan),could come up with something similar or even better with the larger vehicles they make. It seems to me that Honda,and it pains me to say this has done a lot of good things with this "truck",and if it weren't for the lowish towing capacity,smallish bed,no manual transmission available,and price tag I may be driving one of em instead of my Dodge. Now I am saying this without even driving the Honda yet,but just as an observer. I think the trucking world is about to change with some of the things that have come out in the automotive world the last few years(hybrids and such). If any of these companies,be it Toyota,Nissan,or whatever comes out with a small 4/6 cylinder diesel in a midsize/compact truck in a half ton configuration I am all over it,along with many other americans I think. The thing is Toyota,Nissan,Mazda,etc already have these truck available,but either choose not to bring them over here,or the government regulations on them are too tough here(most likely scenario).



I think the american pickup(I include the "imports" in this) has come a long way over the last 10 years,but many parts of it are still pretty low tech. Maybe that is due to the fact that the low tech systems they use are tried-and-true,and cheap,but the price tags keep going up,and the technology in many areas of the truck doesn't seem to change much aside from making them prettier,bigger,and going electronic with things that were once mechanical. I think the big three have been too busy with the horsepower,and torque wars to work on other things that matter more to myself,and I think others in the market segment. Any thoughts,flames(likely),and whatnot are welcome. I am just thinking out loud here.



By the way I am keeping my Dodge for the forseable future,or until we have another child,and then the 92 club cab won't cut the mustard anymore spacewise. Maybe I will move on to a newer quad cab,or the mega cab,but until they come out with a smaller sized diesel in a smaller truck(I don't need a 22ft long truck,although it does come in handy at times),with some of these features I have mentioned I will stick with my Dodge Cummins. I hope this is in the right forum. Thanks for reading my delusional rantings.





Chris

 

[biggieou]

Chris

Test drive one of those Honda's and tell me that you would rather have that then a Cumapart. I was talking to a guy who just traded in a PStroke on one of those and he loved it more then his Ford. I just shook my head and told him apparently he didnt need the Ford to start with. I dont know so much about the independent rears in true 1/2 tons and heavier, dont know how well it would work. Realize that Ridgeline is based on their SUV, the Honda Pilot with the independent rear, so its not like they designed this truck w/an independent rear on purpose.

The uni-body construction is a TERRIBLE idea. Ford tried it in 61 w/their trucks. True it gives a nice clean look, but those Fords twisted something fierce, I've been around a few of these ole Ford's and the uni-body was a terrible idea. Ford brought it out in 61 and that was the only year for it because it didnt work out at all.

The trunk in the bed is great I suppose if you buy your truck to haul groceries around in, but just give me a standard bed to haul mulch, wood, lawn tractors etc, I would never, ever want something as cheap looking/feeling as that crappy trunk they have.

Now I do agree with you Chris that a 4 or 6cyl in a 1/2 would be great. I have often wondered why Dodge doesnt try and offer the 4bt in the 1/2 tons? Is it too heavy still?



-Josh

 

[Crazy Horse]

I put the quotation marks because it really isn't a true truck,but it is close. Do you guys think that in the future we will be seeing the independent rear suspension like in the Ridgeline on 1/2 ton trucks,or maybe even higher capacity units?It makes sense to me. Also what do you guys think of the unit body construction?

You are right, these things are not real trucks to begin with! They are no more real trucks than the chev AVALANCHE is. They are strickly suv's with a kinda box on the back. I believe all they are doing is filling a niche. Toyota has been doing it for years. They are no substitute for a real truck.

I think the trucking world is about to change with some of the things that have come out in the automotive world the last few years(hybrids and such).

The people that need and buy real trucks (3/4 and 1 ton) would not even consider a battery operated "hybrid and such". Just my opinion.









Unibody construction is good as long as no torsional flexing is involved.

 

[mazdarotary]

Thanks for the Reply Josh. I agree I may not like the Honda,and I wasn't trying to come across as it was the best thing since sliced bread,but I do like some of the features. I agree with you that a real truck needs to be tough,but why does it also have to ride like crap,and use a lot of old techonolgy,yet still have a huge price tag?I love my Cummins,and will probably keep mine long past the time the Honda will stay useful(the 92 I have has 230K miles),but I think it would be nice to have some cool features of this "truck" in a real full size vehicle. I disagree howeve on the unibody concept. Ford may have failed at it in 61,but lets face it modern technology has made it possible to make a good stiff unibody now even for a truck. The Honda uses the high body line in the bed to get this done which doesn't allow you to easily reach over the bed sides,but I think it could be done in another way.



