I had a 2015 Nissan Frontier a with a tow capacity of about 6500 lbs. Bought a hitch receiver and towing wiring…and never installed it. Never towed a damned thing with that truck, even though I had it in my brain that surely I would at some point.
Well some people do. I did for about 3 years, 4+ times a week (work and hobbies) but those are all gone now so looking to trade it in.
Not defending the absurd legislation that makes these keep getting bigger but there are a legit few people who actually regularly make full use of everything a full size offers.
I like the motto of optimizing for the things I do more frequently, not for the edge cases. It’s up to you to decide where that line is. But maybe if the need for something larger is rare enough, you can find another option like renting something. I know renting is a pain, but if it’s rare you don’t have to do it all that much.
I live in a blue collar neighborhood. Big trucks owned by tradesmen/women everywhere. They absolutely use them frequently for what they’re capable of. Some of them have a second cars for groceries etc. but I’m glad there are not two cars for every truck because parking would be a removed, and wouldn’t save much gas. If they were to rent for the “rare trip,” it would be the grocery store. No one is gonna rent for a grocery store trip when they can just happily drive their truck. The store is closer than the rental agency.
My dad’s VW Touareg could tow like 7700 lbs, which is more than a lot of trucks and easily enough to pull plenty of boats and campers. Even a compact SUV that can tow 3500 lbs can pull some boats and campers as long as people don’t buy giant oversized versions of those, too.
Have you ever towed anything? Towing a trailer of that size and weight with a car like that, even if legal, is sketchy as fuck. Especially on hills or mountains. Where I am from its legal to take that picture, it’s not legal to get on the road. For good reason. A capable truck is much safer for that purpose, for everyone.
Doing that in the states would be illegal. Our payload and towing capacity are calculated differently which vastly drops the ammount you are legally allowed to carry. For example a jeep wrangler in Europe has a towing capacity of 5000Lb (2300Kg) but the same exact jeep in the states can only tow 3500Lb (1600kg)
Speeds are a per state basis however a good chunk of them do in fact have separate speed limits for vehicles with trailers. For example, California limits vehicles with three or more axles to 55 MPH (88kph).
Carrying 5 people in comfort while towing a trailer as well?
Most people with pickups barely ever fill up a full bed let alone an additional trailer and 4 more people.
Yes, but you see, most people with pickups imagine they need to do those things and imagine they need to do it multiple times a week.
The murdered pedestrians are just a bonus :)
The sadest part is that you might never realize you got that bonus, especially in a school zone.
Yeah. I have murdered soooo many pedestrians
I had a 2015 Nissan Frontier a with a tow capacity of about 6500 lbs. Bought a hitch receiver and towing wiring…and never installed it. Never towed a damned thing with that truck, even though I had it in my brain that surely I would at some point.
And you know what, it’s a totally human thing to do. I’ve done it, just not with a truck. Maybe I shouldn’t be so frigging judgemental.
But good thing you are there to tell people what they need.
People are absolutely terrible at differentiating between needs and wants. Not sorry for saying so.
Well some people do. I did for about 3 years, 4+ times a week (work and hobbies) but those are all gone now so looking to trade it in.
Not defending the absurd legislation that makes these keep getting bigger but there are a legit few people who actually regularly make full use of everything a full size offers.
“Barely ever”? Isn’t that enough?
My car can drive 4 people and their luggage. I need that every time my family goes anywhere.
But usually it’s just me and my laptop bag, maybe a couple of grocery bags.
So I’m that guy. Big car, rarely filled to capacity. What do you suggest I do? Buy two cars to reduce waste?
(Although mine is not an American pickup, it’s a European station car. If that changes anything.)
I like the motto of optimizing for the things I do more frequently, not for the edge cases. It’s up to you to decide where that line is. But maybe if the need for something larger is rare enough, you can find another option like renting something. I know renting is a pain, but if it’s rare you don’t have to do it all that much.
I live in a blue collar neighborhood. Big trucks owned by tradesmen/women everywhere. They absolutely use them frequently for what they’re capable of. Some of them have a second cars for groceries etc. but I’m glad there are not two cars for every truck because parking would be a removed, and wouldn’t save much gas. If they were to rent for the “rare trip,” it would be the grocery store. No one is gonna rent for a grocery store trip when they can just happily drive their truck. The store is closer than the rental agency.
My point is that these vehicles are not equivalent, but feel free to haul your family around in that midget truck.
My dad’s VW Touareg could tow like 7700 lbs, which is more than a lot of trucks and easily enough to pull plenty of boats and campers. Even a compact SUV that can tow 3500 lbs can pull some boats and campers as long as people don’t buy giant oversized versions of those, too.
You mean like so?
Have you ever towed anything? Towing a trailer of that size and weight with a car like that, even if legal, is sketchy as fuck. Especially on hills or mountains. Where I am from its legal to take that picture, it’s not legal to get on the road. For good reason. A capable truck is much safer for that purpose, for everyone.
Ahahaha, tell me you’ve never left your country, probably not even your fucking state.
Yeah, all of Europe doesn’t know how to tow, and is „sketchy as fuck“. 🤡
This is perfectly legal and safe.
You know what’s sketchy as fuck? The US, which has 3 times more road deaths per capita than the EU.
Now go back to your wankpanzer, please.
Doing that in the states would be illegal. Our payload and towing capacity are calculated differently which vastly drops the ammount you are legally allowed to carry. For example a jeep wrangler in Europe has a towing capacity of 5000Lb (2300Kg) but the same exact jeep in the states can only tow 3500Lb (1600kg)
Yes, because people in the US cannot be trusted to drive at safe speeds while the EU regulates 80/100 km/h with a trailer.
Speeds are a per state basis however a good chunk of them do in fact have separate speed limits for vehicles with trailers. For example, California limits vehicles with three or more axles to 55 MPH (88kph).
If you’re hitching a trailer anyway then why bother with the truck bed at all? Just get a minivan with a decent engine.
Minivans can haul about 3500lbs, which might work for some situations.
Dunno, do either of these things have towbars? Toyota Hiace might but I genuinely don’t know