A Truck for Truck's Sake: An Essay 

"Forge Crown Victor!" (metallicaman0258) 08/29/2016 at 12:45 • Filed to: None

4

9

Few things in this world are as uniquely American as the mighty full size pickup truck. Since just about the beginning of automobiles, the lowly pickup truck was doing things behind the scenes. While automobiles were to be used primarily as people transport, trucks were used primarily as goods transport or working. Doing the work that man and beast alike could not complete either efficiently or at all, the pickup truck was there to pick up the slack.

Starting out as a simple Model T modification, the pickup soon became a staple of the working man. From this foothold, the truck came into its own as a purpose built machine dedicated to towing and hauling anything conceivable.

From this dedicated platform there was evoultion. Slow at first starting with innovations such as a “three-man” cab and fully synchronized transmissions. From there the evolution continued onto feature such things as heavy duty suspensions and axles followed by the formidable and almost ubiquitously standard (in modernity) 4 wheel drive. This gave pickup trucks more utility and, with the adoption of V8 engines and automatic transmissions, a capability and simplicity to drive that opened up possibilities of ownership to those without the height to operate a clutch and those who lacked the torque to do that deed that needed done. Since the adoption of 4 wheel drive, the focus was to make trucks a better place to be for the working man. Power steering, air conditioning and soon the introduction of all power options and disc brakes for safety. In their midlife crisis, trucks became bigger, heavier, thirsty and more luxurious.

Power options became standard equipment and bigger and longer trucks were offered. Trucks that could hold a crew of 6 and all of their stuff in an 8ft bed. Truck’s that had the power to pull any hill despite load. Trucks that could do anything except pass a fuel station.

Then came the diesels. Diesel trucks gave torque when nothing else was required. What once took 7.5L of petrol chugging power could now be done by the gods of compression ignition for a much smaller fuel bill. All the while trucks were moving away from the construction site and finding their way into driveways as a second or third car. Then, in 1993, “The New Dodge” introduced into a booming population what was to become the trendsetter for the future of trucks, the Dodge Ram series.

This was a truck that proved it could be not only as comfortable but as practical as any vehicle on the road. It’s “big rig” style was unique and took the younger generation by storm. In the booming economy that was the 90s, Dodge trucks showed and taught people that it was ok to drive a truck on the daily because it was as much a statement of taste as it was a tool of prosperity. From this came pickups from every manuacturer trying to cash in on Dodge’s success by offering gussied up trim levels and moving their base truck audience steadily upmarket. Luxury trucks such as the Lincoln Blackwood would show up nigh on a decade later followed soon by others to create the “Luxury Truck” market. Trucks designed for status, not strategy.

All the while, the honest working man that needed a truck for hauling and pulling got left behind. Gone were order sheets with 3 suspension packages, 6 axle options and 8 engines. A man could no longer order a truck with rubber flooring, a bench seat and a radio with a manual big block V8 and a 4.10:1 axle ratio in the half ton market. Must move up to 3/4 ton or higher to get the horsepower and axle you need despite the fact that you don’t require everything else that truck comes with.

This brings me to the purpose of this essay. I work in a wash bay for a luxury car dealership. I prep wash cars before they go to full detail. Today we got in a 2012 Nissan Titan.

I often public ally denounce American Nissan for their offerings here in the states as the only exciting thing they offer is the Z series. But today, that talk will end. I found something in that Titan that changed the way I look at Nissan Trucks.

Simplicity.

The dash had no ridiculous design ques. It didn’t look or feel chunky. It wasn’t pretending to be a luxury car. This was a truck with 4 doors, 2 bench seats, 4 wheel drive, a radio and little else.

This was a truck for trucks sake. It didn’t give a shit what you thought of it. It wanted nothing from you but fuel and purpose. The basic and simple dash was made of plastics that aren’t cheap looking or feeling like other manufacturers (looking at you Toyota), and I had to touch the door cards twice before I realized they too were plastic.

Good work inside designers. The cab is airy and easy to look out of and the back glass opens. With an acceptable tow rating because of a strong V8, and good ride for a simple truck, I would be hard pressed to find another I respected as much as I do this Nissan. The bumpers are even painted not that cheap grey plastic. Money was put in the right places for this truck and it shows.