Maybe all of these things are gimicks,but I like the idea of having these things in a truck. I am also a big fan of simplicity as you can see from my signature,but with these pricetags growing every year,and the technology basically staying the same worries me. Trucks nowadays are electronically superior to the trucks of even 5 years ago,but the basic design of the chassis is the same. Why is that?



I am sorry if I am coming off as a big three hater,which I am not. I am just wondering out loud about the future of our common love,Trucks. I think the line between compact,mid size,and full sized trucks is blurring,yet there is little in the way of technology changing on the side of chassis. Maybe the reason is there isn't anything wrong with the current chassis setup they use now. That is most likely,but maybe it is more of a fact that trucks have become cash cows for manufacturers,and they don't want to spend any money changing big things that aren't broken.



Chris

92 D250 Club cab

79 Mazda RX-7 GS

83 Mazda RX-7 LE

74 Mazda RE/PU

Chris

Test drive one of those Honda's and tell me that you would rather have that then a Cumapart. I was talking to a guy who just traded in a PStroke on one of those and he loved it more then his Ford. I just shook my head and told him apparently he didnt need the Ford to start with. I dont know so much about the independent rears in true 1/2 tons and heavier, dont know how well it would work. Realize that Ridgeline is based on their SUV, the Honda Pilot with the independent rear, so its not like they designed this truck w/an independent rear on purpose.

The uni-body construction is a TERRIBLE idea. Ford tried it in 61 w/their trucks. True it gives a nice clean look, but those Fords twisted something fierce, I've been around a few of these ole Ford's and the uni-body was a terrible idea. Ford brought it out in 61 and that was the only year for it because it didnt work out at all.

The trunk in the bed is great I suppose if you buy your truck to haul groceries around in, but just give me a standard bed to haul mulch, wood, lawn tractors etc, I would never, ever want something as cheap looking/feeling as that crappy trunk they have.

Now I do agree with you Chris that a 4 or 6cyl in a 1/2 would be great. I have often wondered why Dodge doesnt try and offer the 4bt in the 1/2 tons? Is it too heavy still?



-Josh

 

[Jumbo Jet]

I love the F150 advertisement that states they can tow 9,900 lbs. when properly equipped.



Sure!



I may need a weinie truck when I am too old to climb up in my 4x4 CTD - but not till then!



I bought my truck - to be a truck - haul a heavy load - up hill - down hill - safely - and economically compared to a gas burner.



I don't think Lance will ever make a camper for a Honda - that I would have. The 5th wheel that one of those would pull - well, I doubt I would have it either.

 

[mazdarotary]

I guess maybe my littel question came about because my wife,and I are thinking of having another child. I was thinking my 92 Club cab isn't going to cut the mustard as far as hauling two car seats anymore when we need the truck for such things as camping. I really don't need such a big truck although I like it a lot,and I was just looking at my options. I like some of the features on the Ridgeline,but don't think it will quite suit all of my needs. I really need a truck that can seat 4-5 adults if need be or hold two adults up front,and two car seats in the future(only one now) in the rear,and bea ble to tow my 23' hybrid travel trailer a few times a year. I was quite happy with my 99 Mazda B-4000 truck that I had,but when my son came around the little jump seats were not going to cut it with the wife or a car seat. My camper weighs in around 4000lbs empty I think,and can be loaded with around 500lbs or more of weight so I guess I don't need a huge truck. My 99 Mazda was rated to tow 6000lbs,but with only 160 horsepower it was really working at it. I wish I could get something that sort of rides like a car,but has a decent tow rating,and the power to back it up,and be able to seat 5 comfortably. I really think that the independent suspension is a great idea,and I think it could even work on heavier duty trucks like our Cummins powered Dodges. Well wahtever I don't even have the money to change my mind now let alone my truck after buying our new house so I guess I will have to just live with the old oil burner,and dream of a Ridgeline like equipped truck in a full size body.



Chris

92 D250 Club cab

79 Mazda RX-7 GS

83 Mazda RX-7 LE

74 Mazda RE/PU