Why I Like Driving a Truck

"PatBateman" (PatBateman) 07/18/2014 at 18:44 • Filed to: Truck You, Pal

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Today, I left the office early to run a few exits down the freeway to meet a guy at a restaurant. When I get to the on ramp, a jackass in an Altima screwed with me. Luckily, I was in my truck. TRUCK YEAH.

So I'm coming up on the off ramp/on ramp interchange while driving on the access road. I let an exiting car come over in front of me, and turn on my left blinker to get into the lane feeding onto the highway, as the distance to do so was shortening. Along came the Altima. It zoomed up next to me, put on it's right blinker, and tried to intimidate me into missing my exit by creeping into my lane. O REILLY?!?!

Now before I continue, let me state that I'm generally a very passive driver. I don't cut people off, I don't get pissy when people cut me off, I wave when someone lets me in, etc. I'm driving a half ton, crew cab 4x4, so I need to be careful. But when you try to actually force me out of my lane in your much smaller foreign sedan, I'm going to quickly calculate things like physics, who would be at fault in the event of us playing "road tag", and the likelihood of the other driver having insurance. All of these things equalled out to me staying put in my lane.

The driver looked at me. I looked at him. I smiled. He grimaced angrily. I wasn't aggressive; I just stayed there. A car ahead of me, a car directly behind me, and jackass to the left (who was still trying to get me to swerve for fear of him ramming me).

Finally, he realized the error of his ways. He decelerates and pulls in behind me (after the other car who was riding my rear bumper got right). He flicks me off, because apparently I should have quivered in fear by him threatening to sideswipe me. I smile again, wave, and quickly get into the left lane to enter the highway.

I say all of this not to show how I'm some badass with a truck and DON'T FUCK WITH ME AND MY TRUCK NUTS, but to showcase that it is sometimes beneficial to have size on one's side when dealing with asshole drivers. I like that occasional security blanket.

Also, please don't be that guy.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > PatBateman 07/18/2014 at 18:51

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This is why I like driving my dad's Silverado. It's intimidating and people usually don't try to fuck with you. The one's that do though, usually realize after a while that I have size on my side and they'd lose, much like Mr. Altima realized.

shop-teacher > PatBateman 07/18/2014 at 18:53

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You don't really have truck nuts, do you?

I definitely get more people letting me in, when I'm driving my truck.

PatBateman > shop-teacher 07/18/2014 at 18:55

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No, I don't really have truck nuts. I'm not THAT guy.

HammerheadFistpunch > PatBateman 07/18/2014 at 18:56

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Man this happens to me literally all the time, Because I'm slightly lifted and have rock slider steps I just laugh at the idea of someone sidehitting me because their hood, doors will be at just the right height to find 150 lbs of 1/2 hitch steel instead of body work. I never budge for these people and they always get so mad "HOW DARE YOU NOT ALLOW ME IN! AFTER ALL, I SOMEHOW DESERVE IT!"

Come at me bro.

shop-teacher > PatBateman 07/18/2014 at 18:57

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I thought you were better than that. I would've been disappointed. Now I'm relieved.

PatBateman > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 07/18/2014 at 19:00

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It's power that should be wielded with wisdom.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > PatBateman 07/18/2014 at 19:01

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Oh definitely. Size of your car is no excuse to drive like an ass.

PatBateman > HammerheadFistpunch 07/18/2014 at 19:01

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Come at me bro INDEED.

Two Drink Minimum > PatBateman 07/18/2014 at 19:02

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The smile and friendly wave are such an underrated finishing move. Well done, sir.

PatBateman > shop-teacher 07/18/2014 at 19:03

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Happy to reaffirm for the better.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > PatBateman 07/18/2014 at 19:09

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Try driving a lifted extended frame f350 dually. People really dont mess with you then :)

WRXforScience > PatBateman 07/18/2014 at 19:12

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I'm a little confused with the scenario, this is what I think happened (if I'm wrong please correct me). A car excited the freeway and you yielded like you are supposed to, you then indicated that you were going to move into the left lane and take the on ramp; however, another vehicle was already in the left lane and was trying to move left into your lane. Both vehicles needed to swap lanes and the two of you stared each other down until the other guy acquiesced.

Where did that guy come from, was he directly behind the car you yielded to, did he try to pass you before the on ramp, or were there even more lanes?

TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma > HammerheadFistpunch 07/18/2014 at 19:26

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The noise of a door hitting a slider is the most satisfying thing. I was sitting in my truck and this woman felt the need to open her door all the way. That solid thunk and the dragging noise was music to my ears.

TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma > PatBateman 07/18/2014 at 19:27

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Nice choice with the wave. A thumbs-up is my finishing move.

PatBateman > Two Drink Minimum 07/18/2014 at 19:28

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If I really want to make them rage, I blow them a kiss.

PatBateman > WRXforScience 07/18/2014 at 20:12

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When I put on my blinker, the Altima in the left lane accelerated from behind me to the left to directly beside me to the left. Instead of decelerating when he realized there was no room in front of me to merge with traffic, he decided the more prudent action was to try and force me over physically.

PS9 > PatBateman 07/18/2014 at 20:15

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I was in a lifted F250 one time (not mine) when someone tried this. In a honda civic.

Long story short, the truck didn't move and the civic ended up in the grass of his own accord.

PatBateman > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 07/18/2014 at 20:16

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I would like one of those with spikes coming out of the front and back. Just to reinforce the "don't be a jackass in traffic" principle.

PatBateman > TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma 07/18/2014 at 20:19

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If I'm feeling extra special, I sometimes blow them a kiss.

PatBateman > PS9 07/18/2014 at 20:23

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This morning, I actually had an asshat directly behind me in a Honda Accord. He comes up behind me on a three lane road and rides my bumper (I was in the left lane going 59 in a 55, passing a slower car). I get over to let him pass, he whips behind while still maintaining a safe 6" distance. After another 15 seconds, he whipped again to my left and passed me while accelerating to about 80. Oooooookay.

Later, he cut off a garbage truck at a light to turn right. Nice guy. He'll eventually get his.

WRXforScience > PatBateman 07/18/2014 at 21:12

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That's about how I imagined it, people sick. He must have falsely assumed that you were weak because you let the first guy over. Overly assertive, predatory commuters ate probably the worst type of people, them or pedophiles (from now on I will simply assume both groups are mutually inclusive for the sake of expedience).

Next time you should tell at the guy for being an inconsiderate driver and got being a pedophile.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > PatBateman 07/18/2014 at 21:17

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Yea it was my buddies and people usually dont mess with you in it

Buick Mackane > PatBateman 07/19/2014 at 00:13

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I have always been a car guy, mostly owned small cars (Pinto, Gremlin, Mustangs, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Saturn SL2, Jaguar are some of the cars I have owned). Recently my company gave me a Ford F150 truck and a Ford E150 Econoline van to drive and I am actually starting to like it and becoming a "truck guy". The higher seating position gives you a whole different view of the road ahead that I was missing all this time. What is happening to me?

PatBateman > Buick Mackane 07/19/2014 at 00:40

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It's nice sitting high enough to see past the car in front of you. Almost addicting.

Two Drink Minimum > PatBateman 07/19/2014 at 07:19

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Haha. Not that there's anything wrong with that. :)

cabarne4 > PS9 07/19/2014 at 13:35

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The civic ended up in the grass of his own accord.

Must've been some Odyssey, huh? I bet the Pilot of the civic had no Insight into what would happen.

wkiernan > PatBateman 07/19/2014 at 15:12

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What's even better than a truck in that circumstance is a beater. Hey Mr. Aggro in the other lane, are you threatening to run into my car? This one with the peeling paint, the rear window held in by duct tape, and 227,000 miles on the odometer? No wait, I didn't mean "threatening," I meant "offering," as in "Are you offering to buy my car? Gosh thanks! Keep pushing and I'll take you up on that!"

cobleymj > PatBateman 07/19/2014 at 15:22

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Tell that to the guy in the super duty who ran into the back of my miata after 'forgetting' I was there, and is now stuck with a $3k repair bill

PatBateman > cobleymj 07/19/2014 at 16:39

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I don't have to tell him. He already knows!!

PatBateman > wkiernan 07/19/2014 at 16:44

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You know, I was actually in the same scenario about a year ago with a beater. An old Mazda 626. I actually swerved into the turning lane so she wouldn't plow into me as her lane ended (I let the car in front of her come in zipper-style, she was not content with getting behind me, apparently). I did the aforementioned calculations, and the "is the driver probably insured" variable was not favorable for me.