Nissan, thank you for making a truck for trucks sake. Nobody in America will. Not without gaudy design or acres of grey plastic.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Forge Crown Victor! 08/29/2016 at 14:03

1

My friend loves his - daily driver and also tows his boat and travel trailer.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Forge Crown Victor! 08/29/2016 at 17:13

0

THANK YOU. I’m not a truck guy, but THIS is the main reason. Trucks are not trucks anymore...yes, they have the ability to haul, but the are bloated with gadgets and gizmos and cost huge amounts of money for even base trim levels. I do, however, like old pickups...basic, utilitarian trucks whose purpose in life is to accomplish tasks, not haul soccer moms around having almost never (or in many cases, never) having been used for their intended purpose.

Good on Nissan for trying to stay true to the old philosophy...

Pickup_man > Forge Crown Victor! 08/29/2016 at 17:43

1

I’m going to disagree at the point where you claim that no one else makes a truck for trucks sake. Each of the big three, and Toyota also make low level work trucks, trucks that are even less fancy than this Nissan. Trucks from all manufacturers are still available with rubber floors, basic radios and bench seats (granted they are usually folding ones). Gone are the days of the big block and manual transmissions, sure, but modern engines handily out torque and out power even the baddest and biggest of the fuel gulping big blocks. Trucks are still readily available with a multitude of engine choices, 4wd, 2wd, and axle options, from open diffs, to limited slips, to full lockers. 4.10's may not be available any more, but with engines which make more torque and transmissions with 6+ gears instead of 3 4.10's aren’t needed anymore. A modern truck can pull more, at higher speeds, while using less fuel, than the workhorses of old. Along with this I’m not sure why you claim that you need to move up to a 3/4 to get the axle and horsepower you need when again, most modern half tons are knocking on the door of the load and tow ratings of many 3/4 tons of the past, if they haven’t already exceeded them. Another thing to note is that the Nissan you saw debuted in 2004, twelve years ago, and eight years old by 2012, when that truck was supposedly “new”. Compared to any other 2004 truck of similar trim level, the Nissan was just as simple, and spartan, while simultaneously being out classed and out dated.

Trucks are still built for trucks sake, but much like their ancestors of old they are quietly laboring away in the background. They are not covering dealer lots, or being put on display up front and center, that spot is reserved for their wealthy brother, all dressed up, shiny and luxurious. No, the simple trucks are still there, working every day with nary a complaint, doing more than their predecessors ever imagined.

The pickups of old are like the old man in the nursing home reminiscing how everything used to be done by hand, parts made by the sweat of a mans brow. An impressive era no doubt, but the modern truck is the grandchild who sits in silence listening to the fastening stories of his grandfather, showing all of the respect a hard working man like that deserves while all the while knowing that things today can be done easier, faster, better.

Forge Crown Victor! > Pickup_man 08/29/2016 at 22:33

1

I will start out by saying that every point you made is absolutely correct. except for a couple, and this is mainly opinion but bear with me,

1) Interior. The base model and simple trucks offered by almost every manufacturer in this country have a gaudy interior overrun by chunky design features and superfluous nonsense. The current generation of Ford, GM, Ram and Toyota are all guilty of over styling their interiors. The least offensive would actually be the Ram trucks from a design standpoint. However, GM are the worst offender in the “acres of grey plastic” arena. The material quality on recent GM pickups, especially on the lowest levels, is almost unacceptable. anyone worth their salt can see casting marks on every touchable area of a base gm pickup. Playskool makes better looking and feeling plastics. My biggest pet peeve is that the stereo/center dash on all these pickups try way too hard to be noticed. Flashy screens, outlined in sparkly trims and simply overrun with buttons. Simplicity people!

