this post was submitted on 29 Jul 2023
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R can't tow for shit.
R has a 2,200 lb carrying capacity. It can haul or tow almost anything a regular person needs to 99% of the time.
These little trucks also build and supply massive countries across the world. It's preposterous to think you need 4,000lbs of carrying capacity day in and day out. You absolutely do not.
Great, but carry capacity and towing capacity aren't the same thing. And it doesn't matter if I don't need to tow something everyday, even if I need to tow something monthly or even yearly the one on the right just can't do it. Also from my very brief searching it seems like a KEI truck absolutely does not have a capacity of 2200lbs, more like 800-1500lbs. I will agree though, if you just need a work vehicle and a truck bed then the KEI truck is probably fine. If you need to tow, it absolutely is not.
Normally, you'd be right. If you need towing capacity, you need it. However, truck on the left is the MOST POPULAR CAR IN USA. 95% of people living there don't need anything other than proverbial small dick compensation.
I'm not defending the truck on the left, just stating a reason you may need more than just the one on the right. I drive a "compact truck" a Hyundai Santa Cruz because it was the best blend of affordability, usefulness, comfort, ease of use in a city, and towing capacity. It is 4 door, easily fits 4 adults comfortably, easily tows my small boat (has a 5000lb capacity), and I have plenty of room in the bed for small projects a home owner would need to do. All while being based on a smaller SUV and having a 2.8l V4. I would definitely agree that the majority of truck owners have far more than they need, but the KEI truck is extreme on the other side.
If you need to tow something that heavy once a year, you are not buying a car for that.
I mean, I wouldn't but that thing still has to get moved somehow. That truck still has to be available somehow.
Yes, you can always rent one when you need it.
I don't think the big family that is going on their once or maybe twice a year camping trip with their large trailer is going to rent a truck for their vacation. But, yes that's a possibility.
I mean if our culture wasn't so car centric and centered around instant gratification that wouldn't be an issue, it's not too hard to rent a car at all, especially if you've been planning a year long trip. Not trying to soapbox here, though, I'm very reliant on my car too and see doing all that as an inconvenience, but I realize how absurd it is to feel that way.
You're right, but I would add that we need more vacation days. People want to squeeze out as much vacation time as possible. And of course there are always exceptions. For instance my grandparents owned a trailer that they would only use during the summer. They owned a truck to be able to tow it, but legitimately moved it only a couple of times a year but also for months at a time. The bill to rent a truck for months would be outrageous. The other option I guess would be to rent a truck for the drive to move it around and then swap for a car when they get there. Or rent a truck and have the other person follow along in a smaller car that they own. It's all a lot of hassle for people that rarely drive and rarely tow.
Personally I'm a huge fan of these small trucks coming out. The Hyundai Santa Cruz and the Ford Maverick are nice balances imo. Yet they still can't tow a large camper.
You are definitely right about vacation days; I guess I never really consider that people would be in their trailer for months at a time, so that's a good point. But it's not like people in other countries don't ever go on vacation, so I wonder what their planning looks like? Pointing to cars is just one thing but I think the frustrating thing is just the extreme excessive consumption habits we have in the US.
As an aside I'd be really curious to see breakdowns of like, all of the big truck owners and how often they use their trucks for towing, work, etc.
Road trips aren't as common in places with robust public transit. I would bet that road trips and trailer camping are probably the biggest here in America.
I absolutely agree with this. But there is a middle ground between the giant truck and the KEI truck. Especially when I use my small truck more as a partner vehicle than anything. A tiny KEI truck just would not fit the bill for 4 adults to ride in. But I also don't need the giant truck.
The solution in other countries:
Carry a lighter trailer, you don't need to tow a whole house with you.
Here in Germany your usual driver's licence (costing around 3k nowadays, btw) only allows you to drive vehicles rated to max 3500kg and towing up to 750kg. Anything else requires another (also expensive) licence.
Want to tow up to 3500kg? That will be mandatory drivers classes and a driving exam. Total cost about 1k. Want to drive a vehicle rated over 3500kg? That requires a truck licence, so more drivers classes, a medical, a theory and a practical exam. Total cost would be around 5k I guess, also you get to renew it every 5 years.
Hey sorry it took ancouple of days to respond, your reply got lost in my inbox. That's wild how expensive it is to drive! Kinda sucks that it seems like it may be reserved for more well off people but at least there is usable, robust public transport.
Sotry if this sounds really stupid, but can I ask what a normal vacation might entail/what kinds of transit do you use? For example I like to camp and there would be no way for me to get to camp sites and such without my own vehicle. And if a drivers license is so expensive it sounds like it would be really prohibitive to rent a car for something like that
You can call a tow truck when you need one. You dont have to drive piece of industrial equipment to go to the hairdresser.
Yes, let me call the tow truck to take the camper on a family vacation. Brilliant.
You mean the things on wheels that normal cars, half the weight of that thing, tow all the time? The smaller truck in this image can absolutely tow a camper.
Good luck