2) Options. I tried to spec a GMC, Ram, and F150 shortly before attempting this reply. I tried to option a 2WD, standard cab, LWB 8FT bed with at least painted bumpers and grille

GMC: got the options spec’d to 5.3 (6.2 only available on crew models, why?) only 1 option for transmission in 1/2 ton. An unspecified automatic, also no options for rear axle ratio. I realize its because nobody buys a manual anymore and it streamlines the assembly process but its one less option, also lower gearing in the rear helps the transmission not work as hard at trying to move the vehicle under load so depending on needs for a 1/2 ton, this would nice to be able to spec out. Good news, can still buy with bench seat and 3 man cab. can also get above powertrain in the lowest trim level which also comes with chrome bumpers. Painted not an option. Egregious overuse of interior design. looks like legos and minecraft had a go at designing the interior. Acres of black plastic with no color contrast and a little too bold on the door cards. All surfaces designed for hand grips look like they are designed for a 400 lb gorilla. No tact, no style and truck assumes I’m too brutish to be able to open a door without breaking something so it is unnecessarily large.

Ram: had to move up 3 (!!) trim levels to get the standard cab, 8ft bed with a painted bumper (chrome extra) and not a grey plastic cover. 3 engine options, no availability for the 6.4L (392CID) 3 axle ratios, posi option, 3 transmissions but a unique trans as per engine choice. Interior is less offensive than the GMC and the Ford and looks to be a nicer place to be. Too many options come with package selected, cannot strip any further. not customize-able enough. Best door card design, plenty of room.

Ford: Props on the availability on options Ford! 4 engines, 8 diferentials (4 ratios all with posi option). have to go up 1 trim level to get not grey plastic bumpers. Interior is not as garish as the GMC, not as refined as the Ram.

Yes the Nissan debuted 12 years ago. Yes it is on an aging chassis and design language. Doing what I do and driving newer trucks as often as I have, I simply realized how nutzo things have become in the 1/2 ton pickup market. to get a truck with an interior as functional, simple and with the material quality of the Nissan is just about impossible.

Also I understand and agree that low option “work trucks” still exist with rubber floors and no frills. I’m talking consumer grade stripped down trucks and simplicity. something that’s obviously not a work truck but still honest about what it does.

My big point comes down to interiors more than options. I got chatty in my descriptions of ye olde pickemup when I glazed over with nostalgia but the fact of the matter is, trucks are trying too hard to be the universal vehicle. but today’s interiors are bulky, big, busy and loud. I yern for a more simplistic styling. something that Volvo has achieved on their new XC/V/S90.

My 86 Jeep Grand Wagoneer had it right. Luxury where it was appreciated, and utility where it was needed. Simple design and rugged good looks. Just wish it had a modern power train because of reliability and fuel mileage.

Urambo Tauro > Forge Crown Victor! 08/29/2016 at 23:15

1

I have a hard time thinking about pickup trucks as anything but “work trucks”. And it all comes down to that one defining feature- the cargo bed.

What makes a pickup truck’s cargo area different from other cars is its size, its ruggedness, and the fact that it is usually wide open. It’s not a space that is well-suited for passengers, or for groceries. It’s for large loads. And those large loads mean work. It might be furniture, appliances, landscaping or building materials, tools, deliveries, etc...

And there are lesser activities that trucks are good for, but I still think of those activities as “work”. Like pulling trailers, which might make use of the bed for nothing but wood blocks and a few tools. Or hunting, where you might not even use the bed until you successfully hit your target and have something to bring home.

But “luxury” trucks? They make about as much sense to me as a “work/beater Ferrari”. (Ok, maybe that sounds kinda awesome, actually...)

Pickup_man > Forge Crown Victor! 08/30/2016 at 12:23

1

All solid points. I agree that interiors have gotten more complex and busy than they need to be. I think part of that has to be due to the high take rate of upper level trucks. Due to the take rate being so much higher on higher trims, companies design around that big flashy screen and make that design work well, then just fill in the blank space on lower trims, or so I assume.

Forge Crown Victor! > Pickup_man 08/31/2016 at 11:21

1

I would also assume you are correct sir. Thank you for the civility. It’s hard to debate on the internet and find civility. The upper level trucks are also what drive profits, most likely leading to the flashy touch screen interiors.

Pickup_man > Forge Crown Victor! 08/31/2016 at 11:38

0

Of course, civility is difficult to find on internet debates but I always try to keep things civil as possible.

Forge Crown Victor! > Pickup_man 08/31/2016 at 12:48